bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of a novel cell death-inducing domain reveals that fungal amyloid-controlled programmed cell death is related to necroptosis
Authors: Daskalov Asen , Habenstein Birgit , Sabaté Raimon , Berbon Mélanie , Martinez Denis , Chaignepain Stéphane , Coulary-Salin Bénédicte , Hofmann Kay , Loquet Antoine , Saupe Sven J.
Published: February 2016

Significance

Programmed cell death plays a central role in host defense in plants, animals, and fungi, but the extent to which cell death modalities are evolutionarily related and mechanistically similar in different kingdoms is unclear. The involvement of prion-like mechanisms in host defense and cell death cascades has been reported in animals and fungi. In fungi, a cell death-inducing pore-forming protein termed HET-S is activated by amyloid templating. Here we characterize a protein termed HELLP, which behaves analogously to HET-S as a membrane-targeting cell death-inducing protein regulated by amyloid templating. We find that HELLP is homologous to MLKL, the protein involved in execution of necroptotic cell death in mammals, thus revealing transkingdom conservation of amyloid-regulated programmed cell death.
Predictable allele frequency changes due to habitat fragmentation in the Glanville fritillary butterfly
Authors: Fountain Toby , Nieminen Marko , Sirén Jukka , Wong Swee Chong , Lehtonen Rainer , Hanski Ilkka
Published: February 2016

Significance

Understanding how species respond to environmental changes is essential for comprehending their ecological and evolutionary dynamics. Changes in land use have led to widespread loss and fragmentation of many habitats, resulting in the extinction of innumerable populations and species. Here, using historical DNA samples from now extinct populations that used to live in a highly fragmented landscape, we demonstrate past natural selection for better colonizing capacity. We also found highly reduced genetic diversity in the isolated populations prior to their extinction. These results demonstrate that, although species may show adaptation to rapidly changing landscapes, the evolutionary changes may not be strong enough to offset the direct adverse effect of environmental change and thereby to rescue populations from extinction.
Spherical explosion with a central energy source
Authors: Masuyama Miyu , Shigeyama Toshikazu , Tsuboki Yoichiro
Published: February 2016

We present a novel semi-analytic solution that describes the propagation of a spherical blast wave driven by a central energy source. The initial density profile has a power-law function of the distance from the center and the energy is injected only into the central region at a rate given by a power-law function of time. This solution is composed of three regions separated by the contact surface and the shock front. The innermost region is assumed to be uniform and the outside of the contact surface includes the shocked matter described by self-similar solutions. We analytically derive the applicable range of parameters of this solution from requirements needed to satisfy the boundary conditions. We perform numerical simulations for flows with various values of parameters, some of which reside out of the thus-derived applicable range, and compare the results with the semi-analytic solutions.
Suicidal Ideation in Adolescents With and Without Chronic Pain
Authors: Bromberg Maggie H. , Law Emily F. , Palermo Tonya M.
Published: February 2016

Objectives:

Suicidal ideation (SI) is common during adolescence and may have lethal outcomes. Despite evidence of the high prevalence and impact of suicidality in adults with chronic pain (CP), remarkably little is known about suicidality in adolescents with CP. This study aimed to examine the rates and characteristics of SI in a clinical sample of adolescents with CP compared with youth without CP. We also examined the relationship between pain-related and psychosocial factors and SI in youth.

Materials and Methods:

Adolescents with (n=95) and without CP (n=91) completed self-reports of pain, functional disability, loneliness, family functioning, self-worth, and depressive symptoms including SI.

Results:

Rates of SI were not different in youth with CP when compared with those without ( JOURNAL/cjpn/04.03/00002508-201701000-00003/inline-formula1/v/2023-10-17T100533Z/r/image-tiff ,P>0.05). The content of suicidal thoughts also did not vary by group. Multivariate analysis showed an identical pattern of psychosocial correlates of SI in youth with and without CP; higher depressive symptoms and lower self-worth were associated with higher SI severity, controlling for demographics. Pain characteristics and functional disability were not significantly related to SI in youth with CP.

Discussion:

Contrary to hypotheses and past findings in adults with CP, adolescents with CP did not endorse SI more frequently than peers without CP. Several psychosocial correlates were significantly associated with SI severity in our sample. Findings from this study serve as a foundation for future research on SI and associated risk factors in this population.
BART miRNAs: an unimaginable force in the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Wang Youhong , Guo Zhen , Shu Yan , Zhou Honghao , Wang Hui , Zhang Wei
Published: February 2016

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a head and neck cancer that represents a major health burden in Southern China and Southeast Asia. Although the close association of NPC with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection has been demonstrated, its exact role in the pathogenesis of this malignancy is still unclear. The expression of EBV-encoded microRNAs, especially BART miRNAs, which are encoded from the BamHI-A region of the viral genome, is detected at a high level in NPC. miRNAs are small noncoding mRNAs that can positively regulate the virus to ensure accurate expression of viral genomes and to modify the gene expression of host cells by negative regulation. Accumulating evidence suggests that ebv-mir-BARTs play a critical role in host cell survival, immune escape, cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, and cancer metabolism, promoting the generation of NPC. This review will summarize our current understanding of the nature and function of ebv-mir-BARTs in NPC.
A Phase I/II Study of Docetaxel, Oxaliplatin, and Fluorouracil (D-FOX) Chemotherapy in Patients With Untreated Locally Unresectable or Metastatic Adenocarcinoma of the Stomach and Gastroesophageal Junction
Authors: Blum Murphy Mariela A. , Qiao Wei , Mewada Nishith , Wadhwa Roopma , Elimova Elena , Takashi Taketa , Ho Linus , Phan Alexandria , Baker Jackie , Ajani Jaffer
Published: February 2016

Background:

A randomized phase III study established docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil (DCF) as one of the standard treatments for patients with untreated advanced gastric cancer (AGC). However, DCF use is limited due toxicity. With the purpose to evaluate a less toxic regimen, we conducted a single arm, phase I/II trial of modified DCF (oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and docetaxel [D-FOX]) for untreated AGC patients. The primary objective of the phase I study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose of docetaxel and for the phase II study was to assess the progression-free survival (PFS) at 6 months and overall survival (OS).

Patients and Methods:

We enrolled a total of 98 patients with AGC. Docetaxel and oxaliplatin were administered intravenously on day 1 and 5-fluorouracil was infused starting on day 1 over 48 hours. Cycles were repeated every 2 weeks and patients were monitored for toxicities. Kaplan-Meir curve was used to estimate unadjusted OS and PFS.

Results:

The maximum tolerated dose of docetaxel was 50 mg/m2. In total, 24 (45%) patients experienced grade 2 adverse events, 22 (41%) experienced grade 3, and 1 (1.9%) experienced grade 4 toxicity. The median PFS in the phase II portion of the study was approximately 6.5 (95% confidence interval, 5.5-9.5) months and the median OS was 11.1 (95% confidence interval, 9.4-18.8) months.

Conclusions:

D-FOX administered every 2 weeks is a well-tolerated and active regimen in untreated AGC patients.
Histamine H2-Receptor Antagonist Use Is Associated With Lower Prevalence of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Shen Huafeng , Liangpunsakul Suthat
Published: February 2016

Background & Aim:

Recent basic mechanistic studies found that proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) or histamine antagonists inhibited multiple pathways involved in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) development. The aim of this study was to investigate an association between PPIs or H1/H2-receptor antagonist (H1RA/H2RA) use and NAFLD prevalence in the general US population.

Methods:

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001-2006. We included 10,398 adults aged 20 to 74 years who had alanine aminotransferase data; of those, 2058 were identified as having NAFLD and 8340 as controls. PPI or H1RA/H2RA use was defined as use of prescription medications in the preceding month. The length of use was categorized as ≤60 days and >60 days. NAFLD was defined as elevated serum aminotransferases without any indication of other causes of chronic liver disease.

Results:

In the multivariate unconditional logistic regression analysis, H2RA use was inversely associated with prevalent NAFLD [odds ratio (OR)=0.43, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.18-0.99], a finding that was primarily limited to men (OR=0.18, 95% CI, 0.04-0.79) and those with insulin resistance (OR=0.22, 95% CI, 0.05-0.95). However, no significant associations were found between PPI or H1RA use and prevalent NAFLD.

Conclusions:

These findings, from the first human study to investigate an association of PPI or H1RA/H2RA use with NAFLD, suggest that H2RA use may be associated with a lower prevalence of NAFLD, primarily among men with insulin resistance.
Successful Everolimus Treatment of Kaposiform Hemangioendothelioma With Kasabach-Merritt Phenomenon: Clinical Efficacy and Adverse Effects of mTOR Inhibitor Therapy
Authors: Matsumoto Hideki , Ozeki Michio , Hori Tomohiro , Kanda Kaori , Kawamoto Norio , Nagano Akihito , Azuma Eiichi , Miyazaki Tatsuhiko , Fukao Toshiyuki
Published: February 2016

Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon (KMP) is a life-threatening consumptive coagulopathy associated with underlying kaposiform hemangioendothelioma (KHE) in infancy. We describe the case of a 3-month-old girl with KHE complicated by KMP who responded dramatically to treatment with everolimus, a mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor. Immunohistochemical expression of mTOR was found in the KHE biopsy specimens, which may explain the improvement of KMP and reduction in KHE tumor size with mTOR inhibitor treatment. This effective use of everolimus may shed light on the emerging role of mTOR signaling in the development and pathogenesis of KHE and KMP.
The Estimation of Intima-Media Thickness and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Young Survivors of Childhood Cancer
Authors: Sadurska Elżbieta , Brodzisz Agnieszka , Zaucha-Prażmo Agnieszka , Kowalczyk Jerzy
Published: February 2016

Cancer treatment in childhood is thought to accelerate the development of atherosclerosis, leading to significant cardiovascular complications and, ultimately, increasing cardiovascular mortality in childhood cancer survivors, which explains the need to assess vascular status in this group. The purpose of this paper was to assess early atherosclerotic lesions based on the analysis of intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery, as well as to analyze cardiovascular risk factors in young childhood cancer survivors. The analysis of 158 patients aged 6 to29 years, with a history of previous cancer treatment for different childhood malignancies, revealed a statistically significant difference in IMT between them and 66 age-matched healthy controls. The observed higher IMT scores in childhood cancer survivors may be indicative of premature atherosclerosis. The actual scores were 0.056±0.007 versus 0.052±0.003 (P=0.0001) as a mean score for both carotid arteries in the study group and controls, respectively. We did not observe significant differences in IMT between cancer survivors treated with chemotherapy only versus those treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Similar to the general population, childhood cancer survivors are affected by different cardiovascular risk factors. These factors may enhance the direct cardiotoxicity of cancer treatment, leading to symptomatic incidents in further life, which emphasizes the need of early prevention and/or treatment in this subpopulation.
11C-Acetate Positron Emission Tomography for Detection of Occult Metastatic Recurrence in Hepatoblastoma
Authors: Liu Anthony Pak-Yin , Wong Ka-Nin , See Queenie Wing-Shan , Chan Godfrey Chi-Fung , Chiang Alan Kwok-Shing
Published: February 2016

Hepatoblastoma is the most common primary liver cancer in the pediatric population. Disease relapse might be occult and difficult to detect. 11C-acetate positron emission tomography has been applied in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma due to the insensitivity of 18fluorodeoxyglucose, but data on hepatoblastoma patients have been scarce. We describe the use of 11C-acetate positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan as a sensitive method in the identification of an occult bony metastatic recurrence in a 6-year-old girl with a history of hepatoblastoma treated with chemotherapy.
Reversion From Mild Cognitive Impairment to Normal Cognition
Authors: Malek-Ahmadi Michael
Published: February 2016

The initiation of Alzheimer disease (AD) prevention studies has placed greater emphasis on the need to accurately detect individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) given their increased risk for developing AD. Several studies reporting on the incidence and prevalence of aMCI have also found that a substantial number of aMCI cases at baseline assessments revert to normal cognition at subsequent assessments. This instability presents a major challenge to intervention studies aimed at preventing the onset of clinical symptoms associated with aMCI. Reversion rates from 25 studies were used for this meta-analysis which found an overall reversion rate of approximately 24%. When the studies were separated by their setting (community vs. clinic), substantial differences in reversion rates were noted with clinic-based studies having a much lower reversion rate (14%) than community-based studies (31%). North American and European studies had high heterogeneity of reversion rates, whereas Asian studies had moderate levels of heterogeneity and significantly lower rates of reversion. Continued improvement in diagnostic and classification methodologies may help in more accurately identifying aMCI cases which are less likely to revert to normal cognition.
Meaning of temperature in different thermostatistical ensembles
Authors: Hänggi Peter , Hilbert Stefan , Dunkel Jörn
Published: February 2016

Depending on the exact experimental conditions, the thermodynamic properties of physical systems can be related to one or more thermostatistical ensembles. Here, we survey the notion of thermodynamic temperature in different statistical ensembles, focusing in particular on subtleties that arise when ensembles become non-equivalent. The ‘mother’ of all ensembles, the microcanonical ensemble, uses entropy and internal energy (the most fundamental, dynamically conserved quantity) to derive temperature as a secondary thermodynamic variable. Over the past century, some confusion has been caused by the fact that several competing microcanonical entropy definitions are used in the literature, most commonly the volume and surface entropies introduced by Gibbs. It can be proved, however, that only the volume entropy satisfies exactly the traditional form of the laws of thermodynamics for a broad class of physical systems, including all standard classical Hamiltonian systems, regardless of their size. This mathematically rigorous fact implies that negative ‘absolute’ temperatures and Carnot efficiencies more than 1 are not achievable within a standard thermodynamical framework. As an important offspring of microcanonical thermostatistics, we shall briefly consider the canonical ensemble and comment on the validity of the Boltzmann weight factor. We conclude by addressing open mathematical problems that arise for systems with discrete energy spectra.
Thermodynamic temperature by primary radiometry
Authors: Anhalt Klaus , Machin Graham
Published: February 2016

Above the freezing temperature of silver (1234.93 K), the International Temperature Scale of 1990 (ITS-90) gives a temperature,
T
90
, in terms of a defining fixed-point blackbody and Planck's law of thermal radiation in ratio form. Alternatively, by using Planck's law directly, thermodynamic temperature can be determined by applying radiation detectors calibrated in absolute terms for their spectral responsivity. With the advent of high-quality semiconductor photodiodes and the development of high-accuracy cryogenic radiometers during the last two decades radiometric detector standards with very small uncertainties in the range of 0.01–0.02% have been developed for direct, absolute radiation thermometry with uncertainties comparable to those for the realization of the ITS-90. This article gives an overview of a number of design variants of different types of radiometer used for primary radiometry and describes their calibration. Furthermore, details and requirements regarding the experimental procedure for obtaining low uncertainty thermodynamic temperatures with these radiometers are presented, noting that such radiometers can also be used at temperatures well below the silver point. Finally, typical results obtained by these methods are reviewed.
Linking the thermodynamic temperature to an optical frequency: recent advances in Doppler broadening thermometry
Authors: Gianfrani Livio
Published: February 2016

Laser spectroscopy in the linear regime of radiation–matter interaction is a powerful tool for measuring thermodynamic quantities in a gas at thermodynamic equilibrium. In particular, the Doppler effect can be considered a gift of nature, linking the thermal energy to an optical frequency, namely the line centre frequency of an atomic or molecular spectral line. This is the basis of a relatively new method of primary gas thermometry, known as Doppler broadening thermometry (DBT). This paper reports on the efforts that have been carried out, in the last decade, worldwide, to the end of making DBT competitive with more consolidated and accurate methodologies, such as acoustic gas thermometry and dielectric constant gas thermometry. The main requirements for low-uncertainty DBT, of both theoretical and technical nature, will be discussed, with a special focus on those related to the line shape model and to the frequency scale. A deep comparison among the different molecules that have been selected in successful DBT implementations is also reported. Finally, for the first time, to the best of my knowledge, the influence of refractive index effects is discussed.
Estimates of the difference between thermodynamic temperature and the International Temperature Scale of 1990 in the range 118 K to 303 K
Authors: Underwood R. , de Podesta M. , Sutton G. , Stanger L. , Rusby R. , Harris P. , Morantz P. , Machin G.
Published: February 2016

Using exceptionally accurate measurements of the speed of sound in argon, we have made estimates of the difference between thermodynamic temperature,
T
, and the temperature estimated using the International Temperature Scale of 1990,
T
90
, in the range 118 K to 303 K. Thermodynamic temperature was estimated using the technique of relative primary acoustic thermometry in the NPL-Cranfield combined microwave and acoustic resonator. Our values of (
T
−
T
90
) agree well with most recent estimates, but because we have taken data at closely spaced temperature intervals, the data reveal previously unseen detail. Most strikingly, we see undulations in (
T
−
T
90
) below 273.16 K, and the discontinuity in the slope of (
T
−
T
90
) at 273.16 K appears to have the opposite sign to that previously reported.
Acoustic and microwave tests in a cylindrical cavity for acoustic gas thermometry at high temperature
Authors: Zhang K. , Feng X. J. , Gillis K. , Moldover M. , Zhang J. T. , Lin H. , Qu J. F. , Duan Y. N.
Published: February 2016

Relative primary acoustic gas thermometry (AGT) determines the ratios of thermodynamic temperatures from measured ratios of acoustic and microwave resonance frequencies in a gas-filled metal cavity on isotherms of interest. When measured in a cavity with known dimensions, the frequencies of acoustic resonances in a gas determine the speed of sound, which is a known function of the thermodynamic temperature
T
. Changes in the dimensions of the cavity are measured using the frequencies of the cavity's microwave resonances. We explored techniques and materials for AGT at high temperatures using a cylindrical cavity with remote acoustic transducers. We used gas-filled ducts as acoustic waveguides to transmit sound between the cavity at high temperatures and the acoustic transducers at room temperature. We measured non-degenerate acoustic modes in a cylindrical cavity in the range 295 K<
T
<797 K. The fractional uncertainty of the measured acoustic frequencies increased from 2×10
−6
at 295 K to 5×10
−6
at 797 K. In addition, we measured the frequencies of several transverse magnetic (TM) microwave resonances up to 1000 K in order to track changes in the cavity's length
L
and radius
R
. The fractional standard deviation of the values of
L
deduced from three TM modes increased from 3×10
−6
for
T
<600 K to 57 × 10
−6
at 1000 K. We observed similar inconsistencies in a previous study.
Explaining Missing Heritability Using Gaussian Process Regression
Authors: Sharp Kevin , Wiegerinck Wim , Arias-Vasquez Alejandro , Franke Barbara , Marchini Jonathan , Albers Cornelis A. , Kappen Hilbert J.
Published: February 2016

For many traits and common human diseases, causal loci uncovered by genetic association studies account for little of the known heritable variation. Such ‘missing heritability’ may be due to the effect of non-additive interactions between multiple loci, but this has been little explored and difficult to test using existing parametric approaches. We propose a Bayesian non-parametric Gaussian Process Regression model, for identifying associated loci in the presence of interactions of arbitrary order. We analysed 46 quantitative yeast phenotypes and found that over 70% of the total known missing heritability could be explained using common genetic variants, many without significant marginal effects. Additional analysis of an immunological rat phenotype identified a three SNP interaction model providing a significantly better fit (p-value 9.0e-11) than the null model incorporating only the single marginally significant SNP. This new approach, called GPMM, represents a significant advance in approaches to understanding the missing heritability problem with potentially important implications for studies of complex, quantitative traits.
The Stanford Automated Mounter: pushing the limits of sample exchange at the SSRL macromolecular crystallography beamlines
Authors: Russi Silvia , Song Jinhu , McPhillips Scott E. , Cohen Aina E.
Published: February 2016

The Stanford Automated Mounter System, a system for mounting and dismounting cryo-cooled crystals, has been upgraded to increase the throughput of samples on the macromolecular crystallography beamlines at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource. This upgrade speeds up robot maneuvers, reduces the heating/drying cycles, pre-fetches samples and adds an air-knife to remove frost from the gripper arms. Sample pin exchange during automated crystal quality screening now takes about 25 s, five times faster than before this upgrade.
Investigations of new potential photo-acid generators: crystal structures of 2-[(E)-2-phenylethenyl]phenol (orthorhombic polymorph) and (2E)-3-(2-bromophenyl)-2-phenylprop-2-enoic acid
Authors: Harrison William T. A. , Plater M. John , Yin Lee J.
Published: February 2016

The title compounds, C14H12O, (I), and C15H11BrO2, (II), were prepared and characterized as part of our studies of potential new photo-acid generators. In (I), which crystallizes in the orthorhombic space groupPca21, compared toP21/nfor the previously known monoclinic polymorph [Cornella & Martin (2013).Org. Lett.15, 6298–6301], the dihedral angle between the aromatic rings is 4.35 (6)° and the OH group is disordered over two sites in a 0.795 (3):0.205 (3) ratio. In the crystal of (I), molecules are linked by O—H...π interactions involving both the major and minor –OH disorder components, generating [001] chains as part of the herringbone packing motif. The asymmetric unit of (II) contains two molecules with similar conformations (weighted r.m.s. overlay fit = 0.183 Å). In the crystal of (II), both molecules form carboxylate inversion dimers linked by pairs of O—H...O hydrogen bonds, generatingR22(8) loops in each case. The dimers are linked by pairs of C—H...O hydrogen bonds to form [010] chains.
Caesium tetramethylammonium dodecahydrido-closo-dodecaborate monohydrate
Authors: Tiritiris Ioannis , Schleid Thomas
Published: February 2016

In the crystal structure of the hydrated double salt, Cs+·[N(CH3)4]+·[B12H12]2−·H2O, the asymmetric unit contains one caesium and one tetramethylammonium cation, one dodecahydrido-closo-dodecaborate anion and one water molecule. The Cs+cation is coordinated tetrahedrally by four [B12H12]2−clusters, with the water molecule completing the coordination sphere. The tetramethylammonium cation is surrounded distorted octahedrally by six [B12H12]2−anions. The crystal structure is stabilized by a three-dimensional network of O—H...H—B and C—H...H—B dihydrogen bonds.
Strategic resource management model and data envelopment analysis for benchmarking of Indian retailers
Authors: Gandhi Aradhana , Shankar Ravi
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to use strategic resource management (SRM) model and data envelopment analysis (DEA) for benchmarking Indian retailers. The study ascertains, how a retailer can benchmark its performance at company level, global level, store level and finally at merchandise category level using diverse strategies for inventory, space and people.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper aims to use SRM model, for evaluating and comparing the performance of two generalized retailers Shoppers Stop and Trent. These two generalized retailers are benchmarked with another best-in-class retailer, Wal-Mart using the SRM model. The benchmarking exercise brings out improvement directions for the Indian retailers. In the next part of the study, economic efficiencies of 11 generalized retailers are ascertained using DEA model. Finally, a study is conducted to understand, how SRM model can be used as a planning tool for deciding alternative inventory, space and people strategies at store level as well as at merchandise category level.

Findings

– Based on the data for the year 2011-2012, Trent’s performance is comparatively better than Shoppers Stop. The paper offers suggestion to improve its performance. Next, it was found that the performance of Wal-Mart is superior to the two Indian retailers. The study offers direction to the two retailers to devise appropriate strategies to improve their performance. The study further ascertains the relative efficiencies of 11 generalized retailers in the country. Finally, an illustration of how a retailer can use the SRM model as a tool for planning alternative strategy for inventory, space and people in a particular merchandise category is offered using data from a retail firm. The study has used “Jeans” and “Toys” as two categories to demonstrate this concept.

Practical implications

– The examples considered in this paper can be used by practicing retailers to plan and benchmark their performance.

Originality/value

– The study proposes a method, by which retailers can examine ways to plan and improve their operations and profitability by using the SRM and DEA model. The study is therefore relevant to practicing retailers as well as academicians.
Benchmark the best factory data collection system (FDC) using AHP-GRA method
Authors: Gangurde Sanjaykumar R
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose a multi-criteria decision making method to evaluate factory data collection (FDC) system alternatives.

Design/methodology/approach

– “Information” in is fundamental resource to the success of any business which is as valuable as capital or people. The factory data (information) collection system (FDC system) consists of the various paper documents, terminals, and automated devices located throughout the plant for collecting data on shop floor operations for compiling and processing the data. In this paper, nine alternatives of FDC methods are evaluated on the basis of eight criteria. The weight of each criterion is determined using Analytic Hierarchy Process, and the same weights are used to evaluate alternatives of FDC system using Grey Relational Analysis – A multi-criterion decision making method.

Findings

– The methodology facilitates the selection of the best FDC system that will minimize the data entry time and chances of errors. The methodology suggests Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) system is the most preferred choice (ideal) among the nine alternatives whereas Operation tear strips is the worst solution.

Originality/value

– The proposed methodology will provide a useful tool to the decision maker, which may help to eliminate the associated risks during data entry. The selected best FDC system, i.e. RFID is most suitable tool for ERP system to integrate internal (manufacturing) and external (sales and service) management information system.
Role of green policy on sustainable supply chain management
Authors: Bhardwaj Broto Rauth
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– Green supply chain management (GSCM) has become the driver of sustainable strategy. This topic has been gaining increasing attention within both academia and industry for making the industry competitive. With the ever increasing demand for reducing carbon foot prints and greenhouse gas emission, there is a need to study the various parameters and drivers of sustainable development, especially in supply chain management. The need for developing the sustainable model including the drivers of sustainability needs to be designed. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using resource-based theory and value chain analysis; the authors have developed a model for sustainable strategy. The data were collected and analyzed to find the key drivers of sustainability. The data were analyzed with the help of regression and correlation analysis.

Findings

– After providing a background discussion on GSCM, the authors categorize and review recent GSCM literature under three broad categories, with a special emphasis on investigation of adoption, diffusion, and outcomes of GSCM practices. Within this review framework, the authors also identified GSCM research questions that are worthy of investigation. The study suggests that the main drivers of GSCM include the environmental policy and the green human resource management by providing them training for adopting sustainability practices. Besides this, another key driver is the sustainability criteria in supplier selection which was found to be enhancing the outcomes of sustainability.

Research limitations/implications

– The model suggests that we need to have management support for implementing the sustainability strategy in the organization.

Practical implications

– The study guides the managers for implementing sustainable supply chain management practices in the organization.

Social implications

– The model including the environment policy (adoption), green human resource management (diffusion), green technology (diffusion), and GSCM.

Originality/value

– Additional organizational theories which are considered valuable for future GSCM research are also identified with a conclusion for this review.
Meta modelling of job satisfaction effective factors for improvement policy making in organizations
Authors: Fazlollahtabar Hamed , Mahdavi Iraj , Mahdavi-Amiri Nezam
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose a Meta modeling based on regression, neural network, and clustering to analyze the job satisfaction factors and improvement policy making.

Design/methodology/approach

– Since any job satisfaction evaluation supposes to improve the status by prescribing specific strategies to be performed in the organization, proposing applicable strategies is decisively important. Task demand, social structure and leader-member exchange (LMX) are general applications easily conceptualized while proposing job satisfaction improvement strategies.

Findings

– On the basis of these empirical findings, the authors first aim to identify relationships between LMX, task demand, social structure and individual factors, organizational factors, job properties, which are easier to be employed in strategy formulation for job satisfaction, and then determine the sub-factors and subsequently cluster them. The effectiveness of the proposed model is verified by a case study.

Originality/value

– Here, a Meta modeling based on regression, neural network, and clustering is proposed to analyze the job satisfaction factors and improvement policy making.
The Quality of External Audit in OHADA Space: A Qualitative Study with Board of Director’s Members’ Perception as Understanding Variable
Authors: Osée Hanko
Published: February 2016

Audit quality has been evaluated in academic literature accordingly with auditor qualities, due to the difficulties of observing auditing technical process itself. The qualities of a good auditor are then competence and independence, sine qua none conditions of audit quality. That approach is otherwise valid only if there is a valuable framework like stock market where auditor’s competence and independence could be observed. In OHADA space countries, the financial market is approximately off. It is therefore impossible to assess audit quality the way it has been done in prior literature. This study suggests a new approach of assessing audit quality in OHADA countries in relation with audit committees member’s perception of auditing process. Using an innovative qualitative approach inspired from Manita (2008), the results suggest to take into account the auditor’s knowledge of the company, the relevance of the identified zone of risks and the degree of communication with the board of directors.
A Chemomechanical Model for Stress Evolution and Distribution in the Viscoplastic Oxide Scale During Oxidation
Authors: Wang Hailong , Shen Shengping
Published: February 2016

Using the location-dependent growth strain, a chemomechanical model is developed for the analysis of the stress evolution and distribution in the viscoplastic oxide scale during high-temperature oxidation. The problem of oxidizing a semi-infinite substrate is formulated and solved. The numerical results reveal high compressive stress and significant stress gradient. The maximum stress is at the oxide/substrate interface and the minimum stress at the oxygen/oxide interface in short oxidation time, while the maximum stress is no longer at the oxide/substrate interface in long oxidation time. The stress evolutions at different locations are also presented. The predicted results agree well with the experimental data.
Nanoindentation Studies of the Effects of Ion Irradiation on the Near Surface Mechanical Response of Annealed Ti40Cu32Pd14Zr10Sn2Si2 Metallic Glass Ribbons
Authors: Zare A. , Klopfstein M. J. , Lucca D. A. , Price L. , Shao L. , Xie G. Q.
Published: February 2016

Nanoindentation experiments with a Berkovich indenter and a spherical indenter were performed to study the effects of annealing at temperatures below the glass transition temperature and room temperature ion irradiation on the near surface mechanical response of Ti40Cu32Pd14Zr10Sn2Si2 metallic glass (MG) ribbons. The specimens were isothermally annealed in vacuum at 573 K and 673 K for 4 hrs. Annealing was seen to increase the hardness of the specimens and decrease their ductility. The annealed specimens were subsequently irradiated by 3.5 MeV Cu2+ ions at room temperature using a fluence of 1 × 1012 ions/cm2 or 1 × 1016 ions/cm2. Nanoindentation experiments on the annealed and irradiated specimens showed a reduction in hardness and an increase in ductility for the specimens irradiated at a fluence of 1 × 1012 ions/cm2. Although the values of the mean contact pressure and critical shear stress under the spherical indenter showed an easier formation of shear bands after irradiation, increasing the irradiation fluence to 1 × 1016 ions/cm2 was seen to increase the hardness value and decrease the ductility of the specimens.
Three-dimensional parabolic equation modeling of mesoscale eddy deflection
Authors: Heaney Kevin D. , Campbell Richard L.
Published: February 2016

The impact of mesoscale oceanography, including ocean fronts and eddies, on global scale low-frequency acoustics is examined using a fully three-dimensional parabolic equation model. The narrowband acoustic signal, for frequencies from 2 to 16 Hz, is simulated from a seismic event on the Kerguellen Plateau in the South Indian Ocean to an array of receivers south of Ascension Island in the South Atlantic, a distance of 9100 km. The path was chosen for its relevance to seismic detections from the HA10 Ascension Island station of the International Monitoring System, for its lack of bathymetric interaction, and for the dynamic oceanography encountered as the sound passes the Cape of Good Hope. The acoustic field was propagated through two years (1992 and 1993) of the eddy-permitting ocean state estimation ECCO2 (Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean, Phase II) system. The range of deflection of the back-azimuth was 1.8° with a root-mean-square of 0.34°. The refraction due to mesoscale oceanography could therefore have significant impacts upon localization of distant low-frequency sources, such as seismic or nuclear test events.
Three-dimensional time reversal communications in elastic media
Authors: Anderson Brian E. , Ulrich Timothy J. , Le Bas Pierre-Yves , Ten Cate James A.
Published: February 2016

This letter presents a series of vibrational communication experiments, using time reversal, conducted on a set of cast iron pipes. Time reversal has been used to provide robust, private, and clean communications in many underwater acoustic applications. Here the use of time reversal to communicate along sections of pipes and through a wall is demonstrated to overcome the complications of dispersion and multiple scattering. These demonstrations utilize a single source transducer and a single sensor, a triaxial accelerometer, enabling multiple channels of simultaneous communication streams to a single location.
lncRNAs promote gene expression, too
Authors: Prabakaran Sudhakaran
Published: February 2016

GAL lncRNAs in yeast induce gene transcription by enabling gene looping through the formation of RNA-DNA hybrids.
Papers of note in
Science
Authors: Gough Nancy R.
Published: February 2016

This week’s articles feature insights into glial development, two ways calcium channels contribute to neuronal plasticity, signals that prevent T cells from reacting to food, how the microbiome supports development, and how the proteasome is regulated.
NEK7 activates NLRP3
Authors: Foley John F.
Published: February 2016

A kinase that mediates mitosis is required for activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome.
Distinct Pharmacodynamic Activity of Rilpivirine in Ectocervical and Colonic Explant Tissue
Authors: Dezzutti Charlene S. , Else Laura J. , Yandura Sarah E. , Shetler Cory , Russo Julie , Back David J. , McGowan Ian
Published: February 2016

A long-acting injectable form of rilpivirine (RPV) is being evaluated in clinical trials for the prevention of HIV infection. Preclinical testing was undertaken to define RPV pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) activities in ectocervical and colonic tissue treated
in vitro
. Tenfold dilutions of RPV were added to the basolateral medium of polarized ectocervical and colonic explant tissues. To half the explants, HIV-1
BaL
was applied to the apical tissue surface. After culture overnight, all the explants were washed and the RPV in the explants not exposed to HIV was quantified using a validated liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry assay. For efficacy, explants exposed to HIV remained in culture, and supernatants were collected to assess viral replication using a p24 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The data were log
10
transformed, and PK/PD correlations were determined using GraphPad Prism and SigmaPlot software. The application of RPV to the basolateral medium at 10 μM and 1 μM was effective in protecting ectocervical and colonic tissues, respectively, from HIV infection. When the RPV in paired ectocervical and colonic explant tissues was quantified, significant inverse linear correlations (
P
< 0.001) between p24 and RPV concentrations were obtained; more viral replication was noted at lower drug levels. Using a maximum effect model, RPV concentrations of 271 nM in ectocervical tissue and 45 nM in colonic tissue were needed to achieve a 90% effective concentration (EC
90
). These data demonstrate that RPV can suppress HIV infection in mucosal tissue but that higher levels of RPV are needed in female genital tract tissue than in gastrointestinal tract tissue for protection.
Pharmacokinetic Variability of Daptomycin during Prolonged Therapy for Bone and Joint Infections
Authors: Goutelle Sylvain , Roux Sandrine , Gagnieu Marie-Claude , Valour Florent , Lustig Sébastien , Ader Florence , Laurent Frédéric , Chidiac Christian , Ferry Tristan
Published: February 2016

The interindividual and intraindividual variabilities in daptomycin pharmacokinetics were investigated in 23 patients (69 pharmacokinetic profiles) who were treated for several months for bone and joint infections. Population daptomycin clearance was significantly influenced by renal function and was significantly higher in male than in female patients. We observed significant intraindividual changes in daptomycin clearance, which were uncorrelated with changes in renal function, suggesting that therapeutic drug monitoring is important in patients receiving prolonged daptomycin therapy.
A Flow Cytometry Method for Rapidly Assessing Mycobacterium tuberculosis Responses to Antibiotics with Different Modes of Action
Authors: Hendon-Dunn Charlotte Louise , Doris Kathryn Sarah , Thomas Stephen Richard , Allnutt Jonathan Charles , Marriott Alice Ann Neville , Hatch Kim Alexandra , Watson Robert James , Bottley Graham , Marsh Philip David , Taylor Stephen Charles , Bacon Joanna
Published: February 2016

Current methods for assessing the drug susceptibility of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
are lengthy and do not capture information about viable organisms that are not immediately culturable under standard laboratory conditions as a result of antibiotic exposure. We have developed a rapid dual-fluorescence flow cytometry method using markers for cell viability and death. We show that the fluorescent marker calcein violet with an acetoxy-methyl ester group (CV-AM) can differentiate between populations of
M. tuberculosis
growing at different rates, while Sytox green (SG) can differentiate between live and dead mycobacteria.
M. tuberculosis
was exposed to isoniazid or rifampin at different concentrations over time and either dual stained with CV-AM and SG and analyzed by flow cytometry or plated to determine the viability of the cells. Although similar trends in the loss of viability were observed when the results of flow cytometry and the plate counting methods were compared, there was a lack of correlation between these two approaches, as the flow cytometry analysis potentially captured information about cell populations that were unable to grow under standard conditions. The flow cytometry approach had an additional advantage in that it could provide insights into the mode of action of the drug: antibiotics targeting the cell wall gave a flow cytometry profile distinct from those inhibiting intracellular processes. This rapid drug susceptibility testing method could identify more effective antimycobacterials, provide information about their potential mode of action, and accelerate their progress to the clinic.
Two Unrelated 8-Vinyl Reductases Ensure Production of Mature Chlorophylls in Acaryochloris marina
Authors: Chen Guangyu E. , Hitchcock Andrew , Jackson Philip J. , Chaudhuri Roy R. , Dickman Mark J. , Hunter C. Neil , Canniffe Daniel P.
Published: February 2016

The major photopigment of the cyanobacterium
Acaryochloris marina
is chlorophyll
d
, while its direct biosynthetic precursor, chlorophyll
a
, is also present in the cell. These pigments, along with the majority of chlorophylls utilized by oxygenic phototrophs, carry an ethyl group at the C-8 position of the molecule, having undergone reduction of a vinyl group during biosynthesis. Two unrelated classes of 8-vinyl reductase involved in the biosynthesis of chlorophylls are known to exist, BciA and BciB. The genome of
Acaryochloris marina
contains open reading frames (ORFs) encoding proteins displaying high sequence similarity to BciA or BciB, although they are annotated as genes involved in transcriptional control (
nmrA
) and methanogenesis (
frhB
), respectively. These genes were introduced into an 8-vinyl chlorophyll
a
-producing Δ
bciB
strain of
Synechocystis
sp. strain PCC 6803, and both were shown to restore synthesis of the pigment with an ethyl group at C-8, demonstrating their activities as 8-vinyl reductases. We propose that
nmrA
and
frhB
be reassigned as
bciA
and
bciB
, respectively; transcript and proteomic analysis of
Acaryochloris marina
reveal that both
bciA
and
bciB
are expressed and their encoded proteins are present in the cell, possibly in order to ensure that all synthesized chlorophyll pigment carries an ethyl group at C-8. Potential reasons for the presence of two 8-vinyl reductases in this strain, which is unique for cyanobacteria, are discussed.

IMPORTANCE
The cyanobacterium
Acaryochloris marina
is the best-studied phototrophic organism that uses chlorophyll
d
for photosynthesis. Unique among cyanobacteria sequenced to date, its genome contains ORFs encoding two unrelated enzymes that catalyze the reduction of the C-8 vinyl group of a precursor molecule to an ethyl group. Carrying a reduced C-8 group may be of particular importance to organisms containing chlorophyll
d
. Plant genomes also contain orthologs of both of these genes; thus, the bacterial progenitor of the chloroplast may also have contained both
bciA
and
bciB
.
Mucinous mesenteric cyst of the sigmoid mesocolon: a rare entity
Authors: Challa Sreenivas Rao , Senapati Debadutta , Nulukurthi Taraka Krishna , Chinamilli Jaahnavi
Published: February 2016

Mesenteric cysts are rare and occur in patients of any age. They are asymptomatic and found incidentally or during the management of their complications. They commonly originate from the small bowel mesentery, although a proportion has been found to originate from the mesocolon (24%) and retroperitoneum (14.5%). A mesenteric cyst originating in the sigmoid mesocolon is a very rare finding.