bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research Roundup: Reaching Out to Parents
Authors: Prendergast Tess , Diamant-Cohen Betsy , Goldsmith Annette Y.
Published: March 2019

Most parents will agree that parenting, while rewarding, is also a very difficult job. When we provide for families in our library spaces, we really need to “be there” for parents so they feel welcome bringing their children to the library. Smiling at everyone, adults and children, when they enter the children’s room, can go a long way towards making them feel comfortable.Also, parents are very sensitive to what they perceive as surveillance and judgment from other parents as well as library staff. A withering look or brisk admonishment from a staff person is all it takes for a frazzled parent to decide they are not welcome and they likely won’t be back. We need to ensure that we give parents consistently welcoming messages and encouragement, especially when we are addressing specific issues or problems with them. This column’s links are meant to help all children’s library staff members to develop in our roles as supportive resource people in all parents’ lives as they raise their children.
Os discursos do empreendedorismo na administração pública brasileira: análise crítica de uma experiência contemporânea
Authors: Valadares Josiel Lopes , Alcântara Valderí De Castro , Vilas Boas Ana Alice , Emmendoerfer Magnus Luiz
Published: March 2019

This research aims to analyze the elements of social practice within the incorporation discourse of entrepreneurship in the recent experience of the public sector in the State of Minas Gerais. Data were collected on bibliographic and documentary data, using the theoretical and methodological approach of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). As a result, the Management Shock appears an ideological element that legitimizes the culture of management in the public sector through the neoliberal hegemonic discourse. By using this strategy, the Public Administration becomes permeated by the market logic that transforms it into a competitive and results searching environment causing typical problems of the capitalist modus operandi. In this regard, the shock spreads the culture of management, naturalizing the values and practices of the business world and discursively legitimizes this model as a necessary and viable option (what is said), while erasing inconsistencies, limitations and ills of the process (silences). In this article these pathways are questioned and the importance of democratization processes lined by citizenship, participation and deliberation is emphasized.
Envolvimento e Percepção dos Consumidores em Relação a Marcas Reposicionadas
Authors: Szylit Flavia , Isabella Giuliana , Barros Lucia Salmonson Guimarães
Published: March 2019

This study was designed to identify the relationship between consumers’ involvement with a brand, their perception of its repositioning, and their consumption of the brand after repositioning. The object of study, the McDonald’s fast food chain, included healthy items on its menu as part of a bid to reposition its brand. Data were collected via online questionnaires, which were answered by 214 individuals. Data were analyzed using econometrics, resulting in the preparation of a simultaneous equation model with two regressions, whose dependent variables were perception and consumption. The results indicated that perception of brand repositioning depended positively on the consumers’ attitudes towards a balanced diet and how often they frequent McDonald’s, while there was a negative relationship with the consumers’ age, sex, education, and how important they felt the nutritional value of foods was. The results suggest that perception is influenced by personal stimuli and emotional involvement with the brand. However, adherence to the brand after repositioning was not found to be influenced by any kind of involvement, but by the consumers’ personal stimuli.
Maturidade da gestão do desempenho em uma agência reguladora federal
Authors: Coelho Junior Francisco Antonio , Meneses Pedro Paulo Murce , Silva-Filho Antônio Isidro da , Fonseca Diogo Ribeiro da
Published: March 2019

The present paper aims to describe the maturity level of institutional and individual performance management (PM) practices in a federal regulatory agency. Three Technical Groups (TGs) were formed with public servants from three different careers and an interview schedule was applied with questions concerning the PM maturity level in the organization. The answers were registered and thematic content analysis was applied as a mean to interpret data. The results identify performance management in a uncertainty, lack of standards and unsystematic level. Factors such as the role of leaderships, informal communication and the shared attitudes and perceptions towards the importance of the PM, have showed to be relevant for its maturation in organizational departments. Given the conclusions and variables identified in this study, we recommend the realization of a survey in the organization to measure attitudes towards performance management. We also recommend, in future research, the consideration of variables referring to the organizational structure, which may offer support to the comprehension of the maturity level as a contextual variable in the organization.
Oficinas de Elaboração de Currículo e Comportamento em Entrevista
Authors: Jager Márcia Elisa , Santos Anelise Schaurich dos , Oliveira Clarissa Tochetto de , Dias Ana Cristina Garcia
Published: March 2019

The aim of this study was to describe the experience of five workshops about curriculum preparation and behavior in interview done with college students from a public university. Proposed activities and participants' involvement in the discussion about the issue are described. Workshops aimed to offer information about how selection processes works and to explain the function of curriculum and interview during this process. Participants were 49 undergraduates and graduates students from different courses. They had questions about which information they should write on their curriculum and showed feelings of insecurity about taking part of admission interviews because of their previous bad experiences. Workshops were an opportunity for students understand the purpose of a selection processes and share their questions and experiences about this subject. This report may be useful to professionals that intend to do similar activities and can help students who seek this kind of information but do not find them.
Mapeamento da produção científica sobre incerteza ambiental em bases internacionais
Authors: Silveira-Martins Elvis , Rossetto Carlos Ricardo
Published: March 2019

The purpose of this article is to map the scientific literature on the topic environmental uncertainty in international databases ProQuest and EBSCO providing results on the state of the art of this subject and the characteristics of scientific papers published. The method used was bibliometrics, being investigated 97 items from a universe of 1.194. All of the works comprised the period from 1975 to 2010. The results suggest that: a) during the period examined different social networks of researchers and institutions were formed to study this issue, b) the work of Duncan (1972), although it’s been nearly four decades of its publication, it continues to influence the formulation variables for the measurement of environmental uncertainty, and c) the research on environmental uncertainty has received over the years other terminologies and methodologies. It was observed that the studies were applied in various business segments, always aiming to minimize the environmental turbulence and thereby maximizing organizational results. This research also revealed that the way to measure them cannot be normalized, since each segment is facing a different environment several variables (customers, suppliers, competitors, society, politics, government actions, among others).
Desempenho empresarial em setores concentrados: estudo comparativo nas salinas do estado do Rio Grande do Norte
Authors: Valdevino Rosângela Queiroz Souza , Moura Heber José de , Matos Fátima Regina Ney
Published: March 2019

In the current competitive environment, administrative and financial follow-ups are essential for establishing the necessary requirements for efficient decision making. Thus, the objective of this study was to compare the business performance of the salaried sector of Rio Grande do Norte in the period of 2010/2011, with mining and hospital services sectors that also present a high degree of concentration, according to classification based on the Concentration Ratio (CR) and Herfindahl-Hirschman (HH).The research was of quantitative nature applied in 33 saline companies of Rio Grande do Norte. For the treatment of the data, the multivariate cluster analysis technique was performed. Regarding the results, it was possible to identify that the saline sector was not net of 11,11%. It can be concluded that, due to the inelasticity of the saline sector, it has shown growth in the State.
Programas de benefícios sociais para profissionais brasileiros como forma de reter talentos: um estudo exploratório
Authors: Claro José Alberto Carvalho dos Santos , Profeta Rogério Augusto
Published: March 2019

Had as objective to study what kinds of social benefits (BS) are available to professionals in Brazil and in which sectors of economic activity. Literature 35 BS types were identified. Data were collected by mail with the 4560 professional on LinkedIn and supplemented by snowball technique. 1781 responses were received and conducted a descriptive analysis. It was found ten BS are the most recurrent in the organizations studied (present in more than 50%) and seven other BS are among the least offered (present in less than 15%). It was concluded that the supply of BS prevails in five sectors of economic activity.
Resistir ou cooperar? Analisando os fatores que influenciam as reações individuais à mudança organizacional
Authors: Marques Antônio Luiz , Borges Renata Simões Guimarães e , Almada Lívia
Published: March 2019

The aim of this research is to identify how individual and organizational variables affect workers’ reaction to resist or cooperate with organizational change. In order to test the research hypotheses, we investigated the implementation of the individual evaluation assessment of the Minas Gerais state employees, employing a survey in 679 public employees from the State Secretaries of Educations, Health, and Planning. The results indicate that the level of resistance to change is influenced largely by the difficulties in recognizing the organizational change process, followed by the teamwork influence, and the level of the perceived threat to social environment. Lastly, the organizational factors, such as previous unsuccessful changes and lack of organizational consistency, seem to exert less influence on the individual decision to resist. The major contribution of this research to the academy and organizations is to allow the identification of the main sources of resistance to change and the cooperation to change. Therefore, it may be possible to enhance the organizational change process at the public sector in order to meet public employees´ expectations and, ultimately, offer empirical support to public administration try to improve the quality of services to the population.
About social innovation: epistemological, technical, theoretical and methodological considerations on the academic production from 2008 to 2012
Authors: Menelau Sueli , Adaid-Castro Breno Giovanni
Published: March 2019

The present work aimed to delimit the concept of social innovation in its epistemological aspects, theoretical, technical and morphological to support studies on innovations that seek social results. The review of the production, from January/2008 to January/2013, it’s noted that the theme has been studied thought different biases in the Business Administration area, which is mostly defined by the Quadrupole analysis of Social Innovation. Findings indicates that the result of actions of organizations and persons being it to solve a problem, develop a new economic or social benefit is the current definition of Social Innovation. This understanding acted as a stimulus to propose a research agenda to build and develop a more consistent understanding of the concept of Social Innovation and determine whether the creation and dissemination of Social Innovation has a relation with the creation of risk and more perceived social value.
Níveis de Gastos e Eficiência Pública em Educação: Um Estudo de Municípios Paulistas Utilizando Análise Envoltória de Dados
Authors: Matias Alberto Borges , Quaglio Gislaine De Miranda , Oliveira Bruno Garcia de , Lima João Paulo Resende de , Bertolin Renan Vilela
Published: March 2019

The quality of education offered by the public sector is important for impact in the formation of the citizen and the generation of human capital. In this context, studying the level of public spending and management efficiency allows us to identify best practices, and strengthen the assessment of the public sector as a mechanism of social control and effectiveness of the state. This article aims to assess the level of municipal spending on education in relation to efficiency in the promotion of basic education quality. 47 counties, with the use of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) in a model using three inputs and six outputs for the years 2007, 2009 and 2011 were analyzed. The results indicate an increase in total spending on education, however, the greater allocation of resources did not provide better results, since the application was inefficient.
Paixão pela arte ou arte pela paixão? Etnografando práticas e emoções no processo organizativo de um circo no Canadá
Authors: Oliveira Josiane Silva de , Cavedon Neusa Rolita
Published: March 2019

The objective of this paper is to understand how relationships between practices and emotions configure the organizational process of a circus, located in Montréal, Canada. We conduct a theoretical approach between the concepts of practices of the Michel de Certeau and organizational processes of Theodore Schatzki, discussing a policy approach to everyday life in organizations. We combine these discussions to debates about the political effects of emotions in social life. From an ethnographic study, we propose that the practices are built on the emotional politics of everyday life resulting in the production of social spaces hybrid in mobile organizational processes, such as the circus. Thus, it is possible to understand how organizational processes circus in the relationship between the practices that produce mobility and emotions which shape the social space, the result of a political struggle in the artistic field, showing the “passion for art” as a dimension of life collective of artists that organizes different practices in recognition of the circus as art in Canada.
Aprendizagem organizacional e motivação humana: uma relação sistemicamente representada
Authors: Garrido Giovanna , Mendonça Adriana Vazzoler , Silveira Marco Antonio
Published: March 2019

This study aims to attribute a subjective focus on the analysis about the organizational learning, aiming to explore the main causal relations between learning and motivation in the organizational context. Classified as bibliographic research, both psychological and sociological, this study was based, mainly, in references available in Proquest and Scielo bases. The solidity of the debate was guaranteed by the anchoring of the study to two argumentative bases that, by the proposed analytical subjectivity, were considered influential in the process that was approached: the human essence and the hidden meaning of the work. Based on the consideration of both bases and on the adopted methodology, a map systemic was built including the main variables that surround the relation between learning and motivation phenomena, denoting the nature of this relation and the way as, related, impact on job productivity and on organizational performance. The built map was judged pertinent for enabling a better interpretation of the causal relations and of the reciprocal influences, direct or inversely proportional, between the variables of interest, subsidizing decisions and serving of orientation to managers involved on organizational process.
Educação para sustentabilidade (EpS) e teorias de aprendizagem: um estudo bibliométrico dos últimos 10 anos
Authors: Trindade Nathália Rigui , Marques Carolina Sampaio , Piveta Maíra Nunes , Favarin Rodrigo Reis , Telocken Suelen Geíse , Trevisan Marcelo
Published: March 2019

A powerful tool for social change and transformation for sustainable future has been considered Education for Sustainability (EpS). Thus, in order for the expected results and objectives of EpS to be achieved, new pedagogical proposals are necessary, behavioral change and attitudes must be attained from pedagogical approaches that focus on the criticality of students. For this to be possible, EpS finds opportunities in theories of learning of constructivist epistemology, such as: Theory of Experiential Learning, Transforming Learning, Liberating Learning and Social Learning. Therefore, the objective of this study is to identify and analyze the characteristics of scientific publications on the subject of education for sustainability linked to theories of Experiential, Transformative, Liberating and Social learning. The operationalization of the survey took place through a bibliometric study, which has been searched in the Web of Science and Scopus in the last ten years, as well as in the annals of ANPAD events. The results show that these are themes that are evident in recent years, and that the theory of social learning is the one that is most consolidated in the literature when it comes to education for sustainability.
Contabilidade e sustentabilidade nos Enanpads: 2010-2016
Authors: Momo Fernanda Da Silva , Araujo Marcos Vinícius , Behr Ariel
Published: March 2019

Based on environmental concerns, has emerged at United Nations Organizations a Committee to discuss sustainability and sustainable development, from which emerged several other research, reports and materials for academic and public policy use. In this sense, the theme became important and studied in several areas, such as Accounting and Administration, winning thematic sessions at events such as EnANPAD - Meeting of the National Association of Management Research - the largest Brazilian event in the area. Considering this gain of importance, this paper aims to analyze the articles published in the line Accounting and Sustainability from 2010 to 2016. For this, all articles were collected for a quantitative analysis, based on a frequency analysis, using the NVivo® software. The results show the most common words and themes in titles, abstracts. From the results, it is possible to conclude that there is a diversity of approaches given to this theme, but it is noticed that the publications have a focus on issues of measurement and disclosure of actions related to sustainability. Thus, within the accounting approach, sustainability is related to thinking about the future of the organization and its image, that is, the dissemination of its results.
Práticas do disclosure voluntário socioambiental em cooperativas agropecuárias brasileiras
Authors: Santana Lorenna Gabriella Novaes , Santos Jose Alexandre dos , Martinez Marta Pagán , Moura-Leite Rosamaria Cox
Published: March 2019

The objective of this article is to describe the voluntary disclosure of socio-environmental practices in Brazilian agricultural cooperatives. In order to reach the outlined objective, we analysed the annual reports on the websites of a non-probabilistic sample of the largest Brazilian agricultural cooperatives, referring to the period of 2015. For data analysis, the averages by subcategory and three indices of disclosure rate were used: Disclosure Index (DI), Business Disclosure Index (SDI) and General Business Disclosure Index (IGDE), General Index of Social Disclosure (IGDs). In addition, a fifth disclosure index was developed: the General Index of Environmental Disclosure (IGDa). The results obtained allow us to affirm that there is more disclosure of social information than environmental information, especially in relation to employees, concerns with the community and education, and that there is still a long way to go regarding good socio-environmental voluntary disclosure of agricultural and livestock cooperatives.
Relação entre maturidade em inovação sustentável e o desempenho empresarial
Authors: Bacinello Edilson , Tontini Gerson
Published: March 2019

Sustainable Innovation (SI) combines the creation of economic, ecological and social value, having a strong connection with the dimensions of the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) in the long-term perspective. Innovating, according to these dimensions, requires the development of new instruments, as can be verified in the models of Maturity in Sustainable Innovation (MSI), to understand the construction of a certain competence and evolution of companies in a given area. In this context, this study sought to verify the relationship between MSI and the Financial and Market Performance (FMP) of companies. The quantitative research was based on the Modeling of Structural Equations (MSE) by means of software Smart PLS. The results point out the existence of a relationship between MSI and FMP, which can be explained, in part, by strategies related to the use of resources and capacities to generate competitive advantage for companies. It was also verified that theoretical discussion about innovation with a focus on sustainability remains unfinished and that both resources and organizational capacities, compete to explain the relationship between SIs and business performance (BP).
Os Impactos Financeiros decorrentes da Redução do Número de Alunos por Turma: o caso português
Authors: Mucharreira Pedro Ribeiro , Cabrito Belmiro Gil , Capucha Luís
Published: March 2019

O presente artigo pretende promover a reflexão em torno dos benefícios decorrentes da diminuição do número de alunos por turma procurando, neste sentido, demonstrar que as despesas daqui resultantes são habitualmente sobrevalorizadas ao serem determinadas em função dos custos brutos de um trabalhador para o Estado e não tendo em conta os custos líquidos correspondentes. Para este exercício académico levou-se em linha de conta o caso português e os custos de um professor para o sistema público de ensino em Portugal. Tendo presente um percurso metodológico destinado a estimar não apenas os custos brutos, mas, igualmente, os custos líquidos da contratação de um docente a preços de referência de 2015/2016, e cruzando esse custo com as projeções de turmas a criar no sistema educativo português, no ano letivo de 2017/2018, a partir de um cenário de redução do número máximo de alunos por turma, estimou-se que os custos líquidos desta medida se irão situar na ordem dos 20 milhões de euros, um valor significativamente inferior aos que habitualmente são assumidos pelos decisores políticos e considerados no debate científico sobre essa medida de política educativa. Com este trabalho pretende-se contribuir para uma melhor reflexão sobre esta temática, sensibilizando diferentes atores educativos para uma aproximação mais fina à relação entre custos e benefícios diretos e indiretos que podem resultar de uma política de redução do número de alunos por turma.
Manifestações do “quase-mercado” nas avaliações externas e em larga escala
Authors: Perboni Fabio , Militão Andréia Nunes , Di Giorgi Cristiano Amaral Garboggini
Published: March 2019

O artigo em tela parte de pesquisa empírica sobre a implementação das avaliações externas e em larga estaca nas redes de educação básica dos estados brasileiros. Ancorada em abordagem qualitativa, a pesquisa analisa documentos produzidos no âmbito dos 26 estados brasileiros e Distrito Federal. Este trabalho problematiza a formulação das avaliações externas e em larga escala na redes estaduais de educação básica no período de 2003 a 2014. A análise dos dados permite indiciar a existência de um mercado ou quase-mercado das avaliações, notadamente marcados nos diferentes processos envolvidos nas avaliações. Configura-se, portanto, uma das características marcantes das políticas educacionais nas últimas décadas que combinam ao mesmo tempo, maior controle do Estado sobre as políticas educacionais e a presença crescente da lógica de mercado e de agentes privados na organização dessas mesmas políticas. Depreende-se, assim, que empresas e fundações são responsáveis pela operacionalização das avaliações nos sistemas estaduais, constituindo um mercado das avaliações, seja no âmbito do controle dos processos que adquire uma lógica privada, seja no controle da expertise para implementação das avaliações que também estão fora do controle da gestão dos sistemas de ensino.
Escolarização indígena Mebengokre Kayapó Gorotire
Authors: Feitosa Leni Barbosa , Vizolli Idemar
Published: March 2019

O presente artigo resulta da pesquisa que trata da educação escolar indígena com objetivo de deslindar o processo de escolarização dos Mẽbêngôkre Gorotire, comunidade indígena localizada no município de Cumaru do Norte, sul do estado do Pará, à luz da História Oral Temática, com 14 participantes, sendo 9 Mẽbêngôkre e 5 não indígenas, e análise documental constituída no âmbito municipal e estadual. A escolarização dos Mẽbêngôkre  Gorotire é recente, principiada em 1973, pela Missão Evangélica do Brasil e operacionalizada por vários agentes sociais, Fundação Nacional do Índio, Summer Institute of Linguistics, garimpeiros, madeireiros, Associação Floresta Protegida e os próprios Gorotire, sendo atualmente gerenciada técnica, administrativa e pedagogicamente pela Prefeitura Municipal de Cumaru do Norte-PA, por meio da Secretaria Municipal de Educação e Secretaria Estadual de Educação do Pará. O processo escolar dessa comunidade indígena se apresenta em contextos educacionais contemporâneos, todavia com vivências que a alicerçaram por muitos anos numa perspectiva instrutiva integracionista e que a pouco tempo andarilha no vislumbre de concebê-la no âmago da autonomia e reafirmação de sua identidade, sobretudo por meio de ressignificações estabelecidas pelos próprios Gorotire.
interlab: A Python Module for Analyzing Interlaboratory Comparison Data
Authors: Sheen David A.
Published: March 2019

interlab was developed as a software tool to perform consensus analysis on
spectral data from interlaboratory studies. It is designed to estimate the spread in
the spectral data and to identify possible outliers among both spectral populations
and facilities in the study. Use of this code allows researchers to identify
laboratories producing data closest to the consensus values, thereby ensuring that
untargeted studies are using the most precise data available to them. The software
was originally developed for analyzing NMR data but can be applied to any array
data, including Raman or FTIR spectroscopy and GC-MS or LC-MS.
J’ai l’impression que: Lexical Bundles in the Dialogues of Beginner French Textbooks
Authors: Vandeweerd Nathan , Keijzer Merel
Published: March 2019

Formulaic language is notoriously difficult for second language learners of French to master (Edmonds, 2014; Forsberg, 2010). Yet, no study has examined formulaic language in French textbooks despite the fact that in many contexts, textbooks represent a significant proportion of the input that learners receive. The current study addresses this gap. Using a distributional approach (as used in Biber, Conrad, & Cortes, 2004), four-word lexical bundles were extracted from an oral corpus of French. The average number of lexical bundles in oral corpus utterances was compared to the average number of bundles in a corpus of A1-B1 level textbook dialogues. An independent samples t test showed that the average number of lexical bundles per 100,000 words was significantly higher in texts from the oral corpus than the textbook corpus. The average number of stance and referential lexical bundles was also revealed to be higher in the oral corpus. Implications for textbook design are discussed, such as increasing the amount of formulaic language in A2 level textbooks and incorporating more authentic language into textbooks.
Application of cell-free DNA sequencing in characterization of bloodborne microbes and the study of microbe-disease interactions
Authors: Chiu Kuo-Ping , Yu Alice L.
Published: March 2019

Background. It is an important issue whether and how microorganisms can live harmoniously withnormal cells in the circulatory system. Answers to these issues will have enormous impact on medical microbiology. To address these issues, it is essential to identify and characterize the blood-borne microbes in an efficient and comprehensive manner.

Methodology. Traditional approaches using PCR or microarray are not suitable for the purpose due to the complexity and composition of large amount of unknown microbial species in the circulatory system. Recent reports indicated that cell-free DNA (cfDNA) sequencing using advanced sequencing technologies, including next-generation sequencing (NGS) and single-molecule sequencing (SMS) together with associated bioinformatics approaches, possess a strong potential enabling us to address these issues at the molecular level.

Results. Multiple studies using microbial cfDNA sequencing to identify microbes for septic patients have shown strong agreement with cell culture. Similar approaches have also been applied to reveal previously unidentified microorganisms or to demonstrate the feasibility of comprehensive assessment of bloodborne microorganisms for healthy and/or diseased individuals. Single-molecule sequencing (SMS) using either SMRT (single-molecule real-time) sequencing or Nanopore sequencing are providing new momentum to reinforce this line of investigations.

Conclusions. Microbial cfDNA sequencing provides a novel opportunity allowing us to further understand the involvement of blood-borne microbes in development of diseases. Similar approaches should also be applicable to the study of metagenomics for sufficient and comprehensive analysis of microbial species isolated from various environments. This article reviews this line of research and discuss the methodological approaches that have been developed, or are likely to be developed in the future, which may have strong potential to facilitate cfDNA- and cfRNA-based studies of cancer and chronic diseases, in the hope that a better understanding of the hidden microbes in the circulatory system would improve the accuracy of diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of problematic diseases.
Transcriptional control by premature termination: a forgotten mechanism
Authors: Kamieniarz-Gdula Kinga , Proudfoot Nicholas
Published: March 2019

The concept of premature termination as an important means of transcriptional control is long established. Even so, its role in metazoan gene expression is underappreciated. Recent technological advances provide novel insights into premature transcription termination (PTT). PTT is very frequent and wide-spread, being either TSS-associated or intragenic. Stable prematurely terminated transcripts contribute to the transcriptome as instances of alternative polyadenylation. Independently of the transcript stability and function, PTT opposes the formation of full-length transcript thereby negatively regulating gene expression. In particular, the expression of many transcriptional regulators is controlled by PTT. PTT can be beneficial or harmful, depending on context. As a result multiple factors have evolved which control this process.
Multiple decay events target HAC1 mRNA during splicing to regulate the unfolded protein response
Authors: Cherry Patrick D , Peach Sally E , Hesselberth Jay R
Published: March 2019

In the unfolded protein response (UPR), stress in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) activates a large transcriptional program to increase ER folding capacity. During the budding yeast UPR, Ire1 excises an intron from the HAC1 mRNA and the exon products of cleavage are ligated, and the translated protein induces hundreds of stress-response genes. Using cells with mutations in RNA repair and decay enzymes, we show that phosphorylation of two different HAC1 splicing intermediates is required for their degradation by the 5′→3′ exonuclease Xrn1 to enact opposing effects on the UPR. We also found that ligated but 2′-phosphorylated HAC1 mRNA is cleaved, yielding a decay intermediate with both 5′- and 2′-phosphates at its 5′-end that inhibit 5′→3′ decay and suggesting that Ire1 degrades incompletely processed HAC1. These decay events expand the scope of RNA-based regulation in the budding yeast UPR and have implications for the control of the metazoan UPR.
Predicting electrocardiogram interpretation performance in Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support simulation: comparing knowledge tests and simulation performance among Mexican medical students
Authors: Smith Michael William , Abarca Rondero David
Published: March 2019

Background

Simulation plays a key role in assessing performance in Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS). Traditional knowledge tests are also important for assessing the cognitive elements of ACLS performance. However, the association between the two has not been established. In this study, we focus on one important element in ACLS—interpretation of electrocardiograms (ECG)—and the potential of knowledge tests to serve as predictors of improvement in ACLS performance.

Methods

We looked at the correlation between Mexican medical students’ improvement in ECG interpretation performance in ACLS megacode simulations (from the start of the semester to the end of the semester), and their scores on ECG interpretation knowledge tests.

Results

We found significant improvement in ECG interpretation in ACLS megacode simulation (from pre-semester to post-semester), but this was not predicted by the ECG interpretation knowledge test scores. The correlation was .079 (p = 0.66).

Conclusions

These results suggest that even cognitive tasks such as ECG interpretation can be expressed and assessed differently in simulation versus traditional knowledge testing.
N
atranaerobiaceae
Authors: Mesbah Noha M.
Published: March 2019

Natranaerobiaceae
(Natr.an.ae.ro.bi.a.ce'ae. N.L. masc. n.
Natranaerobius
type genus of the family; ‐
aceae
ending to denote a family; N.L. fem. pl. n.
Natranaerobiaceae
the
Natranaerobius
family).

Firmicutes / Clostridia / Natranaerobiales / Natranaerobiaceae

The family
Natranaerobiaceae
consists of obligately anaerobic, rod‐shaped cells. Cells stain Gram‐positive and have a Gram‐type‐positive cell wall. They are obligate alkaliphiles, with optimal growth at pH 9–10 and no growth below pH 8. They are halophilic, with optimal growth at [Na
+
] 0.9–3.9 M. Species are obligately natronophilic, they cannot grow without added sodium carbonate/bicarbonate. They are thermotolerant, with optimal growth over 40–53°C. A single species forms clostridial type endospores. Members of the
Natranaerobiaceae
are chemoorganotrophic and grow fermentatively. Carbohydrates and yeast extract are fermented to acetate, lactate, and formate. Nitrate can be used as an electron acceptor; some species can reduce thiosulfate. The family currently consists of three genera,
Natranaerobius, Natronovirga
, and
Natranaerobaculum
.

DNA G + C content (mol%)
: 36.5–41.7.

Type genus
:
Natranaerobius
Mesbah, Hedrick, Peacock, Rohde and Wiegel 2007, 2511
VP
.
T
epidisphaera
Authors: Kovaleva O.L. , Elcheninov A.G. , Kublanov I.V. , Bonch‐Osmolovskaya Elizaveta
Published: March 2019

Te.pi.di.sphae'ra. L. masc. adj.
tepidus,
lukewarm; L. fem. n.
sphaera,
a sphere; N.L. fem. n.
Tepidisphaera,
a warm sphere, spherical bacterium growing at moderately high temperature.

Planctomycetes / Phycisphaerae / Tepidisphaerales / Tepidisphaeraceae / Tepidisphaera

Bacteria of the genus
Tepidisphaera
are moderately thermophilic, facultatively aerobic cocci, occurring as single cells or shapeless aggregates. Some cells are motile by means of a single flagellum. Invaginations of a cytoplasmic membrane are not observed. Cells divide by binary fission. Neutrophilic. Grow heterotrophically on a wide range of mono‐, di‐, and polysaccharides. Facultative aerobes capable of fermentative growth on carbohydrates with acetate and propionate as the only detectable products. Do not require electron acceptors (sodium nitrate, sodium nitrite, sodium sulfate, elemental sulfur, or sodium fumarate) and NaCl for growth. Major fatty acids are iso‐C
16:0
, anteiso‐C
15:0
, anteiso‐C
17:0
, and one unidentified fatty acid (ECL = 16.39), while the predominant quinone is MK‐6. The only described species of the genus is
Tepidisphaera mucosa
, which is represented by three strains isolated from various terrestrial hot springs.

DNA G + C content (mol%)
: 53.0 mol% (genome sequence).

Type species
:
Tepidisphaera mucosa
Kovaleva, Merkel, Novikov, Baslerov, Toshchakov and Bonch‐Osmolovskaya 2015, 553
VP
.
Redox‐Active Inorganic Materials for Redox Flow Batteries
Authors: Hu Bo , Luo Jian , DeBruler Camden , Hu Maowei , Wu Wenda , Liu T. Leo
Published: March 2019

Continuous growth in utilization of renewable but intermittent energy such as solar and wind will accelerate the demand for grid‐scale energy storage systems. Redox flow batteries (RFBs) have been intensively studied for large‐scale energy storage (MW/MWh), which is particularly attractive when integrated with renewable energy sources. In past decades, extensive efforts have been made to improve electrochemical performance of the RFBs by exploring various active materials, from inorganic redox‐active materials to organic redox‐active molecules. Compared to burgeoning organic RFBs, inorganic RFBs have received extensive research and development in the last several decades. A great deal of efforts has been exerted to commercialize several inorganic RFB systems such as all‐vanadium RFBs and zinc–bromine RFBs. In this article, inorganic redox‐active materials (e.g., metal salts, halides, polysulfides, polyoxometalate (POM), etc.) applied in RFBs are reviewed with a primary focus on their most recent technological advances in aqueous inorganic RFBs. The advantages and limitations of different inorganic RFBs are discussed. Further technological challenges and perspective on inorganic RFBs are also highlighted.
Na‐Ion
Batteries: Positive Electrode Materials
Authors: Driscoll Elizabeth H. , Driscoll Laura L. , Slater Peter R.
Published: March 2019

The growing desire for large‐scale stationary electrical power storage is driving research interest into Na‐ion batteries, due to the greater abundance and lower cost of Na versus Li. This article focuses on advances achieved in the development of positive electrode (cathode) materials for such batteries. As for Li‐ion batteries, layered transition metal oxide systems have traditionally dominated the research in this area, although following the development of LiFePO
4
for Li‐ion batteries, there has been considerable interest in Na transition metal phosphate/sulfate/silicate systems among other materials.
Modeling Solid State Batteries
Authors: Wan Ting Hei , Lu Ziheng , Ciucci Francesco
Published: March 2019

Solid‐state batteries (SSBs) have gained lots of attention recently due to its availability to work with Li metal anode and the safety concerns arisen from conventional lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). However, solid electrolyte that possesses high ionic conductivity and acceptable electrochemical stability against high potential difference is still under investigation. Also the interfacial resistance at the electrode|electrolyte interface may be significant due to the space charge layer formation, phase and mechanical instability. To address these problems, one needs a thorough understanding on the physics and electrochemistry of the SSB system, which can be acquired from both atomistic and continuum simulations. In this article, we review the theoretical framework for both atomistic and continuum modeling of SSBs. Also, we elucidate the usage of modeling for understanding various physical phenomena and illustrate how these understanding can lead to new SSB designs with better performance.
Facile Room‐Temperature Anion Exchange Reactions of Inorganic Perovskite Quantum Dots Enabled by a Modular Microfluidic Platform
Authors: Abdel‐Latif Kameel , Epps Robert W. , Kerr Corwin B. , Papa Christopher M. , Castellano Felix N. , Abolhasani Milad
Published: March 2019

In an effort to produce the materials of next‐generation photoelectronic devices, postsynthesis halide exchange reactions of perovskite quantum dots are explored to achieve enhanced bandgap tunability. However, comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted halide exchange reactions is inhibited by their vast relevant parameter space and complex reaction network. In this work, a facile room‐temperature strategy is presented for rapid halide exchange of inorganic perovskite quantum dots. A comprehensive understanding of the halide exchange reactions is provided by isolating reaction kinetics from precursor mixing rates utilizing a modular microfluidic platform, Quantum Dot Exchanger (QDExer). The effects of ligand composition and halide salt source on the rate and extent of the halide exchange reactions are illustrated. This fluidic platform offers a unique time‐ and material‐efficient approach for studies of solution phase‐processed colloidal nanocrystals beyond those studied here and may accelerate the discovery and optimization of next‐generation materials for energy technologies.
Photonic Microcapsules Containing Single‐Crystal Colloidal Arrays with Optical Anisotropy
Authors: Choi Tae Min , Lee Gun Ho , Kim Young‐Seok , Park Jin‐Gyu , Hwang Hyerim , Kim Shin‐Hyun
Published: March 2019

Colloidal particles with a repulsive interparticle potential spontaneously form crystalline lattices, which are used as a motif for photonic materials. It is difficult to predict the crystal arrangement in spherical volume as lattices are incompatible with a spherical surface. Here, the optimum arrangement of charged colloids is experimentally investigated by encapsulating them in double‐emulsion drops. Under conditions of strong interparticle repulsion, the colloidal crystal rapidly grows from the surface toward the center of the microcapsule, forming an onion‐like arrangement. By contrast, for weak repulsion, crystallites slowly grow and fuse through rearrangement to form a single‐crystal phase. Single‐crystal structure is energetically favorable even for strong repulsion. Nevertheless, a high energy barrier to colloidal rearrangement kinetically arrests the onion‐like structure formed by heterogeneous nucleation. Unlike the isotropic onion‐shaped product, the anisotropic single‐crystal‐containing microcapsules selectively display—at certain orientations but not others—one of the distinct colors from the various crystal planes.
Assembly of the Actin Catalyst WASP by Giant SALR Cluster Formation
Authors: Sweatman Martin B. , Insall Robert
Published: March 2019

Some structures in living cells behave like organelles, but lack individual membranes. The mechanisms that produce such "membraneless organelles" are not understood, but are commonly thought to involve the formation of separate phases via liquid–liquid phase separation. Here, an alternative mechanism is investigated involving short‐range attraction, long‐range repulsion (SALR) fluids, applied at model biological membrane–cytoplasm interfaces. Using Monte Carlo simulations, it is found that giant SALR clusters can form at the membrane surface even when they are unstable in the bulk, for suitably chosen model parameters. It is also found that the formation and location of giant SALR clusters at the interface can be controlled by a third protein species confined to the membrane surface. This behavior mimics that of WASP puncta at the cell membrane, thought to involve WASP and Nck protein aggregates controlled by clathrin. The SALR mechanism is thus a good model for this system, and for membraneless organelles more generally.
Simulation Study of Nanoparticle–Polymer Organic Suspension Stability
Authors: Lu Kathy , Gervasio Michelle
Published: March 2019

This study uses a Monte Carlo simulation method to evaluate the agglomeration behaviors of different ZnO nanoparticle and polymethacrylate hybrid suspensions in an organic solvent. Interaction energies are primarily from the steric layer on the particle surfaces. The effects of nanoparticle size, steric layer thickness, particle content, and total solids loading are evaluated based on the average agglomerate size and agglomeration rate. Smaller particle, thicker steric layer, lower particle content, and higher solids loading are desirable factors to stabilize a suspension. Agglomerate size and agglomeration rate increase continuously with increasing particle content in the hybrids from 1 to 50 vol%. A drastic transition from an unstable suspension to a stable suspension occurs when the total solids loading of the suspension increases to greater than 10 vol%. This work provides important guidance for co‐dispersing nanoparticles and dissolved polymer chains in organic solvents.
Computational Modeling of Nanoparticle Coalescence
Authors: Grammatikopoulos Panagiotis , Sowwan Mukhles , Kioseoglou Joseph
Published: March 2019

The coalescence of nanoclusters fabricated in the gas phase is a fundamental growth mechanism determining cluster shapes, sizes, compositions, and structures, with resultant effects on practically all of their physical and chemical properties. Furthermore, coalescence can affect properties of larger structures that consist of nanoparticles as their elementary building blocks, such as the fractal dimension of cluster aggregates and the porosity and conductance of thin films. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that a great body of research, both experimental and theoretical, has focused on nanoparticle coalescence over the course of the past few decades. This review attempts to summarize the most important recent results from computational studies on nanoparticle coalescence and draw parallels between theoretical and experimental findings. The approach used here aspires to explain nanoparticle coalescence within the framework of a single intuitive narrative by integrating previous results obtained using various methods by the authors and others. Simultaneously, it is discussed where understanding and controlling (i.e., enhancing or inhibiting) nanoparticle coalescence can have great technological interest.