bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial to Promote Option B+ Retention in Central Mozambique
Authors: Pfeiffer James T. , Napúa Manuel , Wagenaar Bradley H. , Chale Falume , Hoek Roxanne , Micek Mark , Manuel João , Michel Cathy , Cowan Jessica Greenberg , Cowan James F. , Gimbel Sarah , Sherr Kenneth , Gloyd Stephen , Chapman Rachel R.
Published: August 2017

Background:

This randomized trial studied performance of Option B+ in Mozambique and evaluated an enhanced retention package in public clinics.

Setting:

The study was conducted at 6 clinics in Manica and Sofala Provinces in central Mozambique.

Methods:

Seven hundred sixty-one pregnant women tested HIV+, immediately initiated antiretroviral (ARV) therapy, and were followed to track retention at 6 clinics from May 2014 to May 2015. Clinics were randomly allocated within a stepped-wedge fashion to intervention and control periods. The intervention included (1) workflow modifications and (2) active patient tracking. Retention was defined as percentage of patients returning for 30-, 60-, and 90-day medication refills within 25–35 days of previous refills.

Results:

During control periods, 52.3% of women returned for 30-day refills vs. 70.8% in intervention periods [odds ratio (OR): 1.80; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05 to 3.08]. At 60 days, 46.1% control vs. 57.9% intervention were retained (OR: 1.82; CI: 1.06 to 3.11), and at 90 days, 38.3% control vs. 41.0% intervention (OR: 1.04; CI: 0.60 to 1.82). In prespecified subanalyses, birth before pickups was strongly associated with failure—women giving birth before ARV pickup were 33.3 times (CI: 4.4 to 250.3), 7.5 times (CI: 3.6 to 15.9), and 3.7 times (CI: 2.2 to 6.0) as likely to not return for ARV pickups at 30, 60, and 90 days, respectively.

Conclusions:

The intervention was effective at 30 and 60 days, but not at 90 days. Combined 90-day retention (40%) and adherence (22.5%) were low. Efforts to improve retention are particularly important for women giving birth before ARV refills.
Post-Treatment/Pre-operative PET Response Is Not an Independent Predictor of Outcomes for Patients With Gastric and GEJ Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Hernandez Jonathan M. , Beylergil Volkan , Goldman Debra A. , van Beek Elke , Gonen Mithat , Tang Laura , Downey Robert , Rizk Nabil , Shah Manish , Strong Vivian , Janjigian Yelena , Schöder Heiko , Coit Daniel G.
Published: August 2017

Objective:

To determine whether changes in positron emission tomography (PET) avidity correlated with histologic response and were independently associated with outcome.

Background:

The implications of metabolic response to neoadjuvant therapy as measured by repeat PET imaging remain ill-defined for patients with gastric and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancers.

Methods:

We identified patients with gastric and GEJ adenocarcinoma who were evaluated with PET imaging before and following neoadjuvant treatment, and subsequently underwent curative resections. Spearman rank correlation and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to evaluate standardized uptake value (SUV) and histologic response, pathologic parameters, and disease-specific survival (DSS).

Results:

From 2002 to 2013, 192 patients met our inclusion criteria. The median SUVmax response was 57.3% (range: -110% to 100%) for patients with GEJ cancers, with a corresponding median pathologic treatment response of 80% (range: 0% to 100%). The median SUVmax response was 32.5% (-230% to 100%) for patients with gastric cancers, with a corresponding median pathologic treatment response of 35% (range: 0% to 100%). The Spearman correlation between SUVmax response and histologic response was significant for patients with GEJ (rho = 0.19, P = 0.04) and gastric (rho = 0.44, P < 0.0001) cancers. For patients with GEJ (P <0.0001 to 0.046) and gastric cancers (P = 0.0003 to 0.016), histopathologic response and tumor staging predicted DSS. SUVmax response failed to demonstrate a relationship with DSS when entered into multivariable models containing conventional pathologic variables.

Conclusion:

Following completion of neoadjuvant therapy for gastric and GEJ adenocarcinoma, histopathologic staging remains the best predictor of outcome. Repeat post-treatment/preoperative PET imaging for the purpose of prognostication is of limited value.
Deleterious Effect of RAS and Evolutionary High-risk TP53 Double Mutation in Colorectal Liver Metastases
Authors: Chun Yun Shin , Passot Guillaume , Yamashita Suguru , Nusrat Maliha , Katsonis Panagiotis , Loree Jonathan M. , Conrad Claudius , Tzeng Ching-Wei D. , Xiao Lianchun , Aloia Thomas A. , Eng Cathy , Kopetz Scott E. , Lichtarge Olivier , Vauthey Jean-Nicolas
Published: August 2017

Objective:

To assess the impact of somatic gene mutations on survival among patients undergoing resection of colorectal liver metastases (CLM).

Background:

Patients undergoing CLM resection have heterogeneous outcomes, and accurate risk stratification is necessary to optimize patient selection for surgery.

Methods:

Next-generation sequencing of 50 cancer-related genes was performed from primary tumors and/or liver metastases in 401 patients undergoing CLM resection. Missense TP53 mutations were classified by the evolutionary action score (EAp53)—a novel approach that dichotomizes mutations as low or high risk.

Results:

The most frequent somatic gene mutations were TP53 (65.6%), followed by KRAS (48.1%) and APC (47.4%). Double mutation in RAS/TP53, identified in 31.4% of patients, was correlated with primary tumor location in the right colon (P = 0.006). On multivariable analysis, RAS/TP53 double mutation was an independent predictor of shorter overall survival (hazard ratio 2.62, 95% confidence interval 1.41–4.87, P = 0.002). In patients with co-mutated RAS, EAp53 high-risk mutations were associated with shorter 5-year overall survival of 12.2%, compared with 55.7% for TP53 wild type (P < 0.001). The negative prognostic effects of RAS and TP53 mutations were limited to tumors harboring mutations in both genes.

Conclusions:

Concomitant RAS and TP53 mutations are associated with decreased survival after CLM resection. A high EAp53 predicts a subset of patients with worse prognosis. These preliminary analyses suggest that surgical resection of liver metastases should be carefully considered in this subset of patients.
Incidence and Risk Factors of Long-term Opioid Use in Elderly Trauma Patients
Authors: Daoust Raoul , Paquet Jean , Moore Lynne , Gosselin Sophie , Gélinas Céline , Rouleau Dominique M. , Bérubé Mélanie , Morris Judy
Published: August 2017

Objective:

Evaluate the incidence and risk factors of opioid use 1 year after injury in elderly trauma patients.

Background:

The current epidemic of prescription opioid misuse and overdose observed in North America generally concerns young patients. Little is known on long-term opioid use among the elderly trauma population.

Methods:

In a retrospective observational multicenter cohort study conducted on registry data, all patients 65 years and older admitted (hospital stay >2 days) for injury in 57 adult trauma centers in the province of Quebec (Canada) between 2004 and 2014 were included. We searched for filled opioid prescriptions in the year preceding the injury, up to 3 months and 1 year after the injury.

Results:

In all, 39,833 patients were selected for analysis. Mean age was 79.3 years (±7.7), 69% were women, and 87% of the sample was opioid-naive. After the injury, 38% of the patients filled an opioid prescription within 3 months and 10.9% [95% confidence interval (CI) 10.6%–11.2%] filled an opioid prescription 1 year after trauma: 6.8% (95% CI 6.5%–7.1%) were opioid-naïve and 37.6% (95% CI 36.3%–38.9%) were opioid non-naive patients. Controlling for confounders, patients who filled 2 or more opioid prescriptions before the injury and those who filled an opioid prescription within 3 months after the injury were, respectively, 11.4 and 3 times more likely to use opioids 1 year after the injury compared with those who did not fill opioid prescriptions.

Conclusions:

These results highlight that elderly trauma patients are at risk of long-term opioid use, especially if they had preinjury or early postinjury opioid consumption.
Possible co-option ofengrailedduring brachiopod and mollusc shell development
Authors: Shimizu Keisuke , Luo Yi-Jyun , Satoh Noriyuki , Endo Kazuyoshi
Published: August 2017

In molluscs, two homeobox genes,engrailed(en) anddistal-less(dlx), are transcription factors that are expressed in correlation with shell development. They are expressed in the regions between shell-forming and non-shell-forming cells, likely defining the boundaries of shell-forming fields. Here we investigate the expression of two transcription factors in the brachiopodLingula anatina. We find thatenis expressed in larval mantle lobes, whereasdlxis expressed in larval tentacles. We also demonstrate that the embryonic shell marker mantle peroxidase (mpox) is specifically expressed in mantle lobes. Our results suggest thatenandmpoxare possibly involved in brachiopod embryonic shell development. We discuss the evolutionary developmental origin of lophotrochozoan biomineralization through independent gene co-option.
Feeding the enemy: loss of nectar and nectaries to herbivores reduces tepal damage and increases pollinator attraction in
Iris bulleyana
Authors: Zhu Ya-Ru , Yang Min , Vamosi Jana C. , Armbruster W. Scott , Wan Tao , Gong Yan-Bing
Published: August 2017

Floral nectar usually functions as a pollinator reward, yet it may also attract herbivores. However, the effects of herbivore consumption of nectar or nectaries on pollination have rarely been tested. We investigated
Iris bulleyana
, an alpine plant that has showy tepals and abundant nectar, in the Hengduan Mountains of SW China. In this region, flowers are visited mainly by pollen-collecting pollinators and nectarivorous herbivores. We tested the hypothesis that, in
I. bulleyana
, sacrificing nectar and nectaries to herbivores protects tepals and thus enhances pollinator attraction. We compared rates of pollination and herbivory on different floral tissues in plants with flowers protected from nectar and nectary consumption with rates in unprotected control plants. We found that nectar and nectaries suffered more herbivore damage than did tepals in natural conditions. However, the amount of tepal damage was significantly greater in the flowers with protected nectaries than in the controls; this resulted in significant differences in pollinator visitation rates. These results provide the first evidence that floral nectar and nectaries may be ‘sacrificed’ to herbivores, leading to reduced damage to other floral tissues that are more important for reproduction.
Has snake fang evolution lost its bite? New insights from a structural mechanics viewpoint
Authors: Broeckhoven Chris , du Plessis Anton
Published: August 2017

Venomous snakes—the pinnacle of snake evolution—are characterized by their possession of venom-conducting fangs ranging from grooved phenotypes characterizing multiple lineages of rear-fanged taxa to tubular phenotypes present in elapids, viperids and atractaspidines. Despite extensive research, controversy still exists on the selective pressures involved in fang phenotype diversification. Here, we test the hypothesis that larger fangs and consequently a shift to an anterior position in the maxilla evolved to compensate for the costs of structural changes, i.e. higher stress upon impact in tubular fangs compared to grooved fangs. Direct voxel-based stress simulations conducted on high-resolution µCT scans, analysed within a phylogenetic framework, showed no differences in stress distribution between the three fang phenotypes, despite differences in (relative) fang length. These findings suggest that additional compensatory mechanisms are responsible for the biomechanical optimization and that fang length might instead be related to differential striking behaviour strategies.
How to deal with parameters for whole-cell modelling
Authors: Babtie Ann C. , Stumpf Michael P. H.
Published: August 2017

Dynamical systems describing whole cells are on the verge of becoming a reality. But as models of reality, they are only useful if we have realistic parameters for the molecular reaction rates and cell physiological processes. There is currently no suitable framework to reliably estimate hundreds, let alone thousands, of reaction rate parameters. Here, we map out the relative weaknesses and promises of different approaches aimed at redressing this issue. While suitable procedures for estimation or inference of the whole (vast) set of parameters will, in all likelihood, remain elusive, some hope can be drawn from the fact that much of the cellular behaviour may be explained in terms of smaller sets of parameters. Identifying such parameter sets and assessing their behaviour is now becoming possible even for very large systems of equations, and we expect such methods to become central tools in the development and analysis of whole-cell models.
Performance trade-offs and ageing in the ‘world's greatest athletes’
Authors: Careau Vincent , Wilson Robbie S.
Published: August 2017

The mechanistic foundations of performance trade-offs are clear: because body size and shape constrains movement, and muscles vary in strength and fibre type, certain physical traits should act in opposition with others (e.g. sprint versus endurance). Yet performance trade-offs are rarely detected, and traits are often positively correlated. A potential resolution to this conundrum is thatwithin-individual performance trade-offs can be masked byamong-individual variation in ‘quality’. Although there is a current debate on how to unambiguously define and account for quality, no previous studies have partitioned trait correlations at the within- and among-individual levels. Here, we evaluate performance trade-offs among and within 1369 elite athletes that performed in a total of 6418 combined-events competitions (decathlon and heptathlon). Controlling for age, experience and wind conditions, we detected strong trade-offs between groups of functionally similar events (throwing versus jumping versus running) occurring at the among-individual level. We further modelled individual (co)variation in age-related plasticity of performance and found previously unseen trade-offs in throwing versus running performance that manifest through ageing. Our results verify that human performance is limited by fundamental genetic, environmental and ageing constraints that preclude the simultaneous improvement of performance in multiple dimensions. Identifying these constraints is fundamental to understanding performance trade-offs and predicting the ageing of motor function.
Distress tolerance across self-report, behavioral and psychophysiological domains in women with eating disorders and healthy controls
Authors: Yiu Angelina , Christensen Kara , Arlt Jean M. , Chen Eunice Y.
Published: August 2017

Background and objectives

The tendency to engage in impulsive behaviors when distressed is linked to engagement in disordered eating. The current study comprehensively examines emotional responses to a distress tolerance task by utilizing self-report, psychophysiological measures (respiratory sinus arrhythmia [RSA], skin conductance responses [SCRs] and tonic skin conductance levels [SCLs]), and behavioral measures (i.e., termination of task, latency to quit task).

Methods

26 healthy controls (HCs) and a sample of treatment-seeking women with Bulimia Nervosa (BN), Binge Eating Disorder (BED) and Anorexia Nervosa (AN) (N=106) completed the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task-Computerized (PASAT-C). Psychophysiological measurements were collected during baseline, PASAT-C, and recovery, then averaged for each time-period. Self-reported emotions were collected at baseline, post-PASAT-C and post-recovery.

Results

Overall, we found an effect of Time, with all participants reporting greater negative emotions, less happiness, lower RSA, more SCRs and higher tonic SCLs after completion of the PASAT-C relative to baseline. There were no differences in PASAT-C performance between groups. There was an effect of Group for negative emotions, with women with BN, BED and AN reporting overall higher levels of negative emotions relative to HCs. Furthermore, we found an effect of Group for greater urges to binge eat and lower RSA values among BED, relative to individuals with BN, AN and HCs.

Limitations

This study is cross-sectional and lacked an overweight healthy control group.

Conclusion

During the PASAT-C, individuals with EDs compared to HCs report higher levels of negative emotions, despite similar physiological and behavioral manifestations of distress.
Categorical Biases in Human Occipitoparietal Cortex
Authors: Ester Edward F. , Sprague Thomas C. , Serences John T.
Published: August 2017

Categorization allows organisms to generalize existing knowledge to novel stimuli and to discriminate between physically similar yet conceptually different stimuli. Humans, nonhuman primates, and rodents can readily learn arbitrary categories defined by low-level visual features, and learning distorts perceptual sensitivity for category-defining features such that differences between physically similar yet categorically distinct exemplars are enhanced while differences between equally similar but categorically identical stimuli are reduced. We report a basis for these distortions in human occipitoparietal cortex. In three experiments, we used an inverted encoding model to recover population-level representations of stimuli from multivoxel and multi-electrode patterns of human brain activity while human participants (both sexes) classified continuous stimulus sets into discrete groups. In each experiment, reconstructed representations of to-be-categorized stimuli were systematically biased towards the center of the appropriate category. These biases were largest for exemplars near a category boundary, predicted participants’ overt category judgments, emerged shortly after stimulus onset, and could not be explained by mechanisms of response selection or motor preparation. Collectively, our findings suggest that category learning can influence processing at the earliest stages of cortical visual processing.

Significance Statement

Category learning enhances perceptual sensitivity for physically similar yet categorically different stimuli. We report a possible mechanism for these distortions in human occipitoparietal cortex.. In three experiments, we used an inverted encoding model to recover population-level representations of stimuli from multivariate patterns in occipitoparietal cortex while participants categorized sets of continuous stimuli into discrete groups. The recovered representations were systematically biased by category membership, with larger biases for exemplars adjacent to a category boundary. These results suggest that mechanisms of categorization shape information processing at the earliest stages of the visual system.
Kif2 microtubule depolymerase is required for unequal cell division and localizes to a subdomain of cortical endoplasmic reticulum
Authors: Costache Vlad , Hebras Celine , Pruliere Gerard , Besnardeau Lydia , Failla Margaux , Copley Richard R. , Burgess David , Chenevert Janet , McDougall Alex
Published: August 2017

Unequal cell division (UCD) is a fundamental process responsible for creating sibling cell size asymmetry; however, how microtubules are specifically depolymerized on one aster of the mitotic spindle creating a smaller sibling cell during UCD has remained elusive. Using invertebrate chordate embryos (ascidian) that possess a large cortical structure (CAB) that causes UCD, we identified a microtubule depolymerase (Kif2) involved in creating cell size asymmetry. Kif2 localizes to the cortical subdomain of endoplasmic reticulum in the CAB. During three successive UCDs, Kif2 protein accumulates at the CAB during interphase and is delocalized from the CAB in mid mitosis. Rapid imaging of microtubule dynamics at the cortex revealed that microtubules do not penetrate the CAB during interphase. Inhibition of Kif2 function prevents the development of mitotic aster asymmetry and centrosome movement towards the CAB thereby blocking UCD, whereas locally increasing microtubule depolymerization causes exaggerated asymmetric spindle positioning. This study provides insights into the fundamental process of UCD and for the first time shows that a microtubule depolymerase is localized to a cortical site controlling UCD.
Intronic CNVs cause gene expression variation in human populations
Authors: Rigau Maria , Juan David , Valencia Alfonso , Rico Daniel
Published: August 2017

Introns can be extraordinarily large and they account for the majority of the DNA sequence in human genes. However, little is known about their population patterns of structural variation and their functional implication. By combining the most extensive maps of CNVs in human populations, we have found that intronic losses are the most frequent copy number variants (CNVs) in protein-coding genes in human, with more than 12,986 intronic deletions, affecting 4,147 genes (including 1,154 essential genes and 1,638 disease-related genes). These intronic length variation results in dozens of genes showing extreme population variability in size, with 40 genes with 10 or more different sizes and up to 150 allelic sizes. Intronic losses are frequent in evolutionarily ancient genes that are highly conserved at the protein sequence level. This result contrasts with losses overlapping exons, which are observed less often than expected by chance and almost exclusively affect primate-specific genes. An integrated analysis of CNVs and RNA-seq data showed that intronic loss can be associated with significant differences in gene expression levels in the population (CNV-eQTLs). These intronic CNV-eQTLs regions are enriched for intronic enhancers and can be associated with expression differences of other genes showing long distance intron-promoter 3D interactions. Our data suggests that intronic structural variation of protein-coding genes can exert an important role in maintaining the variability of gene expression and splicing in human populations.

Author Summary

Most human genes have introns that have to be removed after a gene is transcribed from DNA to RNA because they not encode information to translate RNA into proteins. As mutations in introns do not affect protein sequences, they are usually ignored when looking for normal or pathogenic genomic variation. However, introns comprise about half of the human non-coding genome and they can have important regulatory roles. We show that deletions of intronic regions appear more frequent than previously expected in the healthy population, with a significant proportion of genes with evolutionary ancient and essential functions carrying them. This finding was very surprising, as ancient genes tend to have high conservation of their coding sequence. However, we show that deletions of their non-coding intronic sequence can produce considerable changes in their locus length. We found that a significant number of these intronic deletions are associated with under- or over-expression of the affected genes or distant genes interacting in 3D. Our data suggests that the frequent gene length variation in protein-coding genes resulting from intronic CNVs might influence their regulation in different individuals.
QuimP – Analyzing transmembrane signalling in highly deformable cells
Authors: Baniukiewicz Piotr , Collier Sharon , Bretschneider Till
Published: August 2017

Transmembrane signalling plays important physiological roles, with G protein–coupled cell surface receptors being particularly important therapeutic targets. Fluorescent proteins are widely used to study signalling, but the analysis of image time series can be challenging, in particular when changes in cell shape are involved. To this end we have developed QuimP software. QuimP semi-automatically tracks cell outlines, quantifies spatio-temporal patterns of fluorescence at the cell membrane, and tracks local shape deformations. QuimP is particularly useful for studying cell motility, for example in immune or cancer cells.

Availability and Implementation

QuimP (http://warwick.ac.uk/quimp) consists of a set of Java plugins for Fiji/ImageJ (http://fiji.sc/) and can be easily installed through the Fiji Updater (http://warwick.ac.uk/quimp/wiki-pages/installation). It is compatible with Mac, Windows and Unix-based operating systems, requiring version >1.45 of Fiji/ImageJ and Java 8. QuimP is released as open source (https://github.com/CellDynamics/QuimP/) under an academic licence.

Contact

T.Bretschneider@warwick.ac.uk

Supplementary Information

Supplementary materials (SI-A to SI-D) are available at Bioinformatics online. Test data is available fromhttp://warwick.ac.uk/quimp/test_data.
Extracranial estimation of neural mass model parameters using the Unscented Kalman Filter
Authors: Escuain-Poole Lara , Garcia-Ojalvo Jordi , Pons Antonio J.
Published: August 2017

Data assimilation, defined as the fusion of data with preexisting knowledge, is particularly suited to elucidating underlying phenomena from noisy/insufficient observations. Although this approach has been widely used in diverse fields, only recently have efforts been directed to problems in neuroscience, using mainly intracranial data and thus limiting its applicability to invasive measurements involving electrode implants. Here we intend to apply data assimilation to non-invasive electroencephalography (EEG) measurements to infer brain states and their characteristics. For this purpose, we use Kalman filtering to combine synthetic EEG data with a coupled neural-mass model together with Ary’s model of the head, which projects intracranial signals onto the scalp. Our results show that using several extracranial electrodes allows to successfully estimate the state and parameters of the neural masses and their interactions, whereas one single electrode provides only a very partial and insufficient view of the system. The superiority of using multiple extracranial electrodes over using only one, be it intra- or extracranial, is shown over a wide variety of dynamical behaviours. Our results show potential towards future clinical applications of the method.

Author Summary

To completely understand brain function, we will need to integrate experimental information into a consistent theoretical framework. Invasive techniques as EcoG recordings, together with models that describe the brain at the mesoscale, provide valuable information about the brain state and its dynamical evolution when combined with techniques coming from control theory, such as the Kalman filter. This method, which is specifically designed to deal with systems with noisy or imperfect data, combines experimental data with theoretical models assuming Bayesian inference. So far, implementations of the Kalman filter have not been suited for non-invasive measures like EEG. Here we attempt to overcome this situation by introducing a model of the head that allows to transfer the intracranial signals produced by a mesoscopic model to the scalp in the form of EEG recordings. Our results show the advantages of using multichannel EEG recordings, which are extended in space and allow to discriminate signals produced by the interaction of coupled columns. The extension of the Kalman method presented here can be expected to expand the applicability of the technique to all situations where EEG recordings are used, including the routine monitoring of illnesses or rehabilitation tasks, brain-computer interface protocols, and transcranial stimulation.
Sugar intake elicits a small-scale search behavior in flies and honey bees that involves capabilities found in large-scale navigation
Authors: Brockmann Axel , Murata Satoshi , Murashima Naomi , Boyapati Ravi Kumar , Shakeel Manal , Prabhu Nikhil G. , Herman Jacob J. , Basu Pallab , Tanimura Teiichi
Published: August 2017

Social insects, particularly bees and ants, show exceptional large-scale navigational skills to find and carry back food to their nests. Honey bees further evolved a symbolic communication to direct nest mates to attractive food sources. Till now it is unclear how these capabilities evolved. Sixty years ago, Vincent Dethier demonstrated that a small-scale sugar-elicited search behavior identified in flies shows remarkable similarities with honey bee dance behavior. Those findings suggested that both behaviors are based on common mechanisms and are likely evolutionary related. We now present for the first time a detailed comparison of the sugar-elicited search behavior inDrosophila melanogasterandApis mellifera. In both species, intake of sugar elicits a complex of searching responses. The most obvious response was an increase in turning frequency, but more importantly we found that flies and honey bees returned to the location of the sugar drop. They even returned to the food location when we prevented them from using visual and chemosensory cues indicating that this small scale local search involves path integration mechanisms. Finally, we show that visual landmarks presented in the vicinity of the sugar drop affected the search trajectory and in honey bees the sugar intake induced learning of landmarks. Together, our experiments indicate that the sugar-elicited local search exhibits two major behavioral capabilities of large-scale navigation, path integration and landmark orientation.

Significance Statement

To search for food social insects evolved sophisticated strategies of spatial orientation and large-scale navigation. We now show that even a small-scale local search behavior in solitary flies and social honey bees involves path integration and landmark learning two major mechanisms of large-scale navigation. We propose that in the future sugar-elicited local search can be used to identify neural circuits involved in navigation, path integration, and landmark learning.
TRuML: A Translator for Rule-Based Modeling Languages
Authors: Suderman Ryan , Hlavacek William S.
Published: August 2017

Rule-based modeling languages, such as the Kappa and BioNetGen languages (BNGL), are powerful frameworks for modeling the dynamics of complex biochemical reaction networks. Each language is distributed with a distinct software suite and modelers may wish to take advantage of both toolsets. This paper introduces a practical application called TRuML that translates models written in either Kappa or BNGL into the other language. While similar in many respects, key differences between the two languages makes translation sufficiently complex that automation becomes a useful tool. TRuML accommodates the languages’ complexities and produces a semantically equivalent model in the alternate language of the input model when possible and an approximate model in certain other cases. Here, we discuss a number of these complexities and provide examples of equivalent models in both Kappa and BNGL.

CCS CONCEPTS

•Applied computing→Systems biology; •Computing methodologies→Simulation languages;
Analysis of the microvascular morphology and hemodynamics of breast cancer in mice using SPring-8 synchrotron radiation microangiography
Authors: Torii Masae , Fukui Toshifumi , Inoue Masashi , Kanao Shotaro , Umetani Keiji , Shirai Mikiyasu , Inagaki Tadakatsu , Tsuchimochi Hirotsugu , Pearson James T. , Toi Masakazu
Published: August 2017

Tumor vasculature is characterized by morphological and functional abnormalities. However, analysis of the dynamics in blood flow is still challenging because of limited spatial and temporal resolution. Synchrotron radiation (SR) microangiography above the K-edge of the iodine contrast agent can provide high-contrast imaging of microvessels in time orders of milliseconds. In this study, mice bearing the human breast cancer cell lines MDAMB231 and NOTCH4 overexpression in MDAMB231 (MDAMB231NOTCH4+) and normal mice were assessed using SR microangiography. NOTCH is transmembrane protein that has crucial roles for vasculogenesis, angiogenesis and tumorigenesis, and NOTCH4 is considered to be a cause of high-flow arteriovenous shunting. A subgroup of mice received intravenous eribulin treatment, which is known to improve intratumor core circulation (MDAMB231_eribulin). Microvessel branches from approximately 200 µm to less than 20 µm in diameter were observed within the same visual field. The mean transition time (MTT) was measured as a dynamic parameter and quantitative analysis was performed. MTT in MDAMB231 was longer than that in normal tissue, and MDAMB231NOTCH4+ showed shorter MTT [5.0 ± 1.4 s, 3.6 ± 1.0 s and 3.6 ± 1.1 s (mean ± standard deviation), respectively]. After treatment, average MTT was correlated to tumor volume (r = 0.999) in MDAMB231_eribulin, while in contrast there was no correlation in MDAMB231 (r = −0.026). These changes in MTT profile are considered to be driven by the modulation of intratumoral circulation dynamics. These results demonstrate that a SR microangiography approach enables quantitative analysis of morphological and dynamic characteristics of tumor vasculature in vivo. Further studies will reveal new findings concerning vessel function in tumors.
Simulated sample heating from a nanofocused X-ray beam
Authors: Wallander Harald , Wallentin Jesper
Published: August 2017

Recent developments in synchrotron brilliance and X-ray optics are pushing the flux density in nanofocusing experiments to unprecedented levels, which increases the risk of different types of radiation damage. The effect of X-ray induced sample heating has been investigated using time-resolved and steady-state three-dimensional finite-element modelling of representative nanostructures. Simulations of a semiconductor nanowire indicate that the heat generated by X-ray absorption is efficiently transported within the nanowire, and that the temperature becomes homogeneous after about 5 ns. The most important channel for heat loss is conduction to the substrate, where the heat transfer coefficient and the interfacial area are limiting the heat transport. While convective heat transfer to air is significant, the thermal radiation is negligible. The steady-state average temperature in the nanowire is 8 K above room temperature at the reference parameters. In the absence of heat transfer to the substrate, the temperature increase at the same flux reaches 55 K in air and far beyond the melting temperature in vacuum. Reducing the size of the X-ray focus at constant flux only increases the maximum temperature marginally. These results suggest that the key strategy for reducing the X-ray induced heating is to improve the heat transfer to the surrounding.
OYO Rooms: providing affordable hotel stays
Authors: Sharma Tripti Ghosh , Jain Rohit , Kapoor Sahil , Gaur Vijeyta , Roy Abhishek
Published: August 2017

Subject area

Strategic Marketing, Marketing Management, Services Marketing.

Study level/applicability

MBA and Executive MBA.

Case overview

The case talks about the inception and growth of OYO Rooms, a company that originally started as ORAVEL Stays Ltd. in 2012, as a platform for booking budget and premium accommodations, but graduated to become OYO Rooms, an online aggregator of hotels, with a unique business model of “managing the partial inventory of rooms” in hotels and offering a proposition of affordable, consistent, quality experience to business, leisure and pilgrim travellers. The company received rounds of funding from Greenoaks Capital, Lightspeed Ventures, Sequoia Capital and DSG Consumer Partners. Moreover, unlike its competitors, OYO adapted itself to the fast-changing consumer preference and grew at an enviable pace and by 2016, was present across 190 cities through a network of 6,500 hotels. However, OYO Rooms had to face a multitude of challenges both from the consumer and hotel owners’ ends, primarily service quality concerns from the customers and majorly concerns out of payment irregularities or non-abidance to written contracts from the hoteliers’ end. The dissatisfaction levels increased to an extent that experts started raising questions on the viability of the business. OYO was growing at an aggressive rate but breakeven point was yet to be achieved. Moreover, growing dissatisfaction and switching amongst its customers as well as hoteliers threatened the very existence of the model. The case allows the students to critically analyse the strategies of OYO for deliberation on whether the business model was sustainable in the long run. It also encourages the students to deliberate on the possible growth strategies for OYO as also on the service recovery strategies for OYO.

Expected learning outcomes

The case has been positioned around the following modules: industry analysis; value of a two-sided business model to both parties; sustainability of a unique business model, against the challenges that it faces; applying the VRIO framework (resource-based view); complaint handling and service recovery strategies; applying the Ansoff’s grid for possible growth options.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Subject code

CSS 11: Strategy.
Double edge experiences of expatriate acculturation
Authors: Pekerti Andre Anugerah , Vuong Quan Hoang , Napier Nancy K.
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to bring to light the double edges faced by individuals who have international and multicultural experiences. The implication is that these individuals encounter acculturation challenges, and also gain from their multiculturality. The authors adopt Berry’s (2011) integration and multiculturalism framework to analyze the experiences and challenges that multi-culturals face. This paper suggests ways to glean the silver lining within organizations to help manage and master multicultural experiences in the workplace to benefit both individuals and organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used empirical materials from expatriates who have worked across multiple cultural contexts. Based on these the authors present three examples to illustrate how expatriates and multicultural individuals place themselves in situations where they experience contact and challenges associated with adopting multiple cultures. The authors then analyze these examples to show how the experiences involve psychological-level integration challenges for Multi- andn-culturals.

Findings

The three multicultural expatriate examples suggest that individuals with international and multicultural experiences who are successful at managing their experiences develop cognitive and behavioral complexity. However, these individuals also face continuous acculturation including cognitive and ethno-cultural identity conflicts such as, rejection from multiple cultural perspectives because they continually cross-multiple cultural microcosms. Suggestions are presented to help maintain one’s sense of self-worth and minimizing ethno-cultural conflicts.

Research limitations/implications

Notwithstanding the value of analyzing the examples of expatriate acculturation experiences, the limitation to the examples is that it is limited to the experience of three individuals. However, the examples were effective in raising points to discuss relevant challenges and/or the double-edged reality faced by boundary spanners, multi-, andn-culturals.

Practical implications

The paper presents possible ways multi- andn-culturals navigate through their multiculturalism, including suggestions to help individuals who struggle with their multiculturalism through mentoring.

Social implications

The paper highlights the challenges of acculturation and suggests ways that individuals can overcome these challenges. It further suggests how organizations can take advantage of such individuals by utilizing existing personnel within the organization.

Originality/value

The paper is one of the few that acknowledge multiculturalism is highly challenging even for successful multi-culturals andn-culturals. Currently the literature is scant concerning how individuals can manage and master multicultural experiences in the workplace. The paper suggests a number of useful strategies for individuals and organizations to manage the challenges.
Corporate social responsibility and payout decisions
Authors: Samet Marwa , Jarboui Anis
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether and how corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance contributes to shape firms’ payout policy. In particular, it examines the influence of CSR performance on payout level and payout channel choice (dividend payment or share repurchases). Additionally, it examines the moderating role of CSR performance in the relationship between dividends and share repurchases.

Design/methodology/approach

Using 397 European companies listed in the STOXX Europe 600 over the period from 2009 to 2014, the authors employ regression analysis to explore the link between CSR performance and payout policy.

Findings

The first result shows that firms with high CSR performance engage more in payout policy. Second, when choosing between paying dividends and repurchasing stocks, firms with high CSR performance tend to prefer share repurchases. Finally, CSR performance plays an important role in determining the relationship between dividends and repurchases. Specifically, dividends and share repurchases seem to be more substitutable among socially responsible firms.

Practical implications

Firms that are able to develop successful CSR strategies can generate tangible benefits for their shareholders in the form of high payout levels. An increase in CSR expenditure does not lead to cut or minimize the cash flow paid out to shareholders. In addition, government and regulators have to oblige or at least encourage socially responsible firms to use executive stock option that are dividend protected, in order to reduce distortions in dividend policy.

Originality/value

This is the first attempt to investigate the association between CSR performance and share repurchase activities.
Board structure and institutional ownership at the time of IPO
Authors: Neupane Suman , Neupane Biwesh
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of mandatory regulatory provisions on board structure and the influence of such board structure on institutional holdings.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses unique hand-collected data set of Indian IPOs during the 2004-2012 period after the corporate governance reforms with the introduction of clause 49 in the listing agreements in 2001. Using OLS regression, the paper empirically analyses the determinants of board size and board independence at the time of the IPOs and the influence of such a board structure on shareholdings by domestic and foreign institutional investors.

Findings

The authors find that complying with mandatory regulatory provisions does not impede firms from structuring their boards to reflect the firms’ advising and monitoring needs. The authors also find that complying with provisions have positive implication for the firm, as firms with greater board independence appear to attract more foreign institutional investors.

Originality/value

To the authors’ best knowledge, this is the first study to examine the issue in a regime where regulation mandates the composition of the board of directors. The paper also extends the literature on institutional holdings by providing evidence on the impact of board structure on institutional ownership at a critical time in a firm’s life cycle when concerns for endogeneity for empirical investigations are weaker.
Psychophysiological Responses of People with Psychopathic Tendencies to the Concealed Information Test
Authors: Hong Hyeon‐Gi , Kim Hee‐Song , Ji Hyung‐Ki , Kim Ki‐Pyoung , Lee Jungeun , Jung Sue Hyun , Hyun Myoung‐Ho
Published: August 2017

This study was designed to investigate differences in psychophysiological responses among individuals with psychopathic tendencies. A total 40 students were participated and were divided into two groups based on Levenson Self‐Report Psychopathy Scale (LSRP) scores: a high psychopathic tendency group selected from the top 5% of LSRP scores, and a low psychopathic tendency group selected from the bottom 5% of LSRP scores. All participants were instructed to perform a mock crime and complete the concealed information test (CIT). Results indicate that significant differences between crime‐relevant questions and irrelevant questions were observed for respiration line length and skin conductance response in both groups, but heart rate did not significantly differ between groups. There were no differences in psychophysiological responses between the groups. In conclusion, CIT was found to be an effective method for detecting crime‐relevant information in individuals with psychopathic tendencies.
Fatal Diabetic Ketoacidosis—A Potential Complication of MDMA (Ecstasy) Use
Authors: Gilbert John D. , Byard Roger W.
Published: August 2017

A 19‐year‐old woman with insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus was found dead in bed having allegedly recently taken ecstasy and consumed alcohol. At autopsy, there were microhemorrhages in the brain with subnuclear vacuolization and Armanni–Ebstein changes in renal tubules. Biochemical analyses confirmed diabetic ketoacidosis (vitreous glucose—46.5 mmol/L; β‐OH butyrate—13.86 mmol/L.). Toxicological analyses of blood showed a low level of 3,4‐methylenedioxy‐methamphetamine (MDMA) (0.01 mg/L), with acetone but no alcohol or other common drugs. Death was attributed to diabetic ketoacidosis most likely provoked by mixed MDMA/alcohol ingestion. Although the use of illicit drugs by young individuals with diabetes mellitus is being increasingly recognized, it has been noted that there is minimal information about the relationship between drug use and acute diabetic complications. Toxicological screening of cases of lethal diabetic ketoacidosis in the young may clarify lethal mechanisms in individual cases and also help to determine the extent of this problem.
Comparison between Temperature Gradient Gel Electrophoresis of Bacterial 16S rDNA and Diatom Test for Diagnosis of Drowning
Authors: Idota Nozomi , Tsuboi Hajime , Takaso Marin , Tojo Misa , Kinebuchi Takako , Nakamura Mami , Ichioka Hiroaki , Shintani‐Ishida Kaori , Ikegaya Hiroshi
Published: August 2017

When a body is discovered in water, it is difficult to conclude whether the cause of death was drowning, even today. Although diatom testing by the digestive method is classical, we hypothesized that aquatic bacteria, as well as diatoms, might be detected in drowned bodies, and conducted temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE)‐targeting 16S rDNA. DNA was extracted from the site water, and from heart blood and liver samples from 27 bodies concluded as drowning deaths by autopsy and subjected to TGGE after amplification of 16S rDNA by polymerase chain reaction. We observed whether the feature point of each 16S rDNA from the site water and blood or liver samples matched. Considerably higher correspondence was observed in drowned bodies, and the rate was higher than that achieved with the digestive method. Moreover, TGGE is safer than the digestive method. Our study suggests that this method can aid diagnosis of drowning.