bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
R2C: improving ab initio residue contact map prediction using dynamic fusion strategy and Gaussian noise filter
Authors: Yang Jing , Jin Qi-Yu , Zhang Biao , Shen Hong-Bin
Published: April 2016

Motivation: Inter-residue contacts in proteins dictate the topology of protein structures. They are crucial for protein folding and structural stability. Accurate prediction of residue contacts especially for long-range contacts is important to the quality of ab inito structure modeling since they can enforce strong restraints to structure assembly.

Results: In this paper, we present a new Residue-Residue Contact predictor called R2C that combines machine learning-based and correlated mutation analysis-based methods, together with a two-dimensional Gaussian noise filter to enhance the long-range residue contact prediction. Our results show that the outputs from the machine learning-based method are concentrated with better performance on short-range contacts; while for correlated mutation analysis-based approach, the predictions are widespread with higher accuracy on long-range contacts. An effective query-driven dynamic fusion strategy proposed here takes full advantages of the two different methods, resulting in an impressive overall accuracy improvement. We also show that the contact map directly from the prediction model contains the interesting Gaussian noise, which has not been discovered before. Different from recent studies that tried to further enhance the quality of contact map by removing its transitive noise, we designed a new two-dimensional Gaussian noise filter, which was especially helpful for reinforcing the long-range residue contact prediction. Tested on recent CASP10/11 datasets, the overall top L/5 accuracy of our final R2C predictor is 17.6%/15.5% higher than the pure machine learning-based method and 7.8%/8.3% higher than the correlated mutation analysis-based approach for the long-range residue contact prediction.

Availability and Implementation:  http://www.csbio.sjtu.edu.cn/bioinf/R2C/

Contact:  hbshen@sjtu.edu.cn

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Phylogeographic assessment of the northern pygmy mouse, Baiomys taylori
Authors: Light Jessica E. , Ostroff Marcy O. , Hafner David J.
Published: April 2016

The northern pygmy mouse, Baiomys taylori, occurs throughout the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt and southern Altiplano of central Mexico and extends northward in 3 projections into northern Mexico and the United States. We used mitochondrial DNA (from the cytochrome-b and NADH dehydrogenase 2 genes) and morphological data to assess diversity within B. taylori across its geographic range in relation to recognized subspecies and putative physiographic filter-barriers. Our results indicate 5 distinct mitochondrial clades despite little morphological variation across the species’ geographic range. The Sierra Madre Oriental and Sierra Madre Occidental separate clades representing the eastern (Gulf coastal lowlands), central (Altiplano), and Pacific coastal lowlands, which appear to be divided into 3 major mitochondrial clades. Based on a preliminary analysis of cranial morphology, we are able to reject the Balcones Escarpment of Texas as an impediment to the well-documented recent northern expansion of the species, while we are unable to reject a causal role of filter-barriers elsewhere in subspecific differentiation. Revision of subspecific taxonomy must await further genetic sampling, particularly along the western and southeastern portions of the species’ distribution.

El ratón pigmeo norteño, Baiomys taylori, se distribuye a través del Eje Volcánico Transmexicano y la parte sur del Altiplano del centro de México y se extiende hacia el norte de México y los Estados Unidos en tres direcciones. Utilizamos ADN mitocondrial (del citocromo-b y del gen NADH deshidrogenasa) y datos morfológicos para evaluar la diversidad dentro de B. taylori a través de su rango geográfico en relación con las subespecies reconocidas y las supuestas barreras-filtro fisiográficas. Nuestros resultados indican 5 clados mitocondriales distintos a pesar de la escasa variación morfológica a lo largo de su rango geográfico. La Sierra Madre Oriental y la Sierra Madre Occidental separan los clados representantes de las tierras bajas del este (tierras bajas del Golfo), del centro (Altiplano), y las tierras bajas del Pacífico, que parecen estar divididas en 3 clados mitocondriales principales. Basados en un análisis preliminar de la morfología craneal, pudimos rechazar el Escarpe de Balcones de Texas como un impedimento a la bien documentada expansión norteña de la especie, mientras que no fue posible rechazar el rol causal de las otras barreras-filtro en la diferenciación subespecífica. La revisión de la taxonomía subespecífica deberá esperar un mayor muestreo genético, en particular a lo largo de las porciones oeste y sureste de la distribución de la especie.
DHX29 reduces leaky scanning through an upstream AUG codon regardless of its nucleotide context
Authors: Pisareva Vera P. , Pisarev Andrey V.
Published: April 2016

During eukaryotic translation initiation, the 43S preinitiation complex (43S PIC), consisting of the 40S ribosomal subunit, eukaryotic initiation factors (eIFs) and initiator tRNA scans mRNA to find an appropriate start codon. Key roles in the accuracy of initiation codon selection belong to eIF1 and eIF1A, whereas the mammalian-specific DHX29 helicase substantially contributes to ribosomal scanning of structured mRNAs. Here, we show that DHX29 stimulates the recognition of the AUG codon but not the near-cognate CUG codon regardless of its nucleotide context during ribosomal scanning. The stimulatory effect depends on the contact between DHX29 and eIF1A. The unique DHX29 N-terminal domain binds to the ribosomal site near the mRNA entrance, where it contacts the eIF1A OB domain. UV crosslinking assays revealed that DHX29 may rearrange eIF1A and eIF2α in key nucleotide context positions of ribosomal complexes. Interestingly, DHX29 impedes the 48S initiation complex formation in the absence of eIF1A perhaps due to forming a physical barrier that prevents the 43S PIC from loading onto mRNA. Mutational analysis allowed us to split the mRNA unwinding and codon selection activities of DHX29. Thus, DHX29 is another example of an initiation factor contributing to start codon selection.
Characterization of Brown Streak Virus–Resistant Cassava
Authors: Anjanappa Ravi B. , Mehta Devang , Maruthi M. N. , Kanju Edward , Gruissem Wilhelm , Vanderschuren Hervé
Published: April 2016

Cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) has become a major constraint to cassava production in East and Central Africa. The identification of new sources of CBSD resistance is essential to deploy CBSD mitigation strategies, as the disease is progressing westwards to new geographical areas. A stringent infection method based on top cleft–grafting combined with precise virus titer quantitation was utilized to screen 14 cassava cultivars and elite breeding lines. When inoculated with mixed infections of Cassava brown streak virus (CBSV) and Ugandan cassava brown streak virus (UCBSV), the scions of elite breeding lines KBH 2006/18 and KBH 2006/26 remained symptom-free during a 16-week period of virus graft inoculation, while susceptible varieties displayed typical CBSD infection symptoms at 4 weeks after grafting. The identified CBSD resistance was stable under the coinoculation of CBSV and UCBSV with cassava geminiviruses. Double-grafting experiments revealed that transmission of CBSV and UCBSV to CBSD-susceptible top scions was delayed when using intermediate scions of elite breeding lines KBH 2006/18 and KBH 2006/26. Nonetheless, comparison of virus systemic movement using scions from KBH2006/18 and a transgenic CBSD resistant 60444 line (60444-Hp9 line) showed that both CBSV and UCBSV move at undetectable levels through the stems. Further, protoplast-based assays of virus titers showed that the replication of CBSV is inhibited in the resistant line KBH2006/18, suggesting that the identified CBSD resistance is at least partially based on inhibition of virus replication. Our molecular characterization of CBSD resistance in cassava offers a robust virus-host system to further investigate the molecular determinants of CBSD resistance.
Re-evaluation of MelCast for Fungicide Scheduling in Mid-Atlantic Watermelon
Authors: Everts Kathryne L. , Korir Robert C. , Newark Mason J.
Published: April 2016

MelCast was originally tested in the mid-Atlantic production region from 1996 to 2000. Scheduling using MelCast reduced applications in comparison to weekly fungicide applications without a loss of efficacy or yield. The reduction in fungicide applications was seen as a success. The objective of this research, conducted in 2012-2014, was to determine whether the disease management and yields continued to be similar in watermelon crops managed with MelCast where fungicide applications were reduced, in comparison to a weekly schedule.

Accepted for publication 14 March 2016. Published 29 March 2016.
A Quantifiable Disease Severity Rating Scale for Frogeye Leaf Spot of Soybean
Authors: Price Trey , Purvis Myra , Pruitt Hunter
Published: April 2016

A quantifiable rating scale based on disease severity was developed for frogeye leaf spot (FLS) using image analysis software. The scale may be useful for estimating FLS severity in producer fields, which may aid in management decisions. Other applications of the scale include quantifying FLS severity in cultivar evaluations and foliar fungicide efficacy trials.

Accepted for publication 17 February 2016. Published 22 February 2016.
Susceptibility of Hop Cultivars to Downy Mildew: Associations with Chemical Characteristics and Region of Origin
Authors: Woods Joanna L. , Gent David H.
Published: April 2016

Hop downy mildew (caused by Pseudoperonospora humuli) is a yield-limiting disease in many hop-production regions of the world. In this research, 110 cultivars that are or were widely grown in the United States, Europe, or Australasia were evaluated in western Oregon over three years for their reaction to the shoot infection phase of downy mildew and vigor. There was a large range of downy mildew susceptibility and vigor amongst commercial cultivars, with some cultivars possessing a very high level of resistance. Overall, however, disease resistance and vigor were significantly greater in cultivars originating from Europe than those originating from the United States, Japan, and Australia/New Zealand. Amongst a subset of 79 cultivars, vigor was negatively correlated with levels, in cones, of cohumulone, a chemical constitute of bittering acids typically found in germplasm derived from North America. The generally poor vigor observed in cultivars derived outside of Europe likely is indicative of a lack of tolerance to the crown infection phase of the disease. Thus, the best sources of downy mildew resistance seems to be found in cultivars from the United Kingdom and continental Europe, and such cultivars are typically lower yielding and lack distinctive aroma and flavor characteristics presently desired by craft brewers. Introgression of downy mildew resistance into North American germplasm with high yield and desirable brewing characteristics is needed.

Accepted for publication 3 March 2016. Published 7 March 2016.
Distribution and Abundance of Heterodera glycines and Macrophomina phaseolina in Ohio
Authors: Lopez-Nicora Horacio D. , Simon Abasola C. M. , Dossman Bryant C. , Paul Pierce A. , Dorrance Anne E. , Lindsey Laura E. , Niblack Terry L.
Published: April 2016

Soybean and corn are grown on more than 60% of the arable land in Ohio. The soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is responsible for significant losses incurred by soybean growers every year. The fungus that causes charcoal rot, Macrophomina phaseolina, causes significant yield loss in soybeans worldwide and can also affect corn. Both organisms are soil-borne pathogens. The objective of this study was to determine the presence, distribution, and abundance of both SCN and M. phaseolina in soybean and corn fields across Ohio. During 2013 and 2014, composite soil samples were collected from 370 corn and soybean fields. Samples were processed for SCN eggs/100 cm3 and M. phaseolina colony forming units (CFU)/g soil with standard techniques. Results from this study revealed a widespread distribution of SCN and M. phaseolina in both soybean and corn fields. This study represents the first survey on the distribution of M. phaseolina in Ohio and the findings will be used to educate producers on the potential risks posed by both SCN and M. phaseolina.

Accepted for publication 19 February 2016. Published 3 March 2016.
Geographical and Genetic Divergence Among Papaya ringspot virus Populations Within Hainan Province, China
Authors: Zhao Hui , Jia Rui Zong , Zhang Yu-Liang , Zhu Yun Judy , Zeng Hui-Cai , Kong Hua , McCafferty Heather , Guo An-Ping , Peng Ming
Published: April 2016

Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) severely affects the global papaya industry. Transgenic papaya has been proven to have effective resistance to PRSV isolates from Hawaii, Thailand, Taiwan, and other countries. However, those transgenic cultivars failed to show resistance to Hainan Island isolates. Some 76 PRSV samples, representative of all traditional papaya planting areas across five cities (Wen Chang, n = 13; Cheng Mai, n = 14; Chang Jiang, n = 11; Le Dong, n = 25; and San Ya, n = 13) within Hainan Province, were investigated. Results revealed three genetic diversity groups (Hainan I, II, and III) that correlated with geographical distribution. Frequent mutations among PRSV isolates from Hainan were also observed. The high genetic divergence in PRSV isolates from Hainan is likely to be the cause of the failure of genetically modified papaya that targets sequence-specific virus.
Assessing Field-Specific Risk of Soybean Sudden Death Syndrome Using Satellite Imagery in Iowa
Authors: Yang S. , Li X. , Chen C. , Kyveryga P. , Yang X. B.
Published: April 2016

Moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite imagery from 2004 to 2013 were used to assess the field-specific risks of soybean sudden death syndrome (SDS) caused by Fusarium virguliforme in Iowa. Fields with a high frequency of significant decrease (>10%) of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) observed in late July to middle August on historical imagery were hypothetically considered as high SDS risk. These high-risk fields had higher slopes and shorter distances to flowlines, e.g., creeks and drainages, particularly in the Des Moines lobe. Field data in 2014 showed a significantly higher SDS level in the high-risk fields than fields selected without considering NDVI information. On average, low-risk fields had 10 times lower F. virguliforme soil density, determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, compared with other surveyed fields. Ordinal logistic regression identified positive correlations between SDS and slope, June NDVI, and May maximum temperature, but high June maximum temperature hindered SDS. A modeled SDS risk map showed a clear trend of potential disease occurrences across Iowa. Landsat imagery was analyzed similarly, to discuss the ability to utilize higher spatial resolution data. The results demonstrated the great potential of both MODIS and Landsat imagery for SDS field-specific risk assessment.
Early development of turn-taking with parents shapes vocal acoustics in infant marmoset monkeys
Authors: Takahashi Daniel Y. , Fenley Alicia R. , Ghazanfar Asif A.
Published: April 2016

In humans, vocal turn-taking is a ubiquitous form of social interaction. It is a communication system that exhibits the properties of a dynamical system: two individuals become coupled to each other via acoustic exchanges and mutually affect each other. Human turn-taking develops during the first year of life. We investigated the development of vocal turn-taking in infant marmoset monkeys, a New World species whose adult vocal behaviour exhibits the same universal features of human turn-taking. We find that marmoset infants undergo the same trajectory of change for vocal turn-taking as humans, and do so during the same life-history stage. Our data show that turn-taking by marmoset infants depends on the development of self-monitoring, and that contingent parental calls elicit more mature-sounding calls from infants. As in humans, there was no evidence that parental feedback affects the rate of turn-taking maturation. We conclude that vocal turn-taking by marmoset monkeys and humans is an instance of convergent evolution, possibly as a result of pressures on both species to adopt a cooperative breeding strategy and increase volubility.
Interpersonal predictive coding, not action perception, is impaired in autism
Authors: von der Lühe T. , Manera V. , Barisic I. , Becchio C. , Vogeley K. , Schilbach L.
Published: April 2016

This study was conducted to examine interpersonal predictive coding in individuals with high-functioning autism (HFA). Healthy and HFA participants observed point-light displays of two agents (A and B) performing separate actions. In the ‘communicative’ condition, the action performed by agent B responded to a communicative gesture performed by agent A. In the ‘individual’ condition, agent A's communicative action was substituted by a non-communicative action. Using a simultaneous masking-detection task, we demonstrate that observing agent A's communicative gesture enhanced visual discrimination of agent B for healthy controls, but not for participants with HFA. These results were not explained by differences in attentional factors as measured via eye-tracking, or by differences in the recognition of the point-light actions employed. Our findings, therefore, suggest that individuals with HFA are impaired in the use of social information to predict others' actions and provide behavioural evidence that such deficits could be closely related to impairments of predictive coding.
Embodied artificial agents for understanding human social cognition
Authors: Wykowska Agnieszka , Chaminade Thierry , Cheng Gordon
Published: April 2016

In this paper, we propose that experimental protocols involving artificial agents, in particular the embodied humanoid robots, provide insightful information regarding social cognitive mechanisms in the human brain. Using artificial agents allows for manipulation and control of various parameters of behaviour, appearance and expressiveness in one of the interaction partners (the artificial agent), and for examining effect of these parameters on the other interaction partner (the human). At the same time, using artificial agents means introducing the presence of artificial, yet human-like, systems into the human social sphere. This allows for testing in a controlled, but ecologically valid, manner human fundamental mechanisms of social cognition both at the behavioural and at the neural level. This paper will review existing literature that reports studies in which artificial embodied agents have been used to study social cognition and will address the question of whether various mechanisms of social cognition (ranging from lower- to higher-order cognitive processes) are evoked by artificial agents to the same extent as by natural agents, humans in particular. Increasing the understanding of how behavioural and neural mechanisms of social cognition respond to artificial anthropomorphic agents provides empirical answers to the conundrum ‘What is a social agent?’
Measuring social interaction in music ensembles
Authors: Volpe Gualtiero , D'Ausilio Alessandro , Badino Leonardo , Camurri Antonio , Fadiga Luciano
Published: April 2016

Music ensembles are an ideal test-bed for quantitative analysis of social interaction. Music is an inherently social activity, and music ensembles offer a broad variety of scenarios which are particularly suitable for investigation. Small ensembles, such as string quartets, are deemed a significant example of self-managed teams, where all musicians contribute equally to a task. In bigger ensembles, such as orchestras, the relationship between a leader (the conductor) and a group of followers (the musicians) clearly emerges. This paper presents an overview of recent research on social interaction in music ensembles with a particular focus on (i) studies from cognitive neuroscience; and (ii) studies adopting a computational approach for carrying out automatic quantitative analysis of ensemble music performances.
What does the interactive brain hypothesis mean for social neuroscience? A dialogue
Authors: De Jaegher Hanne , Di Paolo Ezequiel , Adolphs Ralph
Published: April 2016

A recent framework inspired by phenomenological philosophy, dynamical systems theory, embodied cognition and robotics has proposed the interactive brain hypothesis (IBH). Whereas mainstream social neuroscience views social cognition as arising solely from events in the brain, the IBH argues that social cognition requires, in addition, causal relations between the brain and the social environment. We discuss, in turn, the foundational claims for the IBH in its strongest form; classical views of cognition that can be raised against the IBH; a defence of the IBH in the light of these arguments; and a response to this. Our goal is to initiate a dialogue between cognitive neuroscience and enactive views of social cognition. We conclude by suggesting some new directions and emphases that social neuroscience might take.
Functional enrichments of disease variants across thousands of independent loci in eight diseases
Authors: Sarkar Abhishek K. , Ward Lucas D. , Kellis Manolis
Published: April 2016

For most complex traits, known genetic associations only explain a small fraction of the narrow sense heritability prompting intense debate on the genetic basis of complex traits. Joint analysis of all common variants together explains much of this missing heritability and reveals that large numbers of weakly associated loci are enriched in regulatory regions, but fails to identify specific regions or biological pathways. Here, we use epigenomic annotations across 127 tissues and cell types to investigate weak regulatory associations, the specific enhancers they reside in, their downstream target genes, their upstream regulators, and the biological pathways they disrupt in eight common diseases. We show weak associations are significantly enriched in disease-relevant regulatory regions across thousands of independent loci. We develop methods to control for LD between weak associations and overlap between annotations. We show that weak non-coding associations are additionally enriched in relevant biological pathways implicating additional downstream target genes and upstream disease-specific master regulators. Our results can help guide the discovery of biologically meaningful, but currently undetectable regulatory loci underlying a number of common diseases.
The contribution of alternative splicing probability to the coding expansion of the genome
Authors: Oesterreich Fernando Carrillo , Bowne-Anderson Hugo , Howard Jonathon
Published: April 2016

Alternative splicing results in the inclusion or exclusion of exons in an RNA, thereby allowing a single gene to code for multiple RNA isoforms. Genes are often composed of many exons, allowing combinatorial choice to significantly expand the coding potential of the genome. How much coding potential is gained by alternative splicing and what is the main contributor: alternative-splicing-depth or exon-count? Here we develop a splice-site-centric quantification method, allowing us to characterize transcriptome-wide alternative splicing with a simple probabilistic model, enabling species-wide comparison. We use information theory to quantify the coding potential gain and show that an increase in alternative splicing probability contributes more to transcriptome expansion than exon-count. Our results suggest that dominant isoforms are co-expressed alongside many minor isoforms. We propose that this solves two problems simultaneously, that is, expression of functional isoforms and expansion of the transcriptome landscape potentially without a direct function, but available for evolution.
Supply chain finance for small and medium sized enterprises: the case of reverse factoring
Authors: Lekkakos Spyridon Damianos , Serrano Alejandro
Published: April 2016

Purpose

Faced with increasing pressure to meet short-term financing needs, companies are looking for ways to unlock potential funds from within the supply chain. Recently, reverse factoring (RF) has emerged as a financing solution that is initiated by the ordering parties to help their suppliers secure financing of receivables at favorable terms. This paper studies the impact of RF schemes on SMEs’ operational decisions and performance.

Design/methodology/approach

We model a supplier’s inventory replenishment problem as a multi-stage dynamic program and derive the supplier’s optimal inventory policy for two cases: 1) no access to external financing; 2) access to external financing through RF or traditional factoring (TF). A number of numerical experiments assesses the supplier’s operational performance.

Findings

A working capital-dependent base-stock policy is optimal. The optimal policy specifies the sell-up-to level of accounts receivable with regard to their maturity. RF considerably improves a supplier’s operational performance while providing the potential to unlock more than 10% of the supplier’s working capital. When RF is associated with credit term extension and the supplier has access to alternative sources of financing, the value of RF is then lower than intuitively expected unless the interest spread is considerably large.

Originality/value

This is the first attempt to analytically study the impact of RF in a stochastic multi-period setting.
Benevolent leadership and psychological well-being
Authors: Erkutlu Hakan , Chafra Jamel
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between benevolent leadership (BL) and psychological well-being (PWB) as well as to test the moderating roles of psychological safety (PS) and psychological contract breach (PCB) on that relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data encompasses 1,009 employees from 23 five-star hotels in Turkey. The moderating roles of PS and PCB on the BL and PWB relationship were tested using the moderated hierarchical regression analysis.

Findings

– The moderated hierarchical regression analysis results reveal that there was a significant positive relationship between BL and employee PWB. In addition, the positive relationship between BL and well-being was stronger when PS was higher than when it was lower. On the contrary, high-PCB weakened the positive relationship between BL and PWB.

Practical implications

– This study showed that both PS and BL enhance well-being. Managers could promote PS by breaking down the barriers preventing effective communication and discussion. Moreover, the results of this study indicated that the state of the psychological contract is a significant predictor of employees’ well-being. Organizational practices and policies, especially human resource practices, should be carefully designed and implemented as to prevent PCB, an important source of employee dissatisfaction and distrust.

Originality/value

– The study provides new insights into the influence that BL may have on PWB and the moderating roles of PS and contract breach in the link between BL and employee well-being. The paper also offers a practical assistance to employees in the hospitality industry and their leaders interested in building trust and enhancing well-being.
Linking secure attachment to commitment: trust in supervisors
Authors: Metin Camgöz Selin , Bayhan Karapinar Pinar
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between a secure attachment style and affective commitment (AC) through the mediating roles of affective and cognitive trust in a direct supervisor.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study was conducted using the questionnaire answers of 357 private sector employees in various occupations. The statistical analysis was based on structural equation modeling. A multiple mediation model enabled us to investigate the specific indirect effects of each mediator.

Findings

– Results based on a model comparison showed that the employees’ affective trust in their supervisor fully mediated the relationship between a secure attachment style and AC. However, cognitive trust had no significant mediating effect on relationships between a secure attachment style and AC.

Practical implications

– Trust in supervisors should be monitored and supported during developmental interventions. Understanding the power of affective and cognitive trust in predicting attitudes can help shape more effective interventions to influence positive work attitudes, including AC.

Originality/value

– The study sheds new light on the literature by linking individual attachment to organizational attachment as the mediating role of two forms of trust in a supervisor.
Developing a measure for “connectorship” as a component of engaged leadership
Authors: Dastmalchian Ali , Rezac Darcy , Muzyka Daniel F. , Bayraktar Secil , Steinke Claudia , Imer H. Pinar
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to report the findings of a mixed methods study that explored how active community engaged and connected managers were in their local and broader communities (engaged leadership, EL). The paper specifically investigates an under researched aspect of EL – “connectorship” – with focus on developing a measure for connectorship. The authors present the conceptual framework for EL, followed by the operationalization of “connectorship” construct.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper focusses on developing a measure for connectorship using data from a qualitative study of 18 senior managers followed by a survey of 458 managers in Canada.

Findings

– Content analyses of qualitative data led to the generation of 93 items measuring connectorship. Based on these items, quantitative analyses of survey data from 453 respondents yielded a final measure of connectorship, which consisted of 28 items explored under eight dimensions.

Research limitations/implications

– An organization’s emphasis on connectedness and engagement of leaders will improve knowledge sharing and better mutual understanding of organizational issues among managers. It will also help attain employment stability and decrease hiring and related costs by reducing turnover. Future research, specifically longitudinal studies of leaders at various organizational levels, could incorporate connectorship as a key criterion for leadership effectiveness.

Practical implications

– The focus on connectorship skills implies that in organizations the emphasis should go beyond traditional leadership skills development and included the neglected connectorship skills development. Increased connectedness and engagement among leaders will have positive performance implications.

Social implications

– For effective corporate citizenship, the EL framework and a focus on connectorship would help leaders better understand the importance of social networks, be aware of their own network, and improve their skills in connecting the people within their networks.

Originality/value

– Using a variable centered approach within the framework of EL the paper contributes to leadership literature by conceptually defining connectorship developing a measure for this construct and testing its psychometric properties.
Who will lead the physicians unwilling to lead? Institutional logics and double-bind situations in health care leadership
Authors: Styhre Alexander , Roth Adam , Roth Jonas
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– Health care organizations are increasingly demanded to balance the institutional logic of “medical professionalism” and “business-like health care,” that is, to both recognize physicians’ professional expertise while locating it in a wider social, economic, and political organizational setting. The purpose of this paper is to examine the implications from this shift in terms of leadership work in health care organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

– Case study methodology including interviews with 15 residents in Swedish health care organizations.

Findings

– A study of the willingness of residents to take on leadership positions show that leadership roles are treated as what is potentially hindering the acquisition of the know-how, skills, and expertise demanded to excel in the clinical work. Consequently, taking on leadership positions in the future was relatively unattractive for the residents. In order to overcome such perceived conflict between professional skill development and leadership roles, top management of health care organizations must help residents overcome such beliefs, or other professional groups may increasingly populate leadership positions, a scenario not fully endorsed by the community of physicians.

Originality/value

– The paper demonstrates how complementary or completing institutional logics are influencing debates and identities on the “shop floors” of organizations.
Relationships between Cotton Fibre Properties and the Properties of Greigestate Fabrics Woven from Rotorspun Cotton Yarns
Authors: Price John B. , Campbell Jacqueline H. , Calamaria Timothy A. , Ripka Josef
Published: April 2016

Yarns of 20 tex were rotor spun from a set of American cottons of diverse origins that provided a wide range of fibre properties. A fabric of plain weave with 27.6 ends per cm and 26.8 picks per cm was woven from each cotton. Where quantities of cotton permitted, rotor yarns of 42 tex were spun and woven into plain weave fabric having 18.5 ends per cm and 17.7 picks per cm.

Each cotton was tested using a high volume instrument (HVI). The greigestate fabrics were characterised in terms of tensile properties, tear strength, abrasion resistance, stiffness, and air permeability. The results of correlation and regression analyses of greigestate fabric properties on HVI fiber properties are presented and discussed.

This research is an initial outcome of studies into the prediction of rotor spun yarn parameters conducted collaboratively by the Cotton Industry Research Institute (VUB) of the Czech Republic, and the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Flexible Textile Heartvalve Prosthesis: An In Vitro Evaluation
Authors: F. Heim , B. Durand , N. Chakfé
Published: April 2016

The hydrodynamic performances of fabric heartvalve protheses were measured and compared with other commercially available types of heartvalve prostheses. A prosthesis was manufactured by forming fabric to a geometry close to that of the native valve. In vitro performances of the prototype were evaluated using a pulse duplicator simulating the left side of the human circulatory system, with a 70 ml cardiac output at a constant heart rate of 70 beats/min under a mean diastolic pressure of 100 mmHg. Woven fabrics of different weaves, yarn structures (multifilaments and microfibres), saturation indexes, and rigidity were tested in terms of static and dynamic regurgitation, pressure drops across the valve, and dynamic behaviour. The results were found to be close to those expected for such a device and, in some respects (pressure drop), even better than those obtained with other prostheses in current use. The yarn structure and fabric saturation index seem to be important parameters in the development of a textile prosthesis. Thus, the tests showed that a plainweave structure with microfilament yarns and a reduced saturation index appears to be the fabric best suited for the valve application.
Weave Structure and the Skewness of Woven Fabric
Authors: Alamdar-Yazdi A.
Published: April 2016

This experimental work demonstrates the effect of weave structure on the skewness of fabric. The work shows that the distortion of gray woven fabrics depends upon the behaviour of the floats (which is related to the factor of weave) at the state of relaxation. Nine, 50-metre rolls of woven fabrics in different weaves were produced. The fabrics were marked in a rectangular form (1.70 metres in width and one metre in length) at the weaving machine. After 24 hours of relaxation, the new shapes and sizes were recorded. The deformations of the fabrics due to the weave structures were different. The shapes of almost all of the samples were changed to Trapezium, even though they differed in size. This experimental work showed that, of the nine different weaves, the 3/3 twill weave had the highest skewness and the Zigzag twill structures the lowest, proving that the type of weave affects the deformation and, as a result, the skewness of the fabric.
Enhancing The Thermal Properties of Textiles With Phase Change Materials
Authors: Erkan Gökhan
Published: April 2016

Phase change materials have been a main topic in research for the last 20 years. They have also been used in many engineering applications, especially in the fields of thermal storage and insulation. They are used for ice storage, building applications, in the field of solar
energy storage, heat pumps, heat distribution systems, air conditioning, green houses, solar collectors and cookers, for improving thermal comfort in vehicles, and for the conservation and transport of temperature-sensitive materials such as electronic materials, food, the transport of medical tissue, and engines or hydraulic machines. Recently, PCMs (Phase Change Materials) have entered the textile market for use in increasing the thermal comfort of garments. In such extreme applications of textiles as diving suits, ski wear, and underwear, PCMs can impart outstanding properties to garments. Their insulating properties may prevent the wearer from fatal consequences. In this paper, the use of PCMs, methods of evaluation, and methods and areas of application in textiles are discussed.
Cotton Fabric Bearing Cationic and β-Cyclodextrin Moieties: A Study of the Reaction Parameters
Authors: Hashem M. , El-Aref A. T. , Refaie R.
Published: April 2016

Cotton fabric bearing β-cyclodextrin and cationic moieties were prepared using different techniques and reaction conditions. Monochlorotriazinyl-β-cyclodextrin (R-CD) and 3-chloro- 2-hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (Quat-188) were employed to introduce the
cyclodextrin ring and cationic group respectively to cotton cellulose. The first reaction technique that was studied involved the reaction of cotton fabric with R-CD, followed by the cationization of the treated fabric with Quat-188. In the second technique, cationized cotton fabric was allowed to react with R-CD. In the third technique, cotton fabric was reacted with RCD and Quat-188 simultaneously in one step. The factors affecting the extent of the reaction in each technique were investigated, including the concentration of alkali, the reaction temperature, the duration of the reaction, as well as the R-CD and Quat-188 concentrations. The extent of the reaction was monitored to determine the nitrogen content. The results obtained revealed that treating the cotton fabric with R-CD and Quat-188 causes the cotton fabric to have R-CD rings and that cationic group depends on the sequence of processes and reaction conditions. It was found that, at the same Quat-188 and R-CD concentrations, cationized cotton fabric display higher reaction efficiency with R-CD than that reported when R-CD treated cotton fabric was cationized using Quat-188. Moreover, no alkali is required to achieve the reaction between R-CD and pre-cationized cotton fabric, while the reaction of both R-CD and Quat-188 with cotton fabric requires the use of 30 g/l Na2CO3 and 35 g/l NaOH, respectively.
The Motivations for Sourcing Production Offshore: A Multiple Case Study of Small and Medium-Sized Clothing Firms in Hong Kong
Authors: Tam Fung-yi , Moon Ka-leung , Ng Sau-fun , Hui Chi-leung
Published: April 2016

This paper studies the factors that motivate small and medium-sized clothing firms in Hong Kong to shift their production offshore, and identifies the interrelationships between these factors and firm-related characteristics, sourcing strategies, and buyer-supplier relationships. Using a multiple case methodology to study ten firms and a two-phase approach to collecting data involving, in-depth interviews and mail questionnaires, the two most important factors motivating the sourcing of production offshore are identified, as follows: (1) cost advantage of, and (2) availability of labour in, the host country. The results also show that industrial sector and firm size are the only firm-related characteristics that have an effect on the factors motivating offshore production. Furthermore, sourcing strategies and buyer-supplier relationships are sometimes influenced by these motivational factors.
3D Profiling of Cloth Appearances Based on Stereo Vision Method
Authors: XIN Binjie , HU Jinlian
Published: April 2016

Cloth has the nature of three-dimensional, flexible and non-rigid, some traditional methods based on 2D imaging and contact-type 3D surface measurement methods can not work for this kind of material. In this paper we present a study of digitalization of three dimensional cloth appearances based on stereo vision method. The 3D stereo system includes a set of mirror group (3D lens) and a digital camera with high resolution. Based on the camera geometry and stereo matching techniques, the depth map of cloth could be calculated so as to evaluate the 3D appearance of fabrics and related objects. The results show it is effective and workable to use this system to study the cloth/garment's 3D deformation or draping profile.
Intrinsic Continuous Collision Detection for Deformable Meshes
Authors: Wong Wingo Sai-Keung , Baciu George
Published: April 2016

We propose an architecture for the intrinsic collision detection unit to perform collision detection for deformable triangular meshes, accurately, robustly and efficiently. We adopt a cache scheme which greatly improves the feature (e.g. point, edge and triangle) collision detection and thus improves the overall collision detection process. Our method handles numerical errors appropriately. Therefore, it accurately reports all the first contact points and collision information. Moreover, the method tracks collision orientations inherently so that proper action can be taken in order to avoid inter-penetrations. This method suits to meshes in a highly contact virtual environment in which the number of contact points is large. We illustrate an example of the applications of the method in cloth simulation.
3D Modeling of Plain Weft Knitted Structures of Compressible Yarn
Authors: Kyosev Yordan , Angelova Y. , Kovar R.
Published: April 2016

In this paper two methods for 3Dimensional modeling of the plain weft knitted structures are presented. The aim is models to be more realistic concerning yarn cross section properties. The first model is based on the assumption that yarn cross section changes to ellipse-like form in the areas with high curvature. The second one is a discrete particle model of the loops, which takes into account the local changes of the yarn following from the contact forces. It calculates actual yarn geometry on the contact places iteratively, as general nonlinear compression behavior of the yarn is assumed.
Correlation between Optical and SEM Measurements of Wool Cortical Cell Size
Authors: Wang Huimin , Wang Xungai
Published: April 2016

Wool fibres consist of micro to nano scale protein constituents that could be used for innovative applications. While techniques for extracting these constituents or making wool fibres into organic powders have been developed, effectively dispersing the particles and accurately determining their size has been difficult in practice. In this study, an ultrasonic method was employed to disperse cortical cells extracted from wool fibres into an immersion oil or ethanol. Specimens of the cortical cells were then observed under optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. Cell length and maximum cell diameter were measured to quantify the cell size. The results suggest significant discrepancies exist in the cortical cell size obtained from the two different measurement techniques. The maximum diameter of wool cortical cells obtained from the optical microscope was much larger than that from the scanning electron microscope, while the length was much shorter. A correction factor is given so that cortical cell size obtained from the two measurement techniques can be compared.
A New Approach for Modelling Fluid Flow Through a Yarn Package
Authors: Zhao Xiaoming , Wardman R H , Shamey R
Published: April 2016

A novel approach of modelling of flow in yarn package has been presented which illustrates a comprehensive analysis of flow properties in package dyeing process by coupling the Navier- Stokes equations with Brinkman equations. Navier-Stokes equations are also combined with Darcy’s law to be used as reference. The model allows the user to specify inflow rate, liquor pressures, package geometry (inner radius, outer radius, and height), package permeability, fluid viscosity, and temperature. The results of simulation present the velocity and pressure distribution of the flow through the package (both in the tube and the yarn assembly). The influence of shear stress on flow within the package is also discussed.
The Applications of Biotextiles in Tissue Engineering
Authors: Sumanasingh Ruwan , King Martin W.
Published: April 2016

Tissue engineering has gained wide acceptance since its discovery due to its potential for replacing diseased and injured human tissues and organs. Biotextiles composed of textile fibrous structures can be designed and engineered to achieve specific performances demanded by various tissue engineering applications. Several key factors, such as the selection of cells, the material and form of the scaffold, and the
regulation of cell growth and proliferation, govern the effective use of biotextiles for tissue engineering end uses. This paper examines the current techniques used in the field of tissue engineering and explains how the disciplines of polymer chemistry, fibre science, and textile technology and engineering have a unique role to play when combined with molecular biology, biochemistry, and biotechnology to design and develop novel biotextile scaffolds for tissue engineering applications.
Recent Studies on Yarn Tension and Energy Consumption in Ring Spinning
Authors: Tang Zhengxue , Wang Xungai , Fraser W. Barrie
Published: April 2016

High energy consumption remains a key challenge for the widely used ring spinning system. Tackling this challenge requires a full understanding of the various factors that contribute to yarn tension and energy consumption during ring spinning. In this paper, we report our recent experimental and theoretical research on air drag, yarn tension and energy consumption in ring spinning. A specially constructed rig was used to simulate the ring spinning process; and yarn tension at the guide-eye was measured for different yarns under different conditions. The effect of yarn hairiness on the air drag acting on a rotating yarn package and on a ballooning yarn was examined. Models of the power requirements for overcoming the air drag, increasing the kinetic energy of the yarn package (bobbin and wound yarn) and overcoming the yarn wind-on tension were developed. The ratio of energy-consumption to yarn-production over a full yarn package was discussed. A program to simulate yarn winding in ring spinning was implemented, which can generate the balloon shape and predict yarn tension under a given spinning condition. The simulation results were verified with experimental results obtained from spinning cotton and wool yarns.