bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The evolutionary forces shaping cis and trans regulation of gene expression within a population of outcrossing plants
Authors: Josephs Emily B. , Lee Young Wha , Wood Corlett W. , Schoen Daniel J. , Wright Stephen I. , Stinchcombe John R.
Published: September 2019

Understanding the persistence of genetic variation within populations has long been a goal of evolutionary biology. One promising route towards achieving this goal is using population genetic approaches to describe how selection acts on the loci associated with trait variation. Gene expression provides a model trait for addressing the challenge of the maintenance of variation because it can be measured genome-wide without information about how gene expression affects traits. Previous work has shown that loci affecting the expression of nearby genes (local or cis-eQTLs) are under negative selection, but we lack a clear understanding of the selective forces acting on variants that affect the expression of genes in trans. Here, we identify loci that affect gene expression in trans using genomic and transcriptomic data from one population of the obligately outcrossing plant, Capsella grandiflora. The allele frequencies of trans-eQTLs are consistent with stronger negative selection acting on trans-eQTLs than cis-eQTLs, and even more strongly on trans-eQTLs associated with the expression of multiple genes. However, despite this general pattern, we still observe the presence of a trans-eQTL at intermediate frequency that affects the expression of a large number of genes in the same coexpression module. Overall, our work highlights the different selective pressures shaping variation in cis- and trans- gene regulation.
MRI ofCapn15knockout mice and analysis of Capn 15 distribution reveal possible roles in brain development and plasticity
Authors: Zha Congyao , Farah Carole A , Fonov Vladimir , Rudko David A , Sossin Wayne S
Published: September 2019

The Small Optic Lobe (SOL) family of calpains are intracellular cysteine proteases that are expressed in the nervous system and play an important role in neuronal development in bothDrosophila, where loss of this calpain leads to the eponymous small optic lobes, and in mouse and human, where loss of this calpain leads to eye anomalies. Some human individuals with biallelic variants in CAPN15 also have developmental delay and autism. However, neither the specific effect of the loss of the Capn15 protein on brain development nor the brain regions where this calpain is expressed in the adult is known. Here we show using small animal MRI that mice with the complete loss of Capn15 have smaller brains overall with larger decreases in the thalamus and subregions of the hippocampus. These losses are not seen inCapn15conditional KO mice where Capn15 is knocked out only in excitatory neurons in the adult. Based on β-galactosidase expression in an insert strain where lacZ is expressed under the control of theCapn15promoter, we show that Capn15 is expressed in adult mice, particularly in neurons involved in plasticity such as the hippocampus, lateral amygdala and Purkinje neurons, and partially in other non-characterized cell types. The regions of the brain in the adult where Capn15 is expressed do not correspond well to the regions of the brain most affected by the complete knockout suggesting distinct roles of Capn15 in brain development and adult brain function.
Distribution and diversity of fish species exposed to artisanal fishery along the Sudanese Red Sea coast
Authors: Olsen Erik , Axelsen Bjørn Erik , Moland Even , Utne-Palm Anne Christine , Elamin Elamin Mohammed , Mukhtar Motassim Ali , Saleh Adel Mohamed , Elamin Sheikheldin Mohamed , Iragi Mohamed Abdelhameed , Gumaa Said Gumaa Fadul
Published: September 2019

The semi-enclosed Red Sea harbours one of the longest coral-reef ecosystems on the planet. The ≈ 850 km section of the western shore, comprising the coastline of the Red Sea State of the Republic of Sudan, has however been sparsely studied. Sudan’s coral reef fishery provides livelihoods to fishers and business opportunities by means of local and regional trade, however, the knowledge level of the state of the natural resources and the impacts of fisheries are poorly known. Here we report the results from the first three comprehensive fisheries research surveys spanning the entire Sudanese coast in 2012-13, representing a new baseline for the western coast fisheries resources. The surveys covered the entire coast from inshore down to about 150 m bottom depth using a combination of baited traps, gillnets and handlines to sample the various reef habitats and fish assemblages. The results demonstrate a uniform latitudinal species distribution with peak catch per unit effort rates in and around the Dungonab Bay area in the north and the outer Suakin archipelago in the south. Functional diversity (Rao’s Q index) was found to be highest in and around the Dungonab Bay area, thus coming through as a regional hot-spot of biodiversity. The results form a baseline for future research and monitoring, thus representing key input for an ecosystem approach to management of Sudan’s coastal artisanal fisheries.
Capacitation-associated alkalization in human sperm is differentially controlled at the subcellular level
Authors: Matamoros-Volante A. , Treviño C.L.
Published: September 2019

Capacitation in mammalian sperm involves the accurate balance of intracellular pH (pHi), but the underlying control mechanisms are not fully understood, particularly regarding the spatiotemporal regulation of the proteins involved in such pHimodulation. Here we employed an image-based flow cytometry technique combined with pharmacological approaches to study pHidynamics at the subcellular level during sperm capacitation. We found that, upon capacitation induction, sperm cells undergo intracellular alkalization in the head and principal piece regions, but not in the midpiece. The observed localized pHiincreases require the initial uptake of HCO3-, and it is mediated by several proteins acting in a manner consistent with their subcellular localization. Hv1 proton channel and cAMP-activated Protein Kinase (PKA) antagonists impair alkalization mainly in the principal piece. Na+/HCO3-cotransporter (NBC) and cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) antagonists impair alkalization only mildly, predominantly in the head. Motility measurements indicate that inhibition of alkalization in the principal piece prevents the development of hyperactivated motility. Altogether, our findings shed light into the complex control mechanisms of pHiand underscore their importance during human sperm capacitation.

Summary statement

Human sperm display differential pHiregulation at the subcellular level upon capacitation, involving the participation of PKA kinase signaling pathway and several membrane transport proteins, culminating in hyperactivation.
Model-based species delimitation: are coalescent species reproductively isolated?
Authors: Campillo Luke C. , Barley Anthony J. , Thomson Robert C.
Published: September 2019

A large and growing fraction of systematists define species as independently evolving lineages that may be recognized by analyzing the population genetic history of alleles sampled from individuals belonging to those species. This has motivated the development of increasingly sophisticated statistical models rooted in the multispecies coalescent process. Specifically, these models allow for simultaneous estimation of the number of species present in a sample of individuals and the phylogenetic history of those species using only DNA sequence data from independent loci. These methods hold extraordinary promise for increasing the efficiency of species discovery, but require extensive validation to ensure that they are accurate and precise. Whether the species identified by these methods correspond to the species that would be recognized by alternative species recognition criteria (such as measurements of reproductive isolation) is currently an open question, and a subject of vigorous debate. Here we perform an empirical test of these methods by making use of a classic model system in the history of speciation research, flies of the genusDrosophila. Specifically, we use the uniquely comprehensive data on reproductive isolation that is available for this system, along with DNA sequence data, to ask whetherDrosophilaspecies inferred under the multispecies coalescent model correspond to those recognized by many decades of speciation research. We found that coalescent based and reproductive isolation based methods of inferring species boundaries are concordant for 77% of the species pairs. We explore and discuss potential explanations for these discrepancies. We also found that the amount of prezygotic isolation between two species is a strong predictor of the posterior probability of species boundaries based on DNA sequence data, regardless of whether the species pairs are sympatrically or allopatrically distributed.
Skp1 Dimerization Conceals its F-box Protein Binding Site
Authors: Kim Hyun W. , Eletsky Alexander , Gonzalez Karen J. , van der Wel Hanke , Strauch Eva-Maria , Prestegard James H. , West Christopher M.
Published: September 2019

Skp1 is an adapter that links F-box proteins to cullin-1 in the Skp1/cullin-1/F-box (SCF) protein family of E3 ubiquitin ligases that targets specific proteins for polyubiquitination and subsequent protein degradation. Skp1 from the amoebozoan Dictyostelium forms a stable homodimer in vitro with a Kd of 2.5 µM as determined by sedimentation velocity studies, yet is monomeric in crystal complexes with F-box proteins. To investigate the molecular basis for the difference, we determined the solution NMR structure of a doubly truncated Skp1 homodimer (Skp1ΔΔ). The solution structure of Skp1ΔΔ dimer reveals a 2-fold symmetry with an interface that buries ∼750 Å2 of predominantly hydrophobic surface. The dimer interface overlaps with subsite-1 of the F-box interaction area, explaining why only the Skp1 monomer binds F-box proteins (FBPs). To confirm the model, Rosetta was used to predict amino acid substitutions that might disrupt the dimer interface, and the F97E substitution was chosen to potentially minimize interference with F-box interactions. A nearly full-length version of Skp1 with this substitution (Skp1ΔF97E) behaved as a stable monomer at concentrations up to 500 µM and actively bound a model FBP, mammalian Fbs1, which suggests that the dimeric state is not required for Skp1 to carry out a basic biochemical function. Finally, Skp1ΔF97E is expected to serve as a monomer model for high-resolution NMR studies previously hindered by dimerization.
Overexpression of mig-6 in cartilage induces an osteoarthritis-like phenotype in mice
Authors: Bellini Melina , Pest Michael A. , Miranda-Rodrigues M. , Jeong JW , Beier Frank
Published: September 2019

Background

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and characterized by degeneration of articular cartilage. Mitogen-inducible gene 6 (Mig-6) has been identified as a negative regulator of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR). Cartilage-specific Mig-6 knockout (KO) mice display increased EGFR signaling, an anabolic buildup of articular cartilage and formation of chondro-osseous nodules. Since our understanding of the EGFR/Mig-6 network in cartilage remains incomplete, we characterized mice with cartilage-specific overexpression of Mig-6 in this study.

Methods

Utilizing knee joints from cartilage-specific Mig-6 overexpressing (Mig-6over/over) mice (at multiple time points), we evaluated the articular cartilage using histology, immunohistochemical staining and semi-quantitative OARSI scoring at multiple ages. MicroCT analysis was employed to examine skeletal morphometry, body composition, and bone mineral density.

Results

Our data show that cartilage-specific Mig-6 overexpression did not cause any major developmental abnormalities in articular cartilage, although Mig-6over/over mice have slightly shorter long bones compared to the control group. Moreover, there was no significant difference in bone mineral density and body composition in any of the groups. However, our results indicate that Mig-6over/over male mice show accelerated cartilage degeneration at 12 and 18 months of age. Immunohistochemistry for SOX9 demonstrated that the number of positively stained cells in Mig-6over/over mice decreased relative to controls. Immunostaining for MMP13 staining is increased in areas of cartilage degeneration in Mig-6over/over mice. Moreover, staining for phospho-EGFR (Tyr-1173) and lubricin (PRG4) was decreased in the articular cartilage of Mig-6over/over mice.

Conclusion

Overexpression of Mig-6 in articular cartilage causes no major developmental phenotype; however these mice develop earlier OA during aging. These data demonstrate that Mig-6/EGFR pathways is critical for joint homeostasis and might present a promising therapeutic target for OA.
Mesolimbic microglia display regionally distinct developmental trajectories
Authors: Hope KT , Hawes IA , Bonci A , De Biase LM
Published: September 2019

Microglia play critical roles during CNS development and undergo dramatic changes in tissue distribution, morphology, and gene expression as they transition from embryonic to neonatal to adult microglial phenotypes. Despite the magnitude of these phenotypic shifts, little is known about the time course and dynamics of these transitions and whether they vary across brain regions. Here we define the time course of microglial maturation in key regions of the basal ganglia in mice where significant regional differences in microglial phenotype are present in adults. We found that microglial density peaks in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and nucleus accumbens (NAc) during the third postnatal week, driven by a burst of microglial proliferation. Microglial abundance is then refined to adult levels through a combination of tissue expansion and microglial programmed cell death. This overproduction and refinement of microglia was significantly more pronounced in the NAc and was accompanied by a sharp peak in NAc microglial lysosome abundance in the third postnatal week. Collectively, these data identify a key developmental window when elevated microglial density in discrete basal ganglia nuclei may support circuit refinement and could increase susceptibility to inflammatory insults.
Aquatic and terrestrial organisms display contrasting life history strategies as a result of environmental adaptations
Authors: Capdevila Pol , Beger Maria , Blomberg Simone P. , Hereu Bernat , Linares Cristina , Salguero-Gómez Roberto
Published: September 2019

Aims

Aquatic and terrestrial realms display stark differences in key environmental factors and phylogenetic composition. Despite such differences, their consequences for the evolution of species’ life history strategies remain poorly understood. Here, we examine whether and how life history strategies vary between terrestrial and aquatic species.

Location

Global.

Time period

Variable, the earliest year being in 1906 and the most recent in 2015.

Major taxa studies

Macroscopic animals and plants species.

Methods

We use demographic information for 638 terrestrial and 117 aquatic animal and plant species, to derive key life history traits capturing their population turnover, and investments in survival, development, and reproduction. We use phylogenetically corrected least squares regression to explore the differences in the trade-offs between life history traits in both realms. We then quantify the life history strategies of aquatic and terrestrial species using a phylogenetically corrected principal component analysis.

Results

We find that the same trade-offs structure terrestrial and aquatic life histories, resulting in two dominant axes of variation describing species’ pace- of-life and reproductive spread through time. Life history strategies differ between aquatic and terrestrial environments, with phylogenetic relationships playing a minor role. We show that adaptations of plants and animals to terrestrial environments have resulted in different life history strategies, particularly with their reproductive mode and longevity. Terrestrial plants display a great diversity of life history strategies, including the species with the longest lifespans. Aquatic animals, on the contrary, exhibit higher reproductive frequency than terrestrial animals, likely due to reproductive adaptations (i.e. internal fecundation) of the later to land.

Main conclusions

Our findings show that aquatic and terrestrial species are ruled by the same life history principles, but have evolved different strategies due to distinct selection pressures. Such contrasting life history strategies have important consequences for the conservation and management of aquatic and terrestrial species.
European and tropical Aedes albopictus mosquito populations have similar systemic Zika virus infection dynamics
Authors: Lequime Sébastian , Dehecq Jean-Sébastien , Briolant Sébastien , Fontaine Albin
Published: September 2019

First isolated from a forest in East Africa in the mid-20th century, Zika virus (ZIKV) has now emerged worldwide in urbanized areas where its mosquito vectors, mainly Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus, are present. Europe and French overseas territories in the Indian Ocean have been so far spared despite the presence of Ae. albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito. However, because they have strong economic and touristic links with regions affected by ZIKV, French territories in the Indian Ocean have a high risk of introduction. Here, we assess the susceptibility of two Ae. albopictus populations from Metropolitan France and the Reunion island (a French oversea territory in the Indian Ocean) for a ZIKV isolate from the Asian genotype at a titer ranging from 3 to 7.5 × 106 focus-forming units per milliliter. High infection rates and unpreceded levels of systemic infection rates were observed in both Metropolitan France and the Reunion island populations, without differences in infection rates or intra-mosquito systemic infection dynamics between the two mosquito populations. Ten and 20-days were needed by the virus to disseminate in 50% and 100% of the exposed mosquitoes respectively. Such slow intra-mosquito viral dynamics, in addition to repeatedly reported high transmission barrier in the literature, can impact ZIKV transmission when potentially vectored by Ae. albopictus. However, because mosquito-borne virus intra-host transmission dynamics can be influenced by numerous factors, including virus dose dynamics inside infectious humans or viral evolution towards shorter extrinsic incubation periods (EIP), our results highlight that Ae. albopictus populations present in Metropolitan France and the French territoires in the Indian Ocean might become potential vector for autochthonous ZIKV transmissions.
Genomic interrogation of the burden and transmission of multidrug-resistant pathogens within and across hospital networks
Authors: Sherry Norelle L. , Lee Robyn S. , Gorrie Claire L. , Kwong Jason C. , Stuart Rhonda L. , Korman Tony , Marshall Caroline , Higgs Charlie , Chan Hiu Tat , Graham Maryza , Johnson Paul D.R. , Leroi Marcel , Reed Caroline , Richards Michael , Slavin Monica A. , Worth Leon J. , Howden Benjamin P. , Grayson M. Lindsay ,   on behalf of the Controlling Superbugs Study Group
Published: September 2019

Background

Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) disproportionately affect hospitalized patients due to the combination of comorbidities, frequent antimicrobial use, and in-hospital MDRO transmission. Identification of MDRO transmission by hospital microbiology laboratories is difficult due to limitations of existing typing methods.

Methods

We conducted a prospective multicenter genomics implementation study (8 hospitals, 2800 beds) from 24thApril to 18thJune 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. Clinical and screening isolates from hospital inpatients were collected for six MDROs (vanAVRE, MRSA, ESBLE. coli[ESBL-Ec] andKlebsiella pneumoniae[ESBL-Kp], and carbapenem-resistantPseudomonas aeruginosa[CRPa] andAcinetobacter baumannii[CRAb]), sequenced (Illumina NextSeq) and analyzed using open-source tools. MDRO transmission was assessed by genomics (core SNP phylogeny, grouped by species and ST) and compared to epidemiologic data.

Results

408 isolates were collected from 358 patients; 47.5% were screening isolates. ESBL-Ec was most common (52.5%), then MRSA (21.6%),vanAVRE (15.7%) and ESBL-Kp (7.6%).

We define the transmission rate for each MDRO by genomics and epidemiology; 31.6% of all study patients had potential genomic links to other study isolates; 86% of these were confirmed by epidemiologic links (probable or possible transmission). The highest transmission rates occurred withvanA VRE (88.4% of patients).

Conclusions

Combining genomics with high-quality epidemiologic data gives substantial insights into the burden and distribution of critical MDROs in hospitals, including in-hospital transmission. By defining transmission rates by genomics, we hope to enable comparisons over time and between sites, and introduce this as a new outcome measure to assess the efficacy of infection control interventions.
Understanding the formation of apremilast cocrystals
Authors: Dudek Marta K. , Wielgus Ewelina , Paluch Piotr , Śniechowska Justyna , Kostrzewa Maciej , Day Graeme M. , Bujacz Grzegorz D. , Potrzebowski Marek J.
Published: September 2019

Apremilast (APR), an anti-psoriatic agent, easily forms isostructural cocrystals and solvates with aromatic entities, often disobeying at the same time Kitaigorodsky's rule as to the saturation of possible hydrogen-bonding sites. In this paper the reasons for this peculiar behavior are investigated, employing a joint experimental and theoretical approach. This includes the design of cocrystals with coformers having a high propensity towards the formation of both aromatic–aromatic and hydrogen-bonding interactions, determination of their structure, using solid-state NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography, as well as calculations of stabilization energies of formation of the obtained cocrystals, followed by crystal structure prediction calculations and solubility measurements. The findings indicate that the stabilization energies of cocrystal formation are positive in all cases, which results from strain in the APR conformation in these crystal forms. On the other hand, solubility measurements show that the Gibbs free energy of formation of the apremilast:picolinamide cocrystal is negative, suggesting that the formation of the studied cocrystals is entropy driven. This entropic stabilization is associated with the disorder observed in almost all known cocrystals and solvates of APR.
Octahedral tilting in the polar hexagonal tungsten bronzes RbNbW2O9 and KNbW2O9
Authors: McNulty Jason A. , Gibbs Alexandra S. , Lightfoot Philip , Morrison Finlay D.
Published: September 2019

The ambient-temperature structures (orthorhombic, space group Cmc21) of the polar hexagonal tungsten bronzes RbNbW2O9 and KNbW2O9 have been determined by high-resolution powder neutron diffraction. Displacement of the A-site cation along the polar c axis with concomitant octahedral tilting occurs to optimize the A cation bonding environment, hence reducing the coordination from 18 to 16. This effect is more evident in KNbW2O9 due to decreased A cation size. The octahedral tilting in both compositions results in a doubling of the c axis that has not previously been reported, highlighting the importance of neutron diffraction as a complementary technique for structural determination of such systems.
2-{(1E)-[(E)-2-(2,6-Dichlorobenzylidene)hydrazin-1-ylidene]methyl}phenol: crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis and computational study
Authors: Manawar Rohit B. , Gondaliya Mitesh B. , Shah Manish K. , Jotani Mukesh M. , Tiekink Edward R. T.
Published: September 2019

The title Schiff base compound, C14H10Cl2N2O, features an E configuration about each of the C=N imine bonds. Overall, the molecule is approximately planar with the dihedral angle between the central C2N2 residue (r.m.s. deviation = 0.0371 Å) and the peripheral hydroxybenzene and chlorobenzene rings being 4.9 (3) and 7.5 (3)°, respectively. Nevertheless, a small twist is evident about the central N—N bond [the C—N—N—C torsion angle = −172.7 (2)°]. An intramolecular hydroxy-O—H...N(imine) hydrogen bond closes an S(6) loop. In the crystal, π–π stacking interactions between hydroxy- and chlorobenzene rings [inter-centroid separation = 3.6939 (13) Å] lead to a helical supramolecular chain propagating along the b-axis direction; the chains pack without directional interactions between them. The calculated Hirshfeld surfaces point to the importance of H...H and Cl...H/H...Cl contacts to the overall surface, each contributing approximately 29% of all contacts. However, of these only Cl...H contacts occur at separations less than the sum of the van der Waals radii. The aforementioned π–π stacking interactions contribute 12.0% to the overall surface contacts. The calculation of the interaction energies in the crystal indicates significant contributions from the dispersion term.
1:1 Co-crystal of 3-ethyl-4-methyl-3-pyrrolin-2-one and 3-ethyl-4-methyl-3-pyrroline-2,5-dione
Authors: Gehman Zoë M. , Kassel W. Scott , Piro Nicholas A.
Published: September 2019

Crystallization from a 20-year-old commercial source of 3-ethyl-4-methyl-3-pyrrolin-2-one afforded 1:1 co-crystals of this compound (C7H11NO) with its oxidized derivative, 3-ethyl-4-methyl-3-pyrroline-2,5-dione (C7H9NO2). The compound crystallizes in the space group P\overline{1}, with two molecules of each species in the asymmetric unit. These four molecules form a hydrogen-bonded tetramer with a dimer of 3-ethyl-4-methyl-3-pyrrolin-2-one as the core flanked by one molecule of the dione on each side.
Bis(quinolinium) tetrabromidomanganate(II)
Authors: Papa Veronica , Spannenberg Anke , Beller Matthias , Junge Kathrin
Published: September 2019

The title compound, (C9H8N)2[MnBr4], consists of two quinolinium cations and a [MnBr4]2− anion. The manganese(II) atom, which lies on a twofold rotation axis, is coordinated by four bromide ligands and exhibits a tetrahedral coordination geometry. The [MnBr4]2− anion and the quinolinium cations are linked by N—H...Br hydrogen bonds. π–π stacking interactions are observed between the quinolinium cations.
Application of numerical procedure for thermal diagnostics of the delamination of strengthening material at concrete construction
Authors: Adamczyk Wojciech Piotr , Gorski Marcin , Ostrowski Ziemowit , Bialecki Ryszard , Kruczek Grzegorz , Przybyła Grzegorz , Krzywon Rafal , Bialozor Rafal
Published: September 2019

Purpose

Large structural objects, primarily concrete bridges, can be reinforced by gluing to their stretched surface tapes of ﬁber-reinforced polymer (FRP). The condition for this technology to work requires the quality of the bonding of FRP and the concrete to be perfect. Possible defects may arise in the phase of construction but also as a result of long-term fatigue loads. These defects having different forms of voids and discontinuities in the bonding layer are diﬃcult to detect by optical inspection. This paper aims to describe the development of a rapid and nondestructive method for quantitative assessment of the debonding between materials.

Design/methodology/approach

The applied technique belongs to the wide class of active infrared (IR) thermography, the principle of which is to heat (or cool) the investigated object, and determine the properties of interest from the recorded, by an IR camera, temperature ﬁeld. The methodology implemented in this work is to uniformly heat for a few seconds, using a set of halogen lamps, the FRP surface attached to the concrete. The parameter of interest is the thermal resistance of the layer separating the polymer tape and the concrete. The presence of voids and debonding will result in large values of this resistance. Its value is retrieved by solving an inverse transient heat conduction problem. This is accomplished by minimizing, in the sense of least squares, the difference between the recorded and simulated temperatures. The latter is deﬁned as a solution of a 1D transient heat conduction problem with the already mentioned thermal resistance treated as the only decision variable.

Findings

A general method has been developed, which detects debonding of the FRP tapes from the concrete. The method is rapid and nondestructive. Owing to a special selection of the compared dimensionless measured and simulated temperatures, the method is not sensitive to the surface quality (roughness and emissivity). Measurements and calculation may be executed within seconds. The eﬃciency of the technique has been shown at a sample, where the defects have been artiﬁcially introduced in a controlled manner.

Originality/value

A quantitative assessment procedure which can be used to determine the extent of the debonding has been developed. The procedure uses inverse technique whose result is the unknown thermal resistance between the member and the FRP strip.
Convincing consumers to share personal data: double-edged effect of offering money
Authors: Weydert Valentine , Desmet Pierre , Lancelot-Miltgen Caroline
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how offering control on data usage and offering money can increase willingness to share private information with a data broker.

Design/methodology/approach

Personal data are collected for internet users with a Web questionnaire. In an experimental framework, compensations control money are manipulated and consumers’ data sharing is explained by sensitivity and regulatory focus.

Findings

Offering control increases willingness to disclose personal data, even sensitive one, but the effect is not moderated by regulatory focus. Offering monetary compensation has a negative, but small, effect on willingness to share personal data, and the effect is moderated by regulatory focus.

Originality/value

Offering a large amount of money is a double-edged offer, as it creates a signal that increases potential negative effect of disclosing personal data to unknown third party.
Divergent heritage sustainability: a threefold approach through lean talent management
Authors: Othman Ayman Ahmed Ezzat , Khalil Mohamed Hesham
Published: September 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the role of lean talent management (LTM) as a novel approach for optimising creativity in architectural design firms (ADFs) towards achieving divergent heritage sustainability (DHS).

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the abovementioned aim, a mixed qualitative and quantitative methodology is designed to accomplish three objectives. First, investigating the relationship between heritage and urban development; types of heritage and the role of LTM in enhancing creativity in ADFs. Second, presenting and analysing six heritage-related case studies to assess the need for creative solutions based on extent of deterioration in three different places in Egypt. Third, outlining the results of a survey questionnaire conducted with a representative sample of ADFs in Egypt to investigate the role of LTM towards optimising creativity in ADFs for achieving DHS.

Findings

The extent of deterioration increased for modern heritage than old heritage. Conventional approaches adopted by ADFs failed to develop built environments that can bridge the gap between the diverse identities. Creativity was not optimised when talent management (TM) was integrated solely and architects failed to develop appropriate solutions. LTM use architects to allow expression of arts towards heritage sustainability through the built environment, in which they feel associated with physical heritage. Consequently, individuals’ intangible heritage is preserved in which they will less deteriorate the physical heritage. Hence, LTM is a paradigm shift that has a great potential for DHS.

Research limitations/implications

The survey questionnaire and case studies focused on the Egyptian context because the region is in critical need for effective creative solutions and for such research that is unprecedented in investigating this gap. However, findings are absolute and could be used at any country sharing the Egyptian context and wishing to achieve a DHS approach.

Originality/value

The research work presented in this paper is novel in approach as it integrates two divergent fields and highlights the concept of DHS with its threefold approach. In addition, the concept of LTM is proposed as a novel paradigm shift in which it has received scant attention especially relating to heritage sustainability. The proposed ideas represent a synthesis that is novel and creative in thought and adds to the existing body of knowledge for future research in LTM and DHS.
Contractors’ perceptions of the effects of cash flow on construction projects
Authors: Omopariola Emmanuel Dele , Windapo Abimbola , Edwards David John , Thwala Wellington Didibhuku
Published: September 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to evaluate Nigerian contractors’ perceptions regarding the effects of positive and negative cash flow during construction projects, with a view to establishing effective strategies for cash flow management.

Design/methodology/approach

A desktop-based literature review is used to develop a cross-sectional questionnaire survey which uses Likert items to elicit responses from construction professionals on: the reasons for cash flow problems; the impacts of negative and positive cash flow; and the potential solutions for improving cash flow on construction projects.

Findings

The study finds that delay in payments, difficulty in obtaining financial aid and inadequate budgetary control are the causes of cash flow problems during construction projects. Cumulatively, these issues result in project delays, reduced profit margins and in the worst scenarios, abandoned projects.

Originality/value

There has been limited research into the effects of positive and negative cash flows on construction projects in Nigeria and indeed, the wider geographical location of West Africa. This study addresses this observed dearth and consequently advances methods and solutions to deal with the problem of poor cash flow management in the Nigerian construction industry.
Making the future makers
Authors: Maceli Monica Grace
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify and explore curriculum related to makerspaces and making within library and information science graduate programs and continuing education opportunities available to librarians. These findings are compared against prior assessments of makerspace-related educational offerings, as well as contrasted with recent practitioner survey results indicating the number of library practitioners involved in makerspace work and their needs.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper employs content analysis to assess makerspace topics within American Library Association (ALA)-accredited library and information science Masters programs’ course catalogs and in continuing education opportunities for librarians.

Findings

This work identified a total of eight courses from seven ALA-accredited Masters of Library Science programs relating to makerspace and making topics. A series of past and current makerspace-related continuing education opportunities were noted, with a variety of durations and structures, all offered in online format. As compared to prior research, these findings describe a notable increase in training and curriculum relating to library makerspaces.

Research limitations/implications

A limitation of this work is the difficulty in assessing frequency of course offerings, details regarding special topics courses and the potential continuing education materials that may have been removed from the internet since their offering.

Originality/value

Although significant research efforts have focused on makerspaces, little work has directly assessed the ongoing impact of the makerspace trend on library and information science graduate programs and continuing education opportunities.
Put on the spot
Authors: Plenge Chad , Swain Jordon , Cornwell James
Published: September 2019

Research methodology

The case was created via an interview of the protagonist in 2018 at the US Military Academy by the authors.

Case overview/synopsis

The case describes the dilemma First Lieutenant Williams faces when his platoon sergeant unexpectedly leaves. Organizational norms and accepted practices suggest Lieutenant Williams should choose the most senior squad leader, Staff Sergeant Boyer. The departing Platoon Sergeant even recommended Staff Sergeant Boyer. However, based on recent observations, Lieutenant Williams felt Staff Sergeant Boyer may not be the best fit. Instead, the lieutenant considered choosing the newest squad leader, Staff Sergeant Harrison, who seemed to be highly proficient, but had yet to prove himself. Before the lieutenant could fully weight his options, Staff Sergeant Boyer confronted him about a decision.

Complexity academic level

This case is designed for use in undergraduate courses on leadership and management. The case was not only designed primarily for teaching a lesson on organizational justice, but can also be used to integrate lessons on communication, power and influence, and decision making. Each of these elements is present in the case. The instructor can choose to incorporate them into the lesson for a more wholly encompassing lesson or choose to focus on only the organizational justice aspects at play in the case.
Density‐dependent fitness effects stabilize parasitic hitchhiking within a mutualism
Authors: Gupta Satyajeet , Borges Renee M.
Published: September 2019

Mutualisms are often subject to perturbations by parasitism arising from third‐party interactions. How third‐party perturbations are dampened is a fundamental question pertaining to mutualism stability. Phoretic organisms that turn parasitic within a mutualism may destabilize it. If the fitness cost of such phoresy is high, then density‐dependent effects could be one mechanism to stabilize these interactions.

We experimentally examined the fitness effects of a phoretic nematode community on a brood‐site pollination mutualism involving a pollinating fig wasp (the vehicle) and its associated fig species (the host for wasp and nematode development).

We comprehensively investigated fitness impacts of phoresy on wasp lifespan, lifetime reproductive success, dispersal ability and predation risk as well as on host brood‐site volume and seed number. We employed a range of hitchhiker densities that encompassed natural and overloading levels for two nematode taxa (one plant‐ and one animal‐parasitic type).

None of the plant host and vehicle fitness parameters were affected by wasps with low nematode transportation loads for either type of nematode. Furthermore, wasps arriving at their destinations carried lower densities of both animal‐ and plant‐parasitic nematodes compared to dispersing wasps, suggesting that there is selection on hitchhiker numbers during the dispersal process and that wasps loaded with a greater density of nematodes do not successfully disperse. Overloaded wasps had shorter flight durations, suggesting limited dispersal ability; on arrival at their destination, they suffered greater predation risk. Such overloaded wasps delivered impaired pollination services and produced fewer offspring resulting in lower lifetime fitness. Therefore, the direct and indirect effects of nematodes on their vehicles are strong. These effects also translated into impacts on host plant fitness, with the overloaded pollinators promoting the development of smaller brood sites with fewer seeds, thus reducing fig tree reproductive success. The effects of the animal parasites were greater than that of the plant parasite in this study.

The third‐party interaction is therefore self‐limited and exhibits density dependence. The strong negative effects of overloading likely explain the low number of nematodes found in nature on dispersing and arriving fig wasps. Consequently, parasitic hitchhikers are unlikely to destabilize the mutualism.

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Toward a Corporate Culture of Health: Results of a National Survey
Authors: KYLE MICHAEL ANNE , SEEGARS LUMUMBA , BENSON JOHN M. , BLENDON ROBERT J. , HUCKMAN ROBERT S. , SINGER SARA J.
Published: September 2019

Policy Points

The private sector has large potential influence over social determinants of health, but we have limited information about how businesses perceive or engage in actions to promote health and well‐being.

We conducted a national survey of more than 1,000 businesses of varying sizes and industries to benchmark private sector engagement in employee, environmental, consumer, and community health, which we collectively refer to as a corporate culture of health.

Overall, the private sector is taking steps to foster health and well‐being but still has substantial opportunity for growth.

Context

The private sector has a large potential role in advancing health and well‐being, but attention to corporate practices around health tends to focus on a narrow range of issues and on large businesses. Systematically describing private sector engagement in health and well‐being is a necessary step toward understanding the current state of the field and developing an agenda for businesses going forward.

Methods

We conducted a national survey of 1,017 private sector organizations to assess current levels of engagement in what we term a culture of health (CoH). We measured corporate CoH along four dimensions, which assess the extent to which businesses promote employee, environmental, consumer, and community health and well‐being. We also explored potential explanations for the number of health‐related actions taken in each dimension.

Findings

On average, businesses took 38% of health‐related actions included in our survey. For each dimension, we found variation among businesses in the number of actions taken (on average, there were almost fourfold differences between the bottom and top quartiles of businesses in terms of actions taken). Mentioning health and well‐being in the corporate mission, having a strategic plan for CoH, and perceiving a positive return on CoH investments were all associated with businesses’ actions taken. Fewer than half of businesses, however, perceived a positive return on their CoH investments.

Conclusions

Overall, the private sector is taking steps to foster health and well‐being. However, there remains substantial variation among businesses and opportunity for growth, even among those currently taking the most action. Strengthening the business case for a corporate CoH may increase private sector investments in health and well‐being. Actions taken by individual businesses, business groups, industries, and regulators have the potential to improve corporate engagement and impact.
Evaluation of the intraoperative human papillomavirus test as a marker of early cure at 12 months after electrosurgical excision procedure in women with cervical high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesion: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Rabasa J , Bradbury M , Sanchez‐Iglesias JL , Guerrero D , Forcada C , Alcalde A , Pérez‐Benavente A , Cabrera S , Ramon y Cajal S , Hernandez J , Dinares C , García A , Centeno C , Gil‐Moreno A
Published: September 2019

Objective

To evaluate if the intraoperative human papillomavirus (IOP‐HPV) test has the same prognostic value as the HPV test performed at 6 months after treatment of high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) to predict treatment failure.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

Barcelona, Spain.

Population

A cohort of 216 women diagnosed with HSIL and treated with loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP).

Methods

After LEEP, an HPV test was performed using the Hybrid Capture 2 system. If this was positive, genotyping was performed with the CLART HPV2 technique. The IOP‐HPV test was compared with HPV test at 6 months and with surgical margins.

Main outcome measure

Treatment failure.

Results

Recurrence rate of HSIL was 6%. There was a strong association between a positive IOP‐HPV test, a positive 6‐month HPV test, positive HPV 16 genotype, positive surgical margins and HSIL recurrence. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the IOP‐HPV test were 85.7, 80.8,24.0 and 98.8% and of the HPV test at 6 months were 76.9, 75.8, 17.2 and 98.0%.

Conclusion

Intraoperative HPV test accurately predicts treatment failure in women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2/3. This new approach may allow early identification of patients with recurrent disease, which will not delay the treatment. Genotyping could be useful in detecting high‐risk patients.

Tweetable abstract

IOP‐HPV test accurately predicts treatment failure in women with CIN 2/3.
Prolonged Electro‐muscular Incapacitation in a Porcine Model Causes Spinal Injury
Authors: Burns Jennie M. , Kamykowski Michael G. , Moreno Justin A. , Jirjis Michael B.
Published: September 2019

Conducted electrical weapons are designed to cause temporary electro‐muscular incapacitation (EMI) without significant injury. The objective of this study was to assess the risk and cause of spinal injury due to exposure to a benchtop EMI device. Porcine subjects were exposed to 19 and 40 Hz electrical stimuli for a prolonged duration of 30 sec. X‐ray imaging, necropsy, and accelerometry found that lumbosacral spinal fractures occurred in at least 89% of all subjects, regardless of the stimulus group, and were likely caused by musculoskeletal fatigue‐related stress in the lumbosacral spine. Spinal fractures occurred in the porcine model at an unusually high rate compared to human. This may be due to both the prolonged duration of electrical stimulation and significant musculoskeletal differences between humans and pigs, which suggests that the porcine model is not a good model of EMI‐induced spinal fracture in humans.
Improved bacterial nanocellulose production from glucose without the loss of quality by evaluating thirteen agitator configurations at low speed
Authors: Chen Genqiang , Chen Lin , Wang Wei , Chen Shiyan , Wang Huaping , Wei Yen , Hong Feng F.
Published: September 2019

Thirteen agitator configurations were investigated at low speed in stirred‐tank reactors (STRs) to determine if improved crude bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) productivity can be achieved from glucose‐based media while maintaining high BNC quality using Komagataeibacter xylinus ATCC 23770 as a model organism. A comparison of five single impellers showed the pitched blade (large) was the optimal impeller at 300 rpm. The BNC production was further increased by maintaining the pH at 5.0. Among the single helical ribbon and frame impellers and the combined impellers, the twin pitched blade provided the best results. The combined impellers at 150 rpm performed better than the single impellers, and after optimizing the agitation conditions, the twin pitched blade (large) and helical ribbon impellers performed the best at 100 rpm. The performances of different agitators at low speed during BNC production were related to how efficiently the agitators improved the oxygen mass transfer coefficient. The twin pitched blade (large) was verified as providing the optimum performance by an observed crude BNC production of 1.97 g (L×d)−1 and a BNC crude yield of consumed glucose of 0.41 g g−1, which were 2.25 and 2.37 times higher than the initial values observed using the single impeller respectively. Further characterization indicated that the BNC obtained at 100 rpm from the STR equipped with the optimal agitator maintained high degree of polymerization and crystallinity.