bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
From social brains to social robots: applying neurocognitive insights to human–robot interaction
Authors: Cross Emily S. , Hortensius Ruud , Wykowska Agnieszka
Published: March 2019

Amidst the fourth industrial revolution, social robots are resolutely moving from fiction to reality. With sophisticated artificial agents becoming ever more ubiquitous in daily life, researchers across different fields are grappling with the questions concerning how humans perceive and interact with these agents and the extent to which the human brain incorporates intelligent machines into our social milieu. This theme issue surveys and discusses the latest findings, current challenges and future directions in neuroscience- and psychology-inspired human–robot interaction (HRI). Critical questions are explored from a transdisciplinary perspective centred around four core topics in HRI: technical solutions for HRI, development and learning for HRI, robots as a tool to study social cognition, and moral and ethical implications of HRI. Integrating findings from diverse but complementary research fields, including social and cognitive neurosciences, psychology, artificial intelligence and robotics, the contributions showcase ways in which research from disciplines spanning biological sciences, social sciences and technology deepen our understanding of the potential and limits of robotic agents in human social life.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘From social brains to social robots: applying neurocognitive insights to human–robot interaction’.
Would a robot trust you? Developmental robotics model of trust and theory of mind
Authors: Vinanzi Samuele , Patacchiola Massimiliano , Chella Antonio , Cangelosi Angelo
Published: March 2019

Trust is a critical issue in human–robot interactions: as robotic systems gain complexity, it becomes crucial for them to be able to blend into our society by maximizing their acceptability and reliability. Various studies have examined how trust is attributed by people to robots, but fewer have investigated the opposite scenario, where a robot is the trustor and a human is the trustee. The ability for an agent to evaluate the trustworthiness of its sources of information is particularly useful in joint task situations where people and robots must collaborate to reach shared goals. We propose an artificial cognitive architecture based on the developmental robotics paradigm that can estimate the trustworthiness of its human interactors for the purpose of decision making. This is accomplished using Theory of Mind (ToM), the psychological ability to assign to others beliefs and intentions that can differ from one’s owns. Our work is focused on a humanoid robot cognitive architecture that integrates a probabilistic ToM and trust model supported by an episodic memory system. We tested our architecture on an established developmental psychological experiment, achieving the same results obtained by children, thus demonstrating a new method to enhance the quality of human and robot collaborations.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘From social brains to social robots: applying neurocognitive insights to human–robot interaction’.
In natural interaction with embodied robots, we prefer it when they follow our gaze: a gaze-contingent mobile eyetracking study
Authors: Willemse Cesco , Wykowska Agnieszka
Published: March 2019

Initiating joint attention by leading someone's gaze is a rewarding experience which facilitates social interaction. Here, we investigate this experience of leading an agent's gaze while applying a more realistic paradigm than traditional screen-based experiments. We used an embodied robot as our main stimulus and recorded participants' eye movements. Participants sat opposite a robot that had either of two ‘identities’—‘Jimmy’ or ‘Dylan’. Participants were asked to look at either of two objects presented on screens to the left and the right of the robot. Jimmy then looked at the same object in 80% of the trials and at the other object in the remaining 20%. For Dylan, this proportion was reversed. Upon fixating on the object of choice, participants were asked to look back at the robot's face. We found that return-to-face saccades were conducted earlier towards Jimmy
when
he followed the gaze compared with when he did not. For Dylan, there was no such effect. Additional measures indicated that our participants also preferred Jimmy and liked him better. This study demonstrates (a) the potential of technological advances to examine joint attention where ecological validity meets experimental control, and (b) that social reorienting is enhanced when we initiate joint attention.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘From social brains to social robots: applying neurocognitive insights to human–robot interaction’.
Constrained Transcriptional Polarity in the Organization of MammalianHoxGene Clusters
Authors: Darbellay Fabrice , Bochaton Célia , Lopez-Delisle Lucille , Mascrez Bénédicte , Tschopp Patrick , Delpretti Saskia , Zakany Jozsef , Duboule Denis
Published: March 2019

In many animal species with a bilateral symmetry,Hoxgenes are clustered either at one or at several genomic loci. This organization has a functional relevance, as the transcriptional control applied to each gene depends upon its relative position within the gene cluster. It was previously noted that vertebrateHoxclusters display a much higher level of genomic organization than their invertebrate counterparts. The former are always more compact than the latter, they are generally devoid of repeats and of interspersed genes, and all genes are transcribed by the same DNA strand, suggesting that particular factors constrained these clusters towards a tighter structure during the evolution of the vertebrate lineage. Here we investigate the importance of uniform transcriptional orientation by engineering several alleles within theHoxDcluster such as to invert one or several transcription unit(s), with or without a neighboring CTCF site. We observe that the association between the tight structure of mammalianHoxclusters and their regulation makes inversions likely detrimental to the proper implementation of this complex genetic system. We propose that the consolidation ofHoxclusters in vertebrates, including transcriptional polarity, evolved in conjunction with the emergence of global gene regulationviathe flanking regulatory landscapes, to optimize a coordinated response of selected subsets of target genes incis.
Numerical simulations of different models describing cerebrospinal fluid dynamics
Authors: Romagnoli Licia
Published: March 2019

The aim of this paper is to present an extensive overview of numerical simulations aimed at confirming and completing the theoretical results obtained in the analysis of some cerebrospinal fluid dynamics models which are treated from a purely mathematical view point. The present study is designed to support the first attempts in the approach to these physiological models from a more theoretical standpoint since their investigation in literature only concerns the modelization and the clinical feedback.
Phased genome sequence of an interspecific hybrid flowering cherry, Somei-Yoshino (Cerasus × yedoensis)
Authors: Shirasawa Kenta , Esumi Tomoya , Hirakawa Hideki , Tanaka Hideyuki , Itai Akihiro , Ghelfi Andrea , Nagasaki Hideki , Isobe Sachiko
Published: March 2019

We report the phased genome sequence of an interspecific hybrid, the flowering cherry Somei-Yoshino (Cerasus × yedoensis). The sequence was determined by single-molecule real-time sequencing technology and assembled using a trio-binning strategy in which allelic variation was resolved to obtain phased sequences. The resultant assembly consisting of two haplotype genomes spanned 690.1 Mb with 4,552 contigs and an N50 length of 1.0 Mb. We predicted 95,076 high-confidence genes, including 94.9% of the core eukaryotic genes. Based on a high-density genetic map, we established a pair of eight pseudomolecule sequences, with highly conserved structures between two genome sequences with 2.4 million sequence variants. A whole genome resequencing analysis of flowering cherry varieties suggested that Somei-Yoshino is derived from a cross between C. spachiana and either C. speciose or its derivative. Transcriptome data for flowering date revealed comprehensive changes in gene expression in floral bud development toward flowering. These genome and transcriptome data are expected to provide insights into the evolution and cultivation of flowering cherry and the molecular mechanism underlying flowering.
PRDM16 establishes lineage-specific transcriptional program to promote temporal progression of neural progenitors in the mouse neocortex
Authors: He Li , Jones Jennifer , He Weiguo , Bjork Bryan , Wen Jiayu , Dai Qi
Published: March 2019

Radial glia (RG) in the neocortex sequentially generate distinct subtypes of projection neurons, accounting for the diversity and complex assembly of cortical neural circuits. Mechanisms that drive the rapid and precise temporal progression of RG are beginning to be elucidated. Here we reveal that the RG-specific transcriptional regulator PRDM16 promotes the transition of early to late phases of neurogenesis in the mouse neocortex.Prdm16mutant RG delays the timely progression of RG, leading to defective cortical laminar organization. We show that PRDM16 regulates expression of neuronal specification genes and a subset of genes that are dynamically expressed between mid-and late-neurogenesis. Our genomic analysis suggests that PRDM16 suppresses target gene expression through maintaining chromatin accessibility of permissive enhancers. Altogether, our results demonstrate a critical role of PRDM16 in establishing stage-specific gene expression program of RG during cortical neurogenesis. These findings also support a model where progenitor cells are primed with daughter cell gene expression program for rapid cell differentiation.
Gut microbiome structure and adrenocortical activity in dogs with aggressive and phobic behavioral disorders
Authors: Mondo E , Barone M , Soverini M , D’Amico F , Cocchi M , Petrulli C , Mattioli M , Marliani G , Candela M , Accorsi PE
Published: March 2019

Accompanying human beings since the Paleolithic period, dogs has been recently regarded as a reliable model for the study of the gut microbiome connections with health and disease. In order to provide some glimpses on the connections between the gut microbiome layout and host behavior, we profiled the phylogenetic composition and structure of the canine gut microbiome of dogs with aggressive (n = 17), phobic (n = 15) and normal behavior (n = 17). According to our findings, aggressive behavioral disorder was found to be characterized by a peculiar gut microbiome structure, with high biodiversity and enrichment in generally subdominant bacterial genera. On the other hand, phobic dogs were enriched inLactobacillus, a bacterial genus with known probiotic and psychobiotic properties. Although further studies are needed to validate our findings, our work supports the intriguing opportunity that different behavioral phenotypes in dogs may be associated with peculiar gut microbiome layouts, suggesting possible connections between the gut microbiome and the central nervous system and indicating the possible adoption of probiotic interventions aimed at restoring a balanced host-symbiont interplay for mitigating behavioral disorders.
Recombination-independent recognition of DNA homology for meiotic silencing in Neurospora crassa
Authors: Rhoades Nicholas , Nguyen Tinh-Suong , Witz Guillaume , Cecere Germano , Hammond Thomas , Mazur Alexey K. , Gladyshev Eugene
Published: March 2019

Pairing of homologous chromosomes represents a critical step of meiosis in nearly all sexually reproducing species. While in some organisms meiotic pairing requires programmed DNA breakage and recombination, in many others it engages homologous chromosomes that remain apparently intact. The mechanistic nature of such recombination-independent pairing represents a fundamental question in molecular genetics. Using ‘meiotic silencing by unpaired DNA’ (MSUD) in Neurospora crassa as a model process, we demonstrate the existence of a cardinally different approach to DNA homology recognition in meiosis. The main advantage of MSUD over other experimental systems lies in its ability to identify any relatively short DNA fragment lacking a homologous allelic partner. Here we show that MSUD does not rely on the canonical mechanism of meiotic recombination, yet it is promoted by REC8, a conserved component of the meiotic cohesin complex. We also show that certain patterns of interspersed homology are recognized as pairable during MSUD. Such patterns need to be co-linear and must contain short tracts of sequence identity spaced apart with a periodicity of 21 or 22 base-pairs. By using these values as a guiding parameter in all-atom molecular modeling, we discover that homologous double-stranded DNA molecules can associate by forming quadruplex-based contacts with an interval of 2.5 helical turns, which requires right-handed plectonemic coiling and additional conformational changes in the intervening double-helical segments. These results (i) reconcile genetic and biophysical lines of evidence for the existence of direct homologous dsDNA-dsDNA pairing, (ii) identify a role for this process in initiating post-transcriptional silencing, and (iii) suggest that chromosomes are cross-matched in meiosis by a precise mechanism that operates on intact double-stranded DNA molecules.
Effects of a demand optimization intervention on laboratory test utilization in primary care
Authors: Bucholc Magda , O’Kane Maurice , O’Hare Brendan , Mullan Ciaran , Cavanagh Paul , Ashe Siobhan
Published: March 2019

There is evidence of increasing use of laboratory tests with substantial variation between clinical teams which is difficult to justify on clinical grounds. The aim of this project was to assess the effect of a demand optimisation intervention project on laboratory test requesting by general practitioners (GPs) in an area of Northern Ireland supported by the Clinical Chemistry Laboratory service of Western Health and Social Care Trust (WHSCT). The intervention package was developed in conjunction with the Western Local Commissioning Group and consisted of educational initiatives, feedback to 55 individual practices on test request rates with ranking relative to other practices, and a small financial incentive for practices to reflect on their test requesting activity. Overall test utilization rates of profile tests, HbA1c, and PSA one year before, during, and one year after the intervention were measured using laboratory databases of the Altnagelvin Area Hospital, Tyrone County Hospital, and the Erne (South West Acute Hospital. The intervention was associated with mixed effects. First, we observed a reduction of 5.1% in the median profile test request rates and a decrease in their between practice variability. The overall downward trend in variability of profile test request rates was found statistically significant (p= 0.03). Second, we found a significant increase in both the volume (p< 0.0001) and between practice variability (p= 0.0001) of HbA1crequests per patient with diabetes. The increase in HbA1crequests may reflect a more appropriate rate of diabetes monitoring and also the adoption of HbA1cas a diagnostic test. Yet, the subsequent 600% increase in between practice variability of HbA1cordering rates may imply an inconsistent implementation of recommended guidelines by GPs. Finally, there was a 29.3% increase in the median and 35% increase in between practice variability of request rates for PSA, the reasons for which are unclear.
The Use of iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes and Optical Mapping for Erythromycin Arrhythmogenicity Testing
Authors: Podgurskaya A.D. , Tsvelaya V.A. , Slotvitsky M.M. , Dementyeva E.V. , Valetdinova K.R. , Agladze K.I.
Published: March 2019

Erythromycin is an antibiotic that prolongs the QT-interval and causes Torsade de Pointes (TdP) by blocking the rapid delayed rectifying potassium current (IKr) without affecting either the slow delayed rectifying potassium current (IKs) or inward rectifying potassium current (IK1). Erythromycin exerts this effect in the range of 1.5 μM–100 μM. However, the mechanism of action underlying its cardiotoxic effect and its role in the induction of arrhythmias, especially in multicellular cardiac experimental models, remain unclear. In this study the re-entry formation, conduction velocity, and maximum capture rate were investigated in a monolayer of human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes from a healthy donor and in a neonatal rat ventricular myocyte (NRVM) monolayer using the optical mapping method under erythromycin concentrations of 15, 30, and 45 μM. In the monolayer of human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, the conduction velocity (CV) varied up to 12±9% at concentrations of 15–45 μM as compared with that of the control, whereas the maximum capture rate (MCR) declined substantially up to 28±12% (p < 0.05). In contrast, the tests on the NRVM monolayer showed no significant effect on the MCR. The results of the arrhythmogenicity test provided evidence for a “window” of concentrations of the drug (15 to 30 μM) at which the probability of re-entry increased.
De-novovariants inXIRP1associated with polydactyly and polysyndactyly in Holstein cattle
Authors: Braun Marina , Hellige Maren , Gerhauser Ingo , Ciurkiewicz Malgorzata , Lehmbecker Annika , Beineke Andreas , Baumgärtner Wolfgang , Metzger Julia , Distl Ottmar
Published: March 2019

Congenital polydactylous cattle are sporadically observed. Impairment of the limb patterning process due to altered control of the zone of polarizing activity (ZPA) was associated in several species with preaxial polydactyly and syndactyly. In cattle, the role of ZPA and other genes involved in limb patterning for polydactyly was not yet elucidated. Herein, we report on a preaxial type II polydactyly and a praeaxial type II+V polysyndactyly in two Holstein calves and screen whole genome sequencing data for associated variants. Using whole genome sequencing data of both affected calves did not show mutations in the candidate regions of ZRS and pZRS or in candidate genes associated with polydactyly, syndactyly and polysyndactyly in other species. Two indels, which are located inXIRP1within a common haplotype, were highly associated with the two phenotypes. Bioinformatic analyses retrieved an interaction betweenXIRP1andFGFR1, CTNNB1andCTNND1supporting a link between theXIRP1variants and embryonic limb patterning. The heterozygous haplotype was highly associated with the present polydactylous phenotypes due to dominant mode of inheritance with an incomplete penetrance in Holstein cattle.
conLSH: Context based Locality Sensitive Hashing for Mapping of noisy SMRT Reads
Authors: Chakraborty Angana , Bandyopadhyay Sanghamitra
Published: March 2019

Single Molecule Real-Time (SMRT) sequencing is a recent advancement of Next Gen technology developed by Pacific Bio (PacBio). It comes with an explosion of long and noisy reads demanding cutting edge research to get most out of it. To deal with the high error probability of SMRT data, a novel contextual Locality Sensitive Hashing (conLSH) based algorithm is proposed in this article, which can effectively align the noisy SMRT reads to the reference genome. Here, sequences are hashed together based not only on their closeness, but also on similarity of context. The algorithm has space requirement, where n is the number of sequences in the corpus and ρ is a constant. The indexing time and querying time are bounded by and respectively, where P2 > 0, is a probability value. This algorithm is particularly useful for retrieving similar sequences, a widely used task in biology. The proposed conLSH based aligner is compared with rHAT, popularly used for aligning SMRT reads, and is found to comprehensively beat it in speed as well as in memory requirements. In particular, it takes approximately 24.2% less processing time, while saving about 70.3% in peak memory requirement for H.sapiens PacBio dataset.
Bcl-xL dynamics and cancer-associated mutations under the lens of protein structure network and biomolecular simulations
Authors: Sora Valentina , Papaleo Elena
Published: March 2019

Understanding the finely orchestrated interactions leading to or preventing programmed cell death (apoptosis) is of utmost importance in cancer research since the failure of these systems could eventually lead to the onset of the disease. In this regard, the maintenance of a delicate balance between promoters and inhibitors of mitochondrial apoptosis is crucial, as demonstrated by the interplay among the Bcl-2 family members. Particularly, Bcl-xL is a target of interest due to its forefront role of its dysfunctions in cancer development. Bcl-xL prevents apoptosis by binding both the pro-apoptotic BH3-only proteins, as PUMA, and noncanonical partners such as p53 at different sites. An allosteric communication between the BH3-only proteins binding pocket and the p53 binding site has been postulated and supported by NMR and other biophysical data, mediating the release of p53 from Bcl-xL upon PUMA binding. The molecular details, especially at the residue level, of this mechanism remain unclear. In this work, we investigated the distal communication between these two sites in both Bcl-xL in its free state and bound to PUMA, and we evaluated how missense mutations of Bcl-xL found in cancer samples might impair the communication and thus the allosteric mechanism. We employed all-atom explicit solvent microsecond molecular dynamics simulations analyzed through a Protein Structure Network approach and integrated with calculations of changes in free energies upon cancer-related mutations identified by genomics studies. We found a subset of candidate residues responsible for both maintaining protein stability and for conveying structural information between the two binding sites and hypothesized possible communication routes between specific residues at both sites.
Satb2 regulates proliferation and nuclear integrity of pre-osteoblasts
Authors: Dowrey Todd , Schwager Evelyn E. , Duong Julieann , Merkuri Fjodor , Zarate Yuri A. , Fish Jennifer L.
Published: March 2019

Special AT-rich sequence binding protein 2 (Satb2) is a matrix attachment region (MAR) binding protein. Satb2 impacts skeletal development by regulating gene transcription required for osteogenic differentiation. Although its role as a high-order transcription factor is well supported, other roles for Satb2 in skeletal development remain unclear. In particular, the impact of dosage sensitivity (heterozygous mutations) and variance on phenotypic severity is still not well understood. To further investigate molecular and cellular mechanisms of Satb2-mediated skeletal defects, we used the CRISPR/Cas9 system to generateSatb2mutations in MC3T3-E1 cells. Our data suggest that, in addition to its role in differentiation, Satb2 regulates progenitor proliferation. We also find that mutations inSatb2cause chromatin defects including nuclear blebbing and donut-shaped nuclei. These defects may contribute to a slight increase in apoptosis in mutant cells, but apoptosis is insufficient to explain the proliferation defects.Satb2expression exhibits population-level variation and is mostly highly expressed from late G1 to late G2. Based on these data, we hypothesize that Satb2 may regulate proliferation through two separate mechanisms. First, Satb2 may regulate the expression of genes necessary for cell cycle progression in pre-osteoblasts. Second, similar to other MAR-binding proteins, Satb2 may participate in DNA replication. Deficiencies in either of these processes could reduce the pace of cell cycle progression and contribute to nuclear damage. We also hypothesize that Satb2-mediated proliferation defects may be buffered in some genetic backgrounds, which provides some explanation for differences in severity of skeletal defects. Further elucidation of the role of Satb2 in proliferation has potential impacts on our understanding of both skeletal defects and cancer.
The bacterial endosymbiontWolbachiaincreases reproductive investment and accelerates the life cycle of ant colonies
Authors: Singh Rohini , Linksvayer Timothy A.
Published: March 2019

Wolbachiais a widespread group of maternally-transmitted endosymbiotic bacteria that often manipulates the reproductive strategy and life history of its solitary hosts to enhance its own transmission.Wolbachiaalso commonly infects eusocial insects such as ants, although the effects of infection on social organisms remain largely unknown. We tested the effects of infection on colony-level reproduction and life history traits in the invasive pharaoh ant,Monomorium pharaonis. First we compared the reproductive investment of infected and uninfected colonies with queens of three discrete ages, and we found that infected colonies had increased reproductive investment. Next, we compared the long-term growth and reproduction of infected and uninfected colonies across their life cycle, and we found that infected colonies had increased colony-level growth and early colony reproduction. These colony-level effects ofWolbachiainfection seem to result because of a ‘live fast, die young’ life history strategy of infected queens. Such accelerated colony life cycle is likely beneficial for both the host and the symbiont and may have contributed to success of the highly invasive pharaoh ant.
Transcriptome profiling of mouse samples using nanopore sequencing of cDNA and RNA molecules
Authors: Sessegolo Camille , Cruaud Corinne , Da Silva Corinne , Cologne Audric , Dubarry Marion , Derrien Thomas , Lacroix Vincent , Aury Jean-Marc
Published: March 2019

Our vision of DNA transcription and splicing has changed dramatically with the introduction of short-read sequencing. These high-throughput sequencing technologies promised to unravel the complexity of any transcriptome. Generally gene expression levels are well-captured using these technologies, but there are still remaining caveats due to the limited read length and the fact that RNA molecules had to be reverse transcribed before sequencing. Oxford Nanopore Technologies has recently launched a portable sequencer which offers the possibility of sequencing long reads and most importantly RNA molecules. Here we generated a full mouse transcriptome from brain and liver using the Oxford Nanopore device. As a comparison, we sequenced RNA (RNA-Seq) and cDNA (cDNA-Seq) molecules using both long and short reads technologies and tested the TeloPrime preparation kit, dedicated to the enrichment of full-length transcripts. Using spike-in data, we confirmed that expression levels are efficiently captured by cDNA-Seq using short reads. More importantly, Oxford Nanopore RNA-Seq tends to be more efficient, while cDNA-Seq appears to be more biased. We further show that the cDNA library preparation of the Nanopore protocol induces read truncation for transcripts containing internal runs of T’s. This bias is marked for runs of at least 15 T’s, but is already detectable for runs of at least 9 T’s and therefore concerns more than 20% of expressed transcripts in mouse brain and liver. Finally, we outline that bioinformatics challenges remain ahead for quantifying at the transcript level, especially when reads are not full-length. Accurate quantification of repeat-associated genes such as processed pseudogenes also remains difficult, and we show that current mapping protocols which map reads to the genome largely over-estimate their expression, at the expense of their parent gene. The entire dataset is available from http://www.genoscope.cns.fr/externe/ONT_mouse_RNA.
Difference contact maps: from what to why in the analysis of the conformational flexibility of proteins
Authors: Iyer Mallika , Li Zhanwen , Jaroszewski Lukasz , Sedova Mayy , Godzik Adam
Published: March 2019

Protein structures, usually visualized in various highly idealized forms focusing on the three-dimensional arrangements of secondary structure elements, can also be described as lists of interacting residues or atoms and visualized as two-dimensional distance or contact maps. We show that contact maps provide an ideal tool to describe and analyze differences between structures of proteins in different conformations. Expanding functionality of the PDBFlex server and database developed previously in our group, we describe how analysis of difference contact maps (DCMs) can be used to identify critical interactions stabilizing alternative protein conformations, recognize residues and positions controlling protein functions and build hypotheses as to molecular mechanisms of disease mutations.

Author Summary

Protein folding is driven, and the three-dimensional structures of proteins are defined, by the non-local interactions between amino acid chains. However, the usual visualizations of protein structures focus on the overall chain topology and do not provide much information about the interactions defining them. Here we explore contact map visualization of protein structures, which directly focuses on interactions stabilizing the structure and thus can be easily used to understand effects of mutations on protein structure. We show that contact map visualization is particularly useful for comparing alternative conformations of proteins and identifying critical positions controlling functional flexibility.
Making routine native SAD a reality: lessons from beamline X06DA at the Swiss Light Source
Authors: Basu Shibom , Finke Aaron , Vera Laura , Wang Meitian , Olieric Vincent
Published: March 2019

Native single-wavelength anomalous dispersion (SAD) is the most attractive de novo phasing method in macromolecular crystallography, as it directly utilizes intrinsic anomalous scattering from native crystals. However, the success of such an experiment depends on accurate measurements of the reflection intensities and therefore on careful data-collection protocols. Here, the low-dose, multiple-orientation data-collection protocol for native SAD phasing developed at beamline X06DA (PXIII) at the Swiss Light Source is reviewed, and its usage over the last four years on conventional crystals (>50 µm) is reported. Being experimentally very simple and fast, this method has gained popularity and has delivered 45 de novo structures to date (13 of which have been published). Native SAD is currently the primary choice for experimental phasing among X06DA users. The method can address challenging cases: here, native SAD phasing performed on a streptavidin–biotin crystal with P21 symmetry and a low Bijvoet ratio of 0.6% is highlighted. The use of intrinsic anomalous signals as sequence markers for model building and the assignment of ions is also briefly described.
Does regionalism matter? Local politics and foreign direct investment in South Korea
Authors: Kim Dong-Hun , Paek Sunwoo
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how political/authoritarian regionalism affects foreign direct investment (FDI) in sub-national states in South Korea.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper employs statistical analysis to examine the relationship between regionalism and FDI, along with historical description of regionalism in South Korea.

Findings

The analyses suggest that not only authoritarian regionalism influence foreign investment to the region but also political regionalism matters. Sub-national states with higher authoritarian regionalism receive less foreign investment while sub-national states with high political regionalism, which imply political stability, receive more FDI than others.

Originality/value

The paper examined how local politics influence foreign investments in South Korea, and suggests stronger decentralization will positively influence FDI in the future.
Linking peace with reconciliation
Authors: Nam Kijeong
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explain Japan’s role in the peace process on the Korean Peninsula that began in early 2018.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper emphasizes the historical context of international politics in Northeast Asia, rather than power politics or geopolitics. The paper reaffirms the significance of the ongoing peace process on the Korean Peninsula by considering a synthesis of three joint declarations published in 1998, 2000 and 2002 between the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan, the ROK and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), and between the DPRK and Japan.

Findings

The normalization of diplomatic relations between DPRK and Japan, along with reaffirmation of the joint declaration between the ROK and Japan, and the Panmunjeom Declaration, would be a base for denuclearizing Northeast Asia.

Originality/value

In Northeast Asia, historical reconciliation among the two Koreas and Japan and peace-building between the two parties on the Peninsula are closely linked. Moreover, the three bilateral relationships among these three parties are also the basis for creating a new multilateral security order in Northeast Asia.
Corporate dispersion and tax avoidance
Authors: Su Kun , Li Bin , Ma Chen
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of corporate dispersion on tax avoidance from geographical and institutional dispersion perspectives by using evidence from China.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a panel data of Chinese listed firms during 2003-2015, this paper estimates with correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis.

Findings

Both geographical and institutional dispersion are negatively associated with the degree of corporate tax avoidance. Furthermore, corporate governance mechanisms and female chief executive officers can mitigate the negative relation between corporate dispersion and tax avoidance. The results also indicate that ineffective internal control is one of the channels through which corporate dispersion reduces tax avoidance.

Originality/value

This is the first paper about the impact of firm dispersion on the degree of tax avoidance, complementing the research content of diversification and corporate decision-making.
A moderated mediation examination of Kahn’s theory in the development of new product performance
Authors: Lee Chih-Jen , Huang Stanley Y.B.
Published: March 2019

Purpose

This study aims to propose a multilevel moderated mediation model of transformational leadership, corporate social responsible, organization-based self-esteem and job engagement to detect Kahn’s theory and predict new product development performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a longitudinal study over a six-month period to test the multilevel moderated mediation model. Empirical testing used a survey of 1,655 employees from 165 different R&D work group in Great China.

Findings

Transformational leadership, corporate social responsible and organization-based self-esteem well predict employees’ job engagement and new product development performance and are moderated by open discussion of conflict.

Originality/value

This study is the first to propose a multilevel moderated mediation model to detect Kahn’s job engagement theory and predict new product development performance.
Multiple-relaxation-time lattice Boltzmann simulation for adsorption processes of carbon dioxide in a fixed-bed
Authors: Qiu ZhenYu , Ma Qiang , Zhang Ying , Yi Yiwu
Published: March 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to discuss the dynamic adsorption processes of carbon dioxide in a porous fixed bed on the industrial scale, using a multiple-relaxation-time lattice Boltzmann (LB) model.

Design/methodology/approach

A multiple-relaxation-time LB model is developed to predict the dynamic adsorption processes of carbon dioxide in a porous fixed bed on the industrial scale. The breakthrough curves from the simulation results are compared with the experimental data to validate the reliability of this model, and the effects of flow velocity, porosity and linear driving force mass transfer coefficient on the adsorption behaviors of carbon dioxide are explored further.

Findings

The numerical results show that the improved fluid flux leads to the reduction in the time required for completion of adsorption processes nonlinearly, and the differential pressure significantly raises with the decreasing porosity of porous fixed bed for fixed values of Reynolds number and total adsorption capacity. The maximum adsorption ratio of carbon dioxide was found at Re = 12 in this work. In addition, the higher mass transfer resistance of adsorbent particles advances the appearance time of the breakthrough point and delays the completion time of the adsorption processes.

Originality/value

This work will provide a way to study the adsorption technology of carbon dioxide in the fixed-bed using the LB method.
An investigation of benchmark image collections: how different from digital libraries?
Authors: Qu Jingye , Chen Jiangping
Published: March 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to introduce the construction methods, image organization, collection use and access of benchmark image collections to the digital library (DL) community. It aims to connect two distinct communities: the DL community and image processing researchers so that future image collections could be better constructed, organized and managed for both human and computer use.

Design/methodology/approach

Image collections are first identified through an extensive literature review of published journal articles and a web search. Then, a coding scheme focusing on image collections’ creation, organization, access and use is developed. Next, three major benchmark image collections are analysed based on the proposed coding scheme. Finally, the characteristics of benchmark image collections are summarized and compared to DLs.

Findings

Although most of the image collections in DLs are carefully curated and organized using various metadata schema based on an image’s external features to facilitate human use, the benchmark image collections created for promoting image processing algorithms are annotated on an image’s content to the pixel level, which makes each image collection a more fine-grained, organized database appropriate for developing automatic techniques on classification summarization, visualization and content-based retrieval.

Research limitations/implications

This paper overviews image collections by their application fields. The three most representative natural image collections in general areas are analysed in detail based on a homemade coding scheme, which could be further extended. Also, domain-specific image collections, such as medical image collections or collections for scientific purposes, are not covered.

Practical implications

This paper helps DLs with image collections to understand how benchmark image collections used by current image processing research are created, organized and managed. It informs multiple parties pertinent to image collections to collaborate on building, sustaining, enriching and providing access to image collections.

Originality/value

This paper is the first attempt to review and summarize benchmark image collections for DL managers and developers. The collection creation process and image organization used in these benchmark image collections open a new perspective to digital librarians for their future DL collection development.
Autonomy, health expenditures and development
Authors: Sommer Jamie
Published: March 2019

Purpose

State capacity for development is decomposed into two broad dimensions, intrinsic and extrinsic. The former concerns the state’s cohesiveness as a strategic actor, which encompasses the ability of the state to formulate and implement policy in a coherent fashion, and the latter is the state’s ability to extract and redistribute resources. Diverging from previous studies, this paper aims to consider how these intrinsic and extrinsic factors interact to increase health cross-nationally.

Design/methodology/approach

This study provides a framework for understanding how domestic and international state autonomy in policy decisions improves the effectiveness of health spending at achieving its intended outcomes. Using two-way fixed effects regression models for a sample of 89 low and middle-income nations from 1996-2012, the author tests the claim that health expenditures reduce infant and child mortality more in nations with higher levels of international and domestic autonomy rather than those with lower levels.

Findings

The author finds evidence that supports the theoretical perspective that state autonomy in international and domestic policy, through cohesion, legitimacy and local insight, improves the effectiveness of health expenditures at reducing infant and child mortality.

Research limitations/implications

The data only exist for 89 nations and from 1996 to 2012. In addition, the independent variables of interest that measure autonomy are not direct measures but instead indices.

Originality/value

The health and development of a nation’s citizenry largely depends on prioritizing expenditures in health. This research considers under what conditions nations can better prioritize health expenditures.
Lesson study outcomes: a theoretical model
Authors: Mynott John Paul
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Lesson study (LS) research is disadvantaged by a lack of clarity surrounding the potential outcomes an LS cycle can produce for participant learning. The purpose of this paper is to set out a model of the potential outcomes an LS cycle can achieve. The model identifies the limitations that can occur in LS groups and how these limitations impact on the overall outcomes for participants.

Design/methodology/approach

Case studies are used to exemplify the different outcomes in the model taken from five years of LS work in a primary school in England. The case studies shape the four different outcomes of the model, defining and contextualising the attributes and characteristics of each outcome.

Findings

The model presented indicates that there are four key outcomes for LS cycles, with the most common outcome being a form of limited learning. The paper explores the limitations of time, collaboration and expertise to articulate how each of these limiting factors has a bearing on the overall outcome for an LS cycle.

Research limitations/implications

The model is currently based on a singular educational setting. This means that each outcome needs further exploration through wider LS work in order to clarify and refine the outcome model.

Practical implications

The outcome model will support the development of a shared vocabulary for discussing LS cycles. By articulating where on the outcome model an LS is, it is possible for researchers to discuss how to reduce the impact of limitations and other challenges to LS, enabling research to develop a more evaluation-led approach to using LS.

Originality/value

The outcome model supports LS researchers in articulating the outcomes of their LS cycles with a shared vocabulary. It addresses understudied areas of LS research, namely failed and dysfunctional LS cycles and identifies that while an LS can bring the potential for participant learning, the cycle outcomes are the starting point for participant change.
The impact of entertainment and social interaction with salespeople on mall shopper satisfaction
Authors: Elmashhara Maher Georges , Soares Ana Maria
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the role played by emotional states in the relationship between entertainment and social interaction with salespeople and shopper satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed model was tested using a survey-based study, with a sample size of 318 mall shoppers.

Findings

The results indicate that pleasure and dominance are mediators in the relationship between entertainment and social interaction with salespeople and mall shopper satisfaction. Moreover, regarding the direct relations, entertainment directly influences satisfaction, while social interaction does not.

Practical implications

The results have practical implications for mall managers and mall developers. Specifically, entertainment can be used to attract shoppers and to enhance their satisfaction with the overall shopping experience. Practical suggestions to this end are offered.

Originality/value

This study’s contribution is twofold: first, this study adds to research by addressing the gap in research regarding shopper emotional states. Specifically, it addresses the mediating role played by emotional states of shoppers on the impact of entertainment and social interaction in satisfaction. Second, the study concentrates on the role of salespeople by focusing on the social aspects of the interaction.
Unfolding tensions within post-settlement governance and tribal economies in Aotearoa New Zealand
Authors: Mika Jason Paul , Smith Graham Hingangaroa , Gillies Annemarie , Wiremu Fiona
Published: March 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to examine indigenous governance and economies of iwi Maori (Maori tribes) in Aotearoa New Zealand. Research into persisting inequities amongst iwi that have settled treaty claims and the potential for intervention through new governance models and indigenous entrepreneurship contextualise the paper.

Design/methodology/approach

Kaupapa Maori (Maori philosophy) is used as an indigenous methodology to facilitate and empower transformative change, underpinned by Maori knowledge, language and culture. A multi-level approach is used to collect data from international, national and local tribal organisations. Validity is established through stakeholder engagement.

Findings

A central challenge in the post-treaty settlement context is exponentialising tribal capabilities because of the multiple purposes ascribed to post-settled iwi. Four themes, characterised as “unfolding tensions”, offer a critique and basis for solving tribal development challenges: how do tribes create culturally grounded global citizens; how do tribes rebalance wealth creation and wealth distribution; how do tribes recalibrate tribal institutions; and how do tribes embed entrepreneurship and innovation within their economies?

Research limitations/implications

As data collection is still underway, the paper is conceptual.

Practical implications

Five strategies to address unfolding tensions are identified for tribes to consider.

Social implications

Tribal governors and tribal members are implicated in the analysis, as well as the architects of post-treaty settlement governance models.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to theorising about tribal governance, economies and entrepreneurship.
RPI’s James Fund: ETFs, decision making, & manager transitions
Authors: Shohfi Thomas
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The James Fund at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Lally School of Management is a small, recently established, course-driven student-managed investment fund (SMIF). The purpose of this paper is to provide insight to new and existing funds in improving individual fund operation and structure.

Design/methodology/approach

The James Fund seeks to outperform an 80/20 equity/fixed income benchmark by investing exclusively in exchange traded funds and to move primary emphasis away from idiosyncratic risk and individual equity valuation back toward asset allocation, the most significant driver of portfolio performance. Buy and sell decisions must receive a three-fifths majority in voting among students and adhere with the investment policy statement.

Findings

Groupthink, a common problem in student-managed funds, is observed in trade proposal and manager voting patterns.

Originality/value

Groupthink is partially addressed through the use of instructor feedback on individual student trade diaries. Student managers transition each semester; therefore, the portfolio must meet dormant period criteria limited to a specific list of broadly diversified ETFs, mitigating potential problems from knowledge transfer between management teams that are largely unexamined in the context of SMIFs.