bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Naive, captive long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis fascicularis) fail to individually and socially learn pound-hammering, a tool-use behaviour
Authors: Bandini Elisa , Tennie Claudio
Published: May 2018

A subspecies of long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis aurea; Mfa) has been reported to use stone tools and a specific technique to process nuts in Southeast Asia, a behaviour known as ‘pound-hammering’. The aim of this study was to examine the development of pound-hammering in long-tailed macaques: whether this behavioural form can be individually learnt or whether it has to rely on some forms of social learning. Given the absence ofMfafrom captivity, long-tailed macaques of a highly related subspecies (Macaca fascicularis fascicularis; Mff) were experimentally tested by providing them with the ecological materials necessary to show pound-hammering. A baseline was first carried out to observe whether pound-hammering would emerge spontaneously without social information. As this was not the case, different degrees of social information, culminating in a full demonstration of the behaviour, were provided. None of the subjects (n = 31) showed pound-hammering in any of the individual or social learning conditions. Although these data do not support the hypothesis that individual learning underlies this behaviour, no evidence was found that (at least)Mfflearn pound-hammering socially either. We propose that other—potentially interacting—factors may determine whether this behaviour emerges in the various subspecies of long-tailed macaques, and provide a novel methodology to test the role of social and individual learning in the development of animal tool-use.
Characterization of C-ring component assembly in flagellar motors from amino acid coevolution
Authors: dos Santos Ricardo Nascimento , Khan Shahid , Morcos Faruck
Published: May 2018

Bacterial flagellar motility, an important virulence factor, is energized by a rotary motor localized within the flagellar basal body. The rotor module consists of a large framework (the C-ring), composed of the FliG, FliM and FliN proteins. FliN and FliM contacts the FliG torque ring to control the direction of flagellar rotation. We report that structure-based models constrained only by residue coevolution can recover the binding interface of atomic X-ray dimer complexes with remarkable accuracy (approx. 1 Å RMSD). We propose a model for FliM–FliN heterodimerization, which agrees accurately with homologous interfaces as well as
in situ
cross-linking experiments, and hence supports a proposed architecture for the lower portion of the C-ring. Furthermore, this approach allowed the identification of two discrete and interchangeable homodimerization interfaces between FliM middle domains that agree with experimental measurements and might be associated with C-ring directional switching dynamics triggered upon binding of CheY signal protein. Our findings provide structural details of complex formation at the C-ring that have been difficult to obtain with previous methodologies and clarify the architectural principle that underpins the ultra-sensitive allostery exhibited by this ring assembly that controls the clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of flagella.
On the dynamic homogenization of periodic media: Willis’ approach versus two-scale paradigm
Authors: Meng Shixu , Guzina Bojan B.
Published: May 2018

When considering an effective, i.e. homogenized description of waves in periodic media that transcends the usual quasi-static approximation, there are generally two schools of thought: (i) the two-scale approach that is prevalent in mathematics and (ii) the Willis’ homogenization framework that has been gaining popularity in engineering and physical sciences. Notwithstanding a mounting body of literature on the two competing paradigms, a clear understanding of their relationship is still lacking. In this study, we deploy an effective impedance of the scalar wave equation as a lens for comparison and establish a low-frequency, long-wavelength dispersive expansion of the Willis’ effective model, including terms up to the second order. Despite the intuitive expectation that such obtained effective impedance coincides with its two-scale counterpart, we find that the two descriptions
differ by a modulation factor
which is, up to the second order, expressible as a polynomial in frequency and wavenumber. We track down this inconsistency to the fact that the two-scale expansion is commonly restricted to the
free-wave
solutions and thus fails to account for the body source term which, as it turns out, must also be homogenized—by the reciprocal of the featured modulation factor. In the analysis, we also (i) reformulate for generality the Willis’ effective description in terms of the eigenfunction approach, and (ii) obtain the corresponding modulation factor for
dipole
body sources, which may be relevant to some recent efforts to manipulate waves in metamaterials.
Surface instability of elastic half-spaces by using the energy method
Authors: Chen Yi-chao , Yang Shengyou , Wheeler Lewis
Published: May 2018

Finding the complete set of stability conditions of an elastic half-space has been an open problem ever since Biot (Biot 1963
Appl. Sci. Res.
12
, 168–182 (
doi:10.1007/BF03184638
)) first studied the surface instability of half-spaces by seeking solutions of the incremental equilibrium equations. Towards solving this problem, a method based on the energy stability criterion is developed in the present work. A variational problem of minimizing the elastic energy associated with a half-space is formulated. The second variation condition is derived and is converted to an eigenvalue problem. For a half-space of neo-Hookean materials, the eigenvalue problem is solved, which leads to complete descriptions of stability and instability regions in the deformation space.
Trapped modes and reflectionless modes as eigenfunctions of the same spectral problem
Authors: Dhia Anne-Sophie Bonnet-Ben , Chesnel Lucas , Pagneux Vincent
Published: May 2018

We consider the reflection–transmission problem in a waveguide with obstacle. At certain frequencies, for some incident waves, intensity is perfectly transmitted and the reflected field decays exponentially at infinity. In this work, we show that such reflectionless modes can be characterized as eigenfunctions of an original non-self-adjoint spectral problem. To select ingoing waves on one side of the obstacle and outgoing waves on the other side, we use complex scalings (or perfectly matched layers) with imaginary parts of different signs. We prove that the real eigenvalues of the obtained spectrum correspond either to trapped modes (or bound states in the continuum) or to reflectionless modes. Interestingly, complex eigenvalues also contain useful information on weak reflection cases. When the geometry has certain symmetries, the new spectral problem enters the class of

P
T

-symmetric problems.
New variational and multisymplectic formulations of the Euler–Poincaré equation on the Virasoro–Bott group using the inverse map
Authors: Holm Darryl D. , Tyranowski Tomasz M.
Published: May 2018

We derive a new variational principle, leading to a new momentum map and a new multisymplectic formulation for a family of Euler–Poincaré equations defined on the Virasoro–Bott group, by using the inverse map (also called ‘back-to-labels’ map). This family contains as special cases the well-known Korteweg–de Vries, Camassa–Holm and Hunter–Saxton soliton equations. In the conclusion section, we sketch opportunities for future work that would apply the new Clebsch momentum map with 2-cocycles derived here to investigate a new type of interplay among nonlinearity, dispersion and noise.
Hot temperatures during the dry season reduce survival of a resident tropical bird
Authors: Woodworth Bradley K. , Norris D. Ryan , Graham Brendan A. , Kahn Zachary A. , Mennill Daniel J.
Published: May 2018

Understanding how climate change will shape species distributions in the future requires a functional understanding of the demographic responses of animals to their environment. For birds, most of our knowledge of how climate influences population vital rates stems from research in temperate environments, even though most of Earth's avian diversity is concentrated in the tropics. We evaluated effects of Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) and local temperature and rainfall at multiple temporal scales on sex-specific survival of a resident tropical bird, the rufous-and-white wrenThryophilus rufalbus, studied over 15 years in the dry forests of northwestern Costa Rica. We found that annual apparent survival of males was 8% higher than females, more variable over time, and responded more strongly to environmental variation than female survival, which did not vary strongly with SOI or local weather. For males, mean and maximum local temperatures were better predictors of survival than either rainfall or SOI, with high temperatures during the dry season and early wet season negatively influencing survival. These results suggest that, even for species adapted to hot environments, further temperature increases may threaten the persistence of local populations in the absence of distributional shifts.
Thermal physiology and thermoregulatory behaviour exhibit low heritability despite genetic divergence between lizard populations
Authors: Logan Michael L. , Curlis John David , Gilbert Anthony L. , Miles Donald B. , Chung Albert K. , McGlothlin Joel W. , Cox Robert M.
Published: May 2018

Ectothermic species are particularly sensitive to changes in temperature and may adapt to changes in thermal environments through evolutionary shifts in thermal physiology or thermoregulatory behaviour. Nevertheless, the heritability of thermal traits, which sets a limit on evolutionary potential, remains largely unexplored. In this study, we captured brown anole lizards (Anolis sagrei) from two populations that occur in contrasting thermal environments. We raised offspring from these populations in a laboratory common garden and compared the shape of their thermal performance curves to test for genetic divergence in thermal physiology. Thermal performance curves differed between populations in a common garden in ways partially consistent with divergent patterns of natural selection experienced by the source populations, implying that they had evolved in response to selection. Next, we estimated the heritability of thermal performance curves and of several traits related to thermoregulatory behaviour. We did not detect significant heritability in most components of the thermal performance curve or in several aspects of thermoregulatory behaviour, suggesting that contemporary selection is unlikely to result in rapid evolution. Our results indicate that the response to selection may be slow in the brown anole and that evolutionary change is unlikely to keep pace with current rates of environmental change.
Specific Oxylipins Enhance Vertebrate Hematopoiesis via the Receptor GPR132
Authors: Lahvic Jamie L. , Ammerman Michelle , Li Pulin , Blair Megan C. , Stillman Emma , Robertson Anne L. , Christodoulou Constantina , Perlin Julie R. , Yang Song , Chiang Nan , Norris Paul C. , Daily Madeleine L. , Redfield Shelby E. , Chan Iris T. , Chatrizeh Mona , Chase Michael E. , Weis Olivia , Zhou Yi , Serhan Charles N. , Zon Leonard I
Published: May 2018

Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are endogenous lipid signaling molecules with cardioprotective and vasodilatory actions. We recently showed that exogenous addition of 11,12-EET enhances hematopoietic induction and engraftment in mice and zebrafish. EETs are known to signal via a G-protein coupled receptor(s), and significant research supports the existence of a specific high-affinity receptor. Identification of a hematopoietic specific EET receptor would enable genetic interrogation of the EET signaling pathway and perhaps clinical use of this molecule. We developed a bioinformatic approach to identify the EET receptor based on the expression of GPCRs in cell lines with differential responses to EETs. We found 10 candidate EET receptors that are commonly expressed in three EET-responsive human cell lines, but not expressed in an EET-unresponsive line. Of these candidates, only GPR132 showed EET-responsivenessin vitrousing a luminescence-based assay for β-arrestin recruitment. Knockdown of zebrafishgpr132bprevented EET-induced hematopoiesis, and marrow from GPR132 knockout mice showed decreased long-term engraftment capability. In contrast to the putative high-affinity EET receptor, GPR132 is reported to have affinity for additional fatty acidsin vitro,and we found that these same fatty acids enhance hematopoietic stem cell specification in the zebrafish. We conducted structure-activity relationship analyses using bothin vitroandin vivoassays on diverse medium chain fatty acids. Certain oxygenated, unsaturated free fatty acids showed high activation of GPR132, while unoxygenated or saturated fatty acids had lower activity. Absence of the carboxylic acid moiety prevented activity, suggesting that this moiety is required for receptor activation. GPR132 responds to a select panel of polyunsaturated, oxygenated fatty acids to enhance both embryonic and adult hematopoiesis.
Global landscape of mouse and human cytokine transcriptional regulation
Authors: Carrasco Pro Sebastian , Dafonte Imedio Alvaro , Santoso Clarissa Stephanie , Gan Kok Ann , Sewell Jared Allan , Martinez Melissa , Sereda Rebecca , Mehta Shivani , Fuxman Bass Juan Ignacio
Published: May 2018

Cytokines play a central role in immune development, pathogen responses, and diseases. Cytokines are highly regulated at the transcriptional level by combinations of transcription factors (TFs) that recruit cofactors and the transcriptional machinery. Here, we review three decades of studies to generate a comprehensive database reporting 843 and 647 interactions between TFs and cytokines genes, in human and mouse respectively (http://cytreg.bu.edu). We provide a historic perspective on cytokine regulation discussing research trends and biases. More importantly, by integrating this comprehensive database with other functional datasets, we determine general principles governing the transcriptional regulation of cytokine genes. In particular, we show a correlation between TF connectivity and immune phenotype and disease, we discuss the balance between tissue-specific and pathogen-activated TFs regulating each cytokine gene, and cooperativity and plasticity in cytokine regulation. Finally, we illustrate the use of our database as a blueprint to study TF-cytokine regulatory axes in autoimmune diseases.
Evolutionary emergence of infectious diseases in heterogeneous host populations
Authors: Chabas Hélène , Lion Sébastien , Nicot Antoine , Meaden Sean , Houte Stineke van , Moineau Sylvain , Wahl Lindi M. , Westra Edze R. , Gandon Sylvain
Published: May 2018

Emergence and re-emergence of pathogens are notoriously difficult to predict. The erratic nature of those events is reinforced by the stochastic nature of pathogen evolution during the early phase of an epidemic. For instance, mutations allowing pathogens to escape host resistance may boost pathogen spread and promote emergence. Yet, the ecological factors that govern such evolutionary emergence remain elusive both because of the lack of ecological realism of current theoretical frameworks and the difficulty of experimentally testing their predictions. Here we develop a theoretical model to explore the effects of the heterogeneity of the host population on the probability of pathogen emergence, with or without pathogen evolution. We show that evolutionary emergence and the spread of escape mutations in the pathogen population is more likely to occur when the host population contains an intermediate proportion of resistant hosts. We also show that lower pathogen inoculum size and higher diversity of host resistance decrease the probability of evolutionary emergence. Crucially, we present experimental confirmations of these predictions using lytic bacteriophages infecting their bacterial hosts containing diverse CRISPR-Cas immune defenses. We discuss the implications of these results for cross-species spillover and for the management of emerging infectious diseases.

Significance statement

Can we predict the emergence of infectious diseases? The probability that an epidemic breaks out is highly dependent on the ability of the pathogen to acquire new adaptive mutations and to induce evolutionary emergence. Forecasting pathogen emergence thus requires a good understanding of the interplay between epidemiology and evolution taking place at the onset of an outbreak. Here, we provide a comprehensive theoretical framework to analyze the impact of host population heterogeneity on the probability of pathogen evolutionary emergence. We use this model to predict the impact of the fraction of susceptible hosts, the inoculum size of the pathogen and the diversity of host resistance on pathogen emergence. Our experiments using lytic bacteriophages and CRISPR-resistant bacteria support our theoretical predictions.
CleanRecomb, a quick tool for recombination detection in SNP based cluster analysis
Authors: Østerlund Mark , Kiil Kristoffer
Published: May 2018

We present CleanRecomb, a tool to quickly filter a SNP matrix for likely recombination events.

Method

The method evaluates segments with identical SNP profiles over the genome, based on the assumption that SNPs in the absense of recombination events are uniformly distributed across the genome. The method is evaluated on a set of 9 ST200 E. coli genome sequences.

Results

The detected recombination events coincide with regions of elevated SNP density.
Construction and Elaboration of Autobiographical Memories from Multiple Visual Perspectives
Authors: Iriye Heather , St. Jacques Peggy L.
Published: May 2018

Visual perspective, recalling events from one’s own eyes or from an observer-like viewpoint, is a fundamental aspect of autobiographical memory (AM). Yet, how visual perspective influences the functional mechanisms supporting retrieval is unclear. Here, we used a multivariate neuroimaging analysis to characterize the spatiotemporal dynamics supporting AM retrieval from multiple visual perspectives. Both own eyes and observer perspectives engaged an AM retrieval network (i.e., hippocampus, anterior and posterior midline, lateral frontal and posterior cortices) that peaked during later retrieval periods but was recruited less strongly for observer perspectives. Functional connectivity analyses with an anterior hippocampal seed revealed that visual perspective also altered interactions among neural regions and their timing during retrieval. There was stronger hippocampal connectivity with a posterior medial network during the initial construction of AMs from observer perspectives and stronger connectivity with a medial temporal lobe network during later retrieval periods from own eyes perspectives, suggesting that visual perspective directs how neocortical systems guide retrieval. Our findings demonstrate that visual perspective influences AM retrieval by altering hippocampal-neocortical interactions and subsequently the strength of neural recruitment in the AM retrieval network during later retrieval periods, thereby supporting the central role of visual perspective in shaping the personal past.
A Neural Ensemble Correlation Code for Sound Category Identification
Authors: Sadeghi Mina , Zhai Xiu , Stevenson Ian H. , Escabí Monty A.
Published: May 2018

Humans and other animals effortlessly identify sounds and categorize them into behaviorally relevant categories. Yet, the acoustic features and neural transformations that enable the formation of perceptual categories are largely unknown. Here we demonstrate that correlation statistics between frequency-organized cochlear sound channels are reflected in the neural ensemble activity of the auditory midbrain and that such activity, in turn, can contribute to discrimination of perceptual categories. Using multi-channel neural recordings in the auditory midbrain of unanesthetized rabbits, we first demonstrate that neuron ensemble correlations are highly structured in both time and frequency and can be decoded to distinguish sounds. Next, we develop a probabilistic framework for measuring the nonstationary spectro-temporal correlation statistics between frequency organized channels in an auditory model. In a 13-category sound identification task, classification accuracy is consistently high (>80%), improving with sound duration and plateauing at ~ 1-3 seconds, mirroring human performance trends. Nonstationary short-term correlation statistics are more informative about the sound category than the time-average correlation statistics (84% vs. 73% accuracy). When tested independently, the spectral and temporal correlations between the model outputs achieved a similar level of performance and appear to contribute equally. These results outline a plausible neural code in which correlation statistics between neuron ensembles of different frequencies can be read-out to identify and distinguish acoustic categories.
The spectral identity of foveal cones is preserved in hue perception
Authors: Schmidt Brian P. , Boehm Alexandra E. , Foote Katharina G. , Roorda Austin
Published: May 2018

Organisms are faced with the challenge of making inferences about the physical world from incomplete incoming sensory information. One strategy to combat ambiguity in this process is to combine new information with prior experiences. We investigated the strategy of combining these information sources in color vision. Single cones in human subjects were stimulated and the associated percepts were recorded. Subjects rated each flash for brightness, hue and saturation. Brightness ratings were proportional to stimulus intensity. Saturation was independent of intensity, but varied between cones. Hue, in contrast, was assigned in a stereotyped manner that was predicted by cone type. These experiments revealed that, near the fovea, long (L) and middle (M) wavelength sensitive cones produce sensations that can be reliably distinguished on the basis of hue, but not saturation or brightness. Taken together, these observations implicate the high-resolution, color-opponent parvocellular pathway in this low-level visual task.
A novel role of VisP and the Wzz system during O-antigen assembly inSalmonellaTyphimurium pathogenesis
Authors: da Silva Patrick , Manieri Fernanda Z. , Herrera Carmen M. , Trent M. Stephen , Moreira Cristiano G.
Published: May 2018

Salmonella entericaserovars are associated with diarrhea and gastroenteritis and are a helpful model for understanding host-pathogen mechanisms.SalmonellaTyphimurium regulates the distribution of O-antigen (OAg) and presents a trimodal distribution based on Wzy polymerase, WzzST(long chain length OAg, L-OAg) and WzzfepE(very long chain length OAg, VL-OAg) co-polymerases; however, several mechanisms regulating this process remain unclear. Here, we report that LPS modifications modulate the infectious process and that OAg chain length determination plays an essential role during infection. An increase in VL-OAg is dependent on Wzy polymerase, which is promoted by a growth condition resembling the environment ofSalmonella-containing vacuoles (SCVs). The virulence and stress-related periplasmic protein (VisP) participates in OAg synthesis, as ΔvisPpresents a semirough OAg phenotype. The ΔvisPmutant has greatly decreased motility and J774 macrophage survival in a colitis model of infection. Interestingly, the phenotype is restored after mutation of thewzzSTorwzzfepEgene in a ΔvisPbackground. Loss of both thevisPandwzzSTgenes promotes an imbalance in flagellin secretion. L-OAg may function as a shield against host immune systems in the beginning of an infectious process, and VL-OAg protects bacteria during SCV maturation and facilitates intramacrophage replication. Taken together, these data highlight the roles of OAg length in generating phenotypes duringS.Typhimurium pathogenesis and show the periplasmic protein VisP as a novel protein in the OAg biosynthesis pathway.

Author summary

Salmonellamodifies its LPS, specifically the O-antigen length, to adapt itself to distinct intestinal environments. These LPS modifications may provide a way for this bacterium to avoid complement activation in the intestinal lumen, improvingSalmonellapathogenesis. This process is essential for a successful infection, and our investigation into these specific details regarding LPS in this foodborne pathogen will elucidate different aspects of the host-pathogen association.
The impact of firm resources on innovation
Authors: Demirkan Irem
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose that the resources that a firm owns and has full control (firm-level resources) and resources that a firm access through direct connection with other firms (network-level resources) will impact firm innovation when effectively deployed by the firm. While previous research examined these factors separately, the author takes a holistic view and looks into their effects on innovation simultaneously. The author also introduces the moderating effects, i.e. the variables that can enhance firm innovation through their interaction with internal and external resources.

Design/methodology/approach

The author tested the role of financial resources and slack resources in the form of cash slack and human slack at the firm level, and network size, network tie strength, and network diversity at the network level on the firm innovation. Using generalized negative binomial model with Huber-White procedure, the author analyzed 306 firms from the biotechnology industry over a span of 17 years.

Findings

The analysis suggests that cash slack impact innovation negatively. However, this link is moderated by firm size such that for large firms cash slack affects innovation positively. Network-level resources all positively impact innovation and have more economic impact on firm innovation than firm-level resources. Furthermore, although human slack negatively affects innovation, its interaction with network size enhances innovation.

Originality/value

The research makes important contributions to both strategic management and innovation literatures especially when, the author considers the role of firm-level slack in driving firm innovation. Previous research reported conflicting findings about the availability of slack resources and firm performance. The results showed that the relationship between slack resources and firm innovation is negative and significant, both for available slack and human slack. This finding parallels with previous research which reported that constraints such as lack of slack resources can actually facilitate innovation. The author also contributes to the literature by introducing boundary conditions which can enhance firm innovation through their interaction with firm-level internal and network-level external resources. In this respect, to the author’s knowledge, this is among the first studies to combine the slack literature focusing on firm-level resources with the literature on network-level resources.
Service quality evaluation and the mediating role of perceived value and customer satisfaction in customer loyalty
Authors: Keshavarz Yousef , Jamshidi Dariyoush
Published: May 2018

Purpose

Loyalty has become the most important strategic aim in the hotel industry. The purpose of this paper is to obtain an empirical understanding of loyalty in the Kuala Lumpur hotel sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The dimensions of service quality as perceived by hotel customers were identified through the literature review. Hypotheses were formulated and tested to: examine the effects of process quality and outcome quality on perceived value, tourist satisfaction, and tourist loyalty; and to determine if perceived value and tourist satisfaction play a mediating role in the effect of process quality and outcome quality on tourist loyalty. In this study, the sample was 417 respondents from the international tourists who stay at least one night in four- or five stars hotels in Kuala Lumpur. Collected data were analyzed by structural equation modeling.

Findings

The statistical findings supported a relationship between process quality and outcome quality with perceived value and tourist satisfaction, and tourist loyalty with perceived value and tourist satisfaction. The results also indicated that process quality and outcome quality did not have a direct effect on tourist loyalty. Perceived value and tourist satisfaction mediated the relationship between process quality and outcome quality with tourist loyalty.

Originality/value

The finding of this study proposed that the hoteliers targeting international tourists with service quality including process and outcome quality should focus more on these factors to build loyalty. For instance, the tangible, responsiveness, reliability, empathy, assurance, and convenience as the dimensions of process quality and valence, waiting time, and sociability as the dimensions of outcome quality should meet the needs of the international tourists, therefore increasing tourist loyalty through perceived value and tourist satisfaction.
Influence of gender on attitude towards the use of social media for continuing professional development among academic librarians in Nigeria
Authors: Anasi Stella Ngozi
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of gender on attitude towards the use of social media for continuing professional development among academic librarians in Ogun State, Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

Descriptive survey design was used for the study. Research instrument used was questionnaire where 79 copies were administered to academic librarians, using total enumeration sampling technique. Five universities in Ogun State, Nigeria were selected for the study. The data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as percentage, frequency, mean, Pearson product moment correlation coefficient and t-test for data analysis. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 19) was used to run the analysis.

Findings

The study revealed that WhatsApp (75.0 per cent) is the most frequently used social media for continuing professional development among academic librarians. Attitude towards the use of social media for continuing professional development among academic librarians is positive. There is no statistically significant gender difference in attitude towards the use of social media for continuing professional development (t = 0.097, df = 54 and p > 0.05). There is significant moderate positive relationship between attitude towards social media use and frequency of use of social media (r = 0.439; p < 0.05).

Originality/value

The study was necessary to identify gender difference in attitude towards the use of social media for continuing professional development by academic librarians in Ogun State, Nigeria.
How and when do employees identify with their organization? Perceived CSR, first-party (in)justice, and organizational (mis)trust at workplace
Authors: Ghosh Koustab
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to inquire how and when the CSR efforts of an organization can generate positive organizational outcomes by influencing individual employees at the workplace. Theorizing perceived first-party justice as psycho-cognitive and affect-based organizational trust as psycho-affective processes, respectively, in interpreting employees’ perception of organizational CSR initiatives provided a valid rationale behind this research.

Design/methodology/approach

Following a two-phase longitudinal research design, sample was drawn from six subsidiary organizations of a multinational conglomerate.

Findings

The findings indicated that the perceived internal image of CSR predicts employees’ deep organizational identification through the mediation of affect-based organizational trust, conditional on perceived first-party justice as a moderator.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributed to extant research by investigating the hitherto unexplored question of how and when employees’ perceived image of CSR delineates to their deep identification with the organization supported by affect-based organizational trust and self-experienced first-party justice. The collection of survey responses within six group organizations could limit the generalization of the findings from this study in other contexts.

Practical implications

This study offers significant implications in terms of the managers’ role in involving employees in the organization’s CSR activities, using CSR as a platform for corporate branding to internal stakeholders, and attracting talent in knowledge intensive competition.

Originality/value

The study advances the emerging micro-level approach of CSR by exploring an employee centric, personalized view of organizational CSR and estimating its effect at the level of individual employees.
Asian consensus on assessment and management of mild to moderate plaque psoriasis with topical therapy
Authors: Imafuku Shinichi , Zheng Min , Tada Yayoi , Zhang Xibao , Theng Colin , Thevarajah Suganthi , Zhao Yi , Song Hae Jun
Published: May 2018

A working group of dermatologists in Asian countries assessed the current status of psoriatic management in the region to prepare a consensus report on topical treatment in mild to moderate plaque psoriasis. Even though the association of psoriasis with systemic comorbidities is increasingly acknowledged, psoriasis is still lower in health‐care priority lists in the region. The psychosocial impact of psoriasis may be greater in Asian countries due to cultural norms and social discrimination. Non‐adherence to treatment is also common among Asians. The current care given to patients with mild to moderate psoriasis needs to be streamlined, enhanced and organized with a patient‐centered care approach to achieve better outcomes. A comprehensive assessment of the disease severity and its impact on a patient's life is required before initiating treatment. Education and active involvement of the patient in the treatment plan is an important part of psoriatic management. It is recommended to personalize topical treatment to meet the needs of the patient, depending on disease severity, psychosocial impact, the patient's expectations and, more importantly, the patient's willingness and ability to actively follow the treatment procedure. Fixed‐dose combination of corticosteroid and vitamin D analogs is the preferred topical medication for both initial and maintenance phases of treatment. The fast containment of the disease is the goal of the initial phase of 4–8 weeks and it demands a potent fast‐acting topical therapy. Satisfactory control of the disease and prevention of relapses should be achieved during the maintenance phase with twice a week or weekend applications.
Are singleton pregnancies after assisted reproduction technology (ART) associated with a higher risk of placental anomalies compared with non‐ART singleton pregnancies? A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Vermey BG , Buchanan A , Chambers GM , Kolibianakis EM , Bosdou J , Chapman MG , Venetis CA
Published: May 2018

Background

Placental anomalies (placenta praevia, placental abruption, morbidly adherent placenta and cord insertion anomalies) are associated with maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. It has been suggested these might be more prevalent in pregnancies after assisted reproduction technology (ART).

Objectives

To determine whether ART singleton pregnancies are associated with an increased risk of placental anomalies compared with non‐ART singleton pregnancies.

Search strategy

MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, Web of Science and Scopus (January 2018).

Selection criteria

Cohort studies reporting placental anomalies in ART and non‐ART singleton pregnancies.

Data collection and analysis

We report pooled odds ratios (OR) for the comparisons: (1) ART versus SC (spontaneously conceived), (2) ART versus non‐ART (unspecified), (3) FET‐ART (frozen‐embryo transfer) versus SC, (4) ART versus non‐ART (subfertile patients). Study quality was assessed using a modified Newcastle –Ottawa scale.

Main results

33 low/moderate quality studies evaluated 124 215 ART and 6 054 729 non‐ART singleton pregnancies. Risk of placenta praevia, placental abruption and morbidly adherent placenta was higher in ART than SC pregnancies: odds ratio (OR) (OR 3.76, 95% CI 3.09‐4.59); (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.70‐2.06) and (OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.79‐2.87) respectively. Risk of placenta praevia and placental abruption was higher in ART than in non‐ART (subfertile patients): (OR 2.51, 95% CI 2.12‐2.98) and (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.33‐1.95) respectively. Results were similar when comparing ART with unspecified non‐ART pregnancies. Risk of placenta praevia was higher, but not significantly so, in FET‐ART than in SC pregnancies (OR 2.42, 95% CI 0.63–9.30).

Conclusions

Singleton ART pregnancies are associated with an increased risk of placental anomalies compared with non‐ART singleton pregnancies.

Tweetable Abstract

A review of over 6 million singleton pregnancies finds increased risk of placental anomalies after ART.
A survey of Australian prosthodontists: the use of posts in endodontically treated teeth
Authors: Sambrook R , Burrow M
Published: May 2018

Background

This study aimed to gain insight into common practises of Australian prosthodontists when placing a post in an endodontically treated tooth (ETT).

Methods

A 17‐question open‐ and closed‐format questionnaire was sent to registered Australian prosthodontists. The response rate was 55% (N = 95).

Results

The majority of respondents indicated the purpose of a post was to retain a core (N = 94, 99%). The decision to place a post is affected by the quantity of remaining tooth structure (N = 91, 96%) and the definitive restoration (N = 68, 72%). The ideal post length is neither a short nor long post with the most frequent response (N = 52, 34%) being ‘as long as possible without disturbing the apical seal’. The apical seal requirements were defined as 4–5 mm of gutta‐percha for 77% of respondents. The most preferred post type was a custom cast metal post (N = 85, 49%). The most popular luting cement was resin composite (N = 84, 39%).

Conclusions

The results from this survey do not provide a definitive guide for restoring an ETT. However, it illustrates how Australian prosthodontists address this clinical challenge. The multiple responses received for a number of questions suggest that the material and technique employed in the Australian context is influenced by the individual clinical case.
Excellent real‐world outcomes of adults with Burkitt lymphoma treated with CODOX‐M/IVAC plus or minus rituximab
Authors: Zhu Katie Y. , Song Kevin W. , Connors Joseph M. , Leitch Heather , Barnett Michael J. , Ramadan Khaled , Slack Graham W. , Abou Mourad Yasser , Forrest Donna L. , Hogge Donna E. , Nantel Stephen H. , Narayanan Sujaatha , Nevill Thomas J. , Power Maryse M. , Sanford David S. , Sutherland Heather J. , Tucker Tracy , Toze Cynthia L. , Sehn Laurie H. , Broady Raewyn , Gerrie Alina S.
Published: May 2018

Treatment of Burkitt lymphoma (BL) with intensive, multi‐agent chemotherapy with aggressive central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis results in high cure rates, although no regimen is standard of care. We examined population‐based survival outcomes of adults with BL treated with a modified combination of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, prednisone and systemic high‐dose methotrexate (MTX) (CODOX‐M) with IVAC (ifosfamide, mesna, etoposide, cytarabine and intrathecal MTX) (CODOX‐M/IVAC) ± rituximab over a 15‐year period in British Columbia. For the 81 patients identified (including 8 with CNS involvement and 18 with human immunodeficiency virus‐associated BL), 5‐year progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 75% [95% confidence interval (CI): 63–83%] and 77% (95% CI: 66–85%), respectively, with no treatment‐related deaths. Those who completed the regimen per protocol (n = 38) had significantly improved 5‐year PFS 86% (P = 0·04) and OS 92% (P = 0·008), as did those under 60 years with 5‐year PFS 82% (P = 0·005) and OS 86% (P = 0·002), which remained significant in multivariate analysis [PFS: hazard ratio (HR) 3·36, P = 0·018; OS HR 4·03, P = 0·012]. Incorporation of high‐dose systemic methotrexate also significantly affected multivariate survival outcomes (OS HR 0·28, P = 0·025). Stem cell transplant in first remission had no effect on OS or PFS. This large, real‐world analysis of BL patients treated with CODOX‐M/IVAC ± rituximab demonstrates excellent survival outcomes comparable to clinical trials. These results help to serve as a benchmark when comparing curative therapies for BL patients as novel regimens are incorporated into clinical practice.
Role of DOTATATE‐PET/CT in preoperative assessment of phaeochromocytoma and paragangliomas
Authors: Gild Matti L. , Naik Nikita , Hoang Jeremy , Hsiao Edward , McGrath Rachel T. , Sywak Mark , Sidhu Stan , Delbridge Leigh Walter , Robinson Bruce Gregory , Schembri Geoff , Clifton‐Bligh Roderick John
Published: May 2018

Context

Diagnosis of paragangliomas (PGL) and phaeochromocytomas (PC) can be challenging particularly if the tumour is small. Detection of metastatic disease is important for comprehensive management of malignant PC/PGL. Somatostatin receptor imaging (SRI) agents have high sensitivity for these tumours, particularly the DOTA family of radiopharmaceuticals labelled with 68Gallium.

Objective

To describe the utility of SRI in primary assessment (ie before surgery) for PC/PGL and whether measures of maximum standardized uptake (SUVmax) could be used to distinguish between adrenal adenomas and PCs.

Design

Retrospective analysis of patients with PC and PGL between 2012 and 2017.

Patients

Somatostatin receptor imaging (SRI) was performed for suspected PC (n = 46) or PGL (n = 27) of which 36 were during primary assessment and 37 during secondary assessment (follow‐up after surgery). For comparison of adrenal SUVmax, scans from 30 patients without suspected PC/PGL (20 with normal adrenals; 10 with incidental adenomas) were evaluated.

Measurements

Baseline description, sensitivity, specificity, Youden's index.

Results

Sensitivity of DOTATATE‐PET was 88% for PC and 100% for PGL. False‐negative scans were seen in 2/10 PCs < 28 mm and in 1/14 PCs > 28 mm which had features of cystic degeneration. SUVmax of PCs and PGLs was more than double compared to adrenal adenomas (P > .001).

Conclusion

Somatostatin receptor imaging (SRI) has high sensitivity in primary assessment for PC and PGL. We recommend that SRI should be performed as part of primary assessment in all suspected PGLs (due to higher risk of multifocal lesions) and in PCs suspected to be associated with hereditary syndromes or metastases.
Alteration of layer thickness in the choroid of diabetic patients
Authors: Endo Hiroaki , Kase Satoru , Takahashi Mitsuo , Yokoi Masahiko , Isozaki Chisato , Katsuta Satoshi , Kase Manabu
Published: May 2018

Importance

Choroidal thickness changes in diabetic retinopathy improve the understanding of the pathophysiology and managements of this disease.

Background

To examine the choroidal layer thickness in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients and normal individuals, and to compare the findings based on medical history of systemic DM treatments, and stage of diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Design

Case control study.

Participants

Two hundred and sixty‐eight eyes of 134 DM patients and age‐matched 72 healthy controls of 92 eyes.

Methods

Central choroidal layer thickness (total, inner and outer layers) was measured using enhanced depth imaging OCT. DM patients were divided into two groups; the DM‐treated group (88 cases), and the untreated group (46 cases). These two groups were further classified into four groups; no DR (NDR), mild/moderate non‐proliferative DR (mNPDR), severe NPDR and PDR.

Main Outcome Measures

Comparison of subfoveal choroid layer thickness in control and diabetic patient groups.

Results

Choroidal thickness measurements of diabetic eyes had strong correlation between masked raters in choroidal layers, proving high reproducibility. The total and outer choroid thicknesses in mNPDR in the DM‐untreated group were significantly thinner than normal controls (each P < 0.05). Choroidal outer layer thickness of the severe NPDR in the DM‐untreated group was significantly thicker than normal controls (P < 0.05). In the DM treatment group, there were no significant differences from the control group regarding choroidal layer thicknesses and all stages of DR.

Conclusions and Relevance

The choroidal thickness significantly changed in the DM‐untreated group, and the main anatomical changes might result from the outer layer.
Synthesis of a low‐temperature self‐crosslinking polyacrylate binder with a core‐shell structure and its application in textile pigment printing
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyu , Zhong Yi , Sui Xiaofen , Xu Hong , Zhang Lingpin , Mao Zhiping
Published: May 2018

A core‐shell acrylate binder for pigment printing containing acetoacetoxyethyl methacrylate (AAEM) in its shell was synthesised via semicontinuous seeded emulsion polymerisation. Self‐crosslinking occurs when curing at low temperatures without releasing formaldehyde. The core‐shell structure of the binder produces prints with a high block resistance and good film‐forming properties, which can avoid clogging the screens during the printing process and help to acquire a soft handle for textiles. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis demonstrated that the latex particle had a core‐shell structure of size ca. 120 nm. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) testing showed that polyacrylate (PA)‐modified AAEM exhibited two apparent Tg, providing further information about the formation of the soft core‐hard shell latex particles. Crosslinking degree tests, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and testing of the mechanical properties indicated that self‐crosslinking of AAEM took place at 100 °C, thereby enhancing the thermostability and mechanical properties of the latex films. The softer and non‐stick handle, excellent rubbing fastness, and higher K/S were obtained by further padding the printed fabric with amino silicon softener. The chemical structures of the surfaces of the printed fabrics were studied by Fourier Transform‐infrared (FTIR), and results confirmed that the crosslinking reaction between the amino of the softener and remaining acetoacetoxy functional group (AcAc) of AAEM had taken place.
Biosorption of Malachite Green dye by the brown alga Dictyota cervicornis: Kinetics and isotherm study
Authors: Panahi Mozhgan , Behnam Sanaz
Published: May 2018

Malachite Green (MG) dye was removed from aqueous solutions by the brown alga Dictyota cervicornis. The effects of initial solution pH (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 11), contact time, initial dye concentration (5, 25, 50, 75, 100 and 125 mg l−1) and biomass concentration (0.2, 0.6, 1.0 and 1.4 g l−1) on MG adsorption were studied. The highest adsorption capacity was observed at pH 9. Biosorption kinetics were described by the pseudo‐second order model. The Langmuir model predicted the maximum adsorption capacity occurring at a relatively high value of 230 mg g−1. The chemical modification of functional groups, potentiometric titration, Fourier Transform–infrared (FTIR) analysis of the biomass before and after biosorption, and ICP analysis of the solution after MG adsorption, were also performed. The quantities of strong, weak and very weak acidic sites obtained by potentiometric titration were 1.23, 0.88 and 0.29 meq g−1 of dry biomass, respectively, with a total acidity equal to 2.4 meq g−1. FTIR spectra of the pristine biomass showed the presence of carboxylic, sulphonic, hydroxyl and amine functional groups on the biomass structure. There were no obvious differences in the spectra of the biomass before and after MG adsorption. Chemical modification of the functional groups did not affect biosorption. Therefore, MG was removed via a physical mechanism. K(I), Ca(II), Na(I) and Mg(II) ions were released into the solution upon MG adsorption.