bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Confronting and resolving competing values behind conservation objectives
Authors: Karp Daniel S. , Mendenhall Chase D. , Callaway Elizabeth , Frishkoff Luke O. , Kareiva Peter M. , Ehrlich Paul R. , Daily Gretchen C.
Published: August 2015

Significance

Conservationists have become embroiled in debates over different motivations for conserving nature. One path forward is to acknowledge that nature is valued for many reasons and that managing for one objective can fail to achieve others. We categorize conservation objectives and provide a framework for comparing trade-offs between alternative strategies for conserving Costa Rican birds. Specifically, we focus on mitigating species extinction risk, preventing population extirpations, restoring historic assemblages, and conserving evolutionarily unique, culturally significant, and ecosystem-service providing species. Our approach pinpoints strategies for resolving trade-offs and achieving multiple conservation objectives; for example, by maintaining forest cover surrounding tropical farms. These insights demonstrate the advances needed in conservation strategy to design multifunctional interventions.
An empirical model of the Baltic Sea reveals the importance of social dynamics for ecological regime shifts
Authors: Lade Steven J. , Niiranen Susa , Hentati-Sundberg Jonas , Blenckner Thorsten , Boonstra Wiebren J. , Orach Kirill , Quaas Martin F. , Österblom Henrik , Schlüter Maja
Published: August 2015

Significance

“Natural resource management is people management” is a cliché, but the effects of human behavior on the condition of natural resources, and vice versa, are often still not sufficiently acknowledged when modeling and managing natural resources. We constructed an empirically parameterized model of the boom and collapse of Baltic cod fisheries in the 1980s that explicitly took these two-way interactions between human action and ecological dynamics into account. We used novel methods of analysis based on generalized modeling to demonstrate how the interplay of social and ecological processes can be critically important for understanding and managing the dynamics of cod stocks and fisher welfare in the Baltic, as well as ecosystems and human well-being in general.
Mechanobiological oscillators control lymph flow
Authors: Kunert Christian , Baish James W. , Liao Shan , Padera Timothy P. , Munn Lance L.
Published: August 2015

Significance

Dysfunction of lymphatic drainage results in significant morbidity in millions of patients each year, and there are currently no pharmacological treatments available. Because a mechanistic understanding of lymphatic control has been elusive, it has not been possible to develop effective, targeted therapies to alleviate lymphedema or facilitate immune cell trafficking in lymphatic pathologies. Here, we show that complementary biological oscillators control lymphatic transport, driven by mechanosensitive calcium and nitric oxide (NO) dynamics. The mechanism shows fascinating adaptability and autoregulation, inducing active pumping of the lymphatic vessels when gravity opposes flow, but vessel relaxation when pressures are able to drive flow passively.
Homeostasis and the glycogen shunt explains aerobic ethanol production in yeast
Authors: Shulman Robert G. , Rothman Douglas L.
Published: August 2015

Significance

The molecular explanation for lactate or ethanol production by cells under aerobic conditions has remained a puzzle since first identified by Otto Warburg almost a century ago. To address this question, we reanalyzed
13
C NMR measurements of yeast cells under aerobic conditions immediately after they were exposed to high glucose levels. We showed that the large amount of ethanol produced is due to glycogen and trehalose synthesis requiring glycolytic derived ATP despite aerobic conditions. This glycogen shunt maintains metabolic homoeostasis by preventing accumulation of glycolytic intermediates and glycolytic ATP production. The similarities between yeast and cancer cell metabolism suggest that the model can, under comparable conditions, explain the Warburg effect of lactate formation in aerobic cancer cells.
Electrocorticography reveals the temporal dynamics of posterior parietal cortical activity during recognition memory decisions
Authors: Gonzalez Alex , Hutchinson J. Benjamin , Uncapher Melina R. , Chen Janice , LaRocque Karen F. , Foster Brett L. , Rangarajan Vinitha , Parvizi Josef , Wagner Anthony D.
Published: August 2015

Significance

Over the past decade, human posterior parietal cortex (PPC) has been unexpectedly implicated in remembering and memory-related decision making. Functional neuroimaging indicates that memory-related responses differ across PPC, and patients with PPC lesions show subtle to significant changes in memory behavior. These surprising observations have motivated novel theorizing, yet current understanding of PPC contributions to memory is limited by the absence of temporal information about activity in PPC subregions as retrieval decisions unfold. In this study, recordings from the human brain show for the first time that distinct temporal and functional profiles of activity are present in PPC subregions as participants make recognition memory decisions. These new findings inform theories of parietal functional contributions to memory, decision making, and attention.
Activation of
Big Grain1
significantly improves grain size by regulating auxin transport in rice
Authors: Liu Linchuan , Tong Hongning , Xiao Yunhua , Che Ronghui , Xu Fan , Hu Bin , Liang Chengzhen , Chu Jinfang , Li Jiayang , Chu Chengcai
Published: August 2015

Significance

As one of the most important growth-promoting hormones, auxin regulates many aspects of plant growth and development. Understanding auxin action has long been a challenging task because of the complexity of the hormone transport involved in auxin response. Despite tremendous progress made in
Arabidopsis
, auxin response and transport are poorly understood in crop plants, which impedes the application of hormone knowledge in agricultural improvement. This study not only identifies a novel positive regulator of plant growth in rice and demonstrates its significant role in improving seed size and grain yield, it also illustrates the specific involvement of the plasma membrane-associated protein in regulating auxin response and transport, thus illuminating a new strategy for enhancing crop productivity.
Hybrid mimics and hybrid vigor in
Arabidopsis
Authors: Wang Li , Greaves Ian K. , Groszmann Michael , Wu Li Min , Dennis Elizabeth S. , Peacock W. James
Published: August 2015

Significance

Hybrids have an important role in many crops used for global food production. The increased production levels of biomass and grain are restricted to the first-generation hybrid. We report stabilization of hybrid vigor traits in pure breeding hybrid mimic lines. Comparison of the patterns of their gene activity with those of the F1 hybrids has identified metabolic pathways associated with the generation of the hybrid vigor phenotype. The hybrid mimics are homozygous for long chromosomal segments showing that heterozygosity is not required for the production of the heterotic phenotype. Interactions between the two parental genomes and epigenomes contribute to the vigor of the
Arabidopsis
hybrids and are likely to be the basis of hybrid vigor in other plant species.
RIP3-mediated necrotic cell death accelerates systematic inflammation and mortality
Authors: Meng Lingjun , Jin Wei , Wang Xiaodong
Published: August 2015

Significance

Atherosclerosis is one of the major causes of human death in modern society. A high blood cholesterol level resulting from cholesterol metabolism dysfunction is a key known contributing factor for premature atherosclerosis. Using a mouse model of high blood cholesterol, we show that a specific activation marker of a programmed necrosis mediated by the kinase receptor-interacting protein 3 (RIP3) can be detected in the core of atherosclerotic plaques. Mice lacking the
RIP3
gene showed a significant reduction of proinflammatory monocytes in the blood and delayed mortality. This study suggests that RIP3-mediated necrotic cell death is part of a self-amplifying proinflammatory cycle that contributes to the premature death of animals with the pro-atherosclerosis trait.
English-only job advertising in the Low Countries
Authors: Zenner Eline , Speelman Dirk , Geeraerts Dirk
Published: August 2015

This paper presents a multifactorial quantitative corpus-based analysis of the distribution of English-only ads in the Low Countries. The dataset consists of approximately one thousand job ads, published in Vacature (a Belgian Dutch job ad magazine) and Intermediair (a Netherlandic Dutch job ad magazine) in 2007 and 2008. About one in seven ads are written entirely in English. Using logistic regression analysis, we find that the occurrence of English-only advertising is mainly linked to occupational contexts where English plays a practical role: the phenomenon is typical for companies with headquarters located outside of the Low Countries (specifically US/UK-based companies), for companies with English-oriented corporate communication and for companies that are recruiting for IT and technical staff. Finally, more English-only ads are published in Flanders than in The Netherlands.
English words and phrases in Dutch job advertisements
Authors: van Meurs Frank , Korzilius Hubert , Bergevoet Liset
Published: August 2015

It has been suggested that differences in mental processing affect the persuasiveness of language use. Within the Elaboration Likelihood Model framework, we examined if there were differences in the persuasiveness of English versus Dutch words in job ads depending on the way the job ads were processed, either by the central or the peripheral route. In an experiment, 144 participants evaluated ads for lower level jobs. Persuasiveness was measured in terms of text, job, and company evaluation, and application intention. There were no differences in persuasiveness for job ads containing English words depending on whether they were processed via the peripheral or the central route. However, under peripheral processing the jobs in the ads with English words were seen as being more attractive and as having a lower salary than the jobs in the all-Dutch ads, providing some limited evidence that English words may function as peripheral cues.
De doeltreffendheid van een Italiaanse versus Nederlandse slagzin in een Italiaanse wijnreclame
Authors: Raedts Mariet , Dupré Natalie
Published: August 2015

Foreign languages are commonly used in advertising, because it is generally thought that they attract consumers’ attention. Compared to English, Italian is only rarely chosen by European advertisers. Precisely because of their low frequency, Italian words have a higher chance to capture and hold the consumers’ attention. Although foreign languages are widespread in advertising, the effectiveness of their use has not been studied extensively. In our study on print advertisements we compare the effectiveness of a foreign language slogan (Italian) relative to a slogan in the local language (Dutch). More specifically, we focus on the effects of foreign language usage on cognitive, affective and conative consumer responses. Cognitive responses include spontaneous and prompted recall of the slogan and the brand name. Affective responses pertain to the attitude towards the slogan, the brand and the advertisement. Conative response was defined in terms of purchase intention. Our sample consisted of 236 subjects of different age and educational level from the Dutch speaking part of Belgium. These participants had little or no knowledge of the Italian language. The experiment had a between-subjects design. Participants either saw the Italian or the Dutch version of the advertisement. In order to optimize the effectiveness of the use of the foreign language, we ensured a match between foreign language, country of origin, and the advertised product. Therefore, we created an advertisement for Italian wines with visual elements (a picture and a drawing) evoking Italy. Additionally, we chose easy Italian words, as previous research has shown that slogans with easy foreign words are more appreciated than difficult slogans. The results of our study show that the Dutch slogan was more effective for the spontaneous and prompted recall of the brand name. The language of the slogan had no effect on participants’ attitudes towards the brand, the slogan and the advertisement. By contrast, the Italian slogan had a positive effect on participants’ purchase intentions. The article ends with some concluding remarks and suggestions for future research.
Collocations in context
Authors: Brezina Vaclav , McEnery Tony , Wattam Stephen
Published: August 2015

The idea that text in a particular field of discourse is organized into lexical patterns, which can be visualized as networks of words that collocate with each other, was originally proposed by Phillips (1983). This idea has important theoretical implications for our understanding of the relationship between the lexis and the text and (ultimately) between the text and the discourse community/the mind of the speaker. Although the approaches to date have offered different possibilities for constructing collocation networks, we argue that they have not yet successfully operationalized some of the desired features of such networks. In this study, we revisit the concept of collocation networks and introduce GraphColl, a new tool developed by the authors that builds collocation networks from user-defined corpora. In a case study using data from McEnery’s (2006a) study of the Society for the Reformation of Manners Corpus (SRMC), we demonstrate that collocation networks provide important insights into meaning relationships in language.
“Funky fresh dressed to impress”
Authors: Kreyer Rolf
Published: August 2015

Since the beginnings of modern popular music, listening to pop songs has been one of the major pastimes in Western countries, raising the question how popular music contributes to the shaping of beliefs and attitudes in general and gender roles and stereotypes in particular. While there is a considerable body of research concerning the depiction of men and women in pop music videos, the lyrics of pop songs, so far, have largely been neglected as a viable source of data. On the basis of two corpora of contemporary pop songs by male and female artists, respectively, the present paper explores discourses of femininity and masculinity as represented in the lyrics of pop songs. It is shown that although the two corpora behave surprisingly similarly in some respects, the way in which male and female artists refer to themselves or to the opposite sex might contribute to the consolidation of unfavourable roles for women.
When triangles become human
Authors: Müller Barbara C. N. , Oostendorp Anna K. , Kühn Simone , Brass Marcel , Dijksterhuis Ap , van Baaren Rick B.
Published: August 2015

Until recently, it was assumed that co-representation of others’ actions, an essential part in joint action, is biologically tuned. However, research demonstrated that we also simulate actions of non-biological interaction partners under certain conditions. In the present study, we investigated whether perceived intentionality or perspective taking is the underlying mechanisms of this phenomenon. Participants saw a short video fragment of a non-biological agent (i.e. a triangle) as main character. The movements of this agent were either described as intentional or as unintentional. Furthermore, participants were instructed to either take the perspective of this non-biological agent or not. Results show that perspective taking and perceived intentionality both lead to action co-representation of non-biological actions. Possible explanations for these findings are discussed.
Language and citizenship
Authors: Milani Tommaso M.
Published: August 2015

The main argument advanced in this article that frames this special issue is that citizenship is not just a highly polysemic word employed by the media and other political institutions; it is also a set of norms and (linguistic) behaviours that individuals are socialised into, as well as a series of practices that social actors perform through an array of semiotic means including multilingualism, multivoicedness, the body, and affect. In light of this, it is proposed that the linguistic/discursive study of citizenship should be expanded beyond a rather narrow emphasis on political proposals about language testing to include the diverse, more or less mundane, ways in which citizenship is enacted via an array of multivocal, material, and affective semiotic resources.
The party’s over?
Authors: Wee Lionel
Published: August 2015

This paper highlights the dynamic nature of the relationship between government and society, drawing on as a case study the changing relationship between the Singapore government and the citizenry. I discuss the conditions under which the People’s Action Party is under pressure to change its style of government,. Following on from this discussion, I make two key points. One, concepts such as habitus and act (Isin 2008) have been employed to elucidate the nature of citizenship. But they are also relevant to our understanding of government.

Two, the distinction between act and habitus, at least as articulated by Isin (2008), confuses two ontologically distinct entitiies: a disposition to act, and the action itself. I suggest that this confusion arises in part from Isin’s failure to examine carefully the communicative modes of engagement between the government and the citizenry.
DNA loops generate intracentromere tension in mitosis
Authors: Lawrimore Josh , Vasquez Paula A. , Falvo Michael R. , Taylor Russell M. , Vicci Leandra , Yeh Elaine , Forest M. Gregory , Bloom Kerry
Published: August 2015

The centromere is the DNA locus that dictates kinetochore formation and is visibly apparent as heterochromatin that bridges sister kinetochores in metaphase. Sister centromeres are compacted and held together by cohesin, condensin, and topoisomerase-mediated entanglements until all sister chromosomes bi-orient along the spindle apparatus. The establishment of tension between sister chromatids is essential for quenching a checkpoint kinase signal generated from kinetochores lacking microtubule attachment or tension. How the centromere chromatin spring is organized and functions as a tensiometer is largely unexplored. We have discovered that centromere chromatin loops generate an extensional/poleward force sufficient to release nucleosomes proximal to the spindle axis. This study describes how the physical consequences of DNA looping directly underlie the biological mechanism for sister centromere separation and the spring-like properties of the centromere in mitosis.
TopBP1 is required at mitosis to reduce transmission of DNA damage to G1 daughter cells
Authors: Pedersen Rune Troelsgaard , Kruse Thomas , Nilsson Jakob , Oestergaard Vibe H. , Lisby Michael
Published: August 2015

Genome integrity is critically dependent on timely DNA replication and accurate chromosome segregation. Replication stress delays replication into G2/M, which in turn impairs proper chromosome segregation and inflicts DNA damage on the daughter cells. Here we show that TopBP1 forms foci upon mitotic entry. In early mitosis, TopBP1 marks sites of and promotes unscheduled DNA synthesis. Moreover, TopBP1 is required for focus formation of the structure-selective nuclease and scaffold protein SLX4 in mitosis. Persistent TopBP1 foci transition into 53BP1 nuclear bodies (NBs) in G1 and precise temporal depletion of TopBP1 just before mitotic entry induced formation of 53BP1 NBs in the next cell cycle, showing that TopBP1 acts to reduce transmission of DNA damage to G1 daughter cells. Based on these results, we propose that TopBP1 maintains genome integrity in mitosis by controlling chromatin recruitment of SLX4 and by facilitating unscheduled DNA synthesis.
The tension mounts at centromeric loops
Authors: Short Ben
Published: August 2015

Study reveals how pericentric chromatin generates tension between sister centromeres.
The role of Fc–FcγR interactions in IgG-mediated microbial neutralization
Authors: Bournazos Stylianos , DiLillo David J. , Ravetch Jeffrey V.
Published: August 2015

Antibodies are bifunctional molecules, containing a variable Fab domain that mediates binding specificity and a constant Fc domain that bridges antibody-coated targets with FcγR-expressing cells that mediate effector functions. Although traditional mechanisms of antibody-mediated neutralization of microbes have been largely thought to result from Fab–antigen interactions, recent studies suggest that recruitment of FcγR-expressing effector cells by antibodies is a major in vivo mechanism of antibody-mediated protection from infection. In this article, we review FcγR biology, compare mammalian FcγR families, and summarize recent evidence demonstrating the crucial role that Fc–FcγR interactions play during in vivo protection from infection.
Effect of Climate Change on Wheat Quality and HMW Glutenin Subunit Composition in the Pannonian Plain
Authors: Živančev Dragan R. , Torbica Aleksandra M. , Tomić Jelena M. , Janić Hajnal Elizabet P. , Belović Miona M. , Mastilović Jasna S. , Kevrešan Žarko S.
Published: August 2015

The primary goal of this study is to improve our understanding of the extent of influence of climatic factors in Serbia and high‐molecular‐weight glutenin subunit (HMW‐GS) composition upon wheat end‐use quality. In‐depth analyses were performed on four bread wheat cultivars that are the most common in agricultural practice in Serbia. Total glutenin content showed significant difference between the production years, in opposition to gliadins. Cluster analysis of different percentages of glutenin and gliadin subunit molecular weight ranges (<40,000, 40,000–80,000, 81,000–120,000, and >120,000) indicated that the year of production and the cultivar did not have a significant effect on the percentage ranges for glutenins. However, they had a considerable impact on the percentage ranges for gliadins. Production year and the interaction of year and cultivar had the strongest influences on the percentage of SDS‐unextractable polymeric proteins. A synergistic effect of the HMW‐GS composition and climatic conditions revealed that all eight samples with HMW‐GS composition 2*, 5 + 10, 7 + 9 along with the highest Glu 1 score of 9 (out of a maximum of 10) produced in the year 2011 belonged to two clusters with the best wheat end‐use quality. Furthermore, the climate conditions in 2011 made it possible for the wheat cultivars with HMW‐GS composition –, 2 + 12, 7 + 9 to possess similar qualities as cultivars with HMW‐GS composition 2*, 5 + 10, 7 + 9 produced in 2012.
Bilateral Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Orbit
Authors: Branson Sara. V. , McClintic Elysa , Yeatts R. Patrick
Published: August 2015

A 41-year-old woman with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the left lacrimal gland underwent extended left orbital exenteration and postoperative external beam radiation therapy. She presented 1 year postoperatively with contralateral right orbital involvement. The authors report a rare case of adenocystic carcinoma of the lacrimal gland with bilateral orbital involvement
Sphingomonas hylomeconis sp. nov., isolated from the stem of Hylomecon japonica
Authors: Akbar Ali , Chen Chaoqiong , Zhu Lingfang , Xin Kaiyun , Cheng Juanli , Yang Qiao , Zhao Liang , Zhang Lei , Shen Xihui
Published: August 2015

A yellow-pigmented bacterium, designated strain GZJT-2T, was isolated from the stem of Hylomecon japonica (Thunb.) Prantl et Kündig collected from Taibai Mountain in Shaanxi Province, north-west China. Cells of strain GZJT-2T were Gram-reaction-negative, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming and non-motile. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain GZJT-2T was a member of the genus Sphingomonas, with sequence similarities of 92.1–96.9 % to type strains of recognized species of the genus Sphingomonas (92.1 % to Sphingomonas oligoaromativorans SY-6T and 96.9 % to Sphingomonas oligophenolica JCM 12082T). Strain GZJT-2T contained ubiquinone-10 (Q-10) as the predominant respiratory quinone and sym-homospermidine as the major polyamine. The major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 8 (comprising C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c), summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), C16 : 0 and C14 : 0 2-OH. Phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, sphingoglycolipid, four unidentified phospholipids, an unidentified aminolipid and four unidentified lipids were detected in the polar lipid profile. The DNA G+C content was 62.5 ± 0.3 mol%. On the basis of data from phenotypic, phylogenetic and DNA–DNA relatedness studies, strain GZJT-2T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas, for which the name Sphingomonas hylomeconis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is GZJT-2T ( = CCTCC AB 2013304T = KCTC 42739T).
Sex-dependent dominance at a single locus maintains variation in age at maturity in Atlantic salmon
Authors: Barson Nicola J. , Aykanat Tutku , Hindar Kjetil , Baranski Matthew , Bolstad Geir H. , Fiske Peder , Jacq Céleste , Jensen Arne J. , Johnston Susan E. , Karlsoon Sten , Kent Matthew , Niemelä Eero , Nome Torfinn , Næsje Tor F. , Orell Panu , Romakkaniemi Atso , Sægrov Harald , Urdal Kurt , Erkinaro Jaakko , Lien Sigbjørn , Primmer Craig R
Published: August 2015

Males and females share many traits that have a common genetic basis, however selection on these traits often differs between the sexes leading to sexual conflict1,2. Under such sexual antagonism, theory predicts the evolution of genetic architectures that resolve this sexual conflict2-6. Yet, despite intense theoretical and empirical interest, the specific genetic loci behind sexually antagonistic phenotypes have rarely been identified, limiting our understanding of how sexual conflict impacts genome evolution4,7,8and the maintenance of genetic diversity8,9. Here, we identify a large effect locus controlling age at maturity in 57 salmon populations, an important fitness trait in which selection favours earlier maturation in males than females10, and show it is a clear example of sex dependent dominance reducing intralocus sexual conflict and maintaining adaptive variation in wild populations. Using high density SNP data and whole genome re-sequencing, we found that vestigial-like family member 3 (VGLL3)exhibits sex-dependent dominance in salmon, promoting earlier and later maturation in males and females, respectively.VGLL3, an adiposity regulator associated with size and age at maturity in humans, explained 39.4% of phenotypic variation, an unexpectedly high effect size for what is usually considered a highly polygenic trait. Such large effects are predicted under balancing selection from either sexually antagonistic or spatially varying selection11-13. Our results provide the first empirical example of dominance reversal permitting greater optimisation of phenotypes within each sex, contributing to the resolution of sexual conflict in a major and widespread evolutionary trade-off between age and size at maturity. They also provide key empirical evidence for how variation in reproductive strategies can be maintained over large geographical scales. We further anticipate these findings will have a substantial impact on population management in a range of harvested species where trends towards earlier maturation have been observed.
Optimal Point Process Filtering and Estimation of the Coalescent Process
Authors: Parag Kris V , Pybus Oliver G
Published: August 2015

The coalescent process is an important and widely used model for inferring the dynamics of biological populations from samples of genetic diversity. Coalescent analysis typically involves applying statistical methods to either samples of genetic sequences or an estimated genealogy in order to estimate the demographic history of the population from which the samples originated. Several parametric and non-parametric estimation techniques, employing diverse methods, such as Gaussian processes and Monte Carlo particle filtering, already exist. However, these techniques often trade estimation accuracy and sophistication for methodological flexibility and ease of use. Thus, there is room for new coalescent estimation techniques that can be easily implemented for a range of inference problems while still maintaining some sense of statistical optimality.

Here we introduce the Bayesian Snyder filter as a natural, easily implementable and flexible minimum mean square error estimator for parametric demographic functions. By reinterpreting the coalescent as a self-correcting inhomogeneous Poisson process, we show that the Snyder filter can be applied to both isochronous (sampled at one time point) and heterochronous (serially sampled) estimation problems. We test the estimation performance of the filter on both standard, simulated demographic models and on a well-studied empirical dataset comprising hepatitis= C virus sequences from Egypt. Additionally, we provide some analytical insight into the relationship between the Snyder filter and popular maximum likelihood and skyline plot techniques for coalescent inference. The Snyder filter is an exact and direct Bayesian estimation method that provides optimal mean square error estimates. It has the potential to become as a useful, alternative technique for coalescent inference.
Thevgll3locus controls age at maturity in wild and domesticated Atlantic salmon (Salmo salarL.) males
Authors: Ayllon Fernando , Kjærner-Semb Erik , Furmanek Tomasz , Wennevik Vidar , Solberg Monica F , Dahle Geir , Taranger Geir Lasse , Glover Kevin A , Almén Markus Sällman , Rubin Carl J , Edvardsen Rolf B , Wargelius Anna
Published: August 2015

Wild and domesticated Atlantic salmon males display large variation for sea age at sexual maturation, which varies between 1-5 years. Previous studies have uncovered a genetic predisposition for age at maturity with moderate heritability, thus suggesting a polygenic or complex nature of this trait. The aim of this study was to identify associated genetic loci, genes and ultimately specific sequence variants conferring sea age at maturity in salmon. We performed a GWAS using a pool sequencing approach (20 individuals per river and trait) of salmon returning to rivers as sexually mature either after one sea winter (2009) or three sea winters (2011) in six rivers in Norway. The study revealed one major selective sweep, which covered 76 significant SNP in which 74 were found in a 370 kb region of chromosome 25. Genotyping other smolt year classes of wild salmon and domesticated salmon confirmed this finding. Genotyping domesticated fish narrowed the haplotype region to four SNPs covering 2386 bp, containing thevgll3gene, including two missense mutations explaining 33-36% phenotypic variation. This study demonstrates a single locus playing a highly significant role in governing sea age at maturation in this species. The SNPs identified may be both used as markers to guide breeding for late maturity in salmon aquaculture and in monitoring programs of wild salmon. Interestingly, a SNP in proximity of theVGLL3gene in human (Homo sapiens), has previously been linked to age at puberty suggesting a conserved mechanism for timing of puberty in vertebrates.

Author summary

For most species the factors that contribute to the genetic predisposition for age at maturity are currently unknown. In salmon aquaculture early maturation is negative for the growth, disease resistance and flesh quality. In addition, using populations of salmon selected to mature late may limit the genetic impact of aquaculture escapees, as these late maturing fish are more likely to die before they reach maturity. The aim of this study was to elucidate the genetic predisposition for salmon maturation. We determined the sequences of genomes from Atlantic salmon maturing early and late in six Norwegian rivers. This methodology enabled us to identify a short genomic region involved in determining the age at maturity in Atlantic salmon. This region has also previously been linked to time of puberty in humans – supporting a general mechanism behind age at maturity in vertebrates. The results of this study may be used to breed salmon that are genetically predisposed to mature late which will improve welfare and production in aquaculture industry and aid in the management of escaped farmed salmon.
The influence of temperature on the inhibition of carbon steel corrosion in acidic lignin
Authors: Yahya Solhan , Othman Norinsan Kamil , Daud Abdul Razak , Jalar Azman , Ismail Roslina
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate the influence of temperature and lignin concentration on the inhibition of carbon steel corrosion in 1 M HCl.

Design/methodology/approach

– Weight loss corrosion tests were performed at different temperatures in the range of 30-70°C (303-343 K).

Findings

– It was found that the corrosion inhibition efficiency (IE) of lignin on the carbon steel decreased when the temperature was increased from 60 to 70°C. However, at lower temperatures ranging from 30 to 50°C, the IE improved, due to occurrence of lignin adsorption on the surface of metal specimens. The IE was higher with increasing lignin concentration, thus reducing the weight loss of the carbon steel. The adsorption phenomenon involved exothermic processes because the value of enthalpy of adsorption (ΔH°ads) < 0 and Gibbs free energy of adsorption (ΔG°ads) were less negative with increase in temperature. The entropy of adsorption (ΔS°ads) had negative values, representing the decrease in disorder of adsorption. The adsorption of lignin on the carbon steel surface in 1 M HCl was comprehensive, as deduced from kinetic and thermodynamic parameters. However, physisorption was the major contributor in the inhibition mechanism. The inhibitive features of carbon steel surfaces showed less damage once the steel was treated in lignin, as evident from macroscopy images.

Practical implications

– The use of lignin as an acid corrosion inhibitor at high temperature is practical in metal surface treatment process.

Social implications

– The use of organic compounds gives an advantage to the environment, universal health and save cost, as the compounds can be found in nature.

Originality/value

– Lignin can act as a flexible corrosion inhibitor within the temperature range of 30-70°C in 1 M HCl because it exhibits comprehensive adsorption (i.e. a combination of both physisorption and chemisorption) at specific concentrations.
Effects of SO42− concentration on corrosion behaviour of carbon steels
Authors: Zhu Zhiping , Jiao Xiaocui , Tang Xueying , Lu Haiwei
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper was to investigate the effects of SO42− concentration on the corrosion behaviour of T23 and T12 steels in simulated water chemistry condition solution of 600 MW fossil-fired power boilers.

Design/methodology/approach

– The influence and mechanism of SO42− ions on the pitting corrosion of T23 and T12 steels in simulated oxygenated treatment water chemistry solution was studied using electrochemical potentiodynamic polarization scans and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

Findings

– The results showed that T23 and T12 were susceptible to pitting corrosion in the simulated solution with full SO42− concentration for the competitive adsorption of OH− and SO42− on the surface of steels. The pitting sensitivity of the steels improved with increasing SO42− concentration. The corrosion resistance for SO42− of T23 was stronger than that for T12.

Originality/value

– This study is an attempt to provide direction for regulating the concentration of SO42− in boiler water and for selecting the material for boiler water wall tubes.
Corrosion protective performance of epoxy-amino branched polydimethylsiloxane hybrid coatings on carbon steel
Authors: Suleiman Rami Mohammad
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper was to prepare a hybrid organic/inorganic coating with interesting barrier properties against the corrosion of plain carbon steel sheets in 3.5 per cent NaCl solution. The search for replacing chromates in protective coatings has led to the development of hybrid sol-gel anticorrosive coatings. Appropriate functionalization can dramatically enhance the chemical durability and mechanical strength of these coatings.

Design/methodology/approach

– To prepare the targeted coating, 1,2-epoxybutane (EB) was mixed with 2 to 4 per cent aminoethylaminopropyl-methylsiloxane dimethylsiloxane (APDMS) copolymer and 1,6-diaminohexane. The above coating (EBAC) has been further mixed with three different corrosion inhibitors “Moly-white® 101-ED, Heucophos Zapp® and cerium ammonium nitrate”, yielding the coatings EBAC-M, EBAC-Z and EBAC-Ce, respectively. The corrosion characteristics of all coatings on the steel panels immersed in 3.5 per cent NaCl solution were obtained using different electrochemical methods such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopic and Tafel polarization measurements.

Findings

– The newly prepared coatings showed interesting protection properties for protecting the steel substrate against corrosion in chloride-containing media.

Originality/value

– The results provide a good approach for the modification of polydimethylsiloxane coatings using a simple organic modifier.
An ontology-supported asset information integrator system in infrastructure management
Authors: Zeb Jehan , Froese Thomas , Vanier Dana
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop and apply an ontology-supported asset information integrator system (AIIS) in the domain of infrastructure management. The two objectives are: first, to describe how different ontologies developed as part of this research support the design of message templates (MTs) that were implemented in the AIIS; and second, to explain the development and application of the prototype system for tangible capital asset (TCA) reporting.

Design/methodology/approach

– The proposed system was developed in the MS SharePoint platform using a four-step methodology: create a web site and library; review and modify MTs; design and configure workflows; and add functionalities.

Findings

– First, the architecture, methodology, and evaluation of the two ontologies: Transaction Domain Ontology and Tangible Capital Asset Ontology, developed as part of this research work were briefly introduced to describe how both the ontologies supported the design of MTs that were implemented in the AIIS. Second, the AIIS was successfully developed and applied in the domain of infrastructure management for the Asset Inventory and Condition Assessment Reporting.

Practical implications

– The development of the AIIS would enable industry experts to exchange the tangible capital information. The built-in search engine and history services would help the experts to search a transaction and track the transaction history. The real-time visualisation of the data would help in decision making.

Originality/value

– Infrastructure agencies use diversified information systems to manage infrastructure systems. Due to propriety nature of the information systems, the TCA data generated is heterogeneous and inconsistent, which make it difficult to exchange with other organisations. Also, the existing applications focus on processing and managing the TCA data for a variety of tasks; however, lack to support data exchange with other organisations. This emphasises the gap that requires the development of an ontology-supported collaboration system in the domain of infrastructure asset management.
Post conflict housing reconstruction
Authors: Seneviratne Krisanthi , Amaratunga Dilanthi , Haigh Richard
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– Despite the role of post conflict housing reconstruction in establishing the development of peace in conflict affected countries, there are many issues which hinder its success. While the inconsideration of housing needs in post conflict housing reconstruction has directly or indirectly given rise for most of the issues, the countries emerging from conflicts face many challenges in addressing such housing needs. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to explore the management of housing needs in post conflict housing reconstruction. This paper aims to focus on identifying the challenges in addressing housing needs within the context of post conflict housing reconstruction in Sri Lanka.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study used the grounded theory approach to collect and analyse the data collected through 37 in-depth interviews, conducted with policy makers, practitioners, academics and housing beneficiaries in Sri Lanka. Primary data were verified through a documents review.

Findings

– The paper reveals that addressing housing needs in post conflict housing reconstruction in Sri Lanka is challenging, due to several factors. These include the socio economic profile of conflict affected people, conflict sensitive issues, donor requirements, limited availability of finance, weakened government administration, extent of housing and infrastructure damage, attitudes of affected people, land-related issues and shortage of labour and material.

Originality/value

– A number of studies have identified the challenges of post conflict reconstruction. This study particularly identifies the challenges of addressing housing needs in post conflict housing reconstruction. These findings are useful for policy makers to develop strategies in addressing housing needs in post conflict housing reconstruction.
Evaluation of retail service quality – a fuzzy AHP approach
Authors: Gopalan Rema , . Sreekumar , Satpathy Biswajit
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– With the growing importance of service quality in Indian retail, it becomes critical for the retailers to identify the appropriate dimensions for their retail stores. In the process of evaluating service quality the decision maker is often faced with ambiguities due to the imprecise information gained from the respondents. The purpose of this paper is to present an integrated fuzzy (fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) approach to help the decision makers/retailers in practicing and judging the priorities of service quality strategies and accordingly benchmarking retail stores in Indian retail environment.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study incorporated the five basic dimensions of Retail Service Quality Scale proposed by Dabholkaret al.(1996) and the FAHP approach to three leading apparel retail stores of a major city (Rourkela) of Orissa (an Indian state located in eastern part of the country) to determine the weights of criteria and sub-criteria of retail service quality.

Findings

– The study identified that the dimensions, namely, personal interaction, physical aspects, reliability and policy are perceived as important by the Indian consumers. Merchandise and the store’s willingness to handle returns and exchanges emerge as the most influencing variable affecting the overall service quality of the store.

Research limitations/implications

– The study was restricted to a major city of Orissa and to three apparel stores. The results obtained may not be extrapolated to the country as a whole. The authors believe that the integrated approach of FAHP could be used by a variety of service industries to evaluate the service quality. The study did not investigate switching behavior among the respondents as they had been visiting all the three apparel stores during the preceding months.

Practical implications

– The integrated approach of FAHP makes an empirical contribution to the service quality and retail marketing literature by overcoming the uncertainty of concepts those are associated with human beings’ subjective judgments.

Social implications

– The retailer can improve the quality of service provided by them based on the parameters important in Indian context, which will lead to higher customer satisfaction.

Originality/value

– This paper can help the retail service providers to identify which of the retail service quality dimensions requires much attention to create sustainable competitive advantage.
Modeling cause and effect relationships of strategy map using fuzzy DEMATEL and fourth generation of balanced scorecard
Authors: Valmohammadi Changiz , Sofiyabadi Javad
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop the strategy map (SM) of an Iranian automotive industry and the causal and effects relations of the SM’s variables though fourth generation of balanced scorecard (BSC) and fuzzy DEMATEL (decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory) technique.

Design/methodology/approach

– This research has employed a fuzzy DEMATEL approach in order to find cause and effect relations. At first step, CSFs in Company A’s SM were determined. Then four experts’ views of Company A’s strategic planning department were gathered and calculated by fuzzy set theory.

Findings

– Results showed the important role of customer perspective in supporting and achieving the organization’s vision which ultimately will lead to fulfillment of the financial objective of the company through satisfied customers. In other words, the dominant approach to logic of SM design in Company A and the obtained results from this research indicate, Company A can achieve strategic result with a more prominent role of customer and financial perspective, through employing the enabler perspective, i.e. learning and growth perspective.

Research limitations/implications

– Current study is limited to Iranian automotive industry. So, the strategic planning managers and future researchers shall consider their own company’s strategic structures for developing their SM.

Originality/value

– To the best of knowledge of the authors, it is the first attempt, particularly in the context of Iran, aimed at using fourth generation of BSC and fuzzy DEMATEL technique in an automotive industry which led to the confirmation that these two approaches can jointly be employed for the identifying cause and effect relations in SM and clarification and easy understanding of it. This proposed research structure can be a suitable base for the development of SM in other companies.
Comparison of context-aware predictive modeling approaches
Authors: Soikkeli Tapio
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The aim of this paper is to empirically examine how to best incorporate such contextual data, such as location or the semantic place of mobile users, into mobile user behavior models. Acquiring such data has become technically easier than ever. The proper utilization of these data leads, hypothetically, to better understanding of mobile user behavior and, consequently, to enhanced mobile services.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper systematically compares, under multiple experimental settings, the predictive performances of models built with three different approaches (pre-filtering, contextual modeling and post-filtering) used for incorporating contextual data into user behavior models. The comparisons focus on by which approach additional semantic place information can be best utilized for making the most accurate inferences on mobile user behavior. Real-life smartphone usage data are utilized in the analysis.

Findings

– The results demonstrate that none of the considered approaches uniformly dominate the others across all experimental settings. However, they show circumstance specific differences that need to be aligned with practical use cases for the best performance.

Practical implications

– Identifying the most suitable approaches for utilizing the semantic place (and other contextual) data is an important practical problem for electronic service providers, whose offerings are increasingly moving to the mobile domain and thus need to respond to the demands of mobility.

Originality/value

– The paper constitutes an initial step toward understanding and systematically evaluating different approaches for incorporating semantic place data into modeling mobile user behavior. Practitioners in the mobile service domain can apply the initial results and academics build upon them with more diverse experimental settings.