bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ankle and knee kinetics between strike patterns at common training speeds in competitive male runners
Authors: Kuhman Daniel , Melcher Daniel , Paquette Max R.
Published: September 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate the interaction of foot strike and common speeds on sagittal plane ankle and knee joint kinetics in competitive rear foot strike (RFS) runners when running with a RFS pattern and an imposed forefoot strike (FFS) pattern. Sixteen competitive habitual male RFS runners ran at two different speeds (i.e. 8 and 6 min mile−1) using their habitual RFS and an imposed FFS pattern. A repeated measures analysis of variance was used to assess a potential interaction between strike pattern and speed for selected ground reaction force (GRF) variables and, sagittal plane ankle and knee kinematic and kinetic variables. No foot strike and speed interaction was observed for any of the kinetic variables. Habitual RFS yielded a greater loading rate of the vertical GRF, peak ankle dorsiflexor moment, peak knee extensor moment, peak knee eccentric extensor power, peak dorsiflexion and sagittal plane knee range of motion compared to imposed FFS. Imposed FFS yielded greater maximum vertical GRF, peak ankle plantarflexor moment, peak ankle eccentric plantarflexor power and sagittal plane ankle ROM compared to habitual RFS. Consistent with previous literature, imposed FFS in habitual RFS reduces eccentric knee extensor and ankle dorsiflexor involvement but produce greater eccentric ankle plantarflexor action compared to RFS. These acute differences between strike patterns were independent of running speeds equivalent to typical easy and hard training runs in competitive male runners. Current findings along with previous literature suggest differences in lower extremity kinetics between habitual RFS and imposed FFS running are consistent among a variety of runner populations.
Epithelial-intrinsic IKKα expression regulates group 3 innate lymphoid cell responses and antibacterial immunity
Authors: Giacomin Paul R. , Moy Ryan H. , Noti Mario , Osborne Lisa C. , Siracusa Mark C. , Alenghat Theresa , Liu Bigang , McCorkell Kelly A. , Troy Amy E. , Rak Gregory D. , Hu Yinling , May Michael J. , Ma Hak-Ling , Fouser Lynette A. , Sonnenberg Gregory F. , Artis David
Published: September 2015

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are critical for maintaining epithelial barrier integrity at mucosal surfaces; however, the tissue-specific factors that regulate ILC responses remain poorly characterized. Using mice with intestinal epithelial cell (IEC)–specific deletions in either inhibitor of κB kinase (IKK)α or IKKβ, two critical regulators of NFκB activation, we demonstrate that IEC-intrinsic IKKα expression selectively regulates group 3 ILC (ILC3)–dependent antibacterial immunity in the intestine. Although IKKβΔIEC mice efficiently controlled Citrobacter rodentium infection, IKKαΔIEC mice exhibited severe intestinal inflammation, increased bacterial dissemination to peripheral organs, and increased host mortality. Consistent with weakened innate immunity to C. rodentium, IKKαΔIEC mice displayed impaired IL-22 production by RORγt+ ILC3s, and therapeutic delivery of rIL-22 or transfer of sort-purified IL-22–competent ILCs from control mice could protect IKKαΔIEC mice from C. rodentium–induced morbidity. Defective ILC3 responses in IKKαΔIEC mice were associated with overproduction of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) by IECs, which negatively regulated IL-22 production by ILC3s and impaired innate immunity to C. rodentium. IEC-intrinsic IKKα expression was similarly critical for regulation of intestinal inflammation after chemically induced intestinal damage and colitis. Collectively, these data identify a previously unrecognized role for epithelial cell–intrinsic IKKα expression and TSLP in regulating ILC3 responses required to maintain intestinal barrier immunity.
Berezin transforms on noncommutative polydomains
Authors: Popescu Gelu
Published: September 2015

This paper is an attempt to unify the multivariable operator model theory for ball-like domains and commutative polydiscs and extend it to a more general class of noncommutative polydomains

D

q

m

(

H

)

\mathbf {D}_{\mathbf {q}}^{\mathbf {m}}(\mathcal {H})

in

B
(

H

)
n

B(\mathcal {H})^n

. An important role in our study is played by noncommutative Berezin transforms associated with the elements of the polydomain. These transforms are used to prove that each such polydomain has a universal model

W

=
{

W

i
,
j

}

\mathbf {W}=\{\mathbf {W}_{i,j}\}

consisting of weighted shifts acting on a tensor product of full Fock spaces. We introduce the noncommutative Hardy algebra

F
∞

(

D

q

m

)

F^\infty (\mathbf {D}_{\mathbf {q}}^{\mathbf {m}})

as the weakly closed algebra generated by

{

W

i
,
j

}

\{\mathbf {W}_{i,j}\}

and the identity, and use it to provide a WOT-continuous functional calculus for completely non-coisometric tuples in

D

q

m

(

H

)

\mathbf {D}_{\mathbf {q}}^{\mathbf {m}}(\mathcal {H})

. It is shown that the Berezin transform is a completely isometric isomorphism between

F
∞

(

D

q

m

)

F^\infty (\mathbf {D}_{\mathbf {q}}^{\mathbf {m}})

and the algebra of bounded free holomorphic functions on the radial part of

D

q

m

(

H

)

\mathbf {D}_{\mathbf {q}}^{\mathbf {m}}(\mathcal {H})

. A characterization of the Beurling type joint invariant subspaces under

{

W

i
,
j

}

\{\mathbf {W}_{i,j}\}

is also provided.

It has been an open problem for quite some time to find significant classes of elements in the commutative polydisc for which a theory of characteristic functions and model theory can be developed along the lines of the Sz.-Nagy–Foias theory of contractions. We give a positive answer to this question, in our more general setting, providing a characterization for the class of tuples of operators in

D

q

m

(

H

)

\mathbf {D}_{\mathbf {q}}^{\mathbf {m}}(\mathcal {H})

which admit characteristic functions. The characteristic function is constructed explicitly as an artifact of the noncommutative Berezin kernel associated with the polydomain, and it is proved to be a complete unitary invariant for the class of completely non-coisometric tuples. Using noncommutative Berezin transforms and

C
∗

C^*

-algebra techniques, we develop a dilation theory on the noncommutative polydomain

D

q

m

(

H

)

\mathbf {D}_{\mathbf {q}}^{\mathbf {m}}(\mathcal {H})

.
Differentiation and function of group 3 innate lymphoid cells, from embryo to adult
Authors: van de Pavert Serge A. , Vivier Eric
Published: September 2015

Group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3) represent a heterogeneous population of cells that share the nuclear hormone receptor RORγt (retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor γt) as a master regulator for differentiation and function. ILC3 can be divided into two major subsets based on the cell surface expression of the natural cytotoxicity receptor (NCR), NKp46. A subset of NCR − ILC3 includes the previously known lymphoid-tissue inducer cells that are essential for the embryonic formation of peripheral lymph nodes and Peyer’s patches. After birth, the NCR − and NCR + ILC3 contribute to the maintenance of health but also to inflammation in mucosal tissues. This review will describe the differentiation pathways of ILC3, their involvement in the development of the adaptive immune system and their role in the establishment and maintenance of gut immunity.
Morphine Preconditioning Downregulates MicroRNA-134 Expression Against Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation Injuries in Cultured Neurons of Mice
Authors: Meng Fanjun , Li Yan , Chi Wenying , Li Junfa
Published: September 2015

Background:

Brain protection by narcotics such as morphine is clinically relevant due to the extensive use of narcotics in the perioperative period. Morphine preconditioning induces neuroprotection in neurons, but it remains uncertain whether microRNA-134 (miR-134) is involved in morphine preconditioning against oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced injuries in primary cortical neurons of mice. The present study examined this issue.

Materials and Methods:

After cortical neurons of mice were cultured in vitro for 6 days, the neurons were transfected by respective virus vector, such as lentiviral vector (LV)-miR-control-GFP, LV-pre-miR-134-GFP, LV-pre-miR-134-inhibitor-GFP for 24 hours; after being normally cultured for 3 days again, morphine preconditioning was performed by incubating the transfected primary neurons with morphine (3 μM) for 1 hour, and then neuronal cells were exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) for 1 hour and oxygen-glucose recovery for 12 hours. The neuronal cells survival rate and the amount of apoptotic neurons were determined by MTT assay or TUNEL staining at designated time; and the expression levels of miR-134 were detected using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction at the same time.

Results:

The neuronal cell survival rate was significantly higher, and the amount of apoptotic neurons was significantly decreased in neurons preconditioned with morphine before OGD than that of OGD alone. The neuroprotection induced by morphine preconditioning was partially blocked by upregulating miR-134 expression, and was enhanced by downregulating miR-134 expression. The expression of miR-134 was significantly decreased in morphine-preconditioned neurons alone without transfection.

Conclusions:

By downregulating miR-134 expression, morphine preconditioning protects primary cortical neurons of mice against injuries induced by OGD.
Anterior Chamber Angle and Anterior Chamber Volume in a 40- to 64-Year-Old Population
Authors: Hashemi Hassan , Khabazkhoob Mehdi , Mohazzab-Torabi Saman , Emamian Mohammad Hassan , Shariati Mohammad , Dadbin Nooshin , Fotouhi Akbar
Published: September 2015

Purpose:

To determine the distribution of the anterior chamber angle (ACA) and anterior chamber volume (ACV) in an Iranian population of 40- to 64-year-old people using the Pentacam.

Methods:

In this cross-sectional study, multistage sampling was used to select 300 clusters, including 6,311 individuals from the city of Shahroud. All selected participants underwent examinations in one place. Optometric examinations, including measurement of visual acuity and refraction, and ophthalmologic examinations, including slit–lamp examination, were performed for all participants. Moreover, all patients underwent imaging with the Pentacam.

Results:

The mean ACA and ACV was 34.3° (95% confidence interval [CI]: 34.1°–34.5°) and 139 μL (95% CI: 137.7–140.3), respectively. In a multiple linear regression model, the ACA was inversely correlated with age (coefficient=−0.08), lens thickness (coefficient=−1.38), corneal diameter (coefficient=−0.36), and corneal curvature (coefficient=−1.43), and directly correlated with the anterior chamber depth (ACD) (coefficient=6.59). In another model, ACV was inversely correlated with age (coefficient=−0.37), central corneal thickness (coefficient=−0.04), and spherical equivalent (coefficient=−1.15), and directly correlated with the ACD (coefficient=85.67), lens thickness (coefficient=14.15), corneal diameter (coefficient=4.80), corneal curvature (coefficient=18.43), ACA (coefficient=0.65), and intraocular pressure (coefficient=0.23).

Conclusion:

The findings of this study could be used as a reference for diagnosis and treatment in Iran and the Middle East region. Increase in age and decrease in the ACD were important factors associated with decreased ACA and ACV, although the correlation of other biometric components was also evaluated. Some of these components, such as the corneal curvature and lens thickness, had a significant relationship with these two variables.
To Study the Efficacy of Laser Peripheral Iridoplasty in the Treatment of Eyes With Primary Angle Closure and Plateau Iris Syndrome, Unresponsive to Laser Peripheral Iridotomy, Using Anterior-Segment OCT as a Tool
Authors: Ramakrishnan Rengappa , Mitra Arijit , Abdul Kader Mohideen , Das Sasmita
Published: September 2015

Purpose:

To use anterior-segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) as a tool to monitor the outcome of iridoplasty in patients with primary angle closure (PAC) and plateau iris syndrome (PIS), who were unresponsive to a previous laser peripheral iridotomy.

Materials and Methods:

This was a prospective, observational case control study. Patients diagnosed with PAC and PIS who had undergone laser peripheral iridotomy earlier, but were unresponsive to the procedure, were subjected to an iridoplasty. The intraocular pressure (IOP) and anterior-chamber parameters were measured before and after the procedure, and complications were noted. The patients were followed up for 1 year, and results were analyzed.

Results:

Twenty-four eyes of 12 patients underwent the iridoplasty procedure. Sixteen eyes were diagnosed as cases of PAC and 8 eyes were diagnosed as cases of PIS. Main outcome measures were the IOP, peripheral anterior synechiae, AS-OCT angle parameters, and complications. After iridoplasty, there was a significant decrease in the IOP from 24.4±5.6 to 16.5±5.4 mm Hg (P<0.001) at the final follow-up. The mean number of antiglaucoma medications decreased from 1.6±0.9 to 0.7±1.1. The medians of the peripheral anterior synechiae extent reduced from 3.5 (quartile range, 1.5 to 6.0) to 2.0 (quartile range, 0.5 to 4.0) clock hours in the PAC group (P<0.001) and from 3.8 (quartile range, 2.0 to 6.5) to 2.5 (quartile range, 0.8 to 5.0) clock hours in the PIS group (P<0.001). Changes in AS-OCT parameters noted were as follows: the AOD500increased from 0.132±0.016 to 0.179±0.062 mm (P<0.001), TISA500from 0.085±0.012 to 0.104±0.051 mm2(P<0.001), and scleral spur angle from 19.5±2.4 to 26.8±4.5 degrees (P<0.001). No significant changes in the angle-to-angle distance and the crystalline lens rise were found.

Conclusions:

In eyes with synechial angle closure and PIS that do not show an improvement after an iridotomy, laser peripheral iridoplasty can be very effective. There were no significant complications after the iridoplasty procedure, implying that it is quite safe. This study also demonstrates that AS-OCT can serve as a useful tool to document the preprocedure angle parameters, to note the changes after the procedure, and for the long-term follow-up of these patients.
Evaluation of Blebs After Filtering Surgery With En-Face Anterior-Segment Optical Coherence Tomography: A Pilot Study
Authors: Meziani Lyes , Tahiri Joutei Hassani Rachid , El Sanharawi Mohamed , Brasnu Emmanuelle , Liang Hong , Hamard Pascale , Baudouin Christophe , Labbe Antoine
Published: September 2015

Purpose:

To compare characteristics of functioning blebs (FBs) and nonfunctioning blebs (NFBs) with en-face spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods:

We evaluated 41 blebs of 38 patients after a first-time trabeculectomy. Eyes were classified into 2 groups: FBs (22 eyes) and NFBs (19 eyes). En-face OCT images were analyzed semiquantitatively for the density of intraepithelial microcysts (0 to 3), internal fluid-filled cavity (0 to 3), and bleb vascularization (0 to 2). Presence of conjunctival fibrosis and visualization of the scleral flap were also analyzed.

Results:

FBs showed significantly more intraepithelial microcysts than did NFBs: the mean grading of microcyst density was 1.86 for FBs and 0.11 for NFBs (P<0.0001). None of the FBs were rated 0 and none of the NFBs were rated 2 or 3 for the density of intraepithelial microcysts. NFBs presented more conjunctival fibrosis than FBs (63% vs. 32%, P<0.05). There was no significant difference between FBs and NFBs for bleb vascularization, visualization of the scleral flap, and presence of subepithelial fluid-filled cavities. There was a direct correlation between postoperative intraocular pressure and intraepithelial microcyst density (r=−0.7655, P<0.0001). The long-term administration of preserved eyedrops before surgery was associated with fewer intraepithelial microcysts (r=−0.5436; P=0.0006).

Conclusions:

FBs were associated with a higher number of intraepithelial microcysts evaluated with en-face OCT. A higher density of microcysts was associated with a lower intraocular pressure and a shorter duration of preserved topical treatment before surgery. En-face OCT provides a simple, noninvasive, and reproducible method to analyze blebs after filtering surgery.
Enhanced Expression of Hedgehog Pathway Proteins in Oral Epithelial Dysplasia
Authors: Dias Rosane Borges , Valverde Ludmila de Faro , Sales Caroline Brandi Schlaepfer , Guimarães Vanessa Sousa Nazaré , Cabral Márcia Grillo , de Aquino Xavier Flávia Caló , dos Santos Jean Nunes , Ramos Eduardo Antônio Gonçalves , Gurgel Rocha Clarissa Araújo
Published: September 2015

The aim of this study was to characterize the profile of the proteins involved in the Hedgehog signaling pathway to aid in the understanding of the pathogenesis of oral epithelial dysplasia (OED). The proteins SHH, PTCH1, HHIP, SUFU, GLI1, and cyclin D1 were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 25 cases of OED, 4 of non-neoplasic oral mucosa, 8 of inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia and 5 of hyperkeratosis. SHH proteins were predominant in OED cases. Although PTCH1 protein was observed in all cases, this molecule was more highly expressed in OED. The inhibitor protein SUFU was present in OED and HHIP protein was overexpressed in OED. GLI1 proteins were predominantly found in the nuclei of epithelial cells in OED. Basal and suprabasal cells in the epithelial lining were positive for cyclin D1 only in OED. In conclusion, comparative analysis of the proteins involved in the Hedgehog pathway suggests that enhanced expression of these proteins can play an important role in the biological behavior of OED.
Clinicopathologic and Immunohistochemical Characterization of Dedifferentiated Endometrioid Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Li Zaibo , Zhao Chengquan
Published: September 2015

Dedifferentiated endometrioid adenocarcinoma (DEAC) of the uterus or ovary is characterized by the coexistence of low-grade endometrioid adenocarcinoma and an undifferentiated carcinoma (UC) with solid sheets of medium-sized monotonous epithelial cells. This admixed carcinoma has not been widely recognized, because the solid areas of UC have usually been misdiagnosed as a solid form of FIGO grade 3 endometrioid adenocarcinoma. These tumors have been shown to be clinically aggressive; therefore, accurate diagnosis is necessary for proper patient management. We reviewed our experience with DEACs and compared them with grade 3 endometrioid carcinomas regarding their clinicopathologic, morphologic, and immunohistochemical features. Our results indicate that DEACs are clinically aggressive tumors presented at advanced stages with vascular invasions in 73% and lymph node metastases in 46%. Thirty-eight percent of cases also showed distal metastases. Clinical follow-up data revealed that all patients had either recurrent or metastatic diseases within 3 years of diagnosis, except 1 patient who remained disease free for 3 years after diagnosis. Morphologically, UC components of DEACs were composed of diffuse sheets/solid nests of medium-sized epithelial cells with scant to moderate cytoplasm, uniform vesicular nuclei, and inconspicuous nucleoli. Although UC components of DEACs are variably positive for cytokeratin, EMA, and ER, they are mostly negative for PAX8, except 1 case. Instead, well-differentiated components of DEACs and solid grade 3 endometrioid carcinoma retained all these markers. Our results indicate that DEACs exhibit significantly different clinicopathologic features from grade 3 endometrioid adenocarcinoma, and a combination of immunohistochemical stains can be helpful to differentiate them from each other.
Rhizobium marinum sp. nov., a malachite-green-tolerant bacterium isolated from seawater
Authors: Liu Yang , Wang Run-Ping , Ren Chong , Lai Qi-Liang , Zeng Run-Ying
Published: September 2015

A motile, Gram-stain-negative, non-pigmented bacterial strain, designated MGL06T, was isolated from seawater of the South China Sea on selection medium containing 0.1 % (w/v) malachite green. Strain MGL06Tshowed highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity toRhizobium vignaeCCBAU 05176T(97.2 %), and shared 93.2–96.9 % with the type strains of other recognizedRhizobiumspecies. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA and housekeeping gene sequences showed that strain MGL06Tbelonged to the genusRhizobium. Mean levels of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain MGL06TandR. vignaeCCBAU 05176T,Rhizobium huautlenseS02TandRhizobium alkalisoliCCBAU 01393Twere 20 ± 3, 18 ± 2 and 14 ± 3 %, respectively, indicating that strain MGL06Twas distinct from them genetically. Strain MGL06Tdid not form nodules on three different legumes, and thenodDandnifHgenes were also not detected by PCR or based on the draft genome sequence. Strain MGL06Tcontained Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone. The major fatty acid was C18 : 1ω7c/C18 : 1ω6cwith minor amounts of C19 : 0cyclo ω8c, C16 : 0and C18 : 1ω7c11-methyl. Polar lipids of strain MGL06Tincluded unknown glycolipids, phosphatidylcholine, aminolipid, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, an unknown polar lipid and aminophospholipid. Based on its phenotypic and genotypic data, strain MGL06Trepresents a novel species of the genusRhizobium, for which the nameRhizobium marinumsp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MGL06T( = MCCC 1A00836T = JCM 30155T).
Thermorudis pharmacophila sp. nov., a novel member of the class Thermomicrobia isolated from geothermal soil, and emended descriptions of Thermomicrobium roseum,
Thermomicrobium carboxidum,
Thermorudis peleae and Sphaerobacter thermophilus
Authors: Houghton Karen M. , Morgan Xochitl C. , Lagutin Kirill , MacKenzie Andrew D. , Vyssotskii Mikhail , Mitchell Kevin A. , McDonald Ian R. , Morgan Hugh W. , Power Jean F. , Moreau John W. , Hanssen Eric , Stott Matthew B.
Published: September 2015

An aerobic, thermophilic and cellulolytic bacterium, designated strain WKT50.2T, was isolated from geothermal soil at Waikite, New Zealand. Strain WKT50.2T grew at 53–76 °C and at pH 5.9–8.2. The DNA G+C content was 58.4 mol%. The major fatty acids were 12-methyl C18 : 0 and C18 : 0. Polar lipids were all linked to long-chain 1,2-diols, and comprised 2-acylalkyldiol-1-O-phosphoinositol (diolPI), 2-acylalkyldiol-1-O-phosphoacylmannoside (diolP-acylMan), 2-acylalkyldiol-1-O-phosphoinositol acylmannoside (diolPI-acylMan) and 2-acylalkyldiol-1-O-phosphoinositol mannoside (diolPI-Man). Strain WKT50.2T utilized a range of cellulosic substrates, alcohols and organic acids for growth, but was unable to utilize monosaccharides. Robust growth of WKT50.2T was observed on protein derivatives. WKT50.2T was sensitive to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, kanamycin, neomycin, polymyxin B, streptomycin and vancomycin. Metronidazole, lasalocid A and trimethoprim stimulated growth. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that WKT50.2T belonged to the class Thermomicrobia within the phylum Chloroflexi, and was most closely related to Thermorudis peleae KI4T (99.6% similarity). DNA–DNA hybridization between WKT50.2T and Thermorudis peleae DSM 27169T was 18.0%. Physiological and biochemical tests confirmed the phenotypic and genotypic differentiation of strain WKT50.2T from Thermorudis peleae KI4T and other members of the Thermomicrobia. On the basis of its phylogenetic position and phenotypic characteristics, we propose that strain WKT50.2T represents a novel species, for which the name Thermorudis pharmacophila sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain WKT50.2T ( = DSM 26011T = ICMP 20042T). Emended descriptions of Thermomicrobium roseum, Thermomicrobium carboxidum, Thermorudis peleae and Sphaerobacter thermophilus are also proposed, and include the description of a novel respiratory quinone, MK-8 2,3-epoxide (23%), in Thermomicrobium roseum.
Hymenobacter terrenus sp. nov., isolated from biological soil crusts
Authors: Tang Kai , Yuan Bo , Lai Qiliang , Wang Ruigang , Bao Haizhu , Feng Fu Ying
Published: September 2015

A Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming, short rod-shaped, non-motile, light-pink bacterial strain, MIMtkLc17T, was isolated from biological soil crusts collected in Liangcheng, Inner Mongolia. Growth of strain MIMtkLc17T was observed at 2–35 °C and in the presence of 1% (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that sequence similarities between strain MIMtkLc17T and the type strains of species of the genus Hymenobacter ranged from 89.93% to 96.49%. Strain MIMtkLc17T can secrete mass polysaccharide. The major fatty acids of strain MIMtkLc17T were iso-C15 : 0, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c), C16 : 1ω5c and summed feature 4 (iso-C17 : 1 I/anteiso-C17 : 1 B). The sole respiratory quinone was menaquinone MK-7. The G+C content of the chromosomal DNA was 57.8 mol%. The results of phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic characterization indicated that strain MIMtkLc17T can be distinguished from all known species of the genus Hymenobacter and represents a novel species of this genus, for which the name Hymenobacter terrenus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MIMtkLc17T ( = MCCC 1K00507T = KCTC 42636T).
Lacimonas salitolerans gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from surface water of a saline lake
Authors: Zhong Zhi-Ping , Liu Ying , Wang Fang , Zhou Yu-Guang , Liu Hong-Can , Liu Zhi-Pei
Published: September 2015

A Gram-stain-negative bacterium, strain TS-T30T, was isolated from a saline lake (Lake Tuosu) in Qaidam basin, Qinghai province, China, and its taxonomic position was determined by using a polyphasic approach. Cells were non-spore-forming rods, non-motile, 0.8–1.4 μm wide and 1.9–4.0 μm long. Strain TS-T30T was strictly heterotrophic and aerobic. Catalase- and oxidase-positive. Growth was observed in the presence of 0.5–11.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 3.0 %), and at 10–35 °C (optimum 25 °C) and pH 6.5–10.0 (optimum pH 8.5). Strain TS-T30T contained C18 : 1ω7c as the only predominant fatty acid. The major respiratory quinone was Q-10. The DNA G+C content was 62 mol% (T
m). Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain TS-T30T formed a distinct lineage that was independent of other most closely related genera: Lutimaribacter (95.2–95.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities), Poseidonocella (95.4 %), Ruegeria (92.8–94.9 %), Marivita (93.6–94.9 %), Seohaeicola (94.7 %), Sediminimonas (94.7 %), Shimia (93.9–94.7 %), Oceanicola (92.6–94.5 %) and Roseicyclus (94.5 %). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified phospholipid and an unknown aminolipid; phosphatidylcholine was not detected. These data demonstrated that strain TS-T30T represents a novel species of a new genus in the family Rhodobacteraceae, for which the name Lacimonas salitolerans gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is TS-T30T ( = CGMCC 1.12477T = NBRC 110969T).
Croceitalea litorea sp. nov., isolated from seashore sand
Authors: Kim Minwook , Cha In-Tae , Lee Hae Won , Yim Kyung June , Song Hye Seon , Hyun Dong-Wook , Bae Jin-Woo , Roh Seong Woon , Lee Sung-Jae
Published: September 2015

Strain CBA3205Tis a Gram-stain-negative, non-motile and rod-shaped bacterium that was isolated from the seashore sand of Jeju Island in South Korea. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, the most closed related species wasCroceitalea eckloniaeDOKDO 025T, with 94.8 % sequence similarity for the 16S rRNA gene. Strain CBA3205Twas observed to grow optimally at 25–30 °C and at pH 8.5 in the presence of 2–3 % (w/v) NaCl. The major fatty acids of strain CBA3205Twere iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1G, and iso-C17 : 03-OH. The major respiratory quinone was MK-6 and the major polar lipids were two unidentified amino-group-containing phospholipids and an unidentified polar lipid. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain CBA3205Twas 62.5 mol%. Based on the phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic analyses, strain CBA3205Twas considered to be a novel species belonging to the genusCroceitaleawithin the familyFlavobacteriaceae, for which the nameCroceitalea litoreasp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CBA3205T( = KACC 17669T = JCM 19531T).
EuPaGDT: a web tool tailored to design CRISPR guide RNAs for eukaryotic pathogens
Authors: Peng Duo , Tarleton Rick
Published: September 2015

Recent development of CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing has enabled highly efficient and versatile manipulation of a variety of organisms and adaptation of the CRISPR-Cas9 system to eukaryotic pathogens has opened new avenues for studying these otherwise hard to manipulate organisms. Here we describe a webtool, Eukaryotic Pathogen gRNA Design Tool (EuPaGDT; available at http://grna.ctegd.uga.edu), which identifies guide RNA (gRNA) in input gene(s) to guide users in arriving at well-informed and appropriate gRNA design for many eukaryotic pathogens. Flexibility in gRNA design, accommodating unique eukaryotic pathogen (gene and genome) attributes and high-throughput gRNA design are the main features that distinguish EuPaGDT from other gRNA design tools. In addition to employing an array of known principles to score and rank gRNAs, EuPaGDT implements an effective on-target search algorithm to identify gRNA targeting multi-gene families, which are highly represented in these pathogens and play important roles in host–pathogen interactions. EuPaGDT also identifies and scores microhomology sequences flanking each gRNA targeted cut-site; these sites are often essential for the microhomology-mediated end joining process used for double-stranded break repair in these organisms. EuPaGDT also assists users in designing single-stranded oligonucleotides for homology directed repair. In batch processing mode, EuPaGDT is able to process genome-scale sequences, enabling preparation of gRNA libraries for large-scale screening projects.
Theoretical triangulation and pluralism in accounting research: a critical realist critique
Authors: Modell Sven
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– This is a rejoinder to Hoque et al. (2013) previously published in this journal. The purpose of this paper is to further elucidate and extend some of their key arguments related to the use of theoretical triangulation in accounting research.

Design/methodology/approach

– This is a conceptual discussion focusing on how the understanding of the notion of theoretical triangulation can be enhanced from a critical realist perspective.

Findings

– The author draws attention to some ambiguities in Hoque et al.’s (2013) reasoning and advance a critique of their rather under-developed conceptions of the relationship between ontology and epistemology, the epistemic premises influencing the choice of theories and the role of theories in conditioning empirical observations and scholarly knowledge claims. To address these issues the author advances a critical realist approach and discusses its implications for theoretical triangulation in accounting research.

Originality/value

– The paper contributes to the ongoing debate about theoretical pluralism in accounting research by explicating how critical realism may further such pluralism and the inter-disciplinary accounting research project more generally.
Antecedents and consequences of extrinsic superstitious beliefs: a cross-cultural investigation
Authors: Sierra Jeremy J. , Hyman Michael R. , Lee Byung-Kwan , Suh Taewon
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to advance the understanding of antecedents and consequences of superstitious beliefs.

Design/methodology/approach

– From survey data drawn from 206 South Korean and 218 US respondents, structural equation modeling is used to test the posited hypotheses.

Findings

– To extrinsic superstitious beliefs, both the South Korean and US models support the subjective happiness through self-esteem path and the anthropomorphism path; from these beliefs, both models support the horoscope importance path and the behavioral superstitious beliefs path. Only the US model supports the path from self-esteem to extrinsic superstitious beliefs, and only the South Korean model supports the path from intrinsic religiosity to extrinsic superstitious beliefs.

Research limitations/implications

– South Korean and US student data may limit generalizability. As effect sizes in this context are established, researchers have a benchmark for future quantitative superstition research.

Practical implications

– By further understanding antecedents and consequences of superstitious beliefs, marketers are in a better position to appeal to targeted customers. Anthropomorphism and intrinsic religiosity, not fully studied by marketing scholars, show promise as segmentation variables related to consumers’ attitudes and behaviors.

Social implications

– To avoid unethical practice, marketers must limit themselves to innocuous superstition cues.

Originality/value

– Leaning on experiential consumption theory and the “magical thinking” literature, this study augments the superstition literature by exploring carefully selected yet under-researched determinants and consequences of superstitious beliefs across eastern and western consumer groups.
From knowledge to knowing, from boundaries toboundary construction
Authors: Paraponaris Claude , Sigal Martine
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– Knowledge management is shot through with complex questions. This is certainly the case with regard to boundaries, as they constitute both a bounding line that has to be crossed if the knowledge required for innovation is to be diffused and a form of protection for scientific and technological organisations and institutions. This examination of boundaries leads to a state-of-the-art review that begins with the question of knowledge transfer. The authors start with foundations of the knowledge dynamic within organisations. Nevertheless, certain gaps were identified in the theory, as it did not seem so easy to carry out transfers. This led in turn to attempts to identify the boundaries that were causing difficulties and that had to be crossed. This led to an examination of the role of boundaries. What status could boundaries have when knowledge was expanding enormously within communities? Finally, the authors come face-to-face with knowledge management systems that have tended to redefine the forms that boundaries take.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper uses a conceptual approach and is a meta analysis of the state-of-the-art review conducted to introduce the Special Issue “Knowledge Across Boundaries” JKM Volume 19, No. 5, 2015 (October).

Findings

– The notions of transfer and boundary demonstrated their usefulness in the development of a new theory, namely the knowledge-based view. These concepts were then critiqued, with reference, first, to the contexts in which communication takes place and, second, to the cognitive dimensions of the activity. Finally, studies showed that the cognitive and organisational approaches can be linked and that they shed light on many knowledge-sharing situations. Boundaries are no longer the object of attention, the focus having switched to the collective process of creating new concepts.

Research limitations/implications

– This state-of-the-art review is limited to the papers about Management Science.

Practical implications

– Knowledge hybridization is possible but must be referred to resources made available by the division of labour between disciplines (Shinn, 1997). Expansive learning (Engeström, 2010) is close to boundary construction (Holford, 2015) to indicate the dialectical view between instituting and instituted society (Castoriadis, 1975, 1987). We are now perhaps at the point of transition between the interest in “boundary spanners” and a new concern with “boundary construction”.

Social implications

– This paper introduces a methodology of knowledge transfer knowledge transfer in firms strategies of learning.

Originality/value

– The paper provides the concept (with examples) of ‘boundary construction’.
Sourcing knowledge for innovation: knowledge reuse and creation in project teams
Authors: Khedhaouria Anis , Jamal Arshad
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate motivations of team members to source knowledge and how the sourced knowledge increases their reuse and creation outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

– A model based on knowledge sourcing perspective is proposed and tested to link knowledge sourcing methods in teams to their performance outcomes. The hypotheses are tested on data collected from a survey of 341 project teams.

Findings

– The findings show the critical role of team members’ learning orientation in increasing knowledge sourcing, reuse and creation; group knowledge sourcing and repositories are more appropriate to increase knowledge reuse; the Internet is more effective to increase knowledge creation; and knowledge reuse increases knowledge creation among team members with a strong learning orientation.

Research limitations/implications

– Further studies can replicate the model presented in this paper and introduce group characteristics to improve its explanatory power. Also, use of self-reported measures in data collection may lead to biases; future research should collate different measures longitudinally or use separate primary and secondary observations.

Practical implications

– Team leaders should enhance team effectiveness by ensuring diversity of knowledge and skills. Current research emphasizes that team leaders can integrate a crowdsourcing or “users as co-creators” approach to increase knowledge creation by team members. Team members’ learning orientation can be increased by promoting a climate that encourages open discussion of problems, mistakes and errors.

Originality/value

– This research highlights that knowledge sourcing methods produce different performance outcomes regarding knowledge reuse and creation. These insights can be useful to team leaders and researchers to better understand what motivates team members to source knowledge and how it increases their reuse and creation outcomes.
The role of organizational and social capital in the firm’s absorptive capacity
Authors: Aribi Amal , Dupouët Olivier
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to ask the question of the contingency of a firm’s absorptive capacity upon the type of expected outcome. Thus, this paper looks at different expected outputs in terms of more or less radical innovations and sees if there are consequences on the absorptive process underpinning cognitive structures and processes, as embodied in its organizational and social capital.

Design/methodology/approach

– To do so, a qualitative study was conducted. In total, 23 persons in three French industrial firms were interviewed about their firm’s absorptive capacity. One of these firms aims at “new-to-the-firm” innovations, while the other two aim at “new-to-the-world” innovations.

Findings

– Results suggest that while “new-to-the-firm” innovations tend to favor the use of social capital, “new-to-the-world” innovations tend to rely more on organizational capital. These rather counterintuitive results are interpreted by the necessity to take into account other variables than knowledge distance in the absorption of new knowledge. In particular, complexity and time-length would call for greater use of organizational capital, while speed and reactivity would instead require greater use of social capital.

Originality/value

– This is to the best of the authors’ knowledge that one of the first study evidencing the contingent nature of the absorptive process. Further, results tend to show the form absorptive capacity takes depends not only on cognitive aspects but also on the particular environment the firm evolves in.
Development and operation of a fiber Bragg grating based online monitoring strategy for slope deformation
Authors: Guo Yongxing , Zhang Dongsheng , Fu Jianjun , Liu Shaobo , Zhang Shengzhuo , Zhu Fangdong
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate an online monitoring strategy that incorporates fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) for deformation displacement detection, with the background that slope deformation monitoring is crucial to engineering safety supervision and disaster prevention.

Design/methodology/approach

– A “beam element” method has been proposed, introduced and experimentally verified in detail. The deformation displacement along a flexible bar can be obtained based on this method, using the distributed strain detected by the FBGs embedded in the bar. A novel sensor structure containing inclinometer casings and a series of connected flexible pipes with FBGs embedded has been proposed. Based on the features of this structure, two FBG deformation sensors have been manufactured and installed into a slope. A matched monitoring station which permits real-time supervision, warning and remote access across the Internet was established and operated.

Findings

– Displacement data from September 2013 to August 2014 are obtained, which is basically consistent with the practical situation.

Originality/value

– The FBG deformation sensors demonstrated a robust and reliable measurement performance, which is promising for real-time disaster warning in slope engineering.
Smooth estimation of human foot motion for zero-velocity-update-aided inertial pedestrian navigation system
Authors: Zhao Hongyu , Wang Zhelong , Gao Qin , Hassan Mohammad Mehedi , Alelaiwi Abdulhameed
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop an online smoothing zero-velocity-update (ZUPT) method that helps achieve smooth estimation of human foot motion for the ZUPT-aided inertial pedestrian navigation system.

Design/methodology/approach

– The smoothing ZUPT is based on a Rauch–Tung–Striebel (RTS) smoother, using a six-state Kalman filter (KF) as the forward filter. The KF acts as an indirect filter, which allows the sensor measurement error and position error to be excluded from the error state vector, so as to reduce the modeling error and computational cost. A threshold-based strategy is exploited to verify the detected ZUPT periods, with the threshold parameter determined by a clustering algorithm. A quantitative index is proposed to give a smoothness estimate of the position data.

Findings

– Experimental results show that the proposed method can improve the smoothness, robustness, efficiency and accuracy of pedestrian navigation.

Research limitations/implications

– Because of the chosen smoothing algorithm, a delay no longer than one gait cycle is introduced. Therefore, the proposed method is suitable for applications with soft real-time constraints.

Practical implications

– The paper includes implications for the smooth estimation of most types of pedal locomotion that are achieved by legged motion, by using a sole foot-mounted commercial-grade inertial sensor.

Originality/value

– This paper helps realize smooth transitions between swing and stance phases, helps enable continuous correction of navigation errors during the whole gait cycle, helps achieve robust detection of gait phases and, more importantly, requires lower computational cost.
Optimization of a distributed optical fiber sensor system based on phase sensitive OTDR for disturbance detection
Authors: Zhan Yage , Yu Qiao , Wang Kun , Yang Fu , Zhang Borui
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to theoretically analyze and experimentally demonstrate the investigation on and optimization of a distributed optical fiber sensor based on phase-sensitive optical time domain reflectometer (F-OTDR) for disturbance detection.

Design/methodology/approach

– The F-OTDR system is investigated and optimized in two aspects: the hardware parameter and the interrogation scheme.

Findings

– Based on the optimized hardware and the new interrogation scheme, the performances of the F-OTDR system have been improved greatly, compared with conventional F-OTDR system. A location accuracy of 2 m and a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 16 dB have been achieved under a spatial resolution of 8 m. On the other hand, four disturbances at four different locations have been detected and located simultaneously, which is the most effective detection system with the maximum detection capability reported to date, to the best of the authors’ knowledge.

Originality/value

– Four disturbances at four different locations have been detected and located simultaneously, which is the most effective detection system with the maximum detection capability reported to date, to the best of the authors’ knowledge. With same hardware conditions, more existing disturbances can be detected by using the new interrogation scheme, which is helpful to reduce the miss report of disturbance.
Firm adoption of international standards: evidence from the Ethiopian floriculture sector
Authors: Gebreeyesus Mulu
Published: September 2015

Global trade in agriculture and food products is increasingly governed by an array of standards. In order to continue exporting, developing countries have little choice but to comply with the new requirements. This study uses a census based panel data set from the nascent floriculture industry in Ethiopia to empirically examine the determinants of firms’ adoption of international private standards in fresh horticulture produce in large‐scale estate farms. The econometric analysis shows that larger size, older, and foreign owned firms are more likely to adopt the private standards. Moreover, this study analyzes the overall industry level efforts and public–private partnership to launch and implement a national scheme GAP and build a firm's capacity to comply with the standards.
New insights into the vertebral Hox code of archosaurs
Authors: Böhmer Christine , Rauhut Oliver W. M. , Wörheide Gert
Published: September 2015

Variation in axial formulae (i.e., number and identity of vertebrae) is an important feature in the evolution of vertebrates. Vertebrae at different axial positions exhibit a region‐specific morphology. Key determinants for the establishment of particular vertebral shapes are the highly conserved Hox genes. Here, we analyzed Hox gene expression in the presacral vertebral column in the Nile crocodile in order to complement and extend a previous examination in the alligator and thus establish a Hox code for the axial skeleton of crocodilians in general. The newly determined expression of HoxA‐4, C‐5, B‐7, and B‐8 all revealed a crocodilian‐specific pattern. HoxA‐4 and HoxC‐5 characterize cervical morphologies and the latter furthermore is associated with the position of the forelimb relative to the axial skeleton. HoxB‐7 and HoxB‐8 map exclusively to the dorsal vertebral region. The resulting expression patterns of these two Hox genes is the first description of their exact expression in the archosaurian embryo. Our comparative analyses of the Hox code in several amniote taxa provide new evidence that evolutionary differences in the axial skeleton correspond to changes in Hox gene expression domains. We detect two general processes: (i) expansion of a Hox gene's expression domain as well as (ii) a shift of gene expression. We infer that the ancestral archosaur Hox code may have resembled that of the crocodile. In association with the evolution of morphological traits, it may have been modified to patterns that can be observed in birds.