bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Short‐term wind power forecasting and uncertainty analysis using a hybrid intelligent method
Authors: Huang Chao‐Ming , Kuo Chung‐Jen , Huang Yann‐Chang
Published: February 2017

This study proposes a hybrid intelligent method for short‐term wind power forecasting and uncertainty analysis. In practice, the power output of a wind turbine is a direct function of wind speed. Owing to the intermittent and irregular nature of wind, the wind power generation is not easily dispatched and the prediction of wind power is highly uncertain. To allow a procedure for more accurate forecasting, a deterministic wind power prediction method that uses multiple support vector regression (SVR) models is established based on the wind power capacity and wind speed forecasts obtained from the Taiwan Central Weather Bureau (TCWB). An enhanced harmony search (EHS) algorithm is then used to estimate the parameters for each SVR model. To assess the risk that is associated with wind power forecasts in a power grid, an EHS‐based quantile regression method that accurately reflects the confidence intervals for wind power forecasts is presented. The proposed approach provides wind power forecasts for future 3 h in steps of 15 min and the associated forecasting uncertainty. During testing on three practical wind power generation systems, the proposed method gives better forecasting accuracy and produces more reasonable confidence intervals than existing methods.
Daily prediction of solar power generation based on weather forecast information in Korea
Authors: Kim Jae‐Gon , Kim Dong‐Hyuk , Yoo Woo‐Sik , Lee Joung‐Yun , Kim Yong Bae
Published: February 2017

Solar panel photovoltaic (PV) systems are widely used in Korea to generate solar energy, which is one of the most promising renewable energy sources. With regard to solar electricity providers and a grid operator, it is critical to accurately predict solar power generation for supply–demand planning in an electrical grid, which directly affects their profit. This prediction is, however, a challenging task because solar power generation is weather dependent and uncontrollable. In this study, a daily prediction model based on the weather forecast information for solar power generation is proposed. In the case of the proposed model, the cloud and temperature data available from the weather forecast information is used to predict the amount of solar radiation as well as a loss adjustment factor to reflect the possible loss of power generation due to the degradation or failure of the PV module. Using the proposed model, solar power generation for the following day can be predicted. The proposed model is embedded into a solar PV monitoring system that is commercially used in Korea, and it is shown to perform better than the existing prediction models.
Applications of 25OHD
3
in poultry meat production.
Authors: Litta G.
Published: February 2017

Vitamin D (cholecalciferol) is essential to humans and animals. Vitamin D
3
, the form active in poultry, can be synthesized endogenously but, as this process has very low efficiency in this species, vitamin D
3
must be supplemented via feed. To become active, vitamin D
3
must be hydroxylated twice in the body: first in the liver to 25OHD
3
and then in the kidney to the active, hormonal form 1,25(OH)
2
D
3
. The 25OHD
3
level in blood plasma is the indicator of the vitamin D nutritional status. Primary function of vitamin D
3
is to regulate both calcium and phosphorus metabolism, hence it plays a pivotal role in bone and skeletal development. For almost two decades now, 25OHD
3
has been commercially available. By feeding this metabolite directly, plasma levels are higher than when fed vitamin D
3
This occurs even more clearly when intestinal diseases or stress impair vitamin D
3
absorption. Both experimental trials and commercial use have indicated that supplementing broiler diets with 25OHD
3
can help improve bone and skeletal health; reduce the incidence of lameness and other bone disorders (e.g. tibial dyschondroplasia); modulate immune response; and improve performance, including having a direct effect on muscle growth mediated by molecular and cellular mechanisms.
Association of Neuropathological Markers in the Parietal Cortex With Antemortem Cognitive Function in Persons With Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer Disease
Authors: Tremblay Cyntia , François Arnaud , Delay Charlotte , Freland Laure , Vandal Milène , Bennett David A , Calon Frédéric
Published: February 2017

The associations between cognitive function and neuropathological markers in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer disease (AD) remain only partly defined. We investigated relationships between antemortem global cognitive scores and β-amyloid (Aβ), tau, TDP-43, synaptic proteins and other key AD neuropathological markers assessed by biochemical approaches in postmortem anterior parietal cortex samples from 36 subjects (12 MCI, 12 AD and 12 not cognitively impaired) from the Religious Orders Study. Overall, the strongest negative correlation coefficients associated with global cognitive scores were obtained for insoluble phosphorylated tau (r2 = −0.484), insoluble Aβ42 (r2 = −0.389) and neurofibrillary tangle counts (r2 = −0.494) (all p < 0.001). Robust inverse associations with cognition scores were also established for TDP-43-positive cytoplasmic inclusions (r2 = −0.476), total insoluble tau (r2 = −0.385) and Aβ plaque counts (r2 = −0.426). Sarkosyl (SK)- or formic acid (FA)-extracted tau showed similar interrelations. On the other hand, synaptophysin (r2 = +0.335), pS403/404 TDP-43 (r2 = +0.265) and septin-3 (r2 = +0.257) proteins positively correlated with cognitive scores. This study suggests that tau and Aβ42 in their insoluble aggregated forms, synaptic proteins and TDP-43 are the markers in the parietal cortex that are most strongly associated with cognitive function. This further substantiates the relevance of investigating these markers to understand the pathogenesis of AD and develop therapeutic tools.
Changes in xyloglucan endotransglycosylase (XET) activity during hormone-induced growth in lettuce and cucumber hypocotyls and spinach veil suspension cultures
Authors: Potter Ian , Fry Stephen C.
Published: February 2017

The promotion of stem elongation in dwarf pea plants by GA3 has been correlated with an increase in extractable xyloglucan endotransglycosylase (XET) activity (Potter and Fry, 1993). Doses of auxin that caused either elongation or lateral swelling in pea stems have not been found to increase XET activity (Fry et al., 1992). We therefore explored the generality of the association between GA3 action and XET activity by testing three other bioassay systems.

A similar correlation was found in the hypocotyls of intact lettuce seedlings, where GA3 strongly promoted elongation and doubled the extractable XET activity per unit fresh weight.

In the hypocotyls of intact cucumber seedlings, GA3 evoked a prolonged promotion of elongation for at least 96 h; this was correlated with only a small increase in XET activity per unit fresh weight of tissue. IAA promoted elongation for only 48 h, but this effect was correlated with a larger increase in XET activity per unit fresh weight than that due to GA3.

In cell suspension cultures of spinach, much of the XET activity was present in solution in the culture medium. GA3 had little effect on this fraction for the first 9 d, but thereafter the hormone suppressed a sudden burst in soluble extracellular XET activity that occurred in the untreated controls. A further proportion of the XET activity was ionically wall-bound; this fraction was enhanced by GA3 in the early phase of the growth cycle of the culture and inhibited in later phases. Pre-adaptation of the culture by growth for 6 years in the presence of 10−7 M GA3 intensified the response of the cells to re-addition of GA3.

We conclude that there is no simple or unique relationship between total extractable XET activity and GA3 action. Nevertheless, we have extended the evidence that XET is often subject to the effects of GA3 in systems where this hormone influences growth.
Detection of two power-law tails in the probability distribution functions of massive GMCs
Authors: Schneider N. , Bontemps S. , Girichidis P. , Rayner T. , Motte F. , André Ph. , Russeil D. , Abergel A. , Anderson L. , Arzoumanian D. , Benedettini M. , Csengeri T. , Didelon P. , Francesco J. Di , Griffin M. , Hill T. , Klessen R. S. , Ossenkopf V. , Pezzuto S. , Rivera-Ingraham A. , Spinoglio L. , Tremblin P. , Zavagno A.
Published: February 2017

We report the novel detection of complex high column density tails in the probability distribution functions (PDFs) for three high-mass star-forming regions (CepOB3, MonR2, NGC 6334), obtained from dust emission observed with Herschel. The low column density range can be fitted with a lognormal distribution. A first power-law tail starts above an extinction (AV) of ∼6–14. It has a slope of α = 1.3–2 for the ρ ∝ r−α profile for an equivalent density distribution (spherical or cylindrical geometry), and is thus consistent with free-fall gravitational collapse. Above AV ∼40, 60, and 140, we detect an excess that can be fitted by a flatter power-law tail with α > 2. It correlates with the central regions of the cloud (ridges/hubs) of size ∼1 pc and densities above 104 cm−3. This excess may be caused by physical processes that slow down collapse and reduce the flow of mass towards higher densities. Possible are: (1) rotation, which introduces an angular momentum barrier, (2) increasing optical depth and weaker cooling, (3) magnetic fields, (4) geometrical effects, and (5) protostellar feedback. The excess/second power-law tail is closely linked to high-mass star-formation though it does not imply a universal column density threshold for the formation of (high-mass) stars.
Radio emission from Sgr A*: pulsar transits through the accretion disc
Authors: Christie I. M. , Petropoulou M. , Mimica P. , Giannios D.
Published: February 2017

Radiatively inefficient accretion flow models have been shown to accurately account for the spectrum and luminosity observed from Sgr A* in the X-ray regime down to mm wavelengths. However, observations at a few GHz cannot be explained by thermal electrons alone but require the presence of an additional non-thermal particle population. Here, we propose a model for the origin of such a population in the accretion flow via means of a pulsar orbiting the supermassive black hole in our Galaxy. Interactions between the relativistic pulsar wind with the disc lead to the formation of a bow shock in the wind. During the pulsar’s transit through the accretion disc, relativistic pairs, accelerated at the shock front, are injected into the disc. The radio-emitting particles are long lived and remain within the disc long after the pulsar’s transit. Periodic pulsar transits through the disc result in regular injection episodes of non-thermal particles. We show that for a pulsar with spin-down luminosity Lsd ∼ 3 × 1035 erg s−1 and a wind Lorentz factor of γw ∼ 104 a quasi-steady synchrotron emission is established with luminosities in the 1–10 GHz range comparable to the observed one.
ANTIBODY AGAINST THE HEPATITIS TYPE B CORE ANTIGEN
Authors: SZMUNESS WOLF , HOOFNAGLE JAY H. , STEVENS CLADD E. , PRINCE ALFRED M.
Published: February 2017

Four random samples representing populations at low (volunteer blood donors), intermediate, (VD clinic patients), high (family contacts of chronic antigen carriers) and very high (male homosexuals) risk of exposure to HBV were surveyed. Among HBsAg and anti-HBs negative individuals an average of 3.3% were found to be anti-HBs positive, and among those with anti-HBs. 19.4% were anti-HBc positive. Anti-HBc, with concurrent anti-HBs and without, was detected more frequently in the high risk samples than in the low risk. Individuals with a past history of acute viral hepatitis were more frequently anti-HBc positive than those without such a history, and anti-HBc positivity was frequently accompanied by serum transaminase elevation. Anti-HBc may persist for many years after an episode of acute hepatitis. In households of carriers, the highest frequency of anti-HBc was observed among spouses, which would argue for the possibility of sexual transmission. A significant excess of females with both types of antibody was observed in families of carriers. Anti-HBC determinations in conjunction with other HBV markers, provide a useful new tool for epidemiologic studies.
GEOGRAPHIC VARIATIONS IN US ASTHMA MORTALITY: SMALL-AREA ANALYSES OF EXCESS MORTALITY, 1981–1985
Authors: WEISS KEVIN B. , WAGENER DIANE K.
Published: February 2017

US asthma mortality rates have been increasing during the past 10 years. Little is known about the geographic variation of this infrequent health event Using US vital records for the 1981–1985 period, small-area variation of excess asthma mortality of young adults was studied. Several geopolitical definitions were used to define populations. A total of 22 single counties, 12 metropolitan statistical areas, 11 health service areas, and 29 state economic areas were identified as having mortality significantly in excess of that expected, based on US race/sex-speclflc rates. Significant variation in asthma mortality was found at several levels of geopolitical classification of the data. Elevated areas included the central plains states and three large urban metropolitan areas—Chicago, illinois, New York, New York, and Phoenix, Arizona—as well as a few mostly suburban populations. Areas with excess mortality may provide a useful population base for further epidemlologic investigation into the risk factors associated with the more frequent morbid events of this disease, such as emergency room and hospital utilization.
Progress in Dosimetry with Piezoelectric Quartz
Authors: Ettinger K.V. , Brondo J. , Holowacz J.
Published: February 2017

Samples of natural quartz were used to produce piezoelectric resonators. These resonators were irradiated to doses of gamma rays in the range from about 20 Gy to 10 kGy. The response in this range was monotonic, as measured by means of frequency change following irradiation. Below the dose of about 50 Gy a large scatter of results made the results less reliable. It appears that there is a positive correlation between the amount of impurities like aluminium, sodium and lithium and the radiation sensitivity. Piezoids of natural quartz can be used, after determining the sensitivity of the material, as dosemeters for routine high dose measurements.
Recent Developments in Detectors for Photon and Neutron Dosimetry
Authors: Dörschel B.
Published: February 2017

One of the main trends in external dosimetry is the investigation of new radiation detection mechanisms with the aim of developing improved detectors and dosemeters. These include bubble-damage, electret detectors, MOS transistors, MOS thin-film breakdown detectors, detectors on the basis of dynamic RAMs, fibre optic detectors, etc. Studies of the physical properties of these detectors are very important in order to ensure the scientific basis of future measurement techniques in dosimetry.
Radon in Belgium: Mapping and Mitigation in the Affected Area of Visé
Authors: Poffijn A. , Eggermont G. , Hallez S. , Cohilis P.
Published: February 2017

The massif of Visé is well known by geologists for its special geological features, in particular the great abundance (N>30) of important uranium anomalies. The measuring campaigns conducted over the past years in several hundreds of houses resulted in a detailed radon map with clear indication of risk areas. Based upon the available information some 160 houses (2% of the building stock) are expected to have real radon problems (>400 Bq.m-3). Up to now 24 of these problem houses have been localised. Three of the most contaminated houses (>3000 Bq.m-3 in the living areas) have been studied in detail for mitigation purposes. In two of them sub-floor ventilation has been installed. In this way the original high levels were reduced by more than a factor of ten.
Risk Evaluation and Control Strategies for Indoor Radon: A Brief Discussion
Authors: Nero Jr. (INVITED) A.V.
Published: February 2017

Average risks of death estimated for radon are larger than those for many exposures in the outdoor environment, but similar to some in industrial settings. However, the indoor environment differs in regard to cost, benefit, responsibility, and distribution of risks from the outdoor and occupational settings, where frameworks for setting risk-limiting objectives and strategies have already been developed substantially. This indicates the need to develop a conceptual framework for evaluating risks in the outdoor environment, within which the objectives of radon control strategies can be sensibly chosen. Nevertheless, the range of estimated radon risks and of recent radon control strategies suggest near-term elements of any strategy, i.e. accurate and effective public information, as well as reliable monitoring and control capabilities, and a focus on areas where most high residential levels occur. Developing a conceptual framework for evaluating indoor risks will permit the formulation of suitable aims on average indoor exposures and lower exposure situations.
Lyoluminescence of Tris (Hydroxymethyl) Aminomethane in Gamma Dosimetry
Authors: Azorin J. , Gutierrez A. , Guadarrama L.
Published: February 2017

Gamma dosimetry using lyoluminescence (LL) has advantages over other conventional systems because of its low cost and simplicity of use. Results of the investigation of the LL properties of tris (hydroxmethyl) aminomethane irradiated with 60Co gamma radiation are presented and compared with the results of the LL of mannose and sucrose. Tris on dissolution in luminol shows a higher LL response than that of mannose and lower than that of sucrose, and has the highest stability of the three systems. The LL response of tris was linear in the range 5 Gy to 1 kGy and showed no fading during one week. A comparison with the results of other authors as well as with measurements by ESR techniques are also reported. From these results we conclude that tris (hydroxymethyl) aminomethane on dissolution in luminol provides a LL dosimetric system useful for gamma dosimetry in the radiation processing of foods.
Photon Induced Microdosimetric Distributions in Nanometre and Micrometre Sites
Authors: Olko P. , Booz J.
Published: February 2017

Microdosimetric distributions are calculated in water vapour for soft to 250 kVp X rays for spherical sites of 3 nm to 8 µm diameter. Numerical simulations of microdosimetric distributions were done with the electron track structure code MOCA-8. Calculated distributions are compared with available experimental data from wall-less tissue-equivalent proportional counters and show good agreement.
PhenoPlasm: a database of disruption phenotypes for malaria parasite genes
Authors: Sanderson Theo , Rayner Julian C.
Published: February 2017

Two decades from the firstPlasmodiumtransfection, attempts have been made to disrupt more than 900 genes in malaria parasites, across fivePlasmodiumspecies. While results from the rodent malarias have been curated and systematised, phenotypic data for species of human malaria parasites has existed only scattered across a large literature. To facilitate systematic views of known experimental-genetic data acrossPlasmodiumspecies, we have built PhenoPlasm (http://www.phenoplasm.org), a database of phenotypes forPlasmodiumparasites. The site provides a simple interface to link citation-backedPlasmodiumreverse-genetic phenotypes to gene IDs. The database has been populated with phenotypic data on 330P. falciparumgenes, curated from 155 individual publications, as well as existing curated data from RMgmDB. These data are presented using 1: 1 ortholog mapping to allow a researcher interested in a gene in one species to see results acrossPlasmodium.The collaborative nature of the database enables any researcher to add new phenotypes as they are discovered.
Efficient Detection of Communities in Biological Bipartite Networks
Authors: Pesántez-Cabrera Paola , Kalyanaraman Ananth
Published: February 2017

Methods to efficiently uncover and extract community structures are required in a number of biological applications where networked data and their interactions can be modeled as graphs, and observing tightly-knit groups of vertices (“communities”) can offer insights into the structural and functional building blocks of the underlying network. Classical applications of community detection have largely focused on unipartite networks—i.e., graphs built out of a single type of objects. However, due to increased availability of biological data from various sources, there is now an increasing need for handling heterogeneous networks which are built out of multiple types of objects. In this paper, we address the problem of identifying communities from biologicalbipartite networks—i.e., networks where interactions are observed betweentwo different typesof objects (e.g., genes and diseases, drugs and protein complexes, plants and pollinators, hosts and pathogens). Toward detecting communities in such bipartite networks, we make the following contributions: i) (metric) we propose a variant of bipartite modularity; ii) (algorithms) we present an efficient algorithm calledbiLouvainthat implements a set of heuristics toward fast and precise community detection in bipartite networks; and iii) (experiments) we present a thorough experimental evaluation of our algorithm including comparison to other state-of-the-art methods to identify communities in bipartite networks. Experimental results show that ourbiLouvain algorithm identifies communities that have a comparable or better quality (as measured by bipartite modularity) than existing methods, while significantly reducing the time-to-solution between one and four orders of magnitude.
Carbon inputs from riparian vegetation limit oxidation of physically-bound organic carbon via biochemical and thermodynamic processes
Authors: Graham Emily B. , Tfaily Malak , Crump Alex R. , Goldman Amy E. , Bramer Lisa , Arntzen Evan , Romero Elvira , Resch C. Tom , Kennedy David W. , Stegen James C.
Published: February 2017

In light of increasing terrestrial carbon (C) transport across aquatic boundaries, the mechanisms governing organic carbon (OC) oxidation along terrestrial-aquatic interfaces are crucial to future climate predictions. Here, we investigate the biochemistry, metabolic pathways, and thermodynamics corresponding to OC oxidation in the Columbia River corridor using ultra-high resolution C characterization. We leverage natural vegetative differences to encompass variation in terrestrial C inputs. Our results suggest that decreases in terrestrial C deposition associated with diminished riparian vegetation induce oxidation of physically-bound OC. We also find that contrasting metabolic pathways oxidize OC in the presence and absence of vegetation and -- in direct conflict with the priming concept -- that inputs of water-soluble and thermodynamically favorable terrestrial OC protects bound-OC from oxidation. In both environments, the most thermodynamically favorable compounds appear to be preferentially oxidized regardless of which OC pool microbiomes metabolize. In turn, we suggest that the extent of riparian vegetation causes sediment microbiomes to locally adapt to oxidize a particular pool of OC, but that common thermodynamic principles govern the oxidation of each pool (i.e., water-soluble or physically-bound). Finally, we propose a mechanistic conceptualization of OC oxidation along terrestrial-aquatic interfaces that can be used to model heterogeneous patterns of OC loss under changing land cover distributions.
Synthesis, resolution and crystal structures of two enantiomeric rhodamine derivatives
Authors: Stephenson Clifton J. , Mague Joel T. , Kamm Nathaniel , Aleman Nathalie , Rich Dayla , Dang Quynh-Nhu , Nguyen Ha Van
Published: February 2017

The title molecule,rac-6′-bromo-3′-diethylamino-3H-spiro[2-benzofuran-1,9′-xanthen]-3-one, C24H20BrNO3, was synthesized and the two enantiomers which formed were separated. The structures of all three compounds were determined and compared with those of a variety of related derivatives. A notable feature is the fold of the xanthene portion which ranges from 15.15 (13)° in the racemate to 2.42 (2)° in one molecule of theRenantiomer with that for theSenantiomer having an intermediate value. The differences are attributed to the number and severity of intermolecular interactions which include C—H...O hydrogen bonds, C—H...π(ring) and, in theSenantiomer, a π-stacking interaction between the carbonyl group and an aromatic ring.
Crystal structures of isomeric 4-bromo-N-[(2-nitrophenyl)sulfonyl]benzamide and 4-bromo-N-[(4-nitrophenyl)sulfonyl]benzamide
Authors: Naveen S. , Sudha A. G. , Suresha E. , Lokanath N. K. , Suchetan P. A. , Abdoh M.
Published: February 2017

The syntheses and crystal structures of the isomeric 4-bromo-N-[(2-nitrophenyl)sulfonyl]benzamide, (I), and 4-bromo-N-[(4-nitrophenyl)sulfonyl]benzamide, (II), are described (molecular formula = C13H9BrN2O5S in each case). The asymmetric unit of (I) contains two independent molecules [(IA) and (IB)], while that of (II) contains one molecule. The benzoic acid aromatic ring of molecule (IA) is disordered due to rotation about the Car—C(=O) bond over two orientations in a 0.525 (9):0.475 (9) ratio. The dihedral angle between the benzene rings is 85.9 (3)° in (IA) and 65.22 (19)° in (IB), while in (II), the corresponding value is 56.7 (7)°. In the crystals of (I) and (II), N—H...O, C—H...O and C—H...π interactions generate three-dimensional networks.
The quality of sustainability reports and impression management
Authors: Diouf Dominique , Boiral Olivier
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to analyze the perceptions of stakeholders – more specifically, socially responsible investment (SRI) practitioners – of the quality of sustainability reports using the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on 33 semi-structured interviews carried out with different stakeholders and experts (e.g. consultants, fund managers, analysts, consultants) in the field of SRI in Canada.

Findings

The perceptions of SRI practitioners shed more light on the elastic and uncertain application of the GRI principles in determining the quality of sustainability reports. Their perceptions tend to support the argument that sustainability reports reflect the impression management strategies used by companies to highlight the positive aspects of their sustainability performance and to obfuscate negative outcomes.

Originality/value

First, undertake empirical research on stakeholders’ perceptions – which have been largely overlooked – of the quality of sustainability reports. Second, shed new light on the impression management strategies used in sustainability reporting. Third, show the reflexivity and the degree of skepticism of practitioners with regard to the reliability of information on sustainability performance.
How does market learning affect radical innovation? The moderation roles of horizontal ties and vertical ties
Authors: Gao Yu , Li Yao , Cheng Maoyong , Feng Genfu
Published: February 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the curvilinear effects of firms’ market learning on radical innovation and the moderation effects of the focal firms’ horizontal ties and vertical ties.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses regression analysis with the survey data from 303 Chinese firms.

Findings

Explorative/exploitative market learning has an inverted U-shaped/U-shaped effect on radical innovation. The effects of explorative market learning on radical innovation increase when firms have strong horizontal ties, but decrease when firms have strong vertical ties. The opposite is true for the effects of exploitative market learning.

Research limitations/implications

This study uses unilateral data to examine the moderation effects of the focal firms’ vertical and horizontal ties on the market learning-radical innovation links. Future research that conducted in the dyadic-paradigm would be preferable to test the generalizability of this research and address the potential changes.

Originality/value

The value of the current study centers on its integrated framework that incorporates organizational learning theory and the social network perspective to account for radical innovation. The integrative view helps us to interpret the curvilinear effects of market learning on radical innovation and outlines the moderation mechanisms of horizontal ties and vertical ties.
The effects of temperature cues on charitable donation
Authors: Rai Dipankar , Lin Chien-Wei (Wilson) , Yang Chun-Ming
Published: February 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate how the perception of physical coldness (vs warmth) influences consumers to make charitable donations.

Design/methodology/approach

Three experiments were conducted involving charitable donation scenarios.

Findings

Studies demonstrate that cold (vs warm) temperature cues result in greater intentions to donate to charities. Specifically, cold (vs warmth) cues activate the need for social connection which, in turn, motivate consumers to donate more money to charities. Furthermore, this effect holds even when the actual temperature instead of temperature cues is changed, and participants’ actual donation behavior instead of donation intentions is measured, thereby, strengthening the findings of this paper.

Research limitations/implications

Boundary conditions associated with the effect of temperature cues need empirical investigation. Future research needs to investigate if the effect holds with variability of coldness. Future research also needs to determine whether the documented effect occur across various pro-social contexts.

Practical implications

The results suggest that non-profit organizations incorporate “cold” cues into advertisements (people feeling cold or cold landscapes) to increase monetary donations and that these organizations should focus on targeting donors during wintertime (vs summer time) to get more donations.

Originality/value

This is the first research to demonstrate the effects of temperature cues on charitable donations. The added value of this paper is the use of physical temperature change to highlight the phenomenon, and the link between cold (vs warm) temperature cue and the need of social connection.
Toward The Networked City? Translating Technological ideals and Planning Models in Water and Sanitation Systems in Dar es Salaam
Authors: Monstadt Jochen , Schramm Sophie
Published: February 2017

One of the most influential ideals for constructing and managing cities and infrastructures worldwide is that of the ‘networked city'. This ideal refers to the technological design and morphology of cities integrated and ordered by infrastructure networks and to a specific model in the operation, use and planning of infrastructures. Engineers, planners and public health officials have aspired to align with this circulating ideal of urban modernity, hygiene and rationalization of nature in (re)producing cities worldwide. Like many cities in the global South, Dar es Salaam cannot be characterized by universal access to centralized water and sewerage networks. While formal institutions, planning documents and strategies reflect significations, as well as organizational and planning models of a networked city, its urban environments are shaped by hybrid arrangements manifesting unequal access to water and sanitation services. We build on postcolonial critique in urban studies and science and technology studies to inquire into this contradiction by addressing the translation of the ideal of the networked city in Dar es Salaam. Our objective is to uncover the negotiations over the translation of this hegemonic model, and to delineate the scope of creativity in reinventing alternative urban modernities that defy simplistic notions of technology transfer.
Exploring Underlying Dimensions of Social Connectedness in the Experiences of Suspended Young People from Ethnically Diverse Populations in the USA
Authors: Henderson Dawn X. , Baker Alison , Goings Ramon B. , Gordon‐Littréan Berdine
Published: February 2017

In the USA, out‐of‐school suspension leaves numerous young people in transition, caught between the school and their communities. A limited body of literature neither documents the experiences of suspended young people from ethnically diverse populations nor provides insight into the spaces they occupy. This study used an exploratory mixed methods design to identify psychological, social and spatial dimensions of social connectedness in the experiences of suspended young people participating in a community intervention. The study aimed to explicate social connectedness as a protective factor and how underlying dimensions of social connectedness construct sites of recovery for suspended young people.
Autophagy is involved in mouse kidney development and podocyte differentiation regulated by Notch signalling
Authors: Zhang Chuyue , Li Wen , Wen Junkai , Yang Zhuo
Published: February 2017

Podocyte dysfunction results in glomerular diseases accounted for 90% of end‐stage kidney disease. The evolutionarily conserved Notch signalling makes a crucial contribution in podocyte development and function. However, the underlying mechanism of Notch pathway modulating podocyte differentiation remains less obvious. Autophagy, reported to be related with Notch signalling pathways in different animal models, is regarded as a possible participant during podocyte differentiation. Here, we found the dynamic changes of Notch1 were coincided with autophagy: they both increased during kidney development and podocyte differentiation. Intriguingly, when Notch signalling was down‐regulated by DAPT, autophagy was greatly diminished, and differentiation was also impaired. Further, to better understand the relationship between Notch signalling and autophagy in podocyte differentiation, rapamycin was added to enhance autophagy levels in DAPT‐treated cells, and as a result, nephrin was recovered and DAPT‐induced injury was ameliorated. Therefore, we put forward that autophagy is involved in kidney development and podocyte differentiation regulated by Notch signalling.
The Affordable Care Act, the Medicaid Coverage Gap, and Hispanic Consumers: A Phenomenology of Obamacare
Authors: Schembri Sharon , Ghaddar Suad
Published: February 2017

The historic health care reform of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as Obamacare, enabled more than 20 million Americans to gain health insurance and access to health care. However, the original mandate requiring states to expand Medicaid was ruled as optional in 2012 by the Supreme Court. Focusing on Hispanic consumers residing in a state that opted out of the Medicaid expansion, this study reports on the consumer experience of Obamacare. Findings show that study participants are in an unfavorable situational context, better understood when the cultural context is considered, and cultural resistance recognized. The findings also show that participants are confused, discouraged, and fearful of the continued unaffordability of health insurance and the lawful need to enroll or be penalized. For these participants, affordable health insurance has not been realized and this research gives an insight on those individuals falling through the cracks.
Variability of skin pH after the use of different collagen gels
Authors: Ciszek Agnieszka
Published: February 2017

Background

Skin pH is an important parameter indicating the condition of the skin because imbalance can contribute to the development of skin problems and earlier aging. Individual skin pH depends on many factors such as hydration, sweating, sebum excretion, genetics, sex, and age. Additionally, it can be affected by exogenous factors such as cosmetics.

Aims

The aim of the study was to compare different collagen gels and determine whether and to what extent they change the pH of the skin.

Patients/Methods

Baseline skin pH was measured in 49 women aged between 19 and 23. It was measured again 20 and 60 minutes following of the application of four collagen gels.

Results

The mean physiological pH values of the forehead and cheek were 5.67 and 5.76, respectively. The analysis of variance and post hoc test revealed that gel no. 1, gel no. 2, and gel no. 3 (but not 4) significantly changed the skin pH.

Conclusion

Collagen gel should be neutral for the skin barrier; however, most collagen skin care preparations significantly changed skin pH. Methods of processing and stabilizing the collagen may account for the difference in effect between gels, but further research is required.
Increased ipsilateral uterine artery vascular resistance in women with ovarian endometrioma
Authors: Waratani Miyoko , Mori Taisuke , Ito Fumitake , Tanaka Yukiko , Koshiba Akemi , Takahata Akiko , Kitawaki Jo
Published: February 2017

Aim

The aim of this study was to elucidate whether the presence of an ovarian endometrioma is associated with impaired vascular flow. We investigated changes in vascular flow on the ipsilateral and contralateral side of the endometrioma, before and after surgery.

Methods

This prospective case–control study included 144 women (ovarian endometrioma [n = 40], endometriosis without ovarian endometrioma [n = 33], non‐endometriotic ovarian cyst [n = 17], and normal pelvis [n = 54]). The uterine artery (UtA) vascular resistance indices (pulsatility index [PI] and resistance index [RI]) were measured using transvaginal Doppler sonography, and UtA diameters were measured using magnetic resonance imaging.

Results

The UtA PI and RI were significantly higher on the ipsilateral side of the endometrioma than on the contralateral unaffected side in the endometrioma group (P < 0.01), as well as in the non‐endometriotic ovarian cyst group (P < 0.05), and normal pelvis group (P < 0.01). The UtA PI and RI on the ipsilateral side of the endometrioma were significantly lower after cystectomy than before cystectomy (P < 0.01). The UtA diameters were significantly larger (P < 0.01) on the ipsilateral side of the endometrioma than on the contralateral side.

Conclusion

The UtA‐vascular resistance might be higher on the ipsilateral side of the endometrioma than on the contralateral unaffected side, indicating a risk of subclinical atherosclerosis in women with endometriosis.
Do your high potentials have potential? The impact of individual differences and designation on leader success
Authors: Finkelstein Lisa M. , Costanza David P. , Goodwin Gerald F.
Published: February 2017

We propose an integrated model of leadership potential, the high‐potential designation process, and leader success that is intended to clarify the theoretical and practical relationships among these concepts. Drawing on research in the areas of social judgment and cognition, cognitive abilities, personality, leadership development, and motivation and on practice‐oriented observations and writings, we propose a process model of potential, the designation of individuals as high potential, and the antecedent and moderating variables that combine to impact success. We conclude that by using this model we can understand better the individual, social, and organizational factors that impact potential and the high‐potential identification process, and help develop more successful leaders and organizations.
Intra‐Eu Migration and Crime: A Jigsaw to be Reckoned with
Authors: Ludwig Anika , Johnson Derek
Published: February 2017

The expansion of the EU has generated vast interest and debate about an alleged crime–migration nexus. The gradual disappearance of borders within the EU has created opportunities for easier people movement, and potentially for offenders to commit criminal offences in other countries. The authors have found that little work has been undertaken to understand the general nature of criminal activity by intra‐EU migrant populations. Data on localised offending by foreign nationals can be used to inform intelligence by national and international police agencies, to generate effective cross‐border information exchange, aid investigatory techniques and significantly inform crime reduction activity and policies. However, where such information is not collected and available for analysis within member states, informed knowledge within and between member states is difficult to achieve. In order to begin to address these discrepancies, the authors suggest a multi‐disciplinary and mixed methods approach that seeks understanding at the EU level.
Distribution, position and genomic characteristics of crossovers in tomato recombinant inbred lines derived from an interspecific cross between Solanum lycopersicum and Solanum pimpinellifolium
Authors: Demirci Sevgin , van Dijk Aalt D.J. , Sanchez Perez Gabino , Aflitos Saulo A. , de Ridder Dick , Peters Sander A.
Published: February 2017

We determined the crossover (CO) distribution, frequency and genomic sequences involved in interspecies meiotic recombination by using parent‐assigned variants of 52 F6 recombinant inbred lines obtained from a cross between tomato, Solanum lycopersicum, and its wild relative, Solanum pimpinellifolium. The interspecific CO frequency was 80% lower than reported for intraspecific tomato crosses. We detected regions showing a relatively high and low CO frequency, so‐called hot and cold regions. Cold regions coincide to a large extent with the heterochromatin, although we found a limited number of smaller cold regions in the euchromatin. The CO frequency was higher at the distal ends of chromosomes than in pericentromeric regions and higher in short arm euchromatin. Hot regions of CO were detected in euchromatin, and COs were more often located in non‐coding regions near the 5′ untranslated region of genes than expected by chance. Besides overrepresented CCN repeats, we detected poly‐A/T and AT‐rich motifs enriched in 1‐kb promoter regions flanking the CO sites. The most abundant sequence motifs at CO sites share weak similarity to transcription factor‐binding sites, such as for the C2H2 zinc finger factors class and MADS box factors, while InterPro scans detected enrichment for genes possibly involved in the repair of DNA breaks.
MotionGen: Interactive Design and Editing of Planar Four-Bar Motions for Generating Pose and Geometric Constraints
Authors: Purwar Anurag , Deshpande Shrinath , Ge Q. J.
Published: February 2017

In this paper, we have presented a unified framework for generating planar four-bar motions for a combination of poses and practical geometric constraints and its implementation in MotionGen app for Apple's iOS and Google's Android platforms. The framework is based on a unified type- and dimensional-synthesis algorithm for planar four-bar linkages for the motion-generation problem. Simplicity, high-utility, and wide-spread adoption of planar four-bar linkages have made them one of the most studied topics in kinematics leading to development of algorithms and theories that deal with path, function, and motion generation problems. Yet to date, there have been no attempts to develop efficient computational algorithms amenable to real-time computation of both type and dimensions of planar four-bar mechanisms for a given motion. MotionGen solves this problem in an intuitive fashion while providing high-level, rich options to enforce practical constraints. It is done effectively by extracting the geometric constraints of a given motion to provide the best dyad types as well as dimensions of a total of up to six four-bar linkages. The unified framework also admits a plurality of practical geometric constraints, such as imposition of fixed and moving pivot and line locations along with mixed exact and approximate synthesis scenarios.
Epigenetic regulation of antagonistic receptors confers rice blast resistance with yield balance
Authors: Deng Yiwen , Zhai Keran , Xie Zhen , Yang Dongyong , Zhu Xudong , Liu Junzhong , Wang Xin , Qin Peng , Yang Yuanzhu , Zhang Guomin , Li Qun , Zhang Jianfu , Wu Shuangqing , Milazzo Joëlle , Mao Bizeng , Wang Ertao , Xie Huaan , Tharreau Didier , He Zuhua
Published: February 2017

Widespread resistance, localized relief

Rice blast fungus can devastate a rice harvest. Genes that provide resistance to the fungus usually depress rice yield. Deng
et al.
analyzed the molecular underpinnings of a rice variant that is resistant to rice blast but still high-yielding (see the Perspective by Wang and Valent). The key locus encodes several R (resistance) genes. One gene confers resistance and is expressed throughout the plant. Another gene fails to confer resistance and is expressed only in pollen and panicles (the rice-producing flower clusters). Because the R proteins function as dimers, heterodimerization in pollen and panicles disables resistance. The plants thus produce smaller but more numerous rice grains, which sustains yield, while the body of the plant resists fungal infection.

Science
, this issue p.
962
; see also p.
906
Efficient and stable solution-processed planar perovskite solar cells via contact passivation
Authors: Tan Hairen , Jain Ankit , Voznyy Oleksandr , Lan Xinzheng , García de Arquer F. Pelayo , Fan James Z. , Quintero-Bermudez Rafael , Yuan Mingjian , Zhang Bo , Zhao Yicheng , Fan Fengjia , Li Peicheng , Quan Li Na , Zhao Yongbiao , Lu Zheng-Hong , Yang Zhenyu , Hoogland Sjoerd , Sargent Edward H.
Published: February 2017

Passivating traps in perovskites

Low-temperature processing of planar organic-inorganic perovskite solar cells made through solution processing would allow for simpler manufacturing and the use of flexible substrates. However, materials currently in use form interfaces with charge carrier trap states that limit performance. Tan
et al.
used chlorine-capped TiO
2
colloidal nanocrystal films as an electron-selective layer, which limited interface recombination in solution-processed solar cells. Such cells achieved certified efficiencies of 19.5% for active areas of 1.1 cm
2
.

Science
, this issue p.
722
Deep Sequencing-Identified Kanamycin-Resistant
Paenibacillus
sp. Strain KS1 Isolated from Epiphyte
Tillandsia usneoides
(Spanish Moss) in Central Florida, USA
Authors: Lata Pushpa , Govindarajan Subramaniam S. , Qi Feng , Li Jian-Liang , Sahoo Malaya K.
Published: February 2017

Paenibacillus
sp. strain KS1 was isolated from an epiphyte,
Tillandsia usneoides
(Spanish moss), in central Florida, USA. Here, we report a draft genome sequence of this strain, which consists of a total of 398 contigs spanning 6,508,195 bp, with a G+C content of 46.5% and comprising 5,401 predicted coding sequences.
Complete Genome Sequence of a Porcine Kobuvirus Variant Strain from Jiangxi, China
Authors: Peng Qi , Song Deping , Huang Dongyan , Chen Yanjun , Zhou Xinrong , Zhang Fanfan , Li Anqi , Wu Qiong , He Houjun , Tang Yuxin
Published: February 2017

The complete genome sequence of a porcine kobuvirus (PKoV) variant strain, CH/KB-1/2014 from Jiangxi, China, with a 90-nucleotide deletion in the 2B gene, was determined and characterized. This study provides a better understanding of the molecular characteristics and evolution of PKoV in Jiangxi, China.
Plant Pathogenic Fungi
Authors: Doehlemann Gunther , Ökmen Bilal , Zhu Wenjun , Sharon Amir
Published: February 2017

Fungi are among the dominant causal agents of plant diseases. To colonize plants and cause disease, pathogenic fungi use diverse strategies. Some fungi kill their hosts and feed on dead material (necrotrophs), while others colonize the living tissue (biotrophs). For successful invasion of plant organs, pathogenic development is tightly regulated and specialized infection structures are formed. To further colonize hosts and establish disease, fungal pathogens deploy a plethora of virulence factors. Depending on the infection strategy, virulence factors perform different functions. While basically all pathogens interfere with primary plant defense, necrotrophs secrete toxins to kill plant tissue. In contrast, biotrophs utilize effector molecules to suppress plant cell death and manipulate plant metabolism in favor of the pathogen. This article provides an overview of plant pathogenic fungal species and the strategies they use to cause disease.