bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determining the benefits of transcranial direct current stimulation on functional upper limb movement in chronic stroke
Authors: Marquez Jodie L. , Conley Alexander C. , Karayanidis Frini , Miller James , Lagopoulos Jim , Parsons Mark W.
Published: February 2017

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been proposed as a tool to enhance stroke rehabilitation; however, evidence to support its use is lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of anodal and cathodal tDCS on upper limb function in chronic stroke patients. Twenty five participants were allocated to receive 20 min of 1 mA of anodal, cathodal or sham cortical stimulation in a random, counterbalanced order. Patients and assessors were blinded to the intervention at each time point. The primary outcome was upper limb performance as measured by the Jebsen Taylor Test of Hand Function (total score, fine motor subtest score and gross motor subtest score) as well as grip strength. Each outcome was assessed at baseline and at the conclusion of each intervention in both upper limbs. Neither anodal nor cathodal stimulation resulted in statistically significantly improved upper limb performance on any of the measured tasks compared with sham stimulation (P>0.05). When the data were analysed according to disability, participants with moderate/severe disability showed significantly improved gross motor function following cathodal stimulation compared with sham (P=0.014). However, this was accompanied by decreased key grip strength in the unaffected hand (P=0.003). We are unable to endorse the use of anodal and cathodal tDCS in the management of upper limb dysfunction in chronic stroke patients. Although there appears to be more potential for the use of cathodal stimulation in patients with severe disability, the effects were small and must be considered with caution as they were accompanied by unanticipated effects in the unaffected upper limb.
TRIAD VIII: Nationwide Multicenter Evaluation to Determine Whether Patient Video Testimonials Can Safely Help Ensure Appropriate Critical Versus End-of-Life Care
Authors: Mirarchi Ferdinando L. , Cooney Timothy E. , Venkat Arvind , Wang David , Pope Thaddeus M. , Fant Abra L. , Terman Stanley A. , Klauer Kevin M. , Williams-Murphy Monica , Gisondi Michael A. , Clemency Brian , Doshi Ankur A. , Siegel Mari , Kraemer Mary S. , Aberger Kate , Harman Stephanie , Ahuja Neera , Carlson Jestin N. , Milliron Melody L. , Hart Kristopher K. , Gilbertson Chelsey D. , Wilson Jason W. , Mueller Larissa , Brown Lori , Gordon Bradley D.
Published: February 2017

Objective

End-of-life interventions should be predicated on consensus understanding of patient wishes. Written documents are not always understood; adding a video testimonial/message (VM) might improve clarity. Goals of this study were to (1) determine baseline rates of consensus in assigning code status and resuscitation decisions in critically ill scenarios and (2) determine whether adding a VM increases consensus.

Methods

We randomly assigned 2 web-based survey links to 1366 faculty and resident physicians at institutions with graduate medical education programs in emergency medicine, family practice, and internal medicine. Each survey asked for code status interpretation of stand-alone Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) and living will (LW) documents in 9 scenarios. Respondents assigned code status and resuscitation decisions to each scenario. For 1 of 2 surveys, a VM was included to help clarify patient wishes.

Results

Response rate was 54%, and most were male emergency physicians who lacked formal advanced planning document interpretation training. Consensus was not achievable for stand-alone POLST or LW documents (68%–78% noted “DNR”). Two of 9 scenarios attained consensus for code status (97%–98% responses) and treatment decisions (96%–99%). Adding a VM significantly changed code status responses by 9% to 62% (P ≤ 0.026) in 7 of 9 scenarios with 4 achieving consensus. Resuscitation responses changed by 7% to 57% (P ≤ 0.005) with 4 of 9 achieving consensus with VMs.

Conclusions

For most scenarios, consensus was not attained for code status and resuscitation decisions with stand-alone LW and POLST documents. Adding VMs produced significant impacts toward achieving interpretive consensus.
Coping with copepods: do right whales (
Eubalaena glacialis
) forage visually in dark waters?
Authors: Cronin Thomas W. , Fasick Jeffry I. , Schweikert Lorian E. , Johnsen Sönke , Kezmoh Lorren J. , Baumgartner Mark F.
Published: February 2017

North Atlantic right whales (
Eubalaena glacialis
) feed during the spring and early summer in marine waters off the northeast coast of North America. Their food primarily consists of planktonic copepods,
Calanus finmarchicus
, which they consume in large numbers by ram filter feeding. The coastal waters where these whales forage are turbid, but they successfully locate copepod swarms during the day at depths exceeding 100 m, where light is very dim and copepod patches may be difficult to see. Using models of
E. glacialis
visual sensitivity together with measurements of light in waters near Cape Cod where they feed and of light attenuation by living copepods in seawater, we evaluated the potential for visual foraging by these whales. Our results suggest that vision may be useful for finding copepod patches, particularly if
E. glacialis
searches overhead for silhouetted masses or layers of copepods. This should permit the whales to locate
C. finmarchicus
visually throughout most daylight hours at depths throughout their foraging range. Looking laterally, the whales might also be able to see copepod patches at short range near the surface.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘Vision in dim light’.
Subtle changes in the landmark panorama disrupt visual navigation in a nocturnal bull ant
Authors: Narendra Ajay , Ramirez-Esquivel Fiorella
Published: February 2017

The ability of ants to navigate when the visual landmark information is altered has often been tested by creating large and artificial discrepancies in their visual environment. Here, we had an opportunity to slightly modify the natural visual environment around the nest of the nocturnal bull antMyrmecia pyriformis. We achieved this by felling three dead trees, two located along the typical route followed by the foragers of that particular nest and one in a direction perpendicular to their foraging direction. An image difference analysis showed that the change in the overall panorama following the removal of these trees was relatively little. We filmed the behaviour of ants close to the nest and tracked their entire paths, both before and after the trees were removed. We found that immediately after the trees were removed, ants walked slower and were less directed. Their foraging success decreased and they looked around more, including turning back to look towards the nest. We document how their behaviour changed over subsequent nights and discuss how the ants may detect and respond to a modified visual environment in the evening twilight period.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘Vision in dim light’.
Two eyes for two purposes:
in situ
evidence for asymmetric vision in the cockeyed squids
Histioteuthis heteropsis
and
Stigmatoteuthis dofleini
Authors: Thomas Kate N. , Robison Bruce H. , Johnsen Sönke
Published: February 2017

The light environment of the mesopelagic realm of the ocean changes with both depth and viewer orientation, and this has probably driven the high diversity of visual adaptations found among its inhabitants. The mesopelagic ‘cockeyed’ squids of family Histioteuthidae have unusual eyes, as the left and right eyes are dimorphic in size, shape and sometimes lens pigmentation. This dimorphism may be an adaptation to the two different sources of light in the mesopelagic realm, with the large eye oriented upward to view objects silhouetted against the dim, downwelling sunlight and the small eye oriented slightly downward to view bioluminescent point sources. We used
in situ
video footage from remotely operated vehicles in the Monterey Submarine Canyon to observe the orientation behaviour of 152
Histioteuthis heteropsis
and nine
Stigmatoteuthis dofleini
. We found evidence for upward orientation in the large eye and slightly downward orientation in the small eye, which was facilitated by a tail-up oblique body orientation. We also found that 65% of adult
H. heteropsis
(
n
= 69) had yellow pigmentation in the lens of the larger left eye, which may be used to break the counterillumination camouflage of their prey. Finally, we used visual modelling to show that the visual returns provided by increasing eye size are much higher for an upward-oriented eye than for a downward-oriented eye, which may explain the development of this unique visual strategy.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘Vision in dim light’.
Ontogenetic adaptations in the visual systems of deep-sea crustaceans
Authors: Frank Tamara M.
Published: February 2017

For all visually competent organisms, the driving force behind the adaptation of photoreceptors involves obtaining the best balance of resolution to sensitivity in the prevailing light regime, as an increase in sensitivity often results in a decrease in resolution. A number of marine species have an additional problem to deal with, in that the juvenile stages live in relatively brightly lit shallow (100–200 m depth) waters, whereas the adult stages have daytime depths of more than 600 m, where little downwelling light remains. Here, I present the results of electrophysiological analyses of the temporal resolution and irradiance sensitivity of juvenile and adult stages of two species of ontogenetically migrating crustaceans (Gnathophausia ingensandSystellaspis debilis) that must deal with dramatically different light environments and temperatures during their life histories. The results demonstrate that there are significant effects of temperature on temporal resolution, which help to optimize the visual systems of the two life-history stages for their respective light environments.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘Vision in dim light’.
Behavioural and physiological limits to vision in mammals
Authors: Field Greg D. , Sampath Alapakkam P.
Published: February 2017

Human vision is exquisitely sensitive—a dark-adapted observer is capable of reliably detecting the absorption of a few quanta of light. Such sensitivity requires that the sensory receptors of the retina, rod photoreceptors, generate a reliable signal when single photons are absorbed. In addition, the retina must be able to extract this information and relay it to higher visual centres under conditions where very few rods signal single-photon responses while the majority generate only noise. Critical to signal transmission are mechanistic optimizations within rods and their dedicated retinal circuits that enhance the discriminability of single-photon responses by mitigating photoreceptor and synaptic noise. We describe behavioural experiments over the past century that have led to the appreciation of high sensitivity near absolute visual threshold. We further consider mechanisms within rod photoreceptors and dedicated rod circuits that act to extract single-photon responses from cellular noise. We highlight how these studies have shaped our understanding of brain function and point out several unresolved questions in the processing of light near the visual threshold.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘Vision in dim light’.
Processing of single-photon responses in the mammalian On and Off retinal pathways at the sensitivity limit of vision
Authors: Takeshita Daisuke , Smeds Lina , Ala-Laurila Petri
Published: February 2017

Visually guided behaviour at its sensitivity limit relies on single-photon responses originating in a small number of rod photoreceptors. For decades, researchers have debated the neural mechanisms and noise sources that underlie this striking sensitivity. To address this question, we need to understand the constraints arising from the retinal output signals provided by distinct retinal ganglion cell types. It has recently been shown in the primate retina that On and Off parasol ganglion cells, the cell types likely to underlie light detection at the absolute visual threshold, differ fundamentally not only in response polarity, but also in the way they handle single-photon responses originating in rods. The On pathway provides the brain with a thresholded, low-noise readout and the Off pathway with a noisy, linear readout. We outline the mechanistic basis of these different coding strategies and analyse their implications for detecting the weakest light signals. We show that high-fidelity, nonlinear signal processing in the On pathway comes with costs: more single-photon responses are lost and their propagation is delayed compared with the Off pathway. On the other hand, the responses of On ganglion cells allow better intensity discrimination compared with the Off ganglion cell responses near visual threshold.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘Vision in dim light’.
Insect photoreceptor adaptations to night vision
Authors: Honkanen Anna , Immonen Esa-Ville , Salmela Iikka , Heimonen Kyösti , Weckström Matti
Published: February 2017

Night vision is ultimately about extracting information from a noisy visual input. Several species of nocturnal insects exhibit complex visually guided behaviour in conditions where most animals are practically blind. The compound eyes of nocturnal insects produce strong responses to single photons and process them into meaningful neural signals, which are amplified by specialized neuroanatomical structures. While a lot is known about the light responses and the anatomical structures that promote pooling of responses to increase sensitivity, there is still a dearth of knowledge on the physiology of night vision. Retinal photoreceptors form the first bottleneck for the transfer of visual information. In this review, we cover the basics of what is known about physiological adaptations of insect photoreceptors for low-light vision. We will also discuss major enigmas of some of the functional properties of nocturnal photoreceptors, and describe recent advances in methodologies that may help to solve them and broaden the field of insect vision research to new model animals.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘Vision in dim light’.
Plaques formed by mutagenized viral populations have elevated co-infection frequencies
Authors: Aguilera Elizabeth R. , Erickson Andrea K. , Jesudhasan Palmy R. , Robinson Christopher M. , Pfeiffer Julie K.
Published: February 2017

The plaque assay is a common technique used to measure virus concentrations and is based upon the principle that each plaque represents a single infectious unit. As such, plaque number is expected to correlate linearly with the virus dilution plated and each plaque should be formed by a single founder virus. Here, we examined whether more than one virus can contribute to plaque formation. By using genetic and phenotypic assays with genetically marked polioviruses, we found that multiple parental viruses are present in 5-7% of plaques, even at an extremely low multiplicity of infection. We demonstrated through visual and biophysical assays that, like many viral stocks, our viral stocks contain both single particles and aggregates. These data suggest that aggregated virions are capable of inducing co-infection and chimeric plaque formation. In fact, inducing virion aggregation via exposure to low pH increased co-infection in a flow cytometry-based assay. We hypothesized that plaques generated by viruses with high mutation loads may have higher co-infection frequencies due to fitness restoring processes such as complementation and recombination. Indeed, we found that co-infection frequency correlated with mutation load, with 17% chimeric plaque formation for heavily mutagenized viruses. Importantly, the frequency of chimeric plaques may be underestimated by up to three-fold, since co-infection with the same parental virus cannot be scored in our assay. This work indicates that more than one virus can contribute to plaque formation and that co-infection may assist plaque formation in situations where the amount of genome damage is high.
Integrative cross tissue analysis of gene expression identifies novel type 2 diabetes genes
Authors: Torres Jason M. , Barbeira Alvaro N. , Bonazzola Rodrigo , Morris Andrew P. , Shah Kaanan P. , Wheeler Heather E. , Bell Graeme I. , Cox Nancy J. , Im Hae Kyung
Published: February 2017

To understand the mechanistic underpinnings of type 2 diabetes (T2D) loci mapped through GWAS, we performed a tissue-specific gene association study in a cohort of over 100K individuals (ncases≈ 26K,ncontrols≈ 84K) across 44 human tissues using MetaXcan, a summary statistics extension of PrediXcan. We found that 90 genes significantly (FDR < 0.05) associated with T2D, of which 24 are previously reported T2D genes, 29 are novel in established T2D loci, and 37 are novel genes in novel loci. Of these, 13 reported genes, 15 novel genes in known loci, and 6 genes in novel loci replicated (FDRrep< 0.05) in an independent study (ncases≈ 10K,ncontrols≈ 62K). We also found enrichment of significant associations in expected tissues such as liver, pancreas, adipose, and muscle but also in tibial nerve, fibroblasts, and breast. Finally, we found that monogenic diabetes genes are enriched in T2D genes from our analysis suggesting that moderate alterations in monogenic (severe) diabetes genes may promote milder and later onset type 2 diabetes.
Short term changes in the proteome of human cerebral organoids induced by 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine
Authors: Dakic Vanja , Nascimento Juliana Minardi , Sartore Rafaela Costa , de Moraes Maciel Renata , de Araujo Draulio B. , Ribeiro Sidarta , Martins-de-Souza Daniel , Rehen Stevens
Published: February 2017

Dimethyltryptamines are hallucinogenic serotonin-like molecules present in traditional Amerindian medicine (e.g.Ayahuasca)recently associated with cognitive gains, antidepressant effects and changes in brain areas related to attention. Historical and technical restrictions impaired understanding how such substances impact human brain metabolism. Here we used shotgun mass spectrometry to explore proteomic differences induced by 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) on human cerebral organoids. Out of the 6,728 identified proteins, 934 were found differentially expressed in 5-MeO-DMT-treated cerebral organoids.In silicosystems biology analyses support 5-MeO-DMT’s anti-inflammatory effects and reveal a modulation of proteins associated with long-term potentiation, the formation of dendritic spines, including proteins involved in cellular protrusion formation, microtubule dynamics and cytoskeletal reorganization. These results offer possible mechanistic insights into the neuropsychological changes caused by the ingestion of substances rich in dimethyltryptamines.
Population dynamics of mutualism and intraspecific density dependence: howθ-logistic density dependence affects mutualistic positive feedback
Authors: Moore Christopher M. , Catella Samantha A. , Abbott Karen C.
Published: February 2017

Mutualism describes the biological phenomenon where two or more species are reciprocally beneficial, regardless of their ecological intimacy or evolutionary history. Classic theory shows that mutualistic benefit must be relatively weak, or else it overpowers the stabilizing influence of intraspecific competition and leads to unrealistic, unbounded population growth. Interestingly, the conclusion that strong positive interactions lead to runaway population growth is strongly grounded in the behavior of a single model. This model ― the Lotka-Volterra competition model with a sign change to generate mutualism rather than competition between species ― assumes logistic growth of each species plus a linear interaction term to represent the mutualism. While it is commonly held that the linear interaction term is to blame for the model’s unrealistic behavior, we show here that a linear mutualism added to aθ-logistic model of population growth can prevent unbounded growth. We find that when density dependence is decelerating, the benefit of mutualism at equilibrium is greater than when density dependence is accelerating. Although there is a greater benefit, however, decelerating density dependence tends to destabilize populations whereas accelerating density dependence is always stable. We interpret these findings tentatively, but with promise for the understanding of the population ecology of mutualism by generating several predictions relating growth rates of mutualist populations and the strength of mutualistic interaction.
Structure of the archaellar motor and associated cytoplasmic cone inThermococcus kodakaraensis
Authors: Briegel Ariane , Oikonomou Catherine M. , Chang Yi-Wei , Kjaer Andreas , Huang Audrey N. , Kim Ki Woo , Ghosal Debnath , Gunsalus Robert P. , Jensen Grant J.
Published: February 2017

Archaeal swimming motility is driven by rotary motors called archaella. The structure of these motors, and particularly how they are anchored in the absence of a peptidoglycan cell wall, is unknown. Here, we use electron cryotomography to visualize the archaellar motorin vivoinThermococcus kodakaraensis. Compared to the homologous bacterial type IV pilus (T4P), we observe structural similarities as well as several unique features. While the position of the cytoplasmic ATPase appears conserved, it is not braced by linkages that extend upward through the cell envelope as in the T4P, but rather by cytoplasmic components that attach it to a large conical frustum up to 500 nm in diameter at its base. In addition to anchoring the lophotrichous bundle of archaella, the conical frustum associates with chemosensory arrays and ribosome-excluding material and may function as a polar organizing center for the coccoid cells.
Exploring the Complex Dynamics of an Ion Channel Voltage Sensor Domain via Computation
Authors: Delemotte Lucie , Kasimova Marina A. , Sigg Daniel , Klein Michael L. , Carnevale Vincenzo , Tarek Mounir
Published: February 2017

Voltage-gated ion channels are ubiquitous proteins that orchestrate electrical signaling across excitable membranes. Key to their function is activation of the voltage sensor domain (VSD), a transmembrane four alpha-helix bundle that triggers channel opening. Modeling of currents from electrophysiology experiments yields a set of kinetic parameters for a given channel, but no direct molecular insight. Here we use molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to determine the free energy landscape of VSD activation and to, ultimately, predict the time evolution of the resulting gating currents. Our study provides the long-sought-for bridge between electrophysiology and microscopic molecular dynamics and confirms, as already suggested on the basis of experiments, that rate-limiting barriers play a critical role in activation kinetics.
Caenorhabditis elegansBMP Transcriptional Program Implicates Collagen Genes in Body Size Regulation
Authors: Madaan Uday , Yzeiraj Edlira , Meade Michael , Rushlow Christine A. , Savage-Dunn Cathy
Published: February 2017

Body size is a tightly regulated phenotype in metazoans that is dependent on both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. While signaling pathways such as insulin, Hippo, and myostatin are known to control organ and body size, the downstream effectors that mediate their effects are still poorly understood. In the nematodeC. elegans, a Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP)-related signaling pathway is the major regulator of growth and body size. DBL-1, the BMP-related ligand, is secreted by neurons and body wall muscle, and acts as a dose-dependent regulator of body size. We investigated the transcriptional network through which the DBL-1/BMP pathway regulates body size and identified cuticle collagen genes as major effectors of growth control. Here we demonstrate that cuticle collagen genes can act as positive regulators (col-41), dose-sensitive regulators (rol-6), and negative regulators (col-141, col-142) of body size. Moreover, we show requirement of DBL-1/BMP signaling for stage-specific expression of cuticle collagen genes. We used chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high throughput sequencing (ChIP-Seq) and electrophoretic mobility shift assays to show that the Smad signal transducers directly associate with conserved Smad binding elements in regulatory regions ofcol-141andcol-142, but not ofcol-41.Hence, cuticle collagen genes are directly and indirectly regulated via the DBL-1/BMP pathway. These results provide the first direct regulatory link between this conserved signaling pathway and the collagen genes that act as its downstream effectors in body size regulation. Since collagen mutations and misregulation are implicated in numerous human genetic disorders and injury sequelae, understanding how collagen gene expression is regulated has broad implications.

Author Summary

Body size in humans and other animals is determined by the combined influence of genetic and environmental factors. Failure to regulate growth and body size appropriately can lead to a variety of functional impairments and reduced fitness. Progress has been made in identifying genetic determinants of body size, but these have not often been connected into functional pathways. In the nematode modelCaenorhabditis elegans,single gene mutations in the BMP signaling pathway have profound effects on body size. Here we have elucidated the BMP transcriptional network and identified cuticle collagen genes as downstream effectors of body size regulation through the BMP pathway. Collagens play diverse roles in biology; mutations are often associated with rare heritable diseases such as osteogenesis imperfecta and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Our work thus connects a conserved signaling pathway with its critical downstream effectors, advancing insight into how body size is specified.
HIC1 links retinoic acid signalling to group 3 innate lymphoid cell-dependent regulation of intestinal immunity and homeostasis
Authors: Burrows Kyle , Antignano Frann , Chenery Alistair , Korinek Vladimir , Underhill T. Michael , Zaph Colby
Published: February 2017

The intestinal immune system must be able to respond to a wide variety of infectious organisms while maintaining tolerance to non-pathogenic microbes and food antigens. The Vitamin A metabolite retinoic acid (RA) has been implicated in the regulation of this balance, partially by regulating innate lymphoid cell (ILC) responses in the intestine. However, the molecular mechanisms of RA-dependent intestinal immunity and homeostasis remain elusive. Here we define a role for the transcriptional repressor Hypermethylated in cancer 1 (HIC1, ZBTB29) in the regulation of ILC responses in the intestine. Intestinal ILCs express HIC1 in a vitamin A-dependent manner. In the absence of HIC1, group 3 ILCs (ILC3s) are lost, resulting in increased susceptibility to infection with the bacterial pathogenCitrobacter rodentium. In addition, the loss of ILC3s leads to a local and systemic increase in IFN-γ-producing T cells that prevents the development of protective immunity against infection with the parasitic helminthTrichuris muris. Thus, RA-dependent expression of HIC1 in ILC3s regulates intestinal homeostasis and protective immunity.

Author Summary

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are emerging as important regulators of immune responses at barrier sites such as the intestine. However, the molecular mechanisms that control this are not well described. In the intestine, the Vitamin A metabolite retinoic acid (RA) has been shown to be an important component of the homeostatic mechanisms. In this manuscript, we show that the RA-dependent transcription factor Hypermethylated in cancer 1 (HIC1, ZBTB29) is required for ILC homeostasis and function in the steady state as well as following infection with the bacterial pathogenCitrobacter rodentiumor the helminth parasiteTrichuris muris. Thus, HIC1 links RA signalling to intestinal immune responses. Further, our results identify HIC1 as a potential target to modulate ILC responses in vivo in health and disease.
The application of tailor-made force fields and molecular dynamics for NMR crystallography: a case study of free base cocaine
Authors: Li Xiaozhou , Neumann Marcus A. , van de Streek Jacco
Published: February 2017

Motional averaging has been proven to be significant in predicting the chemical shifts inab initiosolid-state NMR calculations, and the applicability of motional averaging with molecular dynamics has been shown to depend on the accuracy of the molecular mechanical force field. The performance of a fully automatically generated tailor-made force field (TMFF) for the dynamic aspects of NMR crystallography is evaluated and compared with existing benchmarks, including static dispersion-corrected density functional theory calculations and the COMPASS force field. The crystal structure of free base cocaine is used as an example. The results reveal that, even though the TMFF outperforms the COMPASS force field for representing the energies and conformations of predicted structures, it does not give significant improvement in the accuracy of NMR calculations. Further studies should direct more attention to anisotropic chemical shifts and development of the method of solid-state NMR calculations.
Hydrogen-bonded co-crystal structure of benzoic acid and zwitterionicL-proline
Authors: Chesna Aaron M. , Cox Jordan M. , Basso Sanjukta , Benedict Jason B.
Published: February 2017

The title compound [systematic name: benzoic acid–pyrrolidin-1-ium-2-carboxylate (1/1)], C7H6O2·C5H9NO2, is an example of the application of non-centrosymmetric co-crystallization for the growth of a crystal containing a typically centrosymmetric component in a chiral space group. It co-crystallizes in the space groupP212121and contains benzoic acid and L-proline in equal proportions. The crystal structure exhibits chains of L-proline zwitterions capped by benzoic acid molecules which form aC(5)[R33(11)] hydrogen-bonded network along [100]. The crystal structure is examined and compared to that of a similar co-crystal containing L-proline zwitterions and 4-aminobenzoic acid.
Crystal structure ofcatena-poly[silver(I)-μ-L-valinato-κ2N:O]
Authors: Takagi Yoshitaka , Okamoto Youhei , Inoue Chisato , Kasuga Noriko Chikaraishi , Nomiya Kenji
Published: February 2017

The reaction of Ag2O with L-valine (L-Hval, C5H11NO2) in a 1:2 molar ratio in water, followed by vapour diffusion, afforded a coordination polymer of the title compound, [Ag(C5H10NO2)]n, with N—Ag—O repeat units, which is classified as a type III silver(I) complex with amino acid ligands. The asymmetric unit consists of two independent units of [Ag(L-val)]. In the crystal, the polymeric chains run along [101], and neighbouring chains are linkedviaa weak Ag...Ag interaction and N—H...O hydrogen bonds. The title complex exhibited antimicrobial activity against selected bacteria (Escherichia coli,Bacillus subtilis,Staphylococcous aureusandPsedomonas aeruginosa).
Crystal structure of poly[[aqua(μ-2,3-dihydrothieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxine-5,7-dicarboxylato-κ2O5:O7)[μ-di(pyridin-4-yl)sulfane-κ2N:N′]zinc] 0.26-hydrate]
Authors: Wu Wen-Liang , Hu Bing
Published: February 2017

The crystal structure of the title polymer, {[Zn(C8H4O6S)(C10H8N2S)(H2O)]·0.26H2O}n, is characterized by a layered arrangement parallel to theabplane. The zinc cation is five-coordinated in a slightly distorted trigonal–bipyramidal coordination environment defined by two pyridine ligands, two carboxylate groups of two thiophene dicarboxylate ligands, and by one water molecule. The ethylene bridge in the dioxine ligand is disordered over two sets of sites [occupancy ratio 0.624 (9):0.376 (9)]. Several hydrogen-bonding interactions of the types O—H...O, C—H...O, C—H...S and C—H...N ensure the cohesion within the crystal structure.
Crystal structure of the monoclinic phase (phase IV) of bis(tetramethylammonium) tetrachloridocuprate(II)
Authors: Seck Gorgui Awa , Diop Libasse , Oliver Allen G.
Published: February 2017

The crystal structure of the low-temperature monoclinic phase of the title compound, [(CH3)4N]2[CuCl4], was determined at 120 K. The structure of the room-temperature phase has been determined in the orthorhombic space groupPmcm[Morosin & Lingafelter (1961).J. Phys. Chem.50–51; Clayet al.(1975).Acta Cryst.B31289–290]. The asymmetric unit consists of one discrete tetrachloridocuprate anion with a distorted tetrahedral geometry and two tetramethylammonium cations. In the crystal, the cations and the anions are linkedviaweak C—H...Cl hydrogen bonds.
Crystal structure of bis(acetonitrile-κN)bis(4-benzoylpyridine-κN)bis(thiocyanato-κN)cobalt(II)
Authors: Suckert Stefan , Werner Julia , Jess Inke , Näther Christian
Published: February 2017

The crystal structure of the title compound, [Co(NCS)2(C2H3N)2(C12H9NO)2], consists of cobalt(II) cations that are octahedrally coordinated by the N atoms of two terminal thiocyanate anions, two acetonitrile molecules and two 4-benzoylpyridine ligands. The discrete complexes are located on centres of inversion. They are connected by weak intermolecular C—H...O and C—H...S hydrogen-bonding interactions between one of the pyridine H atoms and the carbonyl O atom, and between one of the methyl H atoms of the acetonitrile molecule and the thiocyanate S atoms into layers parallel to (101). No pronounced intermolecular interactions are observed between these layers.
2-(2-Chlorobenzoyl)-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-iodoquinolin-4(1H)-one
Authors: Kumar Shamantha , Chandra  , Vinayaka A. C. , Mahendra M. , Sadashiva M. P. , Doreswamy B. H.
Published: February 2017

In the title compound C24H17ClINO4, the iodoquinolinyl moiety (r.m.s. deviation = 0.044 Å) makes dihedral angles of 87.44 (10) and 88.64 (10)° with the chloro- and methoxy-substituted benzene rings, respectively. The methoxy groups are present in synperiplanar and antiperiplanar conformations with respect to the benzene ring they are bound to, as indicated by the C—C—O—C torsion angle values of −16.2 (3) and 177.6 (2)°, respectively. The crystal structure features relatively strong methoxybenzene-C—H...O(quinolinyl) hydrogen bonds, leading to helical supramolecular chains along thea-axis direction. Additional C—H...O interactions along with π-stacking [inter-centroid distance = 3.6070 (16) Å between quinolyl-NC5and C6rings] consolidate the three-dimensional molecular packing.
1-[(1R,2S,4R,7S)-3,3-Dichloro-4,11,11-trimethyltricyclo[5.4.0.02,4]undecan-7-yl]ethanone
Authors: Benharref Ahmed , El Ammari Lahcen , Saadi Mohamed , Ait Elhad Mustapha , Oukhrib Abdelouahd , Berraho Moha
Published: February 2017

The title compound, C16H24Cl2O, crystallizes with two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit. Each molecule is built up from two fused six-membered rings, one of which is fused to a three-membered ring. The two molecules differ essentially in the orientation of two of the methyl groups. The dihedral angles between the mean planes through the two six-membered rings are 57.98 (13) and 55.29 (13)°. The molecular conformation is stabilized by intramolecular C—H...Cl hydrogen bonds.
(S)-3-[(S)-5-(4-Fluorophenyl)-5-hydroxypentanoyl]-4-phenyloxazolidin-2-one 0.67-hydrate
Authors: Wang Xiao-Guang , Ma Qing-Shuang , Sun Bin , Xu Lei , Zhan Feng-Tao , Zheng Geng-Xiu
Published: February 2017

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, 3C20H20FNO4·2H2O, consists of three (S)-3-[(S)-5-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-hydroxypentanoyl]-4-phenyloxazolidin-2-one molecules and two solvent water molecules. The carbonyl groups of the oxazolidin-2-one and hydroxypentanoyl units are orientedantito one another in each molecule. In the crystal, O—H...O, C—H...O and C—H...F hydrogen bonds link the molecules into a three-dimensional supramolecular architecture with the organic molecules linked by water molecules and stacked along theb-axis direction.
Understanding consumer behavior regarding luxury fashion goods in India based on the theory of planned behavior
Authors: Jain Sheetal , Khan Mohammed Naved , Mishra Sita
Published: February 2017

Purpose

Even though the Indian luxury market is predicted to grow as much as the Chinese one over the coming years, limited research has been conducted on luxury consumer behavior. The purpose of this study is to examine the purchasing behavior for luxury fashion goods using the framework of the theory of planned behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 257 respondents were included after distributing a structured questionnaire by surveying real luxury consumers in Delhi. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results of the study indicated that subjective norm was the most important determinant of the purchasing intentions for luxury fashion goods, followed by attitude. Perceived behavioral control was not found to have a significant relationship with purchasing intentions, but it showed a strong positive relationship with actual purchasing behavior.

Originality/value

This study provides new theoretical insights regarding luxury consumer behavior in India. It explains the motivating factors behind purchasing intentions for luxury goods among Indian consumers. The findings of the study will provide great help to global luxury companies in formulating their penetration and expansion strategies in the Indian market.
Cultural influence on brand loyalty of rural consumers in the Indian context
Authors: Parida Rashmi Ranjan , Sahney Sangeeta
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to develop a scale to identify and measure cultural factors and brand loyalty among rural consumers. The study also seeks to analyze the impact of identified cultural factors on the overall brand loyalty of rural consumers.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire was developed to measure cultural factors and brand loyalty of rural consumers. Exploratory factor analysis was carried out to identify cultural factors, and a regression analysis was carried out to study the impact of the identified factors on brand loyalty.

Findings

Four dimensions of culture were identified from the study, i.e. virtuousness, religion, sociability and ethnocentrism. The analysis reveals that virtuousness is the most influencing factor on brand loyalty of rural consumers, followed by sociability and religion. Ethnocentrism was found to have insignificant influence on brand loyalty.

Research limitations/implications

The Indian rural market is a market of opportunity and unlimited business potential. An understanding of the cultural factors of rural markets and their influence on brand loyalty would help marketers and business organizations build an appropriate market strategy to explore benefits.

Originality/value

The paper attempts to explore the influence of certain cultural factors on the brand loyalty of Indian rural consumers, which has not been researched extensively. This provides a good insight for all marketers who want to succeed in this market.
Lifecycle cost risk analysis for infrastructure projects with modified Bayesian networks
Authors: Xia Nini , Wang Xueqing , Wang Ye , Yang Qiubo , Liu Xing
Published: February 2017

Purpose

Previous research has little specific guidance on how to improve large infrastructures’ risk analysis. This paper aims to propose a practical risk analysis framework across the project lifecycle with Bayesian Networks (BNs).

Design/methodology/approach

The framework includes three phases. In the qualitative phase, primary risks were identified by literature reviews and interviews; questionnaires were used to determine key risks at each project stage and causal relationships between stage-related risks. In the quantitation, brainstorming and questionnaires, and techniques of ranked nodes/paths, risk map and Bayesian truth serum were adopted. Then, a BN-based risk assessment model was developed, and risk analysis was conducted with AgenaRisk software.

Findings

Twenty key risks across the lifecycle were determined: some risks were recurring and different risks emerged at various stages with the construction and feasibility most risky. Results showed that previous stages’ risks significantly amplified subsequent stages’ risks. Based on the causality of stage-related risks, a qualitative model was easily constructed. Ranked nodes/paths facilitated the quantification by requiring less statistical knowledge and fewer parameters than traditional BNs. As articulated by a case, this model yielded very simple and easy-to-understand representations of risks and risk propagation pathways.

Originality/value

Rare research has developed a BN risk assessment model from the perspective of project stages. A structured model, a propagation network among individual risks, stage-related risks, and the final adverse consequence, has been designed. This research provides practitioners with a realistic risk assessment approach and further understanding of dynamic and stage-related risks throughout large infrastructures’ lifecycle. The framework can be modified and used in other real-world risk analysis where risks are complex and develop in stages.
The effects of user interface designs on lighting use
Authors: Maleetipwan-Mattsson Pimkamol , Laike Thorbjörn , Johansson Maria
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to differentiate human responses to different light switch designs to determine the effects of these common interfaces on user perceptions and use of electric lighting in public buildings.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical studies were conducted to assess and examine user perceptions with regard to design characteristics of light switches, and occupants’ use of electric lighting was examined through field observations made in a public toilet.

Findings

The results point to the possibility of identifying characteristics of light switches that attract user attention and thereby encourage energy-saving behaviour in public buildings. A light switch perceived as simple but oversized affected occupants to turn off the lights more frequently when leaving the space under study as compared to switches of normal size.

Research limitations/implications

Information on user perceptions of light switches may be limited by the assessments being carried out only in controlled environments. Assessing user perceptions in field observations is thus desirable, as it will provide more information on the perceptions in actual settings.

Practical implications

Effective design of user interfaces could provide a means of lowering energy use from electric lighting by affecting the behaviour of users. Using user perceptions to define critical design characteristics could contribute to design improvements in the interfaces with respect to users’ viewpoints.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the subject with a basic, field-based approach to formulating an understanding of how design via user perceptions may encourage energy-saving behaviour.
The mindset of activity-based working
Authors: Skogland Mari Anna Chatarina
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The study aims to provide insight on the relationship between a newly implemented workplace concept, its intentions, the actual use and ultimately its ability to function as a strategic tool. By addressing the intended and unintended consequences of planned spatial arrangements, the interest lies in studying underlying factors affecting the concepts’ ability to function as a strategic tool.

Design/methodology/approach

The case study builds on semi-structured interviews and observational studies from a larger Norwegian organisation that recently implemented an activity-based workplace concept. Concept descriptions and architectural drawings have also been important sources to study how the concept was interpreted and used by different groups.

Findings

Taking a socio-material perspective, the findings illustrate that spatial aspects and different concept structures, together with issues such as employee mobility and time spent in the office, different work processes, management style and departmental cultures influenced the way the activity-based workplace concept was perceived and taken into use.

Originality/value

The findings indicate that social and cultural aspects may play a more significant role in the adaptation process than previously emphasised. The article further provides knowledge on how organisations, in planning and implementation of such concepts, may address the right issues to overcome challenges and achieve the higher strategic ends.
A survey of critical success factors for attracting private sector participation in water supply projects in developing countries
Authors: Ameyaw Ernest Effah , Chan Albert P.C. , Owusu-Manu De-Graft
Published: February 2017

Purpose

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) offer governments an opportunity to access private capital and skills to build or upgrade, operate and manage public water infrastructure services hitherto provided and run by the public sector. Access to private finance speeds up the provision of public water services in developing countries, where many governments face budgetary constraints. However, the water sector attracts the least investment flows in developing countries, well below other infrastructure sectors. This paper aims to present the results of an investigation of critical success factors (CSFs) required for attracting the private sector in water supply projects.

Design/methodology/approach

A structured questionnaire survey of international PPP expert opinions was conducted.

Findings

Analysis results show that the CSFs for attracting the private sector to water PPPs include political commitment from elected leaders toward PPPs for water supply; existence of a dedicated PPP unit; strong and competent public water authority; adequate fiscal capacity of a national/subnational authority; public acceptance and support of involvement of the private sector in water services; a well-designed PPP contract; existence of enabling policy and legal frameworks to support water PPPs; and profitability of water supply project(s) to attract investors and lenders. Agreement analysis also indicates a strong to very strong agreement on the significance and rankings of the CSFs.

Originality/value

The research findings provide an insight into a number of important issues to enable greater private participation in water supply projects, most of which aim at reminding governments of some key areas that need reform and enabling greater commitment among them to undertake such reforms. Given the limited empirical research on CSFs for attracting private participation, this research makes a contribution to the body of knowledge about private involvement in the water sector of developing countries.