bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In vivo mutation rates and the landscape of fitness costs of HIV-1
Authors: Zanini Fabio , Puller Vadim , Brodin Johanna , Albert Jan , Neher Richard A.
Published: January 2017

Mutation rates and fitness costs of deleterious mutations are difficult to measure in vivo but essential for a quantitative understanding of evolution. Using whole genome deep sequencing data from longitudinal samples during untreated HIV-1 infection, we estimated mutation rates and fitness costs in HIV-1 from the dynamics of genetic variation. At approximately neutral sites, mutations accumulate with a rate of 1.2 × 10−5 per site per day, in agreement with the rate measured in cell cultures. We estimated the rate from G to A to be the largest, followed by the other transitions C to T, T to C, and A to G, while transversions are less frequent. At other sites, mutations tend to reduce virus replication. We estimated the fitness cost of mutations at every site in the HIV-1 genome using a model of mutation selection balance. About half of all non-synonymous mutations have large fitness costs (>10 percent), while most synonymous mutations have costs <1 percent. The cost of synonymous mutations is especially low in most of pol where we could not detect measurable costs for the majority of synonymous mutations. In contrast, we find high costs for synonymous mutations in important RNA structures and regulatory regions. The intra-patient fitness cost estimates are consistent across multiple patients, indicating that the deleterious part of the fitness landscape is universal and explains a large fraction of global HIV-1 group M diversity.
Characterization of a New Nepovirus Causing a Leaf Mottling Disease in Petunia hybrida
Authors: Bratsch Sara , Lockhart Benham , Mollov Dimitre
Published: January 2017

Icosahedral virus-like particles were isolated from Petunia hybrida cuttings with interveinal chlorotic mottling. The virus was transmitted by mechanical inoculation from infected to healthy P. hybrida, and was found to contain a bipartite RNA genome of 7.6 and 3.8 kilobases. Full genomic sequence was obtained by high-throughput sequencing combined with RACE amplification of the 5′-termini of RNAs 1 and 2, and reverse-transcription PCR amplification of the 3′-termini with oligo-dT and sequence specific primers. Based on particle morphology, genome organization, and phylogenetic analyses, it was concluded that the new virus is a member of the genus Nepovirus, subgroup A. This new virus causing a leaf mottling disease of petunia was provisionally named Petunia chlorotic mottle virus (PCMoV).
Shared genetic effects on chromatin and gene expression reveal widespread enhancer priming in immune response
Authors: Alasoo Kaur , Rodrigues Julia , Mukhopadhyay Subhankar , Knights Andrew J. , Mann Alice L. , Kundu Kousik ,   HIPSCI Consortium, Hale Christine , Dougan Gordon , Gaffney Daniel J.
Published: January 2017

Noncoding regulatory variants are often highly context-specific, modulating gene expression in a small subset of possible cellular states. Although these genetic effects are likely to play important roles in disease, the molecular mechanisms underlying context-specificity are not well understood. Here, we identify shared quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for chromatin accessibility and gene expression (eQTLs) and show that a large fraction (∼60%) of eQTLs that appear following macrophage immune stimulation alter chromatin accessibility in unstimulated cells, suggesting they perturb enhancer priming. We show that such variants are likely to influence the binding of cell type specific transcription factors (TFs), such as PU.1, which then indirectly alter the binding of stimulus-specific TFs, such as NF-κB or STAT2. Our results imply that, although chromatin accessibility assays are powerful for fine mapping causal noncoding variants, detecting their downstream impact on gene expression will be challenging, requiring profiling of large numbers of stimulated cellular states and timepoints.
TITER: predicting translation initiation sites by deep learning
Authors: Zhang Sai , Hu Hailin , Jiang Tao , Zhang Lei , Zeng Jianyang
Published: January 2017

Motivation

Translation initiation is a key step in the regulation of gene expression. In addition to the annotated translation initiation sites (TISs), the translation process may also start at multiple alternative TISs (including both AUG and non-AUG codons), which makes it challenging to predict TISs and study the underlying regulatory mechanisms. Meanwhile, the advent of several high-throughput sequencing techniques for profiling initiating ribosomes at single-nucleotide resolution, e.g., GTI-seq and QTI-seq, provides abundant data for systematically studying the general principles of translation initiation and the development of computational method for TIS identification.

Methods

We have developed a deep learning based framework, named TITER, for accurately predicting TISs on a genome-wide scale based on QTI-seq data. TITER extracts the sequence features of translation initiation from the surrounding sequence contexts of TISs using a hybrid neural network and further integrates the prior preference of TIS codon composition into a unified prediction framework.

Results

Extensive tests demonstrated that TITER can greatly outperform the state-of-the-art prediction methods in identifying TISs. In addition, TITER was able to identify important sequence signatures for individual types of TIS codons, including a Kozak-sequence-like motif for AUG start codon. Furthermore, the TITER prediction score can be related to the strength of translation initiation in various biological scenarios, including the repressive effect of the upstream open reading frames (uORFs) on gene expression and the mutational effects influencing translation initiation efficiency.

Availability

TITER is available as an open-source software and can be downloaded fromhttps://github.com/zhangsaithu/titer

Contact

lzhang20@mail.tsinghua.edu.cnandzengjy321@tsinghua.edu.cn
Heterogeneity of hypothalamic Pro-opiomelanocortin-expressing neurons revealed by single-cell RNA sequencing
Authors: Lam Brian Y. H. , Cimino Irene , Polex-Wolf Joseph , Kohnke Sara Nicole , Rimmington Debra , Iyemere Valentine , Heeley Nicholas , Cossetti Chiara , Schulte Reiner , Saraiva Luis R. , Logan Darren W. , Blouet Clemence , O’Rahilly Stephen , Coll Anthony P. , Yeo Giles S. H.
Published: January 2017

Arcuate proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons are critical nodes in the control of body weight. Often characterised simply as direct targets for leptin, recent data suggest a more complex architecture. Using single cell RNA sequencing, we have generated an atlas of gene expression in murine POMC neurons. Of 163 neurons, 118 expressed high levels ofPomcwith little/noAgrpexpression and were considered “canonical” POMC neurons (P+). The other 45/163 expressed low levels ofPomcand high levels ofAgrp(A+P+). Unbiased clustering analysis of P+neurons revealed four different classes, each with distinct cell surface receptor gene expression profiles. Further, only 12% (14/118) of P+neurons expressed the leptin receptor (Lepr) compared with 58% (26/45) of A+P+neurons. In contrast, the insulin receptor (Insr) was expressed at similar frequency on P+and A+P+neurons (64% and 55%, respectively). These data reveal arcuate POMC neurons to be a highly heterogeneous population.
Trait Correlates of Climatic Niche Tracking in British Birds
Authors: Rapacciuolo Giovanni , Robinson Robert A. , Gillings Simon , Purvis Andy
Published: January 2017

Growing evidence indicates that species respond idiosyncratically when exposed to the same changes in climate. As a result, understanding the potential influence of biological traits on species’ distributional responses is a research priority. Yet, empirical support for hypothesised influences of traits on climate change responses remains equivocal.

In this paper, we developed a novel approach to determine whether biological traits predict the degree of climatic niche tracking of British breeding birds in response to recent climate change. First, we quantified how well predicted positive and negative changes in probability of presence from climate-based species distribution models agreed with observed local gains and losses in species’ occupancy – our measure of climatic niche tracking. Second, we examined whether the degree of climatic niche tracking could be predicted by species’ ecological and life-history traits, as well as phylogenetic relationships.

Overall, British breeding birds displayed a low degree of climatic niche tracking over the period of our study, though this varied substantially among species. Models incorporating traits and phylogeny explained a low proportion of the variation in climatic niche tracking. Nevertheless, we did find statistical evidence that species with lower lifespans tracked their climatic niches more closely, whilst species with a mixed diet displayed a lower degree of climatic niche tracking.

We present here a tractable approach for quantifying the degree to which observed local range gains and losses can be related to climate redistribution and apply it to British breeding birds. Although we do not find strong evidence that traits predict the degree of climatic niche tracking, we discuss why this is likely to be a consequence of the features of our study system rather than the approach itself. We believe this approach may prove to be useful as datasets of temporal changes in species distributions become increasingly available.
DNA Topology in Chromatin is Defined by Nucleosome Spacing
Authors: Nikitina Tatiana , Norouzi Davood , Grigoryev Sergei A. , Zhurkin Victor B.
Published: January 2017

In eukaryotic chromatin, DNA makes about 1.7 left superhelical turns around an octamer of core histones implying that formation of nucleosomes would alter the overall topology of DNA by a comparable difference of the DNA linking number (ΔLk) per nucleosome. However, earlier experiments have documented a significantly (about 50%) lower absolute value |ΔLk| than expected from the nucleosome geometry. Recently, using computer modeling, we have predicted two families of energetically stable conformations of the arrays with precisely positioned nucleosomes, one with an integer number of DNA turns in the linker DNA {L = 10n} and the other with extra five base pairs in the linker {L = 10n+ 5}, to be topologically different. Here, using arrays of precisely positioned clone 601 nucleosomes, topological electrophoretic assays, and electron microscopy we experimentally tested these predictions. First, for small 12-mer nucleosome circular arrays we observed that dLk per nucleosome changes from −1.4 to −0.9 for the linkers {L = 10n} and {L = 10n+ 5}, respectively. Second, for larger hybrid arrays containing a mixture of positioned and non-positioned nucleosomes we found that changing the DNA linker length within the positioned arrays was sufficient to significantly alter the overall DNA topology fully consistent with our prediction. The observed topological polymorphism of the circular nucleosome arrays provides a simple explanation for the DNA topology in native chromatin with variable DNA linker length. Furthermore, our results may reflect a more general tendency of chromosomal domains containing active or repressed genes to acquire different nucleosome spacing to retain topologically distinct higher-order structures.
2-[4,5-Diphenyl-2-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H-imidazol-1-yl]ethanol
Authors: Mague Joel T. , Mohamed Shaaban K. , Akkurt Mehmet , Marzouk Adel A. , Albayati Mustafa R.
Published: January 2017

The basic building blocks of the three-dimensional structure of the title compound, C22H19N3O, are helical chains running along the [101] direction and formed by O—H...N hydrogen bonds. C—H...O hydrogen bonds between chains generate sheets which are then joined together by C—H...N hydrogen bonds. The two- and three-dimensional structures also feature two sets of C—H...π(ring) interactions.
Control system designing for correcting wing–fuselage assembly deformation of a large aircraft
Authors: Fang Qiang , Chen Weidong , Zhao Anan , Deng Changxi , Fei Shaohua
Published: January 2017

Purpose

In aircraft wing–fuselage assembly, the distributed multi-point support layout of positioners causes fuselage to deform under gravity load, leading to assembly difficulty and assembly stress. This paper aims to propose a hybrid force position control method to balance aerodynamic shape accuracy and deformation of assembly area, thereby correcting assembly deformation and reducing assembly stress.

Design/methodology/approach

Force and position control axes of positioners are selected based on screw theory and ellipsoid method. The position-control axes follow the posture trajectory to align the fuselage posture. To exert force on the fuselage and correct the deformations, the force-control axes follow the contact force derived by using orthogonal experiments and partial least squares regression (PLSR). Finite element simulation and one-dimension deformation correction experiment are conducted to verify the validity of this method.

Findings

Simulation results indicate that hybrid force position control method can correct assembly deformation and improve the wing–fuselage assembly quality significantly. Experiment on specimen verifies the effect of this method indirectly.

Originality/value

The proposed method gives a solution to solve the deformation problem during aircraft wing-fuselage assembly, thereby reducing assembly stress and improving assembly quality.
Scheduling the in-house logistics distribution for automotive assembly lines with just-in-time principles
Authors: Zhou Binghai , Peng Tao
Published: January 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the just-in-time (JIT) in-house logistics problem for automotive assembly lines. A point-to-point (P2P) JIT distribution model has been formulated to specify the destination station and parts quantity of each delivery for minimizing line-side inventory levels.

Design/methodology/approach

An exact backtracking procedure integrating with dominance properties is presented to cope with small-scale instances. As for real-world instances, this study develops a modified discrete artificial bee colony (MDABC) metaheuristic. The neighbor search of MDABC is redefined by a novel differential evolution loop and a breadth-first search.

Findings

The backtracking method has efficaciously cut unpromising branches and solved small-scale instances to optimality. Meanwhile, the modifications have enhanced exploitation abilities of the original metaheuristic, and good approximate solutions are obtained for real-world instances. Furthermore, inventory peaks are avoided according to the simulation results which validates the effectiveness of this mathematical model to facilitate an efficient JIT parts supply.

Research limitations/implications

This study is applicable only if the breakdown of transport devices is not considered. The current work has effectively facilitated the P2P JIT logistics scheduling in automotive assembly lines, and it could be modified to tackle similar distribution problems featuring time-varying demands.

Originality/value

Both limited vehicle capacities and no stock-outs constraints are considered, and the combined routing and loading problem is solved satisfactorily for an efficient JIT supply of material in automotive assembly lines.
A new method for automatic shaft-hole assembly of aircraft components
Authors: Jiang Junxia , Bian Chen , Ke Yinglin
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to design a new method to realize automatic assembly of aircraft components with large shafts such as canard and vertical tail. The assembly structure of component with large shaft and fuselage is a mating assembly structure, and it is a challenge to satisfy the precision and assembly requirement.

Design/methodology/approach

According to the assembly structure features and process requirements of an aircraft component with large shaft, the operating principle of precise assembly system for shaft-hole mating is analyzed in this paper. The model of compliant assembly for shaft-hole mating is constructed, and force condition analysis of the compliant assembly is performed. An automatic precise shaft-hole assembly method for aircraft assembly using 5 degrees of freedom spatial mechanism, compliance technology and servo feeding system is put forward based on the analysis. A 5 degrees of freedom passive compliant experimental equipment has been developed.

Findings

Application test results of the 5 degrees of freedom passive compliant experimental equipment show that the simulated canard can be mated automatically and accurately through this method with high efficiency and high quality as long as the tip of shaft enters into the range of hole’s chamfer.

Practical implications

This method has been used in an aircraft assembly project. The practical results show that the aircraft components with large shafts can be mated automatically and accurately through this method with high efficiency and high quality.

Originality/value

This paper presents a new method and designs a new assembly system to realize the assembly of the aircraft components with large shafts. The research will promote the automation of fuselage assembly.
The ad format-strategy effect on comparative advertising effectiveness
Authors: Kalro Arti D. , Sivakumaran Bharadhwaj , Marathe Rahul R.
Published: January 2017

Purpose

Extant research on comparative advertising has focused only on “market leader” comparisons (a brand targeting the market leader), whereas in the marketplace, “multi-brand” comparisons are more prevalent (Kalro et al., 2010). Moreover, most research focuses on direct comparisons only. Hence, this research aims to investigate the interplay between comparison ad strategy (“market leader”/“multi-brand” comparisons) and comparison ad format (direct/indirect comparisons) on the effectiveness of comparative advertising.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses four 2 × 2 fully crossed factorial designs (comparison ad format: direct vs indirect and comparison ad strategy: market leader vs multi brand) with established and new brands in two categories: powdered detergents and smart phones. All studies were conducted in metropolitan cities of India.

Findings

By and large, the experiments indicated that direct (indirect) comparisons lowered (heightened) perceived manipulative intent and enhanced (reduced) attitude-toward-the-ad for multi-brand (market leader) comparisons.

Practical implications

Findings suggest that when advertisers use comparative advertising, they may use direct ads when using multi-brand comparisons and use indirect ones when using market leader comparisons. It could also be argued that when advertisers use multi-brand comparisons because of fragmentation in the marketplace, they may directly compare against these multiple brands. When advertisers need to compare against a market leader, they may do so indirectly.

Originality/value

This research is among the first to investigate multi-brand comparisons that are widely used in the industry and that too in the context of both direct and indirect comparison formats.
The relative influence of advertising and word-of-mouth on viewing new season television programmes
Authors: Romaniuk Jenni , Hartnett Nicole
Published: January 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the relative influence of advertising and word of mouth (WOM) for new season TV programmes, both new and returning.

Design/methodology/approach

The study’s longitudinal research design tracks individuals before and after possible exposure to advertising and/or positive WOM (PWOM) to model the effects of both paid versus earned media on behaviour.

Findings

This study provides contrary evidence to previous research that suggests that WOM has more influence on consumers than advertising. By controlling for viewers’ benchmark probabilities of viewing the TV programme, the effect of receiving PWOM becomes insignificant, whereas the effect of TV advertising remains unchanged. Because WOM is commonly exchanged between people with shared interests, it reaches an audience that is already highly disposed to view the TV programme.

Research limitations/implications

The findings implicate that we need to reinvestigate the power of WOM to avoid misattribution of effects. This study is only study in one category, which means replication and extension to more categories are needed. The limitations of the study include the inability to control for creative differences in the execution of programme promotions or examine possible cross-media synergies for multimedia campaigns.

Practical implications

Findings have implications for how much to invest in WOM-generating activities. Findings also have wider implications for cross-media research and media-mix models, as different media may reach audiences with differing predispositions to act.

Originality/value

This is one of the rare individual-level, longitudinal studies that investigate the influence of WOM in comparison to advertising.
Gratitude mediates consumer responses to marketing communications
Authors: Bridger Emma K. , Wood Alex
Published: January 2017

Purpose

From Adam Smith onwards, gratitude has been held as invaluable to societal functioning in view of its role in helping individuals maintain their reciprocal obligations to one another. The purpose of the current research is to use current conceptions of gratitude derived from work in social psychology to test whether simple descriptions of hypothetical organisations could systematically differ in the extent to which they elicit gratitude, and subsequently, whether gratitude would mediate behavioural intentions towards these organisations.

Design/methodology/approach

In two studies, participants read vignettes describing hypothetical organisations that systematically differed in the extent to which the services they provided were costly to the organisation, of high value and provided out of a genuine desire to help. Perceptions of these dimensions, feelings of gratitude and behavioural intentions towards each organisation were subsequently measured.

Findings

The appraisal group manipulation significantly affected consumers’ behavioural intentions towards these businesses, and the majority of these relationships were mediated by feelings of gratitude towards the organisations.

Research limitations/implications

These data indicate that gratitude not only mediates customer responses to relationship marketing investments, but may also be integral in marketing communications’ role in converting non-customers to customers. They also indicate that marketing communications should stress that an organisations services are of high value, of cost to the organisation and provided out of a genuine desire to help.

Originality/value

This paper shows for the first time that the same cognitive appraisals that underpin feelings of interpersonal gratitude mediate responses to global evaluations of organisations. This considerably broadens the situations under which gratitude had previously been considered to operate and argues for the inclusion of gratitude in understanding how marketing communications and relationship management are used to influence consumer responses.
An empirical study on the impact of online word-of-mouth sources on retail sales
Authors: Hong Hong , Xu Di , Xu Dapeng , Wang G. Alan , Fan Weiguo
Published: January 2017

Purpose

This study aims to analyze the impact of the source of online word-of-mouth (WOM) on retail sales. Specifically, the authors focus on the relative impact of external and internal WOMs on book sales.

Design/methodology/approach

An empirical analysis is conducted with a panel data of sales and WOM for 87 books from Dangdang and Douban over a 14-day period based on two generalized least square regression models.

Findings

Results suggest that both internal WOM and external WOM have significant impact on product sales, and the impact of external WOM is relatively more significant.

Social implications

WOM, especially the external WOM, plays an important role in consumers’ online purchase decisions.

Originality/value

This study is helpful for retailers to better understand the factors influencing the sales and thereby forecast the future sales more precisely. Besides, the research conclusion could also enlighten related decision makers to constantly improve technical platforms.
Differentiating between pathological demand avoidance and antisocial personality disorder: a case study
Authors: Trundle Grace , Craig Leam A. , Stringer Ian
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the different clinical features of pathological demand avoidance (PDA) and antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) presented in the form of a single case study. The study highlights the potential of misdiagnosis and conceptual confusions to practitioners in forensic settings between the two conditions when working with offenders with personality disorders.

Design/methodology/approach

A case formulation using the “five Ps” method based on the personal history of an incarcerated male is presented and the clinical similarities and differences between PDA and ASPD are delineated. These differences and similarities are evaluated and applied to offender management including intervention options.

Findings

There are considerable similarities between ASPD and PDA making the two conditions difficult to separate. Both diagnostic criteria identify childhood behavioural problems, aggression, destructiveness, conduct disorder (CD), manipulation and non-compliance as indications of the disorder. For example, the criteria for later adult ASPD are the presence of childhood antisocial behaviour and CD. However, these behaviours may also be suggestive of the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and non-compliance that are part of PDA. Violent behaviours and aggression can also be perceived in a similar way. Misdiagnosis of PDA as ASPD reduces the efficiency of treatment programmes.

Originality/value

The implications of these findings could prove useful in the successful risk management of offenders with PDA. Given the similar behavioural characteristics between PDA and ASPD, the prevalence of PDA among offenders may be higher than observed. The aim of this study is to raise awareness of potential conceptual complications and clinical confusions between the two conditions with a view to aid offender management through case formulation. A large scale study into offenders with PDA would draw attention to the prevalence of the condition as well as its association with offending behaviour.
Why are customers loyal in sharing-economy services? A relational benefits perspective
Authors: Yang Shuai , Song Yiping , Chen Sixing , Xia Xin
Published: January 2017

Purpose

This study aims to provide a taxonomy of relational benefits that drive customer loyalty in sharing-economy services, assess the relative strengths of these relational benefits in influencing customer loyalty and examine whether commitment mediates the influence of relational benefits on customer loyalty in this context.

Design/methodology/approach

Relational benefits of sharing-economy services were explored through a focus group interview, followed by an online survey completed by 440 respondents in China. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

This study shows that confidence and social benefits have significant and positive effects on commitment in sharing-economy services. In addition, safety benefits, a new type of relational benefits, also significantly affect commitment in this context. Furthermore, the findings suggest that commitment acts as a mediator between confidence, social and safety benefits and customer loyalty. Special treatment benefits had no effect on commitment and loyalty in the sharing-economy context.

Practical implications

This paper provides sharing-economy service providers with insight on how to better create and sustain loyal relationships with customers through the provision of relational benefits.

Originality/value

This study offers initial insight into why customers would stay in peer-to-peer relationships in the sharing economy, and suggests how to strengthen relationships between customers and peer service providers.
“Running is my boyfriend”: consumers’ relationships with activities
Authors: Mickelsson Karl-Jacob
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The paper aims to introduce the idea that consumers have relationships with their own recurring activities. Instead of the usual notion of investigating the relationships between actors, or between actors and their possessions, the paper focuses on the relationship between an actor and a particular activity in which the actor regularly participates.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is conceptual and exploratory in nature. It discusses different perspectives of consumer activity in marketing and then introduces a relationship view of activity. The paper proceeds to outline the conceptual foundations of this view by applying relationship characteristics found in the literature. Quotes from runners’ blogs are used to illustrate the different identified relationship themes.

Findings

The paper argues that consumers can be seen as having long-term relationships with their activities, and it introduces the concept of the “activity relationship”. The paper proceeds to demonstrate how this concept differs from the previous conceptualization of consumer activity and relationships.

Research limitations/implications

The activity-relationship perspective on consumer behavior opens up new venues for marketing research. It also facilitates new types of marketing practice, whereby producers can focus on supporting their customers’ relationships with valuable activities.

Originality/value

The paper presents a novel perspective on relationships. It contributes to consumer research and the customer-dominant view of marketing, whereby the customer’s perspective is put in focus and businesses serve as ingredients in the customer’s own context.
Converting financial statements: operating to capitalised leases
Authors: Xu Wei , Davidson Robyn Alexandra , Cheong Chee Seng
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how capitalising operating leases under IFRS 16/AASB 16 affects the financial statements and value relevance of financial information. In doing so, limitations of exiting methods are highlighted and improved upon.

Design/methodology/approach

Imhoff et al.’s (1991) constructive method for capitalising operating leases is improved upon and used to restate the financial statements of 165 S&P/ASX200 companies. The financial position, key ratios and value relevance are tested for significant differences.

Findings

The results provide evidence that capitalising operating leases affects financial statements and value relevance.

Originality/value

Imhoff et al.’s (1991) constructive method has been refined, providing an improved method for capitalising operating leases than the one that has been used in the past. From a practical perspective, this research provides evidence supporting the “right-of-use” method proposed by the IASB which will see previous off-balance-sheet leases recognised.
Public goods, sustainable development and business accountability
Authors: Bardy Roland
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a linkage between performance measurement at the business level and the concept of public goods usage, and a linkage between the micro- and macro-economic aspects of sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

Exhibiting the essentials of a public goods cost perspective in order to initiate discussion between statisticians, standard setters for business reporting and practitioners.

Findings

Showing what has been achieved in measuring the outcomes of sustainable development efforts and what still needs to be done in order to arrive at aggregate values for national and global commons.

Research limitations/implications

Linking performance measurement at the business level to public goods usage will depend on the co-operation of businesses and national statistics which test the feasibility of monetary indicators for both the micro- and the macro-levels.

Practical implications

For practitioners in both the statistics profession and management accounting who are concerned with measurement of socioeconomic and environmental phenomena, this attempt at integrating sustainable development indicators and the managerial control system of companies might provide a valuable proposition. It is also a useful contribution to the ongoing debate of the value and credibility of sustainability reporting.

Social implications

If businesses make no attempts to exhibit numerically how they contribute to preserving and expanding the societal commons, they will be confronted with ever-growing agitation from pressure groups and they might be bypassed in the discussion on the issue of sustainability parameters that those groups are advocating.

Originality/value

This is the first academic paper that demonstrates a reporting model which unites business accounts and national accounts.
Parasites and a host's sense of smell: reduced chemosensory performance of fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) infected with a monogenean parasite
Authors: Lari Ebrahim , Goater Cameron P. , Cone David K. , Pyle Greg G.
Published: January 2017

Parasites residing within the central nervous system of their hosts have the potential to reduce various components of host performance, but such effects are rarely evaluated.

We assessed the olfactory acuity of fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) infected experimentally with the monogenean Dactylogyrus olfactorius, the adults of which live within the host's olfactory chambers.

Olfactory acuity was compared between infected and uninfected hosts by assessing electro‐olfactography (EOG) neural responses to chemical stimuli that indicate the presence of food (L‐alanine) or the presence of conspecifics (taurocholic acid). We also compared differences in gross morphology of the olfactory epithelium in infected and uninfected minnows.

Differences in EOG responses between infected and uninfected minnows to both cue types were non‐significant at 30 days post‐exposure. By days 60 and 90, coincident with a two times increase in parasite intensity in the olfactory chambers, the EOG responses of infected minnows were 70–90% lower than controls. When infected fish were treated with a parasiticide (Prazipro), olfactory acuity returned to control levels by day 7 post‐treatment.

The observed reduction in olfactory acuity is best explained by the reduced density of cilia covering the olfactory chambers of infected fish, or by the concomitant increase in the density of mucous cells that cover the olfactory chambers. These morphological changes are likely due to the direct effects of attachment and feeding by individual worms or by indirect effects associated with host responses. Our results show that infection of a commonly occurring monogenean in fathead minnows reduces olfactory acuity. Parasite‐induced interference with olfactory performance may reduce a fish's ability to detect, or respond to, chemical cues originating from food, predators, competitors or mates.
Joining revisited in family therapy: discourse analysis of cross‐cultural encounters between a therapist and an immigrant family
Authors: Lee Eunjung , Tsang A. Ka Tat , Bogo Marion , Wilson Gabrielle , Johnstone Marjorie , Herschman Jessica
Published: January 2017

With increasing diversity in therapeutic dyads, there has been renewed attention to the process of ‘joining’ in cross‐cultural encounters. Inspired by discourse analysis, we conducted a close reading of therapy transcripts between a Pakistani immigrant mother‐daughter dyad and a Canadian white female therapist in an outpatient clinic. Our findings illustrate detailed discursive interactions for joining techniques – selective joining, confirmation, and tracking – (1) where the therapist facilitates joining moments with the family and (2) where the same techniques are used to preclude further exploration of the family's cultural views. Consequently, the joining process is at times limited by the therapist's enactment of her own assumptions about the family's culture. Due to the doxic nature of cultural assumptions, a discursive analysis may help to prevent therapists from silencing their clients’ cultural voices and to be more reflexive of their assumptions, thus promoting joining.

Practitioner points

Joining in family therapy is a dynamic process

The detailed analysis of joining moments can serve as an example for training therapists to examine their moment‐to‐moment responses to culturally diverse clients

Therapeutic constructs/techniques (e.g. joining) cannot be decontextualized or conceptualized as apolitical and acultural

Critical reflexivity may prevent therapists from unknowingly oppressing culturally diverse clients’ experiences and cultural identities
Use of a postoperative pad test to identify continence status in women after obstetric vesicovaginal fistula repair: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Kopp DM , Bengtson AM , Tang JH , Chipungu E , Moyo M , Wilkinson J
Published: January 2017

Objective

Determine whether a 1‐hour pad test at discharge can identify continence status within 120 days of obstetric vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) repair.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

Fistula Care Centre in Lilongwe, Malawi.

Population

Women with VVF who underwent repair between January 2012 and December 2014.

Methods

Data on demographics, obstetric history, physical exam findings, operative management, postoperative findings, and follow up evaluations were collected on women with VVF repair.

Main outcome measures

Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV), and a receiver operating curve (ROC) were calculated to assess the utility of using a discharge pad test at three thresholds to identify women likely to be continent at follow up.

Results

After VVF repair, 346 women had a 1‐hour pad test performed at the time of hospital discharge and completed follow up within 120 days of repair. Of these, 79.8% (n = 276) were completely continent, whereas 20.2% (n = 70) had some degree of incontinence. The sensitivity and specificity of a negative 1‐hour pad test at predicting continence is 68.1% and 82.9%, respectively. With this prevalence, a negative pad test at a 1.5‐g threshold demonstrates a high predictive value (PPV = 94.0%, 95% CI 90.0–96.9) in detecting women with continence after repair.

Conclusions

At the 1.5‐g threshold, a negative pad test at discharge identifies 94% of women who will remain continent after VVF repair. Adding the pad test to fistula care can identify women who are likely to remain continent and may not need further therapies in settings where resources are limited and follow up after repair is difficult.

Tweetable abstract

A negative pad test after repair is associated with continued continence at follow up.
Psychometric characteristics of a sexuality education survey for teachers of secondary school students with learning disabilities in Malaysia
Authors: Ang Chai Tin , Lee Lay Wah
Published: January 2017

Delivery of sexuality education to secondary school students in Malaysia started since 1989. However, this area of education was neglected for secondary students with learning disabilities. Therefore, in order to explore their needs for sexuality education, society's perceptions especially teachers’ towards this matter should be considered. To achieve this objective, it is important to conduct a needs analysis on teachers’ perceptions towards this topic. An instrument with good psychometric properties is needed to obtain consistent and reliable information. This paper describes the development and psychometric testing of the Sexuality Education Survey for Teachers of Secondary School Students with Learning Disabilities (SES). SES showed acceptable content validity, construct validity, and achieved satisfactory reliability. The instrument also has good stability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.95) to be adopted as an instrument for analysing the health and sexuality education needs of secondary students with learning disabilities in Malaysia.
Glycidyl Fatty Acid Esters in Refined Edible Oils: A Review on Formation, Occurrence, Analysis, and Elimination Methods
Authors: Cheng Wei‐wei , Liu Guo‐qin , Wang Li‐qing , Liu Zeng‐she
Published: January 2017

Glycidyl fatty acid esters (GEs), one of the main contaminants in processed oils, are mainly formed during the deodorization step in the refining process of edible oils and therefore occur in almost all refined edible oils. GEs are potential carcinogens, due to the fact that they readily hydrolyze into the free form glycidol in the gastrointestinal tract, which has been found to induce tumors in various rat tissues. Furthermore, glycidol has already been identified as a “possible human carcinogen’’ (group 2A) by the Intl. Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Therefore, significant effort has been devoted to inhibit and eliminate the formation of GEs. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive summary on the following topics: (i) GE occurrence data for different edible oils and oil‐based food products, (ii) precursors of GEs, (iii) factors influencing the formation of GEs, (iv) potential reaction mechanisms involving the leaving group and reaction intermediates, and (v) analytical methods, including the indirect and direct methods. More importantly, the various elimination methods for GEs in refined edible oils are being reviewed with focus on 3 aspects: (i) inhibition and removal of reactants, (ii) modification of reactive conditions, and (iii) elimination of GE products.
Rapid Cell‐Based Assay for Detection and Quantification of Active Staphylococcal Enterotoxin Type D
Authors: Rasooly Reuven , Do Paula M. , Hernlem Bradley J.
Published: January 2017

Food poisoning by Staphylococcus aureus is a result of ingestion of Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) produced by this bacterium and is a major source of foodborne illness. Staphylococcal enterotoxin D (SED) is one of the predominant enterotoxins recovered in Staphylococcal food poisoning incidences, including a recent outbreak in Guam affecting 300 children. Current immunology methods for SED detection cannot distinguish between the biologically active form of the toxin, which poses a threat, from the inactive form, which poses no threat. In vivo bioassays that measure emetic activity in kitten and monkeys have been used, but these methods rely upon expensive procedures using live animals and raising ethical concerns. A rapid (5 h) quantitative bioluminescence assay, using a genetically engineered T‐cell Jurkat cell line expressing luciferase under regulation of nuclear factor of activated T cells response elements, in combination with the lymphoblastoid B‐cell line Raji for antigen presentation, was developed. In this assay, the detection limit of biologically active SED is 100 ng/mL, which is 10 times more sensitive than the splenocyte proliferation assay, and 105 times more sensitive than monkey or kitten bioassay. Pasteurization or repeated freeze–thaw cycles had no effect on SED activity, but reduction in SED activity was shown with heat treatment at 100°C for 5 min. It was also shown that milk exhibits a protective effect on SED. This bioluminescence assay may also be used to rapidly evaluate antibodies to SED for potential therapeutic application as a measurement of neutralizing biological effects of SED.
Life‐time history of insomnia and hypersomnia symptoms as correlates of alcohol, cocaine and heroin use and relapse among adults seeking substance use treatment in the United States from 1991 to 1994
Authors: Dolsen Emily A. , Harvey Allison G.
Published: January 2017

Aims

To examine the association between a life‐time history of insomnia and hypersomnia compared with no sleep disturbance and substance use patterns and amounts before and after a substance use treatment episode.

Design

Secondary analysis of data from the Drug Abuse Treatment Outcome Studies conducted from 1991 to 1994.

Setting

Data were collected at 96 substance use treatment programs in 11 United States cities, including short‐term in‐patient, long‐term residential, methadone maintenance and out‐patient drug‐free treatment modalities.

Participants

Study samples included 7168 adults at treatment entry and 2965 at 12 months post‐treatment entry whose primary substance use at entry was alcohol (14.7%), cocaine (62.7%) or heroin (22.6%).

Measurements

Life‐time history of insomnia and hypersomnia was assessed via self‐report. Type and frequency of substance use were assessed at treatment entry. Substance use was also assessed 12 months following treatment completion. Associations were examined using linear and logistic regression with age, sex, race, education level, depression history, treatment modality and in‐treatment substance use as covariates.

Findings

Life‐time history of insomnia, hypersomnia, both or neither was reported by 26.3, 9.5, 28.0 and 36.2% of participants, respectively. Compared with no sleep disturbance, life‐time insomnia and hypersomnia were associated at treatment entry with unique substance use patterns and a higher frequency of any substance use (P < 0.001). All types of sleep disturbance were associated with higher rates of cocaine use at 12‐month post‐entry (odds ratios: 1.30–1.57).

Conclusions

There is evidence of an adverse association between substance use and sleep disturbance including higher frequency of all substance use before substance abuse treatment and higher rates of cocaine use after a treatment episode.
The application of three‐dimensional printing technology in anaesthesia: a systematic review
Authors: Chao I. , Young J. , Coles‐Black J. , Chuen J. , Weinberg L. , Rachbuch C.
Published: January 2017

Three‐dimensional printing has rapidly become an easily accessible, innovative and versatile technology, with a vast range of applications across a wide range of industries. There has been a recent emergence in the scientific literature relating to its potential application across a multitude of fields within medicine and surgery; however, its use within anaesthesia has yet to be formally explored. We undertook a systematic review using MEDLINE and EMBASE databases of three‐dimensional printing in anaesthesia. We identified eight relevant articles. Due to the paucity of studies, we also completed a narrative review of the applications of three‐dimensional printing pertinent to anaesthetic practice that our department are currently exploring, and suggest potential future uses for this technology relevant to our speciality.