bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
mTOR kinase inhibitors promote antibody class switching via mTORC2 inhibition
Authors: Limon Jose J. , So Lomon , Jellbauer Stefan , Chiu Honyin , Corado Juana , Sykes Stephen M. , Raffatellu Manuela , Fruman David A.
Published: November 2014

Significance

Rapamycin is an immunosuppressive drug that partially inhibits the cellular kinase mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). This study uncovers previously unidentified mechanisms of mTOR signaling in B cells. Antigen recognition and other signals activate mTOR, a central driver of lymphocyte proliferation and differentiation. However, mTOR forms two protein complexes (mTORC1 and mTORC2) whose roles in B-cell differentiation are poorly defined. We found that a new class of ATP-competitive mTOR kinase inhibitors (TOR-KIs) can augment antibody class switching at concentrations that partially inhibit mTOR activity. Mechanistic studies indicate that mTORC1 loss suppresses, whereas mTORC2 loss promotes, class switching. The dominant effect of TOR-KIs is to promote switching through mTORC2 inhibition. These findings establish distinct immunomodulatory activity of TOR-KIs compared with the canonical mTOR inhibitor rapamycin.
Bispecific antibody generated with sortase and click chemistry has broad antiinfluenza virus activity
Authors: Wagner Koen , Kwakkenbos Mark J. , Claassen Yvonne B. , Maijoor Kelly , Böhne Martino , van der Sluijs Koenraad F. , Witte Martin D. , van Zoelen Diana J. , Cornelissen Lisette A. , Beaumont Tim , Bakker Arjen Q. , Ploegh Hidde L. , Spits Hergen
Published: November 2014

Significance

Bispecific antibodies expand the function of conventional antibodies. However, therapeutic application of bispecifics is hampered by the reduced physiochemical stability of such molecules. We present a format for bispecific antibodies, fusing two full-sized antibodies via their C termini. This format does not require mutations in the antibody constant domains beyond installation of a five-residue tag, ensuring that the native antibody structure is fully retained in the bispecific product. We have validated the approach by linking two anti-influenza A antibodies, each active against a different subgroup of the virus. The bispecific antibody dimer retains the activity and the stability of the two original antibodies.
Effects of temperature and precipitation variability on the risk of violence in sub-Saharan Africa, 1980–2012
Authors: O’Loughlin John , Linke Andrew M. , Witmer Frank D. W.
Published: November 2014

Significance

A robust debate about the effects of climate change on conflict occurrences has attained wide public and policy attention, with sub-Saharan Africa generally viewed as most susceptible to increased conflict risk. Using a new disaggregated dataset of violence and climate anomaly measures (temperature and precipitation variations from normal) for sub-Saharan Africa 1980–2012, we consider political, economic, and geographic factors, not only climate metrics, in assessing the chances of increased violence. The location and timing of violence are influenced less by climate anomalies than by key political, economic, and geographic factors. Overall, the temperature effect is statistically significant, but important inconsistencies in the relationship between temperature extremes and conflict are evident in more nuanced relationships than have been previously identified.
Ocean surface temperature variability: Large model–data differences at decadal and longer periods
Authors: Laepple Thomas , Huybers Peter
Published: November 2014

Significance

Determining magnitudes of sea surface temperature variability is important for attributing past and predicting future changes in climate, and generally requires the use of proxies to constrain multidecadal and longer timescales of variability. We report a multiproxy estimate of sea surface temperature variability that is consistent between proxy types and with instrumental estimates but strongly diverges from climate model simulations toward longer timescales. At millennial timescales, model−data discrepancies reach two orders of magnitude in the tropics, indicating substantial problems with models or proxies, or both, and highlighting a need to better determine the variability of sea surface temperatures.
Methane emissions from Alaska in 2012 from CARVE airborne observations
Authors: Chang Rachel Y.-W. , Miller Charles E. , Dinardo Steven J. , Karion Anna , Sweeney Colm , Daube Bruce C. , Henderson John M. , Mountain Marikate E. , Eluszkiewicz Janusz , Miller John B. , Bruhwiler Lori M. P. , Wofsy Steven C.
Published: November 2014

Significance

Alaska emitted 2.1 ± 0.5 Tg CH
4
during the 2012 growing season, an unexceptional amount despite widespread permafrost thaw and other evidence of climate change in the region. Our results are based on more than 30 airborne measurement flights conducted by CARVE from May to September 2012 over Alaska. Methane emissions peaked in summer and remained high in to the fall. Emissions from boreal regions were notably larger than from North Slope tundra. To our knowledge, this is the first regional study of methane emissions from Arctic and boreal regions over a growing season. Our estimates reinforce and refine global models, and they provide an important baseline against which to measure future changes associated with climate change.
Follicle-stimulating hormone regulates expression and activity of epidermal growth factor receptor in the murine ovarian follicle
Authors: El-Hayek Stephany , Demeestere Isabelle , Clarke Hugh J.
Published: November 2014

Significance

Ovulation in mammals requires activation of EGF receptor (EGFR) signaling within the ovarian follicle, but the mechanisms responsible for implementing the EGFR network during follicular growth remain incompletely understood. The final phase of growth is driven by FSH. Here we show that during this phase EGFR expression increases sharply in follicular granulosa cells and that this increase requires FSH; we provide evidence that the FSH-dependent increase is essential for EGFR signaling. FSH also is known to induce expression of luteinizing hormone (LH) receptors in the granulosa, permitting them to release EGFR ligands in response to preovulatory LH. By coordinating receptor expression and ligand release, FSH endows fully grown follicles with the capacity to activate EGFR signaling at ovulation.
Targeted carbon conservation at national scales with high-resolution monitoring
Authors: Asner Gregory P. , Knapp David E. , Martin Roberta E. , Tupayachi Raul , Anderson Christopher B. , Mascaro Joseph , Sinca Felipe , Chadwick K. Dana , Higgins Mark , Farfan William , Llactayo William , Silman Miles R.
Published: November 2014

Significance

Land use is a principal driver of carbon emissions, either directly through land change processes such as deforestation or indirectly via transportation and industries supporting natural resource use. To minimize the effects of land use on the climate system, natural ecosystems are needed to offset gross emissions through carbon sequestration. Managing this critically important service must be achieved tactically if it is to be cost-effective. We have developed a high-resolution carbon mapping approach that can identify biogeographically explicit targets for carbon storage enhancement among all landholders within a country. Applying our approach to Perú reveals carbon threats and protections, as well as major opportunities for using ecosystems to sequester carbon. Our approach is scalable to any tropical forest country.
Oncogenic activity of the regulatory subunit p85β of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)
Authors: Ito Yoshihiro , Hart Jonathan R. , Ueno Lynn , Vogt Peter K.
Published: November 2014

Significance

PI3K is a lipid kinase that regulates a broad spectrum of cellular activities. It is a dimeric enzyme consisting of a catalytic and a regulatory subunit. The regulatory subunit stabilizes and inhibits the catalytic subunit. The two major regulatory subunits p85α and p85β have overlapping and unique functions. The data presented here show that in contrast to p85α, the native, wild-type p85β has oncogenic potential and suggest that p85β is a less effective inhibitor of p110 than p85α. These findings are in accord with emerging information that assigns p85β a specific role in human cancer.
Explicit and implicit coherence relations in Dutch texts
Authors: van der Vliet Nynke , Redeker Gisela
Published: November 2014

This study explores some of the factors that influence the probability that a

coherence relation will be explicitly marked with a connective. In a corpus

of 80 Dutch texts from expository and persuasive genres with annotations

of the coherence structure (using Rhetorical Structure Theory, RST) and the

genre-specific structure (using move analysis), we investigate the roles and

interactions of genre, level in the hierarchical discourse structure, and type of

coherence relation.
The coding of discourse relations in English and German argumentative discourse
Authors: Speyer Augustin , Fetzer Anita
Published: November 2014

This chapter examines contrastively the overt and non-overt coding of discourse

relations in British English and German editorials. Particular attention is given

to the linguistic coding of discourse relations between adjacently and non-adjacently

positioned discourse units, and to the question of granularity. In the

data, the discourse relation of Contrast is coded overtly in adjacent and nonadjacent

positioning in the two languages, while Continuation, Elaboration,

Explanation and Comment are coded differently. In the British data, there is a

clear preference for coding discourse relations between adjacently positioned

subordinating discourse relations overtly on the level of clause, and in the

German data, discourse relations holding between non-adjacently positioned

sentences are preferably marked overtly.
Multimodal coherence research and its applications
Authors: Bateman John A.
Published: November 2014

Although it is nowadays a commonplace that communicative artefacts and

communicative behaviours almost always employ a variety of ‘modes’ of information

presentation, the issue of how such diverse contributions ‘cohere’ in

order to fulfill common communicative purposes is still an area of open debate.

This chapter presents a selective overview of the development and current

state of the art in approaches to multimodal coherence, focusing particularly

on work taking language as its starting point. Overviews and illustrations of

the approaches are given as well as a summary of some major challenges to be

addressed.
“Why? Because I’m talking to you!” Parental input and cognitive complexity as determinants of children’s connective acquisition
Authors: van Veen Rosie , Evers-Vermeul Jacqueline , Sanders Ted J.M. , van den Bergh Huub
Published: November 2014

We report a series of longitudinal studies on children’s acquisition of Dutch,

English and German causal connectives supporting a model in which children’s

cognitive development, parental input and the cognitive complexity of different

types of causality are brought into a systematic relationship. The data reveal that

less complex connectives are acquired first, and that parental connective input

has both short- and long-term effects, although children are not simply parroting

their parents. Audience design in connective input is not at stake: parents’

independent connective use is stable over time, but their elicited connective use

increases as children grow older and start asking why-questions themselves.

Still, parental why-questions are scaffolds of children’s connective use and of

their ability to ask why-questions themselves.
Signalling coherence in Austrian students‘ seminar papers: macro- and micro-structural cues
Authors: Gruber Helmut
Published: November 2014

Based on a corpus of Austrian students’ texts from three disciplines (personnel

management, business psychology, economic history) analysed with Rhetorical

Structure Theory (RST), this paper investigates the macro-structural expectations

which tables of content (ToCs) raise, the cues by which these expectations

are triggered, and the “predictive quality” of ToCs. The ToCs in the personnel

management group’s texts offer the best “prediction” of the actual macrostructures,

whereas in the other two groups ToC and textual macro-structures

diverge from each other in various ways. The analysis also shows a high degree

of similarity between relation cues at the textual micro- and macro-levels. The

results are discussed with respect to genre differences, student writers’ generic

competence and institutional factors of students’ text production.
The evolution of GRUE
Authors: Grandison Alexandra , Davies Ian R.L. , Sowden Paul T.
Published: November 2014

The hue spectrum is a continuum of light, yet we perceive it categorically. The categories used to describe this continuum vary across the world’s languages and there are marked differences in the numbers of colour categories and the locations of category boundaries. For example, the green–blue region of colour space is labelled with two terms in English but with only one term (a “grue” term) in many African languages. Evidence for a “grue” term in Otjiherero – a language spoken by the Himba of northern Namibia – has been well documented. Here we present data from colour list and colour naming tasks indicating the emergence of a new Himba colour term. These findings have significant implications for future cross-cultural research into colour categorization.
The motivational analysis of some Finnic colour terms
Authors: Oja Vilja
Published: November 2014

The origin and semantics of some (non Indo-European) Finnic colour words denoting the yellow, red and brown hues are discussed, including their various earlier interpretations. All the words discussed, namely, ruske, raudjas, lepp, leet and paat (with variations and cognates) have similarities with word-roots in Indo-European languages, for example, among the Finnic colour names with the raud- stem there are Germanic and Baltic loanwords, all originating in the same root. The chapter includes a new hypothesis as to the semantic origin of words from the lepp- stem, and it explores aspects of the morphological and semantic changes which occurred in the adopted words. These include examples of mistaken folk-etymology in connection with leet and paat / paatti, and investigation of the dialectal meanings of the ruske-based lexemes which vary from orange to red and brown hues.
A metaphorical spectrum
Authors: Anderson Wendy , Bramwell Ellen
Published: November 2014

This chapter investigates the figurative use of a selection of colour words in the Historical Thesaurus of English, published as the Historical Thesaurus of the Oxford English Dictionary (Kay et al. 2009) and containing the recorded vocabulary of the language from Old English to the present. The adopted methodology slightly adapts that of the AHRC-funded Mapping Metaphor project, which is examining the distribution of metaphors across time in English through an investigation of metaphorical links between concepts signalled by areas of significant lexical overlap between Thesaurus categories. In this chapter, we empirically examine metaphorical and other relationships between colour and a range of other semantic categories, through the examples of the colour terms black, white, blue, yellow and green.
Category effects on colour discrimination
Authors: Witzel Christoph , Gegenfurtner Karl R.
Published: November 2014

Categorical perception would provide a link between colour perception and colour language. We conducted an extensive series of studies on categorical perception of colour. We studied category effects on colour sensitivity, on the performance in a speeded discrimination task and on the subjective appearance of difference. One of the core contributions of our studies is the careful control of perceptual differences when investigating the interaction between perceptual and categorical information. In sum, only speeded discrimination with untrained participants yielded robust category effects. The comparison of the results from the different studies shows that category effects are not inherent to colour perception. Instead, we suggest that attention to the categorical distinction is at the root of the category effect.
Colour category effects
Authors: Wright Oliver
Published: November 2014

This chapter provides an overview of recent experiments (Hanley and Roberson 2011; Wright 2012) investigating asymmetries in performance of two kinds of task, two-alternative forced choice (2-AFC) and visual search. Previous research has reported colour category effects in performance of both tasks and suggests such category effects can be interpreted as evidence of a Whorfian effect. Two key questions addressed here are: first, whether asymmetries in performance of 2-AFC and visual search tasks might also represent a Whorfian effect, and second, whether asymmetries in the two tasks can be accommodated within a framework that implies Whorfian effects in the domain of colour depend critically on on-line stimulus categorization. In addition to interpretations that offer affirmative answers to these questions, alternative interpretations are considered.
Axiological aspects of Polish colour vocabulary
Authors: Stanulewicz Danuta , Komorowska Ewa , Pawłowski Adam
Published: November 2014

The aim of this paper is to investigate axiological attributes of Polish colour terms. We pose the following questions: Which colours are evaluated mostly positively, negatively and neutrally? Are there objects which are provided as both positive and negative associations of a single colour? Are the same associations evoked by different colours? We carried out a questionnaire among fifty Polish speakers. The results point to colours which are perceived most positively (green, blue and orange), negatively (grey and black), neutrally (brown), and ambivalently (red). Moreover, an association may be classified as positive, neutral or negative (e.g. blood associated with red). One association may also be provided for two colours, e.g. death as a negative association with black and white.
Color seeing and speaking
Authors: Plebe Alessio , De La Cruz Vivian M.
Published: November 2014

The ability humans have of seeing colors is strongly influenced by three fundamental factors: biology, which constrains the visual system of our species; the environment, which provides our experience with the world; and language, in which colors acquire names. Recent studies on the Berinmo and Himba languages have challenged the mainstream view about the universalism of color terms. These cases can also be helpful in investigating the possible impact the environment can have, since the landscapes in which the two groups live are drastically different.  We propose a computational model of visual and linguistic processing paths in the cortex, previously used for simulating the influence of Berinmo and Himba color terms, and extended for investigating the combined effects of language and environment.
Bach to the blues
Authors: Prado-León Lilia R. , Schloss Karen B. , Palmer Stephen E.
Published: November 2014

Schloss, Lawler and Palmer (2008) studied the relation between colors and music. We repeated this experiment with forty-nine Mexican participants. The experimental stimuli were thirty-seven colors and eighteen brief samples of classical orchestral music that varied in mode and tempo. Music that was faster and in a major key was associated with brighter, more saturated, warmer colors and was judged to be happier and stronger, whereas music that was slower and in a minor key was associated with darker, less saturated, cooler colors and judged to be sadder, weaker and calmer. We observed high correlations between the emotional associations of music and the emotional associations of the colors, being highest for happy / sad (r = .97) and lowest for angry / calm (r =.68). These results are very similar to the pattern found in North America.
Lighting up Shakespeare
Authors: Armstrong Emma , Stathers-Tracey Joe
Published: November 2014

The Jacobean artificial light – candlelight – was as important to the playwright as lighting effects are to a modern-day designer. This chapter explores the recreation of candlelight using a safe alternative, the most modern of technology and the future of stage lighting: LEDs. In order to recreate the candlelight of Shakespeare’s stage, the research is categorized into three sections: replicating the Jacobean stage accurately, achieving a colour match for the tallow candles using LEDs and creating the ambience and “flicker” a candle emits. This is then applied practically and allowed a play to be seen authentically and uniquely whilst also revealing interesting results from experimental data.
High-performers use the phonological loop less to process mental arithmetic during working memory tasks
Authors: Otsuka Yuki , Osaka Naoyuki
Published: November 2014

This study investigated the effects of three working memory components—the central executive, phonological loop, and visuospatial sketchpad—on performance differences in complex mental arithmetic between individuals. Using the dual-task method, we examined how performance during two-digit addition was affected by load on the central executive (random tapping condition), phonological loop (articulatory suppression condition), and visuospatial sketchpad (spatial tapping condition) compared to that under no load (control condition) in high- and low-performers of complex mental arithmetic in Experiment 1. Low-performers showed an increase in errors under the random tapping and articulatory suppression conditions, whereas high-performers showed an increase of errors only under the random tapping condition. In Experiment 2, we conducted similar experiments on only the high-performers but used a shorter presentation time of each number. We found the same pattern for performing complex mental arithmetic as seen in Experiment 1. These results indicate that high-performers might reduce their dependence on the phonological loop, because the central executive enables them to choose a strategy in which they use less working memory capacity.
Volatile anesthetics inhibit sodium channels without altering bulk lipid bilayer properties
Authors: Herold Karl F. , Sanford R. Lea , Lee William , Schultz Margaret F. , Ingólfsson Helgi I. , Andersen Olaf S. , Hemmings Hugh C.
Published: November 2014

Although general anesthetics are clinically important and widely used, their molecular mechanisms of action remain poorly understood. Volatile anesthetics such as isoflurane (ISO) are thought to alter neuronal function by depressing excitatory and facilitating inhibitory neurotransmission through direct interactions with specific protein targets, including voltage-gated sodium channels (Nav). Many anesthetics alter lipid bilayer properties, suggesting that ion channel function might also be altered indirectly through effects on the lipid bilayer. We compared the effects of ISO and of a series of fluorobenzene (FB) model volatile anesthetics on Nav function and lipid bilayer properties. We examined the effects of these agents on Nav in neuronal cells using whole-cell electrophysiology, and on lipid bilayer properties using a gramicidin-based fluorescence assay, which is a functional assay for detecting changes in lipid bilayer properties sensed by a bilayer-spanning ion channel. At clinically relevant concentrations (defined by the minimum alveolar concentration), both the FBs and ISO produced prepulse-dependent inhibition of Nav and shifted the voltage dependence of inactivation toward more hyperpolarized potentials without affecting lipid bilayer properties, as sensed by gramicidin channels. Only at supra-anesthetic (toxic) concentrations did ISO alter lipid bilayer properties. These results suggest that clinically relevant concentrations of volatile anesthetics alter Nav function through direct interactions with the channel protein with little, if any, contribution from changes in bulk lipid bilayer properties. Our findings further suggest that changes in lipid bilayer properties are not involved in clinical anesthesia.
Potato virus Y HCPro Localization at Distinct, Dynamically Related and Environment-Influenced Structures in the Cell Cytoplasm
Authors: del Toro Francisco , Fernández Fátima Tena , Tilsner Jens , Wright Kathryn M. , Tenllado Francisco , Chung Bong Nam , Praveen Shelly , Canto Tomas
Published: November 2014

Potyvirus HCPro is a multifunctional protein that, among other functions, interferes with antiviral defenses in plants and mediates viral transmission by aphid vectors. We have visualized in vivo the subcellular distribution and dynamics of HCPro from Potato virus Y and its homodimers, using green, yellow, and red fluorescent protein tags or their split parts, while assessing their biological activities. Confocal microscopy revealed a pattern of even distribution of fluorescence throughout the cytoplasm, common to all these modified HCPros, when transiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana epidermal cells in virus-free systems. However, in some cells, distinct additional patterns, specific to some constructs and influenced by environmental conditions, were observed: i) a small number of large, amorphous cytoplasm inclusions that contained α-tubulin; ii) a pattern of numerous small, similarly sized, dot-like inclusions distributing regularly throughout the cytoplasm and associated or anchored to the cortical endoplasmic reticulum and the microtubule (MT) cytoskeleton; and iii) a pattern that smoothly coated the MT. Furthermore, mixed and intermediate forms from the last two patterns were observed, suggesting dynamic transports between them. HCPro did not colocalize with actin filaments or the Golgi apparatus. Despite its association with MT, this network integrity was required neither for HCPro suppression of silencing in agropatch assays nor for its mediation of virus transmission by aphids.
Situational influences on rhythmicity in speech, music, and their interaction
Authors: Hawkins Sarah
Published: November 2014

Brain processes underlying the production and perception of rhythm indicate considerable flexibility in how physical signals are interpreted. This paper explores how that flexibility might play out in rhythmicity in speech and music. There is much in common across the two domains, but there are also significant differences. Interpretations are explored that reconcile some of the differences, particularly with respect to how functional properties modify the rhythmicity of speech, within limits imposed by its structural constraints. Functional and structural differences mean that music is typically more rhythmic than speech, and that speech will be more rhythmic when the emotions are more strongly engaged, or intended to be engaged. The influence of rhythmicity on attention is acknowledged, and it is suggested that local increases in rhythmicity occur at times when attention is required to coordinate joint action, whether in talking or music-making. Evidence is presented which suggests that while these short phases of heightened rhythmical behaviour are crucial to the success of transitions in communicative interaction, their modality is immaterial: they all function to enhance precise temporal prediction and hence tightly coordinated joint action.
Fourteen-month-old infants use interpersonal synchrony as a cue to direct helpfulness
Authors: Cirelli Laura K. , Wan Stephanie J. , Trainor Laurel J.
Published: November 2014

Musical behaviours such as dancing, singing and music production, which require the ability to entrain to a rhythmic beat, encourage high levels of interpersonal coordination. Such coordination has been associated with increased group cohesion and social bonding between group members. Previously, we demonstrated that this association influences even the social behaviour of 14-month-old infants. Infants were significantly more likely to display helpfulness towards an adult experimenter following synchronous bouncing compared with asynchronous bouncing to music. The present experiment was designed to determine whether interpersonal synchrony acts as a cue for 14-month-olds to direct their prosocial behaviours to specific individuals with whom they have experienced synchronous movement, or whether it acts as a social prime, increasing prosocial behaviour in general. Consistent with the previous results, infants were significantly more likely to help an experimenter following synchronous versus asynchronous movement with this person. Furthermore, this manipulation did not affect infant's behaviour towards a neutral stranger, who was not involved in any movement experience. This indicates that synchronous bouncing acts as a social cue for directing prosociality. These results have implications for how musical engagement and rhythmic synchrony affect social behaviour very early in development.
Cerebellum, temporal predictability and the updating of a mental model
Authors: Kotz Sonja A. , Stockert Anika , Schwartze Michael
Published: November 2014

We live in a dynamic and changing environment, which necessitates that we adapt to and efficiently respond to changes of stimulus form (‘what’) and stimulus occurrence (‘when’). Consequently, behaviour is optimal when we can anticipate both the ‘what’ and ‘when’ dimensions of a stimulus. For example, to perceive a temporally expected stimulus, a listener needs to establish a fairly precise internal representation of its external temporal structure, a function ascribed to classical sensorimotor areas such as the cerebellum. Here we investigated how patients with cerebellar lesions and healthy matched controls exploit temporal regularity during auditory deviance processing. We expected modulations of the N2b and P3b components of the event-related potential in response to deviant tones, and also a stronger P3b response when deviant tones are embedded in temporally regular compared to irregular tone sequences. We further tested to what degree structural damage to the cerebellar temporal processing system affects the N2b and P3b responses associated with voluntary attention to change detection and the predictive adaptation of a mental model of the environment, respectively. Results revealed that healthy controls and cerebellar patients display an increased N2b response to deviant tones independent of temporal context. However, while healthy controls showed the expected enhanced P3b response to deviant tones in temporally regular sequences, the P3b response in cerebellar patients was significantly smaller in these sequences. The current data provide evidence that structural damage to the cerebellum affects the predictive adaptation to the temporal structure of events and the updating of a mental model of the environment under voluntary attention.
Proposal to modify Rule 10a of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes
Authors: Oren Aharon
Published: November 2014

According to the current version of Rule 10a of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes, the name of a genus or subgenus is a substantive, or an adjective used as a substantive, in the singular number. I propose modifying Rule 10a to specify that such names must be in the nominative case.
List of new names and new combinations previously effectively, but not validly, published
Authors: Oren Aharon , Garrity George M.
Published: November 2014

The purpose of this announcement is to effect the valid publication of the following effectively published new names and new combinations under the procedure described in the Bacteriological Code (1990 Revision). Authors and other individuals wishing to have new names and/or combinations included in future lists should send three copies of the pertinent reprint or photocopies thereof, or an electronic copy of the published paper to the IJSEM Editorial Office for confirmation that all of the other requirements for valid publication have been met. It is also a requirement of IJSEM and the ICSP that authors of new species, new subspecies and new combinations provide evidence that types are deposited in two recognized culture collections in two different countries. It should be noted that the date of valid publication of these new names and combinations is the date of publication of this list, not the date of the original publication of the names and combinations. The authors of the new names and combinations are as given below. Inclusion of a name on these lists validates the publication of the name and thereby makes it available in the nomenclature of prokaryotes. The inclusion of a name on this list is not to be construed as taxonomic acceptance of the taxon to which the name is applied. Indeed, some of these names may, in time, be shown to be synonyms, or the organisms may be transferred to another genus, thus necessitating the creation of a new combination.
Ovarian embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare manifestation of the DICER1 syndrome
Authors: de Kock Leanne , Druker Harriet , Weber Evan , Hamel Nancy , Traubici Jeffery , Malkin David , Arseneau Jocelyne , Bouron-Dal Soglio Dorothée , Priest John R. , Foulkes William D.
Published: November 2014

Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS), a malignant soft tissue sarcoma, is one of the most common paediatric cancers. Certain ERMS tumours are associated with the DICER1 syndrome, a distinctive tumour predisposition syndrome caused by germ-line mutations in the microRNA-maturation pathway gene,DICER1. In addition to germ-lineDICER1mutations, highly characteristic somatic mutations have been identified in several DICER1-associated tumour types. These so-called “hotspot” mutations affect highly conserved amino acid residues central to the catalytic activity of the DICER1 ribonuclease IIIb domain.

Primary ovarian ERMS (oERMS) is extremely rare. We present a case of a 6-year-old girl with an oERMS found to harbour two mutations inDICER1. In addition to the oERMS, the girl also exhibited other DICER1 phenotypes, including cystic nephroma (CN) and multinodular goitre. Somatic investigations of the CN revealed the presence of a hotspotDICER1mutation different from that in the oERMS. Of particular interest is the CN presented at the age of 12 years, which is much older than previously reported age range of susceptibility (birth to four years of age).

This report documents both germ-line and highly characteristic somaticDICER1mutations in a case of oERMS, adding to the expanding spectrum of rare childhood tumours in the DICER1 syndrome.
Automated Update, Revision, and Quality Control of the Maize Genome Annotations Using MAKER-P Improves the B73 RefGen_v3 Gene Models and Identifies New Genes
Authors: Law MeiYee , Childs Kevin L. , Campbell Michael S. , Stein Joshua C. , Olson Andrew J. , Holt Carson , Panchy Nicholas , Lei Jikai , Jiao Dian , Andorf Carson M. , Lawrence Carolyn J. , Ware Doreen , Shiu Shin-Han , Sun Yanni , Jiang Ning , Yandell Mark
Published: November 2014

The large size and relative complexity of many plant genomes make creation, quality control, and dissemination of high-quality gene structure annotations challenging. In response, we have developed MAKER-P, a fast and easy-to-use genome annotation engine for plants. Here, we report the use of MAKER-P to update and revise the maize (Zea mays) B73 RefGen_v3 annotation build (5b+) in less than 3 h using the iPlant Cyberinfrastructure. MAKER-P identified and annotated 4,466 additional, well-supported protein-coding genes not present in the 5b+ annotation build, added additional untranslated regions to 1,393 5b+ gene models, identified 2,647 5b+ gene models that lack any supporting evidence (despite the use of large and diverse evidence data sets), identified 104,215 pseudogene fragments, and created an additional 2,522 noncoding gene annotations. We also describe a method for de novo training of MAKER-P for the annotation of newly sequenced grass genomes. Collectively, these results lead to the 6a maize genome annotation and demonstrate the utility of MAKER-P for rapid annotation, management, and quality control of grasses and other difficult-to-annotate plant genomes.
Crystal structure of bis[1-(4-bromobenzyl)pyridinium] bis(1,2-dicyanoethene-1,2-dithiolato-κ2S,S′)nickelate(II)
Authors: Zeng Dong , Yang Shui-Bin , Tian Zheng-Fang
Published: November 2014

The asymmetric unit of the title salt, (C12H11BrN)2[Ni(C4N2S2)2], consists of one 1-(4-bromobenzyl)pyridinium cation and one half of a complex [Ni(mnt)2]2−(mnt2−is the maleonitriledithiolate dianion). The Ni2+ion is located on an inversion centre and is coordinated by four S atoms from two mnt2−ligands, exhibiting a square-planar coordination environment. In the cation, the planes of the pyridinium and benzene rings make a dihedral angle of 69.86 (19)°. The cations and anions are alternately arranged in layers parallel to (001) and are held together by non-classical C—H...N hydrogen bonds.
Polyaniline based red oxide primer paint for efficient corrosion protection
Authors: Rajasekharan V. , Manisankar P.
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to introduce mechanochemically prepared polyaniline anticorrosive additives. In primer coating technology, there is an increasing interest in the development of efficient anticorrosive additives which replace the conventional inorganic anticorrosive pigments like heavy metal chromates and phosphates normally added to primer paints for the coating on metals. Conducting polymers are found to be better alternatives.

Design/methodology/approach

– Polyaniline phosphate is synthesized through solid-state conditions without using any solvent. The synthesized polyaniline phosphate is added in the primer formulation instead of zinc phosphate. Primers with different quantity of zinc phosphate are also formulated and studied for comparison. The comparison between their abilities to control corrosion of carbon steel were done with application of open-circuit potential monitoring, polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy methods in 3.5 per cent NaCl solution.

Findings

– Corrosion studies indicate that polyaniline phosphate can improve corrosion protection properties by taking part the passivation processes. The performance of polyaniline phosphate is better than zinc phosphate.

Originality/value

– I certify that the results are from our original research and this paper is neither considered for publication elsewhere nor published previously.
Corrosion of welded joints of bimetallic composite tube in simulated offshore gas field environment
Authors: Hongda Deng , Shunpeng Zeng
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this investigation was to research the corrosion behavior of welded joints of bimetallic composite tube (X65/316L) welded with Inconel 625 in simulated sea water and in simulated production water, respectively.

Design/methodology/approach

– The different electrochemical corrosion and galvanic corrosion behaviors of different welded zones were identified using the dynamic potential scan method and galvanic corrosion technique.

Findings

– The heat-affected zone (HAZ) of welded joints was the most critical zone for corrosion. The closer to the welding line, more severe was the corrosion that was evident in the HAZ at room temperature. In welded joints of X65 tested in simulated seawater, tremendous corrosion occurred in the HAZ, followed by the base metal, and finally the welding line. However, there were few differences in corrosion of the different zones of welded joints in 316L in simulated production water. In such joints of 316L, corrosion comparatively attacked more easily to the HAZ. In galvanic corrosion tests, tremendous galvanic corrosion was evident on welded joints on X65, but comparatively slight gavanic corrosion appeared at welded joints in 316L. With the increased temperature, galvanic corrosion of welded joints was enhanced.

Originality/value

– The results can provide reference for reducing the gavalic corrosion of welded bimetallic composite tube metal in the actual operation.
Identification and assessment risks in maintenance operations
Authors: Wijeratne W.M.P.U. , Perera B.A.K.S. , De Silva L.
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify the risks and methods for their assessment in the case of maintenance activities in Sri Lanka. The main objectives were to identify the occupational risks in maintenance work and the risk assessment methods in place and their drawbacks in the Sri Lankan context.

Design/methodology/approach

– The identification and assessment of risks were undertaken through a study of three fast-moving consumer products manufacturing organisations. The relevant data were collected through personal interviews and site visits.

Findings

– Most typical risks associated with maintenance are cuts, slips and falls, with severe or fatal injuries as the result of negligence of SOP and failure to use the PPE. Checklists, brainstorming and decomposition techniques were identified as the preferred methods in maintenance for risk identification while a risk rating matrix is used for risk analysis. Lack of awareness and indifference towards risk assessment; make effective risk assessment very difficult. These drawbacks can be minimised by education, systematic training and enforcing rules, regulations and procedures for controlling risks.

Originality/value

– Studies on maintenance worldwide have identified several maintenance-specific risks such as working at heights, the pressure of time, etc. However, there is a dearth of published research on risks and risk assessment methods in maintenance in Sri Lankan context. The findings highlighted the safety risks and risk assessment tools entailed in the maintenance operations of manufacturing organisations. The findings will be useful for those in maintenance operations in managing risks effectively through designing work environments that are risk-free.
Improving investment sustainability for PPP power projects in emerging economies
Authors: Atmo Gigih , Duffield Colin
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– Many electricity projects in Asian emerging economies involve private finance using Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) yet problems remain in terms of project initiation, commercial structuring, and financial arrangements. The motivation to pursue previous PPP power projects has been unduly influenced by the ability to attract finance rather than an independent assessment of value for money (VfM) of the project. The purpose of this paper is to present the development of VfM framework for improving investment sustainability of PPP power projects in Asian emerging economies.

Design/methodology/approach

– The drivers for achieving VfM in projects involving both public and private participants have been determined by a critical review of international practices and the development of sustainable energy systems using grounded theory. These drivers have been used to cross-analyse six Asian PPP power projects.

Findings

– The evaluation of the case study projects identifies the key determining linkages between the project structure, financial and commercial arrangements, and technical solutions with the ultimate project outcomes. It has been established that project outcomes can be improved through the inclusion of VfM considerations, energy security, and environmental sustainability. On the basis of this investigation, a conceptual governmental decision framework for future investment in PPP power projects is proposed.

Originality/value

– Advocating a VfM framework for assessment of PPP power project proposals in Asian emerging economies is a new approach and offers enhanced benefits both to the public and private sector.
System development toward effective maintenance management practices
Authors: Ismail Zul-Atfi
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The current maintenance management method has affected the efficiency of the building facility management at Polytechnics. Many issues such as poor service delivery, inadequate finance, poor maintenance planning and maintenance backlogs have emerged due to the usage of conventional method application (paper-based form and unsystematic database). Therefore, the proposed system improvement is intended to be used for maintenance management practices at Malaysian Polytechnics in order to provide high quality of building facility with safe and healthy environments. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– Eight Polytechnics were selected based on major problems of using conventional method in the comparison to investigate the maintenance management practices in each Polytechnic.

Findings

– The overall findings of this research indicated; poor service delivery, inadequate financial, poor maintenance planning and maintenance backlogs. The system architecture and the conceptual process model are presented to integrate the information database and maintenance management processes in improving the building diagnosis approach and decision-making process for managing building maintenance.

Originality/value

– This new system development provides a better maintenance assessment for identifying symptoms, causes and reasons of building defects without depending on the expensive instruments, for instance, non-destructive testing (NDT) and sensor technology. It also has the potential to become the successful technology in assisting the maintenance contractors, clients and developer for effective management of maintenance defects at Polytechnic.
The state of corporate citizenship in Brazil
Authors: Amaral Lauriano Lucas , Spitzeck Heiko , Henrique Dutra Bueno João
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to present the state of corporate citizenship in Brazil.

Design/methodology/approach

– The results of a survey of Brazilian companies is used to analyze the state of corporate citizenship in Brazil. The survey was constructed using the methodology developed by Mirvis & Googins on measuring the stage of corporate citizenship, and 172 valid responses from Brazilian companies were received.

Findings

– Data suggest that Brazilian companies have an advanced understanding of corporate citizenship and the strategic intention to integrate citizenship into their business. When it comes to leadership, structures, issue management, stakeholder relationships and transparency, however, their maturity in terms of citizenship stays in less advanced stages. In sum, Brazilian companies are advanced in the concept but less developed in the practice of corporate citizenship.

Research limitations/implications

– The sample consists of 172 valid responses from companies in Brazil acting in various sectors and thus does not allow the determination of citizenship maturity in selected sectors.

Practical implications

– The research points to a gap regarding understanding and practice in corporate citizenship in Brazil. To foster evolution of corporate citizenship, Brazilian companies are advised to work especially on leadership engagement, organizational structures, issue management, stakeholder relationships and transparency.

Originality/value

– This is the first study about the maturity of corporate citizenship in Brazilian companies.