bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular mapping of a quantitative trait locus qSTV11Z harbouring rice stripe virus resistance gene, Stv‐b
Authors: Lee Sais‐Beul , Hur Yeon‐Jae , Lee Jong‐Hee , Kwon Tackmin , Shin Dongjin , Kim Tae‐Heon , Han Sang‐Ik , Cho Jun‐Hyeon , Yoon Young‐Nam , Kiswara Gilang , Song You‐Chun , Yeo Un‐Sang , Kwon Young‐Up , Kim Kyung‐Min , Park Dong‐Soo
Published: November 2016

Rice stripe virus (RSV) predominantly affects rice. In this study, we attempted to localize the quantitative trait locus (QTL) conferring RSV resistance in the ‘Zenith’ variety, which is known to harbour Stv‐a and Stv‐b. The resistant variety Zenith was crossed with the susceptible variety ‘Ilpum’ to generate a mapping population comprising 180 F2:3 lines for QTL analysis. Contrary to previous findings, we could not detect Stv‐a‐specific QTLs on chromosome 6. Stv‐b‐specific QTL was detected on the long arm of chromosome 11; it was designated qSTV11z. Six F4:5 lines were selected from the F3:4 population and fine‐mapped using insertion/deletion (InDel) markers. qSTV11z was mapped to a 520‐kb region between the InDel markers Sid2 and Indel8. This region included OsSOT1 (candidate gene for STV11) and other previously reported RSV resistance QTLs. The OsSOT1 sequence in Ilpum and Zenith was identical to that of the susceptible variety ‘Koshihikari’, indicating that OsSOT1 is not the candidate gene of qSTV11z. The localization of qSTV11z should provide useful information for marker‐assisted selection and determination of genetic resources in rice breeding.
The Spectacle of a Good Half‐Widow: Women in Search of their Disappeared Men in the Kashmir Valley
Authors: Zia Ather
Published: November 2016

After militancy for self‐determination and Independence started in 1989 in the Kashmir Valley, more than eight thousand Kashmiri men have been subjected to enforced disappearance by the Indian Army. In 1994 the Association of Parents of the Disappeared Persons (APDP), a female‐dominated movement, began to search for these disappeared men. In this article, I trace the everyday agency and activism of an APDP activist amid the entrenched militarization of Kashmir. In mainstream Western feminist understanding, gendered agency is often seen as aggressive and openly subversive. In this analysis, agency emerges as more nuanced than, and thus different from, a simple notion of confrontational resistance to oppression. I use the Foucauldian paradigm of micropolitics, specifically focusing on its biopolitical aspect, to ethnographically illustrate how a particular APDP activist performs and sustains her public activism. By theorizing the Kashmiri language's term Asal Zanan, which translates as “a good woman,” I illustrate how a finer understanding of agency emerges, which may not only appear in stereotypical and confrontational forms but also with deeply contextual and cultural nuances.
Fat‐free mass index predicts survival in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Nishiyama Osamu , Yamazaki Ryo , Sano Hiroyuki , Iwanaga Takashi , Higashimoto Yuji , Kume Hiroaki , Tohda Yuji
Published: November 2016

ABSTRACT

Background and objective

Detailed body composition, such as fat‐free mass, has not been examined in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We investigated whether the fat‐free mass index (FFMI), an index of lean body mass, predicted survival.

Methods

Forty‐four patients with IPF were enrolled in the study. Their body composition was assessed using direct segmental multi‐frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis. The degree of correlation between variables of body composition and other variables such as forced vital capacity (FVC) and survival was examined.

Results

There was a significant positive correlation between FFMI and FVC, diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO
) and 6‐min walk distance, and a significant negative correlation with age. However, there was no significant correlation between FFMI and percentage predicted FVC or DLCO
, with the degree of correlation being similar to that observed for BMI. The mean observation period in the survival analysis was 837.5 ± 407.5 days. A univariate Cox proportional hazard model showed that several variables, but not BMI, were associated significantly with survival. FFMI (hazard ratio (HR): 0.64, 95% CI: 0.43–0.94, P = 0.02) and percentage predicted FVC (HR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.93–0.99, P=0.008) were significant factors in a multivariate model.

Conclusion

We conclude that FFMI is a significant independent predictor of survival in patients with IPF.
Reduced DNA methylation of sphingosine‐1 phosphate receptor 5 in alveolar macrophages in COPD: A potential link to failed efferocytosis
Authors: Barnawi Jameel , Jersmann Hubertus , Haberberger Rainer , Hodge Sandra , Meech Robyn
Published: November 2016

Background and objective

We previously showed that alveolar macrophages from COPD patients are defective in their ability to phagocytose apoptotic cells (‘efferocytosis’) and that this defect is potentially linked to the sphingosine‐1 phosphate (S1P) system, in particular the sphingosine‐1 phosphate receptor 5 (S1PR5). In alveolar macrophages from COPD patients, S1PR5 mRNA expression levels increased and were correlated with both lung function and efferocytosis. However, it us unknown whether these changes are under epigenetic control via DNA methylation or whether DNA methylation directly modulates macrophage function.

Methods

Bisulfite sequencing was used to assess DNA methylation levels at CpG islands associated with genes encoding selected S1P system components, including sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1), S1PR1 and S1PR5, in alveolar macrophages from 20 COPD patients, 7 healthy smokers and 10 healthy non/ex‐smokers) by methyl quantitative real‐time PCR (methyl qPCR). The effect of the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, 5‐azacytidine on the efferocytosis capacity of THP‐1 macrophages was assessed using flow cytometry.

Results

Among the S1P system genes examined, S1PR5 was the single target that showed significant changes in DNA methylation between patient groups. Alveolar macrophages isolated from COPD patients showed lower methylation levels in the same region compared to macrophages from non/ex‐smokers. in vitro studies using THP‐1 macrophages showed that DNA demethylation with 5‐azacytidine increased the efferocytosis capacity and dose‐dependently rescued the cells from the cigarette smoke‐induced defect in efferocytosis.

Conclusion

Macrophage function can be modulated epigenetically. Reduced methylation may underlie the increased expression of the S1PR5 gene in alveolar macrophages and associated defective efferocytosis in COPD.
Simulation of laser‐tattoo pigment interaction in a tissue‐mimicking phantom using Q‐switched and long‐pulsed lasers
Authors: Ahn K. J. , Kim B. J. , Cho S. B.
Published: November 2016

Background

Laser therapy is the treatment of choice in tattoo removal. However, the precise mechanisms of laser‐tattoo pigment interactions remain to be evaluated.

Methods

We evaluated the geometric patterns of laser‐tattoo pigment particle interactions using a tattoo pigment‐embedded tissue‐mimicking (TM) phantom.

Results

A Q‐switched (QS) neodymium‐doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser was used at settings of 532‐, 660‐, and 1064‐nm wavelengths, single‐pulse and quick pulse‐to‐pulse treatment modes, and spot sizes of 4 and 7 mm. Most of the laser‐tattoo interactions in the experimental conditions formed cocoon‐shaped or oval photothermal and photoacoustic injury zones, which contained fragmented tattoo particles in various sizes depending on the conditions. In addition, a long‐pulsed 755‐nm alexandrite laser was used at a spot size of 6 mm and pulse widths of 3, 5, and 10 ms. The finer granular pattern of tattoo destruction was observed in TM phantoms treated with 3‐ and 5‐ms pulse durations compared to those treated with a 10‐ms pulse.

Conclusion

We outlined various patterns of laser‐tattoo pigment interactions in a tattoo‐embedded TM phantom to predict macroscopic tattoo and surrounding tissue reactions after laser treatment for tattoo removal.
High‐intensity focused ultrasound treatment for skin: ex vivo evaluation
Authors: Park J.‐H. , Lim S.‐D. , Oh S. H. , Lee J. H. , Yeo U. C.
Published: November 2016

Background/Purpose

High‐intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) has been used for skin tightening. However, there is a rising concern of irreversible adverse effects. Our aim was to evaluate the depth of thermal injury zone after HIFU energy passes through different condition.

Materials and Methods

To analyze the consistency of the HIFU device, phantom tests were performed. Simulations were performed on ex vivo porcine tissues to estimate the area of the thermal coagulation point (TCP) according to the applied energy and skin condition. The experiment was designed in three orientations: normal direction (from epidermis to fascia), reverse direction (from fascia to epidermis), and normal direction without epidermis.

Results

The TCP was larger and wider depending on the applied fluence and handpieces (HPs). When we measured TCP in different directions, the measured area in the normal direction was more superficially located than that in the reverse direction. The depth of the TCP in the porcine skin without epidermis was detected at 130% deeper than in skin with an intact epidermis.

Conclusion

The affected area by HIFU is dependent on the skin condition and the characteristics of the HP and applied fluence. Considerations of these factors may be the key to minimize the unwanted adverse effects.
Personal identification based on skin texture features from the forearm and multi‐modal imaging
Authors: Bianconi F. , Chirikhina E. , Smeraldi F. , Bontozoglou C. , Xiao P.
Published: November 2016

Background/purpose

We investigate the use of skin texture features from the inner forearm as a means for personal identification. The forearm offers a number of potential advantages in that it is a fairly accessible area, and, compared with other zones such as fingertips, is less exposed to the elements and more shielded from wear.

Methods

We extract and combine skin textural features from two imaging devices (optical and capacitive) with the aim of discriminating between different individuals. Skin texture images from 43 subjects were acquired from three different body parts (back of the hand, forearm and palm); testing used the two sensors either separately or in combination.

Results

Skin texture features from the forearm proved effective for discriminating between different individuals with overall recognition accuracy approaching 96%.

Conclusions

We found that skin texture features from the forearm are highly individual‐specific and therefore suitable for personal identification. Interestingly, forearm skin texture features yielded significantly better accuracy compared to the skin of the back of the hand and of the palm of the same subjects.
Applying Aspects of the Expert Performance Approach to Better Understand the Structure of Skill and Mechanisms of Skill Acquisition in Video Games
Authors: Boot Walter R. , Sumner Anna , Towne Tyler J. , Rodriguez Paola , Anders Ericsson K.
Published: November 2016

Video games are ideal platforms for the study of skill acquisition for a variety of reasons. However, our understanding of the development of skill and the cognitive representations that support skilled performance can be limited by a focus on game scores. We present an alternative approach to the study of skill acquisition in video games based on the tools of the Expert Performance Approach. Our investigation was motivated by a detailed analysis of the behaviors responsible for the superior performance of one of the highest scoring players of the video game Space Fortress (Towne, Boot, & Ericsson, ). This analysis revealed how certain behaviors contributed to his exceptional performance. In this study, we recruited a participant for a similar training regimen, but we collected concurrent and retrospective verbal protocol data throughout training. Protocol analysis revealed insights into strategies, errors, mental representations, and shifting game priorities. We argue that these insights into the developing representations that guided skilled performance could only easily have been derived from the tools of the Expert Performance Approach. We propose that the described approach could be applied to understand performance and skill acquisition in many different video games (and other short‐ to medium‐term skill acquisition paradigms) and help reveal mechanisms of transfer from gameplay to other measures of laboratory and real‐world performance.
Dancing bodies and Indigenous ontology: what does the haka reveal about the Māori relationship with the Earth?
Authors: Clément Vincent
Published: November 2016

This essay seeks to explore the extent to which the haka can be seen as an unparalleled source for approaching Māori understandings of the world and their relationship with the Earth. Taking into account the growing interest in the ontological turn and post‐humanist phenomenologies, the main focus of this paper is to examine how the haka could be a way of demonstrating Māori ontology. One of the merits of the ontological turn has been to destabilise colonial forms of thinking. After discussing the need for decolonising research related to Indigenous issues, the haka is regarded as a discourse of the earthly human experience in which the meaning of places for Māori plays an important part in the construction of the message. Later, the narrative of the body is re‐contextualised in terms of its spatiality. Three interlocked spatial scales of analysis reveal different aspects of the ontological significance of the haka. Beyond its first aim of intimidating enemies, the haka is addressed as a performative experience of the relationship between Māori and the natural environment. Non‐human and inanimate things in the surrounding environment are regarded as relatives by Māori, and as with songs and stories, the dance renews the strong bonds of kinship that exist between Māori and the natural world.
The hematology of captive Bobtail lizards (Tiliqua rugosa): blood counts, light microscopy, cytochemistry, and ultrastructure
Authors: Moller Cheryl A. , Gaál Tibor , Mills Jennifer N.
Published: November 2016

Introduction

Bobtail lizards (Tiliqua rugosa) are native to Australia. The only previous study on the hematology of this species documented just 6 animals.

Objectives

The aims of this study were to characterize the light microscopy, ultrastructure and cytochemistry of blood cells, and evaluateCBCs of captive Bobtail lizards.

Methods

Over 2 consecutive summers, heparinized venous blood was collected from the ventral coccygeal vein of 46 clinically healthy, captive indoor‐ or outdoor‐housed adult Bobtails. Complete blood cell counts and smear evaluations were performed, and cytochemical stains and transmission electron microscopy were used to further characterize blood cells.

Results

The eosinophils of this species were uniformly vacuolated: a unique feature not previously reported in reptiles. Heterophils were the predominant leukocyte, with fewer lymphocytes, azurophilic and nonazurophilic monocytes, occasional eosinophils, and basophils. Thrombocytes were frequently clumped. Slight polychromasia (0–15% of erythrocytes) was typically present. Hemogregarine parasites were seen on some smears. The range ofCBCresults was often wide. ThePCVranged from 11% to 38%. Total plasma proteins by refractometry were between 3.5 and 7.8 g/dL. Hemoglobin ranged between 2.6 and 12.6 g/dL by the modified hemoglobin‐hydroxylamine method. ManualRBCcount was 0.35–1.27 × 106/μL, andWBCcount was 2.86–22.66 × 103/μL. Bobtail lizards housed outdoors had lowerPCVs than indoor‐housed animals. Bobtails with hemogregarine infections had lowerPCVs than noninfected lizards.

Conclusions

Ranges forCBCdata were often very wide, influenced by preanalytic and analytic factors. Hemogregarine infection is associated with a decreasedPCV, suggesting that some hemogregarine species are pathogenic in this population.
Suspected myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm in a feline leukemia virus‐negative cat
Authors: Weeden Amy L. , Taylor Kyle R. , Terrell Scott P. , Gallagher Alexander E. , Wamsley Heather L.
Published: November 2016

A 10‐year‐old castrated Domestic Short‐Haired cat was presented to a primary care veterinarian for a wellness examination and laboratory examination for monitoring of diabetes mellitus. The CBC revealed marked thrombocytosis, leukopenia and macrocytic, normochromic anemia. The cat tested negative for FeLV and feline immunodeficiency virus, but was positive for Mycoplasma haemominutum by PCR. Hematologic abnormalities were not responsive to therapy, so a repeat CBC and a bone marrow aspiration for cytology were performed. Additional blood smear findings included anisocytosis with megaloblastic erythroid precursors, large platelets, eosinophilic myelocytes and metamyelocytes, and rare unidentified blasts. The bone marrow smear was highly cellular, and the cytologic pattern was consistent with myelodysplastic syndrome with an erythroid predominance. At that time, 15% blasts were present. The cat was treated with a vitamin K2 analog, doxycycline, and prednisolone, but without a clinical response. Within 3 months, euthanasia was elected due to declining quality of life, and a necropsy was performed. Postmortem bone marrow smears were highly cellular and dominated by monomorphic blasts of unknown line of origin (52%), persistent marked erythroid and megakaryocytic dysplasia, and ineffective erythropoiesis and granulopoiesis. Immunohistochemical, immunocytochemical, and cytochemical stains resulted in a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia of unclassified type. Additional histologic findings included mixed hepatitis with trematode infestation and lymphoplasmacytic interstitial nephritis with fibrosis. The marked thrombocytosis with myelodysplastic syndrome and the FeLV‐negative status of this cat were unusual. The difficulty in classifying the myelodysplasia and subsequent leukemia highlights a need for further reporting and characterization of these types of disease.
The transcriptional responses of cultured wound cells to the excretions and secretions of medicinal Lucilia sericata larvae
Authors: Dauros Singorenko Priscila , Rosario Roseanne , Windsor John A. , Phillips Anthony R. , Blenkiron Cherie
Published: November 2016

Maggots, through their excretions and secretions (ES), promote wound healing by removing necrotic tissue, counter bacterial infection, and activate wound associated cells. We investigated the effects of a physiological dose of maggot ES on four wound‐associated cell types in vitro with Affymetrix gene expression arrays; keratinocytes, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and monocytes. Keratinocytes showed the fewest (n = 5; p < 0.05, fold‐change ±2) and smallest fold‐changes (up to 2.32×) in gene expression and conversely THP1 monocytes had the most (n = 233) and greatest magnitude (up to 44.3×). There were no genes that were altered in all four cell‐lines. Gene pathway analysis identified an enrichment of immune response pathways in three of the treated cell‐lines. Analyses by quantitative RT‐PCR found many genes dynamically expressed in ES dose dependent manner during the three day treatments. Phenotype analyses, however, found no effects of ES on cell viability, proliferation, migration and angiogenesis. ES was 100× less potent at triggering IL‐8 secretion than fibroblasts treated with purified bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS; in equivalent amounts to that found in ES; ∼40 EU/ml). Furthermore, co‐treatment with LPS and ES decreased the LPS‐alone triggered IL‐8 secretion by 13%. Although ES had no direct effect on wound cell phenotypes it did partially reduce the immune response to bacterial LPS exposure. These observations were consistent with the profile of transcriptional responses that were dominated by modulation of immune response genes. Maggot therapy may therefore improve wound healing through the secondary effects of these gene changes in the wound cells.
Learning‐based 3T brain MRI segmentation with guidance from 7T MRI labeling
Authors: Deng Minghui , Yu Renping , Wang Li , Shi Feng , Yap Pew‐Thian , Shen Dinggang ,   Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: November 2016

Purpose:

Segmentation of brain magnetic resonance (MR) images into white matter (WM), gray matter (GM), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is crucial for brain structural measurement and disease diagnosis. Learning‐based segmentation methods depend largely on the availability of good training ground truth. However, the commonly used 3T MR images are of insufficient image quality and often exhibit poor intensity contrast between WM, GM, and CSF. Therefore, they are not ideal for providing good ground truth label data for training learning‐based methods. Recent advances in ultrahigh field 7T imaging make it possible to acquire images with excellent intensity contrast and signal‐to‐noise ratio.

Methods:

In this paper, the authors propose an algorithm based on random forest for segmenting 3T MR images by training a series of classifiers based on reliable labels obtained semiautomatically from 7T MR images. The proposed algorithm iteratively refines the probability maps of WM, GM, and CSF via a cascade of random forest classifiers for improved tissue segmentation.

Results:

The proposed method was validated on two datasets, i.e., 10 subjects collected at their institution and 797 3T MR images from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) dataset. Specifically, for the mean Dice ratio of all 10 subjects, the proposed method achieved 94.52% ± 0.9%, 89.49% ± 1.83%, and 79.97% ± 4.32% for WM, GM, and CSF, respectively, which are significantly better than the state‐of‐the‐art methods (p‐values < 0.021). For the ADNI dataset, the group difference comparisons indicate that the proposed algorithm outperforms state‐of‐the‐art segmentation methods.

Conclusions:

The authors have developed and validated a novel fully automated method for 3T brain MR image segmentation.
Visualization of gravitational potential wells using 3D printing technology
Authors: Su Jun , Wang Weiguo , Lu Meishu , Xu Xinran , Yan Qi Fan , Lu Jianlong
Published: November 2016

There have been many studies of the dynamics of a ball rolling on different types of surfaces. Most of these studies have been theoretical, with only a few experimental. We have found that 3D printing offers a novel experimental approach to investigating this topic. In this paper, we use a 3D printer to create four different surfaces and experimentally investigate the dynamics of a ball rolling on these surfaces. Our results are then compared to theory.
Calculation of 2D electronic band structure using matrix
mechanics
Authors: Pavelich R. L. , Marsiglio F.
Published: November 2016

We extend previous work, applying elementary matrix mechanics to one-dimensional periodic arrays (to generate energy bands), to two-dimensional arrays. We generate band structures for the square-lattice “2D Kronig-Penney model” (square wells), the “muffin-tin” potential (circular wells), and Gaussian wells. We then apply the method to periodic arrays of more than one atomic site in a unit cell, specifically to the case of materials with hexagonal lattices like graphene. These straightforward extensions of undergraduate-level calculations allow students to readily determine band structures of current research interest.
Secondary analysis of teaching methods in introductory physics: A 50 k-student study
Authors: Von Korff Joshua , Archibeque Benjamin , Gomez K. Alison , Heckendorf Tyrel , McKagan Sarah B. , Sayre Eleanor C. , Schenk Edward W. , Shepherd Chase , Sorell Lane
Published: November 2016

Physics education researchers have developed many evidence-based instructional strategies to enhance conceptual learning of students in introductory physics courses. These strategies have historically been tested using assessments such as the Force Concept Inventory (FCI) and the Force and Motion Conceptual Evaluation (FMCE). We have performed a review and analysis of FCI and FMCE data published between 1995 and 2014. We confirm previous findings that interactive engagement teaching techniques are significantly more likely to produce high student learning gains than traditional lecture-based instruction. We also establish that interactive engagement instruction works in many settings, including those with students having a high and low level of prior knowledge, at liberal arts and research universities, and enrolled in both small and large classes.
Design of passive directional acoustic devices using Topology Optimization - from method to experimental validation
Authors: Christiansen Rasmus E. , Fernandez-Grande Efren
Published: November 2016

The paper presents a topology optimization based method for designing acoustic focusing devices, capable of tailoring the sound emission pattern of one or several sources, across a chosen frequency band. The method is demonstrated numerically considering devices optimized for directional sound emission in two dimensions and is experimentally validated using three dimensional prints of the optimized designs. The emitted fields exhibit a level difference of at least 15 dB on axis relative to the off-axis directions, over frequency bands of approximately an octave. It is demonstrated to be possible to design focusing devices of dimensions comparable to the acoustic wavelength, a frequency range which is typically problematic, as well as devices operating at higher frequencies. The classical parabolic reflector is used as a benchmark. The devices designed using the proposed method are shown to outperform the latter in terms of directivity and maximum side-lobe level over nearly an octave band. A set of frequencies are considered simultaneously in the design formulation and performance robustness toward uniform spatial production errors in the designed devices is assured by including perturbations of the geometry in the design formulation.
Modeling and parametric investigation of thick encapsulated microbubble's nonspherical oscillations
Authors: Tamadapu Ganesh , Grishenkov Dmitry , Eriksson Anders
Published: November 2016

Numerous studies have been carried out in the past few decades to investigate the radial oscillations of encapsulated microbubbles (MBs). Nonspherical oscillations also have gained attention, being unavoidable in actual applications of these bubbles. The present paper is intended to describe the nature of resonance trends of such spherical and nonspherical modes of a thick encapsulated MB filled with air and suspended in water. The shell material is assumed to be linear viscoelastic and quasi-incompressible. The considered isotropic and spherically isotropic material parametric range is limited to thick polymer shelled MBs. For the case of an isotropic material, shell viscosity has a major influence on the fundamental modes with meridional wave number n = 0, 4, especially for thicker bubbles, unlike for the case of the spherically isotropic material case considered, where the viscosity has very little influence. For most of the parametric range, n = 2, 3 modes are underdamped and their frequency is found to be lower than the n = 0, 4 modes, for both material cases. An interesting case is found for a spherically isotropic quasi-incompressible material case, where the first few nonspherical mode resonances are very close to radial mode resonance frequency.
A Woman? Really? Issues of Diversity in Hiring Decisions
Authors: Picariello Manuela , Angelle Pamela
Published: November 2016

Women are vastly underrepresented in leadership positions in sport organizations both in the United States and internationally (Burton, 2015; Knoppers & Anthonissen, 2008; Whisenant, 2008). The realm of sport is perceived as a gendered space in which the concept of masculinity maintains dominance. This concept may have an influence on the decision making related to the hiring of new staff. When the owner of a men’s professional basketball team decided to hire a new head coach for the upcoming season, he found himself facing many different challenges. He believes that if knowledge, skills, and abilities are the parameters to evaluate a coach, then gender should not be an issue (Chelladurai, 2005). The focus in this case includes (a) organizational fit in hiring, (b) leadership and gender, (c) considerations of diversity, and (d) organizational culture and operations in hiring. This case exemplifies the need to understand that hiring decisions in large organizations are complex and involve a delicate balance of stakeholder interests.
Thyroid metastasis from lung adenocarcinoma with EML4-ALK rearrangement
Authors: Kawamoto Hironori , Kaneko Yugo , Ryu Kai , Kuwano Kazuyoshi
Published: November 2016

Thyroid metastases from lung cancer are very rare. A woman aged 42 years with a tumour in the lower lobe of the right lung was diagnosed as having lung adenocarcinoma positive for echinoderm microtubule-associated proteinlike 4-anaplastic lymphoma kinase. Positron emission tomography demonstrated fluorodeoxyglucose accumulation in the lower lobe of the right lung, the right thyroid lobe and both adrenal glands. We performed fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) and used reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR) to diagnose the patient as having metastatic lung adenocarcinoma to the thyroid gland. We believe that FNAB combined with RT-PCR can be an effective method for diagnosing metastatic lung adenocarcinoma to the thyroid gland.
Pre- and within-meal effects of fluid dairy products on appetite, food intake, glycemia, and regulatory hormones in children
Authors: Vien Shirley , Luhovyy Bohdan L. , Patel Barkha P. , Panahi Shirin , El Khoury Dalia , Mollard Rebecca C. , Hamilton Jill K. , Anderson G. Harvey
Published: November 2016

The effect of beverages commonly consumed by children in-between or with meals on short-term food intake (FI) and glycemic control has received little attention. Therefore, 2 experiments were conducted in 9- to 14-year-old children following a randomized repeated-measures design. Experiment 1 (n = 32) compared the effects of water (control) and isocaloric (130 kcal) amounts of 2% milk, chocolate milk, yogurt drink, and fruit punch on subjective appetite and FI. Experiment 2 (n = 20) compared the effects of isocaloric (130 kcal) amounts of 2% milk and fruit punch on subjective appetite, FI, and glycemic and appetite hormone responses. One serving of the beverages was given as a pre-meal drink at baseline (0 min) and a second serving 60 min later with an ad libitum pizza meal. Meal FI in experiment 1 was lower by 14% and 10%, respectively, after chocolate milk and yogurt drink (p < 0.001), but not milk, compared with water. Cumulative energy intake (beverages plus meal) was higher after caloric beverages than water. In experiment 2, no differences occurred in pre-meal but post-meal glucose was 83% higher in overweight/obese than normal-weight children (p = 0.02). Milk led to higher pre-meal glucagon-like peptide-1 and post-meal peptide tyrosine tyrosine (PYY) than fruit punch (p < 0.01) but insulin did not differ between treatments. In conclusion, dairy products consumed before and with a meal have more favourable effects on FI, appetite, and satiety hormones than a sugar-sweetened beverage, but all caloric beverages result in more cumulative calories than if water is the beverage.
Lactoferrin potentially facilitates glucose regulation and enhances the incretin effect
Authors: Maekawa Yuta , Sugiyama Akihiko , Takeuchi Takashi
Published: November 2016

Lactoferrin (Lf) is known for its physiologically pleiotropic properties. In this study, we investigated whether Lf affects glycemic regulation, including glucose absorption from the small intestine. Bovine Lf (bLf, 100 mg/kg body mass) was administered to rats by intraperitoneal injection before intravenous (intravenous glucose tolerance test, IVGTT) or oral glucose administration (oral glucose tolerance test, OGTT). With IVGTT, bLf pretreatment had no significant effect on plasma levels of glucose or insulin. With OGTT, the bLf treatment group tended to show lower plasma levels of glucose than the control group at and after the 15 min peak, and decreased levels of plasma glucose at 180 min. The change in plasma levels of insulin from 0 to 30 min was higher in the bLf treatment group than in the control group. Total plasma glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) was lowered at 60 min by the bLf treatment, while an immediate increase in total plasma glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) was observed within the bLf group undergoing OGTT. In addition, bLf was associated with an increase in the amount of glucose absorbed into the everted jejunum sac. These results suggest that Lf could suppress hyperglycemia, accompanied by elevated plasma levels of insulin via transiently accelerating GLP-1 secretion, and that Lf even enhances glucose absorption from the small intestine.
Potential regulatory mechanisms of lncRNA in diabetes and its complications
Authors: Feng Shui-Dong , Yang Ji-Hua , Yao Chao Hua , Yang Si-Si , Zhu Ze-Mei , Wu Di , Ling Hong-Yan , Zhang Liang
Published: November 2016

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides without protein-coding potential. Although these molecules were initially considered as “junk products” of transcription without biological relevance, recent advances in research have shown that lncRNA plays an important role, not only in cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, and metabolism, but also in the pathological processes of cancers, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we focus on the potential regulatory roles of lncRNA in diabetes and the complications associated with diabetes.
DNA barcoding as an aid for species identification in austral black flies (Insecta: Diptera: Simuliidae)
Authors: Hernández-Triana Luis M. , Montes De Oca Fernanda , Prosser Sean W.J. , Hebert Paul D.N. , Gregory T. Ryan , McMurtrie Shelley
Published: November 2016

In this paper, the utility of a partial sequence of the COI gene, the DNA barcoding region, for the identification of species of black flies in the austral region was assessed. Twenty-eight morphospecies were analyzed: eight of the genus Austrosimulium (four species in the subgenus Austrosimulium s. str., three species in the subgenus Novaustrosimulium, and one species unassigned to subgenus), two of the genus Cnesia, eight of Gigantodax, three of Paracnephia, one of Paraustrosimulium, and six of Simulium (subgenera Morops, Nevermannia, and Pternaspatha). The neighbour-joining tree derived from the DNA barcode sequences grouped most specimens according to species or species groups recognized by morphotaxonomic studies. Intraspecific sequence divergences within morphologically distinct species ranged from 0% to 1.8%, while higher divergences (2%–4.2%) in certain species suggested the presence of cryptic diversity. The existence of well-defined groups within S. simile revealed the likely inclusion of cryptic diversity. DNA barcodes also showed that specimens identified as C. dissimilis, C. nr. pussilla, and C. ornata might be conspecific, suggesting possible synonymy. DNA barcoding combined with a sound morphotaxonomic framework would provide an effective approach for the identification of black flies in the region.
On rectangular HOMFLY for twist knots
Authors: Kononov Ya. , Morozov A.
Published: November 2016

As a new step in the study of rectangularly-colored knot polynomials, we reformulate the prescription [A. Morozov, arXiv:1606.06015v8 ] for twist knots in the double-column representations [Formula: see text] in terms of skew Schur polynomials. These, however, are mysteriously shifted from the standard topological locus, which makes further generalization to arbitrary [Formula: see text] not quite straightforward.
Production of D-mesons in p + p and p + Pb collisions at LHC energies
Authors: Baral R. C. , Tripathy S. K. , Younus M. , Naik Z. , Sahu P. K.
Published: November 2016

We present theoretical model comparison with published ALICE results for [Formula: see text]-mesons ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]) in [Formula: see text] collisions at [Formula: see text] = 7 TeV and [Formula: see text] collisions at [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]TeV. Event generator Heavy-Ion Jet Interaction Generator (HIJING), transport calculation of AMPT and calculations from Next-to-Leading Order (NLO)(MNR) and Fixed-Order Next-to-Leading-Logarithmic (FONLL) have been used for this study. We found that HIJING and AMPT model predictions are matching with published [Formula: see text]-meson cross-sections in [Formula: see text] collisions, while both under predict the same in [Formula: see text] collisions. Attempts were made to explain the [Formula: see text] data using NLO-pQCD(MNR), FONLL and other above mentioned models.
AN EXAMINATION OF CLUSTER AND NON-CLUSTER FIRMS’ KNOWLEDGE-BASED ACTIVITIES
Authors: KIRKMAN DOROTHY M. , SIMMS SHALEI V. K. , OGILVIE DT
Published: November 2016

This study puts forth the following research questions: (i) Are there any differences between remotes’ and co-locates’ knowledge portfolios, and (ii) if so, are these differences significant? We contend that significant differences occur in how remotes configure their knowledge activities. To search for possible differences, we examined three sources of knowledge-based activities that are associated with remotes and co-locates: university collaborations and innovative activities such as patenting and scanning. Using survey data from a study of 197 U.S. biotechnology firms, this study found that remotes and co-locates have similar portfolio diversity, but remotes sponsor more faculty research, have a lower patent efficiency rate, and do not scan as frequently as co-located firms.
VALUES-BASED NETWORK AND BUSINESS MODEL INNOVATION
Authors: BREUER HENNING , LÜDEKE-FREUND FLORIAN
Published: November 2016

Innovation management falls short in solving urgent societal problems, if it neglects the power of networks and the values of their constituent actors. Even though network and business model innovation have been acknowledged as innovation categories in their own right, their problem-solving potential remains unexplored. In this article, we argue that purposeful innovation requires considering the shared values of those engaging in innovation processes, where values are understood as subjective notions of the desirable. Values-based innovation can motivate the development of new networks and business models that address complex societal problems, such as the unsustainability of current forms of energy supply. We present a theoretical framework and facilitation methods for values-based network and business model innovation. Both have been applied in an exemplary workshop on regional energy networks in Germany. Reflecting upon the lessons learned from theory and practice, we conclude that crucial starting points for systemic sustainability innovations can be found in values-based networks and business models.
R&D SPILLOVERS AND PRODUCTIVITY IN ITALIAN MANUFACTURING FIRMS
Authors: ALDIERI LUIGI , VINCI CONCETTO PAOLO
Published: November 2016

In this paper, we analyse the relationship between Research and Development (R&D) spillovers and productivity. To this aim, we develop a non-overlapping generation model to evidence the theoretical idea of the spillovers between firms and then we implement an empirical investigation based on data from 9th and 10th Survey on Italian Manufacturing Firms (IMM) conducted by Capitalia to test for this idea. The results provide evidence of higher productivity in R&D and skill intensive industries and this can be interpreted as the signal of the relevance of spillover effects. Indeed, in-house R&D does not capture all aspects of innovation, which often occurs via other channels, especially in SMEs. Small and medium firms, such as Italian firms, are much more able to innovate by exploiting knowledge created outside of them. Thus, the results of our paper suggest that R&D spillovers reinforce in-house R&D in affecting SMEs productivity. Moreover, the contribution of this paper is also to stress the importance of skill composition of the labour force in the innovation process of firms.
Are SPDR Options Good for the Underlying Stocks?
Authors: Liu Shinhua
Published: November 2016

Theories are inconclusive about the various impacts of the introduction of basket securities on the underlying stocks. We explore those effects for the first time around the launch of options on exchange traded funds (ETFs), employing the listing of the options on the S&P 500 Depository Receipts (SPDRs) in January 2005. With known factors controlled respectively, we find that the introduction of the SPDRs options leads to lower trading volume, higher bid–ask spread, higher systematic and total risks, and lower prices for the underlying stocks, consistent with the theory that the advent of basket derivatives alters the mix of various types of portfolio traders in the related markets when they are fully integrated.
Toward Improved Audio CAPTCHAs Based on Auditory Perception and Language Understanding
Authors: Meutzner Hendrik , Gupta Santosh , Nguyen Viet-Hung , Holz Thorsten , Kolossa Dorothea
Published: November 2016

A so-called completely automated public Turing test to tell computers and humans apart (CAPTCHA) represents a challenge-response test that is widely used on the Internet to distinguish human users from fraudulent computer programs, often referred to as bots. To enable access for visually impaired users, most Web sites utilize audio CAPTCHAs in addition to a conventional image-based scheme. Recent research has shown that most currently available audio CAPTCHAs are insecure, as they can be broken by means of machine learning at relatively low costs. Moreover, most audio CAPTCHAs suffer from low human success rates that arise from severe signal distortions.

This article proposes two different audio CAPTCHA schemes that systematically exploit differences between humans and computers in terms of auditory perception and language understanding, yielding a better trade-off between usability and security as compared to currently available schemes. Furthermore, we provide an elaborate analysis of Google’s prominent reCAPTCHA that serves as a baseline setting when evaluating our proposed CAPTCHA designs.
Distributed Algorithms for Computing Very Large Thresholded Covariance Matrices
Authors: Gao Zekai J. , Jermaine Chris
Published: November 2016

Computation of covariance matrices from observed data is an important problem, as such matrices are used in applications such as principal component analysis (PCA), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), and increasingly in the learning and application of probabilistic graphical models. However, computing an empirical covariance matrix is not always an easy problem. There are two key difficulties associated with computing such a matrix from a very high-dimensional dataset. The first problem is over-fitting. For a
p
-dimensional covariance matrix, there are
p
(
p
− 1)/2 unique, off-diagonal entries in the empirical covariance matrix Ŝ for large
p
(say,
p
> 10
5
), the size
n
of the dataset is often much smaller than the number of covariances to compute. Over-fitting is a concern in any situation in which the number of parameters learned can greatly exceed the size of the dataset. Thus, there are strong theoretical reasons to expect that for high-dimensional data—even Gaussian data—the empirical covariance matrix is not a good estimate for the true covariance matrix underlying the generative process. The second problem is computational. Computing a covariance matrix takes
O
(
np
2
) time. For large
p
(greater than 10,000) and
n
much greater than
p
, this is debilitating. In this article, we consider how both of these difficulties can be handled simultaneously. Specifically, a key regularization technique for high-dimensional covariance estimation is
thresholding
, in which the smallest or least significant entries in the covariance matrix are simply dropped and replaced with the value 0. This suggests an obvious way to address the computational difficulty as well: First, compute the identities of the
K
entries in the covariance matrix that are actually important in the sense that they will not be removed during thresholding, and then in a second step, compute the values of those entries. This can be done in
O
(
Kn
) time. If
K
≪
p
2
and the identities of the important entries can be computed in reasonable time, then this is a big win. The key technical contribution of this article is the design and implementation of two different distributed algorithms for approximating the identities of the important entries quickly, using sampling. We have implemented these methods and tested them using an 800-core compute cluster. Experiments have been run using real datasets having millions of data points and up to 40, 000 dimensions. These experiments show that the proposed methods are both accurate and efficient.
Partitioning Networks with Node Attributes by Compressing Information Flow
Authors: Smith Laura M. , Zhu Linhong , Lerman Kristina , Percus Allon G.
Published: November 2016

Real-world networks are often organized as modules or communities of similar nodes that serve as functional units. These networks are also rich in content, with nodes having distinguished features or attributes. In order to discover a network’s modular structure, it is necessary to take into account not only its links but also node attributes. We describe an information-theoretic method that identifies modules by compressing descriptions of information flow on a network. Our formulation introduces node content into the description of information flow, which we then minimize to discover groups of nodes with similar attributes that also tend to trap the flow of information. The method is conceptually simple and does not require ad-hoc parameters to specify the number of modules or to control the relative contribution of links and node attributes to network structure. We apply the proposed method to partition real-world networks with known community structure. We demonstrate that adding node attributes helps recover the underlying community structure in content-rich networks more effectively than using links alone. In addition, we show that our method is faster and more accurate than alternative state-of-the-art algorithms.
Algorithm 969
Authors: Gil Amparo , Ruiz-Antolín Diego , Segura Javier , Temme Nico M.
Published: November 2016

An algorithm for computing the incomplete gamma function γ
*
(
a
,
z
) for real values of the parameter
a
and negative real values of the argument
z
is presented. The algorithm combines the use of series expansions, Poincaré-type expansions, uniform asymptotic expansions, and recurrence relations, depending on the parameter region. A relative accuracy ∼10
−13
in the parameter region (
a
,
z
) ∈ [− 500, 500] × [− 500, 0) can be obtained when computing the function γ
*
(
a
,
z
) with the Fortran 90 module
IncgamNEG
implementing the algorithm.
Waste Makes Haste
Authors: Segal-Halevi Erel , Hassidim Avinatan , Aumann Yonatan
Published: November 2016

We consider the classic problem of envy-free division of a heterogeneous good (“cake”) among several agents. It is known that, when the allotted pieces must be connected, the problem cannot be solved by a finite algorithm for three or more agents. The impossibility result, however, assumes that the entire cake must be allocated. In this article, we replace the entire-allocation requirement with a weaker
partial-proportionality
requirement: the piece given to each agent must be worth for it at least a certain positive fraction of the entire cake value. We prove that this version of the problem is solvable in bounded time even when the pieces must be connected. We present simple, bounded-time envy-free cake-cutting algorithms for (1) giving each of
n
agents a connected piece with a positive value; (2) giving each of three agents a connected piece worth at least 1/3; (3) giving each of four agents a connected piece worth at least 1/7; (4) giving each of four agents a disconnected piece worth at least 1/4; and (5) giving each of
n
agents a disconnected piece worth at least (1 − ϵ)/
n
for any positive ϵ.