bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fractional order super-twisting sliding mode observer for sensorless control of induction motor
Authors: Ilten Erdem , Demirtas Metin
Published: April 2019

Purpose

To meet the need of reducing the cost of industrial systems, sensorless control applications on electrical machines are increasing day by day. This paper aims to improve the performance of the sensorless induction motor control system. To do this, the speed observer is designed based on the combination of the sliding mode and the fractional order integral.

Design/methodology/approach

Super-twisting sliding mode (STSM) and Grünwald–Letnikov approach are used on the proposed observer. The stability of the proposed observer is verified by using Lyapunov method. Then, the observer coefficients are optimized for minimizing the steady-state error and chattering amplitude. The optimum coefficients (c1, c2, ki and λ) are obtained by using response surface method. To verify the effectiveness of proposed observer, a large number of experiments are performed for different operation conditions, such as different speeds (500, 1,000 and 1,500 rpm) and loads (100 and 50 per cent loads). Parameter uncertainties (rotor inertia J and friction factor F) are tested to prove the robustness of the proposed method. All these operation conditions are applied for both proportional integral (PI) and fractional order STSM (FOSTSM) observers and their performances are compared.

Findings

The observer model is tested with optimum coefficients to validate the proposed observer effectiveness. At the beginning, the motor is started without load. When it reaches reference speed, the motor is loaded. Estimated speed and actual speed trends are compared. The results are presented in tables and figures. As a result, the FOSTSM observer has less steady-state error than the PI observer for all operation conditions. However, chattering amplitudes are lower in some operation conditions. In addition, the proposed observer shows more robustness against the parameter changes than the PI observer.

Practical implications

The proposed FOSTSM observer can be applied easily for industrial variable speed drive systems which are using induction motor to improve the performance and stability.

Originality/value

The robustness of the STSM and the memory-intensive structure of the fractional order integral are combined to form a robust and flexible observer. This paper grants the lower steady-state error and chattering amplitude for sensorless speed control of the induction motor in different speed and load operation conditions. In addition, the proposed observer shows high robustness against the parameter uncertainties.
A volume integral approach for the modelling and design of HTS coils
Authors: Statra Yazid , Menana Hocine , Belguerras Lamia , Douine Bruno
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a rapid and realistic modelling approach for the design and characterization of high temperature superconducting (HTS) coils and windings carrying DC currents. Indeed, the strong dependence of the electromagnetic properties of such materials on the magnetic field makes the design and characterization of HTS systems a delicate operation where local quantities have to be evaluated.

Design/methodology/approach

A volume integral modelling approach has been developed taking into account the electric nonlinearity of the HTS material which is represented by power law. The variations of the characteristic quantities of the HTS (critical current density and power law exponent) with the magnetic flux density are also taken into account by using Kim’s law. The volume integral modelling allows to model only the active parts of the system and thus to overcome the difficulties linked to the multiscale dimensions.

Findings

The model has been tested in a case study in which simulation results were compared to measurements and to finite element analysis. A good agreement was found which validates the model as a rapid and efficient tool for HTS coils and windings design and modelling.

Practical implications

HTS coils are important elements of emerging superconducting devices which require a high level of reliability, such as generators or motors. The proposed approach is interesting to speed up the design and optimization procedures of such systems.

Originality/value

Advanced structures of the basic elements have been used in the volume integral modelling, which results in a considerable gain in computation time and in memory-space saving while keeping a high level of precision and realism of the modelling, which has been verified experimentally.
Affordable housing policy development: public official perspectives
Authors: Cai Xiang , Wu Wei-Ning
Published: April 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the factors affecting the implementation of affordable housing policies in two Chinese municipal governments. Since 2010, the Chinese government has enforced an ambitious plan to adopt affordable housing provisions accompanying a series of urbanization programs. Furthermore, the policy implementation at the local level has led to various outcomes but has been scarcely investigated. The views of policy implementation from local officials are crucial in the context of intergovernmental relations. Therefore, it is important to examine the views of local public officials on the development status and challenges in the context of Chinese intergovernmental relations.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper verifies which factors exert significant impacts on the willingness of local officials to adapt affordable housing policies by using the logistic regression model and marginal effect estimation. With original data from the fieldwork surveys of city administrators, the measures incorporated local characteristics as well as the intergovernmental support from the central government in two selected megacities, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.

Findings

There are significant differences in local investment between the selected cities. Intergovernmental support from the central government, city development strategies, implementation perceptions of local governments and land supply, all significantly impact the selection of an affordable housing program and its overall implementation.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ understanding, this study would be one of the first to empirically explore the view of municipal public officials on affordable housing policy in China. This paper provides an empirical analysis from municipal public officials on the local implementation of affordable housing policies in China. As the outcome of housing policies actually depends on the implementation willingness of public officials and the overall performance of local governments, this explorative study would benefit the future development of China’s affordable housing policy.
Operational supply risk mitigation of SME and its impact on operational performance
Authors: Chowdhury Priyabrata , Lau Kwok Hung , Pittayachawan Siddhi
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how buyer–supplier social capital may help mitigate operational supply risk (OSR) of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It empirically examines a framework that posits the direct and mediated impacts of three dimensions of buyer–supplier social capital – structural, relational and cognitive – and supplier integration on the OSR of SMEs and consequently their operational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses data collected via a questionnaire from 485 manufacturing SMEs in Bangladesh for analysis using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The analysis reveals that all the three dimensions of buyer–supplier social capital can effectively reduce the OSR of SMEs, either directly or indirectly through supplier integration. The mediating role of supplier integration in the relationship between social capital and OSR is confirmed and the negative impact of OSR on operational performances of SMEs is verified.

Research limitations/implications

Generalization of the findings needs to be prudent since the study gathered information only from manufacturing SMEs in Bangladesh on the buyer side of the buyer–supplier dyad.

Practical implications

Findings of this study can provide references for SME practitioners to formulate their OSR mitigation strategies for enhancing operational performance.

Originality/value

This study adds to the currently scarce literature on OSR of SMEs by combining antecedents and consequences of OSR in a single framework. It also extends the use of buyer–supplier social capital to risk mitigation research.
Improved augmented Lagrangian coordination for optimizing supply chain configuration with multiple sharing elements in industrial cluster
Authors: Nie Duxian , Qu Ting , Liu Yang , Li Congdong , Huang G.Q.
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study various combination forms of the three basic sharing elements (i.e. orders sharing, manufacturers capacity sharing and suppliers capacity sharing) in the cluster supply chain (CSC), formulate a distributed model to protect enterprises’ decision privacy and seek to develop an effective method for solving the distributed complex model.

Design/methodology/approach

A distributed assembly cluster supply chain configuration (ACSCC) model is formulated. An improved augmented Lagrangian coordination (ALC) is proposed and used to solve the ACSCC model. A series of experiments are conducted to validate the improved ALC and the model.

Findings

Two major findings are obtained. First, the market order’s quantity change and the sales price of the product have a great impact on both the optimal results of the ACSCC and the cooperative strategy, especially, when the market order increases sharply, enterprises have to adopt multiple cooperative strategies to complete the order; meanwhile, the lower sales price of the product helps independent suppliers to get more orders. Second, the efficiency and computational accuracy of the improved ALC method are validated as compared to the centralized ALC and Lingo11.

Research limitations/implications

This paper formulated the single-period ACSCC model under certain assumptions, yet a multi-period ACSCC model is to be developed, a more comprehensive investigation of the relationships among combination forms is to be extended further and a rigid proof of the improved ALC is necessary.

Practical implications

Enterprises in the industrial cluster should adopt different cooperative strategies in terms of the market order’s quantity change and the sales price of the product.

Social implications

The proposed various combination forms of sharing elements and the formulated ACSCC model provide guidance to managers in the industrial cluster to choose the proper policy.

Originality/value

This research studies various combination forms of the three basic sharing elements in the CSC. A distributed ACSCC model has been established considering simultaneously multiple sharing elements. An improved ALC is presented and applied to the ACSCC problem.
Increasing rates of impulsive online shopping on tourism websites
Authors: Chen Chun-Der , Ku Edward C.S. , Yeh Chien Chi
Published: April 2019

Purpose

Customers who engage in impulsive online shopping make immediate, unplanned and ill-thought-out purchases online. The purpose of this paper is to present a model to illustrate how website quality (moderated by hedonic value) influences impulsive shopping behaviors in the context of online tourism.

Design/methodology/approach

The model and hypotheses presented here were tested by structural equation modeling. Empirical data were collected by conducting a questionnaire survey, in total, 3,000 invitation messages were mailed to the members of the two travel communities (1,500 invitation messages for each one), of which, 402 were returned completed (a return rate of 13.4 percent).

Findings

Visually appealing websites are more likely to attract customer attention and illicit pleasurable emotional responses. In addition, effective tourism websites also maintain good service quality and ensure accuracy of information. Finally, good functional benefits can help customers reduce the time and effort spent searching for a specific service and can also serve as a stimulus triggering impulse buying.

Research limitations/implications

This study used a reliable multidimensional measure of factors that influence the relational benefit of initiators and buyers to help elucidate which factors encourage impulsive online shopping. From a theoretical perspective, the authors determined that website quality is positively associated with functional benefits, and thereby influences impulsive shopping behaviors; in addition, the functional benefits conferred by websites have a strong and direct influence on impulsive shopping behavior. However, this effect is moderated by hedonic value.

Practical implications

Online tourism retailers should continually seek to enhance this function because it is the primary motivation behind customer use of online shopping websites. Effective tourism websites also maintain good service quality and ensure accuracy of information. Finally, navigation systems should be designed to meet the needs of new users, for example by offering help pages that address a variety of topics. Therefore, tourism websites should feature an adequate number of images, a colorful design, and well-described services and products.

Originality/value

In recent years, the popularity of online shopping websites has continued to rise. In seeking to elucidate impulsive online shopping behaviors, this study focused on online-to-offline applications, the uses-and-gratifications perspective and service-dominant logic. The authors also discussed the important influence of website quality on impulse buying and how this is moderated by hedonic value. The research model presented in this study provides a reliable instrument to operationalize key constructs in the analysis of impulsive shopping behavior and has important implications for the online tourism industry.
Dealing with initial success versus failure in crowdfunding market
Authors: Lee Chang Heon , Chiravuri Ananth
Published: April 2019

Purpose

Serial crowdfunding is becoming a common phenomenon as entrepreneurs repeatedly return to online crowdfunding to raise capital. In this study, the authors focus attention on serial crowdfunders, that is, entrepreneurs who experience launching more than one crowdfunding project. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of past experience on subsequent crowdfunding performance. This study also examines whether initial success vs initial failure leads serial crowdfunders to engage in more explorative behaviors (i.e. switching industry) and to take exploitative actions (i.e. adjusting campaign strategies in terms of goal setting and funding option).

Design/methodology/approach

Data on serial crowdfunding projects was retrieved from Indiegogo platform. The logistic regression models are estimated to assess the impact of past entrepreneurial experience on subsequent crowdfunding decisions, and to estimate the effects of the three strategies on subsequent funding performance.

Findings

The results show that serial creators who experienced successful initial crowdfunding are more likely to explore a new industry or product category in the crowdfunding market and to set a higher target capital for the subsequent campaign when they change a project category.

Originality/value

Despite the fact that there are a considerably large number of serial crowdfunders in crowdfunding market, relatively little research has been conducted to investigate the presence of learning benefits from a previous to a subsequent crowdfunding project. Two competing hypotheses, drawn from the attribution theory and hubris theory of entrepreneurship, were tested in this study to determine the impact of prior success vs failure experience on both subsequent crowdfunding decisions and funding performance.
Exploring factors affecting attitudes towards rape survivors: the role of sexuality and religiosity
Authors: Rimmer Beth , Birch Philip
Published: April 2019

Purpose

Contemporaneously, the crime of rape has experienced an increase in reporting. The majority of rape survivors continue to experience, however, extensive victimisation due to biased attitudes held by many people and organisations within the general population. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

In a quantitative study with a sample of 176 participants, this research aimed to explore sexuality and religiosity as factors that affect attitudes towards survivors of rape.

Findings

Results indicated that negative attitudes towards rape survivors could be predicted by rape myth acceptance. While the sexuality of the victim affected attitudes towards rape survivors and negative attitudes towards survivors were also found to be predicted by high religiosity scores, analyses concluded that both males and females perceived gay male victims with more negative attitudes in comparison to lesbian rape survivors. Male participants demonstrated, overall, more negative attitudes towards rape survivors than their female counterparts. In sum, sexuality and religiosity were concluded to be crucial factors in explaining blame attributions.

Practical implications

This study indicates: (1) the effect of social correlates other than gender on rape myths; (2) the effect sexuality has on the perception of rape myths; and (3) the effect religiosity has on the perception of rape myths. This study also reveals implications for the reporting, prosecution and conviction of rape cases that may be subject to bias and discrimination due to victim characteristics other than gender.

Originality/value

Attitudes towards rape survivors based on social correlates other than gender have received little attention within existing literature and research. This paper adds to this discussion by considering the affects of sexuality and religiosity which have implications for the reporting of such a crime.
“I’m not different, I’m still a human being […] but I am different.” An exploration of the experiences of transgender prisoners using interpretative phenomenological analysis
Authors: Nulty Joanne E. , Winder Belinda , Lopresti Sally
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The treatment and placement of transgender individuals within the UK prison system has garnered considerable political and media attention. The purpose of this paper is to present an analysis of the experiences of three transgender women located within a male, category C prison in England.

Design/methodology/approach

Participants were interviewed and their accounts analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Findings

Three overarching themes emerged from the data set: participants’ experiences of transition; their identity within custody and the challenges associated with presenting as female within a male establishment; and what they perceived as their fight against the prison system which encompassed a fight for their rights alongside a daily struggle against harassment, victimisation and discrimination.

Research limitations/implications

Three participants were interviewed which impacts the generalisability of the findings. Implications link to the care and management of transgender prisoners.

Practical implications

The care and management of transgender prisoners is a complex issue. This paper contributes to the discussion on how best to support and care for this group of service users who are arguably amongst the most vulnerable within the prison system.

Social implications

Findings are discussed in relation to policy, management and safeguarding of transgender prisoners within the UK prison system. Recommendations are made regarding their placement and management in prison.

Originality/value

There are limited accounts from transgender prisoners regarding their experiences in prison. This paper aims to address that gap.
A new approach to research and theory development for financial firms-building a “house with windows”
Authors: Holland John
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The paper aims to rethink empirical models and theory used in explaining banks and financial institutions (FIs) and to enhance the process of theory construction. This is a provisional response to Colander et al. (2009) and Gendron and Smith-Lacroix’s (2013) call for a new approach to developing theory for finance and FIs.

Design/methodology/approach

An embryonic “behavioural theory of the financial firm” (BTFF) is outlined based on field research about banks and FI firms and relevant literature. The paper explores “conceptual connections” between BTFF and traditional finance theory ideas of financial intermediation. It does not seek to “integrate” finance theory and alternative theory in “meta theory” and has a more modest aim to improve theory content through “connections”.

Findings

The “conceptual connections” provide a means to develop ideas proposed by Scholtens and van Wensveen (2003). They are part of a “house with windows” intended to provide systematic means to “take data from the outside world” whilst continuously recognising “the complexities of the context” (Keasey and Hudson, 2007) to both challenge and build the core ideas of FT.

Research limitations/implications

The BTFF is a means to create “conversations” between academics, practitioners and regulators to aid theory construction. This can overcome the limitations of such an embryonic theory.

Practical implications

The ideas developed create new opportunities to develop finance theory, propose changes in banks and FIs and suggest changes in the focus of regulation.

Originality/value

Regulators can use the expanded conceptual framework to encourage theory development and to enhance accountability of banks and FIs to citizens.
The role of social media as a distribution channel for promoting pricing strategies
Authors: Ampountolas Apostolos , Shaw Gareth , James Simon
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how using social media (SM) as a tool to influence demand motivates the distribution of different price promotion strategies to encourage consumers to utilize direct bookings, along with how this impacts revenue strategies and profitability.

Design/methodology/approach

This study surveyed hotel executives who hold managerial positions and revenue managers with a direct influence on pricing decisions and developed multiple regression analysis models for various pricing approaches.

Findings

This study confirms the relationship between distribution channels and dynamic pricing strategies, although the same is not true with respect to traditional pricing techniques. The authors found that the adoption of SM as a strategic tool provides a platform to promote tactical revenue management strategies and to practice differential pricing motives.

Originality/value

The findings of the study will help hotel revenue managers to take into account a new way of thinking – namely, an interactive response to consumers’ preferences to improve profitability, based on different pricing methods distributed through SM. In this context, SM has elevated pricing strategies to a new and particularly challenging level.
A big data approach to examining social bots on Twitter
Authors: Liu Xia
Published: April 2019

Purpose

Social bots are prevalent on social media. Malicious bots can severely distort the true voices of customers. This paper aims to examine social bots in the context of big data of user-generated content. In particular, the author investigates the scope of information distortion for 24 brands across seven industries. Furthermore, the author studies the mechanisms that make social bots viral. Last, approaches to detecting and preventing malicious bots are recommended.

Design/methodology/approach

A Twitter data set of 29 million tweets was collected. Latent Dirichlet allocation and word cloud were used to visualize unstructured big data of textual content. Sentiment analysis was used to automatically classify 29 million tweets. A fixed-effects model was run on the final panel data.

Findings

The findings demonstrate that social bots significantly distort brand-related information across all industries and among all brands under study. Moreover, Twitter social bots are significantly more effective at spreading word of mouth. In addition, social bots use volumes and emotions as major effective mechanisms to influence and manipulate the spread of information about brands. Finally, the bot detection approaches are effective at identifying bots.

Research limitations/implications

As brand companies use social networks to monitor brand reputation and engage customers, it is critical for them to distinguish true consumer opinions from fake ones which are artificially created by social bots.

Originality/value

This is the first big data examination of social bots in the context of brand-related user-generated content.
Disruptive illness contexts and liminality in the accounts of young people with type 1 diabetes
Authors: Sanders Tom , Elliott Jackie , Norman Paul , Johnson Barbara , Heller Simon
Published: April 2019

We utilise Bury's (1982) biographical disruption to examine young people's experiences of type 1 diabetes. Our findings show that young adults adopted various ‘subject positions’ across different illness contexts. The subject positions deployed are intended to produce a particular kind of normal embodied identity unaffected by diabetes. First, participants concealed their illness in public spaces and challenged cultural stereotypes of diabetes to maintain a normal illness biography. Disruption was ever present and required careful negotiation to avoid exposure of illness in public. Young adults upheld a ‘normal public presentation’. Second, they resisted the medical system's pressure to adhere to glucose targets asserting and maintaining a subject position of ‘independent and autonomous young adults’. Here, disruption was transient and temporary, present in the clinic but not always beyond. It remained in the background for much of the time until it was reinforced by parents or at meal times. Third, young adults acquired a ‘pragmatic subject position’ with diabetes viewed as complex but manageable, no longer a target for resistance. Frank's (1995) ‘narrative restitution’ is adopted to describe the transition to life with ‘normal’ illness. We argue that illness experience was ‘liminal’ and reflected the subject positions adopted by young adults.
Determinants of labour productivity: Comparison between developing and developed countries of Asia‐Pacific
Authors: Dua Pami , Garg Niti Khandelwal
Published: April 2019

The current study investigates the trends in labour productivity of the major developing and developed economies of the Asia‐Pacific region and examines its determinants over the period 1980–2014. The study analyses capital deepening, human capital, technology, share of agriculture in GDP, financial development, institutional quality, inflation as well as macroeconomic variables as potential determinants of productivity, and identifies the differences in the impact of these factors on the productivity of developing and developed countries.

Using panel cointegration and group‐mean fully modified ordinary least squares estimation, the study finds that capital deepening, human capital, technology, institutional quality and macroeconomic variables (i.e. government size and openness) are significant determinants of labour productivity of both developing and developed economies of the Asia‐Pacific region. The study further finds that while both trade openness and foreign direct investment affect productivity of developing economies positively, only trade openness has a positive and significant impact on the productivity of developed economies. The share of agriculture in GDP affects the labour productivity of developing Asia‐Pacific economies significantly but not that of developed economies. Furthermore, capital deepening has a much higher impact on the productivity of developing Asia‐Pacific economies than that of developed economies.
Association between use of Chinese herbal medicine and depression risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A nationwide retrospective cohort study
Authors: Li Hsin‐Hua , Livneh Hanoch , Yeh Chia‐Chou , Guo How‐Ran , Lai Ning‐Sheng , Lu Ming‐Chi , Tsai Tzung‐Yi
Published: April 2019

Aim

Depression is a common mental disorder in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and may provoke the onset of poor clinical prognoses. In view of this, whether or not the use of Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) can alleviate the risk of depression still remains unclear. We conducted a longitudinal cohort study to evaluate the association between CHMs us and depression risk among RA patients.

Method

Using claims data from the National Health Insurance of Taiwan, we identified 6609 newly diagnosed RA patients aged 20 years or older between 1998 and 2010. From this sample, we recruited 3386 CHM users and randomly selected 3223 controls using propensity scores matching from the remaining cases as the non‐CHMs users. They were followed until the end of 2012 to record depression incidence. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to compute the hazard ratio (HR) of depression with regard to the use of CHMs.

Results

During the 15‐year follow‐up, 249 CHM users and 314 non‐CHM users developed depression, representing an incidence rate of 9.33 and 14.98, respectively, per 1000 person‐years. We found that use of CHMs was associated with lower risk of depression by 38% (95% confidence interval 0.54‐0.76). The most predominant effect was observed in those receiving CHMs for over 2 years (adjusted HR 0.34). Seven commonly prescribed CHMs could lessen the risk of depression: Chuan‐niu‐xi, Jie‐geng, San‐qi, Jia‐wei‐xia‐yao‐san, Dang‐gui‐nian‐tong‐tang, Zhi‐gan‐cao‐tang, and Suan‐zao‐ren‐tang.

Conclusion

This study supports that adding CHMs into conventional therapy may prevent subsequent depression risk for RA patients.
Work disability in a multi‐ethnic Malaysian systemic lupus erythematosus cohort: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Abu Bakar Fakhriah , Shaharir Syahrul Sazliyana , Mohd Rozita , Kamaruzaman Lydia , Mohamed Said Mohd Shahrir
Published: April 2019

Aim

To determine the prevalence of work disability (WD) among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its associated factors.

Method

This was a cross‐sectional study involving SLE patients aged 18‐56 years from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC). Employment history was obtained from clinical interviews. WD was defined as unemployment, interruption of employment or premature cessation of employment due to SLE at any time after the diagnosis. SLE disease characteristics, presence of organ damage and Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment—SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) flare index were determined from the medical records. Self‐reported quality of life (QoL) was performed using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form‐36 (SF‐36). Demographic factors, disease characteristics, and QoL were compared between patients with and without WD using statistical analyses.

Results

A total of 215 patients were recruited and the majority were Malay (60.5%), followed by Chinese (33.5%), Indian (4.5%) and others (n = 4, 1.9%). The prevalence of WD was 43.2% (n = 93) with 22.3% (n = 48) patients were unemployed at the time of study. Over half the patients with WD (n = 51, 54.8%) had onset of disability at <5 years from diagnosis. Patients with WD had significantly lower health‐related QoL. The independent factors associated with WD were SLEDAI score at diagnosis, frequency of flare, Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics score, being married, had lower education and lupus nephritis.

Conclusion

We found a high rate of WD in patients with SLE and it was significantly associated with SLE‐related factors, in particular higher disease activity, presence of renal involvement and organ damage.
Scavenging organic nitrogen and remodelling lipid metabolism are key survival strategies adopted by the endophytic fungi, Serendipita vermifera and Serendipita bescii to alleviate nitrogen and phosphorous starvation in vitro
Authors: Ray Prasun , Abraham Paul E. , Guo Yingqing , Giannone Richard J. , Engle Nancy L. , Yang Zamin K. , Jacobson Daniel , Hettich Robert L. , Tschaplinski Timothy J. , Craven Kelly D.
Published: April 2019

Serendipitaceae represents a diverse fungal group in the Basidiomycota that includes endophytes and lineages that repeatedly evolved ericoid, orchid and ectomycorrhizal lifestyle. Plants rely upon both nitrogen and phosphorous, for essential growth processes, and are often provided by mycorrhizal fungi. In this study, we investigated the cellular proteome of Serendipita vermifera MAFF305830 and closely related Serendipita vermifera subsp. bescii NFPB0129 grown in vitro under (N) ammonium and (P) phosphate starvation conditions. Mycelial growth pattern was documented under these conditions to correlate growth‐specific responses to nutrient starvation. We found that N‐starvation accelerated hyphal radial growth, whereas P‐starvation accelerated hyphal branching. Additionally, P‐starvation triggers an integrated starvation response leading to remodelling of lipid metabolism. Higher abundance of an ammonium transporter known to serve as both an ammonium sensor and stimulator of hyphal growth was detected under N‐starvation. Additionally, N‐starvation led to strong up‐regulation of nitrate, amino acid, peptide, and urea transporters, along with several proteins predicted to have peptidase activity. Taken together, our finding suggests S. bescii and S. vermifera have the metabolic capacity for nitrogen assimilation from organic forms of N compounds. We hypothesize that the nitrogen metabolite repression is a key regulator of such organic N assimilation.
Empowering conservation practice with efficient and economical genotyping from poor quality samples
Authors: Natesh Meghana , Taylor Ryan W. , Truelove Nathan K. , Hadly Elizabeth A. , Palumbi Stephen R. , Petrov Dmitri A. , Ramakrishnan Uma
Published: April 2019

Moderate‐ to high‐density genotyping (100 + SNPs) is widely used to determine and measure individual identity, relatedness, fitness, population structure and migration in wild populations.

However, these important tools are difficult to apply when high‐quality genetic material is unavailable. Most genomic tools are developed for high‐quality DNA sources from laboratory or medical settings. As a result, most genetic data from market or field settings is limited to easily amplified mitochondrial DNA or a few microsatellites.

To enable genotyping in conservation contexts, we used next‐generation sequencing of multiplex PCR products from very low‐quality DNA extracted from faeces, hair and cooked samples. We demonstrated utility and wide‐ranging potential application in endangered wild tigers and tracking commercial trade in Caribbean queen conch.

We genotyped 100 SNPs from degraded tiger samples to identify individuals, discern close relatives and detect population differentiation. Co‐occurring carnivores do not amplify (e.g. Indian wild dog/dhole) or are monomorphic (e.g. leopard). Sixty‐two SNPs from conch fritters and field‐collected samples were used to test relatedness and detect population structure.

We provide proof of concept for a rapid, simple, cost‐effective and scalable method (for both samples and number of loci), a framework that can be applied to other conservation scenarios previously limited by low‐quality DNA samples. These approaches provide a critical advance for wildlife monitoring and forensics, open the door to field‐ready testing, and will strengthen the use of science in policy decisions and wildlife trade.
Dynamics of predatory and herbivorous insects at the farm scale: the role of cropped and noncropped habitats
Authors: Togni Pedro H. B. , Venzon Madelaine , Souza Lucas M. , Sousa Alex A. T. C. , Harterreiten‐Souza Érica S. , Pires Carmen S. S. , Sujii Edison R.
Published: April 2019

Natural enemy conservation is known to be affected by ecological processes that range from local to landscape scales. At the farm scale, there are cropped and noncropped areas that differ in their management and plant diversity; these differences affect the spatiotemporal dynamics of natural enemies.

We investigated how different habitat types can affect the conservation and spatial dynamics of predatory and herbivore insects in organic vegetable crops in Brazil. Insects were simultaneously sampled in two cropped (focal and neighbourhood crops) and two noncropped habitats (fallow and native forests) during five consecutive focal crop cycles.

We found a higher species richness of predators and herbivores in noncropped habitats. All of the habitats shared species from both functional groups throughout the year, indicating that species could disperse among habitats. Fallow areas can serve as a source and sink for species migrating to/from cropped habitats where predators and herbivores can numerically increase their populations during the crop cycles.

The spatiotemporal dynamics of herbivores and predators depend on the management and maintenance of natural, seminatural and cropped habitats within the farm.
Explicit evidence for a missense mutation in exon 4 of SLC45A2 gene causing the pearl coat dilution in horses
Authors: Sevane N. , Sanz C. R. , Dunner S.
Published: April 2019

Four loci seem responsible for the dilution of the basic coat colours in horse: Dun (D), Silver Dapple (Z), Champagne (CH) and Cream (C). Apart from the current phenotypes ascribed to these loci, pearl has been described as yet another diluted coat colour in this species. To date, this coat colour seems to segregate only in the Iberian breeds Purebred Spanish horse and Lusitano and has also been described in breeds of Iberian origin, such as Quarter Horses and Paint Horse, where it is referred to as the ‘Barlink Factor’. This phenotype segregates in an autosomal recessive manner and resembles some of the coat colours produced by the champagne CHCH and cream CCr alleles, sometimes being difficult to distinguish among them. The interaction between compound heterozygous for the pearl Cprl and cream CCr alleles makes SLC45A2 the most plausible candidate gene for the pearl phenotype in horses. Our results provide documented evidence for the missense variation in exon 4 [SLC45A2:c.985G>A; SLC45A2:p.(Ala329Thr)] as the causative mutation for the pearl coat colour. In addition, it is most likely involved as well in the cremello, perlino and smoky cream like phenotypes associated with the compound CCr and Cprl heterozygous genotypes (known as cream pearl in the Purebred Spanish horse breed). The characterization of the pearl mutation allows breeders to identify carriers of the Cprl allele and to select this specific coat colour according to personal preferences, market demands or studbook requirements as well as to verify segregation within particular pedigrees.
A new indirect immunofluorescence BIOCHIP method for the serological diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid: A review of literature
Authors: Yang Anes , Xuan Rachel , Murrell Dedee F
Published: April 2019

The BIOCHIP (Dermatology Mosaic 7, EUROIMMUN, Lubeck, Germany) is a novel multiplex indirect immunofluorescence technique used in the serological diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid. The BIOCHIP method combines the screening of several autoantibodies and target antigen‐specific substrates in a single miniature incubation field to allow for simultaneous processing of the most common autoimmune bullous diseases autoantibodies using a single investigation. This manuscript reviews the literature on the validity of the BIOCHIP in the diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid. A systematic search for journal articles comparing the sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic tests for bullous pemphigoid patients was conducted in online databases via the Ovid SP search interfaces. The literature search generated 745 articles of which 189 were deemed relevant. Among the relevant articles, seven studies investigated the validity of the BIOCHIP indirect immunofluorescent test in the diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid. The BIOCHIP has demonstrated itself to be a specific test for BP180 (96.5–100%) and BP230 (98.3–100%), with a high sensitivity for BP180 (83.3–100%) but poor sensitivity for BP230 (24.3–66.7%). The BIOCHIP mosaic‐based immunofluorescence test is potentially a simple, time‐ and effort‐saving test that can aid in the diagnosis and screening of bullous pemphigoid. Further studies should report on the inter‐rater reliability of the BIOCHIP to further validate the tool.
Keratinocyte carcinoma as a chronic disease in Australia and Spain: The importance of avoidance of perceived visible scars
Authors: Venning Victoria L , Thomas Charlotte L , Consuegra Romero Germana , Castro Gutiérrez Beatriz , St George Gayathri , Fernandez‐Peñas Pablo
Published: April 2019

Background/Objectives

Keratinocyte cancer impacts health‐related quality of life (HRQL). Disease progression and treatment can lead to adverse physical and psychosocial consequences. The skin cancer index (SCI) is a validated tool with higher scores reflecting greater HRQL. Our objectives were to assess and compare the impact of keratinocyte cancer using the SCI in two diverse populations.

Methods

A total of 120 patients were prospectively recruited from dermatology clinics in Sydney, Australia, and Santander, Spain, providing demographics and completing the SCI.

Results

About 61.1% of Australians reported ≥2 skin cancers (vs 20% P = <0.001), 44.4% resulting visible scars (vs 14.8% P = <0.001). Visible scars were associated with poorer HRQL, across total SCI (68.3 vs 81.5 P = <0.001), social (76.0 vs 86.7 P = 0.003) and emotional (54.2 vs 69.7 P = 0.003) domains. Interestingly, perceived visible scars were not associated with appearance scores. The Spanish population reported greater appearance (88.0 vs 75.6 P = 0.008) and emotional (70.7 vs 60.5 P = 0.034) HRQL. Surprisingly, incidence of cancer, recent disease, gender and education were not associated with HRQL impairment.

Conclusions

Australians with keratinocyte cancer experience poorer HRQL compared to a Spanish population. Offering non‐surgical means when amenable and consideration of psychosocial needs during clinical course is emphasised. While our study highlights the importance of HRQL tools, our results question the sensitivity of the SCI across populations. Further research is required to substantiate its ongoing use.
Combined nestorone–testosterone gel suppresses serum gonadotropins to concentrations associated with effective hormonal contraception in men
Authors: Anawalt B. D. , Roth M. Y. , Ceponis J. , Surampudi V. , Amory J. K. , Swerdloff R. S. , Liu P. Y. , Dart C. , Bremner W. J. , Sitruk‐Ware R. , Kumar N. , Blithe D. L. , Page S. T. , Wang C.
Published: April 2019

Background

Novel male‐based contraceptives are needed to broaden family planning choices. A progestin, Nestorone® (Nes) gel, plus a testosterone (T) gel suppresses sperm concentrations to levels associated with effective contraception in normal men. However, administration of two gels on different parts of the body daily is impractical.

Objective

Compare the effectiveness of daily application of a single, combined 8.3 mg Nes‐62.5 mg T gel (Nes‐T) vs. 62.7 mg T gel to suppress serum FSH and LH concentrations to ≤1.0 IU/L (a threshold associated with suppression of sperm concentrations to ≤1 million and effective contraception) and to compare the pharmacokinetics of serum Nes and T concentrations between the gel groups.

Design

We conducted a 28‐day, double‐blind, controlled trial of 44 healthy men randomized to daily Nes‐T or T gel with measurement of hormones at baseline, treatment, and recovery and during 24‐h pharmacokinetic studies on days 1 and 28 of treatment.

Results

Of the subjects who met pre‐defined inclusion criteria, 84% of the Nes‐T group suppressed serum gonadotropin concentrations to ≤1.0 IU/L at days 21–28 vs. 16.7% in the T group (p < 0.001). On day 1, Nes concentrations rose significantly above baseline by 2 h and continued to rise up to 24 h after Nes‐T gel application. Nes concentrations were not detectable in the T group. Serum total T concentrations rose and were significantly higher in the T gel group compared to the Nes‐T group at 24 h on day 1 and days 11, 14, and 21 (p < 0.01). There were no serious adverse events in either group. About 80% of the subjects reported satisfaction with both gels.

Conclusion

Daily Nes‐T gel effectively and safely suppresses serum gonadotropins and is acceptable to most men. It should be studied further in efficacy trials of hormonal male contraception.
Epithelial tissue cut‐out following needle insertion into a joint: a potential complication during arthroscopy
Authors: Epstein Daniel J. , McCullough Keith
Published: April 2019

Background

Knee arthroscopy is a common orthopaedic procedure and often involves insertion of a needle through skin into a joint. This needle insertion can create epithelial tissue cut‐outs possibly containing commensal bacteria that can be flushed into the joint, and potentially lead to post‐arthroscopy septic arthritis. This study aims to assess the frequency of epithelial tissue cut‐out creation on insertion of different needle sizes at different angles to the skin.

Methods

Using an ex‐vivo porcine limb tissue model, needles of various gauge (14–23G) were inserted at angles of 90, 60, 45 and 30° to the skin surface. Ten passes were undertaken at each angle. Needle lumen contents were then examined for solid tissue cut‐out.

Results

Two hundred and eighty needle passes were performed resulting in 70 tissue cut‐outs (25%) containing solid material. This was more common amongst lower gauge needles. 8 of the 70 (11.4%) tissue cut‐outs contained macroscopic evidence of epithelium. The overall rate of epithelial tissue cut‐out was 2.9%. The 23G needle had the lowest rate of tissue cut‐out creation, occurring twice out of 40 passes (P = 0.002). Neither of these contained macroscopic epithelial tissue.

Conclusion

Hypodermic needle insertion through skin into a joint can create epithelial tissue cut‐out. Epithelial tissue cut‐out occurs more frequently with use of lower gauge needles. This study suggests use of a 23G needle during arthroscopy, inserted either at 60 or 90° to the skin, to reduce epithelial tissue cut‐out and any potential contribution to post‐arthroscopy septic arthritis.