bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Engaging adolescents in a computer-based weight management program: avatars and virtual coaches could help
Authors: LeRouge Cynthia , Dickhut Kathryn , Lisetti Christine , Sangameswaran Savitha , Malasanos Toree
Published: July 2015

Objective This research focuses on the potential ability of animated avatars (a digital representation of the user) and virtual agents (a digital representation of a coach, buddy, or teacher) to deliver computer-based interventions for adolescents’ chronic weight management. An exploration of the acceptance and desire of teens to interact with avatars and virtual agents for self-management and behavioral modification was undertaken.

Materials and Methods The utilized approach was inspired by community-based participatory research. Data was collected from 2 phases: Phase 1) focus groups with teens, provider interviews, parent interviews; and Phase 2) mid-range prototype assessment by teens and providers.

Results Data from all stakeholder groups expressed great interest in avatars and virtual agents assisting self-management efforts. Adolescents felt the avatars and virtual agents could: 1) reinforce guidance and support, 2) fit within their lifestyle, and 3) help set future goals, particularly after witnessing the effect of their current behavior(s) on the projected physical appearance (external and internal organs) of avatars. Teens wanted 2 virtual characters: a virtual agent to act as a coach or teacher and an avatar (extension of themselves) to serve as a “buddy” for empathic support and guidance and as a surrogate for rewards. Preferred modalities for use include both mobile devices to accommodate access and desktop to accommodate preferences for maximum screen real estate to support virtualization of functions that are more contemplative and complex (e.g., goal setting). Adolescents expressed a desire for limited co-user access, which they could regulate. Data revealed certain barriers and facilitators that could affect adoption and use.

Discussion The current study extends the support of teens, parents, and providers for adding avatars or virtual agents to traditional computer-based interactions. Data supports the desire for a personal relationship with a virtual character in support of previous studies. The study provides a foundation for further work in the area of avatar-driven motivational interviewing.

Conclusions This study provides evidence supporting the use of avatars and virtual agents, designed using participatory approaches, to be included in the continuum of care. Increased probability of engagement and long-term retention of overweight, obese adolescent users and suggests expanding current chronic care models toward more comprehensive, socio-technical representations.
Coalescent models for developmental biology and the spatio-temporal dynamics of growing tissues
Authors: Smadbeck Patrick , Stumpf Michael PH
Published: July 2015

Development is a process that needs to tightly coordinated in both space and time. Cell tracking and lineage tracing have become important experimental techniques in developmental biology and allow us to map the fate of cells and their progeny in both space and time. A generic feature of developing (as well as homeostatic) tissues that these analyses have revealed is that relatively few cells give rise to the bulk of the cells in a tissue; the lineages of most cells come to an end fairly quickly. This has spurned the interest also of computational and theoretical biologists/physicists who have developed a range of modelling – perhaps most notably are the agent-based modelling (ABM) — approaches. These can become computationally prohibitively expensive but seem to capture some of the features observed in experiments. Here we develop a complementary perspective that allows us to understand the dynamics leading to the formation of a tissue (or colony of cells). Borrowing from the rich population genetics literature we develop genealogical models of tissue development that trace the ancestry of cells in a tissue back to their most recent common ancestors. We apply this approach to tissues that grow under confined conditions — as would, for example, be appropriate for the neural crest — and unbounded growth — illustrative of the behaviour of 2D tumours or bacterial colonies. The classical coalescent model from population genetics is readily adapted to capture tissue genealogies for different models of tissue growth and development. We show that simple but universal scaling relationships allow us to establish relationships between the coalescent and different fractal growth models that have been extensively studied in many different contexts, including developmental biology. Using our genealogical perspective we are able to study the statistical properties of the processes that give rise to tissues of cells, without the need for large-scale simulations.
SETDB1 modulates PRC2 activity at developmental genes independently of H3K9 trimethylation in mouse ES cells
Authors: Fei Qi , Yang Xiaoqin , Jiang Hua , Wang Qian , Yu Yanyan , Yu Yiling , Yi Wei , Zhou Shaolian , Chen Taiping , Lu Chris , Atadja Peter , Liu Xiaole Shirley , Li En , Zhang Yong , Shou Jianyong
Published: July 2015

SETDB1, a histone methyltransferase responsible for methylation of histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9), is involved in maintenance of embryonic stem (ES) cells and early embryonic development of the mouse. However, how SETDB1 regulates gene expression during development is largely unknown. Here, we characterized genome-wide SETDB1 binding and H3K9 trimethylation (H3K9me3) profiles in mouse ES cells and uncovered two distinct classes of SETDB1 binding sites, termed solo and ensemble peaks. The solo peaks were devoid of H3K9me3 and enriched near developmental regulators while the ensemble peaks were associated with H3K9me3. A subset of the SETDB1 solo peaks, particularly those near neural development–related genes, was found to be associated with Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) as well as PRC2-interacting proteins JARID2 and MTF2. Genetic deletion ofSetdb1reduced EZH2 binding as well as histone 3 lysine 27 (H3K27) trimethylation level at SETDB1 solo peaks and facilitated neural differentiation. Furthermore, we found that H3K27me3 inhibits SETDB1 methyltransferase activity. The currently identified reciprocal action between SETDB1 and PRC2 reveals a novel mechanism underlying ES cell pluripotency and differentiation regulation.
Genome specialization and decay of the strangles pathogen,Streptococcus equi, is driven by persistent infection
Authors: Harris Simon R. , Robinson Carl , Steward Karen F. , Webb Katy S. , Paillot Romain , Parkhill Julian , Holden Matthew T.G. , Waller Andrew S.
Published: July 2015

Strangles, the most frequently diagnosed infectious disease of horses worldwide, is caused byStreptococcus equi. Despite its prevalence, the global diversity and mechanisms underlying the evolution ofS. equias a host-restricted pathogen remain poorly understood. Here, we define the global population structure of this important pathogen and reveal a population replacement in the late 19th or early 20th Century. Our data reveal a dynamic genome that continues to mutate and decay, but also to amplify and acquire genes despite the organism having lost its natural competence and become host-restricted. The lifestyle ofS. equiwithin the horse is defined by short-term acute disease, strangles, followed by long-term infection. Population analysis reveals evidence of convergent evolution in isolates from post-acute disease samples as a result of niche adaptation to persistent infection within a host. Mutations that lead to metabolic streamlining and the loss of virulence determinants are more frequently found in persistent isolates, suggesting that the pathogenic potential ofS. equireduces as a consequence of long-term residency within the horse post-acute disease. An example of this is the deletion of the equibactin siderophore locus that is associated with iron acquisition, which occurs exclusively in persistent isolates, and rendersS. equisignificantly less able to cause acute disease in the natural host. We identify several loci that may similarly be required for the full virulence ofS. equi, directing future research toward the development of new vaccines against this host-restricted pathogen.
Crystal structure of 2′-[(2′,4′-difluorobiphenyl-4-yl)carbonyl]-1′-phenyl-1′,2′,5′,6′,7′,7a'-hexahydrospiro[indole-3,3′-pyrrolizin]-2(1H)-one
Authors: Fathimunnisa M. , Manikandan H. , Selvanayagam S. , Sridhar B.
Published: July 2015

In the title pyrrolizidine derivative, C33H26F2N2O2, both pyrrolidine rings of the pyrrolizidine moiety adopt an envelope conformation. The difluorophenyl group is oriented at an angle of 54.3 (1)° with respect to the oxindole moiety. The crystal packing features an N—H...O hydrogen bond, which forms anR22(8) motif, and a C—H...O interaction, which generates aC(8) chain along [010]. In addition, this chain structure is stabilized by C—H...π interactions. In one of the pyrrolidine rings, the methylene group forming the flap of an envelope and the H atoms of the adjacent methylene groups are disordered over two sets of sites, with site-occupancy factors of 0.571 (4) and 0.429 (4)
Crystal structure of 1,3-dihydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)propan-2-aminium 2-(4-isobutylphenyl)propanoate: a simple organic salt of racemic ibuprofen
Authors: Lou Benyong
Published: July 2015

In the title organic salt of ibuprofen with trometamol, C4H12NO3+·C13H17O2−, the carboxylic acid group of ibuprofen has transferred its proton to the amino N atom of trometamol. In the crystal, the trometamol cations are linkedviaN—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming chains along [001]. To these chains are attached the ibuprofen anionsviaO—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds. The chains are linkedviafurther N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming sheets parallel to (100). Two C atoms of the propanoate substituent in the ibuprofen anion are disordered over two sets of sites and were refined with a fixed occupancy ratio of 0.7:0.3.
ALLISCO: pricing multiple joint products
Authors: Singh Gaganpreet , Pandey Neeraj
Published: July 2015

Subjectarea

Pricing, Marketing Management, Strategic Marketing, Strategic Management.

Studylevel/applicability

The case can be used for a Pricing Course and Strategic Marketing, Marketing Management and Strategic Management courses delivered to post-graduate management programme (Master’s level) students and/or for Management Development Programme’s.

Caseoverview

Alliance Intercontinental Sourcing Company LLP (ALLISCO) manufactured Steel Blanks for clutch plates used in two- and three-wheeler automobiles. Steel Blank plates further underwent a processing phase which included coating with leather cover to form the finished clutch plate. The primary raw material used by ALLISCO for its manufacturing process was sheet metal. The processing of the principal raw material resulted in the production of three joint products. The first joint product was “Steel Blank”, the main product; the second joint product was “Inner Circle”, which may be classified as a by-product; the third joint product was the left-over waste material and could be categorized as sheet scrap. The approximate increase in procurement cost of 8 per cent had considerably impacted the firm’s profit margins. The dilemma that Rishabh Singla, Managing Partner, ALLISCO, now faced was how the increased differential could be distributed systematically among the three joint products. The challenge for ALLISCO was to preserve the percentage of gross profit margins by altering its existing pricing strategy.

Expectedlearning outcomes

Understand the concept of multiple joint products; learn about choosing appropriate pricing strategies to price multiple joint products; comprehend how value-based pricing can extract untapped profits; and understand the importance of retaining gross profit margins (%).

Supplementarymaterials

Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.
Great expectations in academia: realistic job previews on jobs and work-family balance
Authors: O'Brien Katharine Ridgway , Hebl Michelle R
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– This study aims to foster work-family balance goals by evaluating the utility of two types of video-based realistic job previews on creating accurate expectations among future academics.

Design/methodology/approach

– The first realistic job preview divulged information specific to jobs in academia. The second divulged work-family balance information specific to academia. Participants viewed one of the two realistic job preview conditions or a third control condition in which they did not watch a realistic job preview. Participants then indicated their knowledge about job and work-family characteristics in academia and their changing expectations.

Findings

– Results supported both types of realistic job previews as a way to communicate information about academia, and individuals also expressed changing their own expectations as a result of viewing the realistic job previews.

Originality/value

– This study implemented a classic tool – the realistic job preview – to communicate work-family balance information in a new and dynamic way.
Gender equality in the accounting profession: one size fits all
Authors: Flynn Antoinette , Earlie Emily Kate , Cross Christine
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– This study aims to examine both male and female accountants’ perceptions of female career progression in the Accounting Profession in Ireland. This study is set in the context of a steady rise in the total proportion of female members across the seven accountancy bodies worldwide and the recent acknowledged failure of larger accountancy firms to promote women to senior levels in equal measure compared to male colleagues.

Design/methodology/approach

– A quantitative study (with a qualitative component) was undertaken to gather the opinions and perceptions of Irish accounting professionals on their career progression, gender-related barriers and obstacles, the “glass ceiling”, networking and flexible work arrangements. The sample of respondents reflected the diversity of accounting disciplines and gender divide in the wider population.

Findings

– Evidence of a divergence between the perception and the reality of the lived experience of female accountants, across the gender divide, was found. While respondents believe they have not experienced gender-related barriers in their career progression, it is clear that both genders believe that women succeed in this profession by adapting to masculine occupational values and norms.

Originality/value

– These findings contribute to the extant literature on career progression of women and augment the female management and career development literature. The inclusion of the perception and comparison of male colleagues is of particular interest.
On the smooth transfer for Guo–Jacquet relative trace formulae
Authors: Zhang Chong
Published: July 2015

We establish the existence of smooth transfer for Guo–Jacquet relative trace formulae in the $p$-adic case. This kind of smooth transfer is a key step towards a generalization of Waldspurger’s result on central values of L-functions of $\text{GL}_{2}$.
The phonological function of vowels is maintained at fundamental frequencies up to 880 Hz
Authors: Friedrichs Daniel , Maurer Dieter , Dellwo Volker
Published: July 2015

In a between-subject perception task, listeners either identified full words or vowels isolated from these words at F0s between 220 and 880 Hz. They received two written words as response options (minimal pair with the stimulus vowel in contrastive position). Listeners' sensitivity (A′) was extremely high in both conditions at all F0s, showing that the phonological function of vowels can also be maintained at high F0s. This indicates that vowel sounds may carry strong acoustic cues departing from common formant frequencies at high F0s and that listeners do not rely on consonantal context phenomena for their identification performance.
Impairment of immunity to
Candida
and
Mycobacterium
in humans with bi-allelic
RORC
mutations
Authors: Okada Satoshi , Markle Janet G. , Deenick Elissa K. , Mele Federico , Averbuch Dina , Lagos Macarena , Alzahrani Mohammed , Al-Muhsen Saleh , Halwani Rabih , Ma Cindy S. , Wong Natalie , Soudais Claire , Henderson Lauren A. , Marzouqa Hiyam , Shamma Jamal , Gonzalez Marcela , Martinez-Barricarte Rubén , Okada Chizuru , Avery Danielle T. , Latorre Daniela , Deswarte Caroline , Jabot-Hanin Fabienne , Torrado Egidio , Fountain Jeffrey , Belkadi Aziz , Itan Yuval , Boisson Bertrand , Migaud Mélanie , Arlehamn Cecilia S. Lindestam , Sette Alessandro , Breton Sylvain , McCluskey James , Rossjohn Jamie , de Villartay Jean-Pierre , Moshous Despina , Hambleton Sophie , Latour Sylvain , Arkwright Peter D. , Picard Capucine , Lantz Olivier , Engelhard Dan , Kobayashi Masao , Abel Laurent , Cooper Andrea M. , Notarangelo Luigi D. , Boisson-Dupuis Stéphanie , Puel Anne , Sallusto Federica , Bustamante Jacinta , Tangye Stuart G. , Casanova Jean-Laurent
Published: July 2015

A surprising immune twist for RORC

The immune system needs its full array of soldiers—including cells and the molecules they secrete—to optimally protect the host. When this isn't the case, minor infections can become chronic or even deadly. Markle
et al.
report the discovery of seven individuals carrying loss-of-function mutations in RORC, which encodes the transcription factors RORγ and RORγT. These individuals lacked immune cells that produce the cytokine interleukin-17, causing them to suffer from chronic candidiasis. RORC-deficient individuals also exhibited impaired immunity to mycobacterium, probably due to reduced production of the cytokine interferon-γ, a molecule not known to require RORC for its induction.

Science
, this issue p.
606
The microbiota regulates type 2 immunity through RORγt
+
T cells
Authors: Ohnmacht Caspar , Park Joo-Hong , Cording Sascha , Wing James B. , Atarashi Koji , Obata Yuuki , Gaboriau-Routhiau Valérie , Marques Rute , Dulauroy Sophie , Fedoseeva Maria , Busslinger Meinrad , Cerf-Bensussan Nadine , Boneca Ivo G. , Voehringer David , Hase Koji , Honda Kenya , Sakaguchi Shimon , Eberl Gérard
Published: July 2015

Gut microbes make T cells keep the peace

Our guts harbor trillions of microbial inhabitants, some of which regulate the types of immune cells that are present in the gut. For instance,
Clostridium
species of bacteria induce a type of T cell that promotes tolerance between the host and its microbial contents. Ohnmacht
et al.
and Sefik
et al.
characterized a population of gut regulatory T cells in mice, which required gut microbiota to survive. Multiple bacterial species of the microbiota could induce transcription factor–expressing regulatory T cells that helped maintain immune homeostasis. Mice engineered to lack these transcription factors exhibited enhanced susceptibility to colonic inflammation and had elevated amounts of proinflammatory molecules associated with allergies (see the Perspective by Hegazy and Powrie).

Science
, this issue pp.
989
and
993
Complete Genome Sequence of a Novel Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus That Emerged in China
Authors: Zhou Feng , Zhao Jun , Chen Lu , Chang Hong-tao , Li Yong-tao , Liu Hong-ying , Wang Chuan-qing , Yang Xia
Published: July 2015

A novel porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) strain with 393 nucleotide deletions in the nonstructural protein 2 (Nsp2) region was examined in this study. Results will help improve our understanding of the epidemiology and genetic diversity of the North American-type PRRSV in China.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Streptomyces incarnatus
NRRL8089, which Produces the Nucleoside Antibiotic Sinefungin
Authors: Oshima Kenshiro , Hattori Masahira , Shimizu Hitomi , Fukuda Koji , Nemoto Michiko , Inagaki Kenji , Tamura Takashi
Published: July 2015

A draft genome sequence of
Streptomyces incarnatus
NRRL8089, which produces the nucleoside antibiotic sinefungin, is described here. The genome contains 8,897,465 bp in 76 contigs and 8,266 predicted genes. Interestingly, the genome encodes an open reading frame for selenocysteine-containing formate dehydrogenase-O and the selenoprotein biosynthetic gene cluster
selABCD
.
Draft Whole-Genome Sequence of
Serratia
sp. Strain TEL, Associated with
Oscheius
sp. TEL-2014 (Nematoda: Rhabditidae) Isolated from a Grassland in South Africa
Authors: Lephoto Tiisetso E. , Featherston Jonathan , Gray Vincent M.
Published: July 2015

Here, we report on the draft genome sequence of
Serratia
sp. strain TEL, associated with
Oscheius
sp. TEL-2014 (Nematoda: Rhabditidae, KM492926) isolated from a grassland in Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve near Johannesburg in South Africa.
Serratia
sp. strain TEL has a genome size of 5,000,541 bp with 4,647 genes and a G+C content of 59.1%.
Draft Genome Sequence of the Carbofuran-Mineralizing
Novosphingobium
sp. Strain KN65.2
Authors: Nguyen Thi Phi Oanh , De Mot René , Springael Dirk
Published: July 2015

Complete mineralization of the
N
-methylcarbamate insecticide carbofuran, including mineralization of the aromatic moiety, appears to be confined to sphingomonad isolates. Here, we report the first draft genome sequence of such a sphingomonad strain, i.e.,
Novosphingobium
sp. KN65.2, isolated from carbofuran-exposed agricultural soil in Vietnam.
Draft Genome Sequence of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp.
nebraskensis
Strain DOAB 397, Isolated from an Infected Field Corn Plant in Manitoba, Canada
Authors: Tambong James Tabi , Xu Renlin , Adam Zaky , Cott Morgan , Rose Karin , Reid Lana M. , Daayf Fouad , Brière Stephan , Bilodeau Guillaume J.
Published: July 2015

In 2014, the pathogen
Clavibacter michiganensis
subsp.
nebraskensis
was isolated from symptomatic corn leaves in Manitoba, Canada. We report the draft genome sequence of
C. michiganensis
subsp.
nebraskensis
DOAB 397, consisting of 3.059 Mb with 73.0% G+C content, 2,922 predicted protein-coding sequences, 45 tRNAs, 3 rRNAs, and 37 pseudogenes.
MRI and MR spectroscopy findings of a case of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis affecting the corpus callosum
Authors: Öztürk Mehmet , Sığırcı Ahmet , Yakıncı Cengiz
Published: July 2015

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a rare, slowly progressive, fatal, inflammatory and neurodegenerative disease that is seen mostly in children and young adolescents, and primarily affects the parieto-occipital lobes. The corpus callosum, cerebellum and basal ganglia are less frequently involved. MR spectroscopy (MRS) may illustrate the pathophysiological features of SSPE. To the best of our knowledge, this is the second report of MRS findings of corpus callosum involvement in a stage 3 SSPE case.
Myocardial depression induced by severe sepsis: successful rescue using extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation from initial phase of severe sepsis
Authors: Tomioka Tomoko , Shimada Satoshi , Ito Yoshitaka , Inoue Kanichi
Published: July 2015

A 60-year-old man was diagnosed with severe sepsis caused by pyelonephritis. During transfer to the hospital room, he suddenly developed ventricular fibrillation and the patient recovered after electrical defibrillation. After this cardiac event, his haemodynamics collapsed despite administration of crystalloid fluid. Transthoracic echocardiography was immediately performed showing the oedema and reduced left ventricular wall motion. Since the haemodynamic collapse was too severe to maintain with conventional septic shock therapy, we introduced extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation, bridging to administration of antibiotics. As a result of these combined therapies, the patient was successfully resuscitated. From this clinical course, we finally diagnosed that the severe sepsis was concomitant with myocardial depression. Introduction of mechanical support, including extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation may be recommendable in cases of severe sepsis with myocardial depression resulting in haemodynamic collapse, however, the option of introduction of an invasive approach needs further examination.
Accelerometer-derived activity correlates with volitional swimming speed in lake sturgeon (Acipenserfulvescens)
Authors: Thiem J.D. , Dawson J.W. , Gleiss A.C. , Martins E.G. , Haro A. , Castro-Santos T. , Danylchuk A.J. , Wilson R.P. , Cooke S.J.
Published: July 2015

Quantifying fine-scale locomotor behaviours associated with different activities is challenging for free-swimming fish. Biologging and biotelemetry tools can help address this problem. An open channel flume was used to generate volitional swimming speed (Us) estimates of cultured lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens Rafinesque, 1817) and these were paired with simultaneously recorded accelerometer-derived metrics of activity obtained from three types of data-storage tags. This study examined whether a predictive relationship could be established between four different activity metrics (tail-beat frequency (TBF), tail-beat acceleration amplitude (TBAA), overall dynamic body acceleration (ODBA), and vectorial dynamic body acceleration (VeDBA)) and the swimming speed of A. fulvescens. Volitional Usof sturgeon ranged from 0.48 to 2.70 m·s−1(0.51–3.18 body lengths (BL)·s−1). Swimming speed increased linearly with all accelerometer-derived metrics, and when all tag types were combined, Usincreased 0.46 BL·s−1for every 1 Hz increase in TBF, and 0.94, 0.61, and 0.94 BL·s−1for every 1g increase in TBAA, ODBA, and VeDBA, respectively. Predictive relationships varied among tag types and tag-specific parameter estimates of Usare presented for all metrics. This use of acceleration data-storage tags demonstrated their applicability for the field quantification of sturgeon swimming speed.
A large molluscivore bird (Common Eider, Somateria mollissima) is able to discriminate quality of blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) based on size and provenance
Authors: Varennes Elisabeth , Hanssen Sveinn A. , Bonardelli John C. , Guillemette Magella
Published: July 2015

Molluscivore birds that forage on abundant but low-quality food have to ingest large quantities of food to achieve energy balance. Such a strategy is often associated with important digestive constraints limiting predator’s ingestion. Thus, these predators may use prey selection to ingest better-quality individuals among a generally low-quality prey population. Using captive Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima (L., 1758)) diving in a constant environment, we were able to examine their preferences for blue mussels (Mytilus edulis L., 1758) of varying qualities (different sizes or provenances). In addition, we studied the consequences prey selection had on Eiders’ energy intake rates and ingestion of flesh and shell material. Eiders selected 10–20 mm mussels and were able to discriminate and to select cultivated mussels from intertidal mussels. Prey selection allowed, in certain conditions of prey-size abundance, higher flesh and energy intake rates without increasing the ingestion of shell material. This study confirmed the energetic advantage that Eiders have when foraging in aquaculture sites, which explain the large depredation of preferred mussel sizes.
Competition and boundary formation in heterogeneous media: Application to neuronal differentiation
Authors: Perthame Benoît , Quiñinao Cristóbal , Touboul Jonathan
Published: July 2015

We analyze an inhomogeneous system of coupled reaction–diffusion equations representing the dynamics of gene expression during differentiation of nerve cells. The outcome of this developmental phase is the formation of distinct functional areas separated by sharp and smooth boundaries. It proceeds through the competition between the expression of two genes whose expression is driven by monotonic gradients of chemicals, and the products of gene expression undergo local diffusion and drive gene expression in neighboring cells. The problem therefore falls in a more general setting of species in competition within a nonhomogeneous medium. We show that in the limit of arbitrarily small diffusion, there exists a unique monotonic stationary solution, which splits the neural tissue into two winner-takes-all parts at a precise boundary point: on both sides of the boundary, different neuronal types are present. In order to further characterize the location of this boundary, we use a blow-up of the system and define a traveling wave problem parametrized by the position within the monotonic gradient: the precise boundary location is given by the unique point in space at which the speed of the wave vanishes.
The effect of a line with nonlocal diffusion on Fisher-KPP propagation
Authors: Berestycki Henri , Coulon Anne-Charline , Roquejoffre Jean-Michel , Rossi Luca
Published: July 2015

We propose a new model of accelerating fronts, consisting of one equation with nonlocal diffusion on a line, coupled via the boundary condition with a reaction–diffusion equation in the upper half-plane. The underlying biological question is to understand how transportation networks may enhance biological invasions. We show that the line accelerates the propagation in the direction of the line and enhances the overall propagation in the plane and that the propagation is directed by diffusion on the line, where it is exponentially fast in time. We also describe completely the invasion in the upper half-plane. This work is a nonlocal version of the model introduced in Ref. 15, where the line had a strong but local diffusion described by the classical Laplace operator.
Super congruences concerning Bernoulli polynomials
Authors: Sun Zhi-Hong
Published: July 2015

Let p > 3 be a prime, and let a be a rational p-adic integer. Let {Bn(x)} denote the Bernoulli polynomials given by B0= 1, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. In this paper, using Bernoulli polynomials we establish congruences for [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. As a consequence we solve the following conjecture of Z. W. Sun: [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text].
Rapid Structural Improvement of CVD-Grown Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes by Drastic Thermite Reaction
Authors: Zhao Jiang , Chen Jing , Zhang Pengcheng , Yu Haofeng , Chen Jie
Published: July 2015

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) produced by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) are the most common commercial products at extremely low price in the market. However, due to the inherent drawbacks of CVD surroundings at temperature below [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]1000[Formula: see text]C, CVD-grown nanotubes usually have very disordered structure, resulting in most of their properties being much below expectations. Herein, we present a simple and energy-efficient method for improving rapidly the structure of CVD-grown MWCNTs via a drastic thermite reaction process. Direct observations from scan electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) images, decrease of [Formula: see text] ratios in Raman spectra, increase of the starting oxidation temperatures observed in thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), decrease of the volumetric electrical resistivity and decrease of the turn-on electric fields from 3.64 to 2.88[Formula: see text]V/[Formula: see text]m in field emission measurements suggest that the graphitization of MWCNTs can be effectively enhanced and the structure of nanotubes becomes more ordered after the drastic thermite reaction process.
Study of the best decocting time of sun dried ginseng by using the hyperspectral imaging technology
Authors: He Qing , Liang Lan , Chen Zhenqiang , Pang Qichang , Zhao Jing
Published: July 2015

In this research, a new method based on the hyperspectral imaging for searching the best decocting time of sun dried ginseng is reported. The spectral images at different decocting time of test sample have been taken by the staring hyperspectral fluorescence imaging system and the solubility of active ingredients have been discussed by analyzing the changes on the spectral curves. The spectral range of the system is 400–720[Formula: see text]nm and the spectral resolution is 5[Formula: see text]nm. In the decocting process, the active ingredients of nonsoaked ginseng was dissolved in the tissue fluid at first, and reached equilibrium condition at last after the precipitation–dissolution reciprocating process of boiling. At last, the experimental results show that the best decoction time of sun dried ginseng is about 60[Formula: see text]min after boiling.
HOUSEHOLD DISTRIBUTIONAL AND REVENUE RECYCLING EFFECTS OF THE CARBON PRICE IN AUSTRALIA
Authors: SAJEEWANI DISNA , SIRIWARDANA MAHINDA , MCNEILL JUDITH
Published: July 2015

The Australian Government introduced a carbon tax from 1 July 2012. The then opposition party leader, now Prime Minister, introduced legislation to repeal the tax. Amongst the many issues being debated is that of the incidence of the tax. In this study, we explore household consumption and income changes arising from a A$23 carbon price employing a computable general equilibrium model (entitled A3E-G). The model has been calibrated using a social accounting matrix database of Australia with 10 household income groups. This carbon price generates A$6.39 billion revenue while reducing Australia's carbon emissions by 11%. The empirical evidence suggests household level impacts range from proportional to mildly progressive tax incidence. In this study, we propose four revenue recycling options to overcome any undesirable distributional effects from the carbon price. Results indicate that revenue recycling through income tax reductions and uniform lump sum transfers improves post tax income levels and welfare towards middle and high income groups. A nonuniform lump sum transferring option favors low income households. Uniform reductions in commodity tax rates are not found to be welfare improving but we find positive impacts on export competitiveness from this option.
Locality-Aware Work Stealing Based on Online Profiling and Auto-Tuning for Multisocket Multicore Architectures
Authors: Chen Quan , Guo Minyi
Published: July 2015

Modern mainstream powerful computers adopt multisocket multicore CPU architecture and NUMA-based memory architecture. While traditional work-stealing schedulers are designed for single-socket architectures, they incur severe shared cache misses and remote memory accesses in these computers. To solve the problem, we propose a locality-aware work-stealing (LAWS) scheduler, which better utilizes both the shared cache and the memory system. In LAWS, a load-balanced task allocator is used to evenly split and store the dataset of a program to all the memory nodes and allocate a task to the socket where the local memory node stores its data for reducing remote memory accesses. Then, an adaptive DAG packer adopts an auto-tuning approach to optimally pack an execution DAG into cache-friendly subtrees. After cache-friendly subtrees are created, every socket executes cache-friendly subtrees sequentially for optimizing shared cache usage. Meanwhile, a triple-level work-stealing scheduler is applied to schedule the subtrees and the tasks in each subtree. Through theoretical analysis, we show that LAWS has comparable time and space bounds compared with traditional work-stealing schedulers. Experimental results show that LAWS can improve the performance of memory-bound programs up to 54.2% on AMD-based experimental platforms and up to 48.6% on Intel-based experimental platforms compared with traditional work-stealing schedulers.
The VideoMob Interactive Art Installation Connecting Strangers through Inclusive Digital Crowds
Authors: Grenader Emily , Gasques Rodrigues Danilo , Nos Fernando , Weibel Nadir
Published: July 2015

VideoMob
is an interactive video platform and an artwork that enables strangers visiting different installation locations to interact across time and space through a computer interface that detects their presence, video-records their actions while automatically removing the video background through computer vision, and co-situates visitors as part of the same digital environment. Through the combination of individual user videos to form a digital crowd, strangers are connected through the graphic display. Our work is inspired by the way distant people can interact with each other through technology and influenced by artists working in the realm of interactive art. We deployed VideoMob in a variety of settings, locations, and contexts to observe hundreds of visitors’ reactions. By analyzing behavioral data collected through depth cameras from our 1,068 recordings across eight venues, we studied how participants behave when given the opportunity to record their own video portrait into the artwork. We report the specific activity performed in front of the camera and the influences that existing crowds impose on new participants. Our analysis informs the integration of a series of possible novel interaction paradigms based on real-time analysis of the visitors’ behavior through specific computer vision and machine learning techniques that have the potential to increase the engagement of the artwork's visitors and to impact user experience.
Supporting Time-Based QoS Requirements in Software Transactional Memory
Authors: Maldonado Walther , Marlier Patrick , Felber Pascal , Lawall Julia , Muller Gilles , Rivière Etienne
Published: July 2015

Software transactional memory (STM) is an optimistic concurrency control mechanism that simplifies parallel programming. However, there has been little interest in its applicability to reactive applications in which there is a required response time for certain operations. We propose supporting such applications by allowing programmers to associate time with atomic blocks in the form of deadlines and quality-of-service (QoS) requirements. Based on statistics of past executions, we adjust the execution mode of transactions by decreasing the level of optimism as the deadline approaches. In the presence of concurrent deadlines, we propose different conflict resolution policies. Execution mode switching mechanisms allow the meeting of multiple deadlines in a consistent manner, with potential QoS degradations being split fairly among several threads as contention increases, and avoiding starvation. Our implementation consists of extensions to an STM runtime that allow gathering statistics and switching execution modes. We also propose novel contention managers adapted to transactional workloads subject to deadlines. The experimental evaluation shows that our approaches significantly improve the likelihood of a transaction meeting its deadline and QoS requirement, even in cases where progress is hampered by conflicts and other concurrent transactions with deadlines.
The Politics of Emotion
Authors: Rutner Paige S. , Irani Williams Feruzan , Campbell Constance , Riemenschneider Cynthia K.
Published: July 2015

In this study we examined the relationship between two interpersonal constructs, emotional labor and political skill, finding that they are related. People who possess high levels of political skill and people who perceive high expectations to express positive emotions at work are likely to make efforts to internalize their display of positive emotions through deep acting. People who perceive high expectations to suppress negative emotions at work are likely to engage in superficial displays of emotion through surface acting. We then examined whether these relationships held across job types within the IT/IS industry, an understudied industry with regard to either emotional labor or political skill. We found that perceptions of positive display rules and levels of political skill differed by job type, but that perceptions of negative display rules, surface acting and deep acting did not. In particular, analysts and managers have higher perceptions of positive display rules and higher levels of political skill than do programmers and technical support personnel. These findings encourage further research on the relationship between emotional labor and political skill, along with further comparisons of emotional labor and political skill across job types within a single industry. The findings also suggest that emotional labor capabilities and level of political skill be a consideration when selecting and matching IT/IS personnel to particular job types. Once IT/IS personnel are hired, the findings of this study indicate that development programs for them should include training that will increase their emotional labor capabilities and their level of political skill.
A Thermal Mechanism of Ion Formation in MALDI
Authors: Bae Yong Jin , Kim Myung Soo
Published: July 2015

An important recent discovery concerning the fundamentals of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) is that the abundance of each ion appearing in a spectrum is fixed, regardless of the experimental condition, when an effective temperature associated with the spectrum is fixed. We describe this phenomenon and the thermal picture for the ion formation in MALDI derived from it. Accepting that matrix-to-analyte proton transfer is in quasi-equilibrium as supported by experimental data, the above thermal determination occurs because the primary (matrix) ion formation processes are thermally governed. We propose that the abundances of the primary ions are limited by the autoprotolysis-recombination process regardless of how they are initially produced. Finally, we note that primary ion formation, secondary (analyte) ion formation, and their dissociations occur sequentially while the effective temperature of the matrix plume falls steadily due to cooling associated with expansion.
Parkin regulates mitophagy and mitochondrial function to protect against alcohol-induced liver injury and steatosis in mice
Authors: Williams Jessica A. , Ni Hong-Min , Ding Yifeng , Ding Wen-Xing
Published: July 2015

Alcoholic liver disease claims two million lives per year. We previously reported that autophagy protected against alcohol-induced liver injury and steatosis by removing damaged mitochondria. However, the mechanisms for removal of these mitochondria are unknown. Parkin is an evolutionarily conserved E3 ligase that is recruited to damaged mitochondria to initiate ubiquitination of mitochondrial outer membrane proteins and subsequent mitochondrial degradation by mitophagy. In addition to its role in mitophagy, Parkin has been shown to have other roles in maintaining mitochondrial function. We investigated whether Parkin protected against alcohol-induced liver injury and steatosis using wild-type (WT) and Parkin knockout (KO) mice treated with alcohol by the acute-binge and Gao-binge (chronic plus acute-binge) models. We found that Parkin protected against liver injury in both alcohol models, likely because of Parkin's role in maintaining a population of healthy mitochondria. Alcohol caused greater mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress in Parkin KO livers compared with WT livers. After alcohol treatment, Parkin KO mice had severely swollen and damaged mitochondria that lacked cristae, which were not seen in WT mice. Furthermore, Parkin KO mice had decreased mitophagy, β-oxidation, mitochondrial respiration, and cytochrome c oxidase activity after acute alcohol treatment compared with WT mice. Interestingly, liver mitochondria seemed able to adapt to alcohol treatment, but Parkin KO mouse liver mitochondria had less capacity to adapt to Gao-binge treatment compared with WT mouse liver mitochondria. Overall, our findings indicate that Parkin is an important mediator of protection against alcohol-induced mitochondrial damage, steatosis, and liver injury.
bak deletion stimulates gastric epithelial proliferation and enhancesHelicobacter felis-induced gastric atrophy and dysplasia in mice
Authors: Duckworth C. A. , Abuderman A. A. , Burkitt M. D. , Williams J. M. , O'Reilly L. A. , Pritchard D. M.
Published: July 2015

Helicobacter infection causes a chronic superficial gastritis that in some cases progresses via atrophic gastritis to adenocarcinoma. Proapoptotic bak has been shown to regulate radiation-induced apoptosis in the stomach and colon and also susceptibility to colorectal carcinogenesis in vivo. Therefore we investigated the gastric mucosal pathology following H. felis infection in bak-null mice at 6 or 48 wk postinfection. Primary gastric gland culture from bak-null mice was also used to assess the effects of bak deletion on IFN-γ-, TNF-α-, or IL-1β-induced apoptosis. bak-null gastric corpus glands were longer, had increased epithelial Ki-67 expression, and contained fewer parietal and enteroendocrine cells compared with the wild type (wt). In wt mice, bak was expressed at the luminal surface of gastric corpus glands, and this increased 2 wk post- H. felis infection. Apoptotic cell numbers were decreased in bak-null corpus 6 and 48 wk following infection and in primary gland cultures following cytokine administration. Increased gastric epithelial Ki-67 labeling index was observed in C57BL/6 mice after H. felis infection, whereas no such increase was detected in bak-null mice. More severe gastric atrophy was observed in bak-null compared with C57BL/6 mice 6 and 48 wk postinfection, and 76% of bak-null compared with 25% of C57BL/6 mice showed evidence of gastric dysplasia following long-term infection. Collectively, bak therefore regulates gastric epithelial cell apoptosis, proliferation, differentiation, mucosal thickness, and susceptibility to gastric atrophy and dysplasia following H. felis infection.
Activation of angiotensin II type 2 receptor suppresses TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 via NF-кB: possible role of ACE2
Authors: Zhu Liping , Carretero Oscar A. , Xu Jiang , Harding Pamela , Ramadurai Nithya , Gu Xiaosong , Peterson Edward , Yang Xiao-Ping
Published: July 2015

ANG II type 2 receptor (AT2) and ANG I-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) are important components of the renin-ANG system. Activation of AT2 and ACE2 reportedly counteracts proinflammatory effects of ANG II. However, the possible interaction between AT2 and ACE2 has never been established. We hypothesized that activation of AT2 increases ACE2 activity, thereby preventing TNF-α-stimulated ICAM-1 expression via inhibition of NF-κB signaling. Human coronary artery endothelial cells were pretreated with AT2 antagonist PD123319 (PD) or ACE2 inhibitor DX600 and then stimulated with TNF-α in the presence or absence of AT2 agonist CGP42112 (CGP). We found that AT2 agonist CGP increased both ACE2 protein expression and activity. This effect was blunted by AT2 antagonist PD. ICAM-1 expression was very low in untreated cells but greatly increased by TNF-α. Activation of AT2 with agonist CGP or with ANG II under concomitant AT1 antagonist reduced TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression, which was reversed by AT2 antagonist PD or ACE2 inhibitor DX600 or knockdown of ACE2 with small interfering RNA. AT2 activation also suppressed TNF-α-stimulated phosphorylation of inhibitory κB (p-IκB) and NF-κB activity. Inhibition of ACE2 reversed the inhibitory effect of AT2 on TNF-α-stimulated p-IκB and NF-κB activity. Our findings suggest that stimulation of AT2 reduces TNF-α-stimulated ICAM-1 expression, which is partly through ACE2-mediated inhibition of NF-κB signaling.