bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A biophysical regulator of inhibitory integration and learning in mesolimbic dopamine neurons
Authors: Costa Kauê M. , Hammer Niklas , Knowlton Christopher , Schwenk Jochen , Müller Tamara , Schulte Dorothea , Fakler Bernd , Canavier Carmen C. , Roeper Jochen
Published: June 2018

Midbrain dopamine neurons are essential for flexible control of adaptive behaviors. DA neurons that project to different target regions have unique biophysical properties, and it is thought that this diversity reflects functional specialization. This assumption implies the presence of specific genetic determinants with precise impacts on behavior. We tested this general hypothesis by homing in on one particular biophysical mechanism, Kv4 channel inactivation, using a combination of molecular, proteomic, electrophysiological, computational, and behavioral approaches. We demonstrate that KChIP4a, a singular Kv4 β-subunit splice variant, prolongs hyperpolarization-rebound delays selectively in dopamine neurons projecting to the nucleus accumbens core, shifts the integration of inhibitory inputs and, in turn, selectively regulates learning from negative prediction-errors. Our results reveal a highly specialized, gene-to-behavior mechanistic chain that is only operative in a particular dopaminergic subsystem, illuminating how molecularly defined biophysical switches are employed for neuron subtype-specific information processing in the brain.

Graphical abstract
Template-assisted synthesis of adenine-mutagenized cDNA by a retroelement protein complex
Authors: Handa Sumit , Jiang Yong , Tao Sijia , Foreman Robert , Schinazi Raymond F. , Miller Jeff F. , Ghosh Partho
Published: June 2018

Diversity-generating retroelements (DGRs) create unparalleled levels of protein sequence variation through mutagenic retrohoming. Sequence information is transferred from an invariant template region (TR), through an RNA intermediate, to a protein-coding variable region. Selective infidelity at adenines during transfer is a hallmark of DGRs from disparate bacteria, archaea, and microbial viruses. We recapitulated selective infidelityin vitrofor the prototypicalBordetellabacteriophage DGR. A complex of the DGR reverse transcriptase bRT and pentameric accessory variability determinant (Avd) protein along with DGR RNA were necessary and sufficient for synthesis of template-primed, covalently linked RNA-cDNA molecules, as observedin vivo. We identified RNAcDNA molecules to be branched and most plausibly linked through 2′-5′ phosphodiester bonds. Adenine-mutagenesis was intrinsic to the bRT-Avd complex, which displayed unprecedented promiscuity while reverse transcribing adenines of either DGR or non-DGR RNA templates. In contrast, bRT-Avd processivity was strictly dependent on the template, occurring only for the DGR RNA. This restriction was mainly due to a noncoding segment downstream ofTR, which specifically bound Avd and created a privileged site for processive polymerization. Restriction to DGR RNA may protect the host genome from damage. These results define the early steps in a novel pathway for massive sequence diversification.
Designing Minimal Genomes Using Whole-Cell Models
Authors: Rees Joshua , Chalkley Oliver , Landon Sophie , Purcell Oliver , Marucci Lucia , Grierson Claire
Published: June 2018

In the future, entire genomes tailored to specific functions and environments could be designed using computational tools. However, computational tools for genome design are currently scarce. Here we present algorithms that enable the use of design-simulate-test cycles for genome design, using genome minimisation as a proof-of-concept. Minimal genomes are ideal for this purpose as they have a simple functional assay, the cell either replicates or not. We used the first (and currently only published) whole-cell model, for the bacteriumMycoplasma genitalium. Our computational design-simulate-test cycles discovered novelin-silicominimal genomes smaller thanJCVI-Syn3.0, a bacteria with, currently, the smallest genome that can be grown in pure culture. In the process, we identified 10 low essentiality genes, 18 high essentiality genes, and produced evidence for at least twoMycoplasma genitalium in-silicominimal genomes. This work brings combined computational and laboratory genome engineering a step closer.
Maelstrom Represses Canonical Polymerase II Transcription within Bi-Directional piRNA Clusters inDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Chang Timothy H. , Mattei Eugenio , Gainetdinov Ildar , Weng Zhiping , Zamore Phillip D.
Published: June 2018

InDrosophila, 23–30 nt long PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) direct the protein Piwi to silence germline transposon transcription. Most germline piRNAs derive from dual-strand piRNA clusters, heterochromatic transposon graveyards that are transcribed from both genomic strands. These piRNA sources are marked by the Heterochromatin Protein 1 homolog, Rhino (Rhi), which facilitates their promoter-independent transcription, suppresses splicing, and inhibits transcriptional termination. Here, we report that the protein Maelstrom (Mael) represses canonical, promoter-dependent transcription in dual-strand clusters, allowing Rhi to initiate piRNA precursor transcription. In addition to Mael, the piRNA biogenesis factors Armitage and Piwi, but not Rhi, are required to repress canonical transcription in dual-strand clusters. We propose that Armitage, Piwi, and Mael collaborate to repress potentially dangerous transcription of individual transposon mRNAs within clusters, while Rhi allows non-canonical transcription of the clusters into piRNA precursors without generating transposase-encoding mRNAs.
Estimating the benefit of quarantine: eradicating invasive cane toads from islands
Authors: Smart Adam S , Tingley Reid , Phillips Ben L
Published: June 2018

Islands are increasingly used to protect endangered populations from the negative impacts of invasive species. Quarantine efforts are particularly likely to be undervalued in circumstances where a failure incurs non-economic costs. One approach to ascribe value to such efforts is by modeling the expense of restoring a system to its former state.

Using field-based removal experiments on two very different islands off northern Australia separated by > 400 km, we estimate cane toad densities, detection probabilities, and the resulting effort needed to eradicate toads from an island, and use these estimates to examine the financial benefit of cane toad quarantine across offshore islands prioritized for conversation management by the Australian federal government.

We calculate density as animals per km of freshwater shoreline, and find striking concordance of density across our two island study sites: a mean density of 353 [286, 446] individual toads per kilometer on one island, and a density of 366 [319, 343] on the second. Detection probability differed between the two islands.

Using a removal model and the financial costs incurred during toad removal, we estimate that eradicating cane toads would, on average, cost between $9444 (based on Horan Island; high detectability) and $18093 AUD (Indian Island; low detectability) per km of available freshwater shoreline.

Across islands that have been prioritized for conservation benefit within the toads’ predicted range, we provide an estimate of the value of toad quarantine on each island, and estimate the net value of quarantine efforts to be between $27.25 – $52.20 Million AUD. We explore a proposed mainland cane toad containment strategy – to prevent the spread of cane toads into the Pilbara Bioregion, and estimate its potential value to be between $33.79 – $64.74 M AUD.

Synthesis and applications. We present a modelling framework that can be used to estimate the value of preventative management, via estimating the length and cost of an eradication program. Our analyses suggest that there is substantial economic value in cane toad quarantine efforts across Australian offshore islands and a proposed mainland toad containment strategy.
Heterogeneous timing of asexual cycles in Plasmodium falciparum quantified by extended time-lapse microscopy
Authors: Park Heungwon , Huang Shuqiang , Walzer Katelyn A. , You Lingchong , Chi Jen-Tsan Ashley , Buchler Nicolas E.
Published: June 2018

Malarial fever arises from the synchronous bursting of human red blood cells by the Plasmodium parasite. The released parasites re-infect neighboring red blood cells and undergo another asexual cycle of differentiation and proliferation for 48 hours, before again bursting synchronously. The synchrony of bursting is lost during in vitro culturing of the parasite outside the human body, presumably because the asexual cycle is no longer entrained by host-specific circadian cues. Therefore, most in vitro malaria studies have relied on the artificial synchronization of the parasite population. However, much remains unknown about the degree of timing heterogeneity of asexual cycles and how artificial synchronization may affect this timing. Here, we combined time-lapse fluorescence microscopy and long-term culturing to follow single cells and directly measure the heterogeneous timing of in vitro asexual cycles. We first demonstrate that unsynchronized laboratory cultures are not fully asynchronous and the parasites exhibit a bimodal distribution in their first burst times. We then show that synchronized and unsynchronized cultures had similar asexual cycle periods, which indicates that artificial synchronization does not fundamentally perturb asexual cycle dynamics. Last, we demonstrate that sibling parasites descended from the same schizont exhibited significant variation in asexual cycle period, although smaller than the variation between non-siblings. The additional variance between non-siblings likely arises from the variable environments and/or developmental programs experienced in different host cells.
Coherent feedforward regulation of gene expression byCaulobacterσTand GsrN during hyperosmotic stress
Authors: Tien Matthew Z. , Stein Benjamin J. , Crosson Sean
Published: June 2018

GsrN is a conserved small RNA that is under transcriptional control of the general stress sigma factor, σT, and that functions as a post-transcriptional regulator ofCaulobacter crescentussurvival under multiple stress conditions. We have defined features of GsrN structure that determine survival under hyperosmotic stress, and have applied transcriptomic and proteomic methods to identify regulatory targets of GsrN under hyperosmotic conditions. The 5’ end of GsrN, which includes a conserved cytosine-rich stem loop structure, is necessary for cell survival after osmotic upshock. GsrN both activates and represses gene expression in this stress condition. Expression of an uncharacterized open reading frame predicted to encode a glycine-zipper protein,osrP, is strongly activated by GsrN. Our data support a model in which GsrN physically interacts withosrPmRNA through its 5’ C-rich stem loop to enhance OsrP protein expression. We conclude thatsigT,gsrN, andosrPform a coherent feedforward loop in which σTactivatesgsrNandosrPtranscription during stress, and GsrN activates OsrP protein expression at the post-transcriptional level. This study delineates transcriptional and post-transcriptional layers ofCaulobactergene expression control during hyperosmotic stress, uncovers a new regulatory target of GsrN, and defines a coherent feedforward motif in theCaulobacterGSR regulatory network.

Importance

Bacteria inhabit diverse niches, and must adapt their physiology to constant environmental fluctuations. A major response to environmental perturbation is to change gene expression.Caulobacterand other alphaproteobacteria initiate a complex gene expression program known as the general stress response (GSR) under conditions including oxidative stress, osmotic stress, and nutrient limitation. The GSR enables cell survival in these environments. Understanding how bacteria survive stress requires that we dissect gene expression responses, such as the GSR, at the molecular level. This study is significant as it defines transcriptional and post-transcriptional layers of gene expression regulation in response to hyperosmotic stress. We further provide evidence that coherent feedforward motifs influence the system properties of theCaulobacterGSR pathway.
Interleukin-17 regulates neuron-glial communications, inhibitory synaptic transmission and neuropathic pain after chemotherapy
Authors: Luo Hao , Liu Hui-Zhu , Luo Xin , Bang Sangsu , Wang Zi-Long , Chen Gang , Ji Ru-Rong , Zhang Yu-Qiu
Published: June 2018

The proinflammatory cytokine Interleukin-17 (IL-17) is produced mainly by Th17 cells and has been implicated in pain regulation. However, synaptic mechanisms by which IL-17 regulates pain transmission are unknown. Here we report that glia-produced IL-17 suppresses inhibitory synaptic transmission in spinal cord pain circuit and drives chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain. We observed respective expression of IL-17 and its receptor IL-17R in spinal cord astrocytes and neurons. Patch clamp recording in spinal cord slices revealed that IL-17 not only enhanced EPSCs but also suppressed IPSCs and GABA-induced currents in lamina IIo somatostatin-expressing neurons. Spinal IL-17 was upregulated after paclitaxel treatment, and intrathecal IL-17R blockade reduced paclitaxel-induced neuropathic pain. In dorsal root ganglia, respective IL-17 and IL-17R expression in satellite glial cells and neurons was sufficient and required for inducing neuronal hyperexcitability after paclitaxel. Together, our data show that IL-17/IL-17R mediate both central and peripheral neuron-glial interactions in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
Multiway Canonical Correlation Analysis of Brain Signals
Authors: de Cheveigné Alain , Di Liberto Giovanni M. , Arzounian Dorothée , Wong Daniel D.E. , Hjortkjær Jens , Fuglsang Søren , Parra Lucas C.
Published: June 2018

Brain signals recorded with electroencephalography (EEG), magnetoencephalography (MEG) and related techniques often have poor signal-to-noise ratio due to the presence of multiple competing sources and artifacts. A common remedy is to average over repeats of the same stimulus, but this is not applicable for temporally extended stimuli that are presented only once (speech, music, movies, natural sound). An alternative is to average responses over multiple subjects that were presented with the same identical stimuli, but differences in geometry of brain sources and sensors reduce the effectiveness of this solution. Multiway canonical correlation analysis (MCCA) brings a solution to this problem by allowing data from multiple subjects to be fused in such a way as to extract components common to all. This paper reviews the method, offers application examples that illustrate its effectiveness, and outlines the caveats and risks entailed by the method.
Serotonergic and catecholaminergic (dopaminergic) oscillations in the reproductive regulation of Japanese quail
Authors: Yadav Suneeta , Chaturvedi Chandra Mohini
Published: June 2018

Specific temporal phase relation of serotonergic and dopaminergic oscillations alters reproductive responses in many species. Aim of the study was to confirm whether effect of serotonergic drug (5-HTP) and dopaminergic drug (L-DOPA) is due to their conversion into serotonin and dopamine respectively or other products. For this study, PCPA (p-chlorophenylalanine, a long lasting inhibitor of serotonin synthesis), DDC (Diethyldithiocarbamate, which inhibits biosynthesis of nor-adrenaline), α-MT (Methyl-p-tyrosine, an inhibitor for the conversion of tyrosine to DOPA) and DOPS (Dihydroxyphenylserine, a specific precursor for noradrenaline) were used in different groups in addition to 5-HTP and L-DOPA given at specific time interval. Reproductive responses monitored at 10 weeks post treatment indicate that gonadal activity was significantly low in HTP:DOPA (8-hr quail), HTP+PCPA:DOPA and HTP:DOPA+DDC quail compare to control (S:S). However, gonadal activity of HTP:S(HTP control), S:DOPA(DOPA control) and HTP: α-MT+DOPS was not different from S:S control and remained in active condition. These findings indicate that it is not the dose of neurotransmitter precursor drugs (5-HTP and L-DOPA) and the neurotransmitters (serotonin and dopamine itself) that cause the effect, instead it is the function of interval between the drug administration which induces or entrains specific phase relation between serotonergic and dopaminergic oscillations. Further, gonadal suppression observed in HTP:DOPA, HTP+PCPA:DOPA and HTP:DOPA+DDC group three groups is not due to injection of 5-HTP or L-DOPA (alone) but due to conversion of administered 5-HTP into serotonin and conversion of L-DOPA (administered) into dopamine; not due to their further conversion into catecholamines other than dopamine i.e. noradrenaline or adrenaline.
An efficient and robust laboratory workflow and tetrapod database for larger scale eDNA studies
Authors: Axtner Jan , Crampton-Platt Alex , Hörig Lisa A. , Mohamed Azlan , Xu Charles C.Y. , Yu Douglas W. , Wilting Andreas
Published: June 2018

Background

The use of environmental DNA, ‘eDNA,’ for species detection via metabarcoding is growing rapidly. We present a co-designed lab workflow and bioinformatic pipeline to mitigate the two most important risks of eDNA: sample contamination and taxonomic mis-assignment. These risks arise from the need for PCR amplification to detect the trace amounts of DNA combined with the necessity of using short target regions due to DNA degradation.

Findings

Our high-throughput workflow minimises these risks via a four-step strategy: (1) technical replication with two PCRreplicatesand twoextraction replicates; (2) using multi-markers (12S,16S, CytB); (3) a ‘twin-tagging,’ two-step PCR protocol;(4) use of the probabilistic taxonomic assignment methodPROTAX, which can account for incomplete reference databases.

As annotation errors in the reference sequences can result in taxonomic mis-assignment, we supply a protocol for curating sequence datasets. For some taxonomic groups and some markers, curation resulted in over 50% of sequences being deleted from public reference databases, due to (1) limited overlap between our target amplicon and reference sequences; (2) mislabelling of reference sequences; (3) redundancy.

Finally, we provide a bioinformatic pipeline to process amplicons and conductPROTAXassignment and tested it on an ‘invertebrate derived DNA’ (iDNA) dataset from 1532 leeches from Sabah, Malaysia. Twin-tagging allowed us to detect and exclude sequences with non-matching tags. The smallest DNA fragment (16S) amplified most frequently for all samples, but was less powerful for discriminating at species rank. Using a stringent and lax acceptance criteria we found 162 (stringent) and 190 (lax) vertebrate detections of 95 (stringent) and 109 (lax) leech samples.

Conclusions

Our metabarcoding workflow should help research groups increase the robustness of their results and therefore facilitate wider usage of e/iDNA, which is turning into a valuable source of ecological and conservation information on tetrapods.
cDeepbind: A context sensitive deep learning model of RNA-protein binding
Authors: Gandhi Shreshth , Lee Leo J. , Delong Andrew , Duvenaud David , Frey Brendan J.
Published: June 2018

Motivation

Determining RNA binding protein(RBP) binding specificity is crucial for understanding many cellular processes and genetic disorders. RBP binding is known to be affected by both the sequence and structure of RNAs. Deep learning can be used to learn generalizable representations of raw data and has improved state of the art in several fields such as image classification, speech recognition and even genomics. Previous work on RBP binding has either used shallow models that combine sequence and structure or deep models that use only the sequence. Here we combine both abilities by augmenting and refining the original Deepbind architecture to capture structural information and obtain significantly better performance.

Results

We propose two deep architectures, one a lightweight convolutional network for transcriptome wide inference and another a Long Short-Term Memory(LSTM) network that is suitable for small batches of data. We incorporate computationally predicted secondary structure features as input to our models and show its effectiveness in boosting prediction performance. Our models achieved significantly higher correlations on held out in-vitro test data compared to previous approaches, and generalise well to in-vivo CLIP-SEQ data achieving higher median AUCs than other approaches. We analysed the output from our model for VTS1 and CPO and provided intuition into its working. Our models confirmed known secondary structure preferences for some proteins as well as found new ones where secondary structure might play a role. We also demonstrated the strengths of our model compared to other approaches such as the ability to combine information from long distances along the input.

Availability

Software and models are available at https://github.com/shreshthgandhi/cDeepbind

Contact

ljlee@psi.toronto.edu, frey@psi.toronto.edu
Comparison of stimulus-evoked BOLD responses in human and monkey visual cortex
Authors: Patel Gaurav H. , Cohen Alexander L. , Baker Justin T. , Snyder Lawrence H. , Corbetta Maurizio
Published: June 2018

We characterized the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal in humans and macaque monkeys by comparing the response in visual cortex to a single checkerboard or two checkerboards, spaced 1.5, 3.0, or 4.5 s apart. We found that the magnitude and shape of the BOLD response to a single checkerboard was similar in the two species. In addition, we found that the BOLD responses summed similarly, and that at an inter-stimulus interval (ISI) of 4.5 sec BOLD summation was nearly linear in both species. When comparing the ratio of the amplitude of the response to the second checkerboard at the 4.5 sec ISI with that of the single checkerboard between subjects in both species, the results from both monkey subjects fell within one standard deviation of the mean human results (human mean (n=12): .95 +/− .31 second/single response amplitude; monkey 1: 1.16; monkey 2: .86). At the shorter ISIs, both species demonstrated increased suppression of the BOLD response to the second checkerboard. These findings indicate that the magnitude of the BOLD response to events separated by 4.5 seconds can be accurately measured in and compared between human and monkey visual cortex.
Saracatinib and Dasatinib Fail To Prevent Heritable Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: D’Amico Reid W. , Gladson Santhi , Shay Sheila , Copeland Courtney , West James D.
Published: June 2018

Evidence suggests that the deregulation of SRC Family Kinases may play a role in the development of heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension, associated with BMPR2 mutations. The truncated c-terminus of the BMPR2 protein is known to increase the phosphorylation and downstream activity of SRC tyrosine kinases. To test the hypothesis that the inhibition of SRC can prevent heritable PAH due to a BMPR2 mutation, we exposed BMPR2 mutant mice to SRC inhibitors, saracatinib and dasatinib, to block the SRC activation caused by the BMPR2 mutation. Saracatinib and dasatinib failed to prevent the development of PAH in BMPR2 mutant mice. Increased pressure in the right ventricle was not normalized and muscularization of large blood vessels was not reduced when compared to wild type mice. Inhibiting SRC’s phosphorylation does not prevent heritable PAH, and thus supports evidence that SRC’s aberrant localization and trafficking in PAH plays a more critical role in disease development.
A synthetic non-histone substrate provides insight into substrate targeting by the Gcn5 HAT and sirtuin HDACs
Authors: Rössl Anthony , Lin Mong-Shang , Downey Michael
Published: June 2018

Gcn5 and sirtuins are highly conserved HAT and HDAC enzymes that were first characterised as regulators of gene expression. Although histone tails are important substrates of these enzymes, these proteins also target many non-histone substrates that participate in diverse biological processes. The mechanisms used by these enzymes to choose their non-histone substrates is unclear. In this work, we use a unique synthetic biology approach in S. cerevisiae to demonstrate that a shared target sequence can act as a determinant of substrate selection for Gcn5 and sirtuins. We also exploit this system to define specific subunits of the Gcn5-containing ADA complex as regulators of non-histone acetylations proteome-wide.
Diffuse X-ray scattering from local chemical inhomogeneities in InGaN layers
Authors: Holý Václav , Kryśko Marcin , Leszczyński Michał
Published: June 2018

Diffuse X-ray scattering from random chemical inhomogeneities in epitaxial layers of InGaN/GaN was simulated using linear elasticity theory and kinematical X-ray diffraction. The simulation results show the possibility of determining the r.m.s. deviations of the local In content and its lateral correlation length from reciprocal-space maps of the scattered intensity. The reciprocal-space distribution of the intensity scattered from inhomogeneities is typical and it can be distinguished from other sources of diffuse scattering such as threading or misfit dislocations.
X-ray phase-contrast imaging with engineered porous materials over 50 keV
Authors: Wang Hongchang , Cai Biao , Pankhurst Matthew James , Zhou Tunhe , Kashyap Yogesh , Atwood Robert , Le Gall Nolwenn , Lee Peter , Drakopoulos Michael , Sawhney Kawal
Published: June 2018

X-ray phase-contrast imaging can substantially enhance image contrast for weakly absorbing samples. The fabrication of dedicated optics remains a major barrier, especially in high-energy regions (i.e. over 50 keV). Here, the authors perform X-ray phase-contrast imaging by using engineered porous materials as random absorption masks, which provides an alternative solution to extend X-ray phase-contrast imaging into previously challenging higher energy regions. The authors have measured various samples to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed engineering materials. This technique could potentially be useful for studying samples across a wide range of applications and disciplines.
Crystal structures of (acetonitrile-κN)tris(pyridine-4-thioamide-κN)bis(thiocyanate-κN)cobalt(II) acetonitrile disolvate and tetrakis(pyridine-4-thioamide-κN)bis(thiocyanate-κN)nickel(II) methanol pentasolvate
Authors: Neumann Tristan , Jess Inke , Näther Christian
Published: June 2018

Reaction of Co(NCS)2 or Ni(NCS)2 with pyridine-4-thioamide in different solvents led to the formation of two compounds with composition [Co(NCS)2(C2H3N)(C6H6N2S)3]·2CH3CN (1) and [Ni(NCS)2(C6H6N2S)4]·5CH3OH (2), respectively. The asymmetric unit of compound 1 consists of one cobalt(II) cation, two thiocyanate anions, three pyridine-4-thioamide ligands, one coordinating and two solvate acetonitrile molecules. One of the two acetonitrile solvate molecules is disordered over two sets of sites in a 0.62:0.38 ratio. The asymmetric unit of compound 2 comprises of one nickel(II) cation, two thiocyanate anions, four N-bonding pyridine-4-thioamide ligands and five methanol solvate molecules. In compound 1, the cobalt(II) cations are octahedrally coordinated into discrete complexes by two terminal N-bonding thiocyanate anions, the N atoms of three pyridine-4-thioamide ligands and one acetonitrile molecule. Additional acetonitrile solvate molecules are located between the complexes,. The complexes and solvate molecules are linked via intermolecular hydrogen bonding into a three-dimensional framework. In compound 2, the nickel(II) cations are likewise octahedrally coordinated by two terminal N-bonded thiocyanate anions and four N-bonding pyridine-4-thioamide ligands into discrete complexes. From their arrangement cavities are formed, in which the methanol solvate molecules are located. Again, the complexes and solvate molecules are linked into a three-dimensional framework by intermolecular hydrogen bonding.
Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of 2,4-diamino-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazin-1-ium trichloroacetate monohydrate
Authors: Sangeetha Ramalingam , Balasubramani Kasthuri , Thanigaimani Kaliyaperumal , Jose Kavitha Savaridasson
Published: June 2018

The asymmetric unit of the title molecular salt, C4H8N5
+·C2Cl3O2
−·H2O, coomprises a 2,4-diamino-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazin-1-ium cation, a trichloroacetate anion and a water molecule of solvation. The protonated N atom of the cation forms a hydrogen bond with a carboxyl O atom of the anion, which also acts as a hydrogen-atom acceptor with the water molecule. The cations form centrosymmetric dimeric units through R
2
2(8) N—H...N bond pairs and are extended into zigzag chains along the c-axis direction, also through similar cyclic R
2
2(8) dual N—H...N hydrogen-bonding interactions. The water molecule acts as a dual acceptor forming N—H...O hydrogen bonds between the amine groups of the cations, forming cyclic R
2
3(8) motifs. The second H atom of the water molecule also acts as a donor in an O—H...O hydrogen bond with the second carboxyl O atom, linking the chains along the b-axis direction. These interactions give rise to an overall three-dimensional supramolecular structure. A Hirshfeld surface analysis was employed in order to study the intermolecular interactions.
Crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis and energy framework calculation of the first oxoanion salt containing 1,3-cyclohexanebis(methylammonium): [3-(azaniumylmethyl)cyclohexyl]methanaminium dinitrate
Authors: Chebbi Hammouda , Mezrigui Samia , Ben Jomaa Meriam , Zid Mohamed Faouzi
Published: June 2018

The title salt, C8H20N2
2+·2NO3
−, was obtained by a reaction between 1,3-cyclohexanebis(methylamine) and nitric acid. The cyclohexane ring of the organic cation is in a chair conformation with the methylammonium substituents in the equatorial positions and the two terminal ammonium groups in a trans conformation. In the crystal, mixed cation–anion layers lying parallel to the (010) plane are formed through N—H...O hydrogen-bonding interactions; these layers are formed by infinite undulating chains running parallel to the [001] direction. The overall intermolecular interactions involved in the structure were quantified and fully described by Hirshfeld surface analysis. In addition, energy-framework calculations were used to analyse and visualize the three-dimensional topology of the crystal packing. The electrostatic energy framework is dominant over the dispersion energy framework.
Reinvestigation of the crystal structure of Ca2Ce8(SiO4)6O2 apatite by Rietveld refinement
Authors: Massoni Nicolas , Hegron Ronan , Campayo Lionel
Published: June 2018

Ca2
Ln
8(SiO4)6O2 apatites with Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd and Tb crystallize in space group P63/m. The crystal structure of apatite-type Ca2Ce8(SiO4)6O2 [dicalcium octacerium hexakis(silicate) dioxide], which has been synthesized by calcination, was refined from powder X-ray diffraction data using the Rietveld method. A database survey shows that contrary to the previously published Ca2Ce8(SiO4)6O2 structure [Skakle et al. (2000). Powder Diffr.
15, 234–238], the cell volume of the structure reported here is consistent with those of other Ln apatites.
Crystal structure and theoretical study of (2E)-1-[4-hydroxy-3-(morpholin-4-ylmethyl)phenyl]-3-(thiophen-2-yl)prop-2-en-1-one
Authors: Yesilyurt Fatma , Aydin Abdullah , Gul Halise Inci , Akkurt Mehmet , Ozcelik Nefise Dilek
Published: June 2018

In the title compound, C18H19NO3S, the morpholine ring adopts a chair conformation. The thiophene ring forms dihedral angles of 26.04 (9) and 74.07 (10)° with the benzene ring and the mean plane of the morpholine ring, respectively. The molecular conformation is stabilized by an O—H...N hydrogen bond. In the crystal, molecules are connected through C—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming wave-like layers parallel to the ab plane, which are further linked into a three-dimensional network by C—H...π interactions involving the benzene rings and the methylene H atoms of the morpholine rings.
Integrated thinking leading to integrated reporting: case study insights from a global player
Authors: Al-Htaybat Khaldoon , von Alberti-Alhtaybat Larissa
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the link between integrated thinking (IT) and integrated reporting (IR) in a global player. It seeks to shed light on how IT develops organically, using their IR as a source. Bourdieu’s theory of practice is utilised to explain the concept of IT and how it is established in the case organisation through publicly available corporate information.

Design/methodology/approach

Video, document/text and interview material are used to investigate the perception and status quo of IT at the case organisation. Data were analysed in two coding stages to derive at the categories/themes that have the most explanatory power regarding the phenomenon under study.

Findings

The study contributes the organisational habitus of handling uncertainty and disruption, which governs the IT and IR initiative and development in the case organisation. Furthermore, it illustrates an empirical example of how an organisation has grown its IT approach over time and has introduced IR as a result of that, as a reflection on the IT approach.

Originality/value

This paper investigates a global organisation, the first provider of an integrated report in their geographical region, and its IT and reporting approach. The findings reflect on the organisational habitus of handling uncertainty and disruption, which leads to IT and ultimately IR. The case organisation constitutes a “natural integrated thinker” in their agile asset-light approach to their business and their integration of stakeholders beyond the organisation. They are the regional vanguard of sustainability and integration, as a result of which they have become one of the few global players of their region.
Defining and developing a scale to measure strategic thinking
Authors: Dhir Sanjay , Dhir Swati , Samanta Payel
Published: June 2018

Purpose

This study aims to derive a sound definition of strategic thinking by horizontal analysis of past research and discussions with professionals.

Design/methodology/approach

The research design includes three broad stages: item generation, scale development and assessment of scale’s psychometric properties.

Findings

The eclectic composition cuts across vocations, religions, sex and age strengthen the flexibility of application of the scale. The resulting scale shows strong psychometric properties and is expected to be useful for academics, practitioners and organizations alike.

Research limitations/implications

The information on strategic thinking was self-reported through strategic thinking questionnaire (STQ) and is consequently at risk to be influenced by self-bias.

Practical implications

Using the scale of strategic thinking will empower strategic thinkers to draw a more extensive scope of strategies at all levels. This will additionally bring about higher-quality procedures, increased performance and greater competitive advantage.

Social implications

The study represents to be an imperative predecessor to strategic decision-making and may give a key to better comprehend authoritative change marvels and at last survival.

Originality/value

As the sample for our STQ has been collected from all across the country cross-sectioning different culture, gender and position of responsibility, the scale has significant robustness and implicative potential.
Dr Amit Goffer, co-founder at UPnRIDE, serial inventor and entrepreneur
Authors: Pransky Joanne
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The following article is a “Q&A interview” conducted by Joanne Pransky of Industrial Robot Journal as a method to impart the combined technological, business and personal experience of a prominent industry engineer-turned successful innovator and entrepreneur regarding the development of his inventions and the challenges he faced. This paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The interviewee is Dr Amit Goffer, Chief Technology Officer and President at UPnRIDE Robotics Ltd., a startup that makes a wheeled robotic device for almost anyone who is unable to physically stand or walk. He served as Chief Executive Officer (until 2012) and President and Chief Technical Officer of ReWalk Robotics, a company he founded in 2001 (previously called Argo Medical Technologies Ltd). Prior to Argo/ReWalk, Dr Goffer served as the Founder at Odin Medical Technologies Ltd. (later acquired by Medtronic), President and Chief Executive Officer. As an accomplished inventor and serial entrepreneur of medical devices, Goffer describes how his education in school and in running his companies combined with his life experiences led to his breakthroughs.

Findings

Dr Amit Goffer completed BSc from Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, MSc from Tel-Aviv University, Israel, and PhD from Drexel University, Philadelphia, USA, all in electrical and computer engineering. After working for Elscint, a medical imaging company, Goffer started Odin Medical to provide real-time magnetic resonance imaging images for brain surgery. After a tragic accident confined him to a wheelchair, Goffer created ReWalk, a robotic exoskeleton that enables people with lower limb disabilities to stand, walk, ascend/descend stairs and more. He recently founded his latest company, UPnRIDE.

Originality/value

Dr Amit Goffer is highly regarded as a pioneer of the emerging exoskeleton industry. His invention and development of the ReWalk Robotics wearable exoskeleton has enabled so far hundreds of wheelchair users to walk again, and another estimated 500,000 could benefit from it. Despite Goffer not being able to use the ReWalk himself, as he is a quadriplegic, his greatest passion is to improve the disabled’s self-esteem and quality of life. ReWalk was the first commercially available exoskeleton in the USA. It was named “best invention” by Popular Science and Time magazines. ReWalk Robotics went public in 2014. In 2015, the US Veteran’s Administration announced they would provide ReWalks for all eligible veterans with spinal cord injuries. Goffer recently devised UPnRIDE as a new product, allowing millions of wheelchair users worldwide, including himself, full mobility in the standing position in almost any urban environment.
Smooth transition adaptive hybrid impedance control for connector assembly
Authors: Wu Jun , Ni Fenglei , Zhang Yuanfei , Fan Shaowei , Zhang Qi , Lu Jiayuan , Liu Hong
Published: June 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to present a smooth transition adaptive hybrid impedance control for compliant connector assembly.

Design/methodology/approach

The dynamics of the manipulator is firstly presented with linear property. The controller used in connector assembly is inspired by human operation habits in similar tasks. The hybrid impedance control is adopted to apply force in the assembly direction and provide compliance in rest directions. The reference trajectory is implemented with an adaptive controller. Event-based switching strategy is conducted for a smooth transition from unconstrained to constrained space.

Findings

The method can ensure both ideal compliance behaviour with dynamic uncertainty and a smooth transition from unconstrained to constrained space. Also, the method can ensure compliant connector assembly with a good tolerance to the target estimation error.

Practical implications

The method can be applied in the connector assembly by “pushing” operation. The controller devotes efforts on force tracking and smooth transition, having potential applications in contact tasks in delicate environment.

Originality/value

As far as the authors know, the paper is original in providing a uniform controller for improving force and position control performance in both unconstrained and constrained space with dynamic uncertainty. The proposed controller can ensure a smooth transition by only adjusting parameters.
Comprehensive evaluation of the financial performance for intermediary institutions based on multi-criteria decision making method
Authors: Aras Guler , Tezcan Nuray , Kutlu Furtuna Ozlem
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the financial performance of the intermediary institutions that have operated in the Turkish capital markets taking the issue of bank-origin and non-bank-origin institutions into account.

Design/methodology/approach

Financial performance of the intermediary institutions has been measured by the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method between the years 2005 and 2016. In order to implement the TOPSIS method, the relative importance of financial performance indicators has been determined by Entropy, survey results and considering equal weights approaches.

Findings

Empirical findings indicate that the average performances of continuously operating intermediary institutions during the concerned period are above the average performance levels of all intermediaries. Additionally, the average rank of bank-origin intermediary institutions have been found higher than the non-bank origins for all years. This reveals that the average financial performance of the bank-origin intermediary institutions is higher than the average score of non-bank origins during the related years.

Originality/value

This study is unique in terms of evaluating the performance of intermediary institutions in Turkish capital markets with a comprehensive framework. Determining the relative importance of financial performance indicators according to entropy, survey results and equal-weight approaches and revealing the average financial performance ranking methodology for bank-origin and non-bank-origin intermediary institutions have added value.
Influencing project work: exploring the potentials of participatory research
Authors: Palm Kristina , Hansson Johan
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address the concept of participatory research (PR) in terms of its values and challenges in project work.

Design/methodology/approach

A participative research approach was used in which researchers worked collaboratively with key stakeholders involved in the development of a digital network model for expert diagnostics. The approach involved research and data gathering in six work packages: first, participation at workshops, including the presentation of a preliminary research agenda; second, presentation of a revised research agenda; third, interviews with project managers and steering committee members; fourth, feedback sessions; fifth, participation at a project conference, including additional feedback sessions; and sixth, concluding interviews with project managers.

Findings

The findings suggest that PR might strengthen project work through challenging interview questions and clear feedback. PR might empower the project manager by illuminating challenges and possibilities in the project process.

Practical implications

Project managers may use PR as one strategy to empower project work.

Originality/value

Despite the vast research on projects and project management, researchers and practitioners are still looking for ways to advance project work. This paper contributes with knowledge on how PR may advance project work.
Performance analysis in emergency departments: a data-driven approach
Authors: Stefanini Alessandro , Aloini Davide , Benevento Elisabetta , Dulmin Riccardo , Mininno Valeria
Published: June 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the process performances in Emergency Departments (EDs) with a novel data-driven approach, permitting to discover the entire patient-flow, deploy the performances in term of time and resources on the activities and flows and identify process deviations and critical bottlenecks. Moreover, the use of this methodology in real time might dynamically provide a picture of the current situation inside the ED in term of waiting times, crowding, resources, etc., supporting the management of patient demand and resources in real time.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed methodology exploits the process-mining techniques. Starting from the event data inside the hospital information systems, it permits automatically to extract the patient-flows, to evaluate the process performances, to detect process exceptions and to identify the deviations between the expected and the actual results.

Findings

The application of the proposed method to a real ED revealed being valuable to discover the actual patient-flow, measure the performances of each activity with respect to the predefined targets and compare different operating situations.

Practical implications

Starting from the results provided by this system, hospital managers may explore the root causes of deviations, identify areas for improvements and hypothesize improvement actions. Finally, process-mining outputs may provide useful information for creating simulation models to test and compare alternative ED operational scenarios.

Originality/value

This study responds to the need of novel approaches for monitoring and evaluating processes performances in the EDs. The novelty of this data-driven approach is the opportunity to timely connect performances, patient-flows and activities.
Gender and leadership stereotypes theory: is it reaching the boundaries?
Authors: Vasconcelos Anselmo Ferreira
Published: June 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to answer whether the notion of the gender and leadership stereotypes theory has already reached its boundaries.

Design/methodology/approach

To accomplish such a goal, it relies on the extant literature looking for more robust findings, problems, disruptions and pathways toward building a better understanding of this problematic.

Findings

The evidence gleaned throughout this paper suggests that the interplay between gender and leadership stereotypes theory has reached its boundaries. Moreover, the traditional sex stereotype or gender traits approach within companies seems to be highly limited taking into account that it tends to nurture rivalry and prejudice among people of different genders. Rather than focusing on leader sex approach or egalitarian quotas, in terms of leadership role and despite the fair argument of diversity, the author proposes that it is wiser to concentrate on a meritocratic view.

Practical implications

It suggests that an androgyny leadership style appears to be welcomed in organizations, yet some shift about this understanding may be occurring. At present, however, female aspirants of leadership roles should work increasingly toward adapting themselves to this profile. In doing so, it is likely that they may be benefited from organizational evaluations in which the merit issue constitutes an imperative.

Originality/value

Overall, it is expected to contribute to theory by arguing that the traditional understanding of gender and leadership stereotypes theory is not suitable anymore to deal with the uncertainties and complexities that shape today’s business arenas. On the contrary, it argues that such approach tends only to encourage gender bias and to nurture a somewhat sex war game in detriment of organizations efficiency and productivity.