bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Two-level inhibition of
galK
expression by Spot 42: Degradation of mRNA mK2 and enhanced transcription termination before the
galK
gene
Authors: Wang Xun , Ji Sang Chun , Jeon Heung Jin , Lee Yonho , Lim Heon M.
Published: June 2015

Significance

Most sRNAs of
Escherichia coli
function at the 5′ end of the target RNA. Binding of sRNA to the 5′ end of the target RNA induces a ribosome-free zone that causes molecular events such as target RNA degradation and Rho-termination. Results from this study show that Spot 42 enhances Rho-termination at the end of the
galT
gene, demonstrating for the first time that sRNA could function at the 3′ end of the target RNA. The region where Spot 42 binds overlaps with two other functional cis-acting sites: the ribosome-binding site for
galK
and the cytosine-rich, guanine-poor region known as the Rho-binding site, suggesting a unique molecular mechanism to enhance Rho-termination occurring at a cistron junction in a multicistronic operon.
Problems and solutions for a hybrid approach to grounding practical normativity
Authors: Behrends Jeff
Published: June 2015

Source Hybridism about practical reasons is the position that facts that constitute reasons sometimes derive their normative force from external metaphysical grounds, and sometimes from internal. Although historically less popular than either Source Internalism or Source Externalism, hybridism has lately begun to garner more attention. Here, I further the hybridist’s cause by defending Source Hybridism from three objections. I argue that we are not warranted in rejecting hybridism for any of the following reasons: that hybridists cannot provide an account of normative weight, that hybridists are committed to implausible results concerning practical deliberation, or that Source Hybridism is objectionably unparsimonious.
Adam Smith in a warmer world: climate change, multilateral trade and national food security
Authors: Crump Larry
Published: June 2015

Market efficiency is essential in a world of scarce resources, but it is a secondary concern if human survival depends on a market that can provide reliable agricultural supply. For example, the projected increase in the frequency, magnitude and severity of extreme weather events (as increasing CO2 emissions make the world warmer) has profound implications for the reliability of the multilateral agricultural market. Market reliability is assumed to be embedded in supply and demand price transmission, although this assumption may not hold in a changing climate. This paper examines these concerns and makes recommendations to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and to leaders of national governments about rethinking the balance between interdependence on a multilateral agricultural market and national independence (not self-sufficiency) based on development of multiple food delivery systems to protect against periodic agricultural price shocks. Once established, via the WTO Doha round, a non-distorted multilateral agriculture market will become the primary global food security system, but national governments may also wish to examine a range of secondary food security systems.
Considering Too Few Alternatives: The Mental Model Theory of Extensional Reasoning
Authors: Chevalley Thierry , Schaeken Walter
Published: June 2015

When solving a simple probabilistic problem, people tend to build an incomplete mental representation. We observe this pattern in responses to probabilistic problems over a set of premises using the conjunction, disjunction, and conditional propositional connectives. The mental model theory of extensional reasoning explains this bias towards underestimating the number of possibilities: In reckoning with different interpretations of the premises (logical rules, mental model theoretical, and, specific to conditional premises, conjunction and biconditional interpretation) the mental model theory accounts for the majority of observations. Different interpretations of a premise result in a build-up of mental models that are often incomplete. These mental models are processed using either an extensional strategy relying on proportions amongst models, or a conflict monitoring strategy. The consequence of considering too few possibilities is an erroneous probability estimate akin to that faced by decision makers who fail to generate and consider all alternatives, a characteristic of bounded rationality. We compare our results to the results published by Johnson-Laird, Legrenzi, Girotto, Legrenzi, and Caverni [Johnson-Laird, P., Legrenzi, P., Girotto, V., Legrenzi, M., & Caverni, J. (1999). Naive probability: A mental model theory of extensional reasoning. Psychological Review, 106, 62–88. doi:10.1037/0033-295X.106.1.62], and we observe lower performance levels than those in the original article.
Mitigating bycatch and depredation of marine mammals in longline fisheries
Authors: Werner Timothy B. , Northridge Simon , Press Kate McClellan , Young Nina
Published: June 2015

Demersal and pelagic longline fisheries involve frequent and geographically widespread interactions with many individuals, populations, and species of marine mammals. Animals sometimes suffer mortality and serious injury following these interactions, attracted mainly to longlines as a source of food. This depredating behaviour can have serious consequences for fishermen, especially when they lose valuable catch and face other associated operational and regulatory challenges. Using input from a group of international experts in the science, fishing industry, and government sectors, we produced a list of methods for mitigating depredation and bycatch of marine mammals in longline fisheries, collectively assessed their potential as a solution, and determined priorities for further research. The intention of this review is to help synthesize our current understanding about potential solutions, to provide an introduction to the articles that appear in this themed set of the ICES Journal of Marine Science, and to help fishermen, fisheries managers, and research scientists advance solutions to this global problem.
Dive to survive: effects of capture depth on barotrauma and post-release survival of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) in recreational fisheries
Authors: Ferter Keno , Weltersbach Marc Simon , Humborstad Odd-Børre , Fjelldal Per Gunnar , Sambraus Florian , Strehlow Harry Vincent , Vølstad Jon Helge
Published: June 2015

Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) caught in recreational fisheries are commonly released, often with barotrauma after rapid decompression. Mouth-hooked, non-bleeding cod kept in a floating net pen showed mortalities ≥40% when angled from >50 m depth, likely because of cumulative stress from ongoing barotrauma and exposure to warm surface water. In a natural setting, however, cod have the opportunity to descend after release and are not restricted to the surface. In a follow-up study, 97.8% of similarly selected cod managed to dive following immediate release, whereas 2.2% were floaters. No mortality was observed for divers kept in cages, which were lowered to capture depth for 72 h. While the floaters would likely have died in a natural setting, no mortality was observed when they were recompressed and kept at capture depth for 72 h. The occurrence of swim bladder ruptures, swollen coelomic cavities, venous gas embolisms, and gas release around the anus was significantly influenced by capture depth (range 0–90 m). A supplementary radiology study showed inflated swim bladders in 87% of the cod after 72 h, and most barotrauma signs had disappeared after 1 month. This study encourages investigation of survival potential for physoclistous species when high mortalities are assumed but undocumented. Matching natural post-release and containment environment is essential in the experimental setup, as failure to do so may bias survival estimates, particularly when a thermocline is present. Assuming minimal predation, short-term mortality of cod experiencing barotrauma is negligible if cod submerge quickly by themselves and are otherwise not substantially injured. Survival of floaters may be increased by forced recompression to capture depth. Sublethal and long-term impacts of barotrauma remain to be studied. To ensure that cod have sufficient energy to submerge, anglers are encouraged to avoid fighting the fish to exhaustion and to minimize handling before release.
Phylodynamics of H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Europe, 2005–2010: Potential for Molecular Surveillance of New Outbreaks
Authors: Alkhamis Mohammad A. , Moore Brian R. , Perez Andres M.
Published: June 2015

Previous Bayesian phylogeographic studies of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) explored the origin and spread of the epidemic from China into Russia, indicating that HPAIV circulated in Russia prior to its detection there in 2005. In this study, we extend this research to explore the evolution and spread of HPAIV within Europe during the 2005–2010 epidemic, using all available sequences of the HA and NA gene regions that were collected in Europe and Russia during the outbreak. We use discrete-trait phylodynamic models within a Bayesian statistical framework to explore the evolution of HPAIV. Our results indicate that the genetic diversity and effective population size of HPAIV peaked between mid-2005 and early 2006, followed by drastic decline in 2007, which coincides with the end of the epidemic in Europe. Our results also suggest that domestic birds were the most likely source of the spread of the virus from Russia into Europe. Additionally, estimates of viral dispersal routes indicate that Russia, Romania, and Germany were key epicenters of these outbreaks. Our study quantifies the dynamics of a major European HPAIV pandemic and substantiates the ability of phylodynamic models to improve molecular surveillance of novel AIVs.
Cross-Species Network Analysis Uncovers Conserved Nitrogen-Regulated Network Modules in Rice
Authors: Obertello Mariana , Shrivastava Stuti , Katari Manpreet S. , Coruzzi Gloria M.
Published: June 2015

In this study, we used a cross-species network approach to uncover nitrogen (N)-regulated network modules conserved across a model and a crop species. By translating gene network knowledge from the data-rich model Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) to a crop, rice (Oryza sativa), we identified evolutionarily conserved N-regulatory modules as targets for translational studies to improve N use efficiency in transgenic plants. To uncover such conserved N-regulatory network modules, we first generated an N-regulatory network based solely on rice transcriptome and gene interaction data. Next, we enhanced the network knowledge in the rice N-regulatory network using transcriptome and gene interaction data from Arabidopsis and new data from Arabidopsis and rice plants exposed to the same N treatment conditions. This cross-species network analysis uncovered a set of N-regulated transcription factors (TFs) predicted to target the same genes and network modules in both species. Supernode analysis of the TFs and their targets in these conserved network modules uncovered genes directly related to N use (e.g. N assimilation) and to other shared biological processes indirectly related to N. This cross-species network approach was validated with members of two TF families in the supernode network, BASIC-LEUCINE ZIPPER TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR1-TGA and HYPERSENSITIVITY TO LOW PI-ELICITED PRIMARY ROOT SHORTENING1 (HRS1)/HRS1 Homolog family, which have recently been experimentally validated to mediate the N response in Arabidopsis.
Live small-animal X-ray lung velocimetry and lung micro-tomography at the Australian Synchrotron Imaging and Medical Beamline
Authors: Murrie Rhiannon P. , Morgan Kaye S. , Maksimenko Anton , Fouras Andreas , Paganin David M. , Hall Chris , Siu Karen K. W. , Parsons David W. , Donnelley Martin
Published: June 2015

The high flux and coherence produced at long synchrotron beamlines makes them well suited to performing phase-contrast X-ray imaging of the airways and lungs of live small animals. Here, findings of the first live-animal imaging on the Imaging and Medical Beamline (IMBL) at the Australian Synchrotron are reported, demonstrating the feasibility of performing dynamic lung motion measurement and high-resolution micro-tomography. Live anaesthetized mice were imaged using 30 keV monochromatic X-rays at a range of sample-to-detector propagation distances. A frame rate of 100 frames s−1allowed lung motion to be determined using X-ray velocimetry. A separate group of humanely killed mice and rats were imaged by computed tomography at high resolution. Images were reconstructed and rendered to demonstrate the capacity for detailed, user-directed display of relevant respiratory anatomy. The ability to perform X-ray velocimetry on live mice at the IMBL was successfully demonstrated. High-quality renderings of the head and lungs visualized both large structures and fine details of the nasal and respiratory anatomy. The effect of sample-to-detector propagation distance on contrast and resolution was also investigated, demonstrating that soft tissue contrast increases, and resolution decreases, with increasing propagation distance. This new capability to perform live-animal imaging and high-resolution micro-tomography at the IMBL enhances the capability for investigation of respiratory diseases and the acceleration of treatment development in Australia.
Two-dimensionalin situmetrology of X-ray mirrors using the speckle scanning technique
Authors: Wang Hongchang , Kashyap Yogesh , Laundy David , Sawhney Kawal
Published: June 2015

In situmetrology overcomes many of the limitations of existing metrology techniques and is capable of exceeding the performance of present-day optics. A novel technique for precisely characterizing an X-ray bimorph mirror and deducing its two-dimensional (2D) slope error map is presented. This technique has also been used to perform fast optimization of a bimorph mirror using the derived 2D piezo response functions. The measured focused beam size was significantly reduced after the optimization, and the slope error map was then verified by using geometrical optics to simulate the focused beam profile. This proposed technique is expected to be valuable forin situmetrology of X-ray mirrors at synchrotron radiation facilities and in astronomical telescopes.
Iterative projection algorithms in protein crystallography. II. Application
Authors: Lo Victor L. , Kingston Richard L. , Millane Rick P.
Published: June 2015

Iterative projection algorithms (IPAs) are a promising tool for protein crystallographic phase determination. Although related to traditional density-modification algorithms, IPAs have better convergence properties, and, as a result, can effectively overcome the phase problem given modest levels of structural redundancy. This is illustrated by applying IPAs to determine the electron densities of two protein crystals with fourfold non-crystallographic symmetry, starting with only the experimental diffraction amplitudes, a low-resolution molecular envelope and the position of the non-crystallographic axes. The algorithm returns electron densities that are sufficiently accurate for model building, allowing automated recovery of the known structures. This study indicates that IPAs should find routine application in protein crystallography, being capable of reconstructing electron densities starting with very little initial phase information.
Crystal structure of 2-methyl-3-nitrobenzoic anhydride
Authors: Moreno-Fuquen Rodolfo , Azcárate Alexis , Kennedy Alan R.
Published: June 2015

The title molecule, C16H12N2O7, lies on a twofold rotation axis which bisects the central O atom. The dihedral angle between two symmetry-related benzene rings is 48.54 (9)°. In the crystal, molecules are linked by weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds which generateC(13) chains running parallel to [31-1].
Relationship between capital, risk and efficiency
Authors: Miah Md. Dulal , Sharmeen Kashfia
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate the relationship between capital risk and efficiency of Islamic and conventional banks operating in Bangladesh. In this pursuit, the research attempts to answer these questions: do inefficient banks assume more risk? Is there any major difference between Islamic and conventional banks in terms of efficiency and risk taking behavior?

Design/methodology/approach

– The study collects various bank-level data from the audited financial statements of Islamic and conventional banks for the period of 2001 to 2011. Collected data are analyzed using Stochastic Frontier Analysis for efficiency estimation and Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SUR) approach for assessing the relationship between capital, risk, and efficiency.

Findings

– Analysis of data shows that conventional banks are more efficient in managing cost than Islamic banks. Moreover, the SUR results show that the relation between capital and efficiency are bidirectional and negative, whereas the relation between capital and risk is also bidirectional but positive for Islamic banks. On the other hand, risk and efficiency are positively related, and the result is bidirectional for conventional banks.

Research limitations/implications

– The research concentrates on private-commercial banks as proxy for conventional banks. State-owned banks including specialized banks and foreign commercial banks are excluded from the sample due to various anomalies in reporting of financial data.

Practical implications

– There is a lot of room for Islamic banks to increase productive efficiency because cost efficiency of Islamic banks is less than that of the conventional banks. This can be attributed to the relative small size of Islamic banks in Bangladesh. Because there exists a positive relationship between size and efficiency for Islamic banks, they can concentrate on increasing their size to capitalize on economies of scale. Moreover, the analysis shows that inefficient conventional banks assume higher risk which conforms to moral hazard hypothesis. Therefore, regulatory authorities should discourage banks from exercising such practice for the greater stability of the overall banking system in Bangladesh.

Originality/value

– A good number of studies is available in the existing literature that compares the performance of Islamic and conventional banks in the case of Bangladesh. However, very few studies are found that examine the relationship between capital, risk and efficiency. Therefore, the research is new for the selected area. As a result, the research is expected to contribute to the existing literature by providing new information.
Regional initiative in the Gulf Arab States: the search for a common currency
Authors: Basher Syed
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to make two main additions to the literature on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) monetary union. First, it emphasizes that the creation of a fiscal union is necessary for the GCC monetary union to succeed. Second, it proposes some alternatives to pegging to the dollar, which would allow the GCC countries to absorb large swings in global commodity prices (oil, food) in the short to medium run.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper uses exploratory research to shed light on the feasibility of a common currency for the proposed GCC Monetary Union.

Findings

– Given the challenges associated with creating a GCC fiscal union as a requirement for a successful monetary union, the GCC countries could easily set up an “anti-crisis fund” to partially protect themselves from the economic and social costs of unforeseen crises. A basket, band and crawl (BBC) currency system, at an individual country level or a regional level, would allow the GCC countries to cope with not just large swings in global commodity prices, but also as an effective instrument for the governments to promote their economic diversification.

Practical implications

– This paper offers a template for the GCC central banks to consider the BBC currency system as an alternative to their existing dollar peg regime.

Originality/value

– This is the first paper that attempts to provide a formal argument in support of the BBC currency system as an alternative exchange rate arrangement for the GCC countries.
International comparison of Shari’ah compliance screening standards
Authors: Ho Catherine S F
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to review the Shari’ah investment screening methodologies of 34 prominent global Islamic finance users, including index providers, Shari’ah service providers, Islamic banks, a regulator, an association body and fund managers.

Design/methodology/approach

– A comparative analysis is performed to highlight the variances of the Shari’ah-compliant methods and principles practiced by these renowned institutions with the latest compiled data.

Findings

– The two sets of business screens and financial screens are profiled separately to clearly examine the similarities and differences between the different methodologies. Some of these practitioners are more specific in their listing of Shari’ah-impermissible activities, while some are more general in allowing more businesses to be included as permissible. The majority of these users practice a two-tier method of screening: qualitative and quantitative. Under quantitative screen, the range of allowable threshold ratios on non-permissible criteria differs slightly between them.

Research limitations/implications

– With the wide divergence in screening methodologies applied by practitioners, there is a general consensus in the acceptance of compliant assets from various countries and practice. Standardization is, therefore, seen as a need not only to make understanding of Shari’ah investments clear to investors but also to discourage misunderstandings between scholars and investors.

Practical implications

– The suggestion, therefore, is to set globally acceptable universal Shari’ah standard methodologies which are applicable by the world Islamic financial market. These standards which are relevant and logical to global ethical investing would further stimulate investments in Islamic finance.

Social implications

– With Shari’ah-compliant asset growing exponentially relative to the world’s financial assets, it is alleged that greater harmonization of the global screening methods would prevent misunderstanding and provide a clearer insight on Shari’ah investing, which could further accelerate growth of the Islamic finance sector worldwide.

Originality/value

– To provide a more transparent regulatory environment and build local and regional regulatory framework through establishment of standards, there should be more consistency with minimum barriers that prevent the industry from achieving its full potential. The paper also contributes to existing literature by documenting and analyzing the qualitative and quantitative screening procedures as practiced by a comprehensive set of global Islamic finance users. It is, therefore, important to share this knowledge as an effort toward greater understanding and harmonization of the practices at the global level to accelerate growth in the industry.
Scripting the active patient in online health communities
Authors: Vennik Femke D. , Adams Samantha A. , Putters Kim
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to improve the general operationalization of an “active patient,” by examining the specific activities and skills expected of active patients.

Design/methodology/approach

– Expected activities and necessary skills were studied through a qualitative case study into the development and use of an assistive technology (i.e. web site) aimed at stimulating active patient-ship. Interviews, observations and document analysis were used to capture and explore designers’ inscribing practices and their consequences regarding expected competences and activities of patients using the web site.

Findings

– Designers inscribed two “co-design roles” that active patients were expected to perform on the web site (co-designing their own healthcare and co-designing the healthcare of peers), for which at least eight different competencies were needed. The absence of skills or facilities to apply these skills resulted in incomplete use, a different use than intended by designers and non-use of the web site.

Practical implications

– Technological choices and inscribing processes determine who is able or facilitated to become active and who is not. Due to inscribed co-design roles, it also influences the extent to which already active peers are able to perform health-related activities. Different users with different conditions should be taken into account in the design as specific group characteristics can influence level of individual activity.

Originality/value

– This study is, as far as the authors know, the first that examines the “active patient” concept by studying an assistive technology and using scripting literature, resulting in an improved understanding of what it means to become “active” in terms of skills and activities.
Using clinical governance levers to support change in a cancer care reform
Authors: Brault Isabelle , Denis Jean-Louis , Sullivan Terrence James
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– Introducing change is a difficult issue facing all health care systems. The use of various clinical governance levers can facilitate change in health care systems. The purpose of this paper is to define clinical governance levers, and to illustrate their use in a large-scale transformation.

Design/methodology/approach

– The empirical analysis deals with the in-depth study of a specific case, which is the organizational model for Ontario’s cancer sector. The authors used a qualitative research strategy and drew the data from three sources: semi-structured interviews, analysis of documents, and non-participative observations.

Findings

– From the results, the authors identified three phases and several steps in the reform of cancer services in this province. The authors conclude that a combination of clinical governance levers was used to transform the system. These levers operated at different levels of the system to meet the targeted objectives.

Practical implications

– To exercise clinical governance, managers need to acquire new competencies. Mobilizing clinical governance levers requires in-depth understanding of the role and scope of clinical governance levers.

Originality/value

– This study provides a better understanding of clinical governance levers. Clinical governance levers are used to implement an organizational environment that is conducive to developing clinical practice, as well as to act directly on practices to improve quality of care.
Supporting and activating clinical governance development in Ireland: sharing our learning
Authors: Flynn Maureen A. , Burgess Thora , Crowley Philip
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present a description of the Irish national clinical governance development initiative and an evaluation of the initiative with the purpose of sharing the learning and proposing actions to activate structures and processes for quality and safety. The Quality and Patient Safety Division of the Health Service Executive established the initiative to counterbalance a possible focus on finances during the economic crisis in Ireland and bring attention to the quality of clinical care.

Design/methodology/approach

– A clinical governance framework for quality in healthcare in Ireland was developed to clearly articulate the fundamentals of clinical governance. The project plan involved three overlapping phases. The first was designing resources for practice; the second testing the implementation of the national resources in practice; and the third phase focused on gathering feedback and learning.

Findings

– Staff responded positively to the clinical governance framework. At a time when there are a lot of demands (measurement and scrutiny) the health services leads and responds well to focused support as they improve the quality and safety of services. Promoting the use of the term “governance for quality and safety” assisted in gaining an understanding of the more traditional term “clinical governance”. The experience and outcome of the initiative informed the identification of 12 key learning points and a series of recommendations

Research limitations/implications

– The initial evaluation was conducted at 24 months so at this stage it is not possible to assess the broader impact of the clinical governance framework beyond the action project hospitals.

Practical implications

– The single most important obligation for any health system is patient safety and improving the quality of care. The easily accessible, practical resources assisted project teams to lead changes in structures and processes within their services. This paper describes the fundamentals of the clinical governance framework which might serve as a guide for more integrative research endeavours on governance for quality and safety.

Originality/value

– Experience was gained in both the development of national guidance and their practical use in targeted action projects activating structures and processes that are a prerequisite to delivering safe quality services.
Swedish politicians’ view of obstacles when dealing with priority settings in health care
Authors: Werntoft Elisabet , Edberg Anna-Karin
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify and describe main obstacles for politicians when dealing with healthcare priority setting.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study had an exploratory descriptive design based on interviews with 18 politicians from two different county councils in Sweden. The interviews were analyzed using inductive qualitative content analysis.

Findings

– The politicians highlighted the importance of, and difficulties in, communicate political missions; the politicians in this study saw the media as not always being fair watchdogs, implying that possibly important but unpopular prioritizing decisions were not made because of the risks of being badly reported and therefore not re-elected. Breaking up established structures in care practice is difficult and change takes time, partly because of existing higher level financing and rules and the system’s traditional separation of facilities and services. Although the politicians highlighted their limited power to influence and control resource allocation they could give small and “lower profile”, low-prioritized disciplines control of their own budgets and base payments on the results the disciplines accomplished.

Originality/value

– This study highlights the difficulties that politicians experience, for example, having to take unpleasant decisions and thereby run the risk of being scrutinized by media, which in turn could influence how effectively tax money is being used.
The synergy between eBooks and printed books in Brazil
Authors: Sehn Thaís Cristina Martino , Fragoso Suely
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to discuss reading habits in relation to printed books and eBooks.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study was structured in two steps: first, an online survey was used to trace a general profile of a group of Brazilian readers who had had previous contact with digital books. Second, a subset of respondents was invited to participate in open-ended interviews. Interviewees were chosen according to their responses to the profiling questionnaire. All interviews were semi-structured.

Findings

– The results indicate the existence of a synergy between digital and paper books. The decision between reading one or the other depends on several factors, amongst which the authors emphasise online accessibility, reading motivation (for work or for leisure), intended modes of use and appropriation, circumstances of use and emotional factors. Other elements of importance are the corporeality of the readers and the materiality of the devices used for reading.

Originality/value

– The departure point of the study was the perception that, in Brazil, the arrival of digital books was accompanied by an increase in the sales of printed books. This contradicts the idea that digital books and printed books are concurrent, and the growth of the eBooks market will inevitably lead to a decrease in the revenue from printed books. The initial hypothesis was that digital and printed books could be complementary. Addressing this question required knowledge of readers’ experience with and opinion of printed and digital books. The results of the qualitative study suggest that the relation between these two types of publication is not one of alternatives, but instead is one of synergy. Specific aspects of this synergy are highlighted in the paper.
Evaluating the degree of domain specificity of terms in large terminologies
Authors: Martín-Moncunill David , Sicilia-Urban Miguel-Ángel , García-Barriocanal Elena , Sánchez-Alonso Salvador
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– Large terminologies usually contain a mix of terms that are either generic or domain specific, which makes the use of the terminology itself a difficult task that may limit the positive effects of these systems. The purpose of this paper is to systematically evaluate the degree of domain specificity of the AGROVOC controlled vocabulary terms as a representative of a large terminology in the agricultural domain and discuss the generic/specific boundaries across its hierarchy.

Design/methodology/approach

– A user-oriented study with domain-experts in conjunction with quantitative and systematic analysis. First an in-depth analysis of AGROVOC was carried out to make a proper selection of terms for the experiment. Then domain-experts were asked to classify the terms according to their domain specificity. An evaluation was conducted to analyse the domain-experts’ results. Finally, the resulting data set was automatically compared with the terms in SUMO, an upper ontology and MILO, a mid-level ontology; to analyse the coincidences.

Findings

– Results show the existence of a high number of generic terms. The motivation for several of the unclear cases is also depicted. The automatic evaluation showed that there is not a direct way to assess the specificity degree of a term by using SUMO and MILO ontologies, however, it provided additional validation of the results gathered from the domain-experts.

Research limitations/implications

– The “domain-analysis” concept has long been discussed and it could be addressed from different perspectives. A resume of these perspectives and an explanation of the approach followed in this experiment is included in the background section.

Originality/value

– The authors propose an approach to identify the domain specificity of terms in large domain-specific terminologies and a criterion to measure the overall domain specificity of a knowledge organisation system, based on domain-experts analysis. The authors also provide a first insight about using automated measures to determine the degree to which a given term can be considered domain specific. The resulting data set from the domain-experts’ evaluation can be reused as a gold standard for further research about these automatic measures.
Disclosing the network structure of private companies on the web
Authors: Orduña-Malea Enrique , Delgado López-Cózar Emilio , Serrano-Cobos Jorge , Romero Nuria Lloret
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– It is common for an international company to have different brands, products or services, information for investors, a corporate blog, affiliates, branches in different countries, etc. If all these contents appear as independent additional web domains (AWDs), the company should be represented on the web by all these web domains, since many of these AWDs may acquire remarkable performance that could mask or distort the real web performance of the company, affecting therefore on the understanding of web metrics. The purpose of this paper is to determine the amount, type, web impact and topology of the AWDs in commercial companies in order to get a better understanding on their complete web impact and structure.

Design/methodology/approach

– The set of companies belonging to the Spanish IBEX-35 stock index has been analysed as testing bench. The authors proceeded to identify and categorise all AWDs belonging to these companies, and to apply both web impact (web presence and visibility) and network metrics.

Findings

– The results show that AWDs get a high web presence but relatively low web visibility, due to certain opacity or less dissemination of some AWDs favoring its isolation. This is verified by the low network density values obtained, that occur because AWDs are strongly connected with the corporate domain (although asymmetrically), but very weakly linked each other.

Research limitations/implications

– The categories used to classify the various AWD, although they are clearly distinguishable conceptually, have certain limitations in practice, since they depend on the form adopted by companies to publish certain content or to provide certain services or products. Otherwise, the use of web indicators presents certain problems of accuracy that could be softened if applied with caution and in a relational basis.

Originality/value

– Although the processes of AWDs creation and categorisation are complex (web policy seems not to be driven by a defined or conscious plan), their influence on the web performance of IBEX 35 companies is meaningful. This research measures the AWDs influence on companies under webometric terms for the first time.
Low‐concentration vemurafenib induces the proliferation and invasion of human HaCaT keratinocytes through mitogen‐activated protein kinase pathway activation
Authors: Roh Mi Ryung , Kim Jung Min , Lee Sang Hee , Jang Hong Sun , Park Kyu Hyun , Chung Kee Yang , Rha Sun Young
Published: June 2015

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas and keratoacanthomas commonly occur in patients treated with BRAF inhibitors. We investigated the effect of the BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib on normal immortalized human HaCaT keratinocytes to explore the mechanism of hyperproliferative cutaneous neoplasia associated with the use of BRAF inhibitors. Vemurafenib induced an increase in viable cell number in BRAF wild‐type cell lines (SK‐MEL‐2 and HaCaT) but not in BRAF mutant cell lines (SK‐MEL‐24 and G361). In HaCaT keratinocytes, a low concentration (2 μmol/L) of vemurafenib increased cell proliferation and activated mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase/extracellular signal‐regulated kinase in a CRAF‐dependent manner. Invasiveness of HaCaT cells in a Matrigel assay significantly increased upon cultivation of cells with 2 μmol/L vemurafenib for 24 h. Gelatin zymography, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot results revealed that 2 μmol/L vemurafenib treatment increased matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐2 and MMP‐9 expressions and activities in HaCaT cells. These results offer additional insight into the complex mechanism of paradoxical mitogen‐activated protein kinase signaling involved in hyperproliferative cutaneous neoplasias that arise after BRAF inhibition and suggest a possible role for MMP in tumor progression and invasion.
Psoriatic T cells reduce epidermal turnover time and affect cell proliferation contributed from differential gene expression
Authors: Li Junqin , Li Xinhua , Hou Ruixia , Liu Ruifeng , Zhao Xincheng , Dong Feng , Wang Chunfang , Yin Guohua , Zhang Kaiming
Published: June 2015

Psoriasis is mediated primarily by T cells, which reduce epidermal turnover time and affect keratinocyte proliferation. We aimed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEG) in T cells from normal, five pairs of monozygotic twins concordant or discordant for psoriasis, to determine whether these DEG may account for the influence to epidermal turnover time and keratinocyte proliferation. The impact of T cells on keratinocyte proliferation and epidermal turnover time were investigated separately by immunohistochemistry and cultured with 3H‐TdR. mRNA expression patterns were investigated by RNA sequencing and verified by real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. After co‐culture with psoriatic T cells, the expression of Ki‐67, c‐Myc and p53 increased, while expression of Bcl‐2 and epidermal turnover time decreased. There were 14 DEG which were found to participate in the regulation of cell proliferation or differentiation. Psoriatic T cells exhibited the ability to decrease epidermal turnover time and affect keratinocyte proliferation because of the differential expression of PPIL1, HSPH1, SENP3, NUP54, FABP5, PLEKHG3, SLC9A9 and CHCHD4.
Focal epithelial hyperplasia by human papillomavirus (HPV)‐32 misdiagnosed as HPV‐16 and treated with combination of retinoids, imiquimod and quadrivalent HPV vaccine
Authors: Gemigniani Franco , Hernández‐Losa Javier , Ferrer Berta , García‐Patos Vicente
Published: June 2015

Focal epithelial hyperplasia (FEH) or Heck's disease is a rare, benign and asymptomatic mucosal proliferation associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, mainly with genotypes 13 and 32. We report a florid case of FEH in an 11‐year‐old Haitian girl with systemic lupus erythematosus receiving immunosuppressive therapy. Cryotherapy was previously performed on numerous occasions with no results. We decided to prescribe a non‐invasive and more comfortable treatment. A combination of topical retinoid and imiquimod cream was well tolerated and led to an important improvement. The evidence of infection by HPV‐16 detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, prompted us to prescribe the quadrivalent HPV vaccine (types 6, 11,16 and 18). Subsequent PCR sequencing with generic primers GP5–GP6 and further BLAST comparative analysis confirmed that genomic viral sequence in our case truly corresponded with HPV‐32. This molecular misdiagnosis can be explained by the similarity between genomic sequences of both HPV‐16 and ‐32 genotypes. At the 1‐year follow up, we observed total clinical improvement and no recurrences of the disease. Complete healing in this case may correspond to a potential action of topical retinoid, imiquimod and the cross‐protection mechanism of the quadrivalent HPV vaccine.
Pyoderma gangrenosum with increased levels of serum cytokines
Authors: Kozono Kana , Nakahara Takeshi , Kikuchi Satoko , Itoh Eriko , Kido‐Nakahara Makiko , Furue Masutaka
Published: June 2015

A 66‐year‐old woman presented after an episode of accidental trauma with a painful ulcer on her scalp which rapidly enlarged in size, accompanied by central necrosis and undermining ulceration. The patient's past history was negative for underlying systemic disease, although she had had a similar post‐traumatic intractable leg ulcer 3 years prior, which was unresponsive to surgical management but successfully treated with systemic steroids. A biopsied specimen from the scalp showed marked neutrophilic infiltrates in the dermis, compatible with a diagnosis of pyoderma gangrenosum (PG). The large ulcerative lesion responded very well to oral steroid therapy, showing rapid epithelialization. Serum levels of granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor and interleukin‐6 were significantly elevated prior to treatment, with decrease to normal levels after treatment. Serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α and granulocyte macrophage colony‐stimulating factor levels were within normal limits. The significance and pathogenic role of cytokine burst in PG is reviewed and discussed.
Leaf damage effects on leaf expansion timing in Mallotus japonicus (Euphorbiaceae)
Authors: Yamawo Akira , Tagawa Jun
Published: June 2015

For many plant species, biotic factors determining the timing of leaf expansion have not been elucidated sufficiently. We investigated the effects of leaf damage on the timing of leaf defoliation and on the timing of leaf expansion in Mallotus japonicus (Euphorbiaceae). The degree of leaf herbivory of M. japonicus in the field was examined in summer, with subsequent investigation of the date of leaf defoliation in autumn and that of leaf expansion the following spring. Effects of artificial leaf damage on the timing of leaf defoliation and of leaf expansion were also examined in a greenhouse. In the field, the degree of leaf herbivory sustained by M. japonicus did not affect the timing of defoliation. However, the timing of leaf expansion the next spring advanced earlier, concomitantly with the increase of leaf damage during the previous year. Fifty per cent artificial leaf damage in M. japonicus saplings in summer had no marked effect on the timing of leaf defoliation in autumn. However, the effects of leaf damage on the timing of leaf expansion were apparent the following spring: the damaged plants expanded new leaves ca. 8 days earlier than control plants did. Plants that showed earlier leaf expansion tended to have a higher shoot/root ratio. Our results demonstrate that the plants advance the timing of their leaf expansion in response to leaf damage sustained during the previous year, suggesting that the shoot/root ratio is a determining factor.
Repeatability of Mice Consumption Discrimination of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Varieties across Field Experiments and Mouse Cohorts
Authors: Kiszonas Alecia M. , Fuerst E. Patrick , Morris Craig F.
Published: June 2015

Whole grain wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) foods can provide critical nutrients for health and nutrition in the human diet. Potential flavor differences among varieties can be examined using consumption discrimination of the house mouse (Mus musculus L.) as a model system. This study examines consistency and repeatability of the mouse model and potentially, wheat grain flavor. A single elimination tournament design was used to measure relative consumption preference for hard red spring and hard white spring varieties across all 3 experiments in combination with 2 mouse cohorts. Fifteen replicate mice were used in 24‐h trials to examine differences in preference among paired wheat varieties until an overall “winner” was established as the most highly preferred variety of wheat. In all 3 experiment–cohort combinations, the same varieties were preferred as the “winner” of both the hard red spring and hard white spring wheat varieties, Hollis and BR 7030, respectively. Despite the consistent preference for these varieties across experiments, the degree (magnitude) to which the mice preferred these varieties varied across experiments. For the hard white spring wheat varieties, the small number of varieties and confounding effects of experiment and cohort limited our ability to accurately gauge repeatability. Conversely, for the hard red spring wheat varieties, consumption preferences were consistent across experiments and mice cohorts. The single‐elimination tournament model was effective in providing repeatable results in an effort to more fully understand the mouse model system and possible flavor differences among wheat varieties.