bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Decoupling the variances of heterosis and inbreeding effects is evidenced in yeast’s life-history and proteomic traits
Authors: Petrizzelli M. , de Vienne D. , Dillmann C.
Published: July 2018

Heterosis (hybrid vigor) and inbreeding depression, commonly considered as corollary phenomena, could nevertheless be decoupled under certain assumptions according to theoretical population genetics works. In order to explore this issue on real data, we analyzed the components of genetic variation in a population derived from a half-diallel cross between strains fromSaccharomyces cerevisiaeandS. uvarum, two related yeast species involved in alcoholic fermentation. A large number of phenotypic traits, either molecular (coming from quantitative proteomics) or related to fermentation and life-history, were measured during alcoholic fermentation. Because the parental strains were included in the design, we were able to distinguish between inbreeding effects, which measures phenotypic differences between inbred and hybrids, and heterosis, which measures phenotypic differences between a specific hybrid and the other hybrids sharing a common parent. The sources of phenotypic variation differed depending on the temperature, indicating the predominance of genotype by environment interactions. Decomposing the total genetic variance into variances of additive (intra- and inter-specific) effects, of inbreeding effects and of heterosis (intra- and inter-specific) effects, we showed that the distribution of variance components defined clear-cut groups of proteins and traits. Moreover, it was possible to cluster fermentation and life-history traits into most proteomic groups. Within groups, we observed positive, negative or null correlations between the variances of heterosis and inbreeding effects. To our knowledge, such a decoupling had never been experimentally demonstrated. This result suggests that, despite a common evolutionary history of individuals within a species, the different types of traits have been subject to different selective pressures.
Integration of Dominance and Marker×Environment Interactions into Maize Genomic Prediction Models
Authors: Ventorim Ferrão Luis Felipe , Marinho Caillet Dornelles , Munoz Patricio R. , Resende Marcio F. R.
Published: July 2018

Hybrid breeding programs are driven by the potential to explore the heterosis phenomenon in traits with non-additive inheritance. Traditionally, progress has been achieved by crossing lines from different heterotic groups and measuring phenotypic performance of hybrids in multiple environment trials. With the reduction in genotyping prices, genomic selection has become a reality for phenotype prediction and a promising tool to predict hybrid performances. However, its prediction ability is directly associated with models that represent the trait and breeding scheme under investigation. Herein, we assess modelling approaches where dominance effects and multi-environment statistical are considered for genomic selection in maize hybrid. To this end, we evaluated the predictive ability of grain yield and grain moisture collected over three production cycles in different locations. Hybrid genotypes were inferredin silicobased on their parental inbred lines using single-nucleotide polymorphism markers obtained via a 500k SNP chip. We considered the importance to decomposes additive and dominance marker effects into components that are constant across environments and deviations that are group-specific. Prediction within and across environments were tested. The incorporation of dominance effect increased the predictive ability for grain production by up to 30% in some scenarios. Contrastingly, additive models yielded better results for grain moisture. For multi-environment modelling, the inclusion of interaction effects increased the predictive ability overall. More generally, we demonstrate that including dominance and genotype by environment interactions resulted in gains in accuracy and hence could be considered for genomic selection implementation in maize breeding programs.
Perinatal outcomes, maternal age, parity and fetal sex – searching for the “optimal” maternal age
Authors: Kaňková Šárka , Flegr Jaroslav , Kuba Radim , Calda Pavel
Published: July 2018

Background

Maternal age, parity and fetal sex are each known to affect obstetric and birth outcomes. The objective of the present study was to investigate the influence of the combination of maternal age, parity and fetal sex on outcomes of pregnancies._The aim of the study was to analyze the influence of maternal age on perinatal outcomes in both primiparous and multiparous women with different fetal sex.

Methods

The cross-sectional study was performed on data from 11,780 women, who have given birth at the General University Hospital in Prague, Czech Republic between 2008-2012.

Results

Maternal age significantly (P<0.01) influenced pregnancy weight gain, duration of pregnancy, birth weight and birth length. Primiparous women with female newborns aged ≤19 had higher rates of preterm delivery than comparable women 20-39 (P=0.012). Similarly, women with male newborns aged ≥40 had higher rates of preterm delivery than comparable women 20-39 (P=0.003). Women aged ≤24 expressed higher rates of low birth weight than women aged >24 (P<0.001), regardless of parity and fetal sex. The older (≥35) primiparous women with male newborns expressed a higher incidence of macrosomia (P=0.021) compared to other groups of women. The probability of caesarean delivery increased with age (P<0.001) and it was significantly affected by the parity and sex of the newborn with higher rates of caesarean section in primiparous women as well as in mothers carrying male fetuses.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that “optimal” maternal age without obstetrics and birth complications is 25-34 years, older age is associated with increased complications with a male fetus, especially in primiparous women. Our data suggests that not just the age of women, but the combination of age, parity, and fetal sex should be taken into consideration during assessment of health risks of pregnancy.
Memory Image Completion (MIC): Establishing a task to behaviorally assess pattern completion in humans
Authors: Vieweg Paula , Riemer Martin , Berron David , Wolbers Thomas
Published: July 2018

For memory retrieval, pattern completion is a crucial process that restores memories from partial or degraded cues. Neurocognitive aging models suggest that the aged memory system is biased toward pattern completion, resulting in a behavioral preference for retrieval over encoding of memories. While there are behavioral tasks to assess the encoding side of these memory differences, pattern completion has received less attention in the literature. Here, we built on our previously developed behavioral recognition memory paradigm – the Memory Image Completion task (MIC) – a task to specifically target pattern completion. First, we used the original design with concurrent eye-tracking in order to rule out perceptual confounds that could interact with recognition performance. Second, we developed parallel versions of the task to accommodate test settings in clinical environments or longitudinal studies. The results show that older adults have a deficit in pattern completion ability with a concurrent bias toward pattern completion – a replication of previously found effects. Importantly, eye-tracking data during encoding could not account for age-related performance differences. At retrieval, spatial viewing patterns for both age groups were more driven by stimulus identity than by response choice, but compared to young adults, older adults’ fixation patterns overlapped more between stimuli that they (wrongly) thought had the same identity. This supports the observation that when making errors older adults choose responses perceived as similar to the correct stimulus, which is interpreted as a bias toward pattern completion. Additionally, two shorter versions of the task yielded comparable results, and no general learning effects were observed for repeated testing. Together, we present evidence that the MIC is a reliable behavioral task that targets pattern completion, that is easily and repeatedly applicable, and that is made freely available online.
Towards a pragmatic use of statistics in ecology
Authors: Castilho Leonardo , Prado Paulo Inácio
Published: July 2018

Although null hypothesis testing (NHT) is the primary method for analyzing data in many natural sciences, it has been increasingly criticized. Recently, a new method based on information theory (IT) has become popular and is held by many to be superior for many reasons, not least because is enables researchers to properly assess the strength of the evidence that data provide for competing hypotheses. Many studies have compared IT and NHT in the context of model selection and stepwise regression, but a systematic comparison of the most simple but realistic uses of statistics by ecologists is still lacking. We used computer simulations to compare how both methods perform in four basic test designs (t-test, ANOVA, correlation tests, and multiple linear regression). Performance was measured by the proportion of simulated samples for which each method provided the correct conclusion (power), the proportion of detected effects with a wrong sign (S-error), and the mean ratio of the estimated effect to the true effect (M-error). We also checked if the p-value from significance tests correlated to a measure of strength of evidence, the Akaike weight. In most cases both methods performed equally well. The concordance is explained by the monotonic relationship between p-values and evidence weights in simple designs, which agree with analytic results. Our results show that researchers can agree on the conclusions drawn from a data set even when they are using different statistical approaches. By focusing on the practical consequences of inferences, such a pragmatic view of statistics can promote insightful dialogue among researchers on how to find a common ground from different pieces of evidence. A less dogmatic view of statistical inference can also help to broaden the debate about the role of statistics in science to the entire path that leads from a research hypothesis to a statistical hypothesis.
Motives for buying local, organic food through English box schemes
Authors: Hashem Shadi , Migliore Giuseppina , Schifani Giorgio , Schimmenti Emanuele , Padel Susanne
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explain the growing interest of English consumers in local organic food sold through box schemes, by providing insights into the motives of customers of such schemes and examining the relationship with their awareness about problems of the agro-food system.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed methods approach combined in-depth interviews with 22 box scheme customers with a quantitative survey of 416 consumers, analysed by means of principal component analysis and an ordered logit model.

Findings

Consumers of small local organic box schemes in England are both altruistically and hedonistically motivated. This includes a strong political motivation to change the current food system, as shown by the strong influence of an anti-globalisation factor and wanting to support small farmers. They perceive local organic food as a more environmentally sustainable alternative to the mainstream food system. The box schemes offer consumers a practical alternative by providing high quality products combined with convenience illustrating the importance of the latter also in local food shopping. This reinforces the possibility to successfully combining the attributes of “local” and “organic”.

Research limitations/implications

The study was conducted in only one country (England) with about 400 consumers of ten organic farmer-led box schemes. It was based on a self-selecting sample of consumers of such schemes, which included a large proportion of females and people with high level of education. Further research is needed to validate the results.

Originality/value

This study is the first academic study investigating the main factors affecting consumers’ choice to purchase local organic food through a number of English box schemes. It identifies that such consumers are ethically and politically motivated and show some differences compared with the general literature on organic food consumption.
Corporate social responsibility in the mining industry: an exploration of host-communities’ perceptions and expectations in a developing-country
Authors: Amos Gideon Jojo
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how and what drives corporate social responsibility (CSR) in host communities of mining companies in developing countries.

Design/methodology/approach

To address this knowledge gap, this paper used Ghana as a test case and conducted 24 in-depth interviews with participants drawn from mining host communities.

Findings

The paper discovered that while CSR is broadly understood and encompasses six thematic categories in the mining host communities, there are emphases on philanthropic and environmental responsibilities. Contrary to the evidence found in other studies, this paper discovered that CSR rhetoric plays a more positive/significant role than so far explored in CSR research, as it incentivizes the host communities to push for the fulfilment of their CSR expectations and/or CSR initiatives proposed by mining companies.

Research limitations/implications

Quantitative studies are needed to strengthen the findings from the present paper.

Practical implications

Because developing countries share similar socio-economic and geo-political realities, the findings of this paper may be applicable not only for CSR advocates, but also for policy-makers in developing countries.

Originality/value

The paper provides new inputs from a developing country perspective to the current debate about the CSR performance of the extractive industry.
Employees shaping their own jobs: how to enable job crafting?
Authors: Menachery Thomas J.
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to review the latest developments in the area of job crafting and provide guidelines on how to enable job crafting.

Design/methodology/approach

The concept of job crafting is examined through a review, and the author gives his insights on the conditions to be created to enable job crafting.

Findings

In job crafting, individual employees and groups of employees customize their jobs by changing perceptions, tasks, and interactions related to their jobs in ways that would lead to work engagement and job satisfaction. Job crafting behavior is positively linked to engagement, work performance, job satisfaction, and employees’ well-being. Organizations can benefit by enabling job crafting to supplement top-down traditional job design approaches, thereby facilitating continuous improvement of jobs and innovation.

Originality/value

The different ways in which employees shape their jobs are examined, and guidelines on how to enable job crafting are elucidated.
Understanding destination image from the perspective of Western travel bloggers: the case of Istanbul
Authors: Alrawadieh Zaid , Dincer Mithat Zeki , Istanbullu Dincer Fusun , Mammadova Parvin
Published: July 2018

Purpose

Travelers’ narratives disseminated online about destination experiences are an important source of information for measuring the performance of tourist destinations and understanding travelers’ perceptions, behaviors and expectations. Drawing on data from travel narratives, the purpose of this study is to examine the destination image of Istanbul as revealed in Western travel blogs. In addition, this study aims to identify the demographic characteristics of travelers who are more likely to engage in destination blogging activities.

Design methodology/approach

A deductive content analysis approach was used on a sample of travel blog entries retrieved from TravelPod.com. Based on the dimensions and attributes of destination image identified by Beerli and Martín (2004), a coding scheme was established to guide the coding process.

Findings

The findings suggest that the online destination image of Istanbul is generally positive. Specifically, the destination is mainly appreciated for its cultural and historical heritage, as well as for its tourist infrastructure. However, the findings also highlight some issues that concern Western travelers, such as safety and traffic congestion.

Originality/value

This study is timely as it explores the online destination image of a key destination in a period of instability. The findings are expected to offer insights for destination management organizations in Turkey on how Western travelers view Istanbul as a tourist destination. These insights are also important to help policymakers and tourism destination marketers design effective strategies.
Obstetric complications and delays in seeking emergency care in poor settings of northern India
Authors: Khan Nizamuddin
Published: July 2018

Purpose

Huge gap exists between demand and supply of seeking health care leads to remain high maternal mortality in rural areas of Uttar Pradesh, India. The purpose of this paper is to make an effort in this direction.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws on Three Delays Model to understand the reasons behind poor maternal health outcomes among 964 currently married women aged 15–34, given birth in last two years preceding the survey including six case studies in poor settings of Northern India.

Findings

Receiving minimum four antenatal care and identifying the severity of obstetric complications during pregnancy was quite low (7 and 34 per cent, respectively). Major delay in seeking care in district was decision delay (average four days) followed by arranging transportation (average 4 hours) and start treatment within an hour after reaching health facility. Health services and trained human resources are mainly concentrated at towns and poor supply of drugs and equipment in labour room is always in demand at primary level in the district in area. Delays in decision making, travel and treatment compounded by ignorance of obstetric complications and poor healthcare infrastructure are the major contributing factors of maternal deaths in the district in area.

Originality/value

Interventions to improve timely seeking of medical care for obstetric complications may need to more effectively target husbands and family members rather than women. Strengthening of primary and secondary level facilities and timely referral to tertiary level care can play a crucial role in improving obstetric care in the district in rural areas.
Tribological properties of graphene oxide sheets as water-based lubricant additive
Authors: Zhang Gangqiang , Zeng Xiangqiong , Ren Tianhui , Heide Emile van der
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the tribological performance of graphene oxide (GO) sheets as water-based lubricant additive when ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) plates slid against 316L stainless steel ball using a reciprocating tribometre.

Design/methodology/approach

The factors influencing the tribological performance were considered, including the viscosity of the GO dispersion, normal load, sliding velocity and the roughness of UHMWPE. The surface microstructure and properties of UHMWPE were studied by means of scanning electron microscopy, laser confocal microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and contact angle measurements.

Findings

The results revealed that the GO dispersion reduced friction and sliding-wear. The surface images of the wear UHMWPE plates indicated that GO sheets were prone to adsorption on the surface and form a thin physical tribofilms at the substrate.

Originality/value

Based on the experimental findings for the evolution of the microstructure morphology and the development of subsurface cracks, less debris and cracking can be observed in the UHMWPE plates lubricated by GO dispersion.
Cameroonian perspectives on entrepreneurship: discovering subcultural heterogeneity
Authors: Valliere Dave
Published: July 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to explore cultural attitudes and beliefs about entrepreneurship in the southwestern region of Cameroon. This study also identifies the existence of subcultural variations with important implications for the development of entrepreneurial activities in Cameroon.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses the hybrid qualitative/quantitative Q methodology to survey and analyze a purposively diverse sample of individuals and thereby discover subcultural structures and patterns to the attitudes and beliefs that exist in Cameroonian culture.

Findings

This study discovers three distinct subcultures that differ significantly in their attitudes and beliefs about entrepreneurship. These subcultures can neither be predicted from commonly used national measures of cultures, such as those of Hofstede, nor are they directly attributable to regional effects.

Research limitations/implications

The author calls into question the continuing use of national culture as a construct in explaining and predicting entrepreneurial activities, through discovery of subcultures at odds with national measures. Further research should be undertaken to assess the prevalence within Cameroonian society of the three widely different subcultures identified here.

Practical implications

This paper highlights the importance of incorporating subcultural variations in attitudes and beliefs (whether regional, tribal or other) in the development and implementation of public policies to affect national entrepreneurship.

Originality/value

The paper applies a novel methodology to qualitatively explore the subjective variations in the meaning and value of entrepreneurship in Cameroonian society, and to quantitatively develop a structure or typology to these variations.
Why do firms centralise their strategic decision-making during crisis? A qualitative study
Authors: Bakonyi Zoltan
Published: July 2018

Purpose

Although decentralisation during crisis is more beneficial in the long run, still economic downturn increases the probability of centralisation. The purpose of this paper is to understand the sub-micro reasons of centralisation during recession.

Design/methodology/approach

To answer the research question, a qualitative methodology was applied based on interviews with senior managers of six English and seven Hungarian manufacturing companies.

Findings

In the time of crisis, companies centralise because they would like to gain efficiency. The short-term advantages of concentration of authority (such as whole company focus, easier communication and higher decision speed) override its longer term downsides such as less innovation and flexibility.

Practical implications

Cost cutting-driven centralisation can always generate faster results than a hazardous sales increase-driven decentralisation. A rapid centralisation can seem a safer and better choice than a stronger innovative capability of which results can be harvested only in the future. If companies centralise in the time of crisis and delegate during prosperity, adaptation to economic cycles can be crucial. This can gain competitive advantage if the companies can perceive economic situation and restructure their authority better than their competitors.

Originality/value

The paper would like to contribute to the quantitative-dominated literature with a descriptive, qualitative study analysing the root causes of change in concentration of authority.
Unintended human-personal self-destruction: can we save ourselves?
Authors: Hiwaki Kensei
Published: July 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to explain the modern unintended human-personal self-destruction and the importance of diverse society-specific holistic cultures (“native cultures”) and social value systems as the remedy.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is a viewpoint, as both the explanation and the proposed remedy are based on the present author’s historical, theoretical and normative considerations.

Findings

First, the author’s interpretation of pre-modern to modern Western societies reveals that some important pre-modern Western values are given to the modern era as part of the market value system. Second, some Mercantilist ideas have strong influences on Classical economic theory and methodology. Third, the modern Western value system – the market value system – corresponds to the Core Synergism of Modern Civilization or the complex driving force of Modern Civilization.

Social implications

This paper is designed to facilitate reflection on the excessive emphasis on economic/market values.

Originality/value

The present author’s normative framework for social value system (“integral harmony”) is used for explaining a likely remedy of the unintended human-personal self-destruction. Also, for solving the human-personal predicament, this article integrates native culture, balance and harmony into economic thinking to promote sustainable development for a viable human future. Concluding remarks provide a summary for clarification of the remedy.
Dietary inflammatory index in relation to obesity and body mass index: a meta-analysis
Authors: Kord Varkaneh Hamed , Fatahi Somaye , Tajik Somaye , Rahmani Jamal , Zarezadeh Meysam , Shab-Bidar Sakineh
Published: July 2018

Purpose

Studies investigating the association between dietary inflammatory index (DII) and body mass index (BMI) have led to inconsistent findings. Therefore, to decisively conclude, this paper aims to clarify the relationship between DII and obesity by performing meta-analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar were searched up to July 2017 using key words selected from Medical Subject Headings and other related keywords to identify all relevant articles. In total, 22 articles were entered into the meta-analysis; 22 studies compared the mean of BMI among subjects with highest versus the lowest DII and 4 studies had data on the hazard risk (HR) or odds ratio (OR) for obesity.

Findings

A meta-analysis on included studies indicated a significant association on either mean differences (MD) in BMI (MD = 0.811; 95 per cent CI: 0.365-1.256;p: 0.0001) or obesity OR (OR: 1.310; 95 per cent CI: 1.144-1.500;p= 0.000) by comparing the highest and lowest DII categories. Between-study heterogeneity was high (Cochrane Q test,p< 0.001, I2= 98.1 per cent, df = 21, τ2= 0.9273), and only dietary assessment methods could explain the source of heterogeneity in which 24-h dietary recalls were homogeny (I2= 8.4 per cent, df = 2,p= 0.335).

Originality/value

The results of the present meta-analysis suggest that adherence to high DII score increased BMI and obesity. More prospective studies in different populations are needed to better clarify this relation.
The information literacy and continuous professional development practices of teachers at a Jewish Day School
Authors: Cogan Aviel , Martzoukou Konstantina
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate how in-service teachers within the context of an American Jewish day school perceive, practice and develop Information Literacy (IL) as a sociocultural practice and through Continuing Professional Development (CPD). A research gap exists in relation to empirical studies which examine sociocultural IL practices and the CPD learning experiences of in-service teachers within the professional environment of their work. Two emergent and compatible frameworks for investigating teachers’ IL practices and CPD in context are identified and discussed within that context: the sociocultural approach and the interactive CPD model.

Design/methodology/approach

The research adopted an interpretivist phenomenological perspective. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with six teachers to explore their IL experiences. Questions addressed the participants’ previous background, the working culture of the school, approaches to learning and developing new knowledge, sources and methods of obtaining work-related information, IL practices and the differences between IL and CPD practices.

Findings

Although teachers value the role of IL in their professional lives and they have confidence in their performance of it, they remain confounded by the IL terminology. Within the teachers’ everyday working environment, the primacy of social and embodied information and the centrality of information sharing demonstrated the social and experiential nature of learning and the significance of contextualisation to IL development. The study found IL, CPD and learning to be inseparable, as they intersected within a single, organic situated learning practice of becoming an expert in context.

Originality/value

This study makes valuable contributions to theory by supplying empirical evidence of sociocultural IL practices, linking the currently disparate scholarships on IL, CPD and learning and providing suggestions for future research. In addition, the study demonstrates alternative avenues for developing teachers’ IL and offers recommendations for supporting their CPD.
Family bliss or blitz? Parents’ and children’s mixed emotions towards family holidays
Authors: Gram Malene , Therkelsen Anette , Larsen Jacob Roesgaard Kirkegaard
Published: July 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to explore mixed emotions experienced by parents and children on holiday, how they are dealt with and how they influence the way “family” is “staged” and “done”.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws on 24 qualitative interviews with Danish parents and a questionnaire study reporting answers from 66 Danish children (11-15-year-old).

Findings

Problems external and internal to the family are identified and the latter are associated with more unease particularly among parents. This paper shows that parents invest significant narrative efforts in transcending gaps between ideals and practices. Also children are aware of the gaps between ideals and practices; they seem more matter-of-fact, however, regarding critical aspects of holidays.

Research limitations/implications

The informants of the study solely represent two-parent hetero-sexual families of Danish origin, and so inclusion of a wider range of families would have added interesting perspectives. Furthermore, children’s perspectives on critical holiday incidents need further research.

Practical implications

Creators of family holiday products and marketing should present a more nuanced imagery taking a more diverse approach to what “family” on holiday looks like. They could take up the challenge of depicting a broader range of family situations, also showing less harmonious moments, using humour, and showing opportunities for some “alone time” for both parents and children should relational overload happen. Also occasional “wifi-free” moments seem to be much appreciated by all family members, and development of offline family experiences would seem to strike a chord.

Social implications

The contemporary paradigm of intensive parenting along with strong ideals for family holidays make it essential for parents to narratively deal with and legitimize and transform less happy moments. To take pressure off contemporary families, it is important to bring to the fore the less glossy aspects of family holidays.

Originality/value

The originality of this paper is to illustrate the strong efforts applied by families to keep up a certain front to be the family that “ought to be” by nurturing and narrating positive emotions in relation to family holidays. The inclusion of children’s voices gives insights into children’s annoyance with parents’ rowing, relational overload and parents’ occasional lack of attention to children, for example through parental use of mobile phones during holiday togetherness.
Monitoring CO2 saturation using time‐lapse amplitude versus offset analysis of 3D seismic data from the Ketzin CO2 storage pilot site, Germany
Authors: Ivandic Monika , Bergmann Peter , Kummerow Juliane , Huang Fei , Juhlin Christopher , Lueth Stefan
Published: July 2018

The injection of CO2 at the Ketzin pilot site commenced in June 2008 and was terminated in August 2013 after 67 kT had been injected into a saline formation at a depth of 630–650 m. As part of the site monitoring program, four 3D surface seismic surveys have been acquired to date, one baseline and three repeats, of which two were conducted during the injection period, and one during the post‐injection phase. The surveys have provided the most comprehensive images of the spreading CO2 plume within the reservoir layer. Both petrophysical experiments on core samples from the Ketzin reservoir and spectral decomposition of the 3D time‐lapse seismic data show that the reservoir pore pressure change due to CO2 injection has a rather minor impact on the seismic amplitudes. Therefore, the observed amplitude anomaly is interpreted to be mainly due to CO2 saturation. In this study, amplitude versus offset analysis has been applied to investigate the amplitude versus offset response from the top of the sandstone reservoir during the injection and post‐injection phases, and utilize it to obtain a more quantitative assessment of the CO2 gaseous saturation changes. Based on the amplitude versus offset modelling, a prominent decrease in the intercept values imaged at the top of the reservoir around the injection well is indeed associated solely with the CO2 saturation increase. Any change in the gradient values, which would, in case it was positive, be the only signature induced by the reservoir pressure variations, has not been observed. The amplitude versus offset intercept change is, therefore, entirely ascribed to CO2 saturation and used for its quantitative assessment. The estimated CO2 saturation values around the injection area in the range of 40%–60% are similar to those obtained earlier from pulsed neutron‐gamma logging. The highest values of 80% are found in the second seismic repeat in close vicinity to the injection and observation wells.
Wolbachia modifies thermal preference in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Truitt Amy M. , Kapun Martin , Kaur Rupinder , Miller Wolfgang J.
Published: July 2018

Environmental variation can have profound and direct effects on fitness, fecundity, and host–symbiont interactions. Replication rates of microbes within arthropod hosts, for example, are correlated with incubation temperature but less is known about the influence of host–symbiont dynamics on environmental preference. Hence, we conducted thermal preference (Tp) assays and tested if infection status and genetic variation in endosymbiont bacterium Wolbachia affected temperature choice of Drosophila melanogaster. We demonstrate that isogenic flies infected with Wolbachia preferred lower temperatures compared with uninfected Drosophila. Moreover, Tp varied with respect to three investigated Wolbachia variants (wMel, wMelCS, and wMelPop). While uninfected individuals preferred 24.4°C, we found significant shifts of −1.2°C in wMel‐ and −4°C in flies infected either with wMelCS or wMelPop. We, therefore, postulate that Wolbachia‐associated Tp variation within a host species might represent a behavioural accommodation to host–symbiont interactions and trigger behavioural self‐medication and bacterial titre regulation by the host.
Adapting the Police Authority Concept to a Centralised National Police Service: Appearance over Substance in the Republic of Ireland?
Authors: Walsh Dermot
Published: July 2018

The Republic of Ireland has been convulsed by a series of police corruption scandals over the past fifteen years and they show no sign of abating. In 2015, in an attempt to stem the consequent drain in public confidence in the Garda, the government established a Policing Authority which it presented as ‘the most important single change in the governance of the Garda Síochána in its history’. This article critically examines whether the new Irish Policing Authority can be interpreted as a successful adaptation of the traditional police authority concept to a parliamentary democracy policed by a single, national body. In particular, it considers whether it is equipped to shield the Garda and policing from the influence of partisan political and institutional interests, while at the same time deliver transparent democratic scrutiny of the Garda and policing on behalf of all sections of the community.
What does Malawi's Fertiliser Programme do to Private Sector Fertiliser Sales? A Quasi‐Experimental Field Study
Authors: Kaiyatsa Stevier , Ricker‐Gilbert Jacob , Jumbe Charles
Published: July 2018

Malawi implemented reforms to its Farm Input Subsidy Program (FISP) during the 2015/16 agricultural season that allowed certain large‐scale, private sector fertiliser dealers to sell subsidised fertiliser at their network of retail stores in select districts on a pilot basis. At the same time, small‐scale independent fertiliser dealers were excluded from participating in the pilot. We use a unique panel dataset of large‐scale corporate fertiliser dealers and small‐scale independent fertiliser dealers collected before and after the policy change to estimate the impacts of the FISP on those who participated in the pilot and those who did not, using a difference‐in‐differences estimator. Results indicate that large‐scale dealers who sold the FISP fertiliser under the pilot programme in 2015/16 did not have their commercial sales either crowded‐in or crowded‐out by the FISP pilot. Instead, the average volume of fertiliser sold at each of their retail stores increased by 59% due to an increase in subsidised fertiliser sales. Conversely, small‐scale independent fertiliser dealers who were not allowed participate in the pilot had their commercial sales crowded‐out by the programme. They experienced a 60% decline in the volume of commercial fertiliser sales on average at each store. This implies that the FISP reforms have mainly benefited large‐scale fertiliser dealers who sell 90% of the fertiliser in Malawi, but caused some harm to the many small‐scale independent fertiliser dealers who sell about 10% of the private sector's fertiliser in Malawi, but often operate their businesses in more remote areas.
The emerging roles of protein homeostasis‐governing pathways in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Cheng Ji , North Brian J. , Zhang Tao , Dai Xiangpeng , Tao Kaixiong , Guo Jianping , Wei Wenyi
Published: July 2018

Pathways governing protein homeostasis are involved in maintaining the structural, quantitative, and functional stability of intracellular proteins and involve the ubiquitin–proteasome system, autophagy, endoplasmic reticulum, and mTOR pathway. Due to the broad physiological implications of protein homeostasis pathways, dysregulation of proteostasis is often involved in the development of multiple pathological conditions, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Similar to other neurodegenerative diseases that feature pathogenic accumulation of misfolded proteins, Alzheimer's disease is characterized by two pathological hallmarks, amyloid‐β (Aβ) plaques and tau aggregates. Knockout or transgenic overexpression of various proteostatic components in mice results in AD‐like phenotypes. While both Aβ plaques and tau aggregates could in turn enhance the dysfunction of these proteostatic pathways, eventually leading to apoptotic or necrotic neuronal death and pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, targeting the components of proteostasis pathways may be a promising therapeutic strategy against Alzheimer's disease.
An approach to estimate bidirectional mediation effects with application to body mass index and fasting glucose
Authors: Talluri Rajesh , Shete Sanjay
Published: July 2018

Obesity and type 2 diabetes are major public health issues with known interdependence. Genetic variants have been associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, or both; thus, we hypothesize that some single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with both conditions may be mediated through obesity to affect type 2 diabetes or vice versa. We propose a framework for bidirectional mediation analyses. Simulations show that this approach accurately estimates the parameters, whether the mediation is unidirectional or bidirectional. In many scenarios, when the mediator is regressed on the initial variable and the outcome is regressed on the mediator and the initial variable, the resulting residuals are correlated because of other unmeasured covariates not in the model. We show that the proposed model provides accurate estimates in this scenario, too. We applied the proposed approach to investigate the mediating effects of SNPs associated with type 2 diabetes and obesity using genetic data from the Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis cohort. Specifically, we used body mass index (BMI) as a measure for obesity and fasting glucose as a measure for type 2 diabetes. We evaluated the top 6 SNPs associated with both BMI and fasting glucose. Two SNPs (rs3752355 and rs6087982) had indirect effects on BMI mediated through fasting glucose [0.2677; 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.0007, 0.6548) and 0.3301; 95% CI (0.0881, 0.8544), respectively]. The remaining four SNPs (rs7969190, rs4869710, rs10201400, and rs12421620) directly affect BMI and fasting glucose without mediating effects.
Identification of seminal markers of male accessory gland inflammation: From molecules to proteome
Authors: Grande Giuseppe , Milardi Domenico , Baroni Silvia , Luca Giovanni , Pontecorvi Alfredo
Published: July 2018

Male accessory gland infection/inflammation (MAGI) is a frequent disease, mostly with a chronic course, involving 1 or more sexual accessory glands. Majority of the MAGIs remain asymptomatic, thereby leading to a dilemma whether to treat these patients or not. It is moreover noteworthy that the diagnosis of MAGI is difficult, since patients are frequently asymptomatic and semen samples or prostatic secretions are often free from bacteria. As a consequence the identification of novel and reliable markers of inflammation in seminal plasma is an open challenge. If leukocytospermia and polymorphonuclear elastase and the analysis of the secretory products of male accessory glands have been widely used in the past, their diagnostic significance is discussed. Some cytokines (IL‐6 and IL‐8) and protein markers (suPAR) have been reported in the last years as the most promising markers for the diagnosis and the follow‐up of MAGI. Recent advances in proteomic techniques undoubtedly represent a real promise in the future for the identification of novel markers of MAGI. This article provides an overview of key seminal biomarkers of MAGI, including the novel perspectives of the putative markers deriving by the most recent proteomic approaches.
The evolutionary origins of pesticide resistance
Authors: Hawkins Nichola J. , Bass Chris , Dixon Andrea , Neve Paul
Published: July 2018

Durable crop protection is an essential component of current and future food security. However, the effectiveness of pesticides is threatened by the evolution of resistant pathogens, weeds and insect pests. Pesticides are mostly novel synthetic compounds, and yet target species are often able to evolve resistance soon after a new compound is introduced. Therefore, pesticide resistance provides an interesting case of rapid evolution under strong selective pressures, which can be used to address fundamental questions concerning the evolutionary origins of adaptations to novel conditions. We ask: (i) whether this adaptive potential originates mainly from de novo mutations or from standing variation; (ii) which pre‐existing traits could form the basis of resistance adaptations; and (iii) whether recurrence of resistance mechanisms among species results from interbreeding and horizontal gene transfer or from independent parallel evolution. We compare and contrast the three major pesticide groups: insecticides, herbicides and fungicides. Whilst resistance to these three agrochemical classes is to some extent united by the common evolutionary forces at play, there are also important differences. Fungicide resistance appears to evolve, in most cases, by de novo point mutations in the target‐site encoding genes; herbicide resistance often evolves through selection of polygenic metabolic resistance from standing variation; and insecticide resistance evolves through a combination of standing variation and de novo mutations in the target site or major metabolic resistance genes. This has practical implications for resistance risk assessment and management, and lessons learnt from pesticide resistance should be applied in the deployment of novel, non‐chemical pest‐control methods.
Imagining their Future Selves: Children's Attitudes to Older People and their Expectations of Life at Age 70
Authors: Lloyd Katrina , Devine Paula , Carney Gemma M.
Published: July 2018

Studies eliciting the views of children on ageing are rare, particularly those that focus on imagining a future self as an ‘old’ person and how this might be linked to current attitudes to older people. To address this gap, 2,365 children participated in an online survey which included questions on ageing. Findings suggest that children who hold negative views about old people visualise poorer outcomes for themselves at age 70. Implications of the findings are discussed in the context of an ageing population and the need to develop strategies to prevent the formation of prejudices against older people from an early age.
Laryngeal dysplasia and narrow band imaging: Secondary analysis of published data supports the role in patient follow‐up
Authors: Paleri Vinidh , Sawant Rupali , Mehanna Hisham , Ainsworth Holly , Stocken Deborah
Published: July 2018

Background

Clinicians have recognised the role of narrow band imaging (NBI) in the management of head and neck cancer in several studies. However, a recent systematic review was unable to pool the data on diagnostic efficacy in this setting owing to the heterogeneity in the published data.

Methods

Secondary analysis of data, utilising Bayes' theorem, from meta‐analyses and randomised trials.

Results

In patients with a histological diagnosis of mild dysplasia who show no abnormalities on NBI, the post‐test probability of malignancy is estimated to be 2.3%, compared to 10.3% with conventional white light imaging (WLI). For severe dysplasia, similar post‐test probabilities after NBI and WLI are estimated to be 8.0% and 29.7%, respectively. Post‐test probabilities in this setting indicate the chance of missing malignancy following a negative NBI or WLI in patients who undergo no further intervention. This study also provides a nomogram designed for use in this setting.

Conclusions

This study identifies the evidence base for use of NBI in the follow‐up for laryngeal dysplasia.