bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antibiotic collateral sensitivity is contingent on the repeatability of evolution
Authors: Nichol Daniel , Rutter Joseph , Bryant Christopher , Hujer Andrea M , Lek Sai , Adams Mark D , Jeavons Peter , Anderson Alexander RA , Bonomo Robert A , Scott Jacob G
Published: September 2017

Antibiotic resistance represents a growing health crisis that necessitates the immediate discovery of novel treatment strategies. One such strategy is the identification of collateral sensitivities, wherein evolution under a first drug induces susceptibility to a second. Here, we report that sequential drug regimens derived fromin vitroevolution experiments may have overstated therapeutic benefit, predicting a collaterally sensitive response where cross resistance ultimately occurs. We quantify the likelihood of this phenomenon by use of a mathematical model parametrised with combinatorially complete fitness landscapes forEscherichia coli. Through experimental evolution we then verify that a second drug can indeed stochastically exhibit either increased susceptibility or increased resistance when following a first. Genetic divergence is confirmed as the driver of this differential response through targeted and whole genome sequencing. Taken together, these results highlight that the success of evolutionarily-informed therapies is predicated on a rigorous probabilistic understanding of the contingencies that arise during the evolution of drug resistance.
Universal Transcriptional Responses to Different Modalities of Traumatic Stress as a Measure of Stress Exposure
Authors: Jacobson Moriah L. , Kim Lydia A. , Rosati Barbara , McKinnon David
Published: September 2017

Molecular diagnostic tools that can robustly and quantitatively measure the response to traumatic stress would be of considerable value in assessing the individual risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder or stress-induced depression following stress exposure. The gene regulatory network can integrate and encode a large number of different signals, including those elicited by exposure to stress. We find that many genes respond to at least one modality of stress but only a subset of stress-sensitive genes track stress exposure across multiple stress modalities and are thus universal markers of stress exposure. A sensitive and robust measure of stress exposure can be constructed using a small number of genes selected from this modality-independent set of stress-sensitive genes. This stress-sensitive gene expression (SSGE) index can detect chronic traumatic stress exposure in a wide range of different stress models in a manner that is relatively independent of the modality of stress exposure and that parallels the intensity of stress exposure in a dose-dependent manner.
HiCTMap: Detection and Analysis of Chromosome Territory Structure and Position by High-throughput Imaging
Authors: Jowhar Ziad , Gudla Prabhakar , Shachar Sigal , Wangsa Darawalee , Russ Jill L. , Pegoraro Gianluca , Ried Thomas , Raznahan Armin , Misteli Tom
Published: September 2017

The spatial organization of chromosomes in the nuclear space is an extensively studied field that relies on measurements of structural features and 3D positions of chromosomes with high precision and robustness. However, no tools are currently available to image and analyze chromosome territories in a high-throughput format. Here, we have developed High-throughput Chromosome Territory Mapping (HiCTMap), a method for the robust and rapid analysis of 2D and 3D chromosome territory positioning in mammalian cells. HiCTMap is a high-throughput imaging-based chromosome detection method which enables routine analysis of chromosome structure and nuclear position. Using an optimized FISH staining protocol in a 384-well plate format in conjunction with a bespoke automated image analysis workflow, HiCTMap faithfully detects chromosome territories and their position in 2D and 3D in a large population of cells per experimental condition. We apply this novel technique to visualize chromosomes 18, X, and Y in male and female primary human skin fibroblasts, and show accurate detection of the correct number of chromosomes in the respective genotypes. Given the ability to visualize and quantitatively analyze large numbers of nuclei, we use HiCTMap to measure chromosome territory area and volume with high precision and determine the radial position of chromosome territories using either centroid or equidistant-shell analysis. The HiCTMap protocol is also compatible with RNA FISH as demonstrated by simultaneous labeling of X chromosomes andXistRNA in female cells. We suggest HiCTMap will be a useful tool for routine precision mapping of chromosome territories in a wide range of cell types and tissues.
Chromatin run-on reveals the transcriptional etiology of glioblastoma multiforme
Authors: Chu Tinyi , Rice Edward J. , Booth Gregory T. , Salamanca H. Hans , Wang Zhong , Core Leighton J. , Longo Sharon L. , Corona Robert J. , Chin Lawrence S. , Lis John T. , Kwak Hojoong , Danko Charles G.
Published: September 2017

The human genome encodes a variety of poorly understood RNA species that remain challenging to identify using existing genomic tools. We developed chromatin run-on and sequencing (ChRO-seq) to map the location of RNA polymerase using virtually any input sample, including samples with degraded RNA that are intractable to conventional RNA-seq. We used ChRO-seq to develop the first maps of nascent transcription in primary human glioblastoma (GBM) brain tumors. Whereas enhancers discovered in primary GBMs resemble open chromatin in the normal human brain, rare enhancers activated in malignant tissue drive regulatory programs similar to the developing nervous system. We identified enhancers that regulate genes characteristic of each known GBM subtype, identified transcription factors that drive them, and discovered a core group of transcription factors that control the expression of genes associated with clinical outcomes. This study uncovers new insights into the molecular etiology of GBM and introduces ChRO-seq which can now be used to map regulatory programs contributing to a variety of complex diseases.
Inter-areal balanced amplification enhances signal propagation in a large-scale circuit model of the primate cortex
Authors: Joglekar Madhura R. , Mejias Jorge F. , Yang Guangyu Robert , Wang Xiao-Jing
Published: September 2017

Reliable signal transmission represents a fundamental challenge for cortical systems, which display a wide range of weights of feedforward and feedback connections among heterogeneous areas. We re-examine the question of signal transmission across the cortex in network models based on recently available mesoscopic, directed‐ and weighted-inter-areal connectivity data of the macaque cortex. Our findings reveal that, in contrast to feed-forward propagation models, the presence of long-range excitatory feedback projections could compromise stable signal propagation. Using population rate models as well as a spiking network model, we find that effective signal propagation can be accomplished by balanced amplification across cortical areas while ensuring dynamical stability. Moreover, the activation of prefrontal cortex in our model requires the input strength to exceed a threshold, in support of the ignition model of conscious processing, demonstrating our model as an anatomically-realistic platform for investigations of the global primate cortex dynamics.
Src42A required for collective border cell migrationin vivo
Authors: Sallak Yasmin , Torres Alba Yurani , Yin Hongyan , Montell Denise
Published: September 2017

The tyrosine kinase Src is over-expressed in numerous human cancers and is associated with poor prognosis. While Src has been extensively studied, its contributions to collective cell migrationin vivoremain incompletely understood. Here we show that Src42A, but not Src64, is required for the specification and migration of the border cells in the Drosophila ovary, a well-developed and genetically tractablein vivocell migration model. We found active Src42A enriched at border cell/nurse cell interfaces, where E-cadherin is less abundant, and depleted from border cell/border cell and border cell/polar cell junctions where E-cadherin is more stable, whereas total Src42A protein co-localizes with E-cadherin. Over-expression of wild type Src42A mislocalized Src activity and prevented border cell migration. Constitutively active or kinase dead forms of Src42A also impeded border cells. These findings establish border cells as a model for investigating the mechanisms of action of Src in cooperative, collective, cell-on-cell migrationin vivo.
1-(3-Chloro-6-nitro-1H-indazol-1-yl)ethan-1-one
Authors: Mohamed Abdelahi Mohamed Mokhtar , El Bakri Youness , Ellouz Mohamed , Benchidmi Mohammed , Essassi El Mokhtar , Mague Joel T.
Published: September 2017

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C9H6ClN3O3, contains one full molecule in a general position and a half molcule sitting on a crystallographic mirror plane. In the crystal, molecules form stacks extending along theb-axis direction through a combination of offset π–π stacking between indazole units and C—Cl...π(ring) interactions with the six-membered rings of the same units. Elaboration of the C—Cl...π(ring) interactions along thea-axis direction forms slabs of molecules parallel to [001]. The stacks are joined by a combination of C—H...O and C—H...N hydrogen bonds.
Expecting “the Arab world”: imaginative geographies as dominant diversity frames
Authors: Mahadevan Jasmin , Kilian-Yasin Katharina , Ilie Iuliana Ancuţa , Müller Franziska
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the dangers of Orientalist framing. Orientalism (Said, 1979/2003) shows how “the West” actually creates “the Orient” as an inferior opposite to affirm itself, for instance by using imaginative geographical frames such as “East” and “West” (Said, 1993).

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative interviews were conducted with the members of a German-Tunisian project team in research engineering. The interview purpose was to let individuals reflect upon their experiences of difference and to find out whether these experiences are preframed by imaginative geographical categories.

Findings

Tunisian researchers were subjected to the dominant imaginative geographical frame “the Arab world.” This frame involves ascribed religiousness, gender stereotyping and ascriptions of backwardness.

Research limitations/implications

Research needs to investigate Orientalist thought and imaginative geographies in specific organizational and interpersonal interactions lest they overshadow managerial theory and practice.

Practical implications

Practitioners need to challenge dominant frames and Orientalist thought in their own practice and organizational surroundings to devise a truly inclusive managerial practice, for instance, regarding Muslim minorities.

Social implications

In times of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim sentiment in “the West,” this paper highlights the frames from which such sentiments might originate, and the need to reflect upon them.

Originality/value

The theoretical value lies in introducing a critical framing approach and the concept of imaginative geographies to perceived differences at work. For practice, it highlights how certain individuals are constructed as “Muslim others” and subjected to ascriptions of negative difference. By this mechanism, their inclusion is obstructed.
Implementing the living wage in UK local government
Authors: Johnson Mathew
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the impact of living wages on organisational pay systems.

Design/methodology/approach

The research draws on 23 semi-structured interviews with HR managers, trade union representatives, and politicians at four UK local government case study sites.

Findings

The findings suggest that living wages can have a positive impact on directly employed workers in cleaning, catering and care services, but the research also finds that the localised adoption of living wages can lead to significant wage compression, resulting in a broad band of “low skill-low wage jobs”.

Originality/value

The theoretical contribution is twofold. In-line with earlier research the “first-order” effects of living wages are clear: hourly wages for a large number of women in part-time roles increased sharply. However, this is only part of the story as “second-order” effects such as ripples and spill-overs are less extensive than suggested by other studies. This is due to the limited scope for trade unions to restore wage differentials through collective bargaining, the slow progress in extending the living wage to contracted staff, and parallel processes of downsizing and outsourcing.
The toxic politicising of the National Minimum Wage
Authors: Brown William
Published: September 2017

Purpose

After 15 years of successful operation, the British Low Pay Commission’s management of the National Minimum Wage was threatened in 2015 by the government’s introduction the National Living Wage. The purpose of this paper is to consider the underlying principles of previous minimum wage fixing, and the additional thinking of the Living Wage Foundation and the review of the issue by the Resolution Foundation.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on the 2016 reports of the Commission to argue that the two statutory wages are unavoidably interlinked and are tied to incompatible criteria.

Findings

The paper concludes that the predicted eventual impact of the National Living Wage on the labour market will be unsustainable.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is relevant to minimum wage research.

Practical implications

The paper is relevant to minimum wage policy.

Social implications

The paper is relevant to low pay policy.

Originality/value

The paper provides original analysis of minimum wage policy.
The UK living wage
Authors: Sellers Paul John
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the value that UK trade unions now place on the living wage.

Design/methodology/approach

The author is the TUC’s Pay Policy Officer and examines the issue from a practitioner’s perspective.

Findings

The living wage now has a well-established place within the hierarchy of pay demands adopted by UK trade unions. This continues a tradition of unions supporting norms and regulations as an adjunct to collective bargaining. However, support had to be achieved through a process of negotiation with the broader UK living wage campaign.

Practical implications

The paper concludes that there are good prospects for the living wage, and thus for the continued trade union support.

Social implications

The living wage standard is seen as having a strong moral basis, which often helps to win agreement with good employers. This results in a steady stream of workers out of in-work poverty. The credit for such pay increases is often shared between employers and trade unions.

Originality/value

The paper is written by a practitioner with inside knowledge and experience of the entire course of the living wage campaign in the UK and how it has been adopted and integrated by trade unions.
Sexual coercion, sexual aggression, or sexual assault: how measurement impacts our understanding of sexual violence
Authors: Bouffard Leana , Goodson Amanda
Published: September 2017

Purpose

Definitions of rape and sexual aggression have varied widely in the research literature, resulting in a wide range of estimates for perpetration and remaining questions as to the factors that may affect involvement in sexual violence. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

The current study uses a sample of college men to assess multiple forms of measurement of sexual aggression and theoretical predictors.

Findings

Findings indicate that the different measures of sexual aggression (broad vs narrow; hypothetical vs behavioral) are significantly correlated with each other. Additionally, many theoretical predictors (rape myths, low self-control, sexual entitlement, and pornography use) are consistently related to all measurement forms. However, some variables (masculinity, peer support for violence against women, sexual partners, and alcohol and drug use) are only related to broad measures of sexual aggression, and some are related only to hypothetical (i.e. certainty of apprehension) or behavioral measures (i.e. fraternity membership).

Research limitations/implications

Because of the chosen approach, the results may lack generalizability. Findings do, however, point to important considerations in defining sexual aggression moving forward.

Practical implications

Results point to the importance of aiming policy and programs at the particular characteristics that most consistently impact sexual aggression.

Originality/value

This paper addresses lingering questions about the impact of differences in definition and measurement on understanding sexual aggression.
Personal social services for children and families in the UK: a historical review
Authors: Bullock Roger , Parker Roy
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to chart the history of personal social services for children and families in the UK and examine the factors that have influenced it. Special attention is given to changing perceptions of rights, the impact of scandals and the contribution of child development research.

Design/methodology/approach

Analysis of historical documents and research reports using four methods: a timeline of milestones, demarcation of distinct developmental periods, trends in policy and practice and comparisons of children’s needs and experiences at different times.

Findings

The evolution of services has not been linear. In policy, there have been reform and retrenchment, amalgamation and differentiation. Practice has been shaped by the emergence of new problems and the disappearance of old ones as well as by legislation, extreme events, research and finance, all occurring in specific political, moral and economic contexts.

Originality/value

An analysis of developments in children’s services in their political, economic, moral and research contexts.
The contemporary refocusing of children’s services in England
Authors: Parton Nigel , Williams Sasha
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an analysis of the changes in child protection policy and practice in England over the last 30 years, in particular to critically analyse the nature and impact of the “refocusing” initiative of the mid-1990s.

Design/methodology/approach

Policy analysis.

Findings

While the period from the mid-1990s until 2008 can be seen to show how policy and practice attempted to build on a number of the central principles of the “refocusing” initiative, the period since 2008 has been very different. Following the huge social reaction to the death of Peter Connelly, policy and practice moved in directions quite contra to the “refocusing” initiative’s aims and aspirations such that we can identify a refocusing of “refocusing”. Such developments were given a major impetus with the election of the Coalition government in 2010 and have been reinforced further following the election of the Conservative government in May 2015.

Originality/value

The paper places the changes in child protection policy and practice in England in their political and economic contexts and makes explicit how the changes impact on the role and responsibilities of professionals, particularly social workers.
Being more human – why children’s social care should be more about people and less about paper-work
Authors: Wright Chris
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to argue for a strengthening of the relational aspect of social work and for initiatives that involve local people and local communities.

Design/methodology/approach

A think piece based on observations of the current situation and supporting evidence.

Findings

Social work has become distanced from those whom it seeks to help. Case management and risk assessment need to be complemented by a more human approach based on positive relationships between professionals and service users.

Originality/value

An informed discussion on the future of social work.
From “silo” to “network” profession – a multi-professional future for social work
Authors: Frost Nick
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to argue that the future of social work can be situated as part of a fundamental shift towards co-located, multi-disciplinary practice and networking. It is argued that social work has a key role to play in co-located, multi-disciplinary child welfare practice, and indeed can be a leading profession in this context. Situating social work in this way involves re-conceptualising social work as a network profession, rather than a silo profession. The paper builds on an earlier study of five multi-professional, co-located teams updated with interviews with social workers currently situated in such co-located teams. An exploration of the role of social work in relation to child sexual exploitation is provided.

Design/methodology/approach

The first study was an ESRC-funded study and used a multi-method approach to understanding the work of five multi-disciplinary, co-located teams working with children, young people and families (Frost and Robinson, 2016). Four co-located teams with eight social workers participated in the research. This was followed up by a small scale study involving semi-structured interviews with six social workers situated in co-located, multi-disciplinary teams. The focus of the study was on professional identity and working practices with other related professionals.

Findings

The ESRC study explored the complexity of co-located, multi-disciplinary professional teams – exploring how they worked together and analysing the challenges they face. Professionals felt that such working enhanced their learning, their skill base and the process of information sharing. Challenges included structural and organisational issues and differences in ideological and explanatory frameworks. The follow up study of six social workers found that they gained satisfaction from being situated in such co-located, multi-disciplinary teams, but also faced some identified challenges. Child sexual exploitation is explored as an example of the work of co-located, multi-disciplinary teams.

Research limitations/implications

Semi-structured interviews with social workers based in co-located, multi-disciplinary teams have provided valuable insights into the operation of social workers in such settings. It is acknowledged that all the interviews are with social workers in co-located settings and that further work is required on the views of other social workers in reference to their experiences and views in relation to multi-disciplinary working.

Originality/value

The paper brings together theoretical positions and policy contextual material with qualitative research data which situate the social worker in wider multi-disciplinary, co-located settings. Drawing on qualitative, semi-structured interviews with 14 social workers in such teams, the paper aims to contribute to an understanding and development of the future of the social work role in these contexts, arguing that this is fundamental to the future of social work.
Supporting practice: reflections on a career in children’s social work
Authors: Chamberlain Clare , Little Michael
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reflect on development in children’s social work over 35 years from the perspective of someone who has worked in the field as a practitioner and director.

Design/methodology/approach

Interview.

Findings

The paper provides insights into implementing the Reclaiming Social Work model and how systems can better support social work practice with children and families.

Originality/value

The paper offers a unique perspective on developments in the field and implications for the future of children’s social work.
Turning the ship around: reflections on changing a nation’s social work practice system in the interests of children and families
Authors: Trowler Isabelle
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reflect on progress and lessons in improving the social work system in England in the interests of children and families.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on an interview with the author by Michael Little (one of the Guest Editors of this edition).

Findings

Social work is best placed to lead the child protection system given its ability to manage risks in a challenging social and political environment. However, there is a need to address common concerns about the system, for instance to give social workers more autonomy, and to improve the quality in the workforce, especially at the senior level. The best authorities are practice focused, led by practitioners who are part of a stable team, and do well at a systems level.

Originality/value

Offers the perspective of the Chief Social Worker for Children in England on the process of reforming the social work system for children and families.
Organizational unlearning and knowledge transfer in cross-border M&A: the roles of routine and knowledge compatibility
Authors: Wang Xiangyang , Xi Yujuan , Xie Jingsi , Zhao Yingxin
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to adopt the perspective of congruence to explore how organizational unlearning facilitates knowledge transfer in cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A).

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the congruence theory, this study built a theoretical model and examined it with survey data from 212 firms in China.

Findings

Organizational unlearning has no direct influence on knowledge transfer. In contrast, it promotes knowledge and routine compatibility that facilitate knowledge transfer. Routine and knowledge compatibility have different mechanisms on knowledge transfer. Specifically, the higher routine compatibility, the more effective is knowledge transfer. When knowledge compatibility is at a medium level, the effectiveness of knowledge transfer is optimal.

Practical implications

Firms should regard organizational unlearning as a crucial facilitator to knowledge and routine compatibility that promote knowledge transfer.

Originality/value

This study provides a specific understanding of the relationships between organizational unlearning and knowledge transfer by focusing on knowledge and routine compatibility as the crucial links, and enriches existing literature regarding knowledge transfer.
Managing knowledge assets for open innovation: a systematic literature review
Authors: Natalicchio Angelo , Ardito Lorenzo , Savino Tommaso , Albino Vito
Published: September 2017

Purpose

Knowledge assumes a pivotal role in the open innovation (OI) paradigm. Yet OI has been scantly investigated by adopting a knowledge management (KM) lens. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to provide a systematic literature review of the KM practices analysed by prior literature to support OI activities.

Design/methodology/approach

To perform a valuable literature review, the steps for systematic review proposed by previous studies have been adopted. These steps have yielded a final sample of 34 articles. Afterward, the authors have distinguished and analysed the identified articles according to the three main OI processes, i.e. inbound, outbound and coupled OI processes.

Findings

This research groups and highlights the most relevant KM practices to support OI activities on the basis of the inbound, outbound and coupled OI processes.

Originality/value

Despite knowledge is the most relevant resource exchanged in OI activities, this is the first attempt to highlight how knowledge should be managed in an OI context by adopting a KM lens. Furthermore, the authors also identify relevant topics that have been so far understudied, which the authors suggest as future research directions.
Developing leveraging strategies for pre-Games training for mega-events in non-host cities
Authors: Fairley Sheranne , Kelly Donna M.
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how non-host cities strategically plan to leverage pre-Games training for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games to maximize benefits to the city.

Design/methodology/approach

Eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with key tourism and government stakeholders involved in developing leveraging strategies for pre-Games training in a non-host city. Interviews were conducted a little over 18 months before the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Findings

A model of the strategic planning of leveraging pre-Games training is presented. Pre-Games training was positioned as a leverageable resource. The non-host city was well positioned to host pre-Games training given its existing sport focus and facilities and its proximity to the host city and its similar climate. Opportunities, objectives, means, and considerations were constantly developed. The city strategically targeted teams to maximize the use of the training facilities and make the most of the value of well-known athletes, while being cautious of overcrowding. The teams had to be secured before strategies were devised to achieve other opportunities and objectives. Short-term benefits included generating tourism through visiting teams and entourages and integrating visiting teams into the local community through education and sport programming. Long-term benefits included building the destination’s capacity and reputation as a place for elite training camps and tourism.

Practical implications

Understanding how to develop strategies to leverage pre-Games training can inform those responsible for developing and implementing pre-Games training strategies and lead to maximizing the benefits to a city or region.

Originality/value

Limited research has examined the strategic planning process used to develop tactics to leverage mega-events. This study provides insight into the strategic planning process of non-host cities to increase short- and long-term benefits by leveraging pre-Games training.
Effect of game-interactivity and congruence on presence and brand attitude
Authors: Vashisht Devika , Chauhan Abhishek
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of interactivity and game-product congruence on the players’ feelings of presence and their brand attitude in the context of in-game advertising. Specifically, this research illustrates the conditions under which the brand placements in digital games create attention, engagement, subsequent feelings of presence and brand attitude by drawing the insights from the “limited capacity model of attention,” the “vividness effects theory” and the “transportation theory.”

Design/methodology/approach

A 2 (interactivity: high or low)×2 (game-product congruence: high or low) between-subject measures design is used. In total, 152 students participated in the study. A 2×2 between-subjects multivariate analysis of variance is used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results reveal that for a high game-product congruent game, high interactivity results in greater levels of feelings of presence than a low-interactivity condition. However, for a low game-product congruent game, both high- and low-interactivity conditions result in the same level of presence. Furthermore, the findings also show that for a high game-product congruent game, high interactivity results in more favorable brand attitude than a low-interactivity condition. On the other hand, for a low game-product congruent game, both high- and low-interactivity conditions result in the same level of brand attitude.

Research limitations/implications

This paper provides implications for theory as well as practice by providing the empirical evidence of the combined effect of game-product congruence and interactivity on feelings of presence and brand attitude from the perspectives of attention, engagement and transportation of experiences in an emerging marketing context like India. The findings are useful for marketing practitioners in terms of effective in-game advertising, designing and execution. Future research can be conducted by exploring the in-game advertising effects of various other variables, such as product-involvement, game-involvement or game-repetition.

Originality/value

This investigation contributes to the literature of non-traditional advertising media, specifically to the area of branded entertainment, like brand placements in digital games by examining and exploring the influence of game-specific factors on the players’ feelings of presence and brand attitudes. Moreover, this paper is one of the first to reveal the real-time roles of game-specific factors in creating gamers’ feelings of presence and brand attitude from the perspectives of attention, engagement and transportation of experience in an emerging market context like India.
Interacting effects of unobserved heterogeneity and individual stochasticity in the life history of the southern fulmar
Authors: Jenouvrier Stéphanie , Aubry Lise M. , Barbraud Christophe , Weimerskirch Henri , Caswell Hal
Published: September 2017

Individuals are heterogeneous in many ways. Some of these differences are incorporated as individual states (e.g. age, size, breeding status) in population models. However, substantial amounts of heterogeneity may remain unaccounted for, due to unmeasurable genetic, maternal or environmental factors.

Such unobserved heterogeneity (UH) affects the behaviour of heterogeneous cohorts via intra‐cohort selection and contributes to inter‐individual variance in demographic outcomes such as longevity and lifetime reproduction. Variance is also produced by individual stochasticity, due to random events in the life cycle of wild organisms, yet no study thus far has attempted to decompose the variance in demographic outcomes into contributions from UH and individual stochasticity for an animal population in the wild.

We developed a stage‐classified matrix population model for the southern fulmar breeding on Ile des Pétrels, Antarctica. We applied multievent, multistate mark–recapture methods to estimate a finite mixture model accounting for UH in all vital rates and Markov chain methods to calculate demographic outcomes. Finally, we partitioned the variance in demographic outcomes into contributions from UH and individual stochasticity.

We identify three UH groups, differing substantially in longevity, lifetime reproductive output, age at first reproduction and in the proportion of the life spent in each reproductive state.

–14% of individuals at fledging have a delayed but high probability of recruitment and extended reproductive life span.

–67% of individuals are less likely to reach adulthood, recruit late and skip breeding often but have the highest adult survival rate.

–19% of individuals recruit early and attempt to breed often. They are likely to raise their offspring successfully, but experience a relatively short life span.

Unobserved heterogeneity only explains a small fraction of the variances in longevity (5.9%), age at first reproduction (3.7%) and lifetime reproduction (22%).

UH can affect the entire life cycle, including survival, development and reproductive rates, with consequences over the lifetime of individuals and impacts on cohort dynamics. The respective role of UH vs. individual stochasticity varies greatly among demographic outcomes. We discuss the implication of our finding for the gradient of life‐history strategies observed among species and argue that individual differences should be accounted for in demographic studies of wild populations.
The influence of residence time and geographic extent on the strength of plant–soil feedbacks for naturalised Trifolium
Authors: McGinn Kevin J. , van der Putten Wim H. , Hulme Philip E. , Shelby Natasha , Weser Carolin , Duncan Richard P.
Published: September 2017

Release from natural enemies is considered an important mechanism underlying the success of plants introduced to new regions, but the degree to which alien plant species benefit from enemy release appears highly variable and context‐dependent. Such variation could arise if enemy release is a transient phenomenon, whereby alien plant species initially escape but subsequently accumulate enemies in their new regions.

To evaluate this hypothesis in terms of soil biota, we used 11 Trifolium (clover) species introduced to New Zealand from Europe to test whether species resident for longer or with a larger geographic extent in New Zealand were more adversely affected by soil communities in the introduced range, as expected if species have accumulated inhibitory soil biota over time. We used plant–soil feedback (PSF) experiments to compare the effect of soil biota on the growth of the Trifolium species in soil from their introduced (New Zealand) and native (Spain and the United Kingdom) ranges. We applied a novel statistical approach aimed at isolating the impact of antagonistic soil biota by accounting for variation in plant growth due to mutualistic rhizobia bacteria.

The between‐range differences in PSF varied considerably among the Trifolium species: some species were released from inhibitory PSF in the introduced range, but the majority experienced similar PSF in both ranges. Averaged over all 11 Trifolium species, PSF was less inhibitory in the introduced than in the native range, implying some release from soil‐borne enemies. However, neither residence time nor geographic extent in the introduced range was significantly correlated with the strength of release from inhibitory PSF.

Synthesis. Our multispecies study provides some evidence that alien plants can escape antagonistic soil biota in their introduced range, but highlights how plant–soil feedback responses can be highly variable among congeneric plant species in the same region. Our results do not support the hypothesis that the release from inhibitory plant–soil feedback is transient, questioning the generality of this phenomenon.
Lipoprotein particle concentration measured by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is associated with gestational age at delivery: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Grace MR , Vladutiu CJ , Nethery RC , Siega‐Riz AM , Manuck TA , Herring AH , Savitz D , Thorp JT
Published: September 2017

Objective

To estimate the association between lipoprotein particle concentrations in pregnancy and gestational age at delivery.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

The study was conducted in the USA at the University of North Carolina.

Population

We assessed 715 women enrolled in the Pregnancy, Infection, and Nutrition study from 2001 to 2005.

Methods

Fasting blood was collected at two time points (<20 and 24–29 weeks of gestation). Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) quantified lipoprotein particle concentrations [low‐density lipoprotein (LDL), high‐density lipoprotein (HDL), very‐low density lipoprotein (VLDL)] and 10 subclasses of lipoproteins. Concentrations were assessed as continuous measures, with the exception of medium HDL which was classified as any or no detectable level, given its distribution. Cox proportional hazards models estimated hazard ratios (HR) for gestational age at delivery adjusting for covariates.

Main outcome measures

Gestational age at delivery, preterm birth (<37 weeks of gestation), and spontaneous preterm birth.

Results

At <20 weeks of gestation, three lipoproteins were associated with later gestational ages at delivery [large LDLNMR (HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.64–0.96), total VLDLNMR (HR 0.77, 95% CI 0.61–0.98), and small VLDLNMR (HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.62–0.98], whereas large VLDLNMR (HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.01–1.41) was associated with a greater hazard of earlier delivery. At 24–28 weeks of gestation, average VLDLNMR (HR 1.25, 95% CI 1.03–1.51) and a detectable level of medium HDLNMR (HR 1.90, 95% CI 1.19–3.02) were associated with earlier gestational ages at delivery.

Conclusion

In this sample of pregnant women, particle concentrations of VLDLNMR, LDLNMR, IDLNMR, and HDLNMR were each independently associated with gestational age at delivery for all deliveries or spontaneous deliveries <37 weeks of gestation. These findings may help formulate hypotheses for future studies of the complex relationship between maternal lipoproteins and preterm birth.

Tweetable abstract

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy may identify lipoprotein particles associated with preterm delivery.
ViXeN: An open‐source package for managing multimedia data
Authors: Ramachandran Prabhu , Devarajan Kadambari
Published: September 2017

There is a dearth of good toolkits to manage the different data formats that are associated with ecological datasets. In this paper, we describe a flexible, general‐purpose, easy‐to‐use, extensible, and open‐source toolkit that was built to manage an ecological study involving thousands of camera trap videos.

ViXeN, the software package described here, can be used to view data files, including videos, images, audio files, portable document format (PDF) files, and text, in multiple formats. It can be used to annotate these data files, using metadata in the form of arbitrary user tags.

The multimedia data catalogued, archived and extracted, using this software can easily be exported as a comma separated value file that can directly be used for data analysis.

The software is capable of handling large datasets with up to a million files. Furthermore, ViXeN provides the option of additional customization by advanced users based on their particular requirements.

We provide a case study involving more than 6,000 videos that were collected as part of a camera trap study involving mammalian carnivores to demonstrate some of the functionality of the software.
Identification of telocytes in the porcine heart
Authors: Tay H. , Vandecasteele T. , Van den Broeck W.
Published: September 2017

Recently, a new interstitial cell type called telocyte has been identified. Telocytes are found in many organs including the heart, where they are especially well described. However, their presence in the porcine heart has not yet been proven. The pig is a valuable animal model in research because of its resemblance with man, making it interesting to determine whether telocytes can be found in pigs as well. The focus of this study is the identification and ultrastructural description of telocytes in the heart tissue of pig. Using transmission electron microscopy, telocytes were found in both left and right atrium and ventricle, usually close to cardiomyocytes and/or blood vessels. Their most important characteristic is the long cytoplasmic processes called telopodes, which have a moniliform aspect, measure tens of μm and usually have a thickness below 0.2 μm. This unique morphological feature enables telocytes to be recognized from other interstitial cells such as fibroblasts. Additional observations include the ability to release extracellular vesicles and to make contacts with other structures such as endothelial cells, suggesting a role in intercellular communication.
DIMENSIONS OF MEMBER HETEROGENEITY IN COOPERATIVES AND THEIR IMPACT ON ORGANIZATION – A LITERATURE REVIEW
Authors: HÖHLER Julia , KÜHL Rainer
Published: September 2017

Member heterogeneity is often seen as a disadvantage of cooperatives. Though, a comprehensive understanding of member heterogeneity, its dimensions and impacts on member interests, organizations and their performance is still missing. The following literature review is intended to summarize the existing literature on member heterogeneity with a focus on agricultural cooperatives in order to provide further areas of research. Different dimensions of heterogeneity are identified and ways of measuring their impact on cooperative organization are proposed.
Low angiomotin‐p130 with concomitant high Yes‐associated protein 1 expression is associated with adverse prognosis of advanced gastric cancer
Authors: Hong Soon Auck , Son Myoung Won , Cho Junhun , Jang Si‐hyong , Lee Hyun Ju , Lee Ji‐Hye , Cho Hyun Deuk , Oh Mee‐Hye , Lee Moon Soo
Published: September 2017

Angiomotin (AMOT) promotes angiogenesis and plays a role in neovascularization during tumorigenesis. Recently, the AMOT isoform, AMOT‐p130, was shown to exert a regulatory effect on Yes‐associated protein 1 (YAP1), a major downstream effector of the Hippo pathway. The specific roles of AMOT‐p130 and YAP1 in advanced gastric cancer (AGC) are yet to be established. In this study, a total of 166 patients with AGC were enrolled, and AMOT‐p130 and YAP1 levels were analyzed by immunohistochemistry using tissue microarrays. Low AMOT‐p130 together with high YAP1 expression (n = 30, 18.1%) was associated with high T stage (p = 0.042), high TNM stage (p = 0.025), and venous invasion (p = 0.048). A Kaplan–Meier survival analysis with log‐rank test revealed a significant correlation with decreased AMOT‐p130 coupled with high nuclear YAP1 expression with shorter overall survival (p = 0.0045) and disease‐free survival (p = 0.0028). Furthermore, multivariate analyses showed that the low AMOT‐p130/high YAP1 expression profile was an independent prognostic factor for disease‐free survival (p = 0.008, HR = 1.874, CI, 1.177–2.986) and overall survival (p = 0.012, HR = 1.903, CI, 1.152–3.143). Our findings collectively demonstrate that low AMOT‐p130 combined with high YAP1 expression is correlated with an unfavorable AGC prognosis.
A Comparative Study of the Early High‐Fired Ceramic Shards from Dongtiaoxi, Zhejiang (China)
Authors: Yan L. T. , Huang Y. , Liu M. , Liu L. , Li L. , Feng S. L. , Feng X. Q.
Published: September 2017

There is a generally accepted view that there is an obvious distinction between proto‐porcelain and stamped stoneware. However, some early shards unearthed from the Dongtiaoxi region (northern Zhejiang) inspire people to rediscuss the relationship between them, because it is difficult to identify them as proto‐porcelain or stamped stoneware. In this work, we have collected samples from three of the earliest kiln sites (Piaoshan, Beijiashan and Nanshan) in the Dongtiaoxi region. We have analysed the chemical composition, firing temperature and phase composition of the samples. Comparing samples from the three kiln sites, we find that, from Piaoshan and Beijiashan to Nanshan, there has been progression in the manufacturing technology. The Shang proto‐porcelain and the stamped stoneware from Nanshan have similar raw materials, firing temperatures and body phase compositions—and they have obviously different decorative appearances, such as glazing or stamping. For ceramics from Piaoshan and Beijiashan, there is no clear distinction between glazed and unglazed samples. We believe that in the Dongtiaoxi region, the difference in the decoration between proto‐porcelain and stoneware became obvious up to the time of the Nanshan production but that, subsequently, two different paths for the development of high‐fired ceramics began to diverge.