bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transcription factor Pebbled/RREB1 regulates injury-induced axon degeneration
Authors: Farley Jonathan E. , Burdett Thomas C. , Barria Romina , Neukomm Lukas J. , Kenna Kevin P. , Landers John E. , Freeman Marc R.
Published: January 2018

Significance

Known regulators of Wallerian degeneration appear to function locally in distal axons after axotomy to drive axon destruction. How competence to undergo axon death is established, and whether different subsets of neurons use alternate genetic programs to execute axon death, remains unclear. In this study, we show the transcription factor Pebbled (Peb) is required primarily in glutamatergic, but not cholinergic neurons, for appropriate axon degeneration after axotomy. Analysis of Peb mutant phenotypes also revealed an axon death phenotype where axon shafts initially broke into large fragments, but then failed to disintegrate. Peb is unique as a transcription factor shown to regulate Wallerian degeneration, and our analysis identifies a genetically accessible step in axon death signaling in vivo.
The prodrug of 7,8-dihydroxyflavone development and therapeutic efficacy for treating Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Chen Chun , Wang Zhihao , Zhang Zhentao , Liu Xia , Kang Seong Su , Zhang Ying , Ye Keqiang
Published: January 2018

Significance

In this study, we used a prodrug strategy to improve the druggability of 7,8-DHF, which mimics the physiological actions of BDNF in a variety of animal models but with modest oral bioavailability, by improving its PK profiles. In 5XFAD mouse model, we demonstrate that the optimal prodrug R13 increases the half-life, oral bioavailability, and brain exposure of 7,8-DHF. Most importantly, R13 robustly displays promising therapeutic efficacy by strongly activating TrkB and repressing AEP, which plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), leading to elimination of senile plaques in the AD mouse brain.
Modelling flow behaviour of quenched boron steel with different microconstituent volume fractions
Authors: Zhang Zhiqiang , Meng Songfeng , Liu Conghao , Zhao Yong , He Dongye
Published: January 2018

Hot stamped component of boron steel with tailored mechanical properties has multiphase microstructures. It is very important to establish a constitutive model related to multiphase microstructures for predicting the mechanical properties in the final component. Boron steel quenching experiments under different tool temperatures were performed with self-made experimental apparatus to achieve quenched specimens with different microconstituent volume fractions. Colour tint etching and image processing techniques were used to quantify the volume fractions of microconstituents. Tensile tests were also conducted to obtain stress–strain curves of the component with different volume fractions of microconstituents. The constitutive model of flow behaviour for quenched boron steel related to strain, strain rate and the volume fraction of quenched microconstituents was established by modified Field–Backofen.
Universities as key responders to education inequality
Authors: O’Sullivan Siobhán , O’Tuama Séamus , Kenny Lorna
Published: January 2018

This paper explores the responsibility of the university sector to respond to educational inequality and to those with precarious relationships to education. The paper explores how although there are considerable benefits to be attained from higher education and lifelong learning, many people are dislocated from the university sector and feel that the university is not for them. It argues that the university sector must develop a community mission to respond to these issues and explores the approach of the Centre for Adult Continuing Education in University College Cork, Ireland, in developing such a community mission. Through working with communities and supporting inclusive and diverse learning opportunities, the paper argues that universities can contribute to tackling the ongoing persistence of educational inequality.
A dashboard-based system for supporting diabetes care
Authors: Dagliati Arianna , Sacchi Lucia , Tibollo Valentina , Cogni Giulia , Teliti Marsida , Martinez-Millana Antonio , Traver Vicente , Segagni Daniele , Posada Jorge , Ottaviano Manuel , Fico Giuseppe , Arredondo Maria Teresa , De Cata Pasquale , Chiovato Luca , Bellazzi Riccardo
Published: December 2017

Objective

To describe the development, as part of the European Union MOSAIC (Models and Simulation Techniques for Discovering Diabetes Influence Factors) project, of a dashboard-based system for the management of type 2 diabetes and assess its impact on clinical practice.

Methods

The MOSAIC dashboard system is based on predictive modeling, longitudinal data analytics, and the reuse and integration of data from hospitals and public health repositories. Data are merged into an i2b2 data warehouse, which feeds a set of advanced temporal analytic models, including temporal abstractions, care-flow mining, drug exposure pattern detection, and risk-prediction models for type 2 diabetes complications. The dashboard has 2 components, designed for (1) clinical decision support during follow-up consultations and (2) outcome assessment on populations of interest. To assess the impact of the clinical decision support component, a pre-post study was conducted considering visit duration, number of screening examinations, and lifestyle interventions. A pilot sample of 700 Italian patients was investigated. Judgments on the outcome assessment component were obtained via focus groups with clinicians and health care managers.

Results

The use of the decision support component in clinical activities produced a reduction in visit duration (P ≪ .01) and an increase in the number of screening exams for complications (P < .01). We also observed a relevant, although nonstatistically significant, increase in the proportion of patients receiving lifestyle interventions (from 69% to 77%). Regarding the outcome assessment component, focus groups highlighted the system’s capability of identifying and understanding the characteristics of patient subgroups treated at the center.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates that decision support tools based on the integration of multiple-source data and visual and predictive analytics do improve the management of a chronic disease such as type 2 diabetes by enacting a successful implementation of the learning health care system cycle.
Trends in oral and vaginally administered estrogen use among US women 50 years of age or older with commercial health insurance
Authors: Weissfeld Joel L. , Liu Wei , Woods Corinne , Zhang Rongmei , Li Jie , van der Vlugt Theresa H. , Slaughter Shelley R.
Published: December 2017

Objective:

We aimed to provide information through 2015 about use in the United States of estrogen products, including orally and vaginally administered products, in postmenopausal women.

Methods:

We used prescription claims for US commercial health insurance to calculate, in women 50 years of age or older (n = 12,007,364), the age-standardized and age-specific annual prevalence of estrogen use, by formulation and route of administration, for the period 2006 through 2015.

Results:

The age-standardized annual prevalence of a prescription claim for oral estrogens declined over time, from 83 per 1,000 women in 2007 to 42 per 1,000 women in 2015. The age-standardized annual prevalence of a prescription claim for vaginal estrogens peaked in 2011, at 42 per 1,000 women, before declining to 35 per 1,000 women in 2015. The age-standardized annual prevalence of a prescription claim for transdermal estrogen fluctuated between 15 and 17 per 1,000 women. In age groups under 65 years of age, annual prevalence rates for vaginal rings and inserts declined over the latter half of the study period.

Conclusions:

Analyses of US prescription claims data between 2006 and 2015 for women 50 years of age or older showed declining use of oral estrogen generally and vaginally administered estrogen products specifically in age groups less than 65 years of age.
Silicone Migration after Buttock Augmentation
Authors: Biguria Rafael , Ziegler Otto Rolando
Published: December 2017

We present the case of a 30-year-old woman who presented with enlarged inguinal lymph nodes and sacral hyperpigmentation 4 months after gluteal augmentation with silicone implants. Inguinal lymph node biopsy revealed granulomatous lymphadenitis due to foreign material. Upon right buttock implant revision, a 1.5-cm-thick capsule was noted with the absence of peri-implant inflammatory fluid and no macroscopic implant defects. Analysis of the implant by the manufacturer revealed a microscopic silicone leak. The patient’s recovery was uneventful, and her symptoms resolved shortly after her reoperation.
Reflective Narratives by Student Physical Therapists on Their Early Clinical Experiences: An Inductive and Deductive Analysis—The Use of a Reflective Framework
Authors: Greenfield Bruce H. , Bridges Patricia H. , Carter Vincent , Barefoot Travis , Dobson Alycia , Eldridge Elizabeth , Nicoletti Lindsay , Ng Nancy , Phillips Tami
Published: December 2017

Introduction.

Written narratives are used to develop reflective skills in health care students during clinical education. The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness of using a framework in narrative writing to facilitate reflection in physical therapy students during their initial short-term clinical experiences.

Subjects.

Each of 20 written narratives by physical therapy students was explored during their first clinical short-term experience.

Methods.

Data analysis was an iterative process consisting of eight individual researchers and cross-group researcher analyses for the development of themes and levels of reflection. Descriptive statistics, percent agreement between pairs of researchers, was calculated based on the number of times the identical rating was assigned to a narrative by pairs of raters. The strength of agreement between researchers was measured using inferential statistics.

Results.

Five themes emerged; these were patient-centered care, professional role, ethical issues, critical thinking, and student and clinical instructor relationship. Researchers determined that all 20 narratives contained reflection compared with a previous study in which only 64% of the narratives examined contained reflective writing. Analysis showed percent agreement between eight researchers ranged from 60% to 85%, with a mean of 73%. The weighted Kappa scores ranged from fair to substantial agreement, with the exception of one rater who demonstrated poor agreement relative to the consensus.

Conclusion.

The results of this study support the use of a framework in narrative writing to foster reflection in physical therapy students during their initial clinical experiences. Consistent levels of reflection occur through the use of a model that helps students connect specific experiences with their thoughts and feelings about those experiences. There was moderate agreement among researchers in choosing levels of reflection across narratives.
Numerical assessment in the wild: insights from social carnivores
Authors: Benson-Amram Sarah , Gilfillan Geoff , McComb Karen
Published: January 2018

Playback experiments have proved to be a useful tool to investigate the extent to which wild animals understand numerical concepts and the factors that play into their decisions to respond to different numbers of vocalizing conspecifics. In particular, playback experiments have broadened our understanding of the cognitive abilities of historically understudied species that are challenging to test in the traditional laboratory, such as members of the Order Carnivora. Additionally, playback experiments allow us to assess the importance of numerical information versus other ecologically important variables when animals are making adaptive decisions in their natural habitats. Here, we begin by reviewing what we know about quantity discrimination in carnivores from studies conducted in captivity. We then review a series of playback experiments conducted with wild social carnivores, including African lions, spotted hyenas and wolves, which demonstrate that these animals can assess the number of conspecifics calling and respond based on numerical advantage. We discuss how the wild studies complement those conducted in captivity and allow us to gain insights into why wild animals may not always respond based solely on differences in quantity. We then consider the key roles that individual discrimination and cross-modal recognition play in the ability of animals to assess the number of conspecifics vocalizing nearby. Finally, we explore new directions for future research in this area, highlighting in particular the need for further work on the cognitive basis of numerical assessment skills and experimental paradigms that can be effective in both captive and wild settings.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘The origins of numerical abilities’.
Towards numerical cognition's origin: insights from day-old domestic chicks
Authors: Rugani Rosa
Published: January 2018

Instead of the scepticism on animal numerical understanding that characterized the first half of the twentieth century, in recent decades, a large and increasing body of the literature has shown that adult animals can master a variety of non-symbolic (in the absence of symbols such as mathematical words) numerical tasks. Nonetheless, evidence proving early numerical abilities in non-human animals was sparse. In this paper, I report the ongoing work to investigate numerical cognition in the day-old domestic chick (
Gallus gallus
). Unlike previous studies on adult animals, chicks can be tested very early in life, which gives us the opportunity to discover the origins of numerical comprehension. Here, I discuss studies revealing that day-old domestic chicks can: (i) discriminate between different numbers of objects; (ii) solve rudimentary arithmetic operations; and (iii) use ordinal information, identifying a target element (e.g. the fourth) in a series of identical elements, on the basis of its serial-numerical position. Some of these abilities are number-specific, while others underlie the interplay between number and continuous extents (continuous-quantity cues that covary with number, such as area and perimeter). These data are discussed in terms of ontogenetic development of mathematical comprehension.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘The origins of numerical abilities’.
Understanding the origin of number sense: a review of fish studies
Authors: Agrillo Christian , Bisazza Angelo
Published: January 2018

The ability to use quantitative information is thought to be adaptive in a wide range of ecological contexts. For nearly a century, the numerical abilities of mammals and birds have been extensively studied using a variety of approaches. However, in the last two decades, there has been increasing interest in investigating the numerical abilities of teleosts (i.e. a large group of ray-finned fish), mainly due to the practical advantages of using fish species as models in laboratory research. Here, we review the current state of the art in this field. In the first part, we highlight some potential ecological functions of numerical abilities in fish and summarize the existing literature that demonstrates numerical abilities in different fish species. In many cases, surprising similarities have been reported among the numerical performance of mammals, birds and fish, raising the question as to whether vertebrates' numerical systems have been inherited from a common ancestor. In the second part, we will focus on what we still need to investigate, specifically the research fields in which the use of fish would be particularly beneficial, such as the genetic bases of numerical abilities, the development of these abilities and the evolutionary foundation of vertebrate number sense.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘The origins of numerical abilities’.
Counting insects
Authors: Skorupski Peter , MaBouDi HaDi , Galpayage Dona Hiruni Samadi , Chittka Lars
Published: January 2018

When counting-like abilities were first described in the honeybee in the mid-1990s, many scholars were sceptical, but such capacities have since been confirmed in a number of paradigms and also in other insect species. Counter to the intuitive notion that counting is a cognitively advanced ability, neural network analyses indicate that it can be mediated by very small neural circuits, and we should therefore perhaps not be surprised that insects and other small-brained animals such as some small fish exhibit such abilities. One outstanding question is how bees actually acquire numerical information. For perception of small numerosities, working-memory capacity may limit the number of items that can be enumerated, but within these limits, numerosity can be evaluated accurately and (at least in primates) in parallel. However, presentation of visual stimuli in parallel does not automatically ensure parallel processing. Recent work on the question of whether bees can see ‘at a glance’ indicates that bees must acquire spatial detail by sequential scanning rather than parallel processing. We explore how this might be tested for a numerosity task in bees and other animals.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘The origins of numerical abilities’.
The problem with percentages
Authors: Jacobs Danan Jennifer A. , Gelman Rochel
Published: January 2018

A great many students at a major research university make basic conceptual mistakes in responding to simple questions about two successive percentage changes. The mistakes they make follow a pattern already familiar from research on the difficulties that elementary school students have in coming to terms with fractions and decimals. The intuitive core knowledge of arithmetic with the natural numbers makes learning to count and do simple arithmetic relatively easy. Those same principles become obstacles to understanding how to operate with rational numbers.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘The origins of numerical abilities’.
Cognitive access to numbers: the philosophical significance of empirical findings about basic number abilities
Authors: Giaquinto Marcus
Published: January 2018

How can we acquire a grasp of cardinal numbers, even the first very small positive cardinal numbers, given that they are abstract mathematical entities? That problem of cognitive access is the main focus of this paper. All the major rival views about the nature and existence of cardinal numbers face difficulties; and the view most consonant with our normal thought and talk about numbers, the view that cardinal numbers are sizes of sets, runs into the cognitive access problem. The source of the problem is the plausible assumption that cognitive access to something requires causal contact with it. It is argued that this assumption is in fact wrong, and that in this and similar cases, we should accept that a certain recognize-and-distinguish capacity is sufficient for cognitive access. We can then go on to solve the cognitive access problem, and thereby support the set-size view of cardinal numbers, by paying attention to empirical findings about basic number abilities. To this end, some selected studies of infants, pre-school children and a trained chimpanzee are briefly discussed.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘The origins of numerical abilities'.
An emergentist perspective on the origin of number sense
Authors: Zorzi Marco , Testolin Alberto
Published: January 2018

The finding that human infants and many other animal species are sensitive to numerical quantity has been widely interpreted as evidence for evolved, biologically determined numerical capacities across unrelated species, thereby supporting a ‘nativist’ stance on the origin of number sense. Here, we tackle this issue within the ‘emergentist’ perspective provided by artificial neural network models, and we build on computer simulations to discuss two different approaches to think about the innateness of number sense. The first, illustrated by artificial life simulations, shows that numerical abilities can be supported by domain-specific representations emerging from evolutionary pressure. The second assumes that numerical representations need not be genetically pre-determined but can emerge from the interplay between innate architectural constraints and domain-general learning mechanisms, instantiated in deep learning simulations. We show that deep neural networks endowed with basic visuospatial processing exhibit a remarkable performance in numerosity discrimination before any experience-dependent learning, whereas unsupervised sensory experience with visual sets leads to subsequent improvement of number acuity and reduces the influence of continuous visual cues. The emergent neuronal code for numbers in the model includes both numerosity-sensitive (summation coding) and numerosity-selective response profiles, closely mirroring those found in monkey intraparietal neurons. We conclude that a form of innatism based on architectural and learning biases is a fruitful approach to understanding the origin and development of number sense.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘The origins of numerical abilities'.
Reassessing lateralization in calculation
Authors: Semenza Carlo , Benavides-Varela Silvia
Published: January 2018

The role of the left hemisphere in calculation has been unequivocally demonstrated in numerous studies in the last decades. The right hemisphere, on the other hand, had been traditionally considered subsidiary to the left hemisphere functions, although its role was less clearly defined. Recent clinical studies as well as investigations conducted with other methodologies (e.g. neuroimaging, transcranial magnetic stimulation and direct cortical electro-stimulation) leave several unanswered questions about the contribution of the right hemisphere in calculation. In particular, novel clinical studies show that right hemisphere acalculia encompasses a wide variety of symptoms, affecting even simple calculation, which cannot be easily attributed to spatial disorders or to a generic difficulty effect as previously believed. The studies reported here also show how the right hemisphere has its own specific role and that only a bilateral orchestration between the respective functions of each hemisphere guarantees, in fact, precise calculation. Vis-à-vis these data, the traditional wisdom that attributes to the right hemisphere a role mostly confined to spatial aspects of calculation needs to be significantly reshaped. The question for the future is whether it is possible to precisely define the specific contribution of the right hemisphere in several aspects of calculation while highlighting the nature of the cross-talk between the two hemispheres.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘The origins of numerical abilities’.
The implications for education of an innate numerosity-processing mechanism
Authors: Butterworth Brian
Published: January 2018

One specific cause of low numeracy is a deficit in a mechanism for representing and processing numerosities that humans inherited and which is putatively shared with many other species. This deficit is evident at each of the four levels of explanation in the ‘causal modelling’ framework of Morton and Frith (Morton and Frith 1995 In
Manual of developmental psychopathology
, vol. 1 (eds D Cichetti, D Cohen), pp. 357–390). Very low numeracy can occur in cognitively able individuals with normal access to good education: it is linked to an easily measured deficit in basic numerosity processing; it has a distinctive neural signature; and twin studies suggest specific heritability, though the relevant genes have not yet been identified. Unfortunately, educators and policymakers seem largely unaware of this cause, but appropriate interventions could alleviate the suffering and handicap of those with low numeracy, and would be a major benefit to society.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘The origins of numerical abilities’.
Finding numbers in the brain
Authors: Gallistel C. R.
Published: January 2018

After listing functional constraints on what numbers in the brain must do, I sketch the two's complement fixed-point representation of numbers because it has stood the test of time and because it illustrates the non-obvious ways in which an effective coding scheme may operate. I briefly consider its neurobiological implementation. It is easier to imagine its implementation at the cell-intrinsic molecular level, with thermodynamically stable, volumetrically minimal polynucleotides encoding the remembered numbers, than at the circuit level, with plastic synapses encoding them.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘The origins of numerical abilities’.
Mechanism of Membrane Recovery in Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection
Authors: Li Ricky , Chang Hao , Luo Brian
Published: December 2017

ICSI (Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection) is a broadly utilized technique for artificial fertilization. This approach has been successfully performed in human oocytes as well as others such as mouse and bovine. The piercing through the zona layer and the membrane needs to be achieved with a minimal biological damage to facilitate a rapid healing. Since the injection methodology serves as a crucial factor to success rate of ICSI, a significant amount of research efforts has been devoted to the development of injections. In this paper, we conduct comparative study among the major milestones for injection techniques in ICSI. Technical details are provided for each milestone and each technique is evaluated from engineering perspective. Later, we present a mechanism for healing process of membrane after drilling, which could potentially provide guidance for improvement of injection method. More importantly, we perform coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulation to reveal the mechanism of membrane recovery in intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection.
Green-gradient based canopy segmentation: A multipurpose image mining model with potential use in crop phenotyping and canopy studies
Authors: Haghshenas Abbas , Emam Yahya
Published: January 2018

Efficient quantification of the sophisticated shading patterns inside the 3D vegetation canopies may improve our understanding of canopy functions and status, which is possible now more than ever, thanks to the high-throughput phenotyping (HTP) platforms. In order to evaluate the option of quantitative characterization of shading patterns, a simple image mining technique named “green-gradient based canopy segmentation model (GSM)” was developed based on the relative variations in the level of RGB triplets under different illuminations. For this purpose, an archive of ground-based nadir images of heterogeneous wheat canopies (cultivar mixtures) was analyzed. The images were taken from experimental plots of a two-year field experiment conducted during 2014-15 and 2015-16 growing seasons in the semi-arid region of southern Iran. In GSM, the vegetation pixels were categorized into the maximum possible number of 255 groups based on their green levels. Subsequently, mean red and mean blue levels of each group were calculated and plotted against the green levels. It is evidenced that the yielded graph could be readily used for (i) identifying and characterizing canopies even as simple as one or two equation(s); (ii) classification of canopy pixels in accordance with the degree of exposure to sunlight; and (iii) accurately prediction of various quantitative properties of canopy including canopy coverage (CC), Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), canopy temperature, and also precise classification of experimental plots based on the qualitative characteristics such as subjecting to water and cold stresses, date of imaging, and time of irrigation. It seems that the introduced model may provide a multipurpose HTP platform and open new windows to canopy studies.
Machine learning based classification of deep brain stimulation outcomes in a rat model of binge eating using ventral striatal oscillations
Authors: Doucette Wilder T. , Dwiel Lucas , Boyce Jared E. , Simon Amanda A. , Khokhar Jibran Y. , Green Alan I.
Published: January 2018

Neuromodulation-based interventions continue to be evaluated across an array of appetitive disorders but broader implementation of these approaches remains limited due to variable treatment outcomes. We hypothesize that individual variation in treatment outcomes may be linked to differences in the networks underlying these disorders. Here, Sprague-Dawley rats received deep brain stimulation separately within each nucleus accumbens (NAc) sub-region (core and shell) using a within-animal crossover design in a rat model of binge eating. Significant reductions in binge size were observed with stimulation of either target but with significant variation in effectiveness across individuals. When features of local field potentials (LFPs) recorded from the NAc were used as predictors of the pre-defined stimulation outcomes (response or non-response) from each rat using a machine-learning approach (lasso), stimulation outcomes could be predicted with greater accuracy than expected by chance (effect sizes: core = 1.13, shell = 1.05). Further, these LFP features could be used to identify the best stimulation target for each animal (core vs. shell) with an effect size = 0.96. These data suggest that individual differences in underlying network activity may contribute to the variable outcomes of circuit based interventions and that measures of network activity have the potential to individually guide the selection of an optimal stimulation target and improve overall treatment response rates.
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection in Mice
Authors: Ward Monika A. , Yanagimachi Ryuzo
Published: January 2018

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is the injection of a single spermatozoon directly into the cytoplasm of an oocyte using an injection pipette. Spermatozoa that are used for ICSI do not need to be motile or alive. Indeed, for mouse ICSI, the sperm tail is typically broken off before injection into the oocyte, resulting essentially in a nuclear transfer. The protocol describes creation of the injection pipettes, preparation of oocytes and spermatozoa, and steps of the ICSI procedure. The technique can be used to create both hybrid and inbred mice, as well as transgenic animals.
Propagating Gateway Vectors
Authors: Reece-Hoyes John S. , Walhout Albertha J.M.
Published: January 2018

Generating stocks of Entry and Destination vectors for use in the Gateway recombinatorial cloning system requires transforming them into Escherichia coli strain DB3.1, where they can replicate because this strain is immune to the effects of the ccdB gene carried in the Gateway cassette. However, mutations in the ccdB gene can arise at low frequency, and these mutant plasmids will consequently allow growth of standard cloning strains of E. coli (e.g., DH5α). Therefore, after making new stocks of Gateway plasmids, their ability to grow in cloning strains of E. coli must be tested. This involves obtaining multiple stocks of vector, each arising from a single plasmid grown in a single DB3.1 bacterial colony, and transforming each stock into both DB3.1 and the preferred cloning strain of E. coli in a controlled fashion. Only vector stocks that effectively kill the standard cloning strain (i.e., no or few colonies are obtained after transformation) should be used in Gateway cloning reactions. The sequence can be performed in 3 d.
Whole-Mount Immunocytochemistry in Xenopus
Authors: Klymkowsky Michael W.
Published: January 2018

To visualize the effects of experimental perturbations on normal cellular behavior, morphology, and intracellular organization, we use a simple whole-mount immunocytochemical method with Xenopus oocytes, explants, or embryos. This method is applicable to a wide range of systems, including human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived organoids, and can be used with both chromogenic (horseradish peroxidase/diaminobenzidine) and fluorescent imaging.
Evaluation of nano- and mesoscale structural features in composite materials through hierarchical decomposition of the radial distribution function
Authors: García-Negrón Valerie , Oyedele Akinola D. , Ponce Eduardo , Rios Orlando , Harper David P. , Keffer David J.
Published: January 2018

Composite materials possessing both crystalline and amorphous domains, when subjected to X-ray and neutron scattering, generate diffraction patterns that are often difficult to interpret. One approach is to perform atomistic simulations of a proposed structure, from which the analogous diffraction pattern can be obtained for validation. The structure can be iteratively refined until simulation and experiment agree. The practical drawback to this approach is the significant computational resources required for the simulations. In this work, an alternative approach based on a hierarchical decomposition of the radial distribution function is used to generate a physics-based model allowing rapid interpretation of scattering data. In order to demonstrate the breadth of this approach, it is applied to a series of carbon composites. The model is compared with atomistic simulation results in order to demonstrate that the contributions of the crystalline and amorphous domains, as well as their interfaces, are correctly captured. Because the model is more efficient, additional structural refinement is performed to increase the agreement of the simulation result with the experimental data. The model achieves a reduction in computational effort of six orders of magnitude relative to simulation. The model can be generally extended to other composite materials.
The development of food retail formats – evidence from Poland
Authors: Rudawska Edyta Dorota , Bilinska-Reformat Katarzyna
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: to identify and assess the direction of development of food retail formats in Poland under the influence of a changing business environment; and to identify the key challenges that food retail companies in Poland face nowadays.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach in this paper is a systematic literature review of publications in the Web of Science, Ebsco and Pro-Quest electronic databases from 1990 (from the emergence of large-scale foreign chains in the Polish market) to 2016, as well as the results of research carried out by Polish and international research centers, food retailer groups and institutes. The paper is based on the analysis of secondary data that present the results of research carried out on the Polish food retailing market. These analyses included the development of food retailing formats operating in Poland.

Findings

According to the research results analyzed, the evolution of retail formats is an embodiment of innovations introduced by retail companies and is based on the mutual permeation of elements previously associated with a specific retail format. Currently, the blurring of differences between individual retail formats can be observed in respect of two formats in particular, i.e. discount and delicatessen. The discount format occupies a special position on the Polish market, though it differs significantly from a “classical” discount. In discount stores so-called premium group products can be purchased, with stores more and more frequently being located in expensive places, e.g. in shopping centers or in their vicinity. At the same time, the popularity of convenience stores is increasing with a simultaneous decrease in the significance of large-format stores.

Originality/value

This paper provides interesting insights into the development of food retailing formats in Poland and the influence of changes in the business environment in that process. In addition, the paper describes the specifics of the Polish market, detailing literature-based theories pertaining to the development of retailing forms. It also focuses on the perspectives and directions in the future development of retail formats.
Perspectives of retailers and local food suppliers on the evolution of modern retail in Africa
Authors: Nandonde Felix Adamu , Kuada John
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the findings of an exploratory qualitative study of the evolution of modern food retailing in Tanzania (from both retailers and suppliers’ perspectives).

Design/methodology/approach

The qualitative case approach was used in this study. Participants were drawn from three sets of actors: retailers, local food suppliers, and government institutions. Data were collected using semi-structured interview format. Thematic qualitative analytical technique was used for the data analysis.

Findings

According to the results of the study, seven major factors that account for the evolution of modern food retail in the country were identified. These are availability of suppliers, acceptance of trade credit, innovation, lifestyle change, institutional support, convenience, and availability of consumers.

Originality/value

The study has expanded the knowledge of the evolution of modern food retail in developing economies by using the relationship marketing theory. Furthermore, the study employed some major actors in the food value chain to understand determinant factors that accelerated the evolution of supermarkets in Tanzania.
Does partial quantity rationing of credit affect the technical efficiency of dairy farmers in Punjab, Pakistan?
Authors: Mehmood Yasir , Rong Kong , Bashir Muhammad Khalid , Arshad Muhammad
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the effect of partial quantity rationing of credit on the technical efficiency of dairy farmers in the Punjab province of Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

Prior to the field survey, the authors constructed a theoretical model for clear identification of partial quantity rationed dairy farmers. Data from 154 dairy farmers were collected that represented three districts of the province. The collected data were analyzed in two stages: first, the efficiency level of dairy farmers was estimated using a stochastic frontier approach; second, the authors employed an inefficiency-effects model to estimate the effect of partial quantity rationing of credit on technical efficiency.

Findings

The results revealed that education level of the household head, cross-breed and imported cattle, and electric chaff cutter, all had significant positive impacts on technical efficiency, followed by diversified sources of income. Conversely, the analysis of our key variables, interest rate on principal amount and partial quantity rationing of credit had significant negative effects on the technical efficiency of dairy farmers in selected districts of the Punjab province in Pakistan.

Originality/value

The study will be an important contribution to the existing credit constraints and technical efficiency literature and will particularly help the rural financial institutions in terms of approving the loan amount according to the actual requirements of the borrowers. The study’s findings and subsequent recommendations will be useful for policy makers in achieving the actual production level, bringing down the poverty levels and ensuring food security in the country.
Characterization of the consumer market and motivations for the consumption of craft beer
Authors: Carvalho Naiara Barbosa , Minim Luis Antonio , Nascimento Moysés , Ferreira Gustavo Henrique de Castro , Minim Valéria Paula Rodrigues
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the demographic characteristics and habits of craft beer consumers, as well as to identify the motivational factors for consumption.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through questionnaires applied to 316 Brazilian craft beer consumers, and results were evaluated descriptively and by multivariate statistics.

Findings

The results of the survey revealed that there is a growing market segment with different buying habits and behaviors compared to traditional beer consumers. Demographically, it was found that these consumers are an attractive part of the beer market in terms of age, schooling and, more importantly, in terms of income, factors that indicate the probability of continued growth in the sector.

Research limitations/implications

The research was limited to craft beer consumers in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte/MG, Brazil.

Practical implications

The results obtained are important, as they can help new craft breweries, as well as help established industry managers to create strategies related to marketing four Ps in order to increase the consumption of its products, with competitive advantages to the market.

Originality/value

This research presents the characteristics of the consumers of craft beer, a market segment in evident rise in Brazil, about which there are few studies. In addition, it provides valuable information to both the new beverage manufacturers as well as to the already established entrepreneurs in the market so that they can increase the consumption of their products in a strategic way.
The secrets of the longevity of informal retail markets in Croatia
Authors: Renko Sanda , Petljak Kristina
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Despite modern retail formats, for many cultures, informal markets (street markets, farmers’ markets, or wet markets in Asia), fleas, and bazaars still remain an important part of life. The purpose of this paper is to provide further insight into the characteristics of informal retailers, and to explain their growth and longevity in markets.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to explore what attracts customers to informal retail markets, a survey conducted on the sample of Croatian consumers was carried out.

Findings

The results show that consumers point out fresh, affordable, and healthy products and relationships with vendors as the main advantages, while weather conditions, unattractive food, and crowds are the disadvantages and barriers of purchasing at informal markets.

Practical implications

The results presented give directions for various subjects on how to increase the popularity of informal markets.

Originality/value

This paper addresses consumers’ perception of informal markets in the context of an emerging country. With the literature review, and the results of the explorative survey, it contributes to the knowledge on this type of retailing.
Quality of Rayeb milk fortified with Tamr and honey
Authors: Ismail Magdy , Hamad Mohamed , Elraghy Esraa Mohamed
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Stirred yoghurt made using probiotic bacteria which are usually called Rayeb milk in the Arab countries is one of the most important functional fermented milk products. Tamr (dried dates) is commonly consumed in various parts of the world and is believed to represent a vital component of the diet in the Arab world. Tamr and honey characterize with high nutritional and healthful benefits. The purpose of this paper is to manufacture functional fermented dairy food (Rayeb milk) which has the nutritional and health effects of goat’s milk, Tamr, honey and probiotic.

Design/methodology/approach

Rayeb milk was made from goat’s milk fortified with Tamr (10 and 15 percent) with or without honey (1, 2, and 3 percent) using ABT culture (S. thermophiles, L. acidophilus, and Bifidobacterium). Samples of Rayeb milk were studied for their chemical composition, starter bacteria populations, and sensory attributes during 14 days of storage period.

Findings

Supplementation of goat’s milk with Tamr and honey decreased saturated fatty acids concentrations in Rayeb milk. The levels of carbohydrate, total solids, dietary fiber, ash, total protein (TP), unsaturated fatty acids, omega-3, omega-6, omega-9 fatty acids and antioxidants activity were higher in Rayeb milk contained Tamr and honey than those of control. Also, numbers of probiotic bacteria (L. acidophilus and Bifidobacterium) greatly increased in Rayeb milk supplemented with Tamr and honey. The recommended level of 107 cfu.g-1 of bifidobacteria as a probiotic was exceeded for these treatments. Adding Tamr and honey highly improved the sensory attributes of Rayeb milk.

Originality/value

Adding 10 percent Tamr with 3 percent honey or 15 percent Tamr with 1 or 2 percent honey to goat’s milk highly improved the nutritional, healthy and sensory properties of Rayeb milk.
Sensory evaluation of commercial ready-to-eat rice between trained panelist and consumer
Authors: Kwon Yong-Suk , Ju Se-young
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine descriptive sensory characteristics and consumer acceptability of eight commercial ready-to-eat cooked rice samples by 8 trained panelists and 50 consumers.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 24 descriptive attributes for appearance, odor/aroma, taste/flavor, and texture were developed. Also Consumer Acceptability (CA) was performed for overall liking, appearance, flavor, and texture liking. All statistical analyses were using analysis of variance, principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), and partial least square regression (PLSR).

Findings

The overall liking score for the cooked white rice from C brand was the highest (6.43) among the eight samples. Three groups of eight commercial ready-to-eat cooked rice samples were obtained from PCA and HCA. The samples of cooked white rice from C, N, and O brand characterized by intactness, starch odor, translucency, whiteness, and glossiness were located on to the positive PLS 1, whereas the samples of cooked white rice from D and E brand characterized by scorched odor, cohesiveness, stickiness, and moistness were located on the negative side of PLS 2 in the PLSR analysis.

Originality/value

Further studies on the improvement of sensory quality for brown rice are necessary to increase CA in terms of health functionality of brown rice.
Integrated SEM-FTOPSIS framework for modeling and prioritization of risk sources in medical device development process
Authors: Kirkire Milind Shrikant , Rane Santosh B. , Singh Surya Prakash
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to outline and prioritizes risk sources in medical device development (MDD) process using an integrated “structural equation modeling” (SEM) and fuzzy “technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS)” framework.

Design/methodology/approach

Risk sources which deter MDD process are explored through literature review. Initial structural model is proposed, factor loadings are determined by exploratory factor analysis and model fit is established by confirmatory factor analysis. Further, the sources are ranked using FTOPSIS, and sensitivity analysis is carried to check robustness of results.

Findings

The sources of risks have catastrophic effect on MDD process. The initial SEM model developed based on survey of experts is found reliable and valid which breaks up the risk sources into three categories – internal sources of risks, user-related sources of risks and third-party-related sources of risks. The risk sources are ranked and prioritized based on perspective of experts from the categories using FTOPSIS; unmet user needs/requirements is found as the most important source of risk. Results of sensitivity analysis confirm that the factors are relatively less sensitive to criteria weights confirming reliability of initial solution.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed methodology combines qualitative and quantative approaches, making it little complex and lengthy, but results in dual confirmation.

Practical implications

The outcomes of this research will be of prime use for MDD industries to mitigate risk sources. It will help to increase the success rate of MDD.

Originality/value

Integrated SEM-FTOPSIS provides a unique and effective structural modeling-based decision support tool. The framework can be effectively utilized in other domains, and failure events of medical devices can be potentially controlled by applying risk mitigation measures.