bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A novel meiotic drive in Neurospora crosses heterozygous for hybrid translocation strains disfavors homokaryotic progeny derived from alternate, but not adjacent-1 segregation
Authors: Giri Dev Ashish , Rekha S. , Kasbekar Durgadas P.
Published: February 2016

Four insertional or quasiterminal translocations (T) were recently introgressed from Neurospora crassa intoN. tetrasperma. Crosses of two of the resultingTNtstrains withN. tetrasperma N strains(N= normal sequence) produced moreDpthanTandNhomokaryotic progeny, although [T+N] and [Dp+Df] heterokaryotic progeny were made in roughly equal numbers. TheT,N, and [T+N] progeny are derived from alternate segregation (ALT), whereas adjacent-1 segregation (ADJ) generates theDp,Df, and [Dp+Df] types. Differential recovery of homokaryotic products from ALT and ADJ represents a novel and unprecedented type of meiotic drive. This drive contributed to our inability to introgress a larger insertions translocation,T(VR>VIL)UK3-41, intoN. tetrasperma.We suggest that one or more Bateson-Dobzhansky-Muller type incompatibility betweenN. crassaandN. tetraspermagenes in theTNtxNcrosses might cause an insufficiency for a product required for ascospore maturation. Since theDftype is inviable, only four ascospores (Dpor [Dp+Df] types) share this limited resource in [Dp+Df] asci, whereas four to eight ascospores compete for it in [T+N] asci. This increases the chance that in asci with >4 ascospores none properly matures, and results inDpprogeny out-numberingTandNtypes.
Ultra-high-resolution inelastic X-ray scattering at high-repetition-rate self-seeded X-ray free-electron lasers
Authors: Chubar Oleg , Geloni Gianluca , Kocharyan Vitali , Madsen Anders , Saldin Evgeni , Serkez Svitozar , Shvyd'ko Yuri , Sutter John
Published: February 2016

Inelastic X-ray scattering (IXS) is an important tool for studies of equilibrium dynamics in condensed matter. A new spectrometer recently proposed for ultra-high-resolution IXS (UHRIX) has achieved 0.6 meV and 0.25 nm−1spectral and momentum-transfer resolutions, respectively. However, further improvements down to 0.1 meV and 0.02 nm−1are required to close the gap in energy–momentum space between high- and low-frequency probes. It is shown that this goal can be achieved by further optimizing the X-ray optics and by increasing the spectral flux of the incident X-ray pulses. UHRIX performs best at energies from 5 to 10 keV, where a combination of self-seeding and undulator tapering at the SASE-2 beamline of the European XFEL promises up to a 100-fold increase in average spectral flux compared with nominal SASE pulses at saturation, or three orders of magnitude more than what is possible with storage-ring-based radiation sources. Wave-optics calculations show that about 7 × 1012 photons s−1in a 90 µeV bandwidth can be achieved on the sample. This will provide unique new possibilities for dynamics studies by IXS.
Studying solutions at high shear rates: a dedicated microfluidics setup
Authors: Wieland D. C. F. , Garamus V. M. , Zander T. , Krywka C. , Wang M. , Dedinaite A. , Claesson P. M. , Willumeit-Römer R.
Published: February 2016

The development of a dedicated small-angle X-ray scattering setup for the investigation of complex fluids at different controlled shear conditions is reported. The setup utilizes a microfluidics chip with a narrowing channel. As a consequence, a shear gradient is generated within the channel and the effect of shear rate on structure and interactions is mapped spatially. In a first experiment small-angle X-ray scattering is utilized to investigate highly concentrated protein solutions up to a shear rate of 300000 s−1. These data demonstrate that equilibrium clusters of lysozyme are destabilized at high shear rates.
The LUCIA beamline at SOLEIL
Authors: Vantelon D. , Trcera N. , Roy D. , Moreno T. , Mailly D. , Guilet S. , Metchalkov E. , Delmotte F. , Lassalle B. , Lagarde Pierre , Flank A.-M.
Published: February 2016

Commissioned in May 2004 on the SLS machine, the LUCIA beamline was moved to the synchrotron SOLEIL during the summer of 2008. To take advantage of this new setting several changes to its design were introduced. Here, a review of the various improvements of the mechanics and, mostly, of the optics is given. Described in detail are the results of a new multilayer grating monochromator implemented on the Kohzu vessel already holding the two-crystal set-up. It consists of a grating grooved onto a multilayer (replacing the first crystal) associated to a multilayer (as a second crystal). It allows a shift of the low-energy limit of the beamline to around 500 eV with an energy resolution and a photon flux comparable with those of the previous couples of crystals (KTP and beryl).
Whole-pattern fitting technique in serial femtosecond nanocrystallography
Authors: Dilanian Ruben A. , Williams Sophie R. , Martin Andrew V. , Streltsov Victor A. , Quiney Harry M.
Published: February 2016

Serial femtosecond X-ray crystallography (SFX) has created new opportunities in the field of structural analysis of protein nanocrystals. The intensity and timescale characteristics of the X-ray free-electron laser sources used in SFX experiments necessitate the analysis of a large collection of individual crystals of variable shape and quality to ultimately solve a single, average crystal structure. Ensembles of crystals are commonly encountered in powder diffraction, but serial crystallography is different because each crystal is measured individually and can be orientedviaindexing and merged into a three-dimensional data set, as is done for conventional crystallography data. In this way, serial femtosecond crystallography data lie in between conventional crystallography data and powder diffraction data, sharing features of both. The extremely small sizes of nanocrystals, as well as the possible imperfections of their crystallite structure, significantly affect the diffraction pattern and raise the question of how best to extract accurate structure-factor moduli from serial crystallography data. Here it is demonstrated that whole-pattern fitting techniques established for one-dimensional powder diffraction analysis can be feasibly extended to higher dimensions for the analysis of merged SFX diffraction data. It is shown that for very small crystals, whole-pattern fitting methods are more accurate than Monte Carlo integration methods that are currently used.
Crystal structure of 2,6-diaminopyridinium chloride
Authors: Mastalir Matthias , Schroffenegger Martina , Stöger Berthold , Weil Matthias , Kirchner Karl
Published: February 2016

The asymmetric unit of the title salt, C5H8N3+·Cl−, comprises one half of the 2,6-diaminopyridinium cation (the other half being completed by the application of mirror symmetry) and one Cl−counter-anion, also located on the mirror plane. The amino N atom shows a significant pyramidalization, with a dihedral angle of 30.4 (14)° between the least-squares planes of the amino group and the non-H atoms of the 2,6-diaminopyridinium moiety. In the crystal, the cationic molecules and Cl−counter-anions are arranged in sheets parallel to (001) consisting of alternating polar and non-polar parts associated with the the Cl−anions, pyridinium and amino moieties, and the pyridine rings, respectively. N—H...Cl interactions within the polar part, as well as slipped π–π interactions in the non-polar part, help to establish the three-dimensional network.
Performance analysis of new product development projects
Authors: Ciarapica Filippo Emanuele , Bevilacqua Maurizio , Mazzuto Giovanni
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of technical and management practices of a new product development (NPD) project on the project success in terms of observed value-added time. The authors address the research questions: “How do the product innovation aspects, information process, suppliers integration and project team aspects influence the success of NPD projects in terms of observed value-added time?”

Design/methodology/approach

– Specific hypotheses are posed based on literature research and semi-structured interviews with project managers used for the pilot study. In total, 40 projects carried out by multinational corporation, concerning NPD, are analysed, comparing product and project features with results obtained in terms of performance indexes usually used in “Lean Production” sector: “waste time”; and “type of wastes”.

Findings

– This research highlighted that “over-processing” is the most important waste made in the projects when the product concept is Completely New. Great support has been found for the hypothesis that a clear definition of products’ concept can reduce waste time. Unexpected result has been obtained analysing “Information process aspects” category where the more frequent use of support systems (i.e. quality function deployment, computer-integrated manufacturing, computer-aided design, etc.) tended to increase waste time. Important connections have also been found between project team aspects and low waste time.

Practical implications

– The identification of sources of waste can help managers to assess their current innovation practices, identify gaps between their current practice and best practice, and define action plans to close those gaps.

Originality/value

– In literature, researches exploring the effects that both organizational and managerial factors have on value-added has received only scant attention. This study attempts to bridge this gap, and takes a first step to investigate the role of product innovation aspects, information process, supplier integration and project team aspects in “value-added time” in a NPD project.
Social innovation model for business performance and innovation
Authors: Salim Saji Beena , Ellingstad Paul
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop a social innovation model and understand the levels of communication of different social actors at different points of a social innovation project (at Hewlett Packard). The paper also looks into the effect of communication networks and power of words in social interaction in social innovation projects.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper defines social innovation in the first part and how it differs from social entrepreneurship, corporate social responsibility and social business. The research focusses on the data available through the internet and the papers and articles related to social innovation experience of technology companies. A content analysis of the terminology that is used for social innovation projects during innovation process and the articles published will be the primary source for data analysis in the study.

Findings

– The study did illuminate the power of certain words that are repeatedly used in e-mails and articles, related to the social innovation which can give researchers an idea about the power of words in social innovation.

Research limitations/implications

– It is important for human resource managers and innovation leaders to look at innovation from the social motivational process and more strategic perspective rather than just from the science and technology perspective. The study concludes with the development of a model and partnership communication analysis for successful social innovation projects.

Originality/value

– The research will add value to the area of social innovation by looking into the importance of concepts and words used in social innovation. The study is looking into a new perspective of social marketing which is the power of words in a social innovation project.
Volunteers’ knowledge activities at UK music festivals: a hermeneutic-phenomenological exploration of individuals’ experiences
Authors: Clayton Diana
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– This paper aims to explore how and why volunteers share knowledge and engage in other related knowledge activities. The paper offers an interpretation of participants’ multiple realities to enable a better understanding of managing volunteer knowledge, which ultimately underpins organisational performance and effectiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

– A qualitative, hermeneutic phenomenological study of volunteers (n= 28) at UK music festivals was conducted through in-depth interviews (n= 9), diaries (n= 11) or both (n= 8). This interpretivist approach adopted purposive sampling to recruit participants through (social) media.

Findings

– The findings illustrate how and why volunteers share knowledge that is attributed to a successful process of volunteering, which enables effective knowledge management and knowledge reproduction. Where volunteers’ motivations are satisfied, this leads to repeat volunteering. Knowledge enablers and the removal of barriers create conditions that are conducive for knowledge sharing, which have similar characteristics to conditions for continuance commitment. Where volunteers do not return, the organisation leaks knowledge.

Research limitations/implications

– Although high-quality research standards were maintained, participant self-selection may result in overly positive experiences. Future research might explore the impact on knowledge sharing of negative volunteering experiences.

Practical/implications

– Practical recommendations include factors that contribute to effective volunteer co-ordination and volunteering experiences, which are enablers for knowledge sharing. These fall within two categories, namely, areas for continuance (i.e. those aspects that should be maintained because they contribute to effective volunteer co- ordination and experiences) and areas for improvement (i.e. those aspects of volunteer co-ordination that are either currently lacking or require development or enhancement).

Originality/value

– This paper’s original contribution is demonstrated through the use of hermeneutic phenomenological methods in the exploration of individuals’ perspectives of knowledge sharing in the context of temporary organisations. This paper provides value to academics studying knowledge management and volunteer management, and practitioners managing volunteers.
Knowledge needs in the non-profit sector: an evidence-based model of organizational practices
Authors: Rathi Dinesh , Given Lisa M. , Forcier Eric
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– This paper aims to present findings from a study of non-profit organizations (NPOs), including a model of knowledge needs that can be applied by practitioners and scholars to further develop the NPO sector.

Design/methodology/approach

– A survey was conducted with NPOs operating in Canada and Australia. An analysis of survey responses identified the different types of knowledge essential for each organization. Respondents identified the importance of three pre-determined themes (quantitative data) related to knowledge needs, as well as a fourth option, which was a free text box (qualitative data). The quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistical analyses and a grounded theory approach, respectively.

Findings

– Analysis of the quantitative data indicates that NPOs
'
needs are comparable in both countries. Analysis of qualitative data identified five major categories and multiple sub-categories representing the types of knowledge needs of NPOs. Major categories are knowledge about management and organizational practices, knowledge about resources, community knowledge, sectoral knowledge and situated knowledge. The paper discusses the results using semantic proximity and presents an emergent, evidence-based knowledge management (KM)-NPO model.

Originality/value

– The findings contribute to the growing body of literature in the KM domain, and in the understudied research domain related to the knowledge needs and experiences of NPOs. NPOs will find the identified categories and sub-categories useful to undertake KM initiatives within their individual organizations. The study is also unique, as it includes data from two countries, Canada and Australia.
Validating and extending the sport brand personality scale
Authors: Mitsis Ann , Leckie Civilai
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to validate Tsiotsou’s (2012) sport team brand personality scale in a new country (Australia) and segment (Generation Y) and extend its use from sport teams to individual athletes. This paper also explores the scale’s predictive power in an athlete’s role model influence.

Design/methodology/approach

– An online panel survey with 560 responses from Australian Generation Y consumers was obtained. Structural equation modelling was used to test and validate the scale.

Findings

– This paper confirmed the sport team brand personality scale can be applied to an individual athlete. Three dimensions of the scale, namely, competitiveness, morality and authenticity, were found to have predictive power in an athlete’s role model influence. Authenticity was the strongest predictor, followed by morality and competitiveness.

Practical implications

– Individual athlete brand personality is powerful in influencing how Australian Generation Y consumers identify with their favourite athlete as a role model. These insights assist brand and marketing managers to use athletes as part of their communication strategies regarding brand and product endorsements.

Originality/value

– This research addresses Tsiotsou’s (2012) call to test the robustness and external validity of the sport team brand personality scale and to empirically test how the scale can predict outcomes. The authors succeeded in validating and extending the sport brand personality scale to an individual athlete level in a new country and consumer segment. The scale was found to have predictive power in an athlete’s role model influence.
Reciprocal transfer of brand associations between service parent brands and upward line extensions
Authors: Boisvert Jean
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the extent to which the accessibility of established parent brand information and the diagnosticity of newly launched horizontal and upward service line extensions affect transfer and reciprocal transfer of brand associations.

Design/methodology/approach

– A field study using a survey methodology based on a 2×2 experimental random design was conducted with a sample representative of the target population of an established bank in Eastern Canada. Two levels of parent brand accessibility (high/low) and two levels of line extension (upward/horizontal) were tested. Pretests were conducted, and the analysis of results was done using a three-point-in-time confirmatory factorial analysis for each cell.

Findings

– The findings indicate that for a newly launched horizontal service line extension, when accessibility of an established parent brand is high, information transfer and reciprocal transfer of brand associations is strong and complete. When accessibility is low, transfer is strong but incomplete, leading to partial dilution of the parent brand. In the case of a newly launched upward service line extension, for both high- and low-accessibility contexts, only key diagnostic parent brand associations transfer to the extension. Reciprocal transfer is strong, leading to a significant dilution of the parent brand.

Research limitations/implications

– Other kinds of extensions (e.g. downward, distant), other types of services, and consumer goods could be tested to observe the extent to which transfer works.

Practical implications

– This study provides key findings to managers who are responsible for launching newly created service line extensions (horizontal and upward). When evaluating a new vertical service line extension, consumers actively process the available information at hand (e.g. print advertising, point-of-purchase materials), but key diagnostic associations of the parent brand tend to persist over time. Thus, marketers must be careful when using or not using parent brand information during launch, though an upward service line extension is likely to dilute the parent brand’s equity, either positively or negatively.

Originality/value

– This paper brings new insights to the service branding literature with respect to the dynamics of transfer of brand associations between service line extensions (horizontal and upward) and their parent brands. Drawing on the accessibility-diagnosticity framework, it closes an important theoretical knowledge gap regarding the persistence over time of accessible vs diagnostic parent brand information in the mechanisms of transfer of brand associations to and from different types of service extensions.
Combinative aspects of leadership style and emotional intelligence
Authors: Li Zhidong , Gupta Bindu , Loon Mark , Casimir Gian
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the leader’s emotional intelligence influences the leader’s preferences for different ways of combining leadership behaviors (i.e. combinative aspects of leadership style).

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors used a hybrid design to collect the data to avoid common-method biases. The authors described a high-stress workplace in a vignette and asked participants to rank four styles of combining a task-oriented leadership (i.e. Pressure) statement and a socio-emotional leadership (i.e. Support) statement. The authors then asked participants to complete a Likert-scale based questionnaire on emotional intelligence.

Findings

– The authors found that leaders who prefer to provide Support immediately before Pressure have higher levels of emotional intelligence than do leaders who prefer the three other combinative styles. Leaders who prefer to provide Pressure and Support separately (i.e. provide Pressure 30 minutes after Support) have the lowest levels of emotional intelligence.

Research limitations/implications

– A key implicit assumption in the work is that leaders do not want to evoke negative emotions in followers. The authors did not take into account factors that influence leadership style which participating managers would be likely to encounter on a daily basis such as the relationship with the follower, the follower’s level of performance and work experience, the gender of the leader and the gender of the follower, the hierarchical levels of the leader and follower, and the followers’ preferred combinative style. The nature of the sample and the use of a hypothetical scenario are other limitations of the study.

Practical implications

– Providing leadership behaviors that are regarded as effective is necessary but not enough because the emotional impact of leadership behaviors appears to also depend on how the behaviors are configured.

Originality/value

– This is the first study to show that the emotional intelligence of leaders is related to their preferences for the manner in which they combine task and social leadership statements. Furthermore, two-factor theories of leadership propose that the effects of task and social leadership are additive. However, the findings show that the effects are interactive.
The double-edged sword of helping behavior in leader-follower dyads
Authors: Hoption Colette
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine potential consequences of helping behaviors on leader and follower relationship satisfaction and transformational leadership (TFL) ratings. It is argued that follower helping behaviors can violate leaders’ and followers’ expectations of each other, and especially disadvantage male leaders because of gender-role stereotypes.

Design/methodology/approach

– Two studies were conducted. In Study 1, data were collected from 61 dyads (25 male and 34 female supervisors, 23 male and 38 female subordinates, two participants did not disclose their gender;Mage=35.56 years, SD=10.41). In Study 2, data were collected from 125 participants (66 female and 58 male subordinates, 22 female and 25 male supervisors; 79 respondents did not disclose their gender;Mage=39.21 years, SD=11.25).

Findings

– Helping behaviors were positively associated with relationship satisfaction suggesting that leaders were amenable to receiving help from followers (Study 1). However, follower helping behaviors were negatively related to TFL ratings for male but not female leaders (Study 2).

Research limitations/implications

– While leaders may be amenable to increased follower involvement in leadership, future research is needed to investigate followers’ openness to, and intentions behind increasing their involvement in leadership, as well as strategies for leaders to mitigate unintended consequences.

Practical implications

– For the sake of their TFL ratings, leaders should minimize any direct benefit from follower helping behaviors, and emphasize how follower helping behaviors aid follower development and/or benefit the organization.

Originality/value

– The findings illustrate the dual-nature of follower helping behaviors: they have the potential to enhance leader relationship satisfaction, and also compromise perceptions of TFL.
The Changing Influence of Societal Culture on Job Satisfaction across Europe
Authors: Pacheco Gail , van der Westhuizen De Wet , Ghobadian Abby , Webber Don J. , O'Regan Nicholas
Published: February 2016

This paper contributes to the growing multidisciplinary body of literature on subjective well‐being by investigating the longitudinal stability and impact of societal cultural values (SCVs) – as opposed to the more common organizational values – on job satisfaction. It is assumed that SCVs evolve slowly; hence, their impact on job satisfaction is likely to remain stable over time. False adherence to this assumption could cause misalignment between organizational policies/practices and expectations formed by societal culture, decreasing job satisfaction and adversely affecting productivity, competiveness and prosperity. Four waves of the European Values Study are used to examine whether SCVs have evolved and their impacts on job satisfaction over a relatively short time: 1981–2008. SCVs are parameterized through reference to traditional vs secular‐rational, and survival vs self‐expression value continuums. Results indicate that the strength of many SCVs has declined, the impacts of traditional societal values on job satisfaction have remained fairly constant, and the impacts of survival societal values on job satisfaction have declined substantially over this sample period. These reductions in SCVs amplify the importance of accounting for such changes when designing new or adjusting existing policies/practices to enhance job satisfaction and stimulate improvements in productivity, competitiveness and prosperity.
‘Coz football is what we all have’: masculinities, practice, performance and effervescence in a gender‐sensitised weight‐loss and healthy living programme for men
Authors: Bunn Christopher , Wyke Sally , Gray Cindy M. , Maclean Alice , Hunt Kate
Published: February 2016

In this paper we use a social practice approach to explore men's experience of Football Fans in Training (FFIT), a group‐based weight management programme for men that harnesses men's symbolic attachment to professional football clubs to engage them in lifestyle change. FFIT is delivered by community coaches in clubs’ stadia and is gender‐sensitised in relation to context, content and style of delivery. Using a ‘toolkit’ of concepts from the work of Bourdieu, Goffman and Durkheim we analysed data from 13 focus group discussions with participants, and fieldwork notes from programme observations to investigate the appeal and success of FFIT, and how it worked to support change. Our analysis builds on our work on the importance of shared symbolic commitment to the football club and being with ‘men like me’ to understand how the interaction context facilitated ‘effervescent’ experiences. These experiences encouraged men to make changes to their diet and physical activity, talk about them, practice performing them and implement them in their lives. Thus a social practice approach illuminated the social processes through which lifestyle change was achieved, and we argue that it can deepen and enrich both intervention design and evaluation.
The Nursing Home Compare Report Card: Perceptions of Residents and Caregivers Regarding Quality Ratings and Nursing Home Choice
Authors: Schapira Marilyn M. , Shea Judy A. , Duey Katia A. , Kleiman Carly , Werner Rachel M.
Published: February 2016

Objective

To evaluate the perceived usefulness of publicly reported nursing home quality indicators.

Study Setting

Primary data were collected from October 2013 to August 2014 among a convenience sample of persons (or family member) recently admitted or anticipating admission to a nursing home within 75 miles of the city of Philadelphia.

Study Design

Structured interviews were conducted to assess the salience of data on the Medicare Nursing Home Compare website, including star ratings, clinical quality measures, and benchmarking of individual nursing home quality with state and national data.

Data Collection

Interviews were transcribed verbatim, independently coded by two reviewers, and agreement determined. A thematic analysis of transcripts was undertaken.

Principal Findings

Thirty‐five interviews were completed. Eighty‐three percent (n = 29) were caregivers and 17 percent (n = 6) were residents. Star ratings, clinical quality measures, and benchmarking information were salient to decision making, with preferred formats varying across participants. Participants desired additional information on the source of quality data. Confusion was evident regarding the relationship between domain‐specific and overall star quality ratings.

Conclusions

The Nursing Home Compare website provides salient content and formats for consumers. Increased awareness of this resource and clarity regarding the definition of measures could further support informed decision making regarding nursing home choice.
Understanding Tomato Peelability
Authors: Ayvaz Huseyin , Santos Alejandra M. , Rodriguez‐Saona Luis E.
Published: February 2016

Approximately 75% of all tomatoes in the United States are consumed as processed and 25% as fresh. One of the first steps during processing involves removal of the peel and, unfortunately, more than 25% of the fruits (as measured by total weight) can be lost due to overpeeling. Additionally, conventional peeling applications have a negative environmental impact. Given the great potential economic benefits, many scientists have conducted research to attempt optimizing or predicting peeling performance when processing tomatoes. The literature regarding tomato peelability is contradictory in many cases; and several topics have been subject to ample debate over the years. Divergent conclusions are probably not due to faulty investigations, but rather to the extreme variability found among tomato cultivars, the effect of growing seasons, and maybe even the effect of climatic conditions on the day of harvest or during transportation to the processing plants. This review provides an in‐depth background needed for a better understanding of tomato physiology, maturation, and composition, as these could possibly influence the ease of peeling or “peelability.” The research studies directly involved with peeling tomatoes and predicting peelability are discussed in this paper as well. Different peeling methods, peeling grading scales, and fruit tagging procedures are presented, as well as experiments evaluating the effect that fruit defects, maturity, growing conditions, and other factors can have on the ease of peeling. Novel approaches for peelability prediction by means of spectroscopic and magnetic resonance technology are also discussed in this review.
Application of mRNA Expression Analysis to Human Blood Identification in Degenerated Samples that were False‐negative by Immunochromatography,,
Authors: Matsumura Shusaku , Matsusue Aya , Waters Brian , Kashiwagi Masayuki , Hara Kenji , Kubo Shin‐ichi
Published: February 2016

Forensic laboratories are often faced with cases in which methamphetamine hydrochloride‐mixed blood is unable to be identified as human blood by immunochromatography against human hemoglobin A0. The application of mRNA expression analysis to samples that showed a false‐negative with immunochromatography was investigated as an alternative approach that did not depend on the antigen–antibody reaction. Real‐time PCR was used to examine the expression levels of blood markers such as glycophorin A, spectrin beta, and hemoglobin beta. Hemoglobin beta was the only marker that was specifically detected in blood, while glycophorin A was useful for determining human specificity. Hemoglobin beta showed good detection sensitivity and was detectable in 37‐year‐old blood stains. Hemoglobin beta was exclusively detectable in methamphetamine hydrochloride‐mixed blood stains. Detergents and disinfectants did not significantly influence mRNA markers. The proposed mRNA expression analysis was suitable for human blood identification as an alternative method to immunochromatography.
360° management competency assessment: is our understanding adequate?
Authors: Liang Zhanming , Howard Peter F , Leggat Sandra G
Published: February 2016

Management competence links positively to organisational success and efficient and safe healthcare service delivery. A newly developed 360° management competency assessment tool was used to assess 68 middle level managers working in the community health services inVictoria,Australia. Based on the assessment results, this study confirmed the benefits of using a 360° subjective tool incorporating self and multiple colleague assessments in conducting management competency assessment and generating valuable evidence in guiding management competency development and the development of human resource management strategies at the organisational level. The 360° competency assessment (feedback) process not only confirmed the competency level of the assessment participants, but also identified managerial strengths and weaknesses of health service managers at individual, team and organisational levels. The paper suggests the investment of organisations in assisting their managers to improve their managerial competence by including the 360° competency assessment/ feedback process as one of the key steps.
Microstructural Characterization of Fried Potato Disks Using X‐Ray Micro Computed Tomography
Authors: Alam Tanjila , Takhar Pawan S.
Published: February 2016

Microstructural properties play a key role to affect oil uptake and product quality during frying of foods. The objective of this study was to observe the complex microstructural changes and mass transfer mechanisms in potato disks during frying. The potato disks of 1.65 mm thickness were fried at 190 °C for 0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 s. X‐ray micro‐computed tomography (CT) was used for 3‐dimensional (3D) imaging of microstructure of porous potato disks. Total porosity, pore size distribution, oil content, and air content of potato disks were calculated from resulting 3D data sets. Oil and air content measured by analysis of micro‐CT images followed trends similar to Soxtec and gas pycnometry methods, respectively. Image analysis showed a significant change in pore size distribution as a function of frying time. Frying time was also observed to have an effect on tortuosity, which is an important microstructural fluid transport property. Tortuosity was measured by path length ratio method from 3D data sets obtained from image analysis. A linear inverse relationship was observed between porosity and tortuosity where tortuosity decreased with the increase of porosity. It was also observed that during frying, oil content increased with the decrease of tortuosity. This phenomenon indicated that the lower tortuosity created a less complicated and sinuous path, thus resulting in less resistance to oil penetration. Micro‐CT technique can serve as an effective tool for elucidating microstructure of fried foods, and can provide complementary information to conventional lab techniques.
Novel Radiofrequency‐Assisted Thermal Processing Improves the Gelling Properties of Standard Egg White Powder
Authors: Boreddy Sreenivasula Reddy , Thippareddi Harshavardhan , Froning Glenn , Subbiah Jeyamkondan
Published: February 2016

Effect of radiofrequency (RF)‐assisted thermal processing on quality and functional properties of high‐foaming standard egg white powder (std. EWP, pH approximately 7.0) was investigated and compared with traditional processing (heat treatment in a hot room at 58 °C for at least 14 d). The RF‐assisted thermal treatments were selected to meet the pasteurization requirements and to improve the functional properties of the std. EWP. The treatment conditions were: RF heating to 60, 70, 80, and 90 °C followed by holding in a hot air oven at those temperatures for different periods ranging from 4 h at 90 °C to 72 h at 60 °C. The quality (color and solubility) and functional properties (foaming properties: foaming capacity and foam stability; and gelling properties: water holding capacity and gel‐firmness) of the std. EWP were investigated. RF‐assisted thermal processing did not affect the color and solubility of std. EWP at any of the treatment conditions. In general, the foaming and gelling properties of RF‐assisted thermally processed std. EWP increased with an increase in temperature and treatment duration. The optimal RF‐assisted treatment conditions to produce std. EWP with similar functional properties as the traditionally processed (hot room processed) std. EWP were 90 °C for ≥8 h. These optimal conditions were similar to those for high gel egg white powder (HG‐EWP, pH approximately 9.5). The RF‐assisted thermal pasteurization improved the gelling properties of std. EWP to the levels of HG‐EWP, leading to newer applications of this functionally improved safe product. The RF‐assisted thermal processing allows the processor to produce a HG‐EWP from std. EWP subsequent to processing while simultaneously pasteurizing the product, thus assuring the product safety.
Evaluation of Dynamically Dimensioned Search Algorithm for Optimizing SWAT by Altering Sampling Distributions and Searching Range
Authors: Yen Haw , Jeong Jaehak , Smith Douglas R.
Published: February 2016

The primary advantage of Dynamically Dimensioned Search (DDS) algorithm is that it outperforms other optimization techniques in both convergence speed and searching ability for parameter sets that satisfy statistical guidelines while requiring only one algorithm parameter (perturbation factor) in the optimization process. Conventionally, a default value of 0.2 is used as the perturbation factor, where a normal distribution is applied with mean sampling distribution of zero and variance of one. However, the perturbation factor sensitivity to the performance of DDS for watershed modeling is still unknown. The fixed‐form sampling distribution may result in finding parameters at the local scale rather than global in the sampling space. In this study, the efficiency of DDS was evaluated by altering the perturbation factor (from 0.05 to 1.00) and the selection of sampling distribution (normal and uniform) on hydrologic and water quality predictions in a lowland agricultural watershed in Texas, United States. Results show that the use of altered perturbation factor may cause variations in convergence speed or the ability to find better solutions. In addition, DDS results were found to be very sensitive to sampling distribution selections, where DDS‐N (normal distribution) outperformed DDS‐U (uniform distribution) in all case scenarios. The choice of sampling distributions could be the potential major factor to be attributed for the performance of auto‐calibration techniques for watershed simulation models.
Radiology in the Christchurch earthquake of 22 February 2011: Challenges, interim processes and clinical priorities
Authors: Gregan Jude , Balasingam Adrian , Butler Anthony
Published: February 2016

Introduction

The Canterbury earthquake of 22 February 2011 initiated a mass casualty event for Christchurch Hospital, which suffered damage itself, and faced logistical difficulties in continued operation. Radiology was part of the hospital‐wide response. This paper reviews the radiology department response and surveys opinions of emergency doctors to provide an overview of events of the day and thoughts regarding any potential future response.

Methods

Two main approaches were undertaken: (i) informal data gathering and discussions with staff including radiographers, sonographers, radiologists, emergency doctors and others present on the day regarding their experiences; and (ii) survey of emergency doctors regarding their experiences and recommendations. A comparison with other similar events was also conducted.

Results

(1) Diagnostic radiology services were initially constrained by a lack of power and lift access. Usual imaging and reporting pathways were interrupted. Alternative processes were initiated to ensure an ongoing radiology service with available resources. Lessons were learned and changes implemented locally.(2) Survey data confirmed several primary outcomes: (i) Ultrasound was crucial while CT was down; (ii) all available imaging modalities remain important in a disaster response; and (iii) preliminary reports from radiologists in the emergency department (ED) were useful in the immediate post‐earthquake period.

Conclusion

Although resources were limited, a diagnostic radiology service remained operational. The Christchurch experience reinforces the need for disaster planning and rehearsal of plans.
18F‐FDG PET–CT performed before and during radiation therapy of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Are they independent or complementary to each other?
Authors: Min Myo , Lin Peter , Lee Mark , Shon Ivan Ho , Lin Michael , Forstner Dion , Tieu Minh Thi , Chicco Andrew , Bray Victoria , Fowler Allan
Published: February 2016

Introduction

The aims of this study are to evaluate the prognostic value of metabolic parameters derived from 18F‐FDG PET‐CT performed before definitive radiation therapy (RT) (prePET) in patients with mucosal primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (MPHNSCC) and to assess the additive prognostic values of FDG PET‐CT performed during RT (iPET).

Methods

One hundred patients with MPHNSCC treated with radical RT underwent staging prePET and iPET performed during the third week of treatment. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), metabolic tumour volume (MTV) and total lesional glycolysis (TLG) of primary tumour were analysed for both prePET and iPET, and results were correlated with loco‐regional recurrence‐free survival (LRFS), disease‐free survival (DFS), metastatic failure‐free survival (MFFS) and overall survival (OS), using Kaplan–Meier analysis. Optimal cut‐offs (OC) for prePET and iPET were derived from Receiver Operating Characteristic curves. Patients with metabolic parameters above/below the individual OC of prePET as well as iPET (i.e. combined prePET and iPET (comPET)) were evaluated against their outcomes.

Results

Median age was 61 years (range 39–81), median follow‐up of 20 months (range 4–70, mean 27), and AJCC 7th Edition clinical stage II, III and IV were 8, 24 and 68 patients respectively. Metabolic values below individual OC in comPET were found to be associated with statistically significant improvements (P < 0.05) in DFS, LRFS and OS. In addition, patients with SUVmax above the OC in comPET were associated with worse MFFS (P = 0.011) and confirmed on both univariate (P = 0.019) and multivariate analyses (P = 0.04).

Conclusion

Addition of iPET significantly improves the prognostic values of all three metabolic parameters and can potentially be used in future adaptive local and systemic therapy trials.
Social threat exposure in juvenile mice promotes cocaine‐seeking by altering blood clotting and brain vasculature
Authors: Lo Iacono Luisa , Valzania Alessandro , Visco‐Comandini Federica , Aricò Eleonora , Viscomi Maria Teresa , Castiello Luciano , Oddi Diego , D'Amato Francesca R. , Bisicchia Elisa , Ermakova Olga , Puglisi‐Allegra Stefano , Carola Valeria
Published: February 2016

Childhood maltreatment is associated with increased severity of substance use disorder and frequent relapse to drug use following abstinence. However, the molecular and neurobiological substrates that are engaged during early traumatic events and mediate the greater risk of relapse are poorly understood and knowledge of risk factors is to date extremely limited. In this study, we modeled childhood maltreatment by exposing juvenile mice to a threatening social experience (social stressed, S‐S). We showed that S‐S experience influenced the propensity to reinstate cocaine‐seeking after periods of withdrawal in adulthood. By exploring global gene expression in blood leukocytes we found that this behavioral phenotype was associated with greater blood coagulation. In parallel, impairments in brain microvasculature were observed in S‐S mice. Furthermore, treatment with an anticoagulant agent during withdrawal abolished the susceptibility to reinstate cocaine‐seeking in S‐S mice. These findings provide novel insights into a possible molecular mechanism by which childhood maltreatment heightens the risk for relapse in cocaine‐dependent individuals.
Secrets of Endometrial Receptivity: Some Are Hidden in Uterine Secretome
Authors: Bhusane Kashmira , Bhutada Sumit , Chaudhari Uddhav , Savardekar Lalita , Katkam Rajendra , Sachdeva Geetanjali
Published: February 2016

Problem

Endometrium, the innermost mucosal layer of the uterus, serves as a lodge for the embryo in eutherian mammals. The endometrium is constituted of various cell types, and each cell type executes specific functions to facilitate embryo implantation and development. It is well established that the endometrium, despite being non‐permissive to the embryo for the major period of a menstrual cycle, is irreplaceable in the scheme of events essential for procreation. However, the embryo, before initiating physical contact with the endometrium, encounters the uterine cavity that remains bathed in uterine fluid. Uterine fluid is an admixture of endometrial secretions, plasma transudates, and oviductal fluid. Uterine fluid components are believed to play important roles in immunosuppression and embryo development during peri‐implantation period. Uterine fluid is also involved in defense against pathogens, sperm migration, and lubrication of endometrium. The advent of high‐throughput functional genomics tools has created enormous opportunities to investigate the uterine fluid for its protein repertoire and modulation during the receptive phase of an endometrial cycle in animals and humans. Towards this, few investigations have been conducted in recent years. The data obtained using non‐targetted functional genomics approaches need to be assimilated with the existing information on specific components of uterine fluid.

Method

This review compiles existing information on the composition of uterine fluid and its significance in endometrial functions and dysfunctions.

Result

Collectively, investigations based on targetted and non‐targetted approaches have revealed the presence of several cytokines, growth factors, ions, carbohydrates, and steroids, in human uterine fluid.

Conclusion

Detailed investigations of human uterine fluid, especially directed towards the elucidation of functional relevance of different proteins in uterine fluid, will help identify novel markers of endometrial receptivity and also gain significant insights into the mechanisms underlying unexplained infertility, recurrent pregnancy losses, and other endometrial pathologies.