bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A fractional Fourier transform analysis of the scattering of ultrasonic waves
Authors: Tant Katherine M.M. , Mulholland Anthony J. , Langer Matthias , Gachagan Anthony
Published: February 2015

Many safety critical structures, such as those found in nuclear plants, oil pipelines and in the aerospace industry, rely on key components that are constructed from heterogeneous materials. Ultrasonic non-destructive testing (NDT) uses high-frequency mechanical waves to inspect these parts, ensuring they operate reliably without compromising their integrity. It is possible to employ mathematical models to develop a deeper understanding of the acquired ultrasonic data and enhance defect imaging algorithms. In this paper, a model for the scattering of ultrasonic waves by a crack is derived in the time–frequency domain. The fractional Fourier transform (FrFT) is applied to an inhomogeneous wave equation where the forcing function is prescribed as a linear chirp, modulated by a Gaussian envelope. The homogeneous solution is found via the Born approximation which encapsulates information regarding the flaw geometry. The inhomogeneous solution is obtained via the inverse Fourier transform of a Gaussian-windowed linear chirp excitation. It is observed that, although the scattering profile of the flaw does not change, it is amplified. Thus, the theory demonstrates the enhanced signal-to-noise ratio permitted by the use of coded excitation, as well as establishing a time–frequency domain framework to assist in flaw identification and classification.
Elevated germline mutation rate in teenage fathers
Authors: Forster Peter , Hohoff Carsten , Dunkelmann Bettina , Schürenkamp Marianne , Pfeiffer Heidi , Neuhuber Franz , Brinkmann Bernd
Published: February 2015

Men age and die, while cells in their germline are programmed to be immortal. To elucidate how germ cells maintain viable DNA despite increasing parental age, we analysed DNA from 24 097 parents and their children, from Europe, the Middle East and Africa. We chose repetitive microsatellite DNA that mutates (unlike point mutations) only as a result of cellular replication, providing us with a natural ‘cell-cycle counter’. We observe, as expected, that the overall mutation rate for fathers is seven times higher than for mothers. Also as expected, mothers have a low and lifelong constant DNA mutation rate. Surprisingly, however, we discover that (i) teenage fathers already set out from a much higher mutation rate than teenage mothers (potentially equivalent to 77–196 male germline cell divisions by puberty); and (ii) ageing men maintain sperm DNA quality similar to that of teenagers, presumably by using fresh batches of stem cells known as ‘A-dark spermatogonia’.
Different DNA repair pathways are required following excision and integration of the DNA cut & paste transposonpiggyBatinSaccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: She Weifeng , Cambouris Courtney Busch , Craig Nancy L.
Published: February 2015

The movement of transposable elements from place to place in a genome requires both element-encoded and host-encoded factors. In DNA cut & paste transposition, the element-encoded transposase performs the DNA breakage and joining reactions that excise the element from the donor site and integrate it into the new insertion site. Host factors can influence many aspects of transposition. Notably, host DNA repair factors mediate the regeneration of intact duplex DNA necessary after transposase action by repairing the double strand break in the broken donor backbone, from which the transposon has excised, and repairing the single strand gaps that flank the newly inserted transposon. We have exploited the ability of the mammalian transposonpiggyBat, a member of thepiggyBacsuperfamily, to transpose inSaccharomyces cerevisiaeand used the yeast single gene deletion collection to screen for genes encoding host factors involved inpiggyBattransposition.piggyBactransposition is distinguished by the fact thatpiggyBacelements insert into TTAA target sites and also that the donor backbone is restored to its pre-transposon sequence after transposon excision, that is, excision is precise. We have found that repair of the broken donor backbone requires the non-homologous end-joining repair pathway (NHEJ). By contrast, NHEJ is not required for DNA repair at the new insertion site. Thus multiple DNA repair pathways are required forpiggyBactransposition.
Flaw or discovery? Calculating exact p-values for genome-wide association studies in inbred populations
Authors: Shen Xia
Published: February 2015

Motivation:

Genome-wide association studies have been conducted in inbred populations where the sample size is small. The ordinary association p-values and multiple testing correction therefore become questionable, as the detected genetic effect may or may not be due to chance, depending on the minor allele frequency distribution across the genome. Instead of permutation testing, marker-specific false positive rate can be analytically calculated in inbred populations without heterozygotes.

Results:

Solutions of exact p-values for genome-wide association studies in inbred populations were derived and implemented. An example is presented to illustrate that the marker-specific experiment-wise p-value varies as the genome-wide minor allele frequency distribution changes. A simulation using realArabidopsis thalianagenome indicates that the use of exact p-values improves detection power and reduces inflation due to population structure. An analysis of a defense-related case-control phenotype using the exact p-values revealed the causal locus, where markers with higher MAFs had smaller p-values than the top variants with lower MAFs in ordinary genome-wide association analysis.

Availability and Implementation:

Project URL:https://r-forge.r-project.org/projects/statomics/. The R packagep.exact:https://r-forge.r-project.org/R/?group_id=2030.

Contact:

xia.shen@ki.se
Memory for sequences of events impaired in typical aging
Authors: Allen Timothy A. , Morris Andrea M. , Stark Shauna M. , Fortin Norbert J. , Stark Craig E.L.
Published: February 2015

Typical aging is associated with diminished episodic memory performance. To improve our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms underlying this age-related memory deficit, we previously developed an integrated, cross-species approach to link converging evidence from human and animal research. This novel approach focuses on the ability to remember sequences of events, an important feature of episodic memory. Unlike existing paradigms, this task is nonspatial, nonverbal, and can be used to isolate different cognitive processes that may be differentially affected in aging. Here, we used this task to make a comprehensive comparison of sequence memory performance between younger (18–22 yr) and older adults (62–86 yr). Specifically, participants viewed repeated sequences of six colored, fractal images and indicated whether each item was presented “in sequence” or “out of sequence.” Several out of sequence probe trials were used to provide a detailed assessment of sequence memory, including: (i) repeating an item from earlier in the sequence (“Repeats”; e.g., ABADEF), (ii) skipping ahead in the sequence (“Skips”; e.g., ABDDEF), and (iii) inserting an item from a different sequence into the same ordinal position (“Ordinal Transfers”; e.g., AB3DEF). We found that older adults performed as well as younger controls when tested on well-known and predictable sequences, but were severely impaired when tested using novel sequences. Importantly, overall sequence memory performance in older adults steadily declined with age, a decline not detected with other measures (RAVLT or BPS-O). We further characterized this deficit by showing that performance of older adults was severely impaired on specific probe trials that required detailed knowledge of the sequence (Skips and Ordinal Transfers), and was associated with a shift in their underlying mnemonic representation of the sequences. Collectively, these findings provide unambiguous evidence that the capacity to remember sequences of events is fundamentally affected by typical aging.
Genome-Wide Characterization ofcis-Acting DNA Targets Reveals the Transcriptional Regulatory Framework ofOpaque2in Maize
Authors: Li Chaobin , Qiao Zhenyi , Qi Weiwei , Wang Qian , Yuan Yue , Yang Xi , Tang Yuanping , Mei Bing , Lv Yuanda , Zhao Han , Xiao Han , Song Rentao
Published: February 2015

Opaque2 (O2) is a transcription factor that plays important roles during maize endosperm development. Mutation of the O2 gene improves the nutritional value of maize seeds but also confers pleiotropic effects that result in reduced agronomic quality. To reveal the transcriptional regulatory framework of O2, we studied the transcriptome of o2 mutants using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) and determined O2 DNA binding targets using chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled to high-throughput sequencing (ChIP-Seq). The RNA-Seq analysis revealed 1605 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 383 differentially expressed long, noncoding RNAs. The DEGs cover a wide range of functions related to nutrient reservoir activity, nitrogen metabolism, stress resistance, etc. ChIP-Seq analysis detected 1686 O2 DNA binding sites distributed over 1143 genes. Overlay of the RNA-Seq and ChIP-Seq results revealed 35 O2-modulated target genes. We identified four O2 binding motifs; among them, TGACGTGG appears to be the most conserved and strongest. We confirmed that, except for the 16- and 18-kD zeins, O2 directly regulates expression of all other zeins. O2 directly regulates two transcription factors, genes linked to carbon and amino acid metabolism and abiotic stress resistance. We built a hierarchical regulatory model for O2 that provides an understanding of its pleiotropic biological effects.
The present state of entrepreneurship ecosystems in selected countries in Africa
Authors: Sheriff Michael , Muffatto Moreno
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– Entrepreneurship ecosystems could be useful road maps for the formulation of entrepreneurship policies for countries in Africa. The twenty-first century economic development agenda lay a lot of emphasis on the pivotal role that entrepreneurship plays in the growth of economies, job creation and poverty alleviation especially in Africa. But without the right entrepreneurial ecosystems to enhance the formulation of pertinent entrepreneurship policies, achieving entrepreneurial economic growth will be difficult. The existing frameworks for the development of entrepreneurship ecosystems are based on research that has been conducted elsewhere. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– Entrepreneurship research in Africa has rarely focused in understanding and evaluating the entrepreneurship ecosystems. In this paper, we have attempted to examine the present state of the entrepreneurship ecosystems in four countries (Botswana, Egypt, Ghana and Uganda) in Africa. Despite the fact that extant literature on the concept is limited, it has been reviewed to provide a picture of entrepreneurship ecosystems. Relevant national and international documents were also examined to evaluate the present state of entrepreneurship ecosystems in these countries.

Findings

– The findings from each of the countries though they depict a static situation, justify the proposition that entrepreneurs are omnipresent, it is only the entrepreneurship environment that accounts for the differences in entrepreneurial economic growth and the cross-countries comparisons shows the dissimilarities in national entrepreneurship environments.

Research limitations/implications

– In conclusion, a broad process to develop entrepreneurship ecosystems initiatives is suggested alongside the crucial roles that governments and other stakeholders should play which implies that a National Entrepreneurship Mission might be necessary.

Originality/value

– Multiple case studies that have compared entrepreneurship ecosystems of countries in Africa are very rare. This study though explorative, is one of the first. The findings and conclusions could be useful for a detailed study to map out pertinent and self sustaining entrepreneurship ecosystems that are necessary for the formulation of entrepreneurship policies.
Female entrepreneurship and growth in Cameroon
Authors: Okah-Efogo Françoise , Timba Gaëlle Tatiana
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to supplement the literature on the effect of female entrepreneurship on economic growth by bringing new evidence for the case of SMEs owned by women in Cameroon.

Design/methodology/approach

– Effects of female entrepreneurship on Cameroonian economic growth are analyzed through a simple statistical analysis.

Findings

– Our results reveal that there is a growing female entrepreneurship in Cameroon, localized in many different sectors of activity. Moreover, these SMEs are opportunity entrepreneurship which contributes to economic growth by considerably reducing unemployment particularly for women, generating revenues for government and enhancing human capital skills.

Research limitations/implications

– The study suggests an investment in SMEs owned by women and an investment in education and skills of those women in order to positively affect economic growth.

Originality/value

– Many studies have focussed their attention on the relationship between SMEs and economic growth, but few attempted to evaluate the theoretical assumptions in case studies and in a gender perspective.
Commentary on Abrahamson and Rubin (2012) “Discourse structure differences in lay and professional health communication”, Journal of Documentation, Vol. 68 No. 6, pp. 826-851
Authors: Urquhart Christine , Urquhart Alexander H.
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to criticise the paper by Jennie A. Abrahamson and Victoria L. Rubin (2012) “Discourse structure differences in lay and professional health communication”, Journal of Documentation, Vol. 68 No. 6, pp. 826-851.

Design/methodology/approach

– The author reviewed the antecedents of Rhetorical Structure Theory (RST) in discourse analysis, and paid close attention to the differences between the original formulation of RST, later formulations of the RST model and the application of RST in this paper. The author also reviewed the literature on physician-patient communication, and patient-patient support to contextualise the findings of Abrahamson and Rubin.

Findings

– The paper shows evidence of over-simplification of RST since its initial formulation. Next, the Motivation relationship in the original Mann/Thompson formulation of RST appears problematic. This makes the authors’ RST findings that patient-patient (or consumer-consumer) information sharing appear to be more effective than physician-consumer information sharing rather tenuous. An important additional flaw is that there was only one physician participant in this study. A practical limitation to the study is that physicians mostly interact face-to-face with patients and use of consumer advice web sites may not fit well with the current practice of medicine.

Research limitations/implications

– The author had limited examples in the paper to examine how the authors had categorised the binary unit relationships.

Originality/value

– RST is promising for discourse analysis of information advice web sites but simplifications in its application can lead to unwarranted claims.
MC 2.0: testing an apparel co-design experience model
Authors: Wu Juanjuan , Kang Ju-Young M. , Damminga Cara , Kim Hye-Young , Johnson Kim K P
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to test an online apparel co-design experience model and to investigate six determinants (perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, enjoyment, level of personalization, social presence, and attitude towards the co-designed product) of online apparel co-design experience and effects on behavioural intention.

Design/methodology/approach

– Female college students (n=265) were surveyed after an actual online apparel co-design experience in a computer lab and interactions with other users wherever such arenas were provided. structural equation modelling was used for data analysis.

Findings

– The findings revealed that subjects’ apparel co-design experience was positively affected by enjoyment, attitude towards the co-designed product, perceived ease of use, and social presence. And behavioural intention towards the mass customization sites was positively affected by subjects’ attitude towards the co-design experience, subjective norm, and enjoyment.

Originality/value

– The research makes a unique theoretical contribution by conceptualizing MC 2.0 (MC sites that provide arenas for user interaction) and by incorporating and confirming the significance of both “enjoyment” and “social presence” variables as predictors of online apparel co-design experience.
Luxury fashion consumption and Generation Y consumers
Authors: Giovannini Sarah , Xu Yingjiao , Thomas Jane
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate Generation Y consumers’ luxury fashion consumption. Generation Y is becoming a very important segment for the luxury market in the USA. Specifically, this study is designed to investigate Generation Y consumers’ consumption of luxury fashion products from the following perspectives: the influence of self-related personality traits on their brand consciousness; and the influence of brand consciousness on consumption behaviours in terms of consumption motivations, purchase intention, and brand loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

– A conceptual model was developed to represent the proposed relationships among the related variables. An online survey was conducted and 305 valid surveys were collected. The proposed hypotheses were tested using structural equation modelling (SEM) analyses.

Findings

– From the perspective of self-concept, this research shed some light on the luxury fashion consumption behaviour of Generation Y consumers. Public self-consciousness and self-esteem were both found having significant influence on Generation Y consumers’ brand consciousness and in turn their luxury consumption motivations and brand loyalty.

Research limitations/implications

– Limitations for this study mainly come from the representativeness of the sample, which was recruited from a panel of a third party research group. Implications for luxury fashion brand managers and retailers focus on strategies that influence the social and self-motivation for luxury consumption and level of brand consciousness.

Originality/value

– This research is unique because it focuses on luxury fashion consumption of Generation Y consumers, an emerging segment in the luxury market. Generation Y consumers’ behaviour towards luxury fashion was examined in terms of their self-related personality traits, brand consciousness, motivation, and brand loyalty.
Fashion/clothing research: an analysis of three journals
Authors: Johnson Kim K P , Lennon Sharron J. , Mun Jung Mee , Choi Dooyoung
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– entailed assessing directions in subject matter content and the types of research strategy employed. In research using human participants, the purposes were to assess: sampling strategy, statements limiting generalizability, incentive use, and the use of undergraduates (UGs) as participants. Finally, with studies utilizing UG participants, the purpose of this paper was to assess: directions in subject matter content, research strategy, sampling strategy, justification of participants, statements limiting generalizability, and incentive use.

Design/methodology/approach

– A content analysis of fashion/clothing research articles (n=963) appearing in three scholarly journals between 1996 and 2013.

Findings

– Consumer behavior was the most frequent research topic and survey methodology dominated the research strategy employed. Majority of samples were nonprobability, slightly over half of the authors provided statements limiting generalizability of their findings, use of incentives was routinely not reported, and a little over a third used UGs as participants. Of researchers using UGs, consumer behavior was the most frequent topic, UGs were justified as participants, and when both UGs and nonstudents were included as participants, comparisons in responses were typically not made.

Research limitations/implications

– Articles included were limited to those published in three journals.

Practical implications

– Author/reviewer guidelines should suggest providing: an appropriate rationale for UG use; descriptive population statistics; statements limiting generalization; information describing the sampling technique; and information on the use of incentives. Also when authors have UGs and nonstudent adults as participants it would be useful to analyze for significant differences between the two groups.

Originality/value

– First investigation of use of UGs as participants in clothing/fashion research.
Impact of firm characteristics on capital structure choice of Turkish SMEs
Authors: Uyar Ali , Guzelyurt Mustafa Kemal
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether SMEs have a target debt ratio or not; who makes financing decisions for investments; the financing preferences; and which factors play a role in external financing policy of the firms.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors adopted questionnaire survey methodology in the study. The questionnaire was administered to SMEs operating in Istanbul through e-mail, telephone, and fax in July 2011. For the analysis, the authors have adopted the non-parametric test of the Kruskal-Wallis.

Findings

– The study produced several important findings. Most of the surveyed firms do not follow a target debt ratio. Hence, the trade-off theory is not supported. Partners rather than professional managers are more likely to make financing choices in SMEs. The study has provided evidence regarding the implementation of the pecking order principle. Turkish SMEs primarily prefer internal funding sources over external ones and short-term debt over long-term debt. Thus, the pecking order theory is supported. General economic conditions, debt-paying ability of the firm, and financial distress risk play the most important role in outside financing decisions.

Research limitations/implications

– The study has got some limitations as all such studies have. First, it was conducted only on SMEs in Istanbul; hence it has a geographical limitation. Second, the findings may not be generalizable to large and publicly traded companies as the sample consists of only SMEs. For further study, similar research can be carried out across Turkey on a wider sample.

Originality/value

– The SMEs are different from large companies in a variety of ways, such as ownership structure, complexity of operations, financing sources, and so on. Hence, there is a need for empirical analysis conducted, particularly, on SMEs. The primary motivation for the study is the scarcity of such empirical works in general. Secondarily, SMEs make up a large proportion of companies in the Turkish economy. Therefore, the subject needs to be studied in Turkey.
Corporate boards and acquirer returns: international evidence
Authors: Miletkov Mihail , Moskalev Sviatoslav , Wintoki M. Babajide
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of board structure on non-US acquirer returns in 11,499 acquisition transactions from 60 countries during the period from 2001 to 2011.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this paper the authors employ event study methodology and regression analyses including instrumental variables two-stage least squares regressions.

Findings

– The authors find that board independence in non-US firms is associated with significantly higher acquirer returns, but this effect is only present in countries with lower levels of investor protection. The authors contribute to the literature by documenting that due to the substitution effect between internal and external governance, when external governance mechanisms are not adequately developed, better internal governance (as measured by higher degree of board independence) reduces agency problems and leads to better firm decisions and outcomes (as measured by the quality of corporate acquisitions).

Originality/value

– The paper is the first to empirically examine the relation between board independence and acquirer returns in non-US firms. The findings have important implications for both company managers and national policy makers who are debating the costs and benefits associated with increasing the degree of board independence in publicly traded companies around the world.
Differences in sustainability practices and stakeholder involvement
Authors: Bulgacov Sergio , Ometto Maria Paola , May Márcia Ramos
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– This research aims to describe sustainability practices adopted by companies and the influence they have with the involvement of stakeholders.

Design/methodology/approach

– Qualitative investigation, using case study methodology, was undertaken in 17 companies that use strategic sustainability practices in some way. The companies were observed under the theoretical perspective of social responsibility and sustainability, and with the approach of strategic practices.

Findings

– Interpreting the data produces an alternative framework of analysis for strategic organizational activities oriented toward the understanding of practices of sustainability, especially in processes aimed at catering to and/or involving stakeholders. The research further supports the idea that sustainability practices, regardless of their level of implementation, have a strong relationship, in these companies, with stakeholder interests.

Originality/value

– The intent is that the proposed analytical framework will allow further debate toward better understanding of actions focused on environmental determinism and internal company conditions.
Corporate social responsibility, environmental leadership and financial performance
Authors: DiSegni Dafna M. , Huly Moshe , Akron Sagi
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to statistically assess the relationship between corporate characteristics, environmental contribution and financial performance. To this end, the authors compare the financial performance of all US corporations making up the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes, being the most proactive companies in providing services and goods, while maintaining ethical responsibility and environmental sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

– Various performance measures are compared to the mean performance of the related industry, sector and market portfolio. We employ an analysis for several time horizons of the financial measures.

Findings

– Analysis by the authors suggests that firms that are proactive in supporting social responsibility and environmental sustainability (SRES corporations) are characterized by significantly higher profit measures than the industry and the sector, though not higher than the entire market. They have lower short-term liquidity measures than those of the industry and related sector, and surprisingly, their long-term leverage is significantly higher. Strong SRES corporations are characterized by significantly higher managerial efficiency ratios than the respective industry and sector. Interestingly, however, the per-worker operating efficiency ratios are significantly lower than for all of the benchmarks.

Practical implications

– The revealed preference of corporations can be extracted from several horizon dependent financial measures. For instance, we could infer the corporate degree of SRES from their long-term capital structure, i.e. their long-term leverages and short-term liquidity measures.

Originality/value

– These results illustrate the strong relation between social and environmental sustainability, and long-term business plans in respect to the corporate capital structure.
Social and ecological drivers of success in agri‐environment schemes: the roles of farmers and environmental context
Authors: McCracken Morag E. , Woodcock Ben A. , Lobley Matt , Pywell Richard F. , Saratsi Eirini , Swetnam Ruth D. , Mortimer Simon R. , Harris Stephanie J. , Winter Michael , Hinsley Shelley , Bullock James M.
Published: February 2015

Agri‐environment schemes remain a controversial approach to reversing biodiversity losses, partly because the drivers of variation in outcomes are poorly understood. In particular, there is a lack of studies that consider both social and ecological factors.

We analysed variation across 48 farms in the quality and biodiversity outcomes of agri‐environmental habitats designed to provide pollen and nectar for bumblebees and butterflies or winter seed for birds. We used interviews and ecological surveys to gather data on farmer experience and understanding of agri‐environment schemes, and local and landscape environmental factors.

Multimodel inference indicated social factors had a strong impact on outcomes and that farmer experiential learning was a key process. The quality of the created habitat was affected positively by the farmer's previous experience in environmental management. The farmer's confidence in their ability to carry out the required management was negatively related to the provision of floral resources. Farmers with more wildlife‐friendly motivations tended to produce more floral resources, but fewer seed resources.

Bird, bumblebee and butterfly biodiversity responses were strongly affected by the quantity of seed or floral resources. Shelter enhanced biodiversity, directly increased floral resources and decreased seed yield. Seasonal weather patterns had large effects on both measures. Surprisingly, larger species pools and amounts of semi‐natural habitat in the surrounding landscape had negative effects on biodiversity, which may indicate use by fauna of alternative foraging resources.

Synthesis and application. This is the first study to show a direct role of farmer social variables on the success of agri‐environment schemes in supporting farmland biodiversity. It suggests that farmers are not simply implementing agri‐environment options, but are learning and improving outcomes by doing so. Better engagement with farmers and working with farmers who have a history of environmental management may therefore enhance success. The importance of a number of environmental factors may explain why agri‐environment outcomes are variable, and suggests some – such as the weather – cannot be controlled. Others, such as shelter, could be incorporated into agri‐environment prescriptions. The role of landscape factors remains complex and currently eludes simple conclusions about large‐scale targeting of schemes.
The Effects of Changes in Property Tax Rates and School Spending on Residential and Business Property Value Growth
Authors: Kang Sung Hoon , Skidmore Mark , Reese Laura
Published: February 2015

In this article, we examine the effects of changes in property tax rates and school spending on residential and business property value growth in southeast Michigan. We use panel data for 152 communities in the five counties surrounding Detroit between the years 1983 and 2002, a period during which state government mandated major changes to school finance. Using the mandated changes to identify causality, we find that: (1) residential property values are more responsive to school spending changes than property tax rate changes; (2) business property values are more responsive to tax rate changes than school spending changes; and (3) business property values are more sensitive to changes in tax rates as compared to residential property. We also examine tax competition effects on property value growth, showing that tax competition plays an important role in property value growth in the southeast Michigan region.
A Taphonomic Study Exploring the Differences in Decomposition Rate and Manner between Frozen and Never Frozen Domestic Pigs (Sus scrofa)
Authors: Roberts Lindsey G. , Dabbs Gretchen R.
Published: February 2015

This research examined differences in decomposition rate and manner of domestic pig subjects (Sus scrofa) in never frozen (control) and previously frozen (experimental) research conditions. Eight control and experimental subjects were placed in an identical outdoor research environment. Daily quantitative and qualitative measurements were collected: abdominal circumference, total body score (TBS), temperature, photographs, descriptive decomposition stages, and visual observations. Field necropsies were performed at accumulated degree days (ADD) between 50 and 300 (Celsius). Paired samples t‐tests of ADD to TBS >3.0, TBS >9.5, and TBS >16.0 indicate the rate of decomposition of experimental subjects was significantly slower than controls at both TBS >3 and >9.5 (p = 0.003 and p = 0.002, respectively). A suite of qualitative indicators of predecomposition freezing is also reported. The differences between experimental and control subjects suggest previously frozen subjects should not be used in taphonomic research, as results do not accurately reflect the “normal” taphonomic condition.
Cathepsin K knockout alleviates aging‐induced cardiac dysfunction
Authors: Hua Yinan , Robinson Timothy J. , Cao Yongtao , Shi Guo‐Ping , Ren Jun , Nair Sreejayan
Published: February 2015

Aging is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. It has previously been shown that protein levels of cathepsin K, a lysosomal cysteine protease, are elevated in the failing heart and that genetic ablation of cathepsin K protects against pressure overload‐induced cardiac hypertrophy and contractile dysfunction. Here we test the hypothesis that cathepsin K knockout alleviates age‐dependent decline in cardiac function. Cardiac geometry, contractile function, intracellular Ca2+ properties, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis were evaluated using echocardiography, fura‐2 technique, immunohistochemistry, Western blot and TUNEL staining, respectively. Aged (24‐month‐old) mice exhibited significant cardiac remodeling (enlarged chamber size, wall thickness, myocyte cross‐sectional area, and fibrosis), decreased cardiac contractility, prolonged relengthening along with compromised intracellular Ca2+ release compared to young (6‐month‐old) mice, which were attenuated in the cathepsin K knockout mice. Cellular markers of senescence, including cardiac lipofuscin, p21 and p16, were lower in the aged‐cathepsin K knockout mice compared to their wild‐type counterpart. Mechanistically, cathepsin K knockout mice attenuated an age‐induced increase in cardiomyocyte apoptosis and nuclear translocation of mitochondrial apoptosis‐inducing factor (AIF). In cultured H9c2 cells, doxorubicin stimulated premature senescence and apoptosis. Silencing of cathepsin K blocked the doxorubicin‐induced translocation of AIF from the mitochondria to the nuclei. Collectively, these results suggest that cathepsin K knockout attenuates age‐related decline in cardiac function via suppressing caspase‐dependent and caspase‐independent apoptosis.
Being overweight or obese is associated with inhibition control in children from six to ten years of age
Authors: Blanco‐Gómez Ainara , Ferré Natàlia , Luque Verónica , Cardona Mercè , Gispert‐Llauradó Mariona , Escribano Joaquín , Closa‐Monasterolo Ricardo , Canals‐Sans Josefa
Published: February 2015

Aim

This study investigated the relationship between being overweight or obese and executive function in six‐ to ten‐year‐olds.

Methods

The participants were 515 children (250 boys) from schools in Reus, Spain. The initial sample was measured and weighed and assessed with the Children's Color Trail Test. Children classified as overweight, including obese, and their age‐ and gender‐matched controls (n = 221), were assessed in a second phase with the Five Digit Test (FDT) and the Symbol Digit Modalities Test. Logistic regression models were applied to analyse the effect of executive functions on being overweight, including obese.

Results

We found that 28.9% of the children were overweight and 7.2% were obese. The FDT showed that inhibition (odds risk of 1.04, range 1.00–1.08, p = 0.04) and flexibility (odds risk of 1.04, range 1.00–1.07, p = 0.02) were significantly associated with overweight, including obesity, regardless of sociodemographic and psychopathological variables.

Conclusion

These results suggest that children who were overweight or obese had a reduced ability to mobilise the cognitive effort required to inhibit involuntary responses and to switch between different mental operations. A developmental trajectory would provide important insights into the relationship between executive functioning pattern and the risk of being overweight or obese.
Bereavement and loss: developing a memory box to support a young woman with profound learning disabilities
Authors: Young Hannah , Garrard Brenda
Published: February 2015

Accessible summary

People with profound learning disabilities can find it difficult to talk about someone they love who has died.

This study is about how we used a memory box to help a bereaved young woman with profound learning disabilities.

The memory box helped the bereaved young woman, her mother and paid carers to explore memories about important relationships in her life.

It might be helpful to talk about relationships when helping someone with profound learning disabilities who is bereaved.

Supporting bereaved people with profound learning disabilities still remains an under‐researched area. Moreover, the barriers of communication and disenfranchised grief mean that they often do not receive the support they require, leading to emotional and behavioural difficulties. This article describes research using a case study design, which explored how memory box work was used to support the bereavement process with one young woman, Claire and the outcomes for Claire and her family. Exploring the history of the relationship between Claire and her brother, the work also benefitted her mother and her paid carers.
Diversified Knowledge, R&D Team Centrality and Radical Creativity
Authors: Tang Chaoying , Ye Linna
Published: February 2015

The impact of team knowledge network structure on team creativity has seldom been explored. To address this gap, we argue that research and development (R&D) teams' radical creativity is not only associated with the source of diversified knowledge (insiders of the team, outsiders of the team and internet professional forums), but also with team knowledge network centrality. Data from 32 R&D teams in seven research institutions support our contention that diversified knowledge from all three sources positively affects team radical creativity. In addition, the betweenness centrality of R&D team knowledge networks moderates the relationship between two sources of diversified knowledge (insiders of the team and outsiders of the team) and team radical creativity.
Interleukin-1 family cytokines and their regulatory proteins in normal pregnancy and pre-eclampsia
Authors: Southcombe J H , Redman C W G , Sargent I L , Granne I
Published: February 2015

Maternal systemic inflammation is a feature of pre-eclampsia, a condition in pregnancy characterized by hypertension and proteinuria. Pre-eclampsia is caused by the placenta; many placental factors contribute to the syndrome's progression, and proinflammatory cytokines have been identified previously as one such mediator. The interleukin (IL)-1 family of cytokines are key regulators of the inflammatory network, and two naturally occurring regulatory molecules for IL-1 family cytokines, IL-1RA and sST2, have been found previously to be elevated in maternal blood from women with pre-eclampsia. Here we investigate more recently identified IL-1 family cytokines and regulatory molecules, IL-1RAcP, IL-37, IL-18BP, IL-36α/β/γ/Ra and IL-38 in pre-eclampsia. Pregnant women have more circulating IL-18BP and IL-36Ra than non-pregnant women, and sIL-1RAcP is elevated from women with pre-eclampsia compared to normal pregnancies. The placenta expresses all the molecules, and IL-37 and IL-18BP are up-regulated significantly in pre-eclampsia placentas compared to those from normal pregnancies. Together, these changes contribute to the required inhibition of maternal systemic cytotoxic immunity in normal pregnancy; however, in pre-eclampsia the same profile is not seen. Interestingly, the increased circulating levels of sIL-1RAcP and increased placental IL-18BP and IL-37, the latter of which we show to be induced by hypoxic damage to the placenta, are all factors which are anti-inflammatory. While the placenta is often held responsible for the damage and clinical symptoms of pre-eclampsia by the research community, here we show that the pre-eclampsia placenta is also trying to prevent inflammatory damage to the mother.
Use of short implants (6 mm) in a single‐tooth replacement: a 5‐year follow‐up prospective randomized controlled multicenter clinical study
Authors: Rossi Fabio , Botticelli Daniele , Cesaretti Gianfranco , De Santis Enzo , Storelli Stefano , Lang Niklaus P.
Published: February 2015

Objective

To evaluate prospectively clinical and radiographic outcomes of 6‐ or 10 mm‐long implants with moderately rough surface (SLA®) loaded within 7 weeks from installation and supporting single crowns in the posterior regions in the course of 5 years of loading.

Material and Methods

Sixty implants with a moderately rough surface, 30 tests (6 mm long, 4.1 mm in diameter) and 30 controls (10 mm long, 4.1 mm in diameter), were placed in posterior regions in 45 patients. After 6 weeks, impressions were taken and the implants were restored with a single fixed prosthesis made with gold–palladium alloy and porcelain. Survival rate and marginal bone loss were evaluated yearly. The clinical crown/implant ratio was calculated.

Results

During the follow‐up period, five implants, four tests and one control, were lost. Of the four test implants, one was lost before loading, two between the 2nd and the 3rd years, and one during the 4th year of the follow‐up period. The control implant was lost during the first year of function. Consequently, after 5 years of follow‐up, a survival rate of 86.7% and 96.7% was observed at the test and control sites, respectively.

Conclusion

The results of this study showed that 6‐mm‐long implants supporting single crowns loaded within 7 weeks from installation lose a small amount of marginal bone during 5 years of functional loading, similar to that of 10‐mm‐long implants. However, a higher degree of implant loss was recorded at the short implants, probably due to the fracturing of the surrounding bone.
Activating the motor system through action observation: is this an efficient approach in adults and children?
Authors: Bassolino Michela , Sandini Giulio , Pozzo Thierry
Published: February 2015

Observing an action performed by another person to learn a new movement is a frequent experience in adult daily life, such as in sports. However, it is an especially common circumstance during the development of motor skills in childhood. Studies on healthy humans indicate that action observation induces a facilitation in the observer's motor system. This effect is supported by an action‐perception matching mechanism available both in adults and in children. Because of the simplicity of action observation, it has been proposed to apply this method in clinical contexts. After a brief, non‐exhaustive introduction of the essential features underlying action observation in healthy people, we review recent studies reporting beneficial effects of rehabilitative training based on a combination of action perception and execution. We focus on therapeutic interventions for patients with upper‐limb motor disabilities such as adults after stroke or children with hemiplegia due to cerebral palsy. Further, we consider data from basic science demonstrating that the facilitation induced by visual perception of the action can be modulated by the combination of multimodal stimuli related to the movement (e.g. visual and acoustic action‐related inputs). In line with this, we discuss possible new directions to improve basic knowledge and therapeutic applications of action observation.
Perception–action coupling and imitation in autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Nadel Jacqueline
Published: February 2015

This paper focuses on the key function of imitation in motor and social development of typically developing infants and low‐functioning children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We suggest that it might also be a developmental cornerstone for other neurodevelopmental disorders. Why this suggestion? First, imitation just requires relating one's motor patterns to perceived motor patterns. This is always possible if the actions seen are not beyond the individual's motor scope; for instance, newborn infants can already imitate tongue protrusion, eye blinking, or mouth opening, because these movements are part of their foetal repertoire. Second, imitation is a ‘use it or lose it’ capacity: the more it is used, the more the repertoire grows (plasticity). Finally, imitation is an efficient tool for two main adaptive functions: learning and communication. Imitation‐based communication is available through the use of the two facets of imitation: imitating and being imitated. The two facets afford two roles that the partners can exchange as a turn‐taking while they synchronize matched activities. Neuroimaging studies of interactive imitation have shown that such communicative systems involve a coordination of bottom‐up and top‐down processes. In this line, imitation is a booster of development that can also be of benefit for children with neurodevelopmental disorders.
New paradigms and tests for evaluating and remediating visuospatial deficits in children
Authors: Berthoz Alain , Zaoui Mohamed
Published: February 2015

This review suggests several hypotheses about the cognitive developmental mechanisms involved in the motor deficits of children with cerebral palsy. We suggest a new theory that visuospatial deficits involving the manipulation of multiple spatial reference frames are crucial components of the disorder in spatial orientation, manipulation, locomotion, navigation, and even social interactions. We review basic knowledge about the brain networks involved in spatial memory and cognition. We then present several potential paradigms for studying specific deficits. We consider first the use of vestibular signals for egocentric spatial orientation in children and the ‘locomotor trajectory paradigm’ for studying gaze anticipation and perceptual components of walking. We then describe new paradigms for studying egocentric and allocentric strategies in spatial tasks: the ‘virtual path length’, the ‘virtual palace’ and the ‘virtual star maze’. We also consider paradigms involving the use of other persons and perspective change from a first person's to a third person's viewpoint as reference in spatial tasks or social interactions: the ‘designation’ paradigm, the ‘harlequin’, and the ‘tightrope walker’. Finally, we briefly present a new experimental set up involving a ‘virtual carpet’, which follows previous studies of cognitive strategies for generating locomotor trajectories using the ‘magic carpet’ and which will allow a large variety of studies involving executive functions and inhibition of the first‐appearing strategies during development. Several of these new paradigms could be used for remediation.