bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transmission Networks of HCV Genotype 1a Enriched With Pre-existing Polymorphism Q80K Among HIV-Infected Patients With Acute Hepatitis C in Poland
Authors: Parczewski Miłosz , Cielniak Iwona , Kordek Justyna , Aksak-Wąs Bogusz , Urbańska Anna , Leszczyszyn-Pynka Magdalena , Siwak Ewa , Bociąga-Jasik Monika , Nowak Anna , Szymczak Aleksandra , Zalewska Małgorzata , Łojewski Władysław , Vandamme Anne-Mieke , Lübke Nadine , Cuypers Lize
Published: January 2018

Background:

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) resistance–associated variants (RAVs) have been shown to adversely affect treatment response of direct-acting antivirals. Identifying pre-existing RAVs and transmission networks among HIV/HCV genotype 1 (G1)–infected patients from Poland will assist in shaping surveillance strategies for HCV.

Methods:

NS3 and NS5A sequences were obtained from samples of 112 direct-acting antiviral–naive G1 patients (45 G1a and 67 G1b), of which 74 were chronically infected and 38 were diagnosed with acute hepatitis C (AHC). RAVs were identified using geno2pheno, and 98 concatenated NS3/NS5A alignments were constructed to identify transmission clusters using a maximum likelihood approach.

Results:

G1a was notably more prevalent compared with G1b among men-having-sex-with-men (MSM) (60.0% vs. 31.3%, P = 0.004), AHC cases (46.7% vs. 25.4%, P = 0.019), and patients diagnosed with syphilis (52.2% vs. 24.5%, P = 0.009). The overall NS3/NS5A RAVs frequency was 14.3% with variants occurring more often in G1a compared with G1b (27.5% vs. 5.2%, P = 0.005), mostly for NS3 due to the high prevalence of polymorphism Q80K. NS5A RAVs were only found in 2.9% of sequences. Significant clustering was observed for 73.5% of the Polish sequences, however, more common in G1a MSM compared with G1b (50.0% vs. 25.9%, P = 0.02). The identified clusters contained sequences originating from up to 5 Polish cities, located within a mean distance of 370 km.

Conclusions:

Close clustering of Polish strains suggests the presence of compartmentalized epidemics of MSM that fuel the spread of G1a variants. Particularly patients with AHC form a national transmission network, including clusters enriched with the NS3 Q80K polymorphism.
Image Quality, Overall Evaluability, and Effective Radiation Dose of Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography With Prospective Electrocardiographic Triggering Plus Intracycle Motion Correction Algorithm in Patients With a Heart Rate Over 65 Beats Per Minute
Authors: Pontone Gianluca , Muscogiuri Giuseppe , Baggiano Andrea , Andreini Daniele , Guaricci Andrea I. , Guglielmo Marco , Fazzari Fabio , Mushtaq Saima , Conte Edoardo , Annoni Andrea , Formenti Alberto , Mancini Elisabetta , Verdecchia Massimo , Fusini Laura , Bonfanti Lorenzo , Consiglio Elisa , Rabbat Mark G. , Bartorelli Antonio L. , Pepi Mauro
Published: January 2018

Purpose:

Recently, a new intracycle motion correction algorithm (MCA) was introduced to reduce motion artifacts from heart rate (HR) in coronary computed tomography angiography (cCTA). The aim of the study was to evaluate the image quality, overall evaluability, and effective radiation dose (ED) of cCTA with prospective electrocardiographic (ECG) triggering plus MCA as compared with standard protocol with retrospective ECG triggering in patients with HR≥65 bpm.

Materials and Methods:

One hundred consecutive patients (67±10 y) scheduled for cCTA with 65<HR<80 bpm were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were assigned to 2 groups undergoing prospective (group 1) or retrospective (group 2) triggered cCTA. The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee and a written informed consent was obtained from all patients. Image noise, signal to noise ratio, contrast to noise ratio, Likert image quality score (score 1, nondiagnostic; score 2, adequate; score 3, good; score 4, excellent), overall image evaluability, and ED were measured and compared between the 2 groups. Both vessel-based and patient-based analyses were evaluated. Student test or Wilcoxon test were used to evaluate differences of continuous variables, whereas the χ2 test was used to study differences with regard to categorical data. A P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results:

cCTA was successfully performed in all patients. In a segment-based model, group 1 compared with group 2 showed a lower rate of overall artifacts (67% vs. 83%; P<0.001) and motion artifacts (49% vs. 66%; P<0.001), resulting in a better Likert image quality score (2.83±1.03 vs. 2.37±1.02; P<0.01) and overall evaluability (85% vs. 75%; P<0.01). Group 1 showed a lower ED as compared with group 2 (3.1±1.9 vs. 11.9±3.3 mSv; P<0.01).

Conclusion:

MCA and cCTA with prospective ECG-triggering acquisition in patients with high HR improves image quality and overall evaluability compared with cCTA with standard retrospective ECG triggering.
Why are there associations between telomere length and behaviour?
Authors: Bateson Melissa , Nettle Daniel
Published: January 2018

Individual differences in telomere length are associated with individual differences in behaviour in humans and birds. Within the human epidemiological literature this association is assumed to result from specific behaviour patterns causing changes in telomere dynamics. We argue that selective adoption—the hypothesis that individuals with short telomeres are more likely to adopt specific behaviours—is an alternative worthy of consideration. Selective adoption could occur either because telomere length directly affects behaviour or because behaviour and telomere length are both affected by a third variable, such as exposure to early-life adversity. We present differential predictions of the causation and selective adoption hypotheses and describe how these could be tested with longitudinal data on telomere length. Crucially, if behaviour is causal then it should be associated with differential rates of telomere attrition. Using smoking behaviour as an example, we show that the evidence that smoking accelerates the rate of telomere attrition within individuals is currently weak. We conclude that the selective adoption hypothesis for the association between behaviour and telomere length is both mechanistically plausible and, if anything, more compatible with existing empirical evidence than the hypothesis that behaviour is causal.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Understanding diversity in telomere dynamics’.
The paternal age at conception effect on offspring telomere length: mechanistic, comparative and adaptive perspectives
Authors: Eisenberg Dan T. A. , Kuzawa Christopher W.
Published: January 2018

Telomeres are repeating DNA found at the ends of chromosomes that, in the absence of restorative processes, shorten with cell replications and are implicated as a cause of senescence. It appears that sperm telomere length (TL) increases with age in humans, and as a result offspring of older fathers inherit longer telomeres. We review possible mechanisms underlying this paternal age at conception (PAC) effect on TL, including sperm telomere extension due to telomerase activity, age-dependent changes in the spermatogonial stem cell population (possibly driven by ‘selfish’ spermatogonia) and non-causal confounding. In contrast to the lengthening of TL with PAC, higher maternal age at conception appears to predict shorter offspring TL in humans. We review evidence for heterogeneity across species in the PAC effect on TL, which could relate to differences in statistical power, sperm production rates or testicular telomerase activity. Finally, we review the hypothesis that the PAC effect on TL may allow a gradual multi-generational adaptive calibration of maintenance effort, and reproductive lifespan, to local demographic conditions: descendants of males who reproduced at a later age are likely to find themselves in an environment where increased maintenance effort, allowing later reproduction, represents a fitness improving resource allocation.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Understanding diversity in telomere dynamics’.
Evolution of telomere maintenance and tumour suppressor mechanisms across mammals
Authors: Tian Xiao , Doerig Katherine , Park Rosa , Can Ran Qin Alice , Hwang Chaewon , Neary Alexander , Gilbert Michael , Seluanov Andrei , Gorbunova Vera
Published: January 2018

Mammalian species differ dramatically in telomere biology. Species larger than 5–10 kg repress somatic telomerase activity and have shorter telomeres, leading to replicative senescence. It has been proposed that evolution of replicative senescence in large-bodied species is an anti-tumour mechanism counteracting increased risk of cancer due to increased cell numbers. By contrast, small-bodied species express high telomerase activity and have longer telomeres. To counteract cancer risk due to longer lifespan, long-lived small-bodied species evolved additional telomere-independent tumour suppressor mechanisms. Here, we tested the connection between telomere biology and tumorigenesis by analysing the propensity of fibroblasts from 18 rodent species to form tumours. We found a negative correlation between species lifespan and anchorage-independent growth. Small-bodied species required inactivation of Rb and/or p53 and expression of oncogenic H-Ras to form tumours. Large-bodied species displayed a continuum of phenotypes requiring additional genetic ‘hits’ for malignant transformation. Based on these data we refine the model of the evolution of tumour suppressor mechanisms and telomeres. We propose that two different strategies evolved in small and large species because small-bodied species cannot tolerate small tumours that form prior to activation of the telomere barrier, and must instead use telomere-independent strategies that act earlier, at the hyperplasia stage.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Understanding diversity in telomere dynamics’.
Comparison of telomere length measurement methods
Authors: Lai Tsung-Po , Wright Woodring E. , Shay Jerry W.
Published: January 2018

The strengths and limitations of the major methods developed to measure telomere lengths (TLs) in cells and tissues are presented in this review. These include Q-PCR (
Q
uantitative
P
olymerase
C
hain
R
eaction), TRF (
T
erminal
R
estriction
F
ragment) analysis, a variety of Q-FISH (
Q
uantitative
F
luorescence
I
n
S
itu
H
ybridization) methods, STELA (
S
ingle
TE
lomere
L
ength
A
nalysis) and TeSLA (
Te
lomere
S
hortest
L
ength
A
ssay). For each method, we will cover information about validation studies, including reproducibility in independent laboratories, accuracy, reliability and sensitivity for measuring not only the average but also the shortest telomeres. There is substantial evidence that it is the shortest telomeres that trigger DNA damage responses leading to replicative senescence in mammals. However, the most commonly used TL measurement methods generally provide information on average or relative TL, but it is the shortest telomeres that leads to telomere dysfunction (identified by TIF,
T
elomere dysfunction
I
nduced
F
oci) and limit cell proliferation in the absence of a telomere maintenance mechanism, such as telomerase. As the length of the shortest telomeres is a key biomarker determining cell fate and the onset of senescence, a new technique (TeSLA) that provides quantitative information about all the shortest telomeres will be highlighted.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Understanding diversity in telomere dynamics’.
Stability of association betweenArabidopsis thalianaandPseudomonaspathogens over evolutionary time scales
Authors: Karasov Talia L. , Almario Juliana , Friedemann Claudia , Ding Wei , Giolai Michael , Heavens Darren , Kersten Sonja , Lundberg Derek S. , Neumann Manuela , Regalado Julian , Neher Richard A. , Kemen Eric , Weigel Detlef
Published: January 2018

Crop disease outbreaks are often associated with clonal expansions of single pathogenic lineages. To determine whether similar boom-and-bust scenarios hold for wild plant pathogens, we carried out a multi-year multi-site survey ofPseudomonasin the natural hostArabidopsis thaliana.The most commonPseudomonaslineage corresponded to a pathogenic clade present in all sites. Sequencing of 1,524Pseudomonasgenomes revealed this lineage to have diversified approximately 300,000 years ago, containing dozens of genetically distinct pathogenic sublineages. These sublineages have expanded in parallel within the same populations and are differentiated both at the level of gene content and disease phenotype. Such coexistence of diverse sublineages indicates that in contrast to crop systems, no single strain has been able to overtake theseA. thalianapopulations in the recent past. Our results suggest that the selective pressures acting on a plant pathogen in wild hosts may be more complex than those in agricultural systems.
Loop Assembly: a simple and open system for recursive fabrication of DNA circuits
Authors: Pollak Bernardo , Cerda Ariel , Delmans Mihails , Álamos Simón , Moyano Tomás , West Anthony , Gutiérrez Rodrigo A. , Patron Nicola , Federici Fernán , Haseloff Jim
Published: January 2018

High efficiency methods for DNA assembly are based on sequence overlap between fragments or Type IIS restriction endonuclease cleavage and ligation. These have enabled routine assembly of synthetic DNAs of increased size and complexity. However, these techniques require customisation, elaborate vector sets and serial manipulations for the different stages of assembly. We present Loop assembly, based on a recursive approach to DNA fabrication. Alternate use of two Type IIS restriction endonucleases and corresponding vector sets allows efficient and parallel assembly of large DNA circuits. Plasmids containing standard Level 0 parts can be assembled into circuits containing 1, 4, 16 or more genes by looping between the two vector sets. The vectors also contain modular sites for hybrid assembly using sequence overlap methods. Loop assembly provides a simple generalised solution for DNA construction with standardised parts. The cloning system is provided under an OpenMTA license for unrestricted sharing and open access.
Reproducible, flexible and high-throughput data extraction from primary literature: The metaDigitise R package
Authors: Pick Joel L. , Nakagawa Shinichi , Noble Daniel W.A.
Published: January 2018

Research synthesis, such as comparative and meta-analyses, requires the extraction of effect sizes from primary literature, which are commonly calculated from descriptive statistics. However, the exact values of such statistics are commonly hidden in figures.

Extracting descriptive statistics from figures can be a slow process that is not easily reproducible. Additionally, current software lacks an ability to incorporate important meta-data (e.g., sample sizes, treatment / variable names) about experiments and is not integrated with other software to streamline analysis pipelines.

Here we present the R package metaDigitise which extracts descriptive statistics such as means, standard deviations and correlations from four plot types: 1) mean/error plots (e.g. bar graphs with standard errors), 2) box plots, 3) scatter plots and 4) histograms. metaDigitise is user-friendly and easy to learn as it interactively guides the user through the data extraction process. Notably, it enables large-scale extraction by automatically loading image files, letting the user stop processing, edit and add to the resulting data-frame at any point.

Digitised data can be easily re-plotted and checked, facilitating reproducible data extraction from plots with little inter-observer bias. We hope that by making the process of figure extraction more flexible and easy to conduct it will improve the transparency and quality of meta-analyses in the future.
HEx: a heterologous expression platform for the discovery of fungal natural products
Authors: Harvey Colin JB , Tang Mancheng , Schlecht Ulrich , Horecka Joe , Fischer Curt R , Lin Hsiao-ching , Li Jian , Naughton Brian , Cherry James , Miranda Molly , Fuga Li Yong , Chu Angela M , Hennessy James R , Vandova Gergana A , Inglis Diane , Aiyar Raeka , Steinmetz Lars M. , Davis Ronald W. , Medema Marnix H. , Sattely Elizabeth , Khosla Chaitan , St.Onge Robert P , Tang Yi , Hillenmeyer Maureen E.
Published: January 2018

For decades, fungi have been a source of FDA-approved natural products such as penicillin, cyclosporine, and the statins. Recent breakthroughs in DNA sequencing suggest that millions of fungal species exist on Earth with each genome encoding pathways capable of generating as many as dozens of natural products. However, the majority of encoded molecules are difficult or impossible to access because the organisms are uncultivable or the genes are transcriptionally silent. To overcome this bottleneck in natural product discovery, we developed the HEx (Heterologous EXpression) synthetic biology platform for rapid, scalable expression of fungal biosynthetic genes and their encoded metabolites in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We applied this platform to 41 fungal biosynthetic gene clusters from diverse fungal species from around the world, 22 of which produced detectable compounds. These included novel compounds with unexpected biosynthetic origins, particularly from poorly studied species. This result establishes the HEx platform for rapid discovery of natural products from any fungal species, even those that are uncultivable, and opens the door to discovery of the next generation of natural products.

Here we present the largest scale effort reported to date toward the complete refactoring and heterologous expression of fungal biosynthetic gene clusters utilizing HEx, a novel synthetic biology platform.
Lempel-Ziv complexity of the EEG predicts long-term functional recovery after stroke in rats
Authors: Leemburg Susan , Bassetti Claudio L.
Published: January 2018

Non-linear complexity of the EEG signal can be used to detect abnormal brain function relating to behavioral deficits. Here, we compare the effects of experimental stroke on EEG complexity using Lempel-Ziv complexity analysis (LZC) and multiscale entropy analysis (SampEn).

EEG was recorded in bilateral motor cortex at baseline and during a 30-day recovery period after distal middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats. Motor function was assessed using a single pellet reaching task. Stroke caused an acute drop in both LZC and SampEn in the ipsilesional hemisphere in wakefulness, NREM and REM sleep, as well as reduced pellet reaching success. SampEn reductions persisted for at least 10 days post-stroke, whereas LZC had returned to baseline levels by day 4. EEG complexity in the contralesional hemisphere and in sham-operated animals were unaffected.

If EEG complexity reflects post-stroke brain function, post-stroke asymmetry could be used to predict behavioral recovery. In rats, acute LZC asymmetry was significantly correlated with the amount of motor function recovery by post-stroke day 31, but SampEn asymmetry was not. EEG LZC may thus be a useful tool for predicting functional recovery after stroke. MSE could be effective in identifying cortical dysfunction, but does not reflect behavioral outcomes.
Improved cortical boundary registration for locally distorted fMRI scans
Authors: van Mourik Tim , Koopmans Peter J , Norris David G
Published: January 2018

With continuing advances in MRI techniques and the emergence of higher static field strengths, submillimetre spatial resolution is now possible in human functional imaging experiments. This has opened up the way for more specific types of analysis, for example investigation of the cortical layers of the brain. With this increased specificity, it is important to correct for the geometrical distortions that are inherent to echo planar imaging (EPI). Inconveniently, higher field strength also increases these distortions. The resulting displacements can easily amount to several millimetres and as such pose a serious problem for laminar analysis. We here present a method, Recursive Boundary Registration (RBR), that corrects distortions between an anatomical and an EPI volume. By recursively applying Boundary Based Registration (BBR) on progressively smaller subregions of the brain we generate an accurate whole-brain registration, based on the grey-white matter contrast. Explicit care is taken that the deformation does not break the topology of the cortical surface, which is an important requirement for several of the most common subsequent steps in laminar analysis. We show that RBR obtains submillimetre accuracy with respect to a manually distorted gold standard, and apply it to a set of human in vivo scans to show a clear increase in spacial specificity. RBR further automates the process of non-linear distortion correction. This is an important step towards routine human laminar fMRI. We provide the code for the RBR algorithm, as well as a variety of functions to better investigate registration performance in a public GitHub repository, https://github.com/TimVanMourik/OpenFmriAnalysis, under the GPL 3.0 license.
Chronic inflammation delays cell migration to villi in the intestinal epithelium
Authors: Muraro Daniele , Parker Aimee , Vaux Laura , Filippi Sarah , Fletcher Alexander G. , Watson Alastair J. , Pin Carmen , Maini Philip K. , Byrne Helen M.
Published: January 2018

The intestinal epithelium is a single layer of cells which provides the first line of defence of the intestinal mucosa to bacterial infection. Cohesion of this physical barrier is supported by renewal of epithelial stem cells, residing in invaginations called crypts, and by crypt cell migration onto protrusions called villi; dysregulation of such mechanism may render the gut susceptible to chronic inflammation. The impact that excessive or misplaced epithelial cell death may have on villus cell migration is currently unknown. We integrated cell-tracking methods with computational models to determine how epithelial homeostasis is affected by acute and chronic inflammatory cell death. Parameter inference reveals that acute inflammatory cell death has a transient effect on epithelial cell dynamics, whereas cell death caused by chronic inflammation causes a delay in the accumulation of labelled cells onto the villus compared to control. Such a delay may be reproduced by using a cell-based model to simulate the dynamics of each cell in a crypt-villus geometry, showing that a prolonged increase in cell death slows the migration of cells from the crypt to the villus. This investigation highlights which injuries (acute or chronic) may be regenerated and which cause disruption of healthy epithelial homeostasis.
Spindly is Required for Rapid Migration of Human Cells
Authors: Conte Claudia , Baird Michelle A. , Davidson Michael W. , Griffis Eric R.
Published: January 2018

Dynein is the sole minus-end directed microtubule motor found in animals. It has roles in cell division, membrane trafficking, and cell migration. Together with dynactin, dynein regulates centrosomal orientation to establish and maintain cell polarity, controls focal adhesion turnover and anchors microtubules at the leading edge. In higher eukaryotes, dynein/dynactin requires additional components such as Bicaudal D to form an active motor complex and for regulating its cellular localization. Spindly is a protein that targets dynein/dynactin to kinetochores in mitosis and can activate its motility in vitro. However, no role for Spindly in interphase dynein/dynactin function has been found. We show that Spindly binds to the cell cortex and microtubule tips and colocalizes with dynein/dynactin at the leading edge of migrating U2OS cells and primary fibroblasts. U2OS cells that lack Spindly migrated slower in 2D than control cells, although centrosome polarization appeared to happen properly in the absence of Spindly. Re-expression of Spindly rescues migration, but the expression of a mutant, which is defective for dynactin binding, failed to rescue this defect. Taken together, these data demonstrate that Spindly plays an important role in mediating a subset of dynein/dynactin’s function in cell migration.
Chronic dietary creatine enhances hippocampal-dependent spatial memory, bioenergetics, and levels of plasticity-related proteins associated with NF-κB
Authors: Snow Wanda M. , Cadonic Chris , Cortes-Perez Claudia , Roy Chowdhury Subir K. , Djordjevic Jelena , Thomson Ella , Bernstein Michael J. , Suh Miyoung , Fernyhough Paul , Albensi Benedict C.
Published: January 2018

The brain has a high demand for energy, of which creatine (Cr) is an important regulator. Studies document neurocognitive benefits of oral Cr in mammals, yet little is known regarding their physiological basis. This study investigated the effects of Cr supplementation (3%, w/w) on hippocampal function in male C57BL/6 mice, including spatial learning and memory in the Morris water maze and oxygen consumption rates from isolated mitochondria in real time. Levels of transcription factors and related proteins (CREB, Egr1, and IκB to indicate NF-κB activity), proteins implicated in cognition (CaMKII, PSD-95, and Egr2), and mitochondrial proteins (electron transport chain Complex I, mitochondrial fission protein Drp1) were probed with Western blotting. Dietary Cr decreased escape latency/time to locate the platform (P < 0.05) and increased the time spent in the target quadrant (P < 0.01) in the Morris water maze. This was accompanied by increased coupled respiration (P < 0.05) in isolated hippocampal mitochondria. Protein levels of CaMKII, PSD-95, and Complex 1 were increased in Cr-fed mice, whereas IκB was decreased. These data demonstrate that dietary supplementation with Cr can improve learning, memory, and mitochondrial function and have important implications for the treatment of diseases affecting memory and energy homeostasis.
A framework for business model with strategic innovation in ICT firms
Authors: Faghih Nezameddin , Dastourian Banafsheh , Sajadi Seyyed Mojtaba , Henten Andres , Foroudi Pantea
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to help gain an accurate and distinct understanding of information-based business concepts and critical steps in designing an appropriate business model, by providing a framework for designing an innovative information-based business to help fledgling businesses development in the information and communication technology (ICT) industry of Iran. What is a business model framework with the strategic innovation approach in the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) of ICT industry? What are the components of this model and the relations between them? Business model is a logical response to how a business can create value. Changing business environment means that business models are rapidly growing; accordingly, innovation is no longer optional. However, innovation is important in general, but the kind of innovation that is widely and directly dependent on business model will be quite critical for all parts of the organization. In fact, business model innovation is an exquisite technic to create, deliver and earn value by changing one or more components of a typical business model. Business model innovation needs information and form business environment based on dynamic information system.

Design/methodology/approach

The present paper focuses upon SMEs in ICT. Grounded theory has been used for this purpose, with 15 interviews conducted.

Findings

An emerging market is one in which commercial exchanges of a particular industry between the countries are relatively new but possess great investment attractiveness and a high potential to grow (such as Iran).As the ICT industry of Iran is a leading industry, and the country itself is an emerging market, the main purpose of this study is to provide a framework for designing an innovative information-based business to help fledgling businesses development in the ICT industry of Iran.

Originality/value

The purpose of this paper is to help accurate and distinct understanding of the business model concept and critical steps in designing an appropriate business model. Studies conducted to simultaneously deal with the business model and strategic innovations are few, and by the time the proposal was written, there was no research observed from Persian sources.
Antecedents and consequences of corporate communication management (CCM)
Authors: Mohamad Bahtiar , Nguyen Bang , Melewar TC , Gambetti Rossella
Published: January 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a degree of clarity on the corporate communication management (CCM) concept, by building a conceptual framework that uncovers its underlying antecedents and consequences. Although it is consolidated that corporate communication and information together play an important role in strategic management planning because of the high relevance of managing positive relationships with multiple stakeholder that have a strong impact on corporate survival, extant literature suggests that there have been few empirical studies so far assessing the contribution of CCM to organisational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is conceptual, and a model is developed as a result of an extensive critical multidisciplinary literature review.

Findings

Findings of this study identify three antecedents of CCM, namely, culture, information and communication technology innovation diffusion and corporate leadership. In addition, the study highlights a potential positive relationship between CCM, financial performance and corporate mission achievement. An integrative conceptual framework and a detailed summary table are presented in the paper.

Originality/value

This study provides a comprehensive critical insight into a growing body of corporate communication and information business literature that offers the basis for a thorough assessment of CCM contribution to organisational performance. By doing so, it advances the body of applicable knowledge of corporate communication meant as a strategic management lever. Moreover, the managerial and policy implications provided in this paper may help corporate communication and information practitioners to identify the key guidelines for the design and implementation of an appropriate CCM programme.
Public capital asset management:A holistic perspective
Authors: Lu Yaotai
Published: January 2018

U.S. state governments own a large array of fixed assets and lease a great number of parcels of private real properties for public uses. The purpose of this paper is to explore the public asset management system of the U.S. state governments. First, this paper analyzes the major, current public asset management systems and the public procurement systems created by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Based on the analysis, this paper constructs a comprehensive public asset management system that consists of six cornerstones. Second, this paper verifies the comprehensive public asset management system using the data collected from thirty-seven surveyed state governments. The data analysis demonstrates that the comprehensive public asset management system is supported. However, each cornerstone of the comprehensive public asset management system presents different strengths. Third, this paper suggests that further research may delve into particular areas of capital asset management at the state government level to identify critical issues and to provide appropriate resolutions.
An organizational perspective on the implementation of strategic goals in public procurement
Authors: Glas Andreas H. , Schaupp Markus , Essig Michael
Published: January 2018

In the EU and especially in Germany, public procurement is bound to a tight legislation that also sets and enforces strategic goals such as innovation or sustainability. The purpose of this paper is to analyze whether different archetypes of public procurement organizations (centralized or decentralized; state-level or local-level) perceive and implement strategic goals differently. A survey with data from 104 entities is used for this purpose. The findings reveal that the implementation of strategy is different in centralized or state-level organizations compared with decentralized or local organizations. Centralized organizations give goals such as innovation, transparency, and sustainability a high priority, while local ones highlight regional development and SME support
Stable interconnections for LTCC micro-heater using isothermal solidification technique
Authors: Suresh Kumar Duguta , Suri Nikhil , Khanna P.K.
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this work is to explore the forms of intermetallic phase compounds (IMPCs) in Pt/In/Au and Pt/In/Ag joints by using isothermal solidification. This lead-free technique leads to formation of IMPCs having high-temperature stable joints for platinum-based micro-heater gas sensor fabricated on low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) substrate.

Design/methodology/approach

Proposed task is to make an interconnection for Pt micro-heater electrode pad to the silver and gold thick-films printed on LTCC substrate. Both Pt/In/Au and Pt/In/Ag configured joints with different interactive areas prepared at 190 and 220°C to study temperature and contact surface area effects on ultimate tensile strength of the joints, for a 20 s reaction time, at 0.2 MPa applied pressure. Those delaminated joint interfaces studied under SEM, EDAX and XRD.

Findings

IMPCs identified through material analysis using diffraction analysis of XRD data are InPt3, AgIn2, AgPt, AgPt3, Au9In4 and other stoichiometric compounds. The interactive surface area between thick-films and temperature increment shows improvement in the formations of IMPCs and mechanical stability of joints. These IMPCs-based joints have improved the mechanical stability to the joints to sustain even at high operating temperatures. Elemental mapping of the weak joint contact interface shows unwanted oxide formations also reported. Physical inter-locking followed by the diffusion phenomenon on the silver substrate strengthen the interconnection has been noticed.

Research limitations/implications

Inert gas environment creation inside the chamber to isolate the lead-free joint placed between heating stamp pads to avoid oxide formations at the interface while cooling which adds up to the cost of manufacturing. Most of the oxides at a joint-interface increase minute to moderate resistance with respect to the level of oxides took place. These oxides contributed heat certainly damage the micro-heater based gas sensors while functioning.

Practical implications

These isothermal solidification-based lead-free solder joints formation replace the existing lead-based packaging techniques. These lead-free interconnections on ceramic or LTCC substrate are reliable and durable, especially those designed to work for heavy-duty engines, even at severe environment conditions.

Originality/value

Platinum micro-heater-based gas sensors handles over a wide-range of temperatures about 300 to 500°C. The specific temperature level of different oxide films (SnO2) on the micro-heater is capable of detecting various specific gases. This feature of platinum based gas sensor demands durable and mechanically stable joints for continuous monitoring.
A spatially integrated framework for assessing socioecological drivers of carnivore decline
Authors: Gálvez Nicolás , Guillera‐Arroita Gurutzeta , St. John Freya A. V. , Schüttler Elke , Macdonald David W. , Davies Zoe G.
Published: January 2018

Habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation are key threats to the long‐term persistence of carnivores, which are also susceptible to direct persecution by people. Integrating natural and social science methods to examine how habitat configuration/quality and human–predator relations may interact in space and time to effect carnivore populations within human‐dominated landscapes will help prioritise conservation investment and action effectively.

We propose a socioecological modelling framework to evaluate drivers of carnivore decline in landscapes where predators and people coexist. By collecting social and ecological data at the same spatial scale, candidate models can be used to quantify and tease apart the relative importance of different threats.

We apply our methodological framework to an empirical case study, the threatened güiña (Leopardus guigna) in the temperate forest ecoregion of southern Chile, to illustrate its use. Existing literature suggests that the species is declining due to habitat loss, fragmentation and persecution in response to livestock predation. Data used in modelling were derived from four seasons of camera‐trap surveys, remote‐sensed images and household questionnaires.

Occupancy dynamics were explained by habitat configuration/quality covariates rather than by human–predator relations. Güiñas can tolerate a high degree of habitat loss (>80% within a home range). They are primarily impacted by fragmentation and land subdivision (larger farms being divided into smaller ones). Ten per cent of surveyed farmers (N = 233) reported illegally killing the species over the past decade.

Synthesis and applications. By integrating ecological and social data, collected at the same spatial scale, within a single modelling framework, our study demonstrates the value of an interdisciplinary approach to assessing the potential threats to a carnivore. It has allowed us to tease apart effectively the relative importance of different potential extinction pressures for the güiña (Leopardus guigna), make informed conservation recommendations and prioritise where future interventions should be targeted. We have identified that human‐dominated landscapes with large intensive farms can be of conservation value, as long as an appropriate network of habitat patches is maintained within the matrix. Conservation efforts to secure the long‐term persistence of the species should focus on reducing habitat fragmentation rather than human persecution.
Expectations, Trust, and ‘No Surprises’: Perceptions of Autonomy in New Zealand Crown Entities
Authors: Löfgren Karl , Macaulay Michael , Berman Evan , Plimmer Geoff
Published: January 2018

How autonomous are New Zealand Crown entities really? Although agencification and the autonomy of governmental agenda has been high on the research agenda in most modern industrialised jurisdictions since the mid‐1990s, the discussion in New Zealand on the role of the Crown entities has more indirectly touched upon this issue. Based on the international literature on agency autonomy, this article presents new empirical evidence. The study is based on semi‐structured elite interviews with retired Chief Executives of various Crown entities. The study shows that autonomy is a multifaceted concept in the New Zealand agency context, and does not necessarily means a vertical connection to the responsible ministry or to the board.
The role of prosody in reading comprehension: evidence from poor comprehenders
Authors: Groen Margriet A. , Veenendaal Nathalie J. , Verhoeven Ludo
Published: January 2018

Text reading prosody and reading comprehension are related, but both rely on decoding. The aim of the current study was, therefore, to disentangle the contribution of decoding from that of prosody skills. We examined the performance on text reading prosody and speech prosody in fifth‐grade children with age‐appropriate decoding but weak comprehension. We compared their performance with that of chronological‐age controls and younger, comprehension‐level controls. We found that poor comprehenders scored significantly below the chronological‐age controls on all prosody tasks. Importantly, poor comprehenders scored below the younger, comprehension‐level controls on a speech rhythm task. Furthermore, speech prosody explained unique variance in predicting reading comprehension status (poor comprehender vs comprehension‐level control). This suggests that poor comprehenders have a delay in prosodic development, with an additional indication of a deficiency in perception and production of speech prosody. The results show that the relation between text reading prosody and reading comprehension does not exclusively rely on decoding.
Situated: Reconsidering Context in the Creation and Interpretation of Design Fictions
Authors: CUCIUREAN‐ZAPAN MARTA
Published: January 2018

Design fiction and ethnographic methods strengthen each other by creating a creative but rigorous scaffolding for interrogating expectations and reactions to the future. Design fiction can influence the activities, people, and places in which ethnography is done, and ethnography can create design fictions. Viewers and creators populate design fictions with their own past, present, and hoped for future. The intersection of these methods push ethnography beyond the edges of its thoughtful consideration of the present moment, in order to begin investigating the future.
Food preferences determine habitat selection at multiple scales: implication for bird conservation in tropical forests
Authors: Chatterjee S. , Basu P.
Published: January 2018

Forest degradation and fragmentation of quality habitat across the tropics underpins an urgent need for the conservation of area‐sensitive species. Management strategies adopted for small‐scale landscape patches may not be suitable for conservation of different communities across large landscapes. In this context, we examined the relationship of bird community composition and different bird functional groups with tree cover and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) at multiple landscape scales and also tested the effect of forest degradation on bird community composition. This study demonstrates the importance of core forest habitat for the conservation of area sensitive species. Forest degradation had negative impact on the bird community composition though some functional groups were associated with degraded areas. At the community level, bird density and richness was best explained by a combination of both NDVI at the patch level (50 m scale) and tree cover at the landscape level (500 m scale) where the patch level character was found to be more important than landscape level character. Most of the functional groups which preferred insects as primary or secondary diet items were sensitive to differences at the patch level (NDVI), whereas large frugivorous species were sensitive to differences at the landscape level (tree cover). High vegetation complexity should be conserved at the patch level (at least up to 50 m) for the conservation of insectivorous, nectarivorous and small to medium size frugivorous groups and tree cover should be conserved at the landscape level (at least up to 500 m) for the conservation of large‐bodied frugivorous birds.
The role of the head in configural body processing: Behavioural and electrophysiological evidence from the inversion and scrambling effect
Authors: Soria Bauser Denise , Suchan Boris
Published: January 2018

The present study aimed to further explore the role of the head for configural body processing by comparing complete bodies with headless bodies and faceless heads (Experiment 1). A second aim was to further explore the role of the eye region in configural face processing (Experiment 2). Due to that, we conducted a second experiment with complete faces, eyeless faces, and eyes. In addition, we used two effects to manipulate configural processing: the effect of stimulus inversion and scrambling. The current data clearly show an inversion effect for intact bodies presented with head and faces including the eye region. Thus, the head and the eye region seem to be central for configural processes that are manipulated by the effect of stimulus inversion. Furthermore, the behavioural and electrophysiological body inversion effect depends on the intact configuration of bodies and is associated with the N170 as the face inversion effect depends on the intact face configuration. Hence, configural body processing depends not only on the presence of the head but rather on a complete representation of human bodies that includes the body and the head. Furthermore, configural face processing relies on intact and complete face representations that include faces and eyes.
The use of chemogenetics in behavioural neuroscience: receptor variants, targeting approaches and caveats
Authors: Campbell Erin J , Marchant Nathan J
Published: January 2018

The last decade has seen major advances in neuroscience tools allowing us to selectively modulate cellular pathways in freely moving animals. Chemogenetic approaches such as designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) permit the remote control of neuronal function by systemic drug administration. These approaches have dramatically advanced our understanding of the neural control of behaviour. Here, we review the different techniques and genetic approaches available for the restriction of chemogenetic receptors to defined neuronal populations. We highlight the use of a dual virus approach to target specific circuitries and the effectiveness of different routes of administration of designer drugs. Finally, we discuss the potential caveats associated with DREADDs including off‐target effects of designer drugs, the effects of chronic chemogenetic receptor activation and the issue of collateral projections associated with DREADD activation and inhibition.
Single and combined effects of plant‐derived and synthetic cannabinoids on cognition and cannabinoid‐associated withdrawal signs in mice
Authors: Myers Alyssa M , Siegele Patrick B , Foss Jeffrey D , Tuma Ronald F , Ward Sara Jane
Published: January 2018

Background and Purpose

It has been suggested that the non‐euphorogenic phytocannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) can ameliorate adverse effects of Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). We determined whether CBD ameliorates cognitive deficits and withdrawal signs induced by cannabinoid CB1/CB2 receptor agonists or produces these pharmacological effects on its own.

Experimental Approach

The effects of THC or the CB1/CB2 receptor full agonist WIN55212 alone, CBD alone or their combination were tested across a range of doses. Cognitive effects were assessed in C57BL/6 mice in a conditional discrimination task and in the Barnes maze. Cannabinoid withdrawal signs were assessed following precipitated withdrawal by acute administration of the CB1 receptor antagonist SR141716, the 5‐HT1A receptor antagonist WAY100635, the TRPV1 receptor antagonist capsazepine or the adenosine A2A receptor antagonist SCH58261.

Key Results

THC produced significant motor and cognitive impairment in the Barnes maze task, none of which were attenuated by the addition of CBD. CBD alone did not affect cognitive performance. Precipitation of withdrawal signs by SR141716 occurred in mice chronically treated with THC or WIN55,212. These withdrawal signs were not attenuated by addition of chronic CBD. Chronic treatment with CBD alone did not induce withdrawal signs precipitated by SR141716 or WAY100635. Chronic CBD treatment also produced anxiolysis, which was not altered by attempting to precipitate withdrawal‐induced anxiety with a range of antagonists.

Conclusions and Implications

CBD as a monotherapy may prove to be a safer pharmacological agent, than CB1 receptor agonists alone or in combination with CBD, for the treatment of several disorders.

Linked Articles

This article is part of a themed section on 8th European Workshop on Cannabinoid Research. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v176.10/issuetoc
From Urban–Rural Division to Urban–Rural Integration: A Systematic Cost Explanation and Chengdu's Experience
Authors: Lu Qian , Yao Shurong
Published: January 2018

There is a considerable urban–rural divide in economic wellbeing in China. Since it was established as an urban–rural reform zone in 2007, Chengdu has seen significant reduction in the disparity in its urban and rural household incomes. From 2007 to 2010, Chengdu adopted urban–rural coordination policy by defining rural land property rights and establishing a rural land market. After 2010, Chengdu adopted an urban–rural integration strategy and allowed villager and business enterprises to participate in land consolidation. The transition from urban–rural division to urban–rural integration involves reducing systematic costs. The degree of urban–rural integration depends on the extent of the reduction in systematic costs.