bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hair Growth‐Promoting Effect of Carthamus tinctorius Floret Extract
Authors: Junlatat Jintana , Sripanidkulchai Bungorn
Published: December 2013

The florets of Carthamus tinctorius L. have traditionally been used for hair growth promotion. This study aimed to examine the potential of hydroxysafflor yellow A‐rich C. tinctorius extract (CTE) on hair growth both in vitro and in vivo. The effect of CTE on cell proliferation and hair growth‐associated gene expression in dermal papilla cells and keratinocytes (HaCaT) was determined. In addition, hair follicles from mouse neonates were isolated and cultured in media supplemented with CTE. Moreover, CTE was applied topically on the hair‐shaved skin of female C57BL/6 mice, and the histological profile of the skin was investigated. C. tinctorius floret ethanolic extract promoted the proliferation of both dermal papilla cells and HaCaT and significantly stimulated hair growth‐promoting genes, including vascular endothelial growth factor and keratinocyte growth factor. In contrast, CTE suppressed the expression of transforming growth factor‐β1 that is the hair loss‐related gene. Furthermore, CTE treatment resulted in a significant increase in the length of cultured hair follicles and stimulated the growth of hair with local effects in mice. The results provided the preclinical data to support the potential use of CTE as a hair growth‐promoting agent. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A high‐performance robust control method based on the gain and phase information of uncertainty
Authors: Liu Kang‐Zhi
Published: December 2013

The well‐known small‐gain and passivity approaches to robust control only make use of either the gain or the phase information of uncertainty in system design. This results in a limitation on the achievable control bandwidth in practical applications. To relax the limitations associated with these approaches, we explore the possibility of utilizing both the gain and the phase information of uncertainty in robust control design. In this paper, the modeling of uncertainty accounting for both gain and phase is discussed first. Then conditions for robust stability and robust performance (sensitivity and bandwidth) are derived respectively. These robustness conditions are described as phase or gain constraints on the nominal system in different frequency bands. Further, it is revealed, both theoretically and via a hard disk drive benchmark, that a much higher robust performance can be achieved by using the gain and phase information of uncertainty. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mechanisms of larval midgut damage following exposure to phoxim and repair of phoxim‐induced damage by cerium in Bombyx mori
Authors: Yu Xiaohong , Sun Qingqing , Li Bing , Xie Yi , Zhao Xiaoyang , Hong Jie , Sheng Lei , Sang Xuezi , Gui Suxin , Wang Ling , Shen Weide , Hong Fashui
Published: December 2013

Bombyx mori is an important economic animal for silk production. However, it is liable to be infected by organophosphorus pesticide that can contaminate its food and growing environment. It has been known that organophosphorus pesticide including phoxim exposure may damage the digestive systems, produce oxidative stress and neurotoxicity in silkworm B. mori, whereas cerium treatment has been demonstrated to relieve phoxim‐induced toxicity in B. mori. However, very little is known about the molecular mechanisms of midgut injury due to phoxim exposure and B. mori protection after cerium pretreatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the midgut damage and its molecular mechanisms, and the protective role of cerium in B. mori following exposure to phoxim. The results showed that phoxim exposure led to severe midgut damages and oxidative stress; whereas cerium relieved midgut damage and oxidative stress caused by phoxim in B. mori. Furthermore, digital gene expression suggested that phoxim exposure led to significant up‐regulation of 94 genes and down‐regulation of 52 genes. Of these genes, 52 genes were related with digestion and absorption, specifically, the significant alterations of esterase, lysozyme, amylase 48, and lipase expressions. Cerium pretreatment resulted in up‐regulation of 116 genes, and down‐regulation of 29 genes, importantly, esterase 48, lipase, lysozyme, and α‐amylase were up‐regulated. Treatment with Phoxim + CeCl3 resulted in 66 genes up‐regulation and 39 genes down‐regulation; specifically, levels of esterase 48, lipase, lysozyme, and α‐amylase expression in the midgut of silkworms were significantly increased. Therefore, esterase 48, lipase, lysozyme, and α‐amylase may be potential biomarkers of midgut toxicity caused by phoxim exposure. These findings may expand the application of rare earths in sericulture. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 30: 452–460, 2015.
Ionentransport und Taubheit
Authors: Huebner A.K. , Hübner C.A.
Published: December 2013

Durch die Identifizierung von Taubheitsgenen konnten die molekularen Mechanismen der am Hörvorgang beteiligten Ionentransportprozesse im Innenohr in den vergangenen Jahren weitgehend aufgeklärt werden. Ihren Ausgang nimmt die Signaltransduktion am Trommelfell, das durch Schallwellen in Bewegung gesetzt wird. Diese Bewegungen werden über die Gehörknöchel in Form von Flüssigkeitsbewegungen an das Innenohr übertragen. Dadurch kommt es zur lokalen Auslenkung der Stereozilien der Haarzellen. Die Folge ist das Öffnen mechanosensitiver Ionenkanäle in den Stereozilien. Da diese in die mit Endolymphe gefüllte Scala media ragen, kommt es aufgrund der hohen Kaliumkonzentration der Endolymphe zu einem Kaliumeinstrom und zur Depolarisation der Haarzellen. Infolgedessen wird Transmitter ausgeschüttet, wodurch postsynaptisch elektrische Signale generiert werden, die über den Hörnerv weitergeleitet werden. Der für den Hörvorgang ausschlaggebende Ionengradient zwischen Haarzellen und Endolymphe wird durch die Stria vascularis, ein hochspezialisiertes Epithel in der lateralen Wand der Scala media, generiert.
Experimental challenges of sense codon reassignment: An innovative approach to genetic code expansion
Authors: Krishnakumar Radha , Ling Jiqiang
Published: December 2013

The addition of new and versatile chemical and biological properties to proteins pursued through incorporation of non‐canonical amino acids is at present primarily achieved by stop codon suppression. However, it is critical to find new “blank” codons to increase the variety and efficiency of such insertions, thereby taking ‘sense codon recoding’ to center stage in the field of genetic code expansion. Current thought optimistically suggests the use of the pyrrolysine system coupled with re‐synthesis of genomic information towards achieving sense codon reassignment. Upon review of the serious experimental challenges reported in recent studies, we propose that success in this area will depend on the re‐synthesis of genomes, but also on ‘rewiring’ the mechanism of protein synthesis and of its quality control.
Retroperitoneal Castlemans Disease associated with Paraneoplastic Pemphigus
Authors: Choh Naseer A , Qayoom Seema , Shaheen Feroze , Malik Rais A , Rabbani Irfan , Gojwari Tariq
Published: December 2013

Paraneoplastic pemphigus is a rare dermatologic condition that can occur as a paraneoplastic manifestation of lymphoproliferative disorders, visceral malignancies, Castleman disease and thymomas. In a pediatric age group paraneoplastic pemphigus has a striking association with Castleman disease and has a particularly poor prognosis in this age group. We describe a case of paraneoplastic pemphigus associated with retroperitoneal hyaline vascular variant of Castleman disease with a fatal outcome despite aggressive management.
The moderating effects of knowledge characteristics of firms on the financial value of innovative technology products
Authors: Liu Xiaojin , Yeung Andy C.L. , Lo Chris K.Y. , Cheng T.C.E.
Published: December 2013

The development of innovative technology products is both costly and risky, and their economic value is highly uncertain. Based on a sample of 312 innovative technology products introduced between 1987 and 2006 in the U.S. and a long‐horizon event study with control firms, we study the impact of innovative technology products on the long‐term financial performance of a firm. In particular, we examine how the knowledge characteristics of the firm, which embrace its knowledge absorptive capacity, knowledge impact, and knowledge diversity, moderate such an impact. We find that on average an innovative technology product increases the firm's return on assets (ROA) (relative to control firms) by 2.18% in the second year after product introduction. However, the value of an innovative technology product varies with the knowledge characteristics of the firm that invented it. We find that the financial impact of technology products is stronger when firms have higher knowledge absorptive capacity, and more impactful and less diversified knowledge (as measured by patents). We classify firms into three categories based on their knowledge characteristics. We find that firms with a high knowledge fit increase their ROA by 4.55% after product introduction, while those with a low knowledge fit receive no benefit from the innovative technology products at all.
Sea-level and reef accretion history of Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage 7 and late Stage 5 based on age and facies of submerged late Pleistocene reefs, Oahu, Hawaii
Authors: Sherman Clark E. , Fletcher Charles H. , Rubin Ken H. , Simmons Kathleen R. , Adey Walter H.
Published: December 2013

In situ Pleistocene reefs form a gently sloping nearshore terrace around the island of Oahu. TIMS Th–U ages of in situ corals indicate that most of the terrace is composed of reefal limestones correlating to Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage 7 (MIS 7, ~ 190–245 ka). The position of the in situ MIS 7 reef complex indicates that it formed during periods when local sea level was ~ 9 to 20 m below present sea level. Its extensiveness and geomorphic prominence as well as a paucity of emergent in situ MIS 7 reef-framework deposits on Oahu suggest that much of MIS 7 was characterized by regional sea levels below present. Later accretion along the seaward front of the terrace occurred during the latter part of MIS 5 (i.e., MIS 5a–5d, ~ 76–113 ka). The position of the late MIS 5 reefal limestones is consistent with formation during a period when local sea level was below present. The extensiveness of the submerged Pleistocene reefs around Oahu compared to the relative dearth of Holocene accretion is due to the fact that Pleistocene reefs had both more time and more accommodation space available for accretion than their Holocene counterparts.
Seasonal fluctuations in ionic concentrations drive microbial succession in a hypersaline lake community
Authors: Podell Sheila , Emerson Joanne B , Jones Claudia M , Ugalde Juan A , Welch Sue , Heidelberg Karla B , Banfield Jillian F , Allen Eric E
Published: December 2013

Microbial community succession was examined over a two-year period using spatially and temporally coordinated water chemistry measurements, metagenomic sequencing, phylogenetic binning and de novo metagenomic assembly in the extreme hypersaline habitat of Lake Tyrrell, Victoria, Australia. Relative abundances of Haloquadratum-related sequences were positively correlated with co-varying concentrations of potassium, magnesium and sulfate, but not sodium, chloride or calcium ions, while relative abundances of Halorubrum, Haloarcula, Halonotius, Halobaculum and Salinibacter-related sequences correlated negatively with Haloquadratum and these same ionic factors. Nanohaloarchaea and Halorhabdus-related sequence abundances were inversely correlated with each other, but not other taxonomic groups. These data, along with predicted gene functions from nearly-complete assembled population metagenomes, suggest different ecological phenotypes for Nanohaloarchaea and Halorhabdus-related strains versus other community members. Nucleotide percent G+C compositions were consistently lower in community metagenomic reads from summer versus winter samples. The same seasonal G+C trends were observed within taxonomically binned read subsets from each of seven different genus-level archaeal groups. Relative seasonal abundances were also linked to percent G+C for assembled population genomes. Together, these data suggest that extreme ionic conditions may exert selective pressure on archaeal populations at the level of genomic nucleotide composition, thus contributing to seasonal successional processes. Despite the unavailability of cultured representatives for most of the organisms identified in this study, effective coordination of physical and biological measurements has enabled discovery and quantification of unexpected taxon-specific, environmentally mediated factors influencing microbial community structure.
Hollow core–shell structured Si/C nanocomposites as high-performance anode materials for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Tao Huachao , Fan Li-Zhen , Song Wei-Li , Wu Mao , He Xinbo , Qu Xuanhui
Published: December 2013

Hollow core–shell structured Si/C nanocomposites were prepared to adapt for the large volume change during a charge–discharge process.
In situ synthesis of flexible magnetic γ-Fe2O3@SiO2 nanofibrous membranes
Authors: Si Yang , Tang Xiaomin , Ge Jianlong , Yang Shan , El-Newehy Mohamed , Al-Deyab Salem S. , Yu Jianyong , Ding Bin
Published: December 2013

Novel flexible, mesoporous, and magnetic γ-Fe2O3@SiO2 nanofibrous membranes with high γ-Fe2O3 content and uniform distribution were prepared by a facile in situ growth method.
Elevated levels of extracellular heat-shock protein 72 (eHSP72) are positively correlated with insulin resistancein vivoand cause pancreatic β-cell dysfunction and deathin vitro
Authors: Krause Mauricio , Keane Kevin , Rodrigues-Krause Josianne , Crognale Domenico , Egan Brendan , De Vito Giuseppe , Murphy Colin , Newsholme Philip
Published: December 2013

eHSP72 (extracellular heat-shock protein 72) is increased in the plasma of both types of diabetes and is positively correlated with inflammatory markers. Since aging is associated with a low-grade inflammation and IR (insulin resistance), we aimed to: (i) analyse the concentration of eHSP72 in elderly people and determine correlation with insulin resistance, and (ii) determine the effects of eHSP72 on β-cell function and viability in human and rodent pancreatic β-cells. Fasting blood samples were collected from 50 older people [27 females and 23 males; 63.4±4.4 years of age; BMI (body mass index)=25.5±2.7 kg/m2]. Plasma samples were analysed for eHSP72, insulin, TNF (tumour necrosis factor)-α, leptin, adiponectin and cortisol, and glycaemic and lipid profile. In vitro studies were conducted using rodent islets and clonal rat and human pancreatic β-cell lines (BRIN-BD11 and 1.1B4 respectively). Cells/islets were incubated for 24 h with eHSP72 (0, 0.2, 4, 8 and 40 ng/ml). Cell viability was measured using three different methods. The impact of HSP72 on β-cell metabolic status was determined using Seahorse Bioscience XFe96 technology. To assess whether the effects of eHSP72 were mediated by Toll-like receptors (TLR2/TLR4), we co-incubated rodent islets with eHSP72 and the TLR2/TLR4 inhibitor OxPAPC (oxidized 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine; 30 μg/ml). We found a positive correlation between plasma eHSP72 and HOMA-IR (homoeostasis model assessment of IR) (r=0.528, P<0.001), TNF-α (r=0.389, P<0.014), cortisol (r=0.348, P<0.03) and leptin/adiponectin (r=0.334, P<0.03). In the in vitro studies, insulin secretion was decreased in an eHSP72 dose-dependent manner in BRIN-BD11 cells (from 257.7±33 to 84.1±10.2 μg/mg of protein per 24 h with 40 ng/ml eHSP72), and in islets in the presence of 40 ng/ml eHSP72 (from 0.48±0.07 to 0.33±0.009 μg/20 islets per 24 h). Similarly, eHSP72 reduced β-cell viability (at least 30% for BRIN-BD11 and 10% for 1.1B4 cells). Bioenergetic studies revealed that eHSP72 altered pancreatic β-cell metabolism. OxPAPC restored insulin secretion in islets incubated with 40 ng/ml eHSP72. In conclusion, we have demonstrated a positive correlation between eHSP72 and IR. In addition, we suggest that chronic eHSP72 exposure may mediate β-cell failure.
Book reviews
Authors: GUNTER Darrell W.
Published: December 2013

From Science 2.0 to Pharma 3.0 – Semantic Search and Social Media in the Pharmaceutical Industry and STM Publishing Herve Basset, David Stuart, Denise Silber and François Boutin Oxford, Chandos Publishing, 2012, 232pp. ISBN: 978‐1‐84334‐705‐5 (print), 978‐1‐78063‐375‐6 (online), £49.50/US$85.00/€60.00
Book reviews
Authors: BULLOCK Adrian
Published: December 2013

Art and Print Production, 2nd edn N.N. Sarkar Delhi, Oxford University Press, 2013, xvi + 516pp. ISBN‐13: 978‐0‐19‐808556‐0, ISBN‐10: 0‐19‐808556‐7, approx. £14.99/$29.95/Indian rupees 930
Generalizations of a Laplacian-type equation in the Heisenberg group and a class of Grushin-type spaces
Authors: Bieske Thomas , Childers Kristen
Published: December 2013

In their 1996 paper, Beals, Gaveau and Greiner found the fundamental solution to a

2
2

-Laplace-type equation in a class of sub-Riemannian spaces. This solution is related to the well-known fundamental solution to the

p

\texttt {p}

-Laplace equation in Grushin-type spaces and the Heisenberg group. We extend the

2
2

-Laplace-type equation to a

p

\texttt {p}

-Laplace-type equation. We show that the obvious generalization does not have desired properties, but rather, our generalization preserves some natural properties.
Econometric Analysis of Grading Standards: The Ordered Fractional Approach
Authors: Kawasaki Kentaro , Lichtenberg Erik
Published: December 2013

We present a method for estimating the quality of production when quality is measured by discrete grades and is thus both ordinal and fractional. Monte Carlo experiments indicate that our method estimates average partial effects of quality determinants more accurately than linear estimators, and provides estimates with low bias even with weak instruments. An application of the model to wheat production in Japan demonstrates the importance of disease control in determining wheat grade. Weather variable coefficients suggest that climate change could actually improve wheat quality in Japan, thereby allowing farmers to reduce fungicide use and other inputs, as well as switch varieties.
forqs: forward-in-time simulation of recombination, quantitative traits and selection
Authors: Kessner Darren , Novembre John
Published: December 2013

Summary: forqs is a forward-in-time simulation of recombination, quantitative traits and selection. It was designed to investigate haplotype patterns resulting from scenarios where substantial evolutionary change has taken place in a small number of generations due to recombination and/or selection on polygenic quantitative traits.

Availability and implementation: forqs is implemented as a command-line C++ program. Source code and binary executables for Linux, OSX and Windows are freely available under a permissive BSD license: https://bitbucket.org/dkessner/forqs.

Contact:  jnovembre@uchicago.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Structure of the mammalian ribosomal pre-termination complex associated with eRF1•eRF3•GDPNP
Authors: des Georges Amédée , Hashem Yaser , Unbehaun Anett , Grassucci Robert A. , Taylor Derek , Hellen Christopher U. T. , Pestova Tatyana V. , Frank Joachim
Published: December 2013

Eukaryotic translation termination results from the complex functional interplay between two release factors, eRF1 and eRF3, in which GTP hydrolysis by eRF3 couples codon recognition with peptidyl-tRNA hydrolysis by eRF1. Here, we present a cryo-electron microscopy structure of pre-termination complexes associated with eRF1•eRF3•GDPNP at 9.7 -Å resolution, which corresponds to the initial pre-GTP hydrolysis stage of factor attachment and stop codon recognition. It reveals the ribosomal positions of eRFs and provides insights into the mechanisms of stop codon recognition and triggering of eRF3’s GTPase activity.
Evidence for G-quadruplex in the promoter of vegfr-2 and its targeting to inhibit tumor angiogenesis
Authors: Salvati Erica , Zizza Pasquale , Rizzo Angela , Iachettini Sara , Cingolani Chiara , D’Angelo Carmen , Porru Manuela , Randazzo Antonio , Pagano Bruno , Novellino Ettore , Pisanu Maria Elena , Stoppacciaro Antonella , Spinella Francesca , Bagnato Anna , Gilson Eric , Leonetti Carlo , Biroccio Annamaria
Published: December 2013

Tumor angiogenesis is mainly mediated by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a pro-angiogenic factor produced by cancer cells and active on the endothelium through the VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2). Here we identify a G-rich sequence within the proximal promoter region of vegfr-2, able to form an antiparallel G-quadruplex (G4) structure. This G4 structure can be efficiently stabilized by small molecules with the consequent inhibition of vegfr-2 expression. Functionally, the G4-mediated reduction of VEGFR-2 protein causes a switching off of signaling components that, converging on actin cytoskeleton, regulate the cellular events leading to endothelial cell proliferation, migration and differentiation. As a result of endothelial cell function impairment, angiogenic process is strongly inhibited by G4 ligands both in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, the G4-mediated antiangiogenic effect seems to recapitulate that observed by using a specific interference RNA against vegfr-2, and it is strongly antagonized by overexpressing the vegfr-2 gene. In conclusion, we describe the evidence for the existence of G4 in the promoter of vegfr-2, whose expression and function can be markedly inhibited by G4 ligands, thereby revealing a new, and so far undescribed, way to block VEGFR-2 as target for anticancer therapy.
Detection of Pseudarthrosis in Adult Spinal Deformity
Authors: Klineberg Eric , Gupta Munish , McCarthy Ian , Hostin Richard
Published: December 2013

Study Design:

Single-center, retrospective study of consecutive surgeries.

Objective:

This study aimed to evaluate the reliability of previously published anterior fusion grading systems and assess the ability of health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) outcomes to predict pseudarthrosis (PSAR).

Summary of Background Data:

Despite existing radiographic indicators, PSAR may still go unidentified on biplanar radiographs, and little data is available on the reliability of such grading systems in adult spinal deformity patients. As such, there is a need for a practical, noninvasive tool to help identify PSAR.

Methods:

This study included consecutive primary surgical patients with idiopathic or degenerative scoliosis undergoing anterior and posterior correction with instrumentation to the sacrum or pelvis and minimum 2-year follow-up. Patients were grouped into fused (no radiographic or clinical signs of PSAR) and PSAR (known PSAR diagnosed by surgical exploration or thin-cut computed tomography scan at least 1 year after surgery) cohorts. Two-year radiographs were graded by an independent blinded orthopedic deformity surgeon and a neuroradiologist. HRQOL scores [22-item Scoliosis Research Society questionnaire (SRS-22) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)] at 1-year follow-up were analyzed as potential predictors of future PSAR.

Results:

Thirty-four patients with average follow-up of 2.2 years (2–2.5 y) were evaluated. Eight (23.5%) patients had known PSAR consisting of 40 (24.8%) anterior levels. Analysis by independent reviewers incorrectly identified 2 levels as unfused and failed to identify any PSAR levels. The PSAR group had lower average SRS scores in all domains and lower average ODI scores at 1-year postoperatively relative to fused patients. The PSAR group also showed no significant improvement in SRS or ODI scores relative to baseline. In comparison, the fused group showed significant improvement in all domains.

Conclusions:

Standard radiographs are insufficient for identifying PSAR in adult spinal deformity patients. Failure to achieve significant improvement in SRS and ODI should lead the surgeon to suspect PSAR and consider additional investigation.
Collective thermoregulation in bee clusters
Authors: Ocko Samuel A. , Mahadevan L.
Published: December 2013

Swarming is an essential part of honeybee behaviour, wherein thousands of bees cling onto each other to form a dense cluster that may be exposed to the environment for several days. This cluster has the ability to maintain its core temperature actively without a central controller. We suggest that the swarm cluster is akin to an active porous structure whose functional requirement is to adjust to outside conditions by varying its porosity to control its core temperature. Using a continuum model that takes the form of a set of advection–diffusion equations for heat transfer in amobileporous medium, we show that the equalization of an effective ‘behavioural pressure’, which propagates information about the ambient temperature through variations in density, leads to effective thermoregulation. Our model extends and generalizes previous models by focusing the question of mechanism on the form and role of the behavioural pressure, and allows us to explain the vertical asymmetry of the cluster (as a consequence of buoyancy-driven flows), the ability of the cluster to overpack at low ambient temperatures without breaking up at high ambient temperatures, and the relative insensitivity to large variations in the ambient temperature. Our theory also makes testable hypotheses for the response of the cluster to external temperature inhomogeneities and suggests strategies for biomimetic thermoregulation.
Suppression of type III effector secretion by polymers
Authors: Ohgita Takashi , Hayashi Naoki , Gotoh Naomasa , Kogure Kentaro
Published: December 2013

Bacteria secrete effector proteins required for successful infection and expression of toxicity into host cells. The type III secretion apparatus is involved in these processes. Previously, we showed that the viscous polymer polyethylene glycol (PEG) 8000 suppressed effector secretion by
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
. We thus considered that other viscous polymers might also suppress secretion. We initially showed that PEG200 (formed from the same monomer (ethylene glycol) as PEG8000, but which forms solutions of lower viscosity than the latter compound) did not decrease effector secretion. By contrast, alginate, a high-viscous polymer formed from mannuronic and guluronic acid, unlike PEG8000, effectively inhibited secretion. The effectiveness of PEG8000 and alginate in this regard was closely associated with polymer viscosity, but the nature of viscosity dependence differed between the two polymers. Moreover, not only the natural polymer alginate, but also mucin, which protects against infection, suppressed secretion. We thus confirmed that polymer viscosity contributes to the suppression of effector secretion, but other factors (e.g. electrostatic interaction) may also be involved. Moreover, the results suggest that regulation of bacterial secretion by polymers may occur naturally via the action of components of biofilm or mucin layer.
Assessment of viral community functional potential from viral metagenomes may be hampered by contamination with cellular sequences
Authors: Roux Simon , Krupovic Mart , Debroas Didier , Forterre Patrick , Enault François
Published: December 2013

Although the importance of viruses in natural ecosystems is widely acknowledged, the functional potential of viral communities is yet to be determined. Viral genomes are traditionally believed to carry only those genes that are directly pertinent to the viral life cycle, though this view was challenged by the discovery of metabolism genes in several phage genomes. Metagenomic approaches extended these analyses to a community scale, and several studies concluded that microbial and viral communities encompass similar functional potentials. However, these conclusions could originate from the presence of cellular DNA within viral metagenomes. We developed a computational method to estimate the proportion and origin of cellular sequences in a set of 67 published viromes. A quarter of the datasets were found to contain a substantial amount of sequences originating from cellular genomes. When considering only viromes with no cellular DNA detected, the functional potential of viral and microbial communities was found to be fundamentally different—a conclusion more consistent with the actual picture drawn from known viruses. Yet a significant number of cellular metabolism genes was still retrieved in these viromes, suggesting that the presence of auxiliary genes involved in various metabolic pathways within viral genomes is a general trend in the virosphere.
Multiscale modelling of hydraulic conductivity in vuggy porous media
Authors: Daly K. R. , Roose T.
Published: December 2013

Flow in both saturated and non-saturated vuggy porous media, i.e. soil, is inherently multiscale. The complex microporous structure of the soil aggregates and the wider vugs provides a multitude of flow pathways and has received significant attention from the X-ray computed tomography (CT) community with a constant drive to image at higher resolution. Using multiscale homogenization, we derive averaged equations to study the effects of the microscale structure on the macroscopic flow. The averaged model captures the underlying geometry through a series of cell problems and is verified through direct comparison to numerical simulations of the full structure. These methods offer significant reductions in computation time and allow us to perform three-dimensional calculations with complex geometries on a desktop PC. The results show that the surface roughness of the aggregate has a significantly greater effect on the flow than the microstructure within the aggregate. Hence, this is the region in which the resolution of X-ray CT for image-based modelling has the greatest impact.
Checks and balances between human cytomegalovirus replication and indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase
Authors: Zimmermann Albert , Hauka Sebastian , Maywald Marco , Le Vu Thuy Khanh , Schmidt Silvia K. , Däubener Walter , Hengel Hartmut
Published: December 2013

Despite a rigorous blockade of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) signalling in infected fibroblasts as a mechanism of immune evasion by human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), IFN-γ induced indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) has been proposed to represent the major antiviral restriction factor limiting HCMV replication in epithelial cells. Here we show that HCMV efficiently blocks transcription of IFN-γ-induced IDO mRNA both in infected fibroblasts and epithelial cells even in the presence of a preexisting IFN-induced antiviral state. This interference results in severe suppression of IDO bioactivity in HCMV-infected cells and restoration of vigorous HCMV replication. Depletion of IDO expression nonetheless substantially alleviated the antiviral impact of IFN-γ treatment in both cell types. These findings highlight the effectiveness of this IFN-γ induced effector gene in restricting HCMV productivity, but also the impact of viral counter-measures.
US foreign aid
Authors: H. Williams James
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of similarities and distinctions between development and educational assistance in the USA as compared with other countries, this paper provides a general review of relevant materials on US foreign aid.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper reviews published books and articles as well as US government budget and Congressional reporting materials and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development statistics.

Findings

– Beginning with the Marshall Plan following Second World War, the USA has always been a leader in foreign aid. In many ways, US development agencies resemble counterparts in other countries – foreign aid is part of larger network of bilateral relationships, funding requests must compete with requests from other sectors, etc. In other ways, the US stands apart. Because of US Congressional reporting requirements and for philosophical reasons, the US has been reluctant to join other countries in provision of budgetary support. The US coordinates its work with host country governments, but generally organizes its activities in project mode, relying largely on US contractors. The US Agency for International Development and the Department of State are the largest US government development agencies. Still, unlike other donors, development funding and technical assistance is provided by up to 25 agencies with relatively little coordination. US foreign aid has always included a security as well as humanitarian and development dimensions. In recent years, as development assistance is increasingly coordinated with diplomacy and defense, the military dimension has been heightened. Perhaps the most original finding is the notion that public and government support of US foreign aid has required both security and development/humanitarian rationales to remain viable.

Originality/value

– The paper brings together information from a range of existing sources, but provides a unique perspective on US foreign aid in education.
Word-of-mouth
Authors: Chong Lim Boon , M.Y. Chung Cindy
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– This research was designed to expand the understanding of how brand familiarity may affect the motivation to process word-of-mouth (WOM) information in brand evaluation. The pre-WOM brand attitude certainty is expected to explain the moderation effect. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– Two experiments were conducted. The study participants were undergraduate students from a major university in Singapore. The main statistical analysis was done using a two-way analysis of covariance.

Findings

– The results of Experiments 1 and 2 support the prediction that consumers are more likely to use the perceived expertise of the WOM sender to evaluate an unfamiliar brand vs a familiar brand. Experiment 2 also provides some preliminary evidence that this interaction effect may be due to the difference in certainty of the study respondents in regards to the pre-WOM evaluation of unfamiliar and familiar brand.

Research limitations/implications

– This manipulation method of presenting WOM in a printed format may understate the impact of WOM. A more vivid manipulation of WOM that allows for a feedback loop may be considered for future research.

Practical implications

– The results highlight the importance of considering the strength dimensions of brand attitudes (e.g. attitude certainty) in the marketplace. For marketers of unfamiliar brands, source factors (e.g. expertise of WOM sender) are important to consider for effective use of WOM to market their products. For familiar brands, source factors are less relevant.

Originality/value

– This paper highlights the importance of considering attitude certainty and the subsequent malleability of attitude toward new information about the brand in the marketplace. Hence, marketers and researchers who are interested in changing brand attitude should take meta-attitude factors into consideration.
Understanding counterfeit consumption
Authors: Tang Felix , Tian Vane-Ing , Zaichkowsky Judy
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to create a framework for broadly understanding categories and motivations behind purchasing different counterfeit products.

Design/methodology/approach

– Focus groups provided qualitative data from 509 counterfeit purchases incidents by 95 informants.

Findings

– The most frequently mentioned motivation was the utility (35 percent) received from the good over the genuine article. The second, but negative, motivation was the perceived risk involved in the purchase (22 percent), whether it is physical or social risk. Social norms, confusion, and ethical concerns each represented about 10 percent of the motivations toward the purchase of counterfeit items. The least mentioned motivations to purchase, at less than 4 percent each, were culture, habit, and desire to explore. These factors were evident across a variety of 15 product categories, headed by electronics, such as DVDs and computer software.

Practical implications

– Through targeting negative motivations, such as perceived physical and social risks, businesses can devise strategies from a demand side perspective to overcome the problem of counterfeit consumption.

Originality/value

– Qualitative responses, over many product categories, provide a unique overview to the perception of counterfeit consumption. The finding that consumer ethics may depend on whether the activity benefits the society as a whole is worthy of additional discussion. The authors learn that when consumers thought their counterfeit consumption caused little or no harm, they do not see much ethical concern in their actions.
Topic sensitivity and research design: effects on internet survey respondents' motives
Authors: Albaum Gerald , A. Roster Catherine , M. Smith Scott
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of topic sensitivity and the research design techniques of forced answering (FA) (i.e. cannot proceed if leave an answer blank) and response options (use of “prefer not to answer” (PNA) option) on respondent motives for participating in an internet-based survey.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were collected in a field experiment in Hong Kong using a 2×2×2 factorial design. Variables manipulated were topic sensitivity, use of FA, and response options. The dependent variables were eight specific motives which were obtained from responses to the survey participation inventory (SPI).

Findings

– Topic sensitivity has a significant influence on seven of the eight motives. The use of FA does not appear to affect motives. In contrast, the use of the response option “PNA” has a significant effect on all motives except “obligation”. The SPI appears to be a viable measure to the use with Hong Kong online panellists, and perhaps with other Asian and non-Western cultures/countries as well.

Research limitations/implications

– The present study tested only two specific topics, each with a specific level of sensitivity. Further research should apply the SPI to topics of varying levels of sensitivity. The present study used a sample of panel members. Future research could examine motivation for survey participation for use with off-line samples.

Practical implications

– There are differences in motivation for survey participation among panellists. The authors relate panellists' motivation to topic sensitivity and confirm that panellists who answered questions about a sensitive topic were less motivated to participate in every motivational aspect, except for incentives. The authors find that the survey design feature of FA is largely unrelated to panellists' motivation.

Originality/value

– This is one of the few studies that show the impact of topic sensitivity, FA, and response options on motives for responding. It is the first use of the SPI in a non-Western culture/nation.
Private food standard certification: analysis of the BRC standard in Italian agri-food
Authors: Spadoni Roberta , Lombardi Pamela , Canavari Maurizio , Hingley Martin
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– The aim of this paper is to assess the applicability and impact of private food standards – specifically that of the BRC (British Retail Consortium) – in a European country context, and to classify food companies into groups on the basis of their different perceptions regarding the Global Standard for Food safety impacts.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research is developed in two stages: a qualitative investigation based on in-depth interviews with quality managers (QMs); a quantitative investigation with a structured questionnaire: with response from 192 food processors in Italy, selected through a probabilistic random sampling method. Data were elaborated with descriptive statistical techniques and subsequently with multivariate analysis (factor and cluster analysis).

Findings

– QMs agree with most of the assumptions with regard to the impact elements of the BRC food standard. Some characteristics, such as geographic location, size, and type of processing and adoption of ISO 9001, seem to elicit different perceptions between the companies. Through factor analysis, eight factors were extracted; and subsequently, through cluster analysis applied to the factors, five different groups of companies are identified.

Practical implications

– The adoption of private food standards is both useful and comprehensible for food operators. However, BRC is a minimum standard and a base level for food suppliers; it cannot wholly substitute a specific retailer's dedicated second-party audit. Findings could be used by the subjects of the certification process to determine ideal marketing strategies.

Originality/value

– This paper provides a statistically significant description of the impact of private food standards (via the important BRC standard) in one of the most important European markets.
A decision support method for poorly structured problems in school management
Authors: Meczynska Anna , Kmieciak Roman , Michna Anna , Flajszok Iwona
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– This paper aims to propose and present a decision-making support method for poorly structured problems in schools, using the example of one of the most important and difficult decisions that principals face: terminating a teacher's employment.

Design/methodology/approach

– A literature review was conducted, along with observations and interviews with 30 experienced principals, in order to identify decisions made by Polish principals. In order to sort non-programmable decisions according to their importance and difficulty, data were collected from 377 principals. Opinions from two groups, consisting of 22 and 25 experts, respectively, were collected in order to identify and order a set of criteria for making a specified non-programmable decision.

Findings

– The four following areas of school activities were distinguished: finances, teaching and care, internal processes, and development of organisation. Within these categories, 126 decisions made by principals were identified, 96 of which were non-programmable. One of the most difficult and important non-programmable decisions was related to the termination of a teacher's employment. In order to support decisions regarding a teacher's dismissal, 44 criteria with different importance levels were identified.

Practical implications

– Principals can use the method proposed in this paper, as it increases the rationality and objectivity of making a dismissal decision. The method can also be adapted for other difficult non-programmable decisions.

Originality/value

– The expert opinion method might be useful for solving poorly structured problems in the management of educational institutions. As far as it can be ascertained, no previous empirical studies have identified and ranked the most important and difficult non-programmable decisions facing principals.
Inspiration at work: is it an oxymoron?
Authors: Avramenko Alex
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present results of an exploratory cross-cultural study aiming to examine the role and meaning of inspiration in organisational settings to advance the contemporary understanding of inspiration and its manifestations.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study utilises Gadamerian philosophical hermeneutics to cultivate an understanding of the rationalisations of inspiration at work and to explore its conceptualisations to inform future research.

Findings

– The findings strongly indicate that inspiration in its numerous manifestations is not confined to the domain of personal life and that it often occurs in organisational settings. There are no indications that inspiration is affected by the cultural belongingness of employees, rather it is found that attitudes towards inspiration differ among representatives of the different levels of the organisational hierarchy. A connection between motivation and inspiration is discussed and indication found that at the level of lay accounts the concepts are perceived to be both different and complementary.

Originality/value

– The article presents a conceptualisation of inspiration in an organisational context to guide future research towards a more instrumental approach to recognising and utilising inspiration in contemporary management practice.
Dissertations and discussions: engineering graduate student research resource use at New Mexico State University
Authors: C. Johnson Paula
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– The aim of this paper is to determine whether the accelerated growth of web content during the years 1989-2011 had an effect on New Mexico State University engineering PhD students' use of the library's collections. The research also solicited direct input from PhD advisors regarding their expectations for and perceptions of present day PhD reference lists. If the collections were being used with less frequency, there would be reason to increase outreach to the engineering graduate student population, as well as to review current engineering collection development policies.

Design/methodology/approach

– Reference lists from College of Engineering PhD dissertations produced 1989-1991 (pre-web), 1999-2001 (web-emergent), and 2009-2011 (post-web) time periods were analyzed using descriptive statistics. PhD faculty advisors from the College of Engineering were interviewed about their expectations for, and perceptions of, research resources used in PhD dissertations.

Findings

– The number of resources cited, percentages of type of resource (e.g. book, journal, patent, etc.) and age of citation did not vary substantially over time, although the percentage of journal articles cited to total number of citations per dissertation increased post-web. Some websites were cited in the post-web period, but not in significant numbers. Engineering faculty expressed concerns that some PhD students were not critically evaluating and fully synthesizing the information they were citing in the literature review sections of their dissertations.

Originality/value

– The results of the citation study provided PhD faculty advisors with the positive news that there appears to be no degradation in the quality of references post-web. However, the expressed faculty interest in seeing some dissertators undertake a more robust analysis of the literature created an outreach opportunity for the engineering librarian: a graduate student workshop in how to use the library collections to perform a thorough survey of the relevant research in order to write an effective literature review.
Intermedialists: Debussy and the influences of Whistler and Baudelaire
Authors: Katherine Glaeser L.
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– This paper aimed to inform research or collection development on the topic of Claude Debussy, with particular attention paid to English-language resources that highlight the cross-modal nature of his work.

Design/methodology/approach

– This objective was achieved by examining primary and secondary sources relating to the works and correspondences of Debussy and those of painter James Abbott McNeill Whistler, and the works of poet Charles Baudelaire, whose work influenced Debussy.

Findings

– Holistically studying Debussy and his contemporary influences enables the researcher to develop a richer understanding of Debussy's work.

Originality/value

– This paper may have implications for research on James Abbott McNeill Whistler, Charles Baudelaire, Impressionism, and Symbolism.