bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modelling disease in aquatic systems that are spread by processes operating at different temporal and spatial scales: examples from salmon aquaculture.
Authors: Murray A. G. , Salama N. K. G.
Published: December 2017

Disease is an important limitation on aquatic production, particularly for intensified aquaculture. Disease spread depends on behaviour of the pathogens on local scales and over short periods, their interaction with currents operating over many kilometres and days and the build-up of infection in populations over months and large geographical areas often spread by anthropogenic processes. Models are able to identify critical factors operating at different time and space scales in the spread of disease and use these to identify disease control measure. Models incorporating different levels of complexity are appropriate for simulating different diseases and for application for different purposes. Simple transmission models can be useful for high-level disease control policy but more complexity incorporating details of anthropogenic and hydrodynamic contacts may be required to inform management of specific groups and clusters of farms. Diseases affecting salmon aquaculture are used to explore application of modelling as this industry is relatively a well-documented and, for reasons of familiarity, examples tend to be taken from Scotland.
Gendering the extraverted state: the politics of the Kenyan sex workers’ movement
Authors: Česnulytė Eglė
Published: December 2017

The Kenyan sex worker movement occupies a peculiar place in Kenyan politics – it is an important partner in different programmes and policies in the health sector, but individuals selling sex still disproportionately suffer from different forms of state and public violence and are often marginalised. This article argues that due to the gendered nature of the Kenyan state’s extraversion processes and the resulting dual accountability to national and foreign sovereigns, the Kenyan state’s approach to gender issues is inconsistent and thus produces a situation where social movements with a gender rights agenda can be both included and excluded from the national political scene. The article also explores how the sex worker movement builds on this duality of the Kenyan state when making its strategic choices about engagement with national policy bodies.
Accurate prediction of personalized olfactory perception from large-scale chemoinformatic features
Authors: Li Hongyang , Panwar Bharat , Omenn Gilbert S , Guan Yuanfang
Published: December 2017

Background

The olfactory stimulus-percept problem has been studied for more than a century, yet it is still hard to precisely predict the odor given the large-scale chemoinformatic features of an odorant molecule. A major challenge is that the perceived qualities vary greatly among individuals due to different genetic and cultural backgrounds. Moreover, the combinatorial interactions between multiple odorant receptors and diverse molecules significantly complicate the olfaction prediction. Many attempts have been made to establish structure-odor relationships for intensity and pleasantness, but no models are available to predict the personalized multi-odor attributes of molecules. In this study, we describe our winning algorithm for predicting individual and population perceptual responses to various odorants in the DREAM Olfaction Prediction Challenge.

Results

We find that random forest model consisting of multiple decision trees is well suited to this prediction problem, given the large feature spaces and high variability of perceptual ratings among individuals. Integrating both population and individual perceptions into our model effectively reduces the influence of noise and outliers. By analyzing the importance of each chemical feature, we find that a small set of low- and nondegenerative features is sufficient for accurate prediction.

Conclusions

Our random forest model successfully predicts personalized odor attributes of structurally diverse molecules. This model together with the top discriminative features has the potential to extend our understanding of olfactory perception mechanisms and provide an alternative for rational odorant design.
Hybrid-denovo: a de novo OTU-picking pipeline integrating single-end and paired-end 16S sequence tags
Authors: Chen Xianfeng , Johnson Stephen , Jeraldo Patricio , Wang Junwen , Chia Nicholas , Kocher Jean-Pierre A , Chen Jun
Published: December 2017

Background

Illumina paired-end sequencing has been increasingly popular for 16S rRNA gene-based microbiota profiling. It provides higher phylogenetic resolution than single-end reads due to a longer read length. However, the reverse read (R2) often has significant low base quality, and a large proportion of R2s will be discarded after quality control, resulting in a mixture of paired-end and single-end reads. A typical 16S analysis pipeline usually processes either paired-end or single-end reads but not a mixture. Thus, the quantification accuracy and statistical power will be reduced due to the loss of a large amount of reads. As a result, rare taxa may not be detectable with the paired-end approach, or low taxonomic resolution will result in a single-end approach.

Results

To have both the higher phylogenetic resolution provided by paired-end reads and the higher sequence coverage by single-end reads, we propose a novel OTU-picking pipeline, hybrid-denovo, that can process a hybrid of single-end and paired-end reads. Using high-quality paired-end reads as a gold standard, we show that hybrid-denovo achieved the highest correlation with the gold standard and performed better than the approaches based on paired-end or single-end reads in terms of quantifying the microbial diversity and taxonomic abundances. By applying our method to a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) data set, we demonstrated that hybrid-denovo captured more microbial diversity and identified more RA-associated taxa than a paired-end or single-end approach.

Conclusions

Hybrid-denovo utilizes both paired-end and single-end 16S sequencing reads and is recommended for 16S rRNA gene targeted paired-end sequencing data.
OPTICAL DENSITY RATIO OF THE SUBRETINAL FLUID IN CHOROIDAL MELANOMA AND METASTASIS
Authors: Leshno Ari , Vishnevskia-Dai Vicktoria , Barak Adiel , Zur Dinah , Gabai Shiran , Moroz Iris , Neudorfer Meira
Published: December 2017

Purpose:

To investigate the optical density (OD) characteristics and clinical relevance of subretinal fluid in choroidal melanoma and choroidal metastasis.

Methods:

Medical records of patients with choroidal melanoma and choroidal metastasis who underwent optical coherence tomography examinations at diagnosis before any intervention and whose optical coherence tomography scans showed sufficient subretinal fluid for sampling were reviewed. The highest quality B-scan containing subretinal fluid was analyzed. Optical density measurements obtained using ImageJ and optical density ratios (ODRs) were calculated as subretinal fluid OD divided by vitreous OD. Patient details and diagnosis were masked during measurements. Nonparametric tests for independent samples were used to detect differences in ODR between groups.

Results:

Of the 39 cases of choroidal tumors that met the inclusion criteria, 14 were diagnosed as metastases and 25 as malignant melanoma. There were no significant differences between the groups in age, optical coherence tomography acquisition and parameters of quality, and vitreous OD. Optical density ratio values were significantly lower in metastases cases (mean 0.68, SD ±0.18) than in melanoma cases (0.95 ± 0.33, P = 0.006). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis yielded an optimal cutoff of ODR = 0.771 (sensitivity = 78.6%, specificity = 72.0%).

Conclusion:

Optical density ratio can serve as an additional test to differentiate between choroidal melanoma and choroidal metastases.
TRAFFIC ACCIDENT–RELATED OPEN GLOBE INJURIES
Authors: Okamoto Yoshifumi , Morikawa Shohei , Okamoto Fumiki , Mitamura Yoshinori , Ishikawa Hiroto , Ueda Tetsuo , Sakamoto Taiji , Sugitani Kazuhiko , Sawada Osamu , Mori Junya , Takamura Yoshihiro , Oshika Tetsuro
Published: December 2017

Purpose:

To evaluate the clinical characteristics and visual outcomes of patients with traffic accident-related open globe injuries, and to examine preoperative factors influencing the visual prognosis after pars plana vitrectomy, as compared with common open globe injuries.

Methods:

Patients with open globe injuries, who underwent pars plana vitrectomy, were identified. Patients' demographic and clinical data were entered into a computerized database for review and analysis; data included age, sex, initial visual acuity, duration between onset of injury and surgery, information about the type and cause of injury, wound location and length, presence of ocular complications, and final visual acuity.

Results:

Of the 355 open globe injuries, 14 were sustained during a traffic-related accident; the average age was 50.4 years (range: 20–85) and most (78.6%) were men. Of these 14 patients, 9 (64.3%) presented with rupture and 5 (35.7%) with laceration. Injuries were caused while driving (6 eyes; 42.9%), riding a bicycle (5 eyes; 35.7%), involved in car accident while walking (2 eyes; 14.3%), and riding a motorbike (1 eye; 7.1%). Initial visual acuity was significantly related to final visual acuity (P = 0.003, R2 = 0.80). The final visual acuity in patients with traffic accident–related open globe injuries was significantly better than that of the total group (P = 0.01).

Conclusion:

Traffic accident–related open globe injuries had better visual outcomes than common open globe injuries. Visual outcomes in patients with traffic accident–related open globe injuries were related to the initial visual acuity. No eyes developed endophthalmitis in patients with traffic accident–related open globe injuries.
Ventricular Assist Device Self-Management Issues: The Patient and Caregiver Perspectives
Authors: Casida Jesus M. , Combs Pamela , Schroeder Sarah E. , Hickey Kathleen T.
Published: December 2017

Despite technological advancements, ventricular assist device (VAD) self-management (SM) remains complex. Using a descriptive mixed-method research, we examined the VAD care issues reported by nondyadic sample of 102 patients and 116 caregivers in the United States. Participants (mean age, 50.0 ± 13.1 years) were predominantly white (80%), female (59%), and married (77%). Quantitative and qualitative data revealed the patients/caregivers’ need for competency assessment and reassessment of VAD care after discharge. Competent home-care registered nurses (RNs) and on-going communications with VAD care team are needed in support for VAD SM.
Perioperative Fluid Accumulation Impairs Intestinal Contractility to a Similar Extent as Peritonitis and Endotoxemia
Authors: Gorrasi José , Jakob Stephan M. , Tovar Luis , Balsiger Bruno , Brandt Sebastian , Bruegger Lukas E. , Bracht Hendrik , Takala Jukka
Published: December 2017

Background:

Perioperative resuscitation with large amounts of fluid may cause tissue edema, especially in the gut, and thereby impairing its functions. This is especially relevant in sepsis where capillaries become leaky and fluid rapidly escapes to the pericapillary tissue. We assessed the effects of endotoxemia and peritonitis, and the use of high and moderate volume fluid resuscitation on jejunal contractility. We hypothesized that both endotoxemia and peritonitis impair jejunum contractility and relaxation, and that this effect is aggravated in peritonitis and with high fluid administration.

Methods:

Pigs were randomized to endotoxin (n = 16), peritonitis (n = 16), or sham operation (n = 16), and either high (20 mL/kg/h) or moderate volume (10 mL/kg/h) fluid resuscitation for 24 h or until death. At the end of the experiment, jejunal contractility and relaxation were measured in vitro using acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside reactivity, and the effect of nitric oxide synthase inhibition (NOS-I) was assessed.

Results:

Mortality in the respective groups was 88% (peritonitis high), 75% (endotoxemia high), 50% (peritonitis moderate), 13% (endotoxemia moderate and sham operation high), and 0% (sham operation moderate volume resuscitation). Although gut perfusion was preserved in all groups, jejunal contractility was impaired in the two peritonitis and two endotoxemia groups, and similarly also in the sham operation group treated with high but not with moderate volume fluid resuscitation (model-fluid-contraction-interaction, P = 0.036; maximal contractility 136 ± 28% [average of both peritonitis, both endotoxemia and sham operation high-volume groups) vs. 170 ± 74% of baseline [sham operation moderate-volume group]). NOS-I reduced contractility (contraction-inhibition-interaction, P = 0.011) without significant differences between groups and relaxation was affected neither by peritonitis and endotoxemia nor by the fluid regimen.

Conclusions:

Intestinal contractility is similarly impaired during peritonitis and during endotoxemia. Moreover, perioperative high-volume fluid resuscitation in sham-operated animals also decreases intestinal contractility. This may have consequences for postoperative recovery.
Non-invasive assessment of patient-specific aortic haemodynamics from four-dimensional flow MRI data
Authors: Itu Lucian , Neumann Dominik , Mihalef Viorel , Meister Felix , Kramer Martin , Gulsun Mehmet , Kelm Marcus , Kühne Titus ,   Cardioproof, Sharma Puneet
Published: December 2017

We introduce a parameter estimation framework for automatically and robustly personalizing aortic haemodynamic computations from four-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging data. The framework is based on a reduced-order multiscale fluid–structure interaction blood flow model, and on two calibration procedures. First, Windkessel parameters of the outlet boundary conditions are personalized by solving a system of nonlinear equations. Second, the regional mechanical wall properties of the aorta are personalized by employing a nonlinear least-squares minimization method. The two calibration procedures are run sequentially and iteratively until both procedures have converged. The parameter estimation framework was successfully evaluated on 15 datasets from patients with aortic valve disease. On average, only 1.27 ± 0.96 and 7.07 ± 1.44 iterations were required to personalize the outlet boundary conditions and the regional mechanical wall properties, respectively. Overall, the computational model was in close agreement with the clinical measurements used as objectives (pressures, flow rates, cross-sectional areas), with a maximum error of less than 1%. Given its level of automation, robustness and the short execution time (6.2 ± 1.2 min on a standard hardware configuration), the framework is potentially well suited for a clinical setting.
On the evolutionary ecology of multidrug resistance in bacteria
Authors: Lehtinen Sonja , Blanquart François , Lipsitch Marc , Fraser Christophe ,   The Maela Pneumococcal Collaboration
Published: December 2017

Resistance against different antibiotics appears on the same bacterial strains more often than expected by chance, leading to high frequencies of multidrug resistance. There are multiple explanations for this observation, but these tend to be specific to subsets of antibiotics and/or bacterial species, whereas the trend is pervasive. Here, we consider the question in terms of strain ecology: explaining why resistance to different antibiotics is often seen on the same strain requires an understanding of the competition between strains with different resistance profiles. This work builds on models originally proposed to explain another aspect of strain competition: the stable coexistence of antibiotic sensitivity and resistance observed in a number of bacterial species. We first demonstrate a partial structural similarity in these models of coexistence. We then generalise this unified underlying model to multidrug resistance and show that models with this structure predict high levels of association between resistance to different drugs and high multidrug resistance frequencies. We test predictions from this model in six bacterial datasets and find them to be qualitatively consistent with observed trends. The higher than expected frequencies of multidrug resistance are often interpreted as evidence that these strains are out-competing strains with lower resistance multiplicity. Our work provides an alternative explanation that is compatible with long-term stability in resistance frequencies.

Author summary

Antibiotic resistance is a serious public health concern, yet the ecology and evolution of drug resistance are not fully understood. This impacts our ability to design effective interventions to combat resistance. From a public health point of view, multidrug resistance is particularly problematic because resistance to different antibiotics is often seen on the same bacterial strains, which leads to high frequencies of multidrug resistance and limits treatment options. This work seeks to explain this trend in terms of strain ecology and the competition between strains with different resistance profiles. Building on recent work exploring why resistant bacteria are not out-competing sensitive bacteria, we show that models originally proposed to explain this observation also predict high multidrug resistance frequencies. These models are therefore a unifying explanation for two pervasive trends in resistance dynamics. In terms of public health, the implication of our results is that new resistances are likeliest to be found on already multidrug resistant strains and that changing patterns of prescription may not be enough to combat multidrug resistance.
Ultrasonic Neuromodulation Causes Widespread Cortical Activation via an Indirect Auditory Mechanism
Authors: Sato Tomokazu , Shapiro Mikhail G. , Tsao Doris Y.
Published: December 2017

Ultrasound has received widespread attention as an emerging technology for targeted, non-invasive neuromodulation based on its ability to evoke electrophysiological and motor responses in animals. However, little is known about the spatiotemporal pattern of ultrasound-induced brain activity that could drive these responses. Here, we address this question by combining focused ultrasound with wide-field optical imaging of calcium signals in transgenic mice. Surprisingly, we find cortical activity patterns consistent with indirect activation of auditory pathways rather than direct neuromodulation at the ultrasound focus. Ultrasound-induced activity is similar to that evoked by audible sound. Furthermore, both ultrasound and audible sound elicit motor responses consistent with a startle reflex, with both responses reduced by chemical deafening. These findings reveal an indirect auditory mechanism for ultrasound-induced cortical activity and movement requiring careful consideration in future development of ultrasonic neuromodulation as a tool in neuroscience research.
Glutamate receptor GluA1 subunit is implicated in capsaicin induced modulation of amygdala LTP but not LTD
Authors: Gebhardt Christine , Albrecht Doris
Published: December 2017

Capsaicin has been shown to modulate synaptic plasticity in various brain regions including the amygdala. Whereas in the lateral amygdala the modulatory effect of capsaicin on long-term potentiation (LA-LTP) is mediated by TRPV1 channels, we have recently shown that capsaicin-induced enhancement of long term depression (LA-LTD) is mediated by TRPM1 receptors. However, the underlying mechanism by which capsaicin modulates synaptic plasticity is poorly understood. In the present study, we investigate the modulatory effect of capsaicin on synaptic plasticity in mice lacking the AMPAR subunit GluA1. Capsaicin reduced the magnitude of LA-LTP in slices derived from wild-type mice as previously described, whereas this capsaicin-induced suppression was absent in GluA1-deficient mice. In contrast, neither LA-LTD nor the capsaicin-mediated enhancement of LA-LTD was changed in GluA1 knockout mice. Our data indicate that capsaicin-induced modulation of LA-LTP via TRPV1 involves GluA1-containing AMPARs whereas capsaicin-induced modulation of LA-LTD via TRPM1 is independent of the expression of the AMPAR GluA1 subunit.
Stress leads to aberrant hippocampal involvement when processing schema-related information
Authors: Vogel Susanne , Kluen Lisa Marieke , Fernández Guillén , Schwabe Lars
Published: December 2017

Prior knowledge, represented as a mental schema, has critical impact on how we organize, interpret, and process incoming information. Recent findings indicate that the use of an existing schema is coordinated by the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), communicating with parietal areas. The hippocampus, however, is crucial for encoding schema-unrelated information but not for schema-related information. A recent study indicated that stress mediators may affect schema-related memory, but the underlying neural mechanisms are currently unknown. Here, we thus tested the impact of acute stress on neural processing of schema-related information. We exposed healthy participants to a stress or control manipulation before they processed, in the MRI scanner, words related or unrelated to a preexisting schema activated by a specific cue. Participants’ memory for the presented material was tested 3–5 d after encoding. Overall, the processing of schema-related information activated the mPFC, the precuneus, and the angular gyrus. Stress resulted in aberrant hippocampal activity and connectivity while participants processed schema-related information. This aberrant engagement of the hippocampus was linked to altered subsequent memory. These findings suggest that stress may interfere with the efficient use of prior knowledge during encoding and may have important practical implications, in particular for educational settings.
Bis{μ-2,2′-[(3,4-dithiahexane-1,6-diyl)bis(nitrilomethanylylidene)]bis(4-bromophenolato)-κ4O,N,N′,O′}dicopper(II)
Authors: Rusanova Julia A. , Bederak Dmytro , Kokozay Vladimir N.
Published: December 2017

The crystal structure of the title compound, [Cu2(C18H12Br2N4O2S2)2], consists of binuclear complex units which lie across inversion centres and are connected by weak Cu—O coordination bonds forming chains along thebaxis. The CuIIion is five-coordinated by two N atoms and two O atoms of the chelating ligand and one symmetry-related O atom forming a square-pyramidal coordination geometry. In the crystal, short S...Br contacts connect neighbouring chains into a two-dimensional network parallel to (101).
1-[5-Methyl-1-(4-methylphenyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl]ethanone
Authors: El-Hiti Gamal A. , Abdel-Wahab Bakr F. , Alotaibi Mohammad Hayal , Hegazy Amany S. , Kariuki Benson M.
Published: December 2017

In the title compound, C12H13N3O, thep-tolyl ring is twisted away from the mean plane (r.m.s. deviation = 0.044 Å) of the rest of the molecule by 50.84 (6)°. In the crystal, molecules are linked by C—H...π interactions, forming zigzag chains propagating in theb-axis direction.
Generating disassembly tasks for selective disassembly using ontology-based disassembly knowledge representation
Authors: Jiang Hui , Yi Jianjun , Zhu Xiaomin , Li Zhao
Published: December 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to develop methods for generating disassembly tasks for selective disassembly. The disassembly task contains the disassembly information, namely, disassembly direction, disassembly tool and selective disassembly sequence.

Design/methodology/approach

Ontology is adopted to represent the product, and ontology rules are used to represent the disassembly knowledge. A product ontology model (POM) is introduced on the basis of material, connection matrix and interference matrix. Two types of disassembly knowledge are taken into account, one is the disassembly knowledge of disassembly tool selection and the other is the disassembly knowledge of special connections. Based on the POM and the disassembly knowledge, decision support methods are designed to generate disassembly tasks.

Findings

A centrifugal pump is used to demonstrate the proposed methods, and the result shows that the methods work well.

Research limitations/implications

The methods developed in this study are fundamental approaches. The ontology and the ontology rules can be extended with more disassembly knowledge.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this research is the development of methods for representing disassembly knowledge based on ontology rules and the decision support methods for generating disassembly tasks.
Self-classification of assembly database using evolutionary method
Authors: Iwańkowicz Remigiusz Romuald , Taraska Michał
Published: December 2017

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to develop a method of automatic classification of the components of the assembly units. The method is crucial for developing an automatic ship assembly planning tools. The proposed method takes into account the assumptions specific for shipbuilding technology processes: high complexity of structures, difficult expert-based classification of components, fixed priority relations between connections resulting from geometrical constraints and demands of welding processes.

Design/methodology/approach

The set of ex post determined liaisons and assembly sequences constitutes the database of structures which have been made-up earlier. The components classification problem is solved using matrix coding of graphs. Information in such form is stored in the database. The minimization of number of cycles in the graph of classes sequence and minimization of diversity of classes within all constructions has been proposed as criteria of optimization. The genetic algorithm has been proposed as a solution method.

Findings

The proposed method solves the problem of components’ classifications. It allows setting the pattern of priorities between classes of various connections. This gives a chance to determine the relationship constraints between the connections of new structures for which assembly sequences are not established.

Research limitations/implications

Mathematical formulation of the database is quite laborious. The possibility of partial automation of this process should be considered. Owing to the complexity of the problem, a relatively simple objective function has been proposed. During a ship hull assembly, additional criteria should be taken into account, what will be the direction of further research.

Practical implications

Automatic classification of components is dedicated for implementation in shipyards and similar assembly systems. Tests performed by the authors confirm efficiency of presented method in supporting management of the database and assembly of new structures planning. Suggested activity-oriented approach allows for easy conversion of any assembly unit structure to the form of a matrix.

Originality/value

The new approach for components classification according to its assembly features distinguishes the proposed method from others. The use of nilpotent matrix theory in an acyclicity of graphs analysis is also a unique achievement. Original crossover and mutation operators for assembly sequence were proposed in the article.
Factors affecting college students’ brand loyalty toward fast fashion
Authors: Su Jin , Chang Aihwa
Published: December 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the factors affecting consumer’s fast fashion brand loyalty by examining US college students’ perceptions and loyalty toward fast fashion.

Design/methodology/approach

Using consumer-based brand equity approach, a research model which examines the factors affecting consumer’s brand loyalty in the fast fashion context was proposed. It was hypothesized that consumer’s perceptions of fast fashion, including brand awareness, perceived quality, perceived value, brand personality, organizational associations, and brand uniqueness, affect consumer brand loyalty. Based on the valid data from 419 US college students, this study employed structural equation modeling to investigate the factors affecting US college students’ brand loyalty toward fast fashion.

Findings

Results reveal that for the US college students, brand awareness, perceived value, organizational associations, and brand uniqueness are the contributing factors to generating consumer’s loyalty toward fast fashion brands.

Originality/value

Due to the fact that fast fashion has become a key feature of the global fashion industry over the last decade, there is phenomenal growth in the availability of fast fashion brands in the US markets. This study provides valuable insights about young consumers’ perceptions of fast fashion brands and the factors’ contributions to their brand loyalty.
What are the prospects for robots in the construction industry?
Authors: Bogue Robert
Published: December 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to address the question posed in the title by considering the present uses and potential future role of robots in the construction industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Following a short introduction, this first considers developments involving the robotic automation of conventional building practices, notably bricklaying and glazing. This is followed by a discussion of the role of drones and developments in autonomous ground vehicles. It then provides examples of the rapidly growing use of robotic 3D printing of concrete structures and concludes with a discussion.

Findings

Many different classes of robots aimed at a diversity of uses in the construction industry exist or are at an advanced stage of development. While some seek to automate conventional building practices, others such as concrete printing robots underpin novel construction concepts. Their use has the potential to yield significant economic, operational, environmental and other benefits and many technologically advanced companies have recently been established which aim to exploit these opportunities. While the industry has traditionally been slow to adopt new technologies, robots are now exerting a real impact and will inevitably play a vital and growing role in the future.

Originality/value

The construction industry is under pressure to modernise and improve its efficiency, and this article illustrates the role that robots are playing in this process.
Communication evaluation and measurement: connecting research to practice
Authors: Buhmann Alexander , Likely Fraser , Geddes David
Published: December 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reflect on the current state of communication evaluation and measurement (E&M) as a vital field connecting academics and practitioners in communication management.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors track recent developments in the field, address the ongoing struggle toward E&M standards, and propose six agenda points for the future E&M debate.

Findings

While the authors see an engaged, international interest community making considerable headway in important E&M issues, the conclusion is that several areas require further work: dynamics of standardization; going beyond the effectiveness-based view; internal services evaluation; addressing intervening variables; closer ties to related fields; and dissemination into the wider practice.

Originality/value

The paper gives a pointed reflection of the state of the field and also provides a comprehensive list of current resources for those who aim to further the E&M debate.
Contract design on digital platform for the risk-averse retailer with moral hazard
Authors: Li Zhenhong , Li Bo , Lan Yanfei
Published: December 2017

Purpose

The advent of e-commerce has prompted the proliferation of digital platforms for virtual products. This reinforces the importance of the contract design problem between the virtual product supplier (he) and the digital platform retailer (she). The purpose of this paper is to investigate a principal-agent problem in a virtual product supply chain, in which the retailer’s sales-effort investment level to sell the virtual product is unobservable to the supplier, and the market demand is unknown to both parties.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the supplier designs two kinds of contracts (wholesale price contract and two-part tariff contract) to maximize his profit, while the retailer determines her sales-effort investment level and the virtual product’s retail price. The results of two different types of contracts are compared to explore in depth the effect of contract choices on the participants’ profits.

Findings

The authors show that the comparative results of the optimal wholesale prices, retail prices and sales-effort investment levels between these two kinds of contracts all rely on the retailer’s risk-averse degree. Specifically, both the supplier and the whole supply chain prefer the two-part tariff contract rather than the wholesale price contract, the retailer should do opposite when she is low risk-averse, whereas there is no distinction for the retailer’s utilities between these two kinds of contracts when she is more risk-averse.

Originality/value

The value of the research rests on the use of principal-agent theory in the contracts of virtual products considering the retailer’s sales-effort and risk-aversion degree. The research will serve as a guide for the virtual products’ supplier and the platform retailer in decision-making processes.
Experimental evaluation of Arabic OCR systems
Authors: Alghamdi Mansoor , Teahan William
Published: December 2017

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to experimentally evaluate the effectiveness of the state-of-the-art printed Arabic text recognition systems to determine open areas for future improvements. In addition, this paper proposes a standard protocol with a set of metrics for measuring the effectiveness of Arabic optical character recognition (OCR) systems to assist researchers in comparing different Arabic OCR approaches.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper describes an experiment to automatically evaluate four well-known Arabic OCR systems using a set of performance metrics. The evaluation experiment is conducted on a publicly available printed Arabic dataset comprising 240 text images with a variety of resolution levels, font types, font styles and font sizes.

Findings

The experimental results show that the field of character recognition for printed Arabic still requires further research to reach an efficient text recognition method for Arabic script.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first work that provides a comprehensive automated evaluation of Arabic OCR systems with respect to the characteristics of Arabic script and, in addition, proposes an evaluation methodology that can be used as a benchmark by researchers and therefore will contribute significantly to the enhancement of the field of Arabic script recognition.
The missing link in training to detect deception and its implications for justice
Authors: Ryan Saskia , Sherretts Nicole , Willmott Dominic , Mojtahedi Dara , Baughman Benjamin M.
Published: December 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of response bias and target gender on detecting deception.

Design/methodology/approach

Participants were randomly assigned to one of three experimental conditions: a stereotype condition (bogus training group), a tell-signs condition (empirically tested cues), and a control condition. Participants were required to decide whether eight targets were lying or telling the truth, based upon the information they had been given. Accuracy was measured via a correct or incorrect response to the stimuli. The data were then analyzed using a 2×2×3 mixed analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine whether any main or interactional effects were present.

Findings

Results revealed training condition had no significant effect on accuracy, nor was there a within-subject effect of gender. However, there was a significant main effect of accuracy in detecting truth or lies, and a significant interaction between target gender and detecting truth or lies.

Research limitations/implications

Future research should seek a larger sample of participants with a more extensive training aspect developed into the study, as the brief training offered here may not be fully reflective of the extent and intensity of training which could be offered to professionals.

Originality/value

Within the criminal justice system, the need for increased accuracy in detecting deception is of critical importance; not only to detect whether a guilty individual is being deceitful, but also whether someone is making a false confession, both to improve community safety by detaining the correct perpetrator for the crime but also to maintain public trust in the justice system. The present research provides a fresh insight into the importance of training effects in detecting deception.
Formación en investigación y supervisión en programas de doctorados
Authors: Proestakis-Maturana Alejandro , Terrazas-Núñez Walter
Published: December 2017

El aumento en oferta y matrículas de programas de docto­rado es un fenómeno global que demanda atención directa de aquellos involucrados. Esta investigación tuvo por objetivo comprender las percepciones que tiene la Universidad, sobre los procesos de formación en investigación y la supervisión en programas de doctorado. Se interpretaron los discursos de directores, supervisores y estudiantes de programas de doctorado. Los principales resultados son que la formación en investigación y los procesos de supervisión tienen un fuer­te componente motivacional y emocional, y la existencia de normas explícitas e implícitas del contexto científico que per­mean la formación de los futuros investigadores.
Naturaleza de la ciencia: efecto de variables profesionales y sociodemográficas
Authors: Tecpan-Flores Silvia , Zavala-Enríquez Genaro
Published: December 2017

Se realizó un estudio relacional cuantitativo con profesores de secundaria en México que cursaron un diplomado en competencia científica para diagnosticar las concepciones de naturaleza de la ciencia y su relación con variables sociodemográficas y de estatus profesional. Se utilizó una versión electrónica del Cuestionario de Opiniones sobre Ciencia, Tecnología y Sociedad (Manassero-Mas, Vázquez-Alonso & Acevedo-Díaz, 2001). Los resultados concuerdan con investigaciones previas, cuyas concepciones de naturaleza de la ciencia de los profesores son principalmente “ingenuas” (Garritz, Rueda & Robles, 2011). Las variables sociodemográ­ficas mostraron mayor influencia en las concepciones de naturaleza de la ciencia que aquellas de estatus profesional. Se discuten las limitaciones del estudio.
Movimiento social como actor - red: Ensamblando el comité por la defensa del Agua y del Páramo de Santurbán
Authors: Parra-Romero Adela , Gitahy Leda
Published: December 2017

Este artículo explora la aplicación de la teoría de actor-red (TAR) al estudio de los movimientos sociales que emergen en conflictos socioambientales. A partir del caso del Comité para la Defensa del Agua y del Páramo de Santurbán, discutimos cómo este tipo de abordaje permite rastrear la configuración del movimiento social como una red heterogénea de agregados materiales y culturales, de elementos humanos y no-humanos que se auto-organizan y que pueden unirse a otras redes para lograr sus demandas. Concluimos que el actor-red “Comité para la Defensa del Agua y del Páramo de Santurbán” se ensambla a partir de tres procesos: conocer, informar y anclar. Su agencia, sustentada en la capacidad del Comité de constituirse en un portavoz del agua, hace uso de la red jurídica, las movilizaciones y la producción de conocimiento, para transportarla y dotarla de características científicas y políticas hasta convertirla en una cuestión de interés social.
Condensed Tannins Affect Bacterial and Fungal Microbiomes and Mycotoxin Production during Ensiling and upon Aerobic Exposure
Authors: Peng Kai , Jin Long , Niu Yan D. , Huang Qianqian , McAllister Tim A. , Yang Hee Eun , Denise Hubert , Xu Zhongjun , Acharya Surya , Wang Shunxi , Wang Yuxi
Published: December 2017

Purple prairie clover (PPC;
Dalea purpurea
Vent.) containing 84.5 g/kg dry matter (DM) of condensed tannin (CT) was ensiled without (control) or with polyethylene glycol (PEG) for 76 days, followed by 14 days of aerobic exposure. Changes in fermentation characteristics were determined, and the composition of bacterial and fungal communities were assessed using metagenomic sequencing. The addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG) that deactivated CT at ensiling increased (
P
< 0.05 to ∼0.001) soluble N, nonprotein N, lactic acid, total volatile fatty acids, ammonia N, deoxynivalenol (DON), and ochratoxin A (OTA) but decreased (
P
< 0.001) pH and water-soluble carbohydrates. The concentrations of DON and OTA increased (
P
< 0.001) for both silages, with the extent of increase being greater for control than for PEG-treated silage during aerobic exposure. The PEG-treated silage exhibited higher (
P
< 0.01 to ∼0.001) copy numbers of total bacteria,
Lactobacillus
, yeasts, and fungi than the control. The addition of PEG decreased (
P
< 0.01) bacterial diversity during both ensiling and aerobic exposure, whereas it increased (
P
< 0.05) fungal diversity during aerobic exposure. The addition of PEG at ensiling increased (
P
< 0.05) the abundances of
Lactobacillus
and
Pediococcus
species but decreased (
P
< 0.01) the abundances of
Lactococcus
and
Leuconostoc
species. Filamentous fungi were found in the microbiome at ensiling and after aerobic exposure, whereas
Bacillus
spp. were the dominate bacteria after aerobic exposure. In conclusion, CT decreased protein degradation and improved the aerobic stability of silage. These desirable outcomes likely reflect the ability of PPC CT to inhibit those microorganisms involved in lowering silage quality and in the production of mycotoxins.

IMPORTANCE
The present study reports the effects of condensed tannins on the complex microbial communities involved in ensiling and aerobic exposure of purple prairie clover. This study documents the ability of condensed tannins to lower mycotoxin production and the associated microbiome. Taxonomic bacterial community profiles were dominated by
Lactobacillales
after fermentation, with a notable increase in
Bacillus
spp. as a result of aerobic exposure. It is interesting to observe that condensed tannins decreased bacterial diversity during both ensiling and aerobic exposure but increased fungal diversity during aerobic exposure only. The present study indicates that the effects of condensed tannins on microbial communities lead to reduced lactic acid and total volatile fatty acid production, proteolysis, and mycotoxin concentration in the terminal silage and improved aerobic stability. Condensed tannins could be used as an additive to control unfavorable microbial development and maybe enhanced feed safety.
CCR2
+
Inflammatory Monocytes Are Recruited to Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Pyogranulomas and Dictate Adaptive Responses at the Expense of Innate Immunity during Oral Infection
Authors: Zhang Yue , Khairallah Camille , Sheridan Brian S. , van der Velden Adrianus W. M. , Bliska James B.
Published: December 2017

Murine Ly6C
hi
inflammatory monocytes (IMs) require CCR2 to leave the bone marrow and enter mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) and other organs in response to
Yersinia pseudotuberculosis
infection. We are investigating how IMs, which can differentiate into CD11c
+
dendritic cells (DCs), contribute to innate and adaptive immunity to
Y. pseudotuberculosis
. Previously, we obtained evidence that IMs are important for a dominant CD8
+
T cell response to the epitope YopE
69–77
and host survival using intravenous infections with attenuated
Y. pseudotuberculosis
. Here we challenged CCR2
+/+
or CCR2
−/−
mice orally with wild-type
Y. pseudotuberculosis
to investigate how IMs contribute to immune responses during intestinal infection. Unexpectedly, CCR2
−/−
mice did not have reduced survival but retained body weight better and their MLNs cleared
Y. pseudotuberculosis
faster and with reduced lymphadenopathy compared to controls. Enhanced bacterial clearance in CCR2
−/−
mice correlated with reduced numbers of IMs in spleens and increased numbers of neutrophils in livers.
In situ
imaging of MLNs and spleens from CCR2-GFP mice showed that green fluorescent protein-positive (GFP
+
) IMs accumulated at the periphery of neutrophil-rich
Yersinia-
containing pyogranulomas. GFP
+
IMs colocalized with CD11c
+
cells and YopE
69–77
-specific CD8
+
T cells in MLNs, suggesting that IM-derived DCs prime adaptive responses in
Yersinia
pyogranulomas. Consistently, CCR2
−/−
mice had reduced numbers of splenic DCs, YopE
69–77
-specific CD8
+
T cells, CD4
+
T cells, and B cells in organs and lower levels of serum antibodies to
Y. pseudotuberculosis
antigens. Our data suggest that IMs differentiate into DCs in MLN pyogranulomas and direct adaptive responses in T cells at the expense of innate immunity during oral
Y. pseudotuberculosis
infection.
Dual Ligand Insertion in gB and gD of Oncolytic Herpes Simplex Viruses for Retargeting to a Producer Vero Cell Line and to Cancer Cells
Authors: Petrovic Biljana , Leoni Valerio , Gatta Valentina , Zaghini Anna , Vannini Andrea , Campadelli-Fiume Gabriella
Published: December 2017

Oncolytic viruses gain cancer specificity in several ways. Like the majority of viruses, they grow better in cancer cells that are defective in mounting the host response to viruses. Often, they are attenuated by deletion or mutation of virulence genes that counteract the host response or are naturally occurring oncolytic mutants. In contrast, retargeted viruses are not attenuated or deleted; their cancer specificity rests on a modified, specific tropism for cancer receptors. For herpes simplex virus (HSV)-based oncolytics, the detargeting-retargeting strategies employed so far were based on genetic modifications of gD. Recently, we showed that even gH or gB can serve as retargeting tools. To enable the growth of retargeted HSVs in cells that can be used for clinical-grade virus production, a double-retargeting strategy has been developed. Here we show that several sites in the N terminus of gB are suitable to harbor the 20-amino-acid (aa)-long GCN4 peptide, which readdresses HSV tropism to Vero cells expressing the artificial GCN4 receptor and thus enables virus cultivation in the producer noncancer Vero-GCN4R cell line. The gB modifications can be combined with a minimal detargeting modification in gD, consisting in the deletion of two residues, aa 30 and 38, and replacement of aa 38 with the scFv to human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), for retargeting to the cancer receptor. The panel of recombinants was analyzed comparatively in terms of virus growth, cell-to-cell spread, cytotoxicity, and
in vivo
antitumor efficacy to define the best double-retargeting strategy.

IMPORTANCE
There is increasing interest in oncolytic viruses, following FDA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approval of HSV Oncovex
GM-CSF
, and, mainly, because they greatly boost the immune response to the tumor and can be combined with immunotherapeutic agents, particularly checkpoint inhibitors. A strategy to gain cancer specificity and avoid virus attenuation is to retarget the virus tropism to cancer-specific receptors of choice. Cultivation of fully retargeted viruses is challenging, since they require cells that express the cancer receptor. We devised a strategy for their cultivation in producer noncancer Vero cell derivatives. Here, we developed a double-retargeting strategy, based on insertion of one ligand in gB for retargeting to a Vero cell derivative and of anti-HER2 ligand in gD for cancer retargeting. These modifications were combined with a minimally destructive detargeting strategy. This study and its companion paper explain the clinical-grade cultivation of retargeted oncolytic HSVs and promote their translation to the clinic.