bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision: Why, When, and How
Authors: Penna Marta , Cunningham Christopher , Hompes Roel
Published: November 2017

Transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) has evolved over the past decade fueled by advances in minimally invasive surgery. The technique aims to overcome the constraints posed by a narrow rigid pelvis and poor TME visualization that are encountered during “top-down” rectal surgery. A more accurate pelvic dissection should subsequently result in safer oncological resections and better preservation of pelvic autonomic nerves. taTME is an advanced complex technique that requires dedicated training and experience in TME surgery. Initial results from small cohorts are promising and confirmation by randomized controlled trials is eagerly awaited.
Intersphincteric Resection Pushing the Envelope for Sphincter Preservation
Authors: Denost Quentin , Rullier Eric
Published: November 2017

During the last 15 years, a significant evolution has emerged in the surgical treatment of rectal cancer and restoration of bowel continuity has been one of the main goals. For many years the treatment of distal rectal cancer would necessarily require an abdominoperineal resection and end colostomy. The surgical procedure of intersphincteric resection has been proposed to offer sphincter preservation in patients with low rectal cancer and has been legitimized if executed according to adequate oncologic criteria. This article will discuss the best indications, technical aspects, functional, and oncological outcomes of intersphicteric resection in the management of rectal cancer.
Differentially Regulated Cell-Free MicroRNAs in the Plasma of Friedreich's Ataxia Patients and Their Association with Disease Pathology
Authors: Dantham Subrahamanyam , Srivastava Achal , Gulati Sheffali , Rajeswari Moganty
Published: November 2017

Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is a multisystem disease affecting the predominately nervous system, followed by muscle, heart, and pancreas. Current research focused on therapeutic interventions aimed at molecular amelioration, but there are no reliable noninvasive signatures available to understand disease pathogenesis. The present study investigates the alterations of plasma cell-free microRNAs (miRNAs) in FRDA patients and attempts to find the significance in relevance with the pathogenesis. Total RNA from the plasma of patients and healthy controls were subjected to miRNA microarray analysis using Agilent Technologies microarray platform. Differentially regulated miRNAs were validated by SYBR-green real-time polymerase chain reaction (Thermo Fisher Scientific). The study identified 20 deregulated miRNAs (false discovery rate < 0.01, fold change ≥ 2.0 ≤) in comparison with healthy controls; out of which 17 miRNAs were upregulated, and 3 miRNAs were downregulated. Target and pathway analysis of these miRNAs have shown association with neurodegenerative and other clinical features in FRDA. Further validation (n = 21) identified a set of significant (p < 0.05) deregulated miRNAs; hsa-miR-15a-5p, hsa-miR-26a-5p, hsa-miR-29a-3p, hsa-miR-223–3p, hsa-24–3p, and hsa-miR-21–5p in comparison with healthy controls. These miRNAs were reported to influence various pathological features associated with FRDA. The present study is expected to aid in the understanding of disease pathogenesis.
Mild Encephalitis/Encephalopathy with Reversible Splenial Lesion (MERS) due to Cytomegalovirus: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Porretti Giulia , Marchiò Giuliana , Bellizzi Maria , Recla Mauro , Feraco Paola
Published: November 2017

Mild encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS) is a clinico-radiological syndrome characterized by a transient mild encephalopathy and MRI findings of a reversible lesion in the splenium of corpus callosum (SCC). It is classified in MERS type I and MERS type II, depending on the involvement of SCC alone or also other white matter areas. The syndrome mainly affects children and young adults; the prognosis is favorable with complete or nearly complete neurological and radiological resolution within days or weeks. The vast majority of the cases described in the literature involve Asian and Australian children. The exact pathophysiology is unknown; however, infectious-related MERS (in particular virus associated MERS) remains the most common cause of reversible splenial lesions in childhood. To the best of our knowledge, there is only one published case of MERS associated with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection involving an Australian child. We present here the first case of a CMV-related MERS in a European Caucasian child.
Die Arthropathie bei hereditärer Hämochromatose
Authors: Keyßer Gernot
Published: November 2017

Die Arthropathie bei hereditärer Hämochromatose (HH) ist eine wichtige metabolische und die häufigste genetisch bedingte Gelenkerkrankung in der Rheumatologie. Ihre Manifestation ist variabel. Unbehandelt ist die Erkrankung regelhaft progredient und gibt Anlass zu Verwechslungen mit Arthrosen, rheumatoider Arthritis oder einer Chondrokalzinose aus anderer Ursache. Dank der Identifikation der wesentlichen Risikogene hat sich die Diagnostik der HH in den letzten Jahren so verbessert, dass das Vollbild mit ausgeprägter Schädigung von Leber, Pankreas und Herz seltener geworden ist. Als Therapie hat die Aderlassbehandlung nichts von ihrer Bedeutung verloren. Das Screening von Familienangehörigen Betroffener kann subklinische Fälle erkennen, bevor eine massive Eisenüberladung einsetzt.
Die Rolle des Metabolismus und metabolisch relevanter Faktoren in der Pathophysiologie rheumatischer Erkrankungen
Authors: Hülser Marie-Lisa , Frommer Klaus , Müller-Ladner Ulf
Published: November 2017

Bei der Entstehung und dem Verlauf rheumatischer Erkrankungen spielen Adipositas, Metabolisches Syndrom (MetS) und Stoffwechselerkrankungen wie Diabetes eine wichtige Rolle. Wichtige Faktoren sind hierbei Fettgewebshormone wie z. B. Adiponektin und Leptin, aber auch andere biologisch aktive Faktoren des Metabolismus, wie die freien und gebundenen Fettsäuren im Blut und die Cholesterinwerte, welche den Krankheitsverlauf von Patienten mit rheumatischen Erkrankungen beeinflussen. Sowohl für Patienten mit rheumatoider Arthritis (RA) und Psoriasis-Arthritis (PsA) als auch für die nicht autoimmun beeinflusste Arthrose stellt Adipositas einen anerkannten Risikofaktor dar und ist somit von pathophysiologischer Bedeutung. Ein Einfluss auf das Ansprechen auf Medikamente wurde ebenso beobachtet. So erreichen übergewichtige PsA-Patienten, v. a. bei vermehrtem abdominalem Fett, unter TNFα-Blocker-Therapie mit geringerer Wahrscheinlichkeit eine minimale Krankheitsaktivität. In der Pathophysiologie rheumatischer Erkrankungen ist Fettgewebe außerdem wichtig als IL-6-Produzent, da IL-6 zu etwa einem Drittel im Fettgewebe produziert wird und eine Reduktion des Körpergewichts auch zur Reduktion des Serum-IL-6-Spiegels führt. Die Interaktion zwischen Immunsystem und biologisch aktiven Faktoren aus dem Metabolismus bei entzündlichen Erkrankungen funktioniert in beide Richtungen, wodurch die Wirknetzwerke sehr komplex werden. Der Entzündungsmarker C-reaktives Protein (CRP) bspw. bindet im Serum an Leptin und verhindert dadurch dessen Wirkung bzw. die Signalweiterleitung an die Zielzellen. Gleichzeitig fördert Leptin in der Leber die Bildung von CRP. Über diese gegenseitigen Einflüsse kann vermutlich CRP die Adipositas und deren Komorbiditäten beeinflussen. Der CRP-Spiegel korreliert aber auch negativ mit den HDL-Werten, und die Lipidwerte im Blut werden durch akute oder chronische Entzündung signifikant verändert. Auch die neuen Therapieansätze mit „Small Molecules“ wie z. B. Tofacitinib wirken sich nicht nur auf die Entzündung, sondern auch auf den Metabolismus aus. So wurde gezeigt, dass Patienten mit RA signifikant niedrigere Werte an Gesamtcholesterin, HDL-C, LDL-C und Apo-A1 im Vergleich zu gesunden Kontrollen aufweisen. Diese werden aber unter Behandlung mit Tofacitinib signifikant erhöht und nähern sich somit den Werten der gesunden Kontrollgruppe an.
Can We Rely on AGNP Therapeutic Targets Also For LAI Antipsychotics?
Authors: Baldelli Sara , Clementi Emilio , Cattaneo Dario
Published: November 2017

The updated AGNP Consensus Guidelines for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) in Neuropsychopharmacology recently published in the journal have reinforced the key role of TDM to individualize psychoparmacological therapies in clinical practice. However, we believe, that these guidelines have missed the important opportunity to face with, and to provide useful information on, the emerging issue of long-acting injectable formulations of atypical antipsychotics. Specific therapeutic ranges also for these formulations should be included in the next AGNP guidelines.
Multiplicity formulas for fundamental strings of representations of classical Lie algebras
Authors: Lauret Emilio A. , Rossi Bertone Fiorela
Published: November 2017

We call the p-fundamental string of a complex simple Lie algebra to the sequence of irreducible representations having highest weights of the form kω1 + ωp for k ≥ 0, where ωj denotes the jth fundamental weight of the associated root system. For a classical complex Lie algebra, we establish a closed explicit formula for the weight multiplicities of any representation in any p-fundamental string.
The impact of streamwise convex curvature on the supersonic turbulent boundary layer
Authors: Wang Qian-cheng , Wang Zhen-guo , Zhao Yu-xin
Published: November 2017

With an inflow Mach number of 2.95, the isolated impacts of the convex curvature and the streamwise favorable pressure gradient on the supersonic turbulent boundary layer are experimentally investigated by employing particle image velocimetry. An experiment on the convex turbulent boundary layer with a zero streamwise pressure gradient is carefully arranged to investigate the impact of the streamline curvature. The results are compared with the favorable-pressure-gradient case (with pressure gradient parameter β = −0.60). For both of the zero-pressure-gradient and the favorable-pressure-gradient convex boundary layers, the log law is found to be well preserved in the streamwise velocity profile with inner scaling. The streamline convex curvature and the streamwise favorable pressure gradient are found to have similar impacts on the distribution of mean streamwise velocity. They both weaken the boundary layer’s wake strength, as well as the principal strain rate in the near wall region. While both of the convex streamline curvature and the favorable pressure gradient are observed to dampen the streamwise turbulent fluctuation, their effects on the normal fluctuation are opposite. The convex curvature reinforces the normal fluctuation, and its strengthening effect is much stronger than the relaxation effect of the favorable pressure gradient. Retrograde vortices are notably weakened by the favorable pressure gradient, which contributes to the relaxation of turbulence. The impacts of the streamline convex curvature and the streamwise favorable pressure gradient are more notable in the outer layer, while in the near wall region their contributions are weakened.
Temperature dependence of magnetically dead layers in ferromagnetic thin-films
Authors: Tokaç M. , Kinane C. J. , Atkinson D. , Hindmarch A. T.
Published: November 2017

Polarized neutron reflectometry has been used to study interface magnetism and magnetic dead layers in model amorphous CoFeB:Ta alloy thin-film multilayers with Curie temperatures tuned to be below room-temperature. This allows temperature dependent variations in the effective magnetic thickness of the film to be determined at temperatures that are a significant fraction of the Curie temperature, which cannot be achieved in the material systems used for spintronic devices. In addition to variation in the effective magnetic thickness due to compositional grading at the interface with the tantalum capping layer, the key finding is that at the interface between ferromagnetic film and GaAs(001) substrate local interfacial alloying creates an additional magnetic dead-layer. The thickness of this magnetic dead-layer is temperature dependent, which may have significant implications for elevated-temperature operation of hybrid ferromagnetic metal-semiconductor spintronic devices.
Laplace pressure based disjoining pressure isotherm in non symmetric conditions
Authors: Huerre Axel , Valignat Marie-Pierre , Maggs A. C. , Theodoly Olivier , Jullien Marie-Caroline
Published: November 2017

Understanding the stability and dynamics of two phase systems, such as foams and emulsions, in porous media is still a challenge for physicists and calls for a better understanding of the intermolecular interactions between interfaces. In a classical approach, these interactions are investigated in the framework of Derjaguin, Landau, Verwey, and Overbeek (DLVO) theory by building disjoining pressure isotherms. This paper reports on a technique allowing the measurement of disjoining pressure isotherms in a thin liquid film squeezed by either a gas or a liquid phase on a solid substrate. We couple a Reflection Interference Contrast Microscopy set-up to a microfluidic channel that sets the disjoining pressure through the Laplace pressure. This simple technique is found to be both accurate and precise. The Laplace pressure mechanism provides extremely stable conditions and offers opportunity for parallelizing experiments by producing several drops in channels of different heights. We illustrate its potential by comparing experimental isotherms for oil—[(water and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)]—glass systems with different models focusing on the electrostatic contribution of the disjoining pressure. The extracted values of the interface potentials are in agreement with the constant surface potential model and with a full computation. The derived SDS surface concentration agrees with values reported in the literature. We believe that this technique is suitable for investigating other working fluids and intermolecular interactions at smaller scales.
Permittivity of gold with a strongly excited electronic subsystem
Authors: Yurkevich A. A. , Ashitkov S. I. , Agranat M. B.
Published: November 2017

The influence of hot electrons on a permittivity of noble metals is studied. For this purpose, a multicomponent model of the permittivity of noble metals in a two-temperature state is developed for the visible and near IR spectrum. In addition to the Drude component of the permittivity describing the response of conduction band electrons in the IR range, the model includes components associated with the d-band structure and describing the response of valence electrons. Time-resolved interferometric studies of the transient optical properties of gold in a strongly nonequilibrium state during ∼10–13–10–11 s after the irradiation by femtosecond laser pulses are carried out. The results of the measurement of the dynamics of the complex reflectivity of gold at the wavelengths of 800, 620, and 400 nm in the vicinity of ablation threshold are in good agreement with the results of modeling. It is shown that valence d-band electrons in gold start playing a significant role in the behavior of the permittivity in the visible and near IR spectral range if the temperature of hot electrons exceeds 3 kK.
Ultra-transparent media with anisotropic mass density for broadband acoustic invisibility
Authors: Kan Weiwei , Shen Zhonghua
Published: November 2017

This paper demonstrates the design of ultra-transparent anisotropic media for broadband acoustic invisibility. The required parameter distributions of the proposed invisibility cloak are derived by coordinate transformation, and its practical implementation simply consists of two-dimensional solid arrays in fluids. By studying the acoustic properties of the structures in the quasi-static limit, it is found that similar anisotropic features and transparent effects can be achieved with two kinds of structures, i.e., anisotropic solid cells arranged in the square lattice and cylindrical cells arranged in the highly anisotropic lattice. The acoustic impedance of the anisotropic cloaking media can be perfectly matched to the background fluid. The performances of the designs are quantitatively evaluated and compared in broadband by the averaged invisibility parameter. The full three-dimensional structure is also analyzed for demonstrating the practical feasibility of the scheme. The results show that the anisotropic structures are effective for manipulating the acoustic field and suppressing the wave scattering.
Communication: Diverse nanoscale cluster dynamics: Diffusion of 2D epitaxial clusters
Authors: Lai King C. , Evans James W. , Liu Da-Jiang
Published: November 2017

The dynamics of nanoscale clusters can be distinct from macroscale behavior described by continuum formalisms. For diffusion of 2D clusters of N atoms in homoepitaxial systems mediated by edge atom hopping, macroscale theory predicts simple monotonic size scaling of the diffusion coefficient, DN ∼ N−β, with β = 3/2. However, modeling for nanoclusters on metal(100) surfaces reveals that slow nucleation-mediated diffusion displaying weak size scaling β < 1 occurs for “perfect” sizes Np = L2 and L(L+1) for integer L = 3,4,… (with unique square or near-square ground state shapes), and also for Np+3, Np+4,…. In contrast, fast facile nucleation-free diffusion displaying strong size scaling β ≈ 2.5 occurs for sizes Np+1 and Np+2. DN versus N oscillates strongly between the slowest branch (for Np+3) and the fastest branch (for Np+1). All branches merge for N = O(102), but macroscale behavior is only achieved for much larger N = O(103). This analysis reveals the unprecedented diversity of behavior on the nanoscale.
Introduction to Focus Issue: Two-Dimensional Turbulence
Authors: Falkovich G. , Boffetta G. , Shats M. , Lanotte A. S.
Published: November 2017

This article introduces the Focus Issue on Two-Dimensional Turbulence appearing in Physics of Fluids (Volume 29, Issue 11, November 2017).
Prenatal stress accelerates offspring growth to compensate for reduced maternal investment across mammals
Authors: Berghänel Andreas , Heistermann Michael , Schülke Oliver , Ostner Julia
Published: November 2017

Significance

Maternal stress during gestation causes numerous effects on infant physiology that extend well into adulthood. We contribute to the ongoing debate on whether these effects are adaptive outcomes or merely the product of energetic constraints by presenting an integrated hypothesis that predicts the diversity of observed maternal effects on offspring growth, incorporating both theoretical explanations into one coherent framework. Empirical tests of this hypothesis across mammals suggest that the timing of the stressor during gestation and a simultaneous consideration of maternal investment and adaptive growth plasticity effects are crucial for a full comprehension of prenatal stress effects on offspring growth. The results support an adaptive life history perspective on maternal effects that is relevant for evolutionary biology, medicine, and psychology.
Predicting phenological shifts in a changing climate
Authors: Scranton Katherine , Amarasekare Priyanga
Published: November 2017

Significance

Changes in species’ phenology, the seasonal timing of life history events, constitute one of the most unambiguous consequences of climate warming and one of the least understood. As our climate continues to warm and become more variable, we need theory that can explain the current phenological patterns and predict future changes. We present a mathematical framework that translates temperature effects on the phenotypic traits of individual organisms to the population-level phenological patterns observed in ectotherms. It is sufficiently mechanistic to yield accurate predictions and sufficiently broad to apply across ectothermic taxa. Its power lies in generating predictions based solely on life history trait responses to temperature and hence completely independent of the population-level observations of phenological changes.
Interaction of intramembrane metalloprotease SpoIVFB with substrate Pro-σ
K
Authors: Halder Sabyasachi , Parrell Daniel , Whitten Douglas , Feig Michael , Kroos Lee
Published: November 2017

Significance

Most proteases catalyze peptide bond hydrolysis of substrate proteins in aqueous environments. Intramembrane proteases (IPs) are unusual, cleaving substrates in hydrophobic cellular membranes. IPs regulate many processes that impact health, but potential benefits of manipulating IP activities remain elusive due to insufficient knowledge about how IPs interact with substrates. We report experimental and modeling results that illuminate how intramembrane metalloprotease SpoIVFB interacts with its substrate Pro-σ
K
. A 26-residue linker between two domains of SpoIVFB is crucial, perhaps allowing an ATP-induced conformational change to position Pro-σ
K
for cleavage. SpoIVFB and Pro-σ
K
are broadly conserved in endospore-forming bacteria. Endospores are highly resistant cells that promote persistence of some important human pathogens. The work may lead to new strategies to control endospore formation.
SNX8 mediates IFNγ-triggered noncanonical signaling pathway and host defense against
Listeria monocytogenes
Authors: Wei Jin , Guo Wei , Lian Huan , Yang Qing , Lin Heng , Li Shu , Shu Hong-Bing
Published: November 2017

Significance

IFNγ is a cytokine that induces various downstream genes for host defense against pathogens. How IFNγ induces downstream genes via the classical JAK1-STAT1 pathway is well understood, but how IFNγ induces a subset of downstream genes via the kinase IKKβ remains enigmatic. We identified SNX8 protein as an important component of this IFNγ-triggered noncanonical pathway. SNX8 deficiency impairs IFNγ-triggered induction of a subset of downstream genes, rendering the mouse more susceptible to infection of intracellular bacteria
Listeria monocytogenes
. Mechanistically, IFNγ induces phosphorylation of SNX8, which promotes the recruitment of IKKβ to the JAK1 complex and subsequent activation of IKKβ. Our findings suggest that SNX8 acts as a link for IFNγ-triggered noncanonical signaling pathway and host defense against intracellular bacteria infection.
In situ modeling of multimodal floral cues attracting wild pollinators across environments
Authors: Nordström Karin , Dahlbom Josefin , Pragadheesh V. S. , Ghosh Suhrid , Olsson Amadeus , Dyakova Olga , Suresh Shravanti Krishna , Olsson Shannon B.
Published: November 2017

Significance

The coeveolution of flowers and pollinators is well known, but how generalist pollinators identify suitable flowers across environments and flower species is not well understood. Hoverflies, which are found across the globe, are one of the most important alternative pollinators after bees and bumblebees. Here we measured, predicted, and finally recreated multimodal cues from individual flowers visited by hoverflies in three different environments (hemiboreal, alpine, and tropical). We found that although “flower signatures” were unique for each environment, some cues were ubiquitously attractive, despite not resembling cue combinations from real flowers. Our results provide unique insights into how a cosmopolitan pollinator identifies flower objects across environments, which has important implications for our understanding of pollination as a global ecological service.
Politeness at the extremes
Authors: Moghaddam Mostafa Morady
Published: November 2017

This study addresses the issue of politeness in compliment responses (CRs) among Iranian female university students. Using naturally occurring talk, 235 compliment-response exchanges were recorded during focus group interviews. The findings revealed that to mitigate impoliteness the interviewees displayed five extreme culture-specific politeness strategies as (1) tarof, (2) shekasteh-nafsi, (3) hyperreciprocation, (4) sha’n, and (5) double positive response. In female-female CR exchanges, interviewees attempted to foster a good impression by resorting to politeness strategies of tarof, hyperreciprocation, and double positive response whereas in male-female CR exchanges, interviewees tried to undermine the appraised impression imposed by the opposite-sex compliments through politeness strategies that are anchored in sha’n and shekasteh-nafsi. This article concludes that Iranian women respond diversely to compliments by virtue of interaction among integrated components: the compliment topic, the complimenter’s sex, and cultural burdens.
Ovulation, A Sign of Health
Authors: Vigil Pilar , Lyon Carolina , Flores Betsi , Rioseco Hernán , Serrano Felipe
Published: November 2017

The concept of the ovarian continuum can be understood as a process that occurs during a woman's lifetime and begins during intrauterine life with fertilization. Women start their reproductive years with approximately five hundred thousand follicles containing oocytes, of which only around five hundred will be released during ovulation. Ovulation has been recognized as an event linked with reproduction; however, recent evidence supports the role of ovulation as a sign of health. The use of biomarkers that help women recognize ovulation enables them to identify their health status. This knowledge helps medical healthcare providers in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of different pathologies related with endocrine disorders, gynecological abnormalities, autoimmune, genetic, and neoplastic diseases, as well as pregnancy-related issues. The knowledge of the ovarian continuum and the use of biomarkers to recognize ovulation should be considered a powerful tool for women and medical professionals.

The ovarian continuum is a process that occurs during a woman's lifetime. It begins during intrauterine life with fertilization and ends with menopause. This process can be greatly affected by different conditions such as changes in hormonal levels and illnesses. Therefore, understanding and promoting the knowledge and use of biomarkers of ovulation in women is a key aspect to consider when evaluating their health status. The knowledge and education about the ovarian continuum should be taken into account as a powerful tool for women and medical professionals.
Intergroup contact and prejudice in Moroccan and Spanish users of Spanish public libraries: mediating variables and directionality of the process / Contacto intergrupal y prejuicio en usuarios marroquíes y españoles de bibliotecas públicas españolas: variables mediadoras y direccionalidad del proceso
Authors: Cervantes Luisa , Cuadrado Isabel , Navas Marisol
Published: November 2017

This study tests two serial models of intergroup contact in intergroup relations between users of Spanish public libraries and the directionality of the contact-prejudice relationship. Participants were selected in libraries that meet IFLA Guidelines in Barcelona ( N Spaniards = 138 and N Moroccans = 89) and libraries that do not meet these guidelines in Almería ( N Spaniards = 116 and N Moroccans = 100). They responded to a survey about the quantity of intergroup contact, anxiety, ethnocultural empathy, outgroup knowledge and prejudice. Several serial mediation analyses reveal a model where the indirect effect of quantity of contact in the library on prejudice was mediated by intergroup anxiety and ethnocultural empathy in Moroccans in Almería and Spaniards and Moroccans in Barcelona, and it found that the direction of this relationship is from contact to attitudes, but not attitudes to contact. These results show that the mediating power of affective variables is stronger than that of cognitive variables. Explanations about the absence of significant results in Spaniards in the Almería group are provided.
Generic injectivity of the Prym map for double ramified coverings
Authors: Naranjo Juan Carlos , Ortega Angela
Published: November 2017

We consider the Prym map for double coverings of curves of genus

g
g

ramified at

r
>
0

r>0

points; that is, the map associated with a double ramified covering its Prym variety. The generic Torelli theorem states that the Prym map is generically injective as soon as the dimension of the space of coverings is less than or equal to the dimension of the space of polarized abelian varieties. We prove the generic injectivity of the Prym map in the cases of double coverings of curves with (a)

g
=
2

g=2

,

r
=
6

r=6

, and (b)

g
=
5

g= 5

,

r
=
2

r=2

. In the first case the proof is constructive and can be extended to the range

r
≥
max
{
6
,

2
3

(
g
+
2
)
}

r\ge \max \{6,\frac 23(g+2) \}

. For (b) we study the fiber along the locus of the intermediate Jacobians of cubic threefolds to conclude the generic injectivity. This completes the work of Marcucci and Pirola, who proved this theorem for all the other cases except for the bielliptic case

g
=
1

g=1

(solved later by Marcucci and the first author); the case

g
=
3
,
r
=
4

g=3, r=4

considered previously by Nagaraj and Ramanan; and by Bardelli, Ciliberto, and Verra, where the degree of the map is 3.

We close with an appendix by Alessandro Verra with an independent result, the rationality of the moduli space of coverings with

g
=
2
,
r
=
6

g=2,r=6

, whose proof is self-contained.
Methyl phenlactonoates are efficient strigolactone analogs with simple structure
Authors: Jamil Muhammad , Kountche Boubacar A , Haider Imran , Guo Xiujie , Ntui Valentine O , Jia Kun-Peng , Ali Shawkat , Hameed Umar S , Nakamura Hidemitsu , Lyu Ying , Jiang Kai , Hirabayashi Kei , Tanokura Masaru , Arold Stefan T , Asami Tadao , Al-Babili Salim
Published: November 2017

abstract

Strigolactones (SLs) are a new class of phytohormones that also act as germination stimulants for root parasitic plants, such as Striga spp., and as branching factors for symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Sources for natural SLs are very limited. Hence, efficient and simple SL analogs are needed for elucidating SL-related biological processes as well as for agricultural applications. Based on the structure of the non-canonical SL methyl carlactonoate, we developed a new, easy to synthesize series of analogs, termed methyl phenlactonoates (MPs), evaluated their efficacy in exerting different SL functions, and determined their affinity for SL receptors from rice and Striga hermonthica. Most of the MPs showed considerable activity in regulating plant architecture, triggering leaf senescence, and inducing parasitic seed germination. Moreover, some MPs outperformed GR24, a widely used SL analog with a complex structure, in exerting particular SL functions, such as modulating Arabidopsis roots architecture and inhibiting rice tillering. Thus, MPs will help in elucidating the functions of SLs and are promising candidates for agricultural applications. Moreover, MPs demonstrate that slight structural modifications clearly impact the efficiency in exerting particular SL functions, indicating that structural diversity of natural SLs may mirror a functional specificity.
A possible binary AGN in Mrk 622?
Authors: Benítez E , Rodríguez-Espinosa J M , Cruz-González I , González-Martín O , Negrete C A , Ruschel-Dutra D , Gutiérrez L , Jiménez-Bailón E
Published: November 2017

Mrk 622 is a Compton thick active galactic nuclei (AGN) and a double-peaked narrow emission line galaxy, thus a dual AGN candidate. In this work, new optical long-slit spectroscopic observations clearly show that this object is rather a triple peaked narrow emission line galaxy, with both blue and red shifted narrow emission lines, as well as a much narrower emission line centred at the host galaxy systemic velocity. The average velocity offset between the blue and red shifted components is ∼500 km s−1, which is producing the apparent double-peaked emission lines. These two components are in the loci of AGN in the Baldwin, Phillips & Terlevich diagrams and are found to be spatially separated by ∼76 pc. Analysis of the optical spatially resolved spectroscopic observations presented in this work favours that Mrk 622 is a system consisting of a composite AGN amidst a binary AGN candidate, likely the result of a recent merger. This notwithstanding, outflows from a starburst, or single AGN could also explain the triple nature of the emission lines.
The stellar mass, star formation rate and dark matter halo properties of LAEs at z ∼ 2
Authors: Kusakabe Haruka , Shimasaku Kazuhiro , Ouchi Masami , Nakajima Kimihiko , Goto Ryosuke , Hashimoto Takuya , Konno Akira , Harikane Yuichi , Silverman John D , Capak Peter L
Published: November 2017

We present average stellar population properties and dark matter halo masses of z ∼ 2 Lyα emitters (LAEs) from spectral energy distribution fitting and clustering analysis, respectively, using ≃ 1250 objects ($\mathit {NB387}\le 25.5$) in four separate fields of ≃ 1 deg2 in total. With an average stellar mass of 10.2 ± 1.8 × 108 M⊙ and star formation rate of 3.4 ± 0.4 M⊙ yr−1, the LAEs lie on an extrapolation of the star-formation main sequence (MS) to low stellar mass. Their effective dark matter halo mass is estimated to be $4.0_{-2.9}^{+5.1} \times 10^{10}{\,\,}M_{\odot }$ with an effective bias of $1.22^{+0.16}_{-0.18}$, which is lower than that of z ∼ 2 LAEs (1.8 ± 0.3) obtained by a previous study based on a three times smaller survey area, with a probability of 96%. However, the difference in the bias values can be explained if cosmic variance is taken into account. If such a low halo mass implies a low H i gas mass, this result appears to be consistent with the observations of a high Lyα escape fraction. With the low halo masses and ongoing star formation, our LAEs have a relatively high stellar-to-halo mass ratio (SHMR) and a high efficiency of converting baryons into stars. The extended Press–Schechter formalism predicts that at z = 0 our LAEs are typically embedded in halos with masses similar to that of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC); they will also have similar SHMRs to the LMC, if their star formation rates are largely suppressed after z ∼ 2 as some previous studies have reported for the LMC itself.
The winning personality
Authors: Zhao Li , Jung Ha-Brookshire
Published: November 2017

Purpose

Grounded in Barney’s (1991) resource-based view of the firm and social network theory, and utilizing the Big Five factors as outlined by McCrae and Costa (1997), the purpose of this paper is to investigate how founders’ personality traits impact the quality of a firm’s network relationships, its competitive advantages, and the performance of Chinese apparel new ventures.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was conducted, employing a purposive sampling technique. Founders or members of a founding team currently operating a business in the apparel industry in China who have been in business for five years or less were chosen for this study. The survey yielded 210 usable responses, which were used for further data analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis was first conducted to find a better model for the measurement of each latent variable. Structural equation modeling in AMOS 24 was then used to test the study’s hypothesized model.

Findings

The most notable finding was that three of the personality traits studied – openness to experience, agreeableness, and emotional stability – had statistically significant influences on the quality of firms’ relationships with supply-chain partners, but for the traits of extraversion and conscientiousness no influence was found. Further, perceived quality of firms’ network relationships helped enhance competitive advantages and firm performance. The findings identified unique personality traits that founders must possess for successful network relationships and are critical for the performance of Chinese apparel new ventures.

Originality/value

This is one of a few studies that simultaneously evaluate the impact of the personality traits of founders and the network resources of firms on the performance of new ventures in China. Its findings may help those who are interested in starting new ventures in the Chinese apparel industry to manage the external network relationships that are critical for new venture success. Supply-chain partners could also utilize these findings to create appropriate strategies for improving relationships with Chinese apparel new ventures to cope with the critical business challenges of globalization and collaboration.
Risk factors of social assistance transitions: a case-control study for Germany
Authors: Fuchs Benjamin
Published: November 2017

Purpose

Poverty transitions can be explained by two opposing theories: the traditional sociological approach that focusses on social stratification and individualisation theory, which emphasises on life course risks for all strata. Both perspectives have been investigated extensively for income poverty while neglecting other important poverty indicators, such as deprivation or the receipt of social assistance. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the latter to investigate the impact of social stratification (e.g. social class), life course risks (e.g. health problems), and their interactions on the probability of social assistance entry for Germany.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis utilises survey data containing a sample of first-time social assistance entrants and a sample of the residential population. Applying case-control methodology, logistic regression is conducted to model the impact of social stratification determinants, life course risks, and their interactions on the probability of social assistance entry.

Findings

Social stratification determinants, particularly social class, have a significant effect. However, their effect is weaker than the effect of life course risks. Contrary to the prediction of individualisation theory, the poverty-triggering impact of life course risks varies substantially by social stratum. The combination of both theories yields high predictive power.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to comprehensively test social stratification and individualisation theory with respect to social assistance receipt as a poverty indicator. It is the first paper that investigates the entire population at risk of social assistance entry in Germany.
Response to Cult of the “I”
Authors: Nolin Jan Michael , Axelsson Ann-Sofie , Doracic Alen , Lennartsson Claes , Lloyd Annemaree , Nelhans Gustaf
Published: November 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to respond to an earlier article in the Journal of Documentation: The Cult of the “I”.

Design/methodology/approach

The method is a form of critical response.

Findings

Numerous problems regarding the The Cult of the “I” article are discussed.

Originality/value

This paper puts forward views about the iSchools Movement.
Continued value creation in crowdsourcing from creative process engagement
Authors: Piyathasanan Bhuminan , Mathies Christine , Patterson Paul G. , de Ruyter Ko
Published: November 2017

Purpose

Crowdsourcing delivers creative ideas for the issuing firm, but participants’ engagement in the creative process also creates additional benefits to firms and participating customers. The purpose of this study is to investigate if these spill-over values endure over time. With data from two time point, i.e. at submission and after announcement of the contest winners, we examine the relationship between the degree of a participant’s creative process engagement (CPE) and value creation from a crowdsourcing contest, and how these perceptions of value change over time.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 154 participants in a crowdsourcing contest at two time points with an online survey: at submission, and after receiving feedback (in term of rankings, rewards, and comments) from the community. Partial Least Square path modelling was used to estimate both main and moderating effects.

Findings

CPE increases the perceived value of customers (social and epistemic value) and firms alike (knowledge-sharing intention and customer loyalty), though all but epistemic values decrease over time. Disconfirmation of expectations and need for recognition moderate these effects.

Originality/value

This paper is the first longitudinal study that helps understanding the effect of CPE on value creation from crowdsourcing across time. It also uses the theoretical lens of the honeymoon hangover effect to explain how perceived value changes. The resulting insights into the role of customer engagement in crowdsourcing contests and subsequent value creation will be beneficial to the growing research stream on consumer value co-creation and user innovation.
Disgust images and nonprofit children’s causes
Authors: Allred Anthony T. , Amos Clinton
Published: November 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the usefulness of disgust imagery in a nonprofit organization context as one part of the broader social marketing paradigm.

Design/methodology/approach

An experiment was conducted in the child victim segment of the market using disgust and nondisgust images. Data were collected from 167 subjects via Amazon’s Mechanical Turk. Dependent variables measured included donation intention, empathy and guilt. Control variables included religiosity and attitude toward helping others, along with demographic factors.

Findings

MANCOVA results indicate that while the disgust image evoked greater empathy, the nondisgust image evoked greater donation intentions. The disgust image had a nonsignificant effect on the level of guilt felt by subjects. Mediation analysis indicates that empathy serves as a competitive mediator for the disgust–donation intentions relationship.

Research limitations/implications

This study examines the effects of disgust images on empathy, guilt and donation intentions. Although the findings indicate a contrasting effect of disgust on empathy and donation intentions, more research is needed to validate these findings with diverse samples, contexts and various donation behavior measures. Regarding charitable giving, the current findings suggest caution should be used when using disgust images to evoke empathy, as the tactic may also negatively affect donation intentions.

Social implications

Nonprofits that effectively apply marketing can change individual and community behavior. To continue their work, they rely on donors and volunteers. This study provides social marketers.

Originality/value

Past research has demonstrated the effectiveness of disgust appeals for deterring behavior. In contrast, this research provides unique insights into disgust appeals as a catalyst for motivating behavior. This research provides a much-needed empirical evaluation of disgust appeals in a social marketing context.
Look before you LIEEP
Authors: Gordon Ross , Butler Katherine , Cooper Paul , Waitt Gordon , Magee Christopher
Published: November 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to present a discursive and evaluative analysis of Energy + Illawarra, an Australian Government Low Income Energy Efficiency Program (LIEEP) funded interdisciplinary social marketing energy efficiency programme. Energy + Illawarra was a community programme working with low-income older people in Australia and involving social marketers, human geographers and engineers. The paper aims to identify how ecological systems theory can inform social marketing, and what practicalities there may be in doing so. The paper also aims to assess whether a social marketing programme that draws on ecological systems theory can have a positive impact on people’s thermal comfort.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the paper uses critical discursive analysis to examine the use of various elements of a social marketing energy efficiency programme in relation to the different levels of ecological systems theory. Second, a longitudinal cohort survey study design is used to evaluate the programme’s influence on people’s perceptions of thermal comfort and satisfaction with thermal comfort in their homes.

Findings

The study found that ecological systems theory could be an effective framework for social marketing programmes. The evaluation study found that the intervention had a positive impact on participant’s perceptions of thermal comfort, satisfaction with thermal comfort and attitudes towards energy efficiency. However, the paper identifies some potential tensions in using ecological systems theory and suggests that issues of power, representation, agenda setting, the need for reflexive practice and consideration of unintended consequences are important considerations in social marketing programmes.

Originality/value

The work presented here suggests that multi-level social marketing programmes that draw on ecological systems theory can make a useful contribution to social change as demonstrated by the evaluation survey finding positive impacts on thermal comfort and attitudes of participants. However, issues of power, representation, agenda setting, the need for reflexive practice and consideration of unintended consequences should be considered in social marketing programmes.
Traffic systems in smart cities using LabVIEW
Authors: Farooq Aqeel , Alhalabi Wadee , Alahmadi Sara M.
Published: November 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this research work is to design and apply LabVIEW in the area of traffic maintenance and flow, by introducing improvements in the smart city. The objective is to introduce the automated human–machine interface (HMI) – a computer-based graphical user interface (GUI) – for measuring the traffic flow and detecting faults in poles.

Design/methodology/approach

This research paper is based on the use of LabVIEW for designing the HMI for a traffic system in a smart city. This includes considerable measures that are: smart flow of traffic, violation detection on the signal, fault measurement in the traffic pole, locking down of cars for emergency and measuring parameters inside the cars.

Findings

In this paper, the GUIs and the required circuitry for making improvements in the infrastructure of traffic systems have been designed and proposed, with their respective required hardware. Several measured conditions have been discussed in detail.

Research limitations/implications

PJRC Teensy 3.1 has been used because it contains enough general-purpose input–output (GPIO) pins required for monitoring parameters that are used for maintaining the necessary flow of traffic and monitor the proposed study case. A combination of sensors such as infrared, accelerometer, magnetic compass, temperature sensor, current sensors, ultrasonic sensor, fingerprint readers, etc. are used to create a monitoring environment for the application. Using Teensy and LabVIEW, the system costs less and is effective in terms of performance.

Practical implications

The microprocessor board shields for placing actuators and sensors and for attaching the input/output (I/O) to the LED indicators and display have been designed. A circuitry for scaling voltage, i.e. making sensor readings to read limits, has been designed. A combination of certain sensors, at different signals, will lead to a secure and more durable control of traffic. The proposed applications with its hardware and software cost less, are effective and can be easily used for making the city’s traffic services smart. For alarm levels, the desired alarm level can be set from the front panel for certain conditions from the monitoring station. For this, virtual channels can be created for allowing the operator to set any random value for limits. If the sensor value crosses the alarm value, then the corresponding alarm displays an alert. The system works by using efficient decision-making techniques and stores the data along with the corresponding time of operation, for future decisions.

Originality/value

This study is an advanced research of its category because it combines the field of electrical engineering, computer science and traffic systems by using LabVIEW.