bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microfabricated vapor cells filled with a cesium dispensing paste for miniature atomic clocks
Authors: Maurice V. , Rutkowski J. , Kroemer E. , Bargiel S. , Passilly N. , Boudot R. , Gorecki C. , Mauri L. , Moraja M.
Published: April 2017

A method for filling alkali vapor cells with cesium from a dispensing paste is proposed and its compliance with miniature atomic clock applications is evaluated. The paste is an organic-inorganic composition of cesium molybdate, zirconium-aluminum powder, and a hybrid organic-inorganic binder. It is compatible with collective deposition processes such as micro-drop dispensing, which can be done under ambient atmosphere at the wafer-level. After deposition and sealing by anodic bonding, cesium is released from the consolidated paste through local heating with a high power laser. Linear absorption signals have been observed over one year in several cells, showing a stable atomic density. For further validation of this technology for clock applications, one cell has been implemented in a coherent population trapping clock setup to monitor its frequency stability. A fractional frequency aging rate around –4.4 × 10−12 per day has been observed, which is compliant with a clock frequency instability below 1 × 10−11 at one day integration time. This filling method can drastically reduce the cost and the complexity of alkali vapor cell fabrication.
The absence of ferroelectricity and the origin of depolarization currents in YFe0.8Mn0.2O3
Authors: Cho Kwanghee , Hur Soomin , Park Soonyong
Published: April 2017

Polarization properties and dielectric relaxations were investigated in single crystalline Mn-substituted YFeO3. Thermally stimulated depolarization currents (TSDC) were observed at Tm ≈ 110 K along all three orthorhombic directions but with different magnitudes. These anisotropic behaviors were also observed in temperature dependent dielectric responses. Electric field sweep polarization measurements down to 10 K showed neither hysteresis nor remanent polarization. Based on the result of the temperature- and frequency-dependent dielectric measurements and the relaxation analysis of the TSDC, we suggest that previously reported pyroelectric currents at ∼110 K are not due to a ferroelectric phase transition but due to the formation of frozen defect dipoles which are induced by the localized charge carriers.
Implementation of acoustic demultiplexing with membrane-type metasurface in low frequency range
Authors: Chen Xing , Liu Peng , Hou Zewei , Pei Yongmao
Published: April 2017

Wavelength division multiplexing technology, adopted to increase the information density, plays a significant role in optical communication. However, in acoustics, a similar function can be hardly implemented due to the weak dispersion in natural acoustic materials. Here, an acoustic demultiplexer, based on the concept of metasurfaces, is proposed for splitting acoustic waves and propagating along different trajectories in a low frequency range. An acoustic metasurface, containing multiple resonant units, is designed with various phase profiles for different frequencies. Originating from the highly dispersive properties, the resonant units are independent and merely work in the vicinity of their resonant frequencies. Therefore, by combing multiple resonant units appropriately, the phenomena of anomalous reflection, acoustic focusing, and acoustic wave bending can occur in different frequencies. The proposed acoustic demultiplexer has advantages on the subwavelength scale and the versatility in wave control, providing a strategy for separating acoustic waves with different Fourier components.
Adult enteric nervous system in health is maintained by a dynamic balance between neuronal apoptosis and neurogenesis
Authors: Kulkarni Subhash , Micci Maria-Adelaide , Leser Jenna , Shin Changsik , Tang Shiue-Cheng , Fu Ya-Yuan , Liu Liansheng , Li Qian , Saha Monalee , Li Cuiping , Enikolopov Grigori , Becker Laren , Rakhilin Nikolai , Anderson Michael , Shen Xiling , Dong Xinzhong , Butte Manish J. , Song Hongjun , Southard-Smith E. Michelle , Kapur Raj P. , Bogunovic Milena , Pasricha Pankaj J.
Published: April 2017

Significance

The demonstration of a robust neurogenesis program in the adult gut and the existence of an enteric neural precursor cell (ENPC) responsible for the same has profound biological and clinical implications. This demonstrates the presence of robust adult neurogenesis outside of the CNS, and indicates the vulnerability of the enteric nervous system to exogenous influences, even in adults. As an example, it is possible that acquired diseases of the enteric nervous system, such as achalasia, may result from a loss of ENPC, analogous to congenital disorders, such as Hirschsprung’s. The ability to identify the adult ENPC will therefore enable a new understanding of the pathogenesis of enteric neuromuscular diseases as well as the development of novel regenerative therapies.
Morality constrains the default representation of what is possible
Authors: Phillips Jonathan , Cushman Fiery
Published: April 2017

Significance

As humans, we think not only about what is, but also what could be. These representations of alternative possibilities support many important cognitive functions, such as predicting others’ future actions, assigning responsibility for past events, and making moral judgments. We perform many of these tasks quickly and effortlessly, which suggests access to an implicit, default assumption about what is possible. What are the default features of the possibilities that we consider? Remarkably, we find a default bias toward representing immoral or irrational actions as being impossible. Although this bias is diminished upon deliberative reflection, it is the default judgments that appear to support higher-level cognition.
Memory-
n
strategies of direct reciprocity
Authors: Hilbe Christian , Martinez-Vaquero Luis A. , Chatterjee Krishnendu , Nowak Martin A.
Published: April 2017

Significance

Direct reciprocity is one of the fundamental mechanisms for cooperation. It is based on the idea that individuals are more likely to cooperate if they can expect their beneficiaries to remember and to return their cooperative acts in future. Previous computational models, however, often had to restrict the number of past rounds subjects can memorize. Herein we suggest an alternative approach. We propose general properties that robust cooperative strategies ought to have. Then we characterize all memory-
n
strategies that meet these properties, and we show that such strategies naturally emerge across different evolutionary scenarios. Our results are applicable to general social dilemmas of arbitrary size. For some dilemmas, longer memory is all it takes for cooperation to evolve.
Honeybee gut microbiota promotes host weight gain via bacterial metabolism and hormonal signaling
Authors: Zheng Hao , Powell J. Elijah , Steele Margaret I. , Dietrich Carsten , Moran Nancy A.
Published: April 2017

Significance

Honey bees are globally important plant pollinators. Guts of adult workers contain specialized bacteria not found outside bees. Experimental results show that gut bacteria increase weight gain in young adult bees, affect expression of genes governing insulin and vitellogenin levels, and increase sucrose sensitivity. Gut bacteria also shape the physicochemical conditions within the gut, lowering pH and oxygen levels. Peripheral resident bacteria consume oxygen, thus maintaining anoxia, as required for microbial activity. Additionally, gut bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids, with acetate and propionate as the major metabolites, as in guts of human and other animals. This study demonstrates how bacteria in the honey bee gut affect host weight gain and improves our understanding of how gut symbionts influence host health.
NeitherDowlatinorKhosusi: Islam, Education and Civil Society in Contemporary Iran
Authors: Kalb Zep
Published: April 2017

Private universities are a rapidly expanding form of education in Iran, and increasingly include Islam and the social sciences alongside the hard sciences too. What implications does the privatization of religious and social scientific knowledge have for the Islamic Republic? Scholarship has so far responded by looking at the ways in which the Iranian authoritarian state has monopolized religion, repressed the social sciences and hollowed out student activism. Complicating these arguments, this article provides a historical and institutional comparison of higher education in Iran in order to look at the evolving degree of autonomy of academic institutions and the ability of actors that operate within them to contribute to critical debate, social activism and novel discourse. The article proposes that while state universities and Islamic Azad suffer from politicization and control, a small set of privately owned “Islamic” universities is using its elite connections, financial independence and socio-pedagogical ties to the seminary and modern academia to secure enhanced levels of free debate and independent thinking.
Persian Letters of a Pashtun Tribal Ruler on Judicial Settlement of a Political Conflict (1724)
Authors: Pelevin Mikhail
Published: April 2017

The article examines the contents and the historical background of five early specimens of diplomatic correspondence on the Pashtun tribal territories. Written in Persian by the Khatak chief Afzal Khān (d. circa 1740/41) these letters supplement the author’s Pashto account of his political conflict with the Khatak spiritual leaders, the sheikhs, in 1724. While in the letters the tribal chief appealed for judicial settlement of the conflict via legal procedure in the Sharia Court of Peshawar, in verbal negotiations he sought extrajudicial administrative arbitration or tribal practices of reconciliation according to the Pashtun customary law. The article conttrunains new materials for the historiography of Pashtun tribes and for comparative study of conflict patterns in Muslim tribal societies.
Introduction
Authors: Duff I. S. , Erisman A. M. , Reid J. K.
Published: April 2017

The use of graph theory to ‘visualize’ the relationship between sparsity patterns and Gaussian elimination is introduced. The potential of significant savings from the exploitation of sparsity is illustrated by one example. The effect of computer hardware on efficient computation is discussed. Realization of sparsity means more than faster solutions; it affects the formulation of mathematical models and the feasibility of solving them.
Gaussian elimination for dense matrices: numerical considerations
Authors: Duff I. S. , Erisman A. M. , Reid J. K.
Published: April 2017

We review of the impact of inexact computation (caused by data uncertainty and computer rounding error) on Gaussian elimination. We need to ensure that the algorithm produces answers that are consistent with the given data; that is, that the algorithm is stable. We want to know whether small changes to the original data lead to large changes in the solution; that is, whether the problem is ill-conditioned. We show how to control stability and measure conditioning. The concepts of pivoting, scaling, iterative refinement, and estimating condition numbers are introduced, which will be tools used while addressing sparsity issues in the rest of the book.
Reduction to block triangular form
Authors: Duff I. S. , Erisman A. M. , Reid J. K.
Published: April 2017

We consider algorithms for reducing a general sparse matrix to block triangular form. This form allows the corresponding set of linear equations to be solved as a sequence of subproblems. We discuss the assignment problem of placing entries on the diagonal as a part of the process of finding the block triangular form, though this problem is of interest in its own right. We also consider the extension of the block triangular form to rectangular and singular matrices.
Ordering sparse matrices for band solution
Authors: Duff I. S. , Erisman A. M. , Reid J. K.
Published: April 2017

We consider a different approach to reordering to preserve sparsity, with algorithms that take a global view of the problem. We now take a top-down approach to ordering as opposed to the local bottom-up approach considered in Chapter 7. In this chapter, we explore one global approach: ordering matrices for reduced bandwidth or profile (number of entries within the variable band). In this context, we also consider blocking and incorporating numerical pivoting. In Chapter 9, we introduce another approach to global orderings.
Orderings based on dissection
Authors: Duff I. S. , Erisman A. M. , Reid J. K.
Published: April 2017

We continue our discussion on orderings based on a global as opposed to a local approach. In this chapter, we study methods based on dissection. We discuss different ways of obtaining and refining a dissection ordering and compare the resulting ordering with that obtained by the minimum degree ordering. We also consider the extension of these methods to unsymmetric matrices.
Gaussian elimination using trees
Authors: Duff I. S. , Erisman A. M. , Reid J. K.
Published: April 2017

We first show how the frontal technique described in the previous chapter can be generalized. We then discuss a framework for implementing sparse Gaussian elimination following a symbolic choice of pivot sequence. Both the frontal technique and the framework involve trees and we discuss the relationship between them, how they can be constructed, their properties, and changes that can be made to improve the performance. We introduce the additional complexity of accommodating numerical pivoting which we will discuss more in Chapter 13.
Graphs for symmetric and unsymmetric matrices
Authors: Duff I. S. , Erisman A. M. , Reid J. K.
Published: April 2017

Following on from the work of the previous chapter, we make extensive use of graphs for the efficient factorization of both symmetric and unsymmetric sparse matrices. It is in this area that most of the important recent developments concerning the factorization of large sparse matrices has occurred. We study the effect of numerical pivoting for stability, see how we can avoid it through static pivoting, and show how the pivoting is affected by scaling. We examine in some detail the factorization of matrices on parallel computers.
Evaluation of Water Content in Lumbar Intervertebral Discs and Facet Joints Before and After Physiological Loading Using T2 Mapping MRI
Authors: Yamabe Daisuke , Murakami Hideki , Chokan Kou , Endo Hirooki , Oikawa Ryosuke , Sawamura Shoitsu , Doita Minoru
Published: April 2017

Study Design.

T2 mapping was used to quantify the water content of lumbar spine intervertebral discs (IVDs) and facet joints before and after physiological loading.

Objective.

The aim of this study was to clarify the interaction between lumbar spine IVD and facet joints as load-bearing structures by measuring the water content of their matrix after physiological loading using T2 mapping magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Summary of Background Data.

To date, few reports have functionally evaluated lumbar spine IVD and facet joints, and their interaction in vivo. T2 mapping may help detect changes in the water content of IVD and articular cartilage of facet joints before and after physiological loading, thereby enabling the evaluation of changes in interacted water retention between IVD and facet joints.

Methods.

Twenty asymptomatic volunteers (10 female and 10 male volunteers; mean age, 19.3 years; age range, 19–20 years) underwent MRI before and after physiological loading such as lumbar flexion, extension, and rotation. Each IVD from L1/2 to L5/S1 was sliced at center of the disc space, and the T2 value was measured at the nucleus pulposus (NP), anterior annulus fibrosus (AF), posterior AF, and bilateral facet joints.

Results.

In the NP, T2 values significantly decreased after exercise at every lumbar spinal level. In the anterior AF, there were no significant differences in T2 values at any level. In the posterior AF, T2 values significantly increased only at L4/5. In the bilateral facet joints, T2 values significantly decreased after exercise at every level.

Conclusion.

There was a significant decrease in the water content of facet joints and the NP at every lumbar spinal level after dynamic loading by physical lumbar exercise. These changes appear to play an important and interactional role in the maintenance of the interstitial matrix in the IVD NP and cartilage in the facet joint.

Level of Evidence: 3
Validity and Repeatability of a Novel Dynamic Visual Acuity System
Authors: Hirano Mariko , Hutchings Natalie , Simpson Trefford , Dalton Kristine
Published: April 2017

Purpose

In many sports, athletes rely on visual information from the environment to perform. Some literature suggests athletes have superior visual abilities to non-athletes, particularly on tasks representative of the visual demands of their sport, such as dynamic acuity, eye movement accuracy and speed, and peripheral vision. Other literature suggests there is no difference between athletes and non-athletes, at least when standard clinical assessments are employed. A limitation of the literature is that almost none of the research has been conducted with standardized, validated tools. This is partly caused by a lack of readily available tools to measure tasks representative of the visual demands of sport, and available tests have typically not been validated against current clinical standards. The purpose of this study is to examine the validity and repeatability of a novel visual acuity system (moV&; V&MP Vision Suite) recently developed in the Vision & Motor Performance Lab (V&MP). moV& permits the measurement of many visual function parameters including dynamic visual acuity with predictable, random, and jittering target motion.

Methods

Twenty-five participants attended two study visits, separated by a minimum of 2 weeks. At each visit, static and dynamic visual acuity was measured using Snellen, ETDRS, and moV& charts. Static visual acuities were compared to determine the validity of moV&, and both static and dynamic visual acuities were compared between visits to determine the test–retest repeatability.

Results

moV& static visual acuities are clinically similar to visual acuities measured with the ETDRS chart (moV&, −0.09 ± 0.13; ETDRS, −0.03 ± 0.11, concordance correlation coefficient 0.726). Additionally, all static, dynamic, and jitter visual acuities demonstrate good test–retest repeatability (Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient range 0.451–0.953).

Conclusions

moV& provides good clinical measures of static visual acuity that are comparable to both Snellen and ETDRS measures. Dynamic visual acuity measures demonstrate good test–retest repeatability.
Coupling strength assumption in statistical energy analysis
Authors: Lafont T. , Totaro N. , Le Bot A.
Published: April 2017

This paper is a discussion of the hypothesis of weak coupling in statistical energy analysis (SEA). The examples of coupled oscillators and statistical ensembles of coupled plates excited by broadband random forces are discussed. In each case, a reference calculation is compared with the SEA calculation. First, it is shown that the main SEA relation, the coupling power proportionality, is always valid for two oscillators irrespective of the coupling strength. But the case of three subsystems, consisting of oscillators or ensembles of plates, indicates that the coupling power proportionality fails when the coupling is strong. Strong coupling leads to non-zero indirect coupling loss factors and, sometimes, even to a reversal of the energy flow direction from low to high vibrational temperature.
A scale-entropy diffusion equation to explore scale-dependent fractality
Authors: Ribeiro P. , Queiros-Condé D.
Published: April 2017

In the last three decades, fractal geometry became a mathematical tool widely used in physics. Nevertheless, it has been observed that real multi-scale phenomena display a departure to fractality that implies an impossibility to define the multi-scale features with an unique fractal dimension, leading to variations in the scale-space. The scale-entropy diffusion equation theorizes the organization of the scale dynamics involving scale-dependent fractals. A study of the theory is possible through the scale-entropy sink term in the equation and corresponds to precise behaviours in scale-space. In the first part of the paper, we study the scale space features when the scale-entropy sink term is modified. The second part is a numerical investigation and analysis of several solutions of the scale-entropy diffusion equation. By a precise measurement of the transition scales tested on truncated deterministic fractals, we developed a new simple method to estimate fractal dimension which appears to be much better than a classical method. Furthermore, we show that deterministic fractals display intrinsic log-periodic oscillations of the fractal dimension. In order to represent this complex behaviour, we introduce a departure to fractal diagram linking scale-space, scale-dependent fractal dimension and scale-entropy sink. Finally, we construct deterministic scale-dependent fractals and verify the results predicted by the scale-entropy diffusion equation.
Mutualistic cleaner fish maintains high escape performance despite privileged relationship with predators
Authors: Gingins Simon , Roche Dominique G. , Bshary Redouan
Published: April 2017

Predatory reef fishes regularly visit mutualistic cleaner fish (Labroides dimidiatus) to get their ectoparasites removed but show no interest in eating them. The concept of compensated trait loss posits that characters can be lost if a mutualistic relationship reduces the need for a given trait. Thus, selective pressures on escape performance might have relaxed inL. dimidiatusdue to its privileged relationship with predators. However, the cost of failing to escape a predatory strike is extreme even if predation events on cleaners are exceptionally rare. Additionally, cleaners must escape from non-predatory clients that regularly punish them for eating mucus instead of parasites. Therefore, strong escape capabilities might instead be maintained in cleaner fish because they must be able to flee when in close proximity to predators or dissatisfied clients. We compared the fast-start escape performance ofL. dimidiatuswith that of five closely related wrasse species and found that the mutualistic relationship that cleaners entertain with predators has not led to reduced escape performance. Instead, conflicts in cleaning interactions appear to have maintained selective pressures on this trait, suggesting that compensated trait loss might only evolve in cases of high interdependence between mutualistic partners that are not tempted to cheat.
Environmental conditions and agronomic practices induce consistent global changes in DNA methylation patterns in grapevine (Vitis viniferacv Shiraz)
Authors: Xie Huahan , Konate Moumouni , Sai Na , Tesfamicael Kiflu Gebremicael , Cavagnaro Timothy , Gilliham Matthew , Breen James , Metcalfe Andrew , DeBei Roberta , Collins Cassandra , Rodriguez Lopez Carlos Marcelino
Published: April 2017

Fruit attributes that affect wine quality are thought to be largely driven by the interaction of grapevine’s genetic characteristics with environmental factors (i.e. climate, soil and topography) and vineyard management. All these variables, in conjunction with the wine making process, give a wine its distinctive character. Understanding how grapevines perceive and adapt to a changing environment will provide us with an insight into how to better manage crop quality. Mounting evidence suggests that epigenetic mechanisms are a key interface between the environment and the genotype that ultimately affect the plant’s phenotype. Moreover, it is now widely accepted that epigenetic mechanisms are a source of useful variability during crop varietal selection that could affect crop performance. While the contribution of DNA methylation to plant performance has been extensively studied in other major crops, very little work has been done in grapevine. Here we used Methylation Sensitive Amplified Polymorphisms to obtain global patterns of DNA methylation, and to identify the main drivers of epigenetic diversity across 22 vineyards planted with the cultivar Shiraz in six distinctive wine areas of a major wine zone, The Barossa, South Australia. The observed epigenetic profiles showed a high level of differentiation that grouped vineyards by their area of provenance despite the low genetic differentiation between vineyards and sub-regions. Furthermore, pairwise epigenetic distances between vineyards with similar management systems showed a significant correlation with geographic distance. Finally, methylation sensitive Genotyping By Sequencing identified 3,598 differentially methylated genes that were assigned to 1,144 unique GO terms of which 8.6% were associated with response to environmental stimulus. Taken together, our results indicate that the intensity and directionality of DNA methylation differentiation between vineyards and wine sub-regions within The Barossa are driven by management and local growing conditions. Finally, we discuss how epigenetic variability can be used as a tool to understand and potentially modulate terroir in grapevine.
Predicting Protein Binding Affinity With Word Embeddings and Recurrent Neural Networks
Authors: Mazzaferro Carlo
Published: April 2017

At the core of our immunological system lies a group of proteins named Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC), to which epitopes (also proteins sometimes named antigenic determinants), bind to eliciting a response. These responses are extremely varied and of widely different nature. For instance, Killer and Helper T cells are responsible for, respectively, counteracting viral pathogens and tumorous cells. Many other types exist, but their underlying structure can be very similar due to the fact that they all are proteins and bind to the MHC receptor in a similar fashion. With this framework in mind, being able to predict with precision the structure of a protein that will elicit a specific response in the human body represents a novel computational approach to drug discovery. Although many machine learning approaches have been used, no attempt to solve this problem using Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) exist. We extend the current efforts in the field by applying a variety of network architectures based on RNNs and word embeddings (WE). The code is freely available and under current development athttps://github.com/carlomazzaferro/mhcPreds
Nuclear microenvironments modulate transcription from low-affinity enhancers
Authors: Crocker Justin , Tsai Albert , Muthusamy Anand K. , Lavish Luke D. , Singer Robert H. , Stern David L.
Published: April 2017

Transcription factors regulate gene expression by binding to DNA for short durations and by often binding to low-affinity DNA sequences. It is not clear how such temporally brief, low-affinity interactions can drive efficient transcription. Here we report that the transcription factor Ultrabithorax (Ubx) functionally utilizes low-affinity binding sites in theDrosophila melanogaster shavenbaby(svb) locus in nuclear microenvironments of relatively high Ubx concentration. By manipulating the affinity ofsvbenhancers, we revealed an inverse relationship between enhancer affinity and Ubx concentration required for transcriptional activation. A Ubx cofactor, Homothorax (Hth), was enriched together with Ubx near enhancers that require Hth, even though Ubx and Hth did not co-localize throughout the nucleus. These results suggest that low affinity sites overcome their kinetic inefficiency by utilizing microenvironments with high concentrations of transcription factors and cofactors. Mechanisms that generate these microenvironments are likely to be a general feature of eukaryotic transcriptional regulation.
Aging, mortality and the fast growth trade-off ofSchizosaccharomyces pombe
Authors: Nakaoka Hidenori , Wakamoto Yuichi
Published: April 2017

Replicative aging has been demonstrated in asymmetrically dividing unicellular organisms, seemingly caused by unequal damage partitioning. Although asymmetric segregation and inheritance of potential aging factors also occurs in symmetrically dividing species, it nevertheless remains controversial whether this results in aging. Based on large-scale single-cell lineage data obtained by time-lapse microscopy with a microfluidic device, in this report, we demonstrate the absence of replicative aging in old-pole cell lineages ofSchizosaccharomyces pombecultured under constant favorable conditions. By monitoring more than 1,500 cell lineages in seven different culture conditions, we showed that both cell division and death rates are remarkably constant for at least 50–80 generations. Our measurements revealed that the death rate per cellular generation increases with division rate, pointing to a physiological trade-off with fast growth under balanced growth conditions. We also observed the formation and inheritance of Hsp104-associated protein aggregates, which are a potential aging factor in old-pole cell lineages, and found that these aggregates exhibited a tendency to preferentially remain at the old-poles for several generations. However, the aggregates were eventually segregated from old-pole cells upon cell division and probabilistically allocated to new-pole cells. The quantity and inheritance of protein aggregates increased neither cellular generation time nor cell death initiation rates. Furthermore, our results revealed that unusually large amounts of protein aggregates induced by oxidative stress exposure did not result in aging; old-pole cells resumed normal growth upon stress removal, despite the fact that most of them inherited significant quantities of aggregates. These results collectively indicate that protein aggregates are not a major determinant of cell fate inS. pombe, and thus cannot be an appropriate molecular marker or index for replicative aging under both favorable and stressful environmental conditions.
Relative electrical conductivity measurements of the rat frontal cortex and the influence on current source density
Authors: Yanovsky Yevgenij , Brankačk Jurij
Published: April 2017

summary

The relative electrical conductivity gradient with depth was estimated in the frontal cortex of anaesthetized rats. Current source density (CSD) approximations of field potentials evoked by ventromedial thalamic stimulations with an assumed homogeneous electrical conductivity of the neocortical tissue were compared to those with correction for the estimated conductivity gradient. In spite of the cellular heterogeneity the electrical conductivity of the frontal cortical tissue was found to be fairly homogeneous inside the superficial (layers I through IV) or deep layers (V- VI). The relative conductivity increased twofold at the transition between superficial and deep layers. Regardless of this changes CSD analysis of the field potentials evoked by ventromedial thalamic stimulation revealed negligible differences between estimations ignoring the conductivity and those taking the conductivity into account. No sinks or sources appeared or disappeared. Both CSD approximations revealed: 1) a strong sink in layer I representing most likely summed monosynaptic EPSPs of the ventromedial thalamic afferents; 2) a strong sink in layer VI, probably representing summed disynaptic EPSPs on dendrites of layer VI pyramidal cells, generated by axons of upper layer pyramidal cells; and 3) a sink in lower layer V representing probably threesynaptic summed EPSPs on dendrites of layer V pyramidal cells.
Modeling Zika Virus Congenital Eye Disease: Differential Susceptibility of Fetal Retinal Progenitor Cells and iPSC-Derived Retinal Stem Cells to Zika Virus Infection
Authors: Contreras Deisy , Jones Melissa Kaye , Martinez Laura E. , Gangalapudi Vineela , Tang Jie , Wu Ying , Zhao Jiagang J. , Chen Zhaohui , Wang Shaomei , Arumugaswami Vaithilingaraja
Published: April 2017

Zika virus (ZIKV) causes microcephaly and congenital eye disease that is characterized by macular pigment mottling, macular atrophy, and loss of foveal reflex. The cell and molecular basis of congenital ZIKV infection are not well understood. Here, we utilized a biologically relevant cell-based system on human fetal retinal pigment epithelial cells (FRPE) and iPSC-derived retinal stem cells (iRSCs) to model ZIKV-ocular cell injury processes. FRPEs were highly susceptible to ZIKV, resulting in apoptosis and decreased viability, whereas iRSCs showed reduced susceptibility. Transcriptomics and proteomics analyses of infected FRPE cells revealed the activation of innate immune and inflammatory response genes, and dysregulation of cell survival pathways, mitochondrial transmembrane potential, phagocytosis, and particle internalization. Nucleoside analogue drug treatment inhibited ZIKV replication and prevented apoptosis. In conclusion, ZIKV affects ocular cells of different developmental stages resulting in cellular injury and death, further providing molecular insight into the pathogenesis of congenital eye disease.
An improved assembly and annotation of the allohexaploid wheat genome identifies complete families of agronomic genes and provides genomic evidence for chromosomal translocations
Authors: Clavijo Bernardo J. , Venturini Luca , Schudoma Christian , Accinelli Gonzalo Garcia , Kaithakottil Gemy , Wright Jonathan , Borrill Philippa , Kettleborough George , Heavens Darren , Chapman Helen , Lipscombe James , Barker Tom , Lu Fu-Hao , McKenzie Neil , Raats Dina , Ramirez-Gonzalez Ricardo H. , Coince Aurore , Peel Ned , Percival-Alwyn Lawrence , Duncan Owen , Trösch Josua , Yu Guotai , Bolser Dan M. , Namaati Guy , Kerhornou Arnaud , Spannagl Manuel , Gundlach Heidrun , Haberer Georg , Davey Robert P. , Fosker Christine , Palma Federica Di , Phillips Andrew L. , Millar A. Harvey , Kersey Paul J. , Uauy Cristobal , Krasileva Ksenia V. , Swarbreck David , Bevan Michael W. , Clark Matthew D.
Published: April 2017

Advances in genome sequencing and assembly technologies are generating many high-quality genome sequences, but assemblies of large, repeat-rich polyploid genomes, such as that of bread wheat, remain fragmented and incomplete. We have generated a new wheat whole-genome shotgun sequence assembly using a combination of optimized data types and an assembly algorithm designed to deal with large and complex genomes. The new assembly represents >78% of the genome with a scaffold N50 of 88.8 kb that has a high fidelity to the input data. Our new annotation combines strand-specific Illumina RNA-seq and Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) full-length cDNAs to identify 104,091 high-confidence protein-coding genes and 10,156 noncoding RNA genes. We confirmed three known and identified one novel genome rearrangements. Our approach enables the rapid and scalable assembly of wheat genomes, the identification of structural variants, and the definition of complete gene models, all powerful resources for trait analysis and breeding of this key global crop.
Measuring business sustainability in food service operations: a case study in the fast food industry
Authors: Vu Ha Minh , Chan Hing Kai , Lim Ming K. , Chiu Anthony S.F.
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop an approach to measure business sustainability in food service operations. The main objectives are to understand the concepts of business sustainability and, after constructing a framework based on a literature review, to assess the relation between the proposed framework and the empirical case study in a fast food retailer chain.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to examine the applicability of the proposed framework, focus group interview and face-to-face interviews were conducted. Additionally, some other secondary data such as official websites or company reports were also used to support the interview results.

Findings

Finding of the research result has shown most of the factors of business sustainability employed to measure sustainability food service operations are supported.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature by showing that environmental and social sustainability are significantly recognized in the corporation. More importantly, through the data analysis, a new factor of social sustainability, namely, community contribution has been found. The contribution of this paper is certainly applicable to other food service operations who wish to achieve a good degree of business sustainability.
A classification scheme for representing the variation in business and supply chain performance in Indian manufacturing industry
Authors: Soni Gunjan , Kodali Rambabu
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify a classification scheme which represents the variation in business and supply chain performance of supply chains in Indian manufacturing industry. Classification is done by presenting an empirical taxonomy of clusters representing supply chains in Indian manufacturing industry based on variation in supply chain excellence index (SCEI) and business performance index (BPI).

Design/methodology/approach

The clustering of supply chains in Indian manufacturing industry is done by considering BPI and SCEI as clustering variables, which were found by using survey responses and results of a prior empirical study which was carried out in Indian manufacturing industry. The cluster analysis is performed by using Ward’s agglomerative hierarchical clustering followed by using K-means clustering algorithm to establish final set of clusters.

Findings

It was found that supply chains in Indian manufacturing industries can be clustered in four major clusters which are named as strategic, celebrity, capable and undeveloped cluster. The characteristics of these clusters reveal some major characteristics of supply chains in Indian manufacturing industry.

Originality/value

The research work presented in this paper takes a novel way to introduce the clusters of supply chains in Indian manufacturing industry. The researchers who are seeking patterns in large data sets of manufacturing companies of Indian industry will be benefitted by using the proposed clusters. While practitioners who are seeking to move their supply chain one step ahead will also reap the benefits of the paper by seeking the characteristics of particular cluster.
Making sense from the in-between state
Authors: Hilde Rosalie K. , Mills Albert
Published: April 2017

Purpose

This paper sets out to understand how immigrants to Canada (specifically Hong Kong immigrants) deal with competing senses of their situation in deciding how or whether to adjust to their new environment. In particular, the purpose of this paper is to focus on the “in-between state” of mind where individuals try to manage competing senses of their experiences in Canada.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors draw on critical sensemaking (CSM) in the study of the micro-processes of identity work at play among a group of 19 Hong Kong Chinese skilled immigrants to Canada.

Findings

The study’s findings indicate that immigrant experiences are often filtered through the competing sensemaking of the immigrants themselves and those of the so-called “host” community. As the study of Hong Kong immigrants suggests, this can lead to confused and compromised experiences of being an immigrant in the Canadian context.

Research limitations/implications

The study was confined to immigrants to Canada from Hong Kong. Further study of different immigrant groups may throw light on the extent to which competing sensemaking is related to cultural differences that affect not only the distance in understanding but the management of that distance.

Practical implications

The paper contributes to the diversity management literature and practice through understanding immigrants’ identity construction and its oscillations, influences, and restrictions as agency in context.

Social implications

The paper helps diversity managers, policy makers, and social activists to understand the role of sensemaking when providing social and structural support in workplace contexts.

Originality/value

The study reveals the importance of sensemaking in the experiences of immigrants to Canada. In particular, it broadens knowledge of the problems of adjusting to a new (national) environment from structural constraints to micro-processes of making sense. In the process, the study of the management of competing senses of an environment contributes to the development of CSM with the focus on, what we call, the state of in-betweeness.
An examination of the risk-return relation in the Australian housing market
Authors: Lee Chyi Lin
Published: April 2017

Purpose

Extensive studies have investigated the relation between risk and return in the stock and major asset markets, whereas little studies have been done for housing, particularly the Australian housing market. This study aims to determine the relationship between housing risk and housing return in Australia.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis of this study involves two stages. The first stage is to estimate the presence of volatility clustering effects. Thereafter, the relation between risk and return in the Australian housing market is assessed by using a component generalised autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity-in-mean (C-CARCH-M) model.

Findings

The empirical results show that there is a strong positive risk-return relationship in all Australian housing markets. Specifically, comparable results are also evident in all housing markets in various Australian capital cities, reflecting that Australian home buyers, in general, are risk reverse and require a premium for higher risk level. This could be attributed the unique characteristics of the Australian housing market. In addition, there is evidence to suggest that a stronger volatility clustering effect than previously documented in the daily case.

Practical implications

The findings enable more informed and practical investment decision-making regarding the relation between housing return and housing risk.

Originality/value

This paper is the first study to offer empirical evidence of the risk-return relationship in the Australian housing market. Besides, this is the first housing price volatility study that utilizes daily data.
Intra-industry strategic alliances for managing sustainability-related supplier risks
Authors: Canzaniello Angelo , Hartmann Evi , Fifka Matthias S.
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how intra-industry strategic alliances (SAs) seek to assess supplier risk related to sustainability, what motivation drives single members to form or join such an SA, and how such a joint endeavor affects supplier risk management.

Design/methodology/approach

An embedded single case study with multiple units of analysis was conducted. The main data were collected through semi-structured interviews with key respondents from seven leading chemical companies, three of which were founding members of the SA, while four were new members.

Findings

This paper shows that forming/joining an SA concerning sustainability-related supplier risk assessment, results in the reduction of task uncertainty and equivocality as well as the increase of information processing capacities. Based on the implemented sharing routines, a higher overall efficiency can be achieved. Moreover, the members benefit from an enhanced identification of varying stakeholder expectations, a facilitated capability building and a more comprehensive supplier risk assessment. In particular, the joint endeavors result in assessment processes of higher robustness, which provide outcomes of higher quality.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to investigate companies’ efforts toward improving their supplier risk management in the area of sustainability by establishing/joining an intra-industry SA. By providing insights into the motivation to form or join such a collaborative platform and illustrating the effects that arise from the SA’s work from an organizational information processing perspective, it provides a contribution to both academics and managerial practice.
Factors affecting satisfaction and loyalty in online grocery shopping: an integrated model
Authors: Sreeram Anusha , Kesharwani Ankit , Desai Sneha
Published: April 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to conceptualize and test an integrated model of online grocery buying intention by extending technology acceptance model by adding several antecedents of online grocery shopping behaviour such as physical effort, time pressure, entertainment value, product assortment, economic values, website design aesthetics, etc. The ultimate dependent variable was consumer’s satisfaction with buying process of grocery product via online platform.

Design/methodology/approach

The model was tested over online grocery shoppers using structural equation modelling approach. To enhance the validity of the finding, common method bias and social desirability bias were also assessed.

Findings

As product assortment was found to have a significant impact on both perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness, it supports the notion of one-stop solution as a major driver to attract buyers to buy groceries online. Findings also highlight the importance of entertainment value and economic value as key variables which shape the buyer’s satisfaction and purchase loyalty behaviour. Overall, the results support the proposed model.

Practical/implications

The findings of this study would be helpful for online marketers to get more website visits and to increase conversion rates, i.e. getting their visitors to spend more time on the website and to make purchase.

Originality/value

This integrated framework tested here is quite comprehensive in nature, as it includes the influence of time pressure, physical effort and product assortment on online buying behaviour. These basic yet important variables to study, especially when the industry (online grocery shopping) is still in its nascent stage, are missing from the literature. The present study also involves a rigorous data analysis process followed by assessment of common method bias and psychometric property test. Such approach is rare in existing body of knowledge. The study uses S-O-R framework for hypothesis and model development, which is also rare in context of online grocery shopping.
Knowledge management activities in social enterprises: lessons for small and non-profit firms
Authors: Granados Maria L. , Mohamed Souad , Hlupic Vlatka
Published: April 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to explore what social enterprises (SEs) in the UK know and how they acquire, convert, apply and protect this knowledge. This will enable them to manage their knowledge effectively and, hence, improve their practices and maximise the creation of social, environmental and economic value.

Design/methodology/approach

This study follows a qualitative approach, comprising 21 interviews with founders and senior members of SEs in the UK.

Findings

The results show that the investigated SEs have knowledge management (KM) practices similar to the already identified in SMEs, associated with informality, reliance on external sources and focus on socialisation activities, but they have unique challenges on managing their knowledge related to their hybrid mission, to include social and economic objectives and their closed relationship with stakeholders.

Research limitations/implications

As there is limited research on KM practices in SEs; they were defined based on previous studies in large, private and public companies. Therefore, not all practices may be included. This research is a starting point in the study of KM in SEs.

Practical implications

This study identifies knowledge activities that enable the creation of social, environmental and economic value in SEs. This allows SEs, small firms and non-profit organisations to review their current practices and develop plans for their further improvement.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the first empirical studies exploring KM practices in SEs, highlighting their informal nature as well as their impact in and on the enterprise.