bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Emergent neutrality in consumer-resource dynamics
Authors: D’Andrea Rafael , Gibbs Theo , O’Dwyer James P.
Published: July 2019

Neutral theory assumes all species and individuals in a community are ecologically equivalent. This controversial hypothesis has been tested across many taxonomic groups and environmental contexts, and successfully predicts species abundance distributions across multiple high-diversity communities. However, it has been critiqued for its failure to predict a broader range of community properties, particularly regarding community dynamics from generational to geological timescales. Moreover, it is unclear whether neutrality can ever be a true description of a community given the ubiquity of interspecific differences, which presumably lead to ecological inequivalences. Here we derive analytical predictions for when and why non-neutral communities of consumers and resources may present neutral-like outcomes, which we verify using numerical simulations. Our results, which span both static and dynamical community properties, demonstrate the limitations of summarizing distributions to detect non-neutrality, and provide a potential explanation for the successes of neutral theory as a description of macroecological pattern.

Author Summary

The neutral theory of biodiversity assumes that species are ecologically equivalent. Given the natural history observation of ubiquitous phenotypic differences between species, it is surprising that neutral theory has successfully predicted a broad range of biodiversity patterns, and simultaneously unsurprising that these results have not convinced ecologists that the natural world is neutral. However, we have lacked a description of how neutrality can emerge in a natural way from ecological mechanisms and species differences. Our study sheds light on this question, providing a theoretical backdrop for the success of neutral theory as a description of macroecological pattern. We derive a prediction for the degree to which consumers must differ in preferences for different resources before the resulting biodiversity patterns become distinguishable from neutrality. These predictions, which we confirm using simulations, show that neutral-like outcomes are possible even when resource requirements across consumers are very far from neutral. Our results can be tested in experimental microbial communities, where, equipped with an inferred consumption network, our analysis can yield predictions for biodiversity patterns and community turnover at different taxonomic levels.
Terminitor: Cleavage Site Prediction Using Deep Learning Models
Authors: Yang Chen , Li Chenkai , Nip Ka Ming , Warren René L , Birol Inanc
Published: July 2019

As a widespread RNA processing machinery, alternative polyadenylation plays a crucial role in gene regulation. To help decipher its underlying mechanism and understand its impact, it is desirable to comprehensively profile 3’-untranslated region cleavage and associated polyadenylation sites. State-of-the-art polyadenylation site detection tools are known to be influenced by library preparation artefacts or manually selected features. Moreover, recently published machine learning methods have only been tested on pre-constructed datasets, thus lacking validation on experimental data. Here we present Terminitor, the first deep neural network-based profiling pipeline to make predictions from RNA-seq data. We show how Terminitor outperforms competing tools in sensitivity and precision on experimental transcriptome sequencing data, and demonstrate its use with data from short- and long-read sequencing technologies. For species without a good reference transcriptome annotation, Terminitor is still able to pass on the information learnt from a related species and make reasonable predictions. We used Terminitor to showcase how single nucleotide variations can create or destroy polyadenylated cleavage sites in human RNA-seq samples.

Author Summary

3’ cleavage and polyadenylation of pre-mRNA is part of RNA maturation process. One gene can be cleaved at different positions at its 3’ end, namely alternatively polyadenylation, thus identifying the correct polyadenylated cleavage site (poly(A) CS) is essential to unveil its role in gene regulation under different physiological and pathological conditions. The current poly(A) CS prediction tools are either heavily influenced by RNA-Seq library preparation artefacts or have only been designed and tested on ad hoc datasets, lacking association with real world applications. In this study, we present a deep learning model, Terminitor, that predicts the probability of a nucleotide sequence containing a poly(A) CS, and validated its performance on human and mouse data. Along with the model, we propose a poly(A) CS profiling pipeline for RNA-seq data. We benchmarked our pipeline against competing tools and achieved higher sensitivity and precision in experimental data. The usage of Terminitor is not limited to genome and transcriptome annotation and we expect it to facilitate the identification of novel isoforms, improve the accuracy of transcript quantification and differential expression analysis, and contribute to the repertoire of reference transcriptome annotation.
Genome analysis of the steroid-degrading denitrifying Denitratisoma oestradiolicum DSM 16959 and Denitratisoma sp. strain DHT3
Authors: Chen Yi-Lung , Wei Sean Ting-Shyang , Chiang Yin-Ru
Published: July 2019

Steroid hormones (androgens and estrogens) are crucial for development, reproduction, and communication of multicellular eukaryotes. The ubiquitous distribution and persistence of steroid hormones in our ecosystems have become an environmental issue due to the adverse effects on wildlife and humans upon long-term exposure. Microbial degradation is critical for the removal of steroid hormones from ecosystems. The aerobic degradation pathways for androgens and estrogens and the anaerobic degradation pathway for androgen have been studied into some details; however, the mechanism for anaerobic estrogen degradation remains completely unknown. Here, we presented the circular genomes of D. oestradiolicum DSM 16959 and Denitratisoma sp. strain DHT3, two betaproteobacteria capable of anaerobic estrogen degradation. We identified the genes involved in steroid transformation and in the anaerobic 2,3-seco pathway in both genomes. Additionally, the comparative genomic analysis revealed that genes exclusively represented in estrogen-degrading anaerobes might play a role in anaerobic estrogen catabolism.
The plant mobile domain proteins MAIN and MAIL1 interact with the phosphatase PP7L to regulate gene expression and silence transposable elements in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Nicolau Melody , Picault Nathalie , Descombin Julie , Jami-Alahmadi Yasaman , Feng Suhua , Bucher Etienne , Jacobsen Steven E. , Deragon Jean-Marc , Wohlschlegel James , Moissiard Guillaume
Published: July 2019

Transposable elements (TEs) are DNA repeats that must remain silenced to ensure cell integrity. Several epigenetic pathways including DNA methylation and histone modifications are involved in the silencing of TEs, and in the regulation of gene expression. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the TE-derived plant mobile domain (PMD) proteins have been involved in TE silencing, genome stability, and control of developmental processes. Using a forward genetic screen, we found that the PMD protein MAINTENANCE OF MERISTEMS (MAIN) acts synergistically and redundantly with DNA methylation to silence TEs. We found that MAIN and its close homolog MAIN-LIKE 1 (MAIL1) interact together, as well as with the phosphoprotein phosphatase (PPP) PP7-like (PP7L). Remarkably, main, mail1, pp7l single and mail1 pp7l double mutants display similar developmental phenotypes, and share common subsets of upregulated TEs and misregulated genes. Finally, phylogenetic analyses of PMD and PP7-type PPP domains among the Eudicot lineage suggest neo-association processes between the two protein domains to potentially generate new protein function. We propose that, through this interaction, the PMD and PPP domains may constitute a functional protein module required for the proper expression of a common set of genes, and for silencing of TEs.

AUTHOR SUMMARY

The plant mobile domain (PMD) is a protein domain of unknown function that is widely spread in the angiosperm plants. Although most PMDs are associated with repeated DNA sequences called transposable elements (TEs), plants have domesticated the PMD to produce genic versions that play important roles within the cell. In Arabidopsis thaliana, MAINTENANCE OF MERISTEMS (MAIN) and MAIN-LIKE 1 (MAIL1) are genic PMDs that are involved in genome stability, developmental processes, and silencing of TEs. The mechanisms involving MAIN and MAIL1 in these cellular processes remain elusive. Here, we show that MAIN, MAIL1 and the phosphoprotein phosphatase (PPP) named PP7-like (PP7L) interact to form a protein complex that is required for the proper expression of genes, and the silencing of TEs. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that PMD and PP7-type PPP domains are evolutionary connected, and several plant species express proteins carrying both PMD and PPP domains. We propose that interaction of PMD and PPP domains would create a functional protein module involved in mechanisms regulating gene expression and repressing TEs.
Low-glutathione mutants are impaired in growth but do not show an increased sensitivity to moderate water deficit
Authors: Bangash Sajid A.K. , Solbach David , Jansen Marcus , Fiorani Fabio , Schwarzländer Markus , Kopriva Stanislav , Meyer Andreas J.
Published: July 2019

Glutathione is considered a key metabolite for stress defense and elevated levels have frequently been proposed to positively influence stress tolerance. To investigate whether glutathione affects plant performance and the drought tolerance of plants, wild-type Arabidopsis plants and an allelic series of five mutants (rax1, pad2, cad2, nrc1, andzir1) with reduced glutathione contents between 21 and 63 % compared to wild-type glutathione content were phenotypically characterized for their shoot growth under control and water-limiting conditions using a shoot phenotyping platform. Under non-stress conditions thezir1mutant with only 21 % glutathione showed a pronounced dwarf phenotype. All other mutants with intermediate glutathione contents up to 62 % in contrast showed consistently slightly smaller shoots than the wild-type. Moderate drought stress imposed through water withdrawal until shoot growth ceased showed that wild-type plants and all mutants responded similarly in terms of chlorophyll fluorescence and growth retardation. These results lead to the conclusion that glutathione is important for general plant performance but that the glutathione content does not affect tolerance to moderate drought conditions typically experienced by crops in the field.
PPM1H phosphatase counteracts LRRK2 signaling by selectively dephosphorylating Rab proteins
Authors: Berndsen Kerryn , Lis Pawel , Yeshaw Wondwossen , Wawro Paulina S. , Nirujogi Raja S. , Wightman Melanie , Macartney Thomas , Dorward Mark , Knebel Axel , Tonelli Francesca , Pfeffer Suzanne R. , Alessi Dario R.
Published: July 2019

Mutations that activate LRRK2 protein kinase cause Parkinson’s disease. LRRK2 phosphorylates a subset of Rab GTPases within their Switch-II motif controlling interaction with effectors. An siRNA screen of all protein phosphatases revealed that a poorly studied protein phosphatase, PPM1H, counteracts LRRK2 signaling by specifically dephosphorylating Rab proteins. PPM1H knock out increased endogenous Rab phosphorylation and inhibited Rab dephosphorylation. Overexpression of PPM1H suppressed LRRK2-mediated Rab phosphorylation. PPM1H also efficiently and directly dephosphorylated Rab8A in biochemical studies. A “substrate-trapping” PPM1H mutant (Asp288Ala) binds with high affinity to endogenous, LRRK2-phosphorylated Rab proteins, thereby blocking dephosphorylation seen upon addition of LRRK2 inhibitors. PPM1H is localized to the Golgi and its knockdown suppresses primary cilia formation, similar to pathogenic LRRK2. Thus, PPM1H acts as a key modulator of LRRK2 signaling by controlling dephosphorylation of Rab proteins. PPM1H activity enhancers could offer a new therapeutic approach to prevent or treat Parkinson’s disease.
Mathematical analysis of thermally radiative time-dependent Sisko nanofluid flow for curved surface
Authors: Khan Waqar Azeem , Waqas Muhammad , Ali Mehboob , Sultan F. , Shahzad M. , Irfan M.
Published: July 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to develop a mathematical model featuring Brownian motion and thermophoresis. The idea of curved stretching subjected to time-dependent non-Newtonian (Sisko) fluid flow is introduced.

Design/methodology/approach

Shooting scheme is implemented to compute nonlinear systems.

Findings

Velocity profile of Sisko magnetonanofluid enhances for augmented values of curvature parameter.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no such analysis has yet been reported.
Does the hospitality industry need or deserve talent?
Authors: Baum Tom
Published: July 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to confront the most challenging issues that the hospitality industry faces. This relates to the recruitment and retention of talented future leaders. This is a long-standing issue but one that is increasing in importance as industry changes, combined with external pressures within the labour market (demographic and competitive), act to restructure the recruitment landscape in many countries.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper provides a literature-based analysis that addresses two key questions relating to the hospitality industry and talent – does the sector need talent and, controversially, does it deserve talent? The literature has been addressed on the basis of the author’s in-depth knowledge and the use of a wide range of pertinent search terms relating to the core themes of hospitality and talent management.

Findings

The paper assesses evidence with respect to both questions, framed as propositions, and concludes that the current talent pipelines, upon which hospitality substantially depends, may not be fit for purpose, and that the wider workplace culture within hospitality is not compatible with the attraction of the best into the industry.

Research limitations/implications

The paper challenges the established practice, both within the hospitality industry, in terms of its workplace environment, and in the way its educational partners (hospitality management schools) prepare young people for the industry. The outcomes of the analysis do not provide much by way of succour to either.

Practical implications

Implicit in this paper is a call to key stakeholders (industry and education) in the search for future leaders of the hospitality industry to address and review both the industry workplace, to make it more attractive and rewarding for young graduates, and the educational model that still dominates hospitality management programmes in preparing them for careers.

Social implications

Careers in hospitality will remain “Cinderella” options for young graduates until action is taken by stakeholders to reposition the nature of the careers on offer and the focus of the programmes available in preparation for them.

Originality/value

The approach taken is the presentation of widely recognised themes in an original format.
Assessing batteries supply chain networks for low impact vehicles
Authors: Rafele Carlo , Mangano Giulio , Cagliano Anna Corinna , Carlin Antonio
Published: July 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to evaluate different logistics configuration to deliver batteries from the supplier to the production lines of a European carmaker who is implementing new propulsions for its models.

Design/methodology/approach

Several scenarios about the supply chain for traction batteries have been identified based on the company’s requirements and constraints. Then, the variables used for the assessment of each scenario have been selected to calculate the unit battery supply chain cost.

Findings

The results underline that a direct transport without intermediate nodes is the cheapest one. On the contrary, an additional warehouse makes the organization of the network more complex. However, with this configuration, it is possible to cover the risk of supply since that a certain level of inventory is always guaranteed.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited to the analysis of only one model car, and just manual operations have been taken into account for computing the human resource time and cost. The present study is one of the first works exploring the organization of the supply chain for the batteries integrated in electric and hybrid vehicles together with the choice of the location of the related warehouses.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the first work on the assessment of batteries’ supply chain that are going to be integrated in low impact vehicles, focusing on location of the associated warehouse. The evaluation is carried out by taking into account all the sources of cost.
Electricity consumption and economic growth
Authors: Chirwa Themba G. , Odhiambo Nicholas M.
Published: July 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the short- and long-run relationship between electricity consumption and economic growth.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a panel-based autoregressive distributed lag approach to cointegration to investigate this relationship in 12 advanced, emerging markets and developing economies during the period 1970-2016, selected from three continents, namely, Europe (Luxemborg, Norway, Denmark and Belgium), Asia (Singapore, Japan, Indonesia and India) and Africa (South Africa, Algeria, Egypt and Kenya).

Findings

Based on the homogeneity assumption, the study results reveal that electricity consumption is positively and significantly associated with economic growth in all the study countries in the long run. Conversely, the short-run results reveal that electricity consumption is positively and significantly associated with economic growth in ten countries and negatively associated with economic growth in only two countries.

Research limitations/implications

The study concludes that, on the whole, electricity consumption is an important factor of production in the majority of the study countries. Therefore, policymakers should focus on growth-enhancing energy policies that promote energy efficiency usage, especially in the long run.

Originality/value

The authors hereby confirm that the paper has not been published elsewhere, and this research is entirely their work.
Intertextual analysis of the BP Prudhoe Bay disaster: applying the 5 Bs of antenarrative
Authors: Massoud Jacob A. , Boje David M. , Capener Elizabeth , Marcillo Marilu
Published: July 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to offer an analysis of the British Petroleum (BP) Prudhoe Bay environmental disaster. The primary purpose is to elucidate the fivefold of antenarrative in sensemaking environmental accidents. The analytic framework enables organization to envision futures where they want to be, and work to get there as more socially responsible companies.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted an intertextual analysis of texts by ascribing voice and affiliation to each antenarrative. The multiple voices and antenarratives quoted within the texts were compared and coded and theme analysis was conducted over time to understand dynamics and see if organizational learning was occurring.

Findings

The antenarrative method generated several findings: BP is faulty beneath in how they conceive of safety, lacking foresight. BP executives leave out elements of safety, a fore having that does not include what needs to be prepared for. BP foretells that it is socially responsible, yet the reality of events seems contradictory. Within fore structure, some of BP’s leaders deny or ignore claims of critics through intertextual connections of events. By fore caring, BP mediates the problem in response to the disaster and critics. Their sensemaking in this case is more retrospective and reactive than prospective.

Practical implications

Organizations can avoid environmental disasters and negative backlash by adopting practices that provide more transparent discourse and greater accountability. The fivefold of antenarrative serves as a storytelling framework to promote care by using trial and error problem solving on future bets.

Originality/value

To date, few intertextual analyses have been performed to study organizations. By applying a fivefold antenarrative storytelling framework, which reflects new advances in storytelling theory, the authors offer an original perspective on environmental accident sensemaking.
Do market size and financial development indicators affect human capital of select south Asian economies?
Authors: Sethi Narayan , Mishra Bikash Ranjan , Bhujabal Padmaja
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate whether market size and its growth rate, along with financial development indicators, affect human capital in selected south Asian economies over the time period from 1984 to 2015.

Design/methodology/approach

The stationarity of the variables are checked by LLC, IPS, ADF and Phillips–Perron panel unit-root tests. Pedroni’s and Kao’s panel co-integration approaches are employed to examine the long-run relationship among the variables. To estimate the coefficients of co-integrating vectors, both PDOLS and FMOLS techniques are used. The short-term and long-run causalities are examined by panel granger causality.

Findings

From the empirical results, the authors found that both the market size and financial development play an important role in the development of human capital in the selected south Asian economies. It is evident that a large market size and faster degree of financial development in the selected countries result in better human capital formation.

Originality/value

There are a number of studies on the impact of financial development indicators on human capital and economic growth, but there is hardly any study that considers market size and its growth rate along with financial development indicators with human capital in the context of south Asian economies. The study fills this research gap.
What restricts credit to women enterprises? Evidence from India’s informal sector
Authors: Maurya Prateeksha , Mohanty Pratap Chandra
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the factors which affect the financial access of the female-owned informal enterprises (FOIEs) in India. There has been a dearth of studies particularly targeting determinants of credit access by the women-owned informal enterprises. Demand side factors affecting financial access have been studied. The study of major factors affecting access to credit by unorganized women enterprises will be useful for policy making perspectives.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses nationalized micro data set on the non-agricultural informal enterprises and probit estimation has been used to identify the factors which affect the probabilities of access to credit for the FOIEs.

Findings

The study highlights what facilitates and hinders the financial access for the FOIEs particularly in India. These enterprises in rural areas have better chances to avail credit from formal sources. Firm size, measured by policy-making size of employment and gross profit, involvement in diversified activities, maintenance of accounting record, has positive and significant impact on access to formal credit. The younger firms and the firms operating in the southern states of the country have higher probabilities to avail credit from institutional sources.

Originality/value

The study used the latest data set available on Indian informal enterprises, thus provides important insights about the status of financing of enterprises in India. This study highlights the regional variations and gender disparities that are prevalent in the Indian economy.
Research on transmission efficiency of high power hydro-viscous clutch
Authors: Sun Qi , Xie Fangwei , Wan Kuaidi , Guo Xinjian , Zhu Jie , Nguyen Van Xo , Wang Yun
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the influences of the oil film thickness between the friction pairs, the rotational speed of the active and passive friction disks and the inlet pressure of the lubricant on the transmission efficiency.

Design/methodology/approach

A mathematical model of transmission efficiency was established, and the efficiency of transmission was studied by means of numerical analysis.

Findings

The results demonstrate that the transmission efficiency decreases with the thickness of the oil film increases. When the thickness of oil film d = 0.1 mm, the relationship between transmission efficiency and transmission ratio is linear, that is, with the transmission ratio increases, the transmission efficiency also increases which does not change with the inlet pressure changes. However, when d = 0.1 mm, their relationship is non-linear; the efficiency increases first and then decreases as the transmission ratio increases, but decreases as the inlet pressure increases.

Originality/value

The authors obtained a rule is that increasing the rotational speed and reducing the inlet pressure of the lubricating oil can improve the transmission efficiency. This study can provide a theoretical basis for power transmission designing of hydro-viscous clutch.
Purchasing’s tasks at the interface between internal and external networks
Authors: Bastholm Steffen Muxoll , Munksgaard Kristin B.
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The strategic importance of the purchasing function increases, as its task become more dynamic in various interfaces with different suppliers. Changes in these customer–supplier interfaces pose specific challenges. The purpose of this study is to investigate how the purchasing function handles the interplay of interface changes.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applies a qualitative single case study design. Data are collected through observations and interviews conducted before, during and after a concrete change of interface taking place between a buying firm and its suppliers and customers.

Findings

Three main findings are identified to redefine the tasks of the purchasing function. The first concerns the new ways of defining the purchasing tasks. The main issue is to balance tasks with the simultaneous changes influencing other interfaces and relationships. The second is the division and alignment of tasks in intra- and inter-organizational networks with regards to who decides and coordinates what. Third, the inter-connected performance relates to how other actors perform their tasks. For the purchasing function, managing supplier interfaces influences and is influenced by how the firm simultaneously manages its user interface.

Practical implications

For management, a new way to evaluate the performance of the purchasing function is needed by including relationship management and interactive capabilities.

Originality/value

This study contributes with new insights into how managing the dynamics of changing interfaces requires interactively defined purchasing tasks, division and alignment of tasks and inter-connected performance vis-à-vis others in the wider network setting.
Exchange rate and long-run price relationship in 19 selected European and LDCs
Authors: Arize Augustine Chuck , Kalu Ebere Ume , Okoyeuzu Chinwe , Malindretos John
Published: July 2019

Purpose

This study aims to make a comparative study of the applicability of the purchasing power parity (PPP) in selected less developing countries (LDCs) on one hand and European countries on the other hand.

Design/methodology/approach

The research design is empirical andex post facto. This study uses an assortment of co-integration tests and error correction representation. The chosen approach allows for the consideration of long-run elasticities and the dynamics of the short-run adjustment of exchange rates to changes in domestic and foreign prices. Monthly data are used for the period 1980:1 through 2015:12 (i.e. 432 observations).

Findings

Results from long-run co-integration analysis, short-run error correction models and persistence profile analysis overwhelmingly confirm the validity of PPP in these two sets of countries regardless the disparity in their relative exchange rate and price characteristics.

Research limitations/implications

Curiously, several of these empirical studies and still many more, have focused their attention on the experiences of industrialized countries, with a few investigations devoted to LDCs. The evidence is even scarcer in Africa. Clearly, the acceptance of any hypothesis as a credible explanation of economic reality hinges on the robustness of the hypothesis across countries with different economic and institutional frameworks.

Practical implications

Knowledge of the extent to which exchange rate and relative prices can be linked in the long run is important for the design and management of inflation and the implementation of monetary policy. For instance, policy actions aimed at stabilizing the domestic economy can obtain results that are, at best, uncertain in the absence of correct characterization of the PPP dynamics. Moreover, structural and macroeconomic adjustment programs implemented in these countries to achieve economic growth and external competitiveness could be unsuccessful if flawed estimates of PPP exchange rates are retained.

Originality/value

Several empirical studies have been done to prove the validity or otherwise of the PPP. Unlike prior authors, this study makes a comparative study of the applicability of the PPP in selected LDC on one hand and European countries.
Effectiveness of alcohol-prevention social marketing in the presence of alcohol advertising
Authors: Witvorapong Nopphol , Ratisukpimol Watcharapong , Watanapongvanich Somtip
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of a national alcohol-prevention social marketing campaign in Thailand, investigating specifically the competing forces of the campaign vis-à-vis alcohol advertising.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on repeated cross-sectional, nationally representative data from the 2011-2014 Annual Survey of Buddhist Lent Campaign Evaluation (N = 10,133), a generalized ordered logit (partial proportional odds) model is used. The outcome of interest is self-reported alcohol consumption during the campaign period, compared to before. The main explanatory variables include exposure to the campaign and exposure to alcohol advertising.

Findings

Results show that exposure to the campaign and exposure to alcohol advertising positively and negatively influence alcohol consumption, respectively. Compared to those with one type of exposure and those without any exposure to alcohol-related messages, drinkers with exposure to both the campaign and alcohol advertising are estimated to have the highest probability of drinking reduction during the campaign period.

Originality/value

The paper highlights the importance of accounting for a countervailing force (in this case, alcohol advertising) in campaign evaluation studies. It also suggests that alcohol-control social marketing be continued and that the government should disseminate alcohol-prevention messages in a balanced manner, ensuring that both costs and benefits of alcohol consumption are well-understood by the intended audience.
User-opinion mining for mobile library apps in China: exploring user improvement needs
Authors: Zhou Haichen , Zheng Dejun , Li Yongming , Shen Junwei
Published: July 2019

Purpose

To further provide some insight into mobile library (m-library) applications (apps) user needs and help libraries or app providers improve the service quality, the purpose of this paper is to explore all the types of user improvement needs and to discover which need is the most important based on user results.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from more than 27,000 m-library app users from 16 provinces and autonomous regions in China. Text analysis using latent Dirichlet allocation and Word2Vec was carried out by text preprocessing. Furthermore, a visual presentation was conducted through pyLDAvis and word cloud. Finally, combined with expert opinions, the results were summarized to find the different types of needs.

Findings

There are three different types of needs for improvement: needs of function, needs of technology and needs of experience. These types can be further divided into six subtypes: richness of function, feasibility of function, easiness of technology, stableness of technology, optimization of experience and customization of experience. Besides the richness of function, the feasibility of function has received the most attention from users.

Originality/value

Most studies on m-library user needs have only focused on a method of quantitative research based on questionnaire surveys. This study, however, is the first to apply text mining methods for large-scale user opinion texts, which place more focus on user needs and inspire libraries and app providers to further improve their services.
Experimental and statistical analysis on process parameters and surface roughness relationship for selective laser melting of Hastelloy X
Authors: Tian Yang , Tomus Dacian , Huang Aijun , Wu Xinhua
Published: July 2019

Purpose

Selective laser melting (SLM) process is an additive manufacturing method that uses computer-aided design to fabricate complex components layer-by-layer. Surface roughness is one of the primary drawbacks of SLM process; hence, the purpose of this paper is to present a parametric study and optimisation of fundamental parameters, including scan power, speed, inclined angle and layer thickness on surface roughness during selective laser melting of Hastelloy X.

Design/methodology/approach

Parametric significance on surface finish was analysed using analysis of variance and response surface methodology. General agreement between predicted and measured values was achieved. Surface characteristics of both up-skin and down-skin with various angles were covered within the investigated range.

Findings

Both experimental and statistical analysis showed that surface roughness of up-skin was primarily influenced by scan power, inclined angle and layer thickness while down-skin was more affected by the former two factors. Melt pool shape and staircase size were found to determine the up-skin surface, whereas attached particles were responsible for down-skin surface roughness.

Originality/value

As per our understanding, this manuscript provides valuable insight into the surface quality problem of SLM, which is a very critical issue for up-grading the process for manufacturing real components. This manuscript helps promote improved knowledge and understanding of the attributes and capabilities of this rapidly evolving 3D printing technology. Moreover, it establishes usable processing window and helps obtain optimal conditions, thus offering useful information to professionals working in this field. By combining experiments with statistical analysis, both practice and theory relevant to SLM process are further developed.
Dimensional characteristics of Ti-6Al-4V thin-walled parts prepared by wire-based multi-laser additive manufacturing in vacuum
Authors: Du Farui , Zhu Jinqian , Ding Xueping , Zhang Qi , Ma Honglin , Yang Jie , Cao Hongzhong , Ling Zemin , Wang Guoyu , Duan Xuanming , Fan Shuqian
Published: July 2019

Purpose

A wire-based additive manufacturing system works with high manufacturing efficiency and low dimensional precision. The purpose of this paper is to study the dimensional characteristics of Ti-6Al-4V thin-walled parts with wire-based multi-laser additive manufacturing in vacuum.

Design/methodology/approach

Wire-based multi-laser additive manufacturing was carried out to understand the effect brought from different parameters. The Ti-6Al-4V thin-walled parts were formed by different height increments, power inputs and inter-layer cooling times in vacuum.

Findings

The result shows that, with the number of layers increment, the layer width of thin-walled part increases gradually in the beginning and stabilizes soon afterward. Height increment, laser power and inter-layer cooling time could affect the energy input to the deposited bead and heat accumulation of thin-walled part. The layer width decreases, while the height increment increases. The increment of laser power could increase the layer width. And, the increment of inter-layer cooling time (more than 5 s) has little effect on the layer width.

Originality/value

The heat dissipation mode of thin-walled parts in vacuum and the influence of different parameters on layer width are explained in this paper. It provides a reference for further understanding and controlling dimension precision of Ti-6Al-4V thin-walled part with wire-based multi-laser additive manufacturing in vacuum. At the same time, it provides a reference for researches of dimensional characteristics in the additive manufacturing industry.
3D printing: a critical review of current development and future prospects
Authors: Ali Md. Hazrat , Batai Shaheidula , Sarbassov Dastan
Published: July 2019

Purpose

This study highlights the demand for low-cost and high accuracy products through the design and development of new 3D printing technologies. Besides, signiﬁcant progress has been made in this ﬁeld. A comparative study helps to understand the latest development in materials and future prospect of this technology.

Design/methodology/approach

Nevertheless, a large amount of progress still remains to be made. While some of the works have focused on the performances of the materials, the rest have focused on the development of new methods and techniques in additive manufacturing.

Findings

This paper critically evaluates the current 3D printing technologies, including the development and optimizations made to the printing methods, as well as the printed objects. Meanwhile, previous developments in this area and contributions to the modern trend in manufacturing technology are summarized briefly.

Originality/value

The paper can be summarized in three sections. Firstly, the existing printing methods along with the frequently used printing materials, as well as the processing parameters, and the factors which influence the quality and mechanical performances of the printed objects are discussed. Secondly, the optimization techniques, such as topology, shape, structure and mechanical property, are described. Thirdly, the latest development and applications of additive manufacturing are depicted, and the scope of future research in the relevant area is put forward.
Chalcone skeleton promotes transcription of gp91‐phox gene but inhibits expression of gp91‐phox protein, and hydroxyl groups in hydroxychalcones participate in the stable expression of gp91‐phox protein
Authors: Kikuchi Hidehiko , Mimuro Hitomi , Madhyastha Harishkumar , Kuribayashi Futoshi
Published: July 2019

The effects of chalcone and butein on the induction of the superoxide anion (O2‐)‐generating system were studied in U937 cells by all‐trans retinoic acid (RA). The chalcone skeleton, a common structural motif in them, significantly enhanced the transcription of gp91‐phox in an epigenetic manner. In contrast, chalcone and butein showed opposite effects on the induction of the O2‐‐generating activity by RA and the expression of gp91‐phox protein. Chalcone inhibited, whereas butein promoted, the induction of O2‐‐generating activity by RA and the expression of gp91‐phox protein. These data raise the possibility that modification of the chalcone skeleton could produce more effective differentiation‐promoting agents.
Environmental degradation amplifies species’ responses to temperature variation in a trophic interaction
Authors: Mugabo Marianne , Gilljam David , Petteway Laura , Yuan Chenggui , Fowler Mike S. , Sait Steven M.
Published: July 2019

Land‐use and climate change are two of the primary drivers of the current biodiversity crisis. However, we lack understanding of how single‐species and multispecies associations are affected by interactions between multiple environmental stressors.

We address this gap by examining how environmental degradation interacts with daily stochastic temperature variation to affect individual life history and population dynamics in a host–parasitoid trophic interaction, using the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella, and its parasitoid wasp Venturia canescens.

We carried out a single‐generation individual life‐history experiment and a multigeneration microcosm experiment during which individuals and microcosms were maintained at a mean temperature of 26°C that was either kept constant or varied stochastically, at four levels of host resource degradation, in the presence or absence of parasitoids.

At the individual level, resource degradation increased juvenile development time and decreased adult body size in both species. Parasitoids were more sensitive to temperature variation than their hosts, with a shorter juvenile stage duration than in constant temperatures and a longer adult life span in moderately degraded environments. Resource degradation also altered the host's response to temperature variation, leading to a longer juvenile development time at high resource degradation. At the population level, moderate resource degradation amplified the effects of temperature variation on host and parasitoid populations compared with no or high resource degradation and parasitoid overall abundance was lower in fluctuating temperatures. Top‐down regulation by the parasitoid and bottom‐up regulation driven by resource degradation contributed to more than 50% of host and parasitoid population responses to temperature variation.

Our results demonstrate that environmental degradation can strongly affect how species in a trophic interaction respond to short‐term temperature fluctuations through direct and indirect trait‐mediated effects. These effects are driven by species differences in sensitivity to environmental conditions and modulate top‐down (parasitism) and bottom‐up (resource) regulation. This study highlights the need to account for differences in the sensitivity of species’ traits to environmental stressors to understand how interacting species will respond to simultaneous anthropogenic changes.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies Report: English Council Funding: What’s Happened and What’s Next?
Authors: Copus Colin , Jones Alistair
Published: July 2019

The article reviews the recent Institute for Fiscal Studies (IfFS) report, English Council Funding: What’s Happened and What’s Next. The article provides an overview of the main themes and findings of the report which examines the consequences of a sustained period of austerity for English local government and the impact of austerity on certain key council services. The article explores what the report has to say about the way councils have responded to reductions in government funding and the strategies they have developed to protect certain frontline services. The article reviews the suggestions made in the IfFS report for changing English local government funding and finds that they reflect a form of centralist thinking which lacks a radical edge when it comes to reform.
Doctors as moral pioneers: Negotiated boundaries of assisted conception in Colombia
Authors: Shaw Malissa Kay
Published: July 2019

New biotechnologies such as assisted conception are socially embedded artefacts that raise context‐specific ethical, moral and social anxieties. In contexts where the regulations of these profitable developments are limited or ambiguous, and competition between private facilities is high, individual doctors become morally and socially responsible for determining the parameters of administering such therapies. Ethnographic research at two private fertility centres in Colombia reveals that doctors do not determine boundaries based on monetary gain but rather personal morals, social norms and professional obligations. Medical professionals hold diverse perceptions of assisted conception, and often struggle to make decisions regarding who should access such therapies, who are ideal gamete donors and the fate of extra embryos. The complexity of these perceptions applied in a context of limited regulation and the competition of private medicine impacts the praxis of assisted conception. As doctors determine the boundaries of their practice they not only create variation between clinical practices, but also make moral decisions regarding who should be parents, how families should be formed and the significance of embryos. Thus, in navigating their everyday practices, doctors also shape the social world.
Geochemistry of Sediments from the Lopare Basin (Bosnia and Herzegovina): Implications for Paleoclimate, Paleosalinity, Paleoredox and Provenance
Authors: ŠAJNOVIĆ Aleksandra , GRBA Nenad , NEUBAUER Franz , KAŠANIN‐GRUBIN Milica , STOJANOVIĆ Ksenija , PETKOVIĆ Nenad , JOVANČIĆEVIĆ Branimir
Published: July 2019

A combined inorganic and organic geochemical study was carried out on marls and mudstones collected from the Lower Miocene Lopare Basin, Bosnia and Herzegovina. A total of 46 samples collected from two boreholes, Pot 1 (depth of 193 m) and Pot 3 (depth of 344 m), showed that element abundances like boron (B), lithium (Li), strontium (Sr), uranium (U), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na) and calcium (Ca) are much higher than average than in the upper continental crust (UCC). Chemical composition indicates at least two sources: (i) Mesozoic ophiolites occurring in the north of the investigated area, and (ii) dacito‐andesitic pyroclastics (Mesozoic to Cenozoic). Lopare Basin sedimentation was influenced by strong evaporation resulting in a partly hypersaline lake, which formed during a warm climatic period, probably during the Miocene Climatic Optimum. A brief episode of humid climate conditions resulted in the basin filling‐up and deposition of felsic sediments enriched in thorium (Th). Organic geochemistry shows that the majority of studied sediments contains predominantly immature to marginally mature algal organic matter (OM). The biomarker patterns are generally in agreement with the geological history of the Lopare Basin and inorganic and mineralogical data. Conversely, the molecular distribution ofn‐alkanes as reliable climatic and δ‐MTTC as paleosalinity indicators do not support this conclusion.