bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Physics of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Devices and Their History
Authors: Truong Dennis Q. , Bikson Marom
Published: August 2018

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) devices apply direct current through electrodes on the scalp with the intention to modulate brain function for experimental or clinical purposes. All tDCS devices include a current controlled stimulator, electrodes that include a disposable electrolyte, and headgear to position the electrodes on the scalp. Transcranial direct current stimulation dose can be defined by the size and position of electrodes and the duration and intensity of current applied across electrodes. Electrode design and preparation are important for reproducibility and tolerability. High-definition tDCS uses smaller electrodes that can be arranged in arrays to optimize brain current flow. When intended to be used at home, tDCS devices require specific device design considerations. Computational models of current flow have been validated and support optimization and hypothesis testing. Consensus on the safety and tolerability of tDCS is protocol specific, but medical-grade tDCS devices minimize risk.
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Neurodegenerative Disorders
Authors: Pellicciari Maria Concetta , Miniussi Carlo
Published: August 2018

Cortical excitability modulation and neuroplasticity are considered essential mechanisms for improving clinical and cognitive abilities in neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs). In such context, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) shows great promise for facilitating remodeling of neurosynaptic organization. The aim of this review was to provide an overview of how tDCS is currently used as a neurorehabilitation strategy in some NDDs. We describe results from studies in which tDCS was applied in mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, and primary progressive aphasia. Currently, findings related to the ability of tDCS to restore cognitive dysfunctions and behavioral impairments in these NDDs do not seem to support the notion that tDCS shows clear therapeutic efficacy in patients with mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer disease, and primary progressive aphasia. This is probably because tDCS research in this area is still in its early stages. Methodological concerns, such as differences in tDCS parameters (eg, intensity or duration), target sites, and study design (eg, the relationship between tDCS and the rehabilitation strategy), or the use of underpowered sample sizes may also contribute to these outcomes. Nevertheless, it is important to note that almost no studies have evaluated how the underlying neurophysiological state of patients should guide the application of tDCS. These results should not prevent the use of tDCS in these NDDs, but they should trigger a deeper evaluation of how tDCS should be used. Transcranial direct current stimulation cannot be considered a neurorehabilitation apparatus by itself but should be instead viewed as a method for weakly modulating existing brain excitability. Future studies should aim to improve our understanding of the neurophysiological mechanisms that underlie the clinical effects of tDCS with the final goal of designing and performing individualized stimulation protocols that can be tailored for each NDD patient and combined with other appropriate neurorehabilitation strategies.
A three-dimensionally preserved lobopodian from the Herefordshire (Silurian) Lagerstätte, UK
Authors: Siveter Derek J. , Briggs Derek E. G. , Siveter David J. , Sutton Mark D. , Legg David
Published: August 2018

The Herefordshire (Silurian) Lagerstätte (approx. 430 Myr BP) has yielded, among many exceptionally preserved invertebrates, a wide range of new genera belonging to crown-group Panarthropoda. Here, we increase this panarthropod diversity with the lobopodian
Thanahita distos
, a new total-group panarthropod genus and species. This new lobopodian preserves at least nine paired, long, slender appendages, the anterior two in the head region and the posterior seven representing trunk lobopods. The body ends in a short post-appendicular extension. Some of the trunk lobopods bear two claws, others a single claw. The body is covered by paired, tuft-like papillae.
Thanahita distos
joins only seven other known three-dimensionally preserved lobopodian or onychophoran (velvet worm) fossil specimens and is the first lobopodian to be formally described from the Silurian. Phylogenetic analysis recovered it, together with all described
Hallucigenia
species, in a sister-clade to crown-group panarthropods. Its placement in a redefined Hallucigeniidae, an iconic Cambrian clade, indicates the survival of this clade to Silurian times.
Characterizations and morphology of sodium tungstate particles
Authors: Dkhilalli F. , Megdiche Borchani S. , Rasheed M. , Barille R.  , Shihab S. , Guidara K. , Megdiche M.
Published: August 2018

A solid-state reaction technique was used to synthesize polycrystalline Na
2
WO
4
. Preliminary X-ray studies revealed that the compound has a cubic structure at room temperature. The formation of the compound has been confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction studies and Raman spectroscopy. Electrical and dielectric properties of the compound have been studied using complex impedance spectroscopy in the frequency range 209 Hz–1 MHz and temperature range 586–679 K. The impedance data were modellized by an equivalent circuit consisting of series of a combination of grains and grains boundary. We use complex electrical modulus
M
* at various temperatures to analyse dielectric data. The modulus plots are characterized by the presence of two relaxation peaks thermally activated. The morphologies and the average particle size of the resultant sodium tungstate sample were demonstrated by atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The thicknesses and optical constants of the sample have been calculated using ellipsometric measurements in the range of 200–22 000 nm by means of new amorphous dispersion formula which is the objective of the present work. The results were obtained for Na
2
WO
4
particles from experimental (EXP) and measured (FIT) data showed an excellent agreement. In addition, the energy gap of the Na
2
WO
4
sample has been determined using ellipsometry and confirmed by spectrophotometry measurements.
Mine safety assessment based on basic event importance: grey relational analysis and bow tie model
Authors: Xu Qingwei , Xu Kaili , Li Li , Yao Xiwen
Published: August 2018

Safety assessments are a crucial first step in preventing coal and gas outburst accidents. The main purpose of this study was to create a new accident prevention technique using a novel safety assessment method based on fault tree basic event importance, grey relational analysis and the bow tie model. The innovation of the proposed method lies in generating the composite importance of a basic event from the fundamental importance via grey relational analysis; bow tie analysis serves to reveal the most critical basic event. First, the minimal cut sets and minimal path sets of a coal and gas outburst accident are determined by fault tree analysis. The role of minimal cut and path sets is determined and the coal and gas outburst occurrence frequency is calculated accordingly. Second, the structure, probability, critical and Fussell–Vesely importance ranked basic events differently due to different aspects of the basic events as investigated. We establish a composite importance to represent single basic events and achieved new ranking results by grey relational analysis. Third, the critical basic event low permeability coefficient is analysed via bow tie model and safety measures are defined which prevent the dangerous consequences of a low permeability coefficient. An actual coal and gas outburst accident is used as a case study to test the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method.
Water, water everywhere: environmental DNA can unlock population structure in elusive marine species
Authors: Parsons Kim M. , Everett Meredith , Dahlheim Marilyn , Park Linda
Published: August 2018

Determining management units for natural populations is critical for effective conservation and management. However, collecting the requisite tissue samples for population genetic analyses remains the primary limiting factor for a number of marine species. The harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), one of the smallest cetaceans in the Northern Hemisphere, is a primary example. These elusive, highly mobile small animals confound traditional approaches of collecting tissue samples for genetic analyses, yet their nearshore habitat makes them highly vulnerable to fisheries by-catch and the effects of habitat degradation. By exploiting the naturally shed cellular material in seawater and the power of next-generation sequencing, we develop a novel approach for generating population-specific mitochondrial sequence data from environmental DNA (eDNA) using surface seawater samples. Indications of significant genetic differentiation within a currently recognized management stock highlights the need for dedicated eDNA sampling throughout the population's range in southeast Alaska. This indirect sampling tactic for characterizing stock structure of small and endangered marine mammals has the potential to revolutionize population assessment for otherwise inaccessible marine taxa.
Using a robotic fish to investigate individual differences in social responsiveness in the guppy
Authors: Bierbach David , Landgraf Tim , Romanczuk Pawel , Lukas Juliane , Nguyen Hai , Wolf Max , Krause Jens
Published: August 2018

Responding towards the actions of others is one of the most important behavioural traits whenever animals of the same species interact. Mutual influences among interacting individuals may modulate the social responsiveness seen and thus make it often difficult to study the level and individual variation in responsiveness. Here, open-loop biomimetic robots that provide standardized, non-interactive social cues can be a useful tool. These robots are not affected by the live animal's actions but are assumed to still represent valuable and biologically relevant social cues. As this assumption is crucial for the use of biomimetic robots in behavioural studies, we hypothesized (i) that meaningful social interactions can be assumed if live animals maintain individual differences in responsiveness when interacting with both a biomimetic robot and a live partner. Furthermore, to study the level of individual variation in social responsiveness, we hypothesized (ii) that individual differences should be maintained over the course of multiple tests with the robot. We investigated the response of live guppies (Poecilia reticulata) when allowed to interact either with a biomimetic open-loop-controlled fish robot—‘Robofish’—or with a live companion. Furthermore, we investigated the responses of live guppies when tested three times with Robofish. We found that responses of live guppies towards Robofish were weaker compared with those of a live companion, most likely as a result of the non-interactive open-loop behaviour of Robofish. Guppies, however, were consistent in their individual responses between a live companion and Robofish, and similar individual differences in response towards Robofish were maintained over repeated testing even though habituation to the test environment was detectable. Biomimetic robots like Robofish are therefore a useful tool for the study of social responsiveness in guppies and possibly other small fish species.
Resistance of corals and coralline algae to ocean acidification: physiological control of calcification under natural pH variability
Authors: Cornwall C. E. , Comeau S. , DeCarlo T. M. , Moore B. , D'Alexis Q. , McCulloch M. T.
Published: August 2018

Ocean acidification is a threat to the continued accretion of coral reefs, though some undergo daily fluctuations in pH exceeding declines predicted by 2100. We test whether exposure to greater pH variability enhances resistance to ocean acidification for the coral
Goniopora
sp. and coralline alga
Hydrolithon reinboldii
from two sites: one with low pH variability (less than 0.15 units daily; Shell Island) and a site with high pH variability (up to 1.4 pH units daily; Tallon Island). We grew populations of both species for more than 100 days under a combination of differing pH variability (high/low) and means (ambient pH 8.05/ocean acidification pH 7.65). Calcification rates of
Goniopora
sp. were unaffected by the examined variables. Calcification rates of
H. reinboldii
were significantly faster in Tallon than in Shell Island individuals, and Tallon Island individuals calcified faster in the high variability pH 8.05 treatment compared with all others. Geochemical proxies for carbonate chemistry within the calcifying fluid (cf) of both species indicated that only mean seawater pH influenced pH
cf
. pH treatments had no effect on proxies for Ω
cf
. These limited responses to extreme pH treatments demonstrate that some calcifying taxa may be capable of maintaining constant rates of calcification under ocean acidification by actively modifying Ω
cf
.
Signatures of human-commensalism in the house sparrow genome
Authors: Ravinet Mark , Elgvin Tore Oldeide , Trier Cassandra , Aliabadian Mansour , Gavrilov Andrey , Sætre Glenn-Peter
Published: August 2018

House sparrows (Passer domesticus) are a hugely successful anthrodependent species; occurring on nearly every continent. Yet, despite their ubiquity and familiarity to humans, surprisingly little is known about their origins. We sought to investigate the evolutionary history of the house sparrow and identify the processes involved in its transition to a human-commensal niche. We used a whole genome resequencing dataset of 120 individuals from three Eurasian species, including three populations of Bactrianus sparrows, a non-commensal, divergent house sparrow lineage occurring in the Near East. Coalescent modelling supports a split between house and Bactrianus sparrow 11 Kya and an expansion in the house sparrow at 6 Kya, consistent with the spread of agriculture following the Neolithic revolution. Commensal house sparrows therefore likely moved into Europe with the spread of agriculture following this period. Using the Bactrianus sparrow as a proxy for a pre-commensal, ancestral house population, we performed a comparative genome scan to identify genes potentially involved with adaptation to an anthropogenic niche. We identified potential signatures of recent, positive selection in the genome of the commensal house sparrow that are absent in Bactrianus populations. The strongest selected region encompasses two major candidate genes;COL11A—which regulates craniofacial and skull development andAMY2A, part of the amylase gene family which has previously been linked to adaptation to high-starch diets in humans and dogs. Our work examines human-commensalism in an evolutionary framework, identifies genomic regions likely involved in rapid adaptation to this new niche and ties the evolution of this species to the development of modern human civilization.
Bacterial and fungal contributions to delignification and lignocellulose degradation in forest soils with metagenomic and quantitative stable isotope probing
Authors: Wilhelm Roland C. , Singh Rahul , Eltis Lindsay D. , Mohn William W.
Published: August 2018

Delignification, or lignin-modification, facilitates the decomposition of lignocellulose in woody plant biomass. The extant diversity of lignin-degrading bacteria and fungi is underestimated by culture-dependent methods, limiting our understanding of the functional and ecological traits of decomposers populations. Here, we describe the use of stable isotope probing (SIP) coupled with amplicon and shotgun metagenomics to identify and characterize the functional attributes of lignin-, cellulose-and hemicellulose-degrading fungi and bacteria in coniferous forest soils from across North America. We tested the extent to which catabolic genes partitioned among different decomposer taxa; the relative roles of bacteria and fungi, and whether taxa or catabolic genes correlated with variation in lignocellulolytic activity, measured as the total assimilation of13C-label into DNA and phospholipid fatty acids. We found high overall bacterial degradation of our model lignin substrate, particularly by gram-negative bacteria (Comamonadaceae and Caulobacteraceae), while fungi were more prominent in cellulose-degradation. Very few taxa incorporated13C-label from more than one lignocellulosic polymer, suggesting specialization among decomposers. Collectively, members of Caulobacteraceae could degrade all three lignocellulosic polymers, providing new evidence for their importance in lignocellulose degradation. Variation in lignin-degrading activity was better explained by microbial community properties, such as catabolic gene content and community structure, than cellulose-degrading activity. SIP significantly improved shotgun metagenome assembly resulting in the recovery of several high-quality draft metagenome-assembled genomes and over 7,500 contigs containing unique clusters of carbohydrate-active genes. These results improve understanding of which organisms, conditions and corresponding functional genes contribute to lignocellulose decomposition.
Broad spectrum capture of clinical pathogens using engineered Fc-Mannose-Binding Lectin (FcMBL) enhanced by antibiotic treatment
Authors: Seiler Benjamin T. , Cartwright Mark , Dinis Alexandre L.M. , Duffy Shannon , Lombardo Patrick , Cartwright David , Super Elana H. , Lanzaro Jacqueline , Dugas Kristen , Super Michael , Ingber Donald E.
Published: August 2018

FcMBL, an engineered version of the blood opsonin mannose-binding lectin (MBL) that contains the carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) and flexible neck regions of MBL fused to the Fc portion of human IgG1, has been shown to bind various microbes and pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). FcMBL also has been used to create an enzyme-linked lectin sorbent assay (ELLecSA) for use as a rapid (< 1 hr) diagnostic of bloodstream infections. Here we extended this work by using the ELLecSA to test FcMBL’s ability to bind to more than 200 different isolates from over 100 different pathogen species. FcMBL bound to 86% of the isolates and 110 of the 122 (90%) different pathogen species tested, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. It also bound to PAMPs including, lipopolysaccharide endotoxin (LPS) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) from Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, as well as lipoarabinomannan (LAM) and phosphatidylinositol mannoside 6 (PIM6) fromMycobacterium tuberculosis. The efficiency of pathogen detection and variation between binding of different strains of the same species also could be improved by treating the bacteria with antibiotics prior to FcMBL capture to reveal previously concealed binding sites within the bacterial cell wall. As FcMBL can bind to pathogens and PAMPs in urine as well as blood, its broad-binding capability could be leveraged to develop a variety of clinically relevant technologies, including infectious disease diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines.
Genome-wide association study in two cohorts from a multi-generational mouse advanced intercross line highlights the difficulty of replication
Authors: Zhou Xinzhu , St. Pierre Celine L. , Gonzales Natalia M. , Cheng Riyan , Chitre Apurva , Sokoloff Greta , Palmer Abraham A.
Published: August 2018

Replication is considered to be critical for genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in humans, but is not routinely performed in model organisms. We explored replication using an advanced intercross line (AIL) which is the simplest possible multigenerational intercross. We re-genotyped a previously published cohort of LG/J x SM/J AIL mice (F34; n=428) using a denser marker set and also genotyped a novel cohort of AIL mice (F39-43; n=600) for the first time. We identified 110 significant loci in the F34cohort, 36 of which were new discoveries attributable to the denser marker set; we also identified 27 novel significant loci in the F39-43cohort. For traits measured in both cohorts (locomotor activity, body weight, and coat color), the genetic correlations were high, although, the F39-43cohort showed systematically lower SNP-heritability estimates. We then attempted to replicate loci identified in either F34or F39-43in the other cohort. Albino coat color was robustly replicated; we observed only partial replication of associations for locomotor activity and body weight. Finally, we performed a mega-analysis of locomotor activity and body weight by combining F34and F39-43cohorts (n=1,028), which identified four novel loci. The incomplete replication was inconsistent with simulations we performed to estimate our power to replicate. This may reflect: 1) false positives errors in the discovery cohort, 2) environmental or genetic heterogeneity between the two samples, or 3) the systematic over estimation of the effect sizes at significant loci (“Winner’s Curse”). Our results demonstrate that it is difficult to replicate GWAS results even when using similarly sized discovery and replication cohorts drawn from the same population.
The hydrocarbon-bearing clathrasil chibaite and its host–guest structure at low temperature
Authors: Scheidl K. S. , Effenberger H. S. , Yagi T. , Momma K. , Miletich Ronald
Published: August 2018

The natural sII-type clathrasil chibaite [chemical formula SiO2·(M12,M16), whereMxdenotes a guest molecule] was investigated using single-crystal X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy in the temperature range from 273 to 83 K. The O atoms of the structure at room temperature, which globally conforms to space group Fd{\overline 3}m [V= 7348.9 (17) Å3,a= 19.4420 (15) Å], have anomalous anisotropic displacement parameters indicating a static or dynamic disorder. With decreasing temperature, the crystal structure shows a continuous symmetry-lowering transformation accompanied by twinning. The intensities of weak superstructure reflections increase as temperature decreases. A monoclinic twinned superstructure was derived at 100 K [A2/n,V= 7251.0 (17) Å3,a′ = 23.7054 (2),b′ = 13.6861 (11),c′ = 23.7051 (2) Å, β′ = 109.47°]. The transformation matrix from the cubic to the monoclinic system isai′ = (½ 1 ½ / ½ 0 −½ / ½ −1 ½). TheA2/nhost framework has Si—O bond lengths and Si—O—Si angles that are much closer to known values for stable silicate-framework structures compared with the averaged Fd{\overline 3}m model. As suggested from band splitting observed in the Raman spectra, the [512]-type cages (one crystallographically unique in Fd{\overline 3}m, four different inA2/n) entrap the hydrocarbon species (CH4, C2H6, C3H8,i-C4H10). The [51264]-type cage was found to be unique in both structure types. It contains the larger hydrocarbon molecules C2H6, C3H8andi-C4H10.
Twist and turn: a revised structural view on the unpaired bubble of class II CPD photolyase in complex with damaged DNA
Authors: Maestre-Reyna Manuel , Yamamoto Junpei , Huang Wei-Cheng , Tsai Ming-Daw , Essen Lars-Oliver , Bessho Yoshitaka
Published: August 2018

Cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer (CPD) photolyases harness the energy of blue light to repair UV-induced DNA CPDs. Upon binding, CPD photolyases cause the photodamage to flip out of the duplex DNA and into the catalytic site of the enzyme. This process, called base-flipping, induces a kink in the DNA, as well as an unpaired bubble, which are stabilized by a network of protein–nucleic acid interactions. Previously, several co-crystal structures have been reported in which the binding mode of CPD photolyases has been studied in detail. However, in all cases the internucleoside linkage of the photodamage site was a chemically synthesized formacetal analogue and not the natural phosphodiester. Here, the first crystal structure and conformational analysisviamolecular-dynamics simulations of a class II CPD photolyase in complex with photodamaged DNA that contains a natural cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer with an intra-lesion phosphodiester linkage are presented. It is concluded that a highly conserved bubble-intruding region (BIR) mediates stabilization of the open form of CPD DNA when complexed with class II CPD photolyases.
Homology-based loop modeling yields more complete crystallographic protein structures
Authors: van Beusekom Bart , Joosten Krista , Hekkelman Maarten L. , Joosten Robbie P. , Perrakis Anastassis
Published: August 2018

Inherent protein flexibility, poor or low-resolution diffraction data or poorly defined electron-density maps often inhibit the building of complete structural models during X-ray structure determination. However, recent advances in crystallographic refinement and model building often allow completion of previously missing parts. This paper presents algorithms that identify regions missing in a certain model but present in homologous structures in the Protein Data Bank (PDB), and `graft' these regions of interest. These new regions are refined and validated in a fully automated procedure. Including these developments in the PDB-REDO pipeline has enabled the building of 24 962 missing loops in the PDB. The models and the automated procedures are publicly available through the PDB-REDO databank and webserver. More complete protein structure models enable a higher quality public archive but also a better understanding of protein function, better comparison between homologous structures and more complete data mining in structural bioinformatics projects.
Explicit construction of the Voronoi and Delaunay cells ofW(An) andW(Dn) lattices and their facets
Authors: Koca Mehmet , Ozdes Koca Nazife , Al-Siyabi Abeer , Koc Ramazan
Published: August 2018

Voronoi and Delaunay (Delone) cells of the root and weight lattices of the Coxeter–Weyl groupsW(An) andW(Dn) are constructed. The face-centred cubic (f.c.c.) and body-centred cubic (b.c.c.) lattices are obtained in this context. Basic definitions are introduced such as parallelotope, fundamental simplex, contact polytope, root polytope, Voronoi cell, Delone cell,n-simplex,n-octahedron (cross polytope),n-cube andn-hemicube and their volumes are calculated. The Voronoi cell of the root lattice is constructed as the dual of the root polytope which turns out to be the union of Delone cells. It is shown that the Delone cells centred at the origin of the root latticeAnare the polytopes of the fundamental weights ω1, ω2,…, ωnand the Delone cells of the root latticeDnare the polytopes obtained from the weights ω1, ωn−1and ωn. A simple mechanism explains the tessellation of the root lattice by Delone cells. It is proved that the (n−1)-facet of the Voronoi cell of the root latticeAnis an (n−1)-dimensional rhombohedron and similarly the (n−1)-facet of the Voronoi cell of the root latticeDnis a dipyramid with a base of an (n−2)-cube. The volume of the Voronoi cell is calculatedviaits (n−1)-facet which in turn can be obtained from the fundamental simplex. Tessellations of the root lattice with the Voronoi and Delone cells are explained by giving examples from lower dimensions. Similar considerations are also worked out for the weight latticesAn* andDn*. It is pointed out that the projection of the higher-dimensional root and weight lattices on the Coxeter plane leads to theh-fold aperiodic tiling, wherehis the Coxeter number of the Coxeter–Weyl group. Tiles of the Coxeter plane can be obtained by projection of the two-dimensional faces of the Voronoi or Delone cells. Examples are given such as the Penrose-like fivefold symmetric tessellation by theA4root lattice and the eightfold symmetric tessellation by theD5root lattice.
Avatar and technology assisted platforms in the treatment of co-occurring addiction and IPV among male offenders
Authors: Easton Caroline J. , Berbary Cassandra M. , Crane Cory A.
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the research on the use of technology in mental health and addiction treatment, focusing on the use of technology-assisted treatment. Although initial research investigating technology-assisted treatment for substance use has demonstrated promising results, this paper highlights the need for treatment to address co-occurring substance use and intimate partner violence (IPV). This paper defines the benefits associated with the use of behavioral health avatar coaches in mental health treatment targeting substance use and IPV as well as providing preliminary research results regarding the use of avatar coaches in clinical settings.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review of the research relating to the use of technology in mental health and addiction treatment is provided. Additionally, a preliminary study aimed to develop an interactive therapy platform that utilizes virtual avatars as therapy coaches to help clients with substance abuse and IPV is presented. In this preliminary study, male participants were shown videos of various technology-based coaches matched on length, gestures and content. Researchers investigated whether patients preferred a virtual reality health coach, a cartoon health coach or a human health coach; as well as patient satisfaction and preference between two versions of the avatar.

Findings

A review of the relevant literature suggests that a majority of research has focused on using technology to replace face-to-face therapy with little research focusing on technology-assisted or augmented mental health and addiction treatment. Although initial research investigating avatar-assisted treatment for substance use has demonstrated promising results, research suggests a high prevalence of co-occurring substance use and IPV, suggesting the need for treatment to address co-occurring substance use and IPV. A preliminary research study was conducted to obtain patient feedback for personalizing avatar development into behavioral health interventions that target addiction and IPV.

Research limitations/implications

Although results of the preliminary study combined with previous research on avatar-assisted treatment for substance use has demonstrated promising results, theory-based research needs to be expanded to focus on randomized controlled trials of avatar-assisted treatment for co-occurring substance use and IPV.

Practical implications

This paper provides an overview of the use of technology-assisted treatment for co-occurring substance use and IPV. The preliminary results regarding patient satisfaction led to the development of additional avatars for use in interactive therapy.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the first to explore the use of avatar-assisted treatment for male offenders with co-morbid substance use and IPV.
Promoting value addition among farmers in the cassava food value chain in Nigeria
Authors: Donkor Emmanuel , Onakuse Stephen , Bogue Joe , de los Rios Carmenado Ignacio
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the effects of the determinants of farmer participation in value addition through cassava processing in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs the probit model to analyse the determinants of farmer participation in value addition whereas the Tobit model is used to investigate the determinants of the extent of producer’s involvement in value addition using a data set of 400 cassava farmers drawn from the Oyo State of Nigeria.

Findings

The findings further indicate that among other factors, human capital factors including farmer age and location variable tend to reduce farmer participation in value addition through processing whereas experience and record keeping promote farmer participation in cassava processing. Institutional variables, notably membership of farmer association, extension access and credit access, enhance farmer participation in value addition. Finally, ownership of a radio set, a television set and access to electricity strengthen the value-adding capacity of farmers.

Research limitations/implications

This study only considers the determinants of producers’ participation in cassava processing but does not explicitly analyse the impact of value addition on their profit margin. This issue would form a basis for future research to enhance knowledge in the extant literature.

Practical implications

The study suggests that if the value-adding capacity of farmers is strengthened, rural economy is likely to be improved upon through the proliferation of rural food processing enterprises.

Originality/value

Despite the relevance of developing food value chains in Africa and integrating farmers in them, there are limited studies on promoting value addition among farmers. This study contributes to narrowing this knowledge gap.
Optimization of processing conditions of milk “coagulum” rings and the effect of incorporation of extenders on their quality and storage stability under ambient temperature conditions
Authors: Lalawmpuii H. , Chauhan Geeta , Mendiratta Sanjod K. , Singh Tarun Pal , Singh Bhanu Pratap , Kumar Dhananjay , Jaiswal Rohit Kumar
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to optimize the processing conditions of ready-to-eat (RTE) milk “coagulum” rings.

Design/methodology/approach

Milk “coagulum” rings were prepared from milk coagulum. Milk at four different level of milk fat (0.1, 1.5, 3 and 4.5 percent) were used to obtain milk coagulum of four different fat level for preparing milk “coagulum” rings. Unripe banana powder (UPB) and banana peel powder (BPP) were incorporated at three different levels separately. The incorporation levels were also optimized to be 11 percent for UPB and 6 percent for BPP on the basis of sensory evaluation.

Findings

The yield, ash, moisture and total dietary fiber content of products with optimized level of UPB and BPP were significantly higher as compared to control while the protein and fat contents were lower. Incorporation of extenders resulted in a significant reduction in the color value of the treated products. The water activity was highest for T2 and lowest for control at the end of 42 days. TBARS as lipid oxidation parameter was highest for control and the microbial count was comparable in T1 and T2 where as it was higher in control. The sensory scores of the control was higher than the two treated products during the entire storage period.

Originality/value

The shelf stable RTE milk coagulum-based snack using 1.5 percent fat can provide a nutritious, palatable and healthy product to the consumers.
3D modelling of electric field in vicinity of 400 kV power line
Authors: Iatcheva Ilona , Dimitrova Malina , Petkova Nikolina
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to model the electric field distribution in 3D in the vicinity of 400 kV power line to determine the field impact on the environment and on the human body depending on the person location and presence of other objects.

Design/methodology/approach

The real 3D geometry of the three-phase line because of the line sag presence and existence of additional objects in its vicinity is considered. The time-harmonic electric field has been modeled, taking into account 1,200 phase shifting between the three-phase, 50 Hz currents. The study has been carried out using the finite element method (FEM) and COMSOL Multiphysics 5.2 software package. Special attention was paid to the field at a height of 2 m from the ground, to estimate the field influence on the located human body in the studied area (in relation to the limits for permissible electric field values).

Findings

3D map of electric field in the line vicinity and the electric field strength distribution along the observation surface (2 m from the ground) are determined for several region configurations: without additional objects, human presence just under the line, human at a certain distance from the line and presence of human and a tree. The simulation model was validated on the basis of comparison with computed and experimental data presented in the literature.

Originality/value

3D FEM modeling makes it possible to consider the real environment configuration, presence of line sag and additional objects with different material properties and obtaining of field quantities at any point of observation.
Reversing the endowment effect by empowering buyers and sellers
Authors: Chan Eugene , Saqib Najam
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The endowment effect is well-established in economics, psychology and marketing where sellers place a higher value on a good than buyers. One potential moderator, namely, power is explored. The authors predicted that feeling powerful can reverse the effect, making buyers place a higher value on a good than sellers.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors manipulated power to assess the effects on the valuation of three different products (keychain, gift card and iPhone case). They also assessed participants’ focus on parting with the good (money), which is a loss, and receiving money (the good), which is a gain, for sellers (buyers).

Findings

Feelings of power reduced sellers’ prices but they increased buyers’. Crucially, the authors observed the endowment effect, but only under conditions of low power. When participants had high power, the effect reversed, with buyers placing a higher value on the good under transaction than sellers. Process data indicated that powerful buyers and sellers focused on what they gained and less on what they lost, compared to powerless buyers and sellers.

Research limitations/implications

The authors link the construct of power with the endowment effect, showing that the former can moderate the latter. Certainly, the endowment effect is well-established, but there are moderators and boundary conditions that warrant consideration.

Practical implications

The results suggest a case where the market may clear, where buyers value a consumer product more than sellers, and thus buyers would likely accept the offer made by sellers.

Originality/value

The authors are the first to link the power literature with the endowment effect. They also show a possible moderator for the well-established endowment effect.
Historical perspective of climate change in sustainable livelihoods of coastal areas of the Red River Delta, Nam Dinh, Vietnam
Authors: Tran Thi Kieu Van , Elahi Ehsan , Zhang Liqin , Magsi Habibullah , Pham Quang Trung , Hoang Tuan Minh
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to estimate a recent trend in climate change and its impact on livelihood of community living in Nam Dinh province, Vietnam. Further, it aims to increase the government attention for adaptation measures by providing awareness of climate change and its negative impacts on livelihood.

Design/methodology/approach

For study purpose, cross-sectional and secondary data sets were used. The community perceptions about climate change were recorded by face-to-face interviews of 500 respondents from Nam Dinh province, Vietnam in April 2015 by using a well-structured questionnaire, whereas secondary data were collected from the statistical yearbook of General Statistics Office of Vietnam. To accomplish the study objectives, Cobb–Douglas production function and Likert scale were used to estimate the community perceptions of climate change and impact of climate change on livelihood, respectively.

Findings

Results depict that climate change negatively impacted on the productivity of rice and livestock. Particularly, frequently occurring of droughts, floods and salinity intrusion negatively impacted on rice productivity, while livestock productivity is decreased by frequent occurring of flood storms in study area.

Originality/value

The study results suggest a government support is essential to achieve sustainable livelihoods for coastal communities living in the Red River Delta, particularly some adaptation measures in the context of climate change are required in study area.
The effect of partner buffering on the risk of unemployment in Finland
Authors: Krutova Oxana , Koistinen Pertti , Nummi Tapio
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to outline the study to determine whether the dual earner model better offsets the actual risk of unemployment compared to other household models.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors linked the partner effect (household type) with macroeconomic institutional settings, such as employment protection, the active labour market policy, economic growth rate and globalisation, to study how these micro- and macro-level factors influence the unemployment risk of individuals.

Findings

Using European Labour Force Survey (EU-LFS) microdata for Finland from 2005 to 2013 and a multilevel modelling technique, the authors found that the partner effect is an important regulator of unemployment risks, but the effect is modified by institutional factors. Dual earners and breadwinners experience a less significant effect from employment protection legislation regulation and other external factors on the increase or decrease in unemployment risk compared to singles. The authors also found that unemployed singles are more exposed and vulnerable to fluctuations caused by economic events.

Originality/value

In this way, this paper contributes to the sociological theory of labour markets and a better understanding of how different household types buffer and mediate the risks of unemployment. The authors used the EU-LFS and novel multilevel analysis statistical solutions to determine the impact of macro- and micro-level factors. The case of Finland may also be of broader interest to researchers and policy-makers because of the long and strong tradition of the dual earner employment pattern and strong macro-economic fluctuations.
Simulation of the characteristics of the water-lubricated journal bearing in twin-screw air compressor
Authors: Wang Chuang , Xing Ziwen , Pan Xi , He Zhilong
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The well-operating condition of journal bearing is the assurance to keep superior performance of water-lubricated twin-screw compressor. To design the journal bearing more reasonably for this type of compressor, this paper aims to study the effects of rotating speed and design parameters on bearing characteristics, considering surface roughness and bending deformation of the shaft at the same time.

Design/methodology/approach

The average Reynolds equation considering the effect of surface roughness is adopted and solved by finite difference method and successive over-relaxation method to calculate pressure distribution with real bearing shapes and boundary conditions. The bending deformation of the shaft is calculated using simply supported beam model of variable cross-section.

Findings

The dynamic lubrication characteristics of four water-lubricated journal bearings in twin-screw air compressor are calculated and analyzed. In addition, the static characteristics of journal bearing including friction coefficient, film thickness ratio distribution and water film pressure distribution are calculated numerically with different rotating speed and design parameters. Moreover, some design principles of water-lubricated bearing for twin-screw compressor are put forward.

Originality/value

The lubrication characteristics of the water-lubricated journal bearing in twin-screw air compressor are calculated considering surface roughness and bending deformation of the shaft at the same time. The paper’s results may provide design guidelines for journal bearing in this kind of twin-screw compressor.
Antecedents of innovation in industry
Authors: Ramos Marco Andre Willey , Figueiredo Paulo S. , Pereira-Guizzo Camila
Published: August 2018

Purpose

Today, organizations must be able to create innovative strategies, and creative performance depends on knowing what hinders or stimulates creativity. This paper aims to determine which factors in the workplace environment positively or negatively affect creativity by analyzing individuals’ perceptions in a sample of Brazilian industrial companies.

Design/methodology/approach

The discussion is based on the componential theory of creativity and the use of a recognized research instrument (KEYS). A regression analysis was carried out, using eight environmental factors related to creativity. The purpose of the collection is to observe the statistical relationships between the scales of the factors and the results related to creativity.

Findings

Among the eight factors of the original componential theory, only three were found to have a significant impact on the creative process: organizational incentives, challenging work and support from the work group.

Research limitations/implications

The sample in this study was relatively small, and a larger sample will be required to undertake factor analysis.

Practical implications

Possible implications for the management of innovation in the Brazilian context are discussed in light of these results.

Originality/value

This study contributed to the production of knowledge, still scarce in the country, about the search for creative solutions through the work environment by confirming which factors are significant and determinants of creative performance and challenging factors that had already been proven by other studies in non-Brazilian contexts.
Prospects of applying 3-D printing to economics of remote communities
Authors: Obydenkova Svetlana , Anzalone Nicholas C. , Pearce Joshua M.
Published: August 2018

Purpose

Isolated communities face a variety of inconveniences including severe remoteness, poor roads and extreme climate conditions, resulting in the lack of security of supply chains and exorbitant prices for cargo delivery. This paper aims to investigate the present advantages and prospects of applying 3-D printing to improve economics and everyday life of remote communities, reindeer herder case taken as an example.

Design/methodology/approach

This study covers the use of a low-cost open-source 3-D printer (RepRap) capable of fused filament fabrication to reduce operating costs for nomadic reindeer herder groups. Three case studies are provided for reindeer-specific applications to probe economic and technical viability of the technology, namely, ear-tags, electric fence components and lasso accessories.

Findings

3-D printed objects feature technical characteristics similar to those of analogues available on the market while reducing the price by 63 per cent. Distributed 3-D printing reduces the cost of raw materials by 68 per cent and shipping costs by 50 because of lower trip frequency. If all reindeer herders globally were to adopt distributed manufacturing of the three aforementioned sample items only, their annual savings from such solution would amount to US$2m. The paper discovers other economic, entrepreneurial, technical and environmental opportunities offered by 3-D printing put to service the needs of remote communities.

Research limitations

As the paper is the first-ever study of 3-D printing potential applied to the reindeer husbandry case, it is based on a more thorough analysis of the techno-economic feasibility of the technology, while cultural and entrepreneurial factors have been discussed as preconditions only.

Practical implications

The paper might serve as a valuable source of information for entrepreneurs, as well as for students and academics for further case studies in this area.

Originality/value

In remote conditions, 3-D printing offers a more sustainable way of good manufacturing. Numerous open source designs already available for specialists, financial effectiveness, environmental benefits and vast opportunities for entrepreneurs are among the most promising advantages of the technology.