bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Robustness of geography as an instrument to assess impact of climate change on agriculture
Authors: Husnain Muhammad Iftikhar Ul , Subramanian Arjunan , Haider Azad
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The empirical literature on climate change and agriculture does not adequately address the issue of potential endogeneity between climatic variables and agriculture, which makes their estimates unreliable. This paper aims to investigate the relationships between climate change and agriculture and test the potential reverse causality and endogeneity of climatic variables to agriculture.

Design/methodology/approach

This study introduces a geographical instrument, longitude and latitude, for temperature to assess the impact of climate change on agriculture by estimating regression using IV-two-stage least squares method over annual panel data for 60 countries for the period of 1999-2011. The identification and F-statistic tests are used to choose and exclude the instrument. The inclusion of some control variables is supposed to reduce the omitted variable bias.

Findings

The study finds a negative relationship between temperature and agriculture. Surprisingly, the magnitude of the coefficient on temperature is mild, at least 20 per cent, as compared to previous studies, which may be because of the use of the instrumental variable (IV), which is also supported by an alternative robust measure when estimated across different regions.

Practical implications

The study provides strong implications for policymakers to confront climate change, which is an impending danger to agriculture. In designing effective policies and strategies, policymakers should focus not only on crop production but also on other agricultural activities such as livestock production and fisheries, in addition to national and international socio-economic and geopolitical dynamics.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the growing literature in at least four aspects. First, empirical settings introduce an innovative geographical instrument, Second, it includes a wider set of control variables in the analysis. Third, it extends previous studies by involving agriculture value addition. Finally, the effects of temperature and precipitation on a single aggregate measure, agriculture value addition, are separately investigated.
First party fraud management: framework for the retail industry
Authors: Amasiatu Chioma Vivian , Shah Mahmood Hussain
Published: April 2018

Purpose

First party fraud in which consumers commit fraud against retailers is a growing problem. Research in this area is very limited which means that there is almost no guidance available to mitigate this problem. Existing fraud management frameworks focus on the management of other fraud, such as identity theft or employee instigated fraud. Due to the different nature of these frauds, these frameworks do not adequately address first party fraud. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to propose an adapted version of the fraud management lifecycle framework which is specific to first party fraud management.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a systematic literature review and compared/contrasted a number of existing fraud management frameworks in related domains to see which one would be most suitable for first party fraud management.

Findings

The authors found Wilhelm’s fraud management framework the most promising for adaptation and application to the first party fraud context. By modifying an existing framework according to the contextual requirements, the authors make the framework much more relevant to first party fraud management.

Practical implications

The framework could help retail managers better understand and manage this growing business problem and open new streams for further research.

Originality/value

This research also makes an important contribution by proposing a framework and by helping bridge a glaring and problematic gap in existing literature and opening up new streams of research.
Legal models beyond the corporation in Australia: plugging a gap or weaving a tapestry?
Authors: Morgan Bronwen
Published: April 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the availability of new legal models for social enterprise development in Australia, asking the question: what does a distinctive focus on legal form add to the scholarly exploration of social enterprise? The paper has a dual purpose: firstly, to present a general empirical review of the fact, possible causes and implications of the absence of new legal models for social enterprise in Australia; and secondly, to make a polemical argument highlighting some of the advantages of developing a distinctive legal structure for social entrepreneurs in Australia.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reconciles two contending accounts. One would stress the absence of new legal models (the “gap” analysis). The other would acknowledge the absence of new legal models, while stressing the relevance of existing legal models for pursuing social enterprise goals. Both accounts are descriptively true, but the tension between them relates in part to the level of analysis (legal-political, collective voluntary action or bottom-up individual actors) and, in part, to longstanding tensions in the conceptualisation of social enterprise.

Findings

The paper provides evidence of the rising salience of existing cooperative legal forms, rising diversity in the legal model choices of individual social enterprises and the emergence of two significant bottom-up developments in voluntary model rules. The legal-political bottleneck that remains is related to the constitutional structure of federal and state power, key macro-political policy trends in the late 1990s and the distinctive nature of the Australian “wage-earners” welfare state settlement.

Originality/value

The paper highlights that what may appear as a “gap” in the legal landscape of Australian social enterprise is more nuanced. Despite the striking absence of any distinct new legislated legal models, the overall situation is a complex landscape providing multiple threads for weaving together diverse forms of social enterprise. Although legal frameworks may not be as salient as governance design choices, they generate three important second-order effects: signalling, legitimation and professional networks. Taken together, these may support a case for the distinctive value of a specific hybrid legal model for social enterprise.
Review shows that Icelandic society is taking firmer steps to tackle the diverse forms of child abuse and neglect that its children are exposed to
Authors: Gunnlaugsson Geir , Einarsdóttir Jónína
Published: April 2018

Aim

This review examined and summarised the research published on child abuse in Iceland, which was mainly in the country's native language, to make the findings more accessible to English speakers. It specifically focused on child rearing and the physical, emotional and sexual abuse, neglect and intrafamilial conflicts suffered by children at the hands of their parents and other carers.

Method

The review drew on published research, books and reports and compared the findings with Nordic research and global estimates of child abuse.

Results

Qualitative and quantitative research revealed that the prevalence of different forms of child abuse, child neglect and intra‐familial conflicts in Iceland was similar to, or higher than, global and Nordic estimates. Younger respondents reported less physical abuse than older respondents, but higher levels of emotional abuse. Legislation, greater awareness, public debates and research on child abuse in Iceland have contributed to the growing recognition of the negative consequences of child abuse and strengthened support for prevention strategies.

Conclusion

Icelandic children have reportedly experienced diverse forms of child abuse and neglect from their parents and other carers. Diverse initiatives have been put in place that underline the urgent need to tackle such behaviour.
Deployment of carboxymethyl cellulose sheets to prevent esophageal stricture after full circumferential endoscopic submucosal dissection: A porcine model
Authors: Tang Jian , Ye Shufang , Ji Xueliang , Liu Feng , Li Zhaoshen
Published: April 2018

Background and Aim

Esophageal stricture is a serious adverse event secondary to extensive endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). The present study aimed to investigate the efficacy of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) sheets for the prevention of esophageal stricture after full circumferential ESD in an animal model.

Methods

Fourteen porcine models were randomized into a control group (n = 7) and a CMC group (n = 7). Five‐centimeter‐long circumferential esophageal ESD was carried out at a distance of 40 to 45 cm from the incisors in all models. In the CMC group, CMC sheets were placed over the mucosal defect completely after ESD, whereas the control group underwent routine ESD only. Endoscopic examination was conducted after the first and second week post‐ESD. Esophageal specimens were harvested during post‐mortem and were evaluated for macroscopic and histological appearance. Blood serum levels of four pro‐inflammatory or profibrotic cytokines were measured quantitatively.

Results

The CMC group had better food tolerability during the second week post‐ESD. The CMC group showed a significantly lower esophageal mucosal stricture rate compared to the control group. Histological assessments showed less fibrosis in the submucosal layer, milder damage to the muscularis propria, and enhanced re‐epithelization in the CMC group. Serum transforming growth factor beta 1 levels were significantly lower in the CMC group post‐ESD.

Conclusion

Deployment of CMC sheets on the mucosal defect appears to be a promising method for preventing esophageal strictures after extensive ESD.
Homo and hetero dimerisation of the human guanylate‐binding proteins hGBP‐1 and hGBP‐5 characterised by affinities and kinetics
Authors: Kutsch Miriam , Ince Semra , Herrmann Christian
Published: April 2018

The human guanylate‐binding proteins (hGBPs) exhibit diverse antipathogenic and tumour‐related functions which make them key players in the innate immune response. The isoforms hGBP‐1 to hGBP‐5 form homomeric complexes and localise to specific cellular compartments. Upon heteromeric interactions, hGBPs are able to guide each other to their specific compartments. Thus, homo‐ and heteromeric interactions allow the hGBPs to build a network within the cell which might be important for their diverse biological functions. We characterised homomeric complexes of hGBPs in vitro and presented most recently that nonprenylated hGBP‐1 and hGBP‐5 form dimers as highest oligomeric species while farnesylated hGBP‐1 is able to form polymers. We continued to work on the biochemical characterisation of the heteromeric interactions between hGBPs and present here results for nonprenylated hGBP‐1 and hGBP‐5. Multiangle light scattering identified the GTP‐dependent heteromeric complex as dimer. Also hGBP‐5's tumour‐associated splice variant (hGBP‐5ta) was able to form a hetero dimer with hGBP‐1. Intriguingly, both hGBP‐5 splice variants were able to induce domain rearrangements within hGBP‐1. We further characterised the homo and hetero dimers with Förster resonance energy transfer‐based experiments. This allowed us to obtain affinities and kinetics of the homo and hetero dimer formation. Furthermore, we identified that the LG domains of hGBP‐1 and hGBP‐5 build an interaction site within the hetero dimer. Our in vitro study provides mechanistic insights into the homomeric and heteromeric interactions of hGBP‐1 and hGBP‐5 and present useful strategies to characterise the hGBP network further.
Melatonin levels in human diabetic dental pulp tissue and its effects on dental pulp cells under hyperglycaemic conditions
Authors: Milosavljević A. , DJukić Lj. , Toljić B. , Milašin J. , DŽeletović B. , Brković B. , Roganović J.
Published: April 2018

Aim

To investigate melatonin (MEL) levels in human dental pulp tissue (hDP) in type 2 diabetic (T2D) participants and the underlying molecular mechanisms of its effects in human dental pulp cells (hDPCs) under hyperglycaemia.

Methodology

The study included 16 healthy and 16 T2D participants who underwent vital pulp extirpation for hDP and four healthy participants undergoing third molar extraction for hDPCs analyses. MTT and NRU were used as tests for cytotoxicity. The pulp tissue levels of MEL, inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, as well as iNOS, histone acetyltransferase p300 (p300) and SOD activity levels in hDPCs incubated with MEL (0.1 and 1.0 mmol L−1) under normoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Comparisons between the two groups were made by unpaired t‐tests or Mann–Whitney test whilst the chi‐square test was used for dichotomous variables. To compare more groups, the Kruskal–Wallis test with Dunn's multiple comparison was used, whilst Spearman correlation was used to assess association between two variables.

Results

Melatonin was decreased (124.30 ± 21.6 vs. 240.0 ± 19.1 pg mL−1, P < 0.01), whilst iNOS levels increased (0.92 ± 0.08 vs. 0.32 ± 0.09 ng mL−1, P < 0.01) in hDP from T2D compared to nondiabetic participants. In hDPCs, MEL (0.1 and 1.0 mmol L−1) had no cytotoxicity. Incubation with 1.0 mmol L−1 of MEL (24 h) decreased hyperglycaemia‐induced increases of iNOS (0.34 ± 0.01 ng mL−1 vs. 0.40 ± 0.01 ng mL−1, P < 0.01) and p300 (11.59 ± 0.58 ng mL−1 vs. 16.12 ± 0.39 ng mL−1, P < 0.01), and also, increased SOD activity (87.11 ± 3.10% vs. 68.56 ± 3.77%, P < 0.01) to the levels comparable to the normoglycaemic; iNOS and p300 protein expression levels showed strong positive correlation under hyperglycaemia (Spearman r = 0.8242, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Type 2 diabetic participants had decreased MEL in hDP. At pharmacological concentrations, MEL is not cytotoxic for hDPCs and normalizes iNOS and SOD activity levels in hyperglyceamic hDPCs suggesting its antioxidant and protective effects in human dental pulp tissue under hyperglycaemia.
Direct binding and internalization of diverse extracellular nucleic acid species through the collagenous domain of class A scavenger receptors
Authors: Baid Kaushal , Nellimarla Srinivas , Huynh Angela , Boulton Stephen , Guarné Alba , Melacini Giuseppe , Collins Susan E , Mossman Karen L
Published: April 2018

Nucleic acids are potential pathogen‐associated or danger‐associated molecular patterns that modulate immune responses and the development of autoimmune disorders. Class A scavenger receptors (SR‐As) are a diverse group of pattern recognition receptors that recognize a variety of polyanionic ligands including nucleic acids. While SR‐As are important for the recognition and internalization of extracellular dsRNA, little is known about extracellular DNA, despite its association with chronic infections and autoimmune disorders. In this study, we investigated the specificity of and requirement for SR‐As in binding and internalizing different species, sequences and lengths of nucleic acids. We purified recombinant coiled‐coil/collagenous and scavenger receptor cysteine‐rich (SRCR) domains that have been implicated as potential ligand‐binding domains. We detected a direct interaction of RNA and DNA species with the coiled‐coil/collagenous domain, but not the SRCR domain. Despite the presence of additional surface receptors that bind nucleic acids, SR‐As were found to be sufficient for nucleic acid binding and uptake in A549 human lung epithelial cells. Moreover, these findings suggest that the coiled‐coil/collagenous domain of SR‐As is sufficient to bind nucleic acids independent of species, sequence or length.
Antigen‐specific Helios−, Neuropilin‐1− Tregs induce apoptosis of autoreactive B cells via PD‐L1
Authors: Gotot Janine , Dhana Ermanila , Yagita Hideo , Kaiser Romina , Ludwig‐Portugall Isis , Kurts Christian
Published: April 2018

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) maintain self‐tolerance and prevent autoimmunity by controlling autoreactive T cells. We recently demonstrated in vivo that Tregs can directly suppress auto‐reactive B cells via programmed death ligand 1 (PD‐L1) that ligated PD‐1 on B cells and caused them to undergo apoptosis. Here, we asked whether this mechanism is utilized by thymus‐derived natural Tregs and/or by peripheral lymphoid tissue‐induced Tregs. We first demonstrated that antigen‐specific PD‐L1‐expressing Tregs were induced in the draining lymph node of autoantigen‐expressing tissue and characterized them by their lack of the transcription factor Helios and of the surface marker Neuropilin‐1 (Nrp‐1). Next, we established an in vitro co‐culture system to study the interaction between B cells and Treg subsets under controlled conditions. We found that Nrp− Treg, but not Nrp+ Treg suppressed autoreactive B cells, whereas both were able to suppress T‐helper cells. Such suppression was antigen‐specific and was facilitated by PD‐L1/PD‐1‐induced apoptosis. Furthermore, it required physical cell contact and was MHC II‐restricted, providing an explanation for the antigen‐specificity of peripherally‐induced Tregs. These findings identify a role for peripherally induced Helios− Nrp‐1− inducible Treg in controlling peripheral B‐cell tolerance against tissue auto‐antigens.
Diversity within the novel Dickeya fangzhongdai sp., isolated from infected orchids, water and pears
Authors: Alič Š. , Van Gijsegem F. , Pédron J. , Ravnikar M. , Dreo T.
Published: April 2018

Members of the genus Dickeya are plant pathogens that mostly cause soft‐rot diseases. Diversity within the genus has led to the recent description of three novel species (i.e. a mainly clonal D. solani of economic consequence in potatoes, D. aquatica from water samples and D. fangzhongdai isolated from necrotic pear trees in China). However, multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) has highlighted the occurrence of seven isolates not related to the defined Dickeya species. These include a previously unclassified group of Dickeya strains isolated from monocotyledonous plants, Dickeya sp. S1, Dickeya sp. B16, and Dickeya sp. NCPPB 3274, as well as Dickeya sp. MK7, a strain isolated from water, and misassigned strains D. solani ND14, D. solani M005 and D. chrysanthemi M074. Here, it is reported that these isolates can be classified as D. fangzhongdai by using average nucleotide identity analysis and MLSA. However, variations in phenotypic characterization featuring colony morphology and carbon utilization assays revealed a diversity of bacterial isolates classified as D. fangzhongdai. Based on the results of the genomic analysis, the classification of Dickeya sp. S1, Dickeya sp. B16, Dickeya sp. MK7, Dickeya sp. NCPPB 3274 to D. fangzhongdai is proposed as well as the reclassification of D. solani ND14, D. solani M005 and D. chrysanthemi M074 to D. fangzhongdai.
Geoelectrochemical CO production: Implications for the autotrophic origin of life
Authors: Kitadai Norio , Nakamura Ryuhei , Yamamoto Masahiro , Takai Ken , Li Yamei , Yamaguchi Akira , Gilbert Alexis , Ueno Yuichiro , Yoshida Naohiro , Oono Yoshi
Published: April 2018

Efficient CO production realizing Wächtershäuser’s scenario was demonstrated in simulated early ocean hydrotherm systems.
BIG1/Arfgef1 and Arf1 regulate the initiation of myelination by Schwann cells in mice
Authors: Miyamoto Yuki , Torii Tomohiro , Tago Kenji , Tanoue Akito , Takashima Shou , Yamauchi Junji
Published: April 2018

BIG1 and its effector Arf1 are newly added to the list of signaling molecules controlling axonal myelination.
Inhibition of IP6K1 suppresses neutrophil-mediated pulmonary damage in bacterial pneumonia
Authors: Hou Qingming , Liu Fei , Chakraborty Anutosh , Jia Yonghui , Prasad Amit , Yu Hongbo , Zhao Li , Ye Keqiang , Snyder Solomon H. , Xu Yuanfu , Luo Hongbo R.
Published: April 2018

IP6K1-mediated polyP production by platelets promotes neutrophil-platelet aggregation and neutrophil accumulation in bacterial pneumonia.
Overlooking cardiac dysfunction triggered by immune checkpoint inhibitors: Caution, trespassers will be ventilated
Authors: Santulli Gaetano
Published: April 2018

Immune-related cardiac adverse events can ensue following immunotherapies.
Sesquiterpene Synthase–3-Hydroxy-3-Methylglutaryl Coenzyme A Synthase Fusion Protein Responsible for Hirsutene Biosynthesis in Stereum hirsutum
Authors: Flynn Christopher M. , Schmidt-Dannert Claudia
Published: April 2018

The wood-rotting mushroom
Stereum hirsutum
is a known producer of a large number of namesake hirsutenoids, many with important bioactivities. Hirsutenoids form a structurally diverse and distinct class of sesquiterpenoids. No genes involved in hirsutenoid biosynthesis have yet been identified or their enzymes characterized. Here, we describe the cloning and functional characterization of a hirsutene synthase as an unexpected fusion protein of a sesquiterpene synthase (STS) with a C-terminal 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA) synthase (HMGS) domain. Both the full-length fusion protein and truncated STS domain are highly product-specific 1,11-cyclizing STS enzymes with kinetic properties typical of STSs. Complementation studies in
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
confirmed that the HMGS domain is also functional
in vivo
. Phylogenetic analysis shows that the hirsutene synthase domain does not form a clade with other previously characterized sesquiterpene synthases from Basidiomycota. Comparative gene structure analysis of this hirsutene synthase with characterized fungal enzymes reveals a significantly higher intron density, suggesting that this enzyme may be acquired by horizontal gene transfer. In contrast, the HMGS domain is clearly related to other fungal homologs. This STS-HMGS fusion protein is part of a biosynthetic gene cluster that includes P450s and oxidases that are expressed and could be cloned from cDNA. Finally, this unusual fusion of a terpene synthase to an HMGS domain, which is not generally recognized as a key regulatory enzyme of the mevalonate isoprenoid precursor pathway, led to the identification of additional HMGS duplications in many fungal genomes, including the localization of HMGSs in other predicted sesquiterpenoid biosynthetic gene clusters.

IMPORTANCE
Hirsutenoids represent a structurally diverse class of bioactive sesquiterpenoids isolated from fungi. Identification of their biosynthetic pathways will provide access to this chemodiversity for the discovery and synthesis of molecules with new bioactivities. The identification and successful cloning of the previously elusive hirsutene synthase from the
S. hirsutum
provide important insights and strategies for biosynthetic gene discovery in Basidiomycota. The finding of a terpene synthase-HMGS fusion, the discovery of other sesquiterpenoid biosynthetic gene clusters with dedicated HMGS genes, and HMGS gene duplications in fungal genomes give new importance to the role of HMGS as a key regulatory enzyme in isoprenoid and sterol biosynthesis that should be exploited for metabolic engineering.
Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Vibrio cholerae in Turbid Alkaline Lakes as Determined by Quantitative PCR
Authors: Bliem Rupert , Reischer Georg , Linke Rita , Farnleitner Andreas , Kirschner Alexander
Published: April 2018

In recent years, global warming has led to a growing number of
Vibrio cholerae
infections in bathing water users in regions formerly unaffected by this pathogen. It is therefore of high importance to monitor
V. cholerae
in aquatic environments and to elucidate the main factors governing its prevalence and abundance. For this purpose, rapid and standardizable methods that can be performed by routine water laboratories are prerequisite. In this study, we applied a recently developed multiplex quantitative PCR (qPCR) strategy (i) to monitor the spatiotemporal variability of
V. cholerae
abundance in two small soda pools and a large lake that is intensively used for recreation and (ii) to elucidate the main factors driving
V. cholerae
dynamics in these environments.
V. cholerae
was detected with qPCR at high concentrations of up to 970,000 genomic units 100 ml
−1
during the warm season, up to 2 orders of magnitude higher than values obtained by cultivation. An independent cytometric approach led to results comparable to qPCR data but with significantly more positive samples due to problems with DNA recovery for qPCR. Not a single sample was positive for toxigenic
V. cholerae
, indicating that only nontoxigenic
V. cholerae
(NTVC) was present. Temperature was the main predictor of NTVC abundance, but the quality and quantity of dissolved organic matter were also important environmental correlates. Based on this study, we recommend using the developed qPCR strategy for quantification of toxigenic and nontoxigenic
V. cholerae
in bathing waters with the need for improvements in DNA recovery.

IMPORTANCE
There is a definitive need for rapid and standardizable methods to quantify waterborne bacterial pathogens. Such methods have to be thoroughly tested for their applicability to environmental samples. In this study, we critically tested a recently developed multiplex qPCR strategy for its applicability to determine the spatiotemporal variability of
V. cholerae
abundance in lakes with a challenging water matrix. Several qPCR protocols for
V. cholerae
detection have been developed in the laboratory, but comprehensive studies on the application to environmental samples are extremely scarce. In our study, we demonstrate that our developed qPCR approach is a valuable tool but that there is a need for improvement in DNA recovery for complex water matrices. Furthermore, we found that nontoxigenic
V. cholerae
is present in very high numbers in the investigated ecosystems, while toxigenic
V. cholerae
is apparently absent. Such information is of importance for public health.
Subgroup Characteristics of Marine Methane-Oxidizing ANME-2 Archaea and Their Syntrophic Partners as Revealed by Integrated Multimodal Analytical Microscopy
Authors: McGlynn Shawn E. , Chadwick Grayson L. , O'Neill Ariel , Mackey Mason , Thor Andrea , Deerinck Thomas J. , Ellisman Mark H. , Orphan Victoria J.
Published: April 2018

Phylogenetically diverse environmental ANME archaea and sulfate-reducing bacteria cooperatively catalyze the anaerobic oxidation of methane oxidation (AOM) in multicelled consortia within methane seep environments. To better understand these cells and their symbiotic associations, we applied a suite of electron microscopy approaches, including correlative fluorescencein situhybridization-electron microscopy (FISH-EM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and serial block face scanning electron microscopy (SBEM) three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions. FISH-EM of methane seep-derived consortia revealed phylogenetic variability in terms of cell morphology, ultrastructure, and storage granules. Representatives of the ANME-2b clade, but not other ANME-2 groups, contained polyphosphate-like granules, while some bacteria associated with ANME-2a/2c contained two distinct phases of iron mineral chains resembling magnetosomes. 3D segmentation of two ANME-2 consortium types revealed cellular volumes of ANME and their symbiotic partners that were larger than previous estimates based on light microscopy. Polyphosphate-like granule-containing ANME (tentatively termed ANME-2b) were larger than both ANME with no granules and partner bacteria. This cell type was observed with up to 4 granules per cell, and the volume of the cell was larger in proportion to the number of granules inside it, but the percentage of the cell occupied by these granules did not vary with granule number. These results illuminate distinctions between ANME-2 archaeal lineages and partnering bacterial populations that are apparently unified in their ability to perform anaerobic methane oxidation.

IMPORTANCEMethane oxidation in anaerobic environments can be accomplished by a number of archaeal groups, some of which live in syntrophic relationships with bacteria in structured consortia. Little is known of the distinguishing characteristics of these groups. Here, we applied imaging approaches to better understand the properties of these cells. We found unexpected morphological, structural, and volume variability of these uncultured groups by correlating fluorescence labeling of cells with electron microscopy observables.
Complete Genome Sequences of Two Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus haemolyticus Isolates of Multilocus Sequence Type 25, First Detected by Shotgun Metagenomics
Authors: Couto Natacha , Chlebowicz Monika A. , Raangs Erwin C. , Friedrich Alex W. , Rossen John W.
Published: April 2018

The emergence of nosocomial infections by multidrug-resistant
Staphylococcus haemolyticus
isolates has been reported in several European countries. Here, we report the first two complete genome sequences of
S. haemolyticus
sequence type 25 (ST25) isolates 83131A and 83131B. Both isolates were isolated from the same clinical sample and were first identified through shotgun metagenomics.
Draft Genome Sequences of Marinobacter Strains Recovered from Utica Shale-Produced Fluids
Authors: Tummings Shantal , Panescu Jenny , Daly Rebecca A. , Wrighton Kelly C. , Mouser Paula J.
Published: April 2018

The genomes of three
Marinobacter
strains, isolated from saline fluids produced from a Utica-Point Pleasant shale well, have been sequenced. These genomes provide novel information on the degradation of petroleum distillates and virulence mechanisms under microaerophilic conditions in fractured shale.
Draft Genome Sequence of Enterococcus faecium Strain J19, Isolated from Cabbage
Authors: Ayala Diana I. , Cook Peter W. , Campos David L. , Franco Jorge G. , Brashears Mindy M. , den Bakker Henk , Nightingale Kendra K.
Published: April 2018

Herein, we report the draft genome sequence of a newly discovered probiotic strain,
Enterococcus faecium
J19, which was isolated from cabbage. Strain J19 has shown antagonistic effects against the human foodborne pathogen
Listeria monocytogenes
in coculture and in different food matrices.
Draft Genome Sequence and Annotation of the Lichen-Forming Fungus Arthonia radiata
Authors: Armstrong Ellie E. , Prost Stefan , Ertz Damien , Westberg Martin , Frisch Andreas , Bendiksby Mika
Published: April 2018

We report here the draft
de novo
genome assembly, transcriptome assembly, and annotation of the lichen-forming fungus
Arthonia radiata
(Pers.) Ach., the type species for Arthoniomycetes, a class of lichen-forming, lichenicolous, and saprobic Ascomycota. The genome was assembled using overlapping paired-end and mate pair libraries and sequenced on an Illumina HiSeq 2500 instrument.
Cell-centred meta-analysis reveals baseline predictors of anti-TNFα non-response in biopsy and blood of patients with IBD
Authors: Gaujoux Renaud , Starosvetsky Elina , Maimon Naama , Vallania Francesco , Bar-Yoseph Haggai , Pressman Sigal , Weisshof Roni , Goren Idan , Rabinowitz Keren , Waterman Matti , Yanai Henit , Dotan Iris , Sabo Edmond , Chowers Yehuda , Khatri Purvesh , Shen-Orr Shai S
Published: April 2018

Objective

Although anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNFα) therapies represent a major breakthrough in IBD therapy, their cost–benefit ratio is hampered by an overall 30% non-response rate, adverse side effects and high costs. Thus, finding predictive biomarkers of non-response prior to commencing anti-TNFα therapy is of high value.

Design

We analysed publicly available whole-genome expression profiles of colon biopsies obtained from multiple cohorts of patients with IBD using a combined computational deconvolution—meta-analysis paradigm which allows to estimate immune cell contribution to the measured expression and capture differential regulatory programmes otherwise masked due to variation in cellular composition. Insights from this in silico approach were experimentally validated in biopsies and blood samples of three independent test cohorts.

Results

We found the proportion of plasma cells as a robust pretreatment biomarker of non-response to therapy, which we validated in two independent cohorts of immune-stained colon biopsies, where a plasma cellular score from inflamed biopsies was predictive of non-response with an area under the curve (AUC) of 82%. Meta-analysis of the cell proportion-adjusted gene expression data suggested that an increase in inflammatory macrophages in anti-TNFα non-responding individuals is associated with the upregulation of the triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1 (TREM-1) and chemokine receptor type 2 (CCR2)-chemokine ligand 7 (CCL7) –axes. Blood gene expression analysis of an independent cohort, identified TREM-1 downregulation in non-responders at baseline, which was predictive of response with an AUC of 94%.

Conclusions

Our study proposes two clinically feasible assays, one in biopsy and one in blood, for predicting non-response to anti-TNFα therapy prior to initiation of treatment. Moreover, it suggests that mechanism-driven novel drugs for non-responders should be developed.
Neuronal regeneration in the goldfish telencephalon following 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) insult
Authors: Venables Maddie J. , Xing Lei , Edington Connor C. , Trudeau Vance L.
Published: April 2018

The constitutive regenerative ability of the goldfish central nervous system makes them an excellent model organism to study neurogenesis. Intraperitoneal injection of neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) was used to deplete tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons in the adult goldfish telencephalon. We report novel information on the ability of the goldfish to regenerate (∼3–4 d post-MPTP insult) damaged neurons in telencephalic tissue by observing the rapid incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine into newly generated cells, which precedes the recovery of motor function in MPTP-treated animals. Specifically, the telencephalon area telencephali pars dorsalis in female goldfish, which is associated with fish motor activity, regenerates following MPTP toxicity. The remarkable ability of goldfish to rapidly regenerate damaged neurons provides insight into their use as model organisms to study neuroregenerative abilities within a few days following injury. We provide evidence that goldfish are able to regenerate neurons in ∼3–4 d to both replenish and recover baseline catecholaminergic levels, thus enabling the fish to reestablish basic activities such as swimming. The study of neuron regeneration in the damaged goldfish brain will increase our understanding of vertebrate neurogenesis and regeneration processes following central nervous system injury.
ℤ2-graded codimensions of unital algebras
Authors: Repovš Dušan D. , Zaicev Mikhail V.
Published: April 2018

We study polynomial identities of nonassociative algebras constructed by using infinite binary words and their combinatorial properties. Infinite periodic and Sturmian words were first applied for constructing examples of algebras with an arbitrary real PI-exponent greater than one. Later, we used these algebras for a confirmation of the conjecture that PI-exponent increases precisely by one after adjoining an external unit to a given algebra. Here, we prove the same result for these algebras for graded identities and graded PI-exponent, provided that the grading group is cyclic of order two.
EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS ON THE INFLUENCE OF TiC/GRAPHITE REINFORCEMENT IN WEAR BEHAVIOR OF Al 6061HYBRID COMPOSITES
Authors: JEYAPRAKASAM S. , VENKATACHALAM R. , VELMURUGAN C.
Published: April 2018

This research work focuses about fabrication and investigation on the influence of Titanium Carbide (TiC)-graphite particles reinforcement in wear behavior of Aluminium Matrix Composites (AMC). The stir casting technique was used to fabricate AMC reinforced with various weight percentage of TiC and graphite particles. Wear tests were conducted by using pin-on-disc wear testing machine. The hardness of the hybrid composites were recorded on the test specimen. The worn out surfaces of composites were analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Results reveal that the presence of TiC and graphite particles improved the wear resistance. The wear of composite is primarily due to delamination and abrasion. The graphite particles serve as the solid lubricant on the wear of composite. The hardness of composite is improved with the decrease in weight percentage of graphite. SEM images reveal that the reinforcement particles in the matrix are homogeneously distributed. Also, worn-out surfaces of the composite were studied to observe wear track and wear mechanisms like plowing grooves, crack or cutting, and fragmentation.
Detecting PUE Attack by Measuring Aberrational Node Behavior in CWSN
Authors: CHATTERJEE PINAKI SANKAR , ROY MONIDEEPA
Published: April 2018

Primary User Emulation (PUE) attack is a type of Denial of Service (DoS) attack in Cognitive Wireless Sensor Network (CWSN), where malicious secondary users (SU) try to emulate primary users (PU) to maximize their own spectrum usage or obstruct other SU from accessing the spectrum. In this paper, we have designed an application to monitor the SU’s behavior with respect to the CWSN normal behavior profile towards it’s one hop neighbor. Abnormal behavior towards PUE attack of any SU helps us to identify PUE attackers in the network. Our application does not require extensive computational capabilities and memory and therefore suitable for resource constraint cognitive sensor nodes.
An Innovative SLA-Based Service Monitoring Framework in Cloud
Authors: Paul Mridul , Das Ajanta
Published: April 2018

Cloud computing encompasses powerful technology to perform complex computing for large applications. It provides access to various resources from any location with reduced Information Communication Technology overhead, enabling availability and scalability of resources based on consumer needs. Therefore, it has brought a paradigm shift in the way computing services are delivered. However, due to its increasing usage and rising expectations from cloud service provisioning, providing optimal and effective service is becoming an arduous task for service providers. Thus, maintaining quality of service (QoS) through regular monitoring is the utmost priority for the service provider. The key ingredient of managing QoS is a service level agreement (SLA). SLAs form a basis of measuring service quality. The cloud can be leveraged for provisioning e-Learning services to serve millions of users. The e-Learning service providers can enter into a contract with available cloud providers, which is transparent to the learners. Hence, it is critical to focus on the SLAs that need to be formulated and managed by the service providers for consumers of their e-Learning services. The objective of this paper is to propose SLA-based e-Learning service framework. This paper also identifies SLA parameters and related metrics to measure SLAs relevant to the provisioning of the proposed e-Learning service. It also proposes an innovative e-Learning service monitoring framework for managing QoS. This paper further evaluates the effectiveness of the proposed framework by provisioning of e-Learning service on Google App Engine cloud platform. It also presents experimental analysis using response graph in order to monitor associated SLAs in the proposed framework.
Assessing Internal Audit with Text Mining
Authors: Boskou Georgia , Kirkos Efstathios , Spathis Charalambos
Published: April 2018

Recently internal controls, corporate governance and risk management have received a great deal of attention. Regarding internal control, several research studies address the issue of internal audit quality. Noteworthy, according to Sarbanes–Oxley (SOX) the internal controls over financial reporting are assessed by the auditors and the management. In the present study, we assess internal controls over financial reporting by employing Text Mining techniques. We analyse the annual reports of 133 publicly traded Greek Companies. The textual parts of the annual reports that refer to internal audit mechanism are extracted. We adopt a Vector Space model and the term-document matrix records the occurrence frequencies of the terms. By applying feature selection, a set of significant keywords, which are used as predictors, is extracted. The Linear Regression model developed explains the variance of the data and highlights significant predictors. The model manages to successfully assess the internal audit function. By performing PCA, major underlying procedures and concepts related to internal audit quality are revealed. Inspite of the undoubted importance of the assessment of internal audit, no previous attempt has been made to assess internal audit and to extract internal audit information from corporate disclosures by using Text Mining techniques. Our results can be useful to internal and external auditors, managers, company decision-makers, regulators and researchers.
PDC-Transitive: An Enhanced Heuristic for Document Clustering Based on Relational Analysis Approach and Iterative MapReduce
Authors: Lamari Yasmine , Slaoui Said Chah
Published: April 2018

Recently, MapReduce-based implementations of clustering algorithms have been developed to cope with the Big Data phenomenon, and they show promising results particularly for the document clustering problem. In this paper, we extend an efficient data partitioning method based on the relational analysis (RA) approach and applied to the document clustering problem, called PDC-Transitive. The introduced heuristic is parallelised using the MapReduce model iteratively and designed with a single reducer which represents a bottleneck when processing large data, we improved the design of the PDC-Transitive method to avoid the data dependencies and reduce the computation cost. Experiment results on benchmark datasets demonstrate that the enhanced heuristic yields better quality results and requires less computing time compared to the original method.
Measuring the Entrepreneurial Orientation of Public Research Centers
Authors: Khanagha Ali , Dehkordi Ali Mobini , Zali Mohammad Reza , Hejazi S. Reza
Published: April 2018

This paper presents the initial results of a project to investigate the organizational antecedents of entrepreneurship at public research and technology institutions (RTIs) in Iran. In line with the policies of the government to increase the role of publicly funded R&D in solving the problems of domestic industry, the research centers within public RTIs are encouraged to direct their research efforts towards practical applications, thus creating value from their R&D efforts. We chose to utilize a widely-used construct from corporate entrepreneurship literature (Entrepreneurial Orientation, EO) to explain undeniable differences among these research centers in their success in academic entrepreneurship. Noting that EO is a context-sensitive construct, the items to measure EO in research centers were generated by in-depth interviews; and the relationship between the contextualized EO and financial performances of research centers was investigated. The results confirmed a notable association between the EO level of research centers and their financial performance.
Effect of muscle energy technique with and without strain–counterstrain technique in acute low back pain — A randomized clinical trial
Authors: Patel Vivek Dineshbhai , Eapen Charu , Ceepee Zulfeequer , Kamath Ramachandra
Published: April 2018

Background: Muscle energy technique (MET) and strain–counterstrain (SCS) technique are found to be effective as a sole treatment of acute low back pain (LBP), but the combined effect of these two techniques has not been evaluated.

Objective: The purpose of this randomized clinical trial was to evaluate the added effect of SCS to MET in acute LBP patients.

Methods: In this trial, 50 patients were randomly allocated to MET or MET-SCS group to receive the assigned two treatment sessions for two consecutive days. Oswestry disability index (ODI) and Roland Morris disability questionnaire (RMDQ), visual analogue scale (VAS), lumbar range of motion (ROM) were recorded at baseline, after first and second session.

Results: All the outcome measures showed statistically significant ([Formula: see text]) improvement in both the groups after second session. Between the groups, analysis showed no statistically significant difference ([Formula: see text]) after the first or second session.

Conclusions: The improvement after second treatment sessions was noted in pain, ROM, and disability in both the groups, but immediate effect was seen only on pain intensity after first treatment session. When compared between the groups, no added effect of SCS to MET was found in reducing pain and disability and increasing lumbar ROM in acute LBP patients.
Random Matrix Theory for Low-Frequency Sound Propagation in the Ocean: A Spectral Statistics Test
Authors: Makarov Denis
Published: April 2018

Problem of long-range sound propagation in the randomly-inhomogeneous deep ocean is considered. We examine a novel approach for modeling of wave propagation, developed by Hegewisch and Tomsovic. This approach relies on construction of a wavefield propagator using the random matrix theory (RMT). We study the ability of the RMT-based propagator to reproduce properties of the propagator corresponding to direct numerical solution of the parabolic equation. It is shown that mode coupling described by the RMT-based propagator is basically consistent with the direct Monte-Carlo simulation. The agreement is worsened only for relatively short distances, when long-lasting cross-mode correlations are significant. It is shown that the RMT-based propagator with properly chosen range step can reproduce some coherent features in spectral statistics.
Multi-armed Bandit with Additional Observations
Authors: Yun Donggyu , Proutiere Alexandre , Ahn Sumyeong , Shin Jinwoo , Yi Yung
Published: April 2018

We study multi-armed bandit (MAB) problems with additional observations, where in each round, the decision maker selects an arm to play and can also observe rewards of additional arms (within a given budget) by paying certain costs. In the case of stochastic rewards, we develop a new algorithm KL-UCB-AO which is asymptotically optimal when the time horizon grows large, by smartly identifying the optimal set of the arms to be explored using the given budget of additional observations. In the case of adversarial rewards, we propose H-INF, an algorithm with order-optimal regret. H-INF exploits a two-layered structure where in each layer, we run a known optimal MAB algorithm. Such a hierarchical structure facilitates the regret analysis of the algorithm, and in turn, yields order-optimal regret. We apply the framework of MAB with additional observations to the design of rate adaptation schemes in 802.11-like wireless systems, and to that of online advertisement systems. In both cases, we demonstrate that our algorithms leverage additional observations to significantly improve the system performance. We believe the techniques developed in this paper are of independent interest for other MAB problems, e.g., contextual or graph-structured MAB.
Creation, curation, and classification: Mario Klingemann and Emily L. Spratt in conversation
Authors: Spratt Emily L.
Published: April 2018

Computer-generated art has long challenged traditional notions of the role of the artist and the curator in the creative process. In the age of machine learning these philosophical conceptions require even further consideration.
Why architecture and artificial intelligence?
Authors: Steenson Molly Wright
Published: April 2018

What do architecture and AI have to do with each other? Quite a bit, it turns out, and it is a history that goes back to the origins of AI.