bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phylogenetic approaches to identifying fragments of the same gene, with application to the wheat genome
Authors: Piližota Ivana , Redestig Henning , Dessimoz Christophe
Published: August 2017

As the time and cost of sequencing decrease, the number of available genomes and transcriptomes rapidly increases. Yet the quality of the assemblies and the gene annotations varies considerably and often remains poor, affecting downstream analyses. This is particularly true when fragments of the same gene are annotated as distinct genes and consequently wrongly appear as paralogs. In this study, we introduce two novel phylogenetic tests to infer non-overlapping or partially overlapping genes that are in fact parts of the same gene. One approach collapses branches with low bootstrap support and the other computes a likelihood ratio test. We extensively validated these methods by 1) introducing and recovering fragmentation on the bread wheat,Triticum aestivumcv. Chinese Spring, chromosome 3B; 2) by applying the methods to the low-quality 3B assembly and validating predictions against the high-quality 3B assembly; and 3) by comparing the performance of the proposed methods to the performance of existing methods, namely Ensembl Compara and ESPRIT. Application of this combination to a draft shotgun assembly of the entire bread wheat genome revealed 1221 pairs of genes which are highly likely to be fragments of the same gene. Our approach demonstrates the power of fine-grained evolutionary inferences across multiple species to improving genome assemblies and annotations. An open source software tool is available athttps://github.com/DessimozLab/esprit2.
Drosophilaneural stem cells are polarized by their daughter cells
Authors: Loyer Nicolas , Januschke Jens
Published: August 2017

Controlling the orientation of cell division is important in the context of cell fate choices and tissue morphogenesis. However, the mechanisms providing the required positional information remain incompletely understood. Here we use stem cells of theDrosophilalarval brain that stably maintain their axis of polarity and division between cell cycles to identify cues that orient cell division. Using live cell imaging of cultured brains, laser ablation and genetics we reveal that these cells use the position of their last-born daughter cell as a polarizing cue. Remarkably, this daughter cell derived signal received at one pole of the stem cell has an effect on the opposite pole influencing where apical will be in the next mitosis, thereby directing the orientation of division. Therefore, in addition to known intrinsic cues, stem cells in the developing fly brain are polarized by an extrinsic signal that acts upstream of apico-basal polarity establishment.
A novel VPS33A interaction motif is a master-switch controlling the inhibition and promotion of mammalian Stx17 interactions with SNAP29 and VAMP7 during autophagy
Authors: Saleeb Rebecca S. , Kavanagh Deirdre M. , Dun Alison R. , Dalgarno Paul A , Duncan Rory R
Published: August 2017

Autophagosome clearance is accomplished by SNARE-mediated fusion of the vesicle membrane with the endolysosome. This must be carefully regulated to maintain the organisation of the membrane system and prevent mistargeted degradation. Here, we dissect the autophagosomal SNARE complex pathway and its regulation using FLIM-FRET as a readout of protein interactionin situ. We show that within the spatio-temporal framework of the cell, autophagosomal Stx17 preferentially heterodimerises with SNAP29, subsequently associating with VAMP7, not VAMP8 as currently believed. Additionally, we identify for the first time multi-modal regulation of SNARE assembly by the SM protein VPS33A, finding parallels and differences with other syntaxin-SM interactions and suggesting a unifying model of SM regulation. Contrary to current theory, the Stx17 N-peptide interacts in a positionally conserved, but mechanistically divergent manner with VPS33A, providing a late ‘go, no-go’ step for autophagic fusionviaa phosphoserine master-switch.
Pan-cancer screen for mutations in non-coding elements with conservation and cancer specificity reveals correlations with expression and survival
Authors: Hornshøj Henrik , Nielsen Morten Muhlig , Sinnott-Armstrong Nicholas A. , Świtnicki Michał P. , Juul Malene , Madsen Tobias , Sallari Richard , Kellis Manolis , Ørntoft Torben , Hobolth Asger , Pedersen Jakob Skou
Published: August 2017

Cancer develops by accumulation of somatic driver mutations, which impact cellular function. Non-coding mutations in non-coding regulatory regions can now be studied genome-wide and further characterized by correlation with gene expression and clinical outcome to identify driver candidates. Using a new two-stage procedure, called ncDriver, we first screened 507 ICGC whole-genomes from ten cancer types for non-coding elements, in which mutations are both recurrent and have elevated conservation or cancer specificity. This identified 160 significant non-coding elements, including theTERTpromoter, a well-known non-coding driver element, as well as elements associated with known cancer genes and regulatory genes (e.g.,PAX5,TOX3,PCF11,MAPRE3). However, in some significant elements, mutations appear to stem from localized mutational processes rather than recurrent positive selection in some cases. To further characterize the driver potential of the identified elements and shortlist candidates, we identified elements where presence of mutations correlated significantly with expression levels (e.g.TERTandCDH10) and survival (e.g.CDH9andCDH10) in an independent set of 505 TCGA whole-genome samples. In a larger pan-cancer set of 4,128 TCGA exomes with expression profiling, we identified mutational correlation with expression for additional elements (e.g., nearGATA3,CDC6,ZNF217andCTCFtranscription factor binding sites). Survival analysis further pointed toMIR122, a known marker of poor prognosis in liver cancer. This screen for significant mutation patterns followed by correlative mutational analysis identified new individual driver candidates and suggest that some non-coding mutations recurrently affect expression and play a role in cancer development.
Preferential cholinergic excitation of corticopontine neurons
Authors: Baker Arielle L. , O’Toole Ryan J. , Gulledge Allan T.
Published: August 2017

Pyramidal neurons in layer 5 of the neocortex comprise two broad classes of projection neurons: corticofugal neurons, including corticopontine (CPn) neurons, and intratelencephalic neurons, including commissural/callosal (COM) neurons. These non-overlapping neuron subpopulations represent discrete cortical output channels contributing to perception, decision making, and behavior. CPn and COM neurons have distinct morphological and physiological characteristics, and divergent responses to modulatory transmitters such as serotonin and acetylcholine (ACh). To better understand how ACh regulates cortical output, in slices of mouse prefrontal cortex (PFC) we compared the responsivity of CPn and COM neurons to transient exposure to exogenous or endogenous ACh. In both neuron subtypes, exogenous ACh generated qualitatively similar biphasic responses in which brief hyperpolarization was followed by longer-lasting enhancement of excitability. However, cholinergic inhibition was more pronounced in COM neurons, while excitatory responses were larger and longer lasting in CPn neurons. Similarly, optically triggered release of endogenous ACh from cholinergic terminals preferentially and persistently (for ~40 s) enhanced the excitability of CPn neurons, but had little impact on COM neurons. Cholinergic excitation of CPn neurons involved at least three distinct ionic mechanisms: activation of a calcium-sensitive but calcium-permeable nonspecific cation conductance, suppression of Kv7 channels (the “M-current”), and activation of the calcium-dependent nonspecific cation conductance underlying afterdepolarizations. Our results demonstrate projection-specific selectivity in cholinergic signaling in the PFC, and suggest that transient release of ACh during behavior will preferentially promote corticofugal output.
Water-mediated interactions enable smooth substrate transport in a bacterial efflux pump
Authors: Vargiu Attilio Vittorio , Ramaswamy Venkata Krishnan , Malvacio Ivana , Malloci Giuliano , Kleinekatöfer Ulrich , Ruggerone Paolo
Published: August 2017

Efflux pumps of the Resistance-Nodulation-cell Division superfamily confer multi-drug resistance to Gram-negative bacteria. AcrB of Escherichia coli is a paradigm model of these polyspecific transporters. The molecular determinants and the energetics of the functional rotation mechanism proposed for the export of substrates by this protein have not yet been unveiled. To this aim, we implemented an original protocol that allows mimicking substrate transport in silico. We show that the conformational changes occurring in AcrB enable the formation of a layer of structured waters on the surface of the substrate transport channel. This, in turn, allows for a fairly constant hydration of the substrate that facilitates its diffusion. Our findings reveal a new molecular mechanism of transport in polyspecific systems, whereby waters contribute by screening potentially strong substrate-protein interactions. The mechanistic understanding of a fundamental process related to multi-drug transport provided here could help rationalizing the behavior of other polyspecific systems.
Skin biomarkers for cystic fibrosis: a potential noninvasive approach for patient screening
Authors: Esteves Cibele Zanardi , de Aguiar Dias Letícia , de Oliveira Lima Estela , de Oliveira Diogo Noin , Melo Carlos Fernando Odir Rodrigues , Souza Gomez Carla Cristina , Ribeiro José Dirceu , Ribeiro Antônio Fernando , Levy Carlos Emílio , Catharino Rodrigo Ramos
Published: August 2017

Background

Cystic fibrosis is a disabling genetic disease with an increased prevalence in populations with European heritage. Currently, the most used technique for collection of cystic fibrosis samples and diagnosis is provided through uncomfortable tests, with uncertain results, mostly based on chloride concentration in sweat. Since cystic fibrosis mutation induces many metabolic changes in patients, exploring these alterations might be an alternative to visualize potential biomarkers that could be used as interesting tools for further diagnostic upgrade, prioritizing simplicity, low cost and quickness.

Methods

This contribution describes an accurate strategy to provide potential biomarkers related to cystic fibrosis, which may be understood as a potential tool for new diagnostic approaches and/or for monitoring disease evolution. Therefore, the present proposal consists of using skin imprints on silica plates as a way of sample collection, followed by direct-infusion high-resolution mass spectrometry and multivariate data analysis, intending to identify metabolic changes in skin composition of cystic fibrosis patients.

Results

Metabolomics analysis allowed identifying chemical markers that can be traced back to cystic fibrosis in patients’ skin imprints, differently from control subjects. Seven chemical markers from several molecular classes were elected, represented by bile acids, a glutaric acid derivative, thyrotropin releasing hormone, an inflammatory mediator, a phosphatidic acid, and diacylglycerol isomers, all reflecting metabolic disturbances that occur due to of cystic fibrosis.

Conclusion

The comfortable method of sample collection combined with the identified set of biomarkers represent potential tools that open the range of possibilities to manage cystic fibrosis and follow the disease evolution. This exploratory approach points to new perspectives about cystic fibrosis management and maybe to further development of a new diagnostic assay based on them.
Digital museum of retinal ganglion cells with dense anatomy and physiology
Authors: Bae J. Alexander , Mu Shang , Kim Jinseop S. , Turner Nicholas L. , Tartavull Ignacio , Kemnitz Nico , Jordan Chris S. , Norton Alex D. , Silversmith William M. , Prentki Rachel , Sorek Marissa , David Celia , Jones Devon L. , Bland Doug , Sterling Amy L. R. , Park Jungman , Briggman Kevin L. , Seung H. Sebastian ,   the EyeWirers
Published: August 2017

Most digital brain atlases have macroscopic resolution and are confined to a single imaging modality. Here we present a new kind of resource that combines dense maps of anatomy and physiology at cellular resolution. The resource encompasses almost 400 ganglion cells from a single patch of mouse retina, and a digital “museum” provides a 3D interactive view of each cell’s anatomy as well as graphs of its visual responses. To demonstrate the utility of the resource, we use it to divide the inner plexiform layer of the retina into four sublaminae defined by a purely anatomical principle of arbor segregation. We also test the hypothesis that the aggregate neurite density of a ganglion cell type should be approximately uniform (“density conservation”). Finally, we find that ganglion cells arborizing in the inner marginal sublamina of the inner plexiform layer exhibit significantly more sustained visual responses on average.
Geographic variation in sleep and metabolic function is associated with latitude and temperature
Authors: Brown Elizabeth B. , Torres Joshua , Bennick Ryan A. , Rozzo Valerie , Kerbs Arianna , DiAngelo Justin R. , Keene Alex C.
Published: August 2017

Regulation of sleep and metabolic homeostasis are critical to an animal’s survival and under stringent evolutionary pressure. Animals display remarkable diversity in sleep and metabolic phenotypes; however, an understanding of the ecological forces that select for, and maintain, these phenotypic differences remain poorly understood. The fruit fly,Drosophila melanogaster, is a powerful model for investigating the genetic regulation of sleep and metabolic function, and screening in inbred fly lines has led to the identification of novel genetic regulators of sleep. Nevertheless, little is known about the contributions of naturally occurring genetic differences to sleep, metabolic phenotypes, and their relationship with geographic or environmental gradients. Here, we quantified sleep and metabolic phenotypes in 24D. melanogasterpopulations collected from unique geographic localities. These studies reveal remarkable diversity in sleep, starvation resistance, and energy stores. We found that increased sleep duration is strongly associated with proximity to the equator and elevated average annual temperature, suggesting that environmental gradients strongly influence natural variation in sleep. Further, we found variation in metabolic regulation of sleep to be associated with free glucose levels, while starvation resistance associates with glycogen and triglyceride stores. Taken together, these findings reveal robust naturally occurring variation in sleep and metabolic traits inD. melanogasterand suggest that distance from the equator and median temperature is a significant evolutionary factor in sleep regulation and architecture.
Physiological/pathological ramifications of transcription factors in the unfolded protein response
Authors: Han Jaeseok , Kaufman Randal J.
Published: August 2017

Numerous environmental, physiological, and pathological insults disrupt protein-folding homeostasis in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), referred to as ER stress. Eukaryotic cells evolved a set of intracellular signaling pathways, collectively termed the unfolded protein response (UPR), to maintain a productive ER protein-folding environment through reprogramming gene transcription and mRNA translation. The UPR is largely dependent on transcription factors (TFs) that modulate expression of genes involved in many physiological and pathological conditions, including development, metabolism, inflammation, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. Here we summarize the current knowledge about these mechanisms, their impact on physiological/pathological processes, and potential therapeutic applications.
How transcription circuits explore alternative architectures while maintaining overall circuit output
Authors: Dalal Chiraj K. , Johnson Alexander D.
Published: August 2017

Transcription regulators bind to cis-regulatory sequences and thereby control the expression of target genes. While transcription regulators and the target genes that they regulate are often deeply conserved across species, the connections between the two change extensively over evolutionary timescales. In this review, we discuss case studies where, despite this extensive evolutionary rewiring, the resulting patterns of gene expression are preserved. We also discuss in silico models that reach the same general conclusions and provide additional insights into how this process occurs. Together, these approaches make a strong case that the preservation of gene expression patterns in the wake of extensive rewiring is a general feature of transcription circuit evolution.
Detection of structural mosaicism from targeted and whole-genome sequencing data
Authors: King Daniel A. , Sifrim Alejandro , Fitzgerald Tomas W. , Rahbari Raheleh , Hobson Emma , Homfray Tessa , Mansour Sahar , Mehta Sarju G. , Shehla Mohammed , Tomkins Susan E. , Vasudevan Pradeep C. , Hurles Matthew E. ,   The Deciphering Developmental Disorders Study
Published: August 2017

Structural mosaic abnormalities are large post-zygotic mutations present in a subset of cells and have been implicated in developmental disorders and cancer. Such mutations have been conventionally assessed in clinical diagnostics using cytogenetic or microarray testing. Modern disease studies rely heavily on exome sequencing, yet an adequate method for the detection of structural mosaicism using targeted sequencing data is lacking. Here, we present a method, called MrMosaic, to detect structural mosaic abnormalities using deviations in allele fraction and read coverage from next-generation sequencing data. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) simulations were used to calculate detection performance across a range of mosaic event sizes, types, clonalities, and sequencing depths. The tool was applied to 4911 patients with undiagnosed developmental disorders, and 11 events among nine patients were detected. For eight of these 11 events, mosaicism was observed in saliva but not blood, suggesting that assaying blood alone would miss a large fraction, possibly >50%, of mosaic diagnostic chromosomal rearrangements.
Crystal structure of 1-[2-(4-nitrophenyl)-4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl]propan-2-ol
Authors: Simpson Jim , Mohamed Shaaban K. , Marzouk Adel A. , Abdelhamid Antar A. , Albayati Mustafa R.
Published: August 2017

The title compound, C24H21N3O3, crystallizes with two unique but closely r.m.s. overlay fit = 0.215 Å) comparable molecules (1 and 2) in the asymmetric unit of the triclinic unit cell. In molecule 1, the dihedral angles between the central imidazlole ring and the benzene-ring substituents are 42.51 (9), 45.41 (9) and 56.92 (8)°, respectively. Comparable data for molecule 2 are 39.36 (10), 34.45 (11) and 60.34 (8)°, respectively. The rings at the 2-positions carryp-nitro substituents that subtend dihedral angles of 12.9 (4)° in molecule 1 and 11.7 (4)° in molecule 2 to their respective benzene ring planes. The imidazole rings also have propan-2-ol substituents on the 1-N atoms, which adopt extended conformations for the N—C—C—C chains. In the crystal, classical O—H...N hydrogen bonds combine with C—H...O, C—H...N and C—H...π(ring) hydrogen bonds and stack the molecules along thea-axis direction.
Crystal structure of 4-amino-3-(thiophen-3-ylmethyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole-5(4H)-thione
Authors: Vu Quoc Trung , Nguyen Ngoc Linh , Do Truc Vy , Duong Khanh Linh , Ha Manh Hung , Thang Pham Chien , Van Meervelt Luc
Published: August 2017

In the title compound, C7H8N4S2, the thiophene ring shows rotational disorder over two orientations in a 0.6957 (15):0.3043 (15) ratio. The plane of the 1,2,4-triazole ring makes a dihedral angle of 75.02 (17)° with the major-disorder component of the thiophene ring. In the crystal, two types of inversion dimers, described by the graph-set motifsR22(8) andR22(10), are formed by N—H...S interactions. Chains of molecules running in the [101] direction are linked by weaker N—H...N interactions. The thiophene ring is involved in π–π and C—H...π interactions.
1-Vinyl-4-imidazoline-2-thione
Authors: Lampl Martin , Laus Gerhard , Wurst Klaus , Huppertz Hubert , Schottenberger Herwig
Published: August 2017

The title compound, C5H6N2S, was obtained by deprotonation of 1-vinylimidazole and subsequent reaction with elemental sulfur. In the crystal, the molecules are linked by N—H...S and C—H...S hydrogen bonds, and arranged in layers parallel to theabplane.
Ammonium hydrogen bis[(3-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)acetate]
Authors: Smith Graham
Published: August 2017

In the structure of the ammonium hydrogen salt of (3-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)acetic acid, NH4+·C18H17Cl2O6−, the dimeric anion comprises two inversion-related head-to-head components linked through a short symmetric carboxyl O...H...O hydrogen bond in which the delocalized acid H atom lies on an inversion centre. The ammonium cation is disordered over another inversion centre. The crystal structure is based on a number of inter-species ammonium N—H...O hydrogen-bonding associations, giving two-dimensional layers lying parallel to (001).
The architecture of recovery: two kinds of housing assistance for chronic homeless persons with substance use disorders
Authors: Wittman Friedner , Polcin Douglas , Sheridan Dave
Published: August 2017

Purpose

Roughly half a million persons in the USA are homeless on any given night and over a third of those individuals have significant alcohol/other drug (AOD) problems. Many are chronically homeless and in need of assistance for a variety of problems. However, the literature on housing services for this population has paid limited attention to comparative analyses contrasting different approaches. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors examined the literature on housing models for homeless persons with AOD problems and critically analyzed how service settings and operations aligned with service goals.

Findings

The authors found two predominant housing models that reflect different service goals: sober living houses (SLHs) and housing first (HF). SLHs are communally based living arrangements that draw on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous. They emphasize a living environment that promotes abstinence and peer support for recovery. HF is based on the premise that many homeless persons with substance abuse problems will reject abstinence as a goal. Therefore, the HF focus is providing subsidized or free housing and optional professional services for substance abuse, psychiatric disorders, and other problems.

Research limitations/implications

If homeless service providers are to develop comprehensive systems for homeless persons with AOD problems, they need to consider important contrasts in housing models, including definitions of “recovery,” roles of peer support, facility management, roles for professional service, and the architectural designs that support the mission of each type of housing.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to consider distinct consumer choices within homeless service systems and provide recommendations to improve each based upon architecture and community planning principles.
Network based model of social media big data predicts contagious disease diffusion
Authors: Elkin Lauren S. , Topal Kamil , Bebek Gurkan
Published: August 2017

Purpose

Predicting future outbreaks and understanding how they are spreading from location to location can improve patient care provided. Recently, mining social media big data provided the ability to track patterns and trends across the world. This study aims to analyze social media micro-blogs and geographical locations to understand how disease outbreaks spread over geographies and to enhance forecasting of future disease outbreaks.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the authors use Twitter data as the social media data source, influenza-like illnesses (ILI) as disease epidemic and states in the USA as geographical locations. They present a novel network-based model to make predictions about the spread of diseases a week in advance utilizing social media big data.

Findings

The authors showed that flu-related tweets align well with ILI data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (p < 0.049). The authors compared this model to earlier approaches that utilized airline traffic, and showed that ILI activity estimates of their model were more accurate. They also found that their disease diffusion model yielded accurate predictions for upcoming ILI activity (p < 0.04), and they predicted the diffusion of flu across states based on geographical surroundings at 76 per cent accuracy. The equations and procedures can be translated to apply to any social media data, other contagious diseases and geographies to mine large data sets.

Originality/value

First, while extensive work has been presented utilizing time-series analysis on single geographies, or post-analysis of highly contagious diseases, no previous work has provided a generalized solution to identify how contagious diseases diffuse across geographies, such as states in the USA. Secondly, due to nature of the social media data, various statistical models have been extensively used to address these problems.
Post-worldview? A dialogic meta-narrative analysis of North-South, South-South, and Southern theory
Authors: Denman Brian D.
Published: August 2017

Purpose

Utilising dialogic meta-narrative analysis, a form of inquiry based on examining the difference between voices in meaningful and relevant dialogue (Wegerif, 2006, p. 347), the purpose of this paper is to present an examination of three relevant works on theories of the global South for identifying educational patterns, themes, and biases from the worldview perspectives of the respective authors.

Design/methodology/approach

In comparative and international education “qualitative” research, the acceptance of differing points of view and reference have often resulted in a fragmented and fractitious affirmation of cultural relativity, whereby the pursuit of truth (Veritas) has been replaced by the pursuit and contestation of a plurality of knowledges and truths. Davies defines this as “discursive practice”, which refers to the way discourse and the production of selves produce and reconstitutes one’s social and psychological realities (Davies, 1999, p. 88). The positional and discursive worldviews relative to “other” are not only dependent on locational, contextual, and time (Zeitgeist) dimensions, but also on disciplinary methodological foundations and subjective interpretations of both experience and choice.

Findings

The analysis of the three scholarly works identifies issues of comparative education research from a dialogic and dialectic perspective, suggesting that relativistic notions of research are required and necessary in order to expand horizons and “break out of the box” to broaden one’s imagination.

Research limitations/implications

The questions raised by all three worldviews require further research: Who pays? Who benefits? Should the field contest the positional points-of-reference of comparativists? Should theory and mode of inquiry be made more clear in order to understand and discern the positional authority of the researcher and the researched? Should relevant literature addressing subject material involve greater scrutiny – if not collaboration – between scholars from different worldview perspectives?

Practical implications

Subjectivity, validation and significance of findings contribute to dissemination and advancement of knowledge, and if not robust or rigorous, are simply another point of view.

Originality/value

This is a new paradigmatic approach to problematising comparative and international research from three positional worldviews. The value in problematising the three worldviews helps to delve deeper into the issues at hand regarding the global South.
Smart libraries for smart cities: a historic opportunity for quality public libraries in India
Authors: Kulkarni Sheshagiri , Dhanamjaya M.
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study globally successful public library systems with reference to their infrastructure, physical space, services, collection, processes, finances and best practices and recommend models, structure and minimum standards for smart public libraries of the upcoming 100 smart cities of India.

Design/methodology/approach

An email with 14 questions was sent to 50 public library system across the world. A sample of n = 18 responses were received.

Findings

The finding suggests that all the libraries have a central library and a good network of branch libraries across respective cities with adequate staff and collection to cater to the needs of the public. The size of the central library varied from 8,000 m2 (Cologne Public Library) – 86,000 m2 (Boston public library) and average size of the branch library varied from 200 m2 (Aarhaus) – 1,582 m2 (Barcelona). Monthly average users varied from 96,000 (Moscow) – 1.5 million (Toronto).

Social implications

The Indian public library system remains uneven throughout the country with varying levels of legislation, financing and quality of library services. Even a room with few books is considered as a library. The results of this study will help develop a quality public library system of global standard and ensure that libraries are transformed into knowledge hubs.

Originality/value

This study is a unique exploration in which different types of libraries are defined in terms of physical space, service, staff, collection based on a global model which ensures uniform growth and development of public library systems in upcoming smart cities of India.
Family firm and analyst forecasts in an emerging economy
Authors: Zhang Xiaoxiang , Wei Jo-Ting , Wu Hsin-Hung
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how family firms affect analyst forecast dispersion, accuracy and optimism and how earnings smoothness as the moderating factor, affects these relationships in an emerging market context.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses the population sample of firms listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange from 2009 to 2010 as the research sample, which includes 963 firm-year observations.

Findings

The findings show that analysts following family firms are more likely to have more dispersed, less accurate and more optimism biased forecasts than those following nonfamily firms. Earning smoothness is mainly used by nonfamily firms as a signaling strategy to improve analyst forecast quality. In contrast, earnings smoothness is mainly used by families as a garbling strategy, stimulating forecast optimism. Only earnings smoothness in family firms with a high level of family ownership concentration is likely to be signaling-oriented to improve analyst forecast accuracy and mitigate analyst optimism biases.

Originality/value

Emerging markets are not only featured by prevailing principal-principal conflicts but also have multiple levels of agency conflicts among large shareholders, minority shareholders and professionally hired managers. This research reveals the multiple governance roles of family owners in affecting analyst forecast quality, including their entrenchment role in extracting private benefits of control through opaque environments and market discipline distortion role in aligning interests between managers and families without prioritizing meeting or beating analyst forecasts, both at the cost of minority shareholders. This research further disentangles the intertwined signaling oriented and garbiling oriented incentives associated with earnings smoothness under family governance.
Market segmentation in container shipping services: a qualitative study
Authors: Balci Gökcay , Cetin Ismail Bilge
Published: August 2017

Purpose

Container shipping is a standardized business-to-business service market where carriers need to stay customer focused to survive. Market segmentation is an ideal solution to develop customized marketing programs for each segment, but container lines need personalized marketing programs for each customer. Hence, the purpose of this study is to develop a segmentation framework that can help container lines to profile each customer more efficiently considering their needs, strategic importance and demographics.

Design/methodology/approach

This study has adopted an exploratory approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with managers of container lines.

Findings

Segmentation bases are the type of customer, container volume, loyalty, seasonality, decision maker, the industry of shipper, cargo characteristics, container type, destination region and export/import. Market segmentation in container shipping can be helpful in developing effective customized marketing offering, including effective price discrimination and customized marketing communications.

Practical implications

A port-specific segmentation approach was adopted and a flexible segmentation framework was proposed for container lines to adapt in different hinterlands.

Originality/value

Unlike the literature, this study suggests market segmentation can be very helpful in customized marketing in business-to-business services like container shipping industry. This study also suggests port-specific market segmentation for container lines instead of route-specific.
Barriers to Arab female academics’ career development
Authors: Ensour Waed , Al Maaitah Hadeel , Kharabsheh Radwan
Published: August 2017

Purpose

Arab female academics struggle to advance within their universities in both academic and managerial ranks. Accordingly, this study aims to investigate the factors hindering Arab women’s academic career development through studying the case of Jordanian academic women.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were gathered through document analysis (Jordan constitution, Jordanian Labour Law and its amendments, higher education and scientific research law, Jordanian universities’ law and universities’ HR policies and regulations), interviews with 20 female academics and a focus group with 13 female academics (members of the Association of Jordanian Female Academics).

Findings

The results indicate female academics as tokens facing many interconnected and interrelated barriers embodied in cultural, social, economic and legal factors. The findings support the general argument proposed in human resource management (HRM) literature regarding the influence of culture on HRM practices and also propose that the influence of culture extends to having an impact on HR policies’ formulation as well as the formal legal system.

Originality/value

The influence of culture on women’s career development and various HR practices is well established in HR literature. But the findings of this study present a further pressure of culture. HR policies and other regulations were found to be formulated in the crucible of national culture. Legalizing discriminatory issues deepens the stereotypical pictures of women, emphasizing the domestic role of women and making it harder to break the glass ceiling and old-boy network.
Substituting space for time: Empirical evaluation of spatial replication as a surrogate for temporal replication in occupancy modelling
Authors: Srivathsa Arjun , Puri Mahi , Kumar Narayanarao Samba , Jathanna Devcharan , Karanth Kota Ullas
Published: August 2017

Occupancy models that account for detection probability are important analytical tools in conservation monitoring. Traditionally, occupancy models relied on detection/non‐detection data generated from temporal replicates for estimating detectability. Due to logistical challenges and financial costs involved, many large‐scale field studies instead use spatial replication as a surrogate. The efficacy of the two approaches and their statistical validity has generally sought support from simulation‐based inferences rather than empirical data.

Using the sloth bearMelursus ursinusas an example, we compared estimates of occupancy and detection probabilities obtained from temporal and spatial sampling designs. We carried out temporally replicated camera trap surveys and spatially replicated sign surveys across a 754‐km2area around Bhadra Tiger Reserve in the Western Ghats of India.

We sampled along forest/coffee plantation roads in 58 grid cells of 13 km2each, treating these cells as independent sites. We used the standard single‐season model for the camera trap survey data, and the single‐season correlated detections model (with Markovian dependence) for the sign survey data, and incorporated ecological covariates that likely influenced occupancy and detection probabilities.

Occupancy estimates from the two surveys and corresponding modelling approaches were similar [ = 0.58 (0.03) for camera trap surveys; = 0.56 (0.03) for sign surveys]. In both cases, the influence of covariates corroborated oura prioripredictions. Site‐level estimates of occupancy from the two methods were highly correlated (r = .78). We generated a combined estimate of sloth bear occupancy in the region as an inverse‐variance weighted average of the two estimates [ = 0.57 (0.02)].

Synthesis and applications. Studies that aim to evaluate occupancy models should account for spatial variation in occupancy/detection probabilities, particularly when making inferences on species–habitat relationships. We show that spatial replication can serve as a good surrogate for temporal replication in occupancy studies, which may be useful for distribution assessments of species when field resources are limited or logistical challenges preclude traditional survey approaches that yield temporally replicated data. Our results therefore provide a basis for efficient targeting of funds and field resources, particularly for practitioners involved in monitoring species at large landscape scales.
Postmaterialism and young people's political participation in a time of austerity
Authors: Henn Matt , Oldfield Ben , Hart James
Published: August 2017

Recent trends suggest that young people in Britain are refraining from engaging in formal political processes. At the same time, they are increasingly expressing support for, and turning toward, a new and diverse range of non‐institutionalized forms of political action in order to actualize their interests. Using Inglehart's ideas on postmaterialism, we consider whether this apparent rejection of mainstream politics in favour of less conventional – and sometimes radical – forms of political action is changing over time in Britain, reflecting fluctuating economic conditions witnessed over the last two decades. We do this by comparing results from surveys of British 18 year olds conducted in 2002 during an era of relative global prosperity, and then in 2011 at the height of the current global crisis. The findings suggest that British young postmaterialists are considerably more likely than materialists to participate in and support both institutionalized and non‐institutionalized forms of political action.
The switchboard mechanism: How social media connected citizens during the 2013 floods in Dresden
Authors: Albris Kristoffer
Published: August 2017

What characterizes civil disaster response in the digital age? In a growing number of cases, citizens use social media platforms to self‐organize and carry out tasks in emergencies that potentially challenge or complement official emergency response. During the 2013 floods in Dresden, Germany, several Facebook groups emerged as a primary means for citizens to gather and share information about the emergency. These networks enabled the emergence of what is here called the “switchboard mechanism,” whereby citizens in need of help could be connected to those offering it. Moreover, the online activity helped to create a sense of common purpose among volunteers. In combination with ethnographic research, this article provides an analysis of one of the Facebook groups by categorizing different posts according to their function to examine how such online networks are used to translate online activity into on‐the‐ground emergency response by citizens. The switchboard mechanism is thus an attempt to add to a conceptual apparatus for research into the ways that such online–offline translations occur during disasters.
Seasonality and Readmission after Heart Failure, Myocardial Infarction, and Pneumonia
Authors: Butala Neel M. , Secemsky Eric A. , Wasfy Jason H. , Kennedy Kevin F. , Yeh Robert W.
Published: August 2017

Objective

To investigate whether hospital readmission after admission for heart failure (HF), myocardial infarction (MI), and pneumonia varies by season.

Data Sources

All patients in 2005–2009 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Databases for New York and California hospitalized for HF, MI, or pneumonia.

Study Design

The relationship between discharge season and unplanned readmission within 30 days was evaluated using multivariate modified Poisson regression.

Principal Findings

Cohorts included 869,512 patients with HF, 448,945 patients with MI, and 813,593 patients with pneumonia. While admissions varied widely by season, readmission rates only ranged from 25.0 percent (spring) to 25.6 percent (winter) for HF (p > .05), 18.9 percent (summer) to 20.0 percent (winter) for MI (p < .001), and 19.4 percent (spring) to 20.3 percent (summer) for pneumonia (p < .001). In adjusted models, in New York, there was lower readmission in spring and fall (RR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.96–0.99 for both) after admission for HF and higher readmission in spring (RR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01–1.07) after MI. In California, there was lower readmission in spring and winter (RR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.93–0.96 and RR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.94–0.98, respectively) after pneumonia.

Conclusions

Given marked seasonality in incidence and mortality of HF, MI, and pneumonia, the modest seasonality in readmissions suggests that readmissions may be more related to non–seasonally dependent factors than to the seasonal nature of these diseases.
Trends in the Types of Usual Sources of Care: A Shift from People to Places or Nothing at All
Authors: Liaw Winston , Jetty Anuradha , Petterson Stephen , Bazemore Andrew , Green Larry
Published: August 2017

Objective

(1) To examine usual source of care (USC) trends across four categories (No USC, Person USC, Person, in Facility USC, and Facility USC), and (2) to determine whether USC types are associated with emergency department (ED) visits and hospital admissions.

Data Source

1996–2014 Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys.

Study Design

We stratified each USC category, by age, region, gender, poverty, insurance, race/ethnicity, and education and used regression to determine the characteristics associated with USC types, ED visits, and hospital admissions.

Principal Findings

Those with No USC and Facility USCs increased 10 and 18 percent, respectively, while those with Person USCs decreased by 43 percent. Compared to those in the lowest income bracket, those in the highest income bracket were less likely to have a Facility USC. Among those with low incomes, individuals with No USC, Person, in Facility, and Facility USCs were more likely to have ED visits than those with Person USCs.

Conclusions

A growing number are reporting facilities as their USCs or none at all. The impact of these trends is uncertain, although we found that some USC types are associated with ED visits and hospital admissions. Tracking USCs will be crucial to measuring progress toward enhanced care efficiency.
Dietary intake and physical activity levels of children attending Australian childcare services
Authors: Jones Jannah , Wyse Rebecca , Wiggers John , Yoong Sze L. , Finch Meghan , Lecathelinais Christophe , Fielding Alison , Clinton‐McHarg Tara , Hollis Jenna , Seward Kirsty , Wolfenden Luke
Published: August 2017

Aim

The primary aim of this study was to describe the dietary intake and physical activity levels of children while attending childcare.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study was conducted with 18 centre‐based childcare services in the Hunter region of New South Wales, Australia. Childcare service characteristics were assessed via telephone interview. Child dietary intake and physical activity levels were assessed during a one‐day observation conducted at participating childcare services using previously validated tools.

Results

Children consumed a mean of 0.2 serves of vegetables, 0.7 serves of fruit, 1.4 serves of grain (cereal) foods, 0.1 serves of lean meat and poultry, fish, eggs, nuts and seeds and legumes/beans, 0.6 serves of milk, yoghurt, cheese and alternatives, and 0.7 serves of discretionary foods during attendance at childcare. Of all child physical activity counts, 48.6% were classified as ‘sedentary’, and 22.3% classified as ‘very active’. Bivariate analyses indicated that children attending services located in rural areas consumed significantly more serves of vegetables (0.3 serves (SD 0.7) vs 0.1 serves (SD 0.2), P = 0.05). Multivariate analyses indicated that services with large child enrolments had a significantly greater proportion of child counts classified as ‘very active’ (23.6% of child counts (95% CI 1.6, 29.5) vs 14.9% of child counts (95% CI 9.1, 20.6), P = 0.007).

Conclusions

There is considerable scope to improve the diet and activity behaviours of children during attendance at childcare. Future research is needed to identify effective strategies to best support childcare services in implementing policies and practices to improve such behaviours in children.
Mineralogy, Chemical Characteristics and Upgrading of Beach Ilmenite of the Top Meter of Black Sand Deposits of the Kafr Al‐Sheikh Governorate, Northern Egypt
Authors: ABDEL‐KARIM Abdel‐Aal M. , MOUSTAFA Mohamed I. , El‐AFANDY Adel H. , BARAKAT Mohamed G.
Published: August 2017

Egyptian beach ilmenite occurs in a relatively high content in the naturally highly concentrated superficial black sand deposits at specific beach zones in the northern parts of the Nile Delta at Rosetta. Microscopic study shows that the ilmenite occurs as fresh homogeneous black or heterogeneous multicoloured altered grains and exhibits three types (homogeneous, exsolved and altered) of ilmenite varieties. XRD data of ilmenite indicates their association with minor hematite and quartz, whereas leucoxene shows its association with Nb‐rutile, pseudorutile and hematite. Grain size distribution suggests a very fine sand size of >89% and 80% and a fine sand size of 10.5% and 18.3% for fresh and altered ilmenites, respectively. The density of fresh, altered ilmenite and leucoxene concentrates varies from 2.70, 2.50 to 2.40 ton/m3, suggesting a gradual decrease from high grade fresh to leucoxene and consistent with variation in magnetic susceptibility as a consequence of the leaching of iron. Mass magnetic susceptibility reveals 97.6% of ilmenite and 92% of the altered form are obtained at 0.20 and 0.48 ampere. Fresh ilmenite exhibits variable TiO2 (47.18%) and Fe2O3T (46.10%) with minor MnO, MgO and Cr2O3 (1.22, 1.10 and 0.51%). The altered ilmenite is higher in TiO2 (76.16%) and SiO2 (4.68%) and lower in Fe2O3T (14.45%), MnO, MgO and Cr2O3 (0.39, 0.52 and 0.11%) compared with the fresh form. Three concentrates of ilmenites (G1, G2 and G3) were prepared from crude ore using a Reading cross belt magnetic separator under different conditions, revealing a gradual increase of TiO2, SiO2, Al2O3 and CaO accompanied by a decrease of Fe2O3T, MgO and Cr2O3 with repetition of the separation processes. Several ore dressing techniques were carried out to upgrade the ilmenite concentrate.