bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nonlinear electrostatic periodic waves and solitons in an inhomogeneous magnetized dusty plasma
Authors: Mahmood S. , Haque Q.
Published: September 2017

Low frequency nonlinear electrostatic cnoidal and solitary waves are investigated in an inhomogeneous magnetized dusty plasma in the presence of shear flow. The Sagdeev potential approach is used to find the nonlinear wave solution. It is found that nonlinear electrostatic potential rarefactive (dip) structures are formed for cnoidal waves and solitons in a magnetized inhomogeneous dusty plasma instead of compressive (hump) nonlinear electrostatic wave structures formed in an inhomogeneous magnetized electron-ion plasma. The amplitude of the nonlinear electrostatic potential structure is found to be increased in the case of decreasing shear flow parameter values in comparison with the case of increasing shear flow parameter values. The D'Angelo instability in an inhomogeneous magnetized dusty plasma in the presence of shear flow is also discussed. The numerical plots are also presented for illustrations which are applicable to space dusty plasma regions containing shear flows. The Hamiltonian function of such a dynamical planar system is also discussed for its phase portrait analysis.
Measurement of thickness of film deposited on the plasma-facing wall in the QUEST tokamak by colorimetry
Authors: Wang Z. , Hanada K. , Yoshida N. , Shimoji T. , Miyamoto M. , Oya Y. , Zushi H. , Idei H. , Nakamura K. , Fujisawa A. , Nagashima Y. , Hasegawa M. , Kawasaki S. , Higashijima A. , Nakashima H. , Nagata T. , Kawaguchi A. , Fujiwara T. , Araki K. , Mitarai O. , Fukuyama A. , Takase Y. , Matsumoto K.
Published: September 2017

After several experimental campaigns in the Kyushu University Experiment with Steady-state Spherical Tokamak (QUEST), the originally stainless steel plasma-facing wall (PFW) becomes completely covered with a deposited film composed of mixture materials, such as iron, chromium, carbon, and tungsten. In this work, an innovative colorimetry-based method was developed to measure the thickness of the deposited film on the actual QUEST wall. Because the optical constants of the deposited film on the PFW were position-dependent and the extinction coefficient k1 was about 1.0–2.0, which made the probing light not penetrate through some thick deposited films, the colorimetry method developed can only provide a rough value range of thickness of the metal-containing film deposited on the actual PFW in QUEST. However, the use of colorimetry is of great benefit to large-area inspections and to radioactive materials in future fusion devices that will be strictly prohibited from being taken out of the limited area.
Noise-induced effects on multicellular biopacemaker spontaneous activity: Differences between weak and strong pacemaker cells
Authors: Aghighi Alireza , Comtois Philippe
Published: September 2017

Self-organization of spontaneous activity of a network of active elements is important to the general theory of reaction–diffusion systems as well as for pacemaking activity to initiate beating of the heart. Monolayer cultures of neonatal rat ventricular myocytes, consisting of resting and pacemaker cells, exhibit spontaneous activation of their electrical activity. Similarly, one proposed approach to the development of biopacemakers as an alternative to electronic pacemakers for cardiac therapy is based on heterogeneous cardiac cells with resting and spontaneously beating phenotypes. However, the combined effect of pacemaker characteristics, density, and spatial distribution of the pacemaker cells on spontaneous activity is unknown. Using a simple stochastic pattern formation algorithm, we previously showed a clear nonlinear dependency of spontaneous activity (occurrence and amplitude of spontaneous period) on the spatial patterns of pacemaker cells. In this study, we show that this behavior is dependent on the pacemaker cell characteristics, with weaker pacemaker cells requiring higher density and larger clusters to sustain multicellular activity. These multicellular structures also demonstrated an increased sensitivity to voltage noise that favored spontaneous activity at lower density while increasing temporal variation in the period of activity. This information will help researchers overcome the current limitations of biopacemakers.
Photocatalytic self-cleaning transparent 2Bi2O3-B2O3 glass ceramics
Authors: Sharma Sumeet Kumar , Singh V. P. , Chauhan Vishal S. , Kushwaha H. S. , Vaish Rahul
Published: September 2017

Photocatalytic response of as-quenched and heat-treated 2Bi2O3-B2O3 glasses was studied. X ray diffraction reveals that the controlled heat treatment of glasses at 380 °C for 1 h, 2 h, and 3 h shows the formation of Bi4B2O9 crystals embedded in 2Bi2O3-B2O3 the host glass matrix. Scanning electron microscopic images reveal the presence of nanocrystallization in as-quenched glass. Significant photocatalytic activities were observed in as-quenched transparent glass. Photocatalytic activities were studied using the degradation of Resazurin as well as pharmaceutical 17 β-Estradiol under UV irradiation. Measurement of contact angle shows enhanced hydrophilicity with the increase in crystallization of the samples. Further, for as quenched 2Bi2O3-B2O3 glass ceramic, under UV irradiation, the water contact angle decreased from 92.7° to 39.5° and the sample surface transformed from hydrophobic to hydrophilic. Effective photocatalytic performance along with photoinduced hydrophilicity promotes 2Bi2O3-B2O3 glass ceramics in self-cleaning applications.
Nanopatterned epitaxy of non-polar Ga1-yInyN layers with caps and voids
Authors: Bross Adam S. , Durniak Mark T. , Elsaesser David R. , Wetzel Christian
Published: September 2017

Low-defect density non-polar a-plane Ga1-yInyN layers on r-plane sapphire substrates are reported by implementing self-assembling nanopatterning in metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy. Nanopillar capping and void formation in regrowth lead to a 90% defect reduction. An ex-situ Ni layer transforms into a nanoisland etch mask to pattern GaN templates. a-Plane GaN and Ga1-yInyN layers with an InN content in the range of y = 0.04–0.11 are then regrown. Both exhibit a low density of basal-plane stacking faults of (4.6 ± 1.3) × 104 cm−1 by transmission electron microscopy analysis. Growth parameters and the template pattern are discussed by help of an X-ray rocking curve analysis. We find pattern the fill factor and V/III ratio to dominate the defect reduction. Resulting layers should enable efficient long-wavelength light-emitting and solar cell devices.
Tuning of the work function of bilayer metal gate by in-situ atomic layer lamellar doping of AlN in TiN interlayer
Authors: Huang Kuei-Wen , Cheng Po-Hsien , Lin Yu-Shu , Wang Chin-I , Lin Hsin-Chih , Chen Miin-Jang
Published: September 2017

A thin TiN interlayer doped with AlN was introduced between the Pt and gate oxide to tailor the work function of the Pt/Ti1-xAlxNy bilayer metal gate electrode. Using the in-situ atomic layer lamellar doping technique, the AlN doping concentration in the thin Ti1-xAlxNy interlayer can be precisely controlled. With the increase in the nominal AlN lamellar doping percentage (DPAlN) from 0% to 50%, the work function of the Pt/Ti1-xAlxNy bilayer metal gate decreases from 4.49 eV and reaches a minimum of 4.19 eV as the DPAlN equals to 6.25%, and then increases to 4.59 eV with the DPAlN of 50%. The low work function (4.19 eV) of the Pt/Ti1-xAlxNy bilayer metal gate is appropriate for n-MOSFETs, which demonstrates a feasible way to achieve the low work function engineering of metal gate.
An amorphous silicon photodiode with 2 THz gain-bandwidth product based on cycling excitation process
Authors: Yan Lujiang , Yu Yugang , Zhang Alex Ce , Hall David , Niaz Iftikhar Ahmad , Raihan Miah Mohammad Abu , Liu Yu-Hsin , Lo Yu-Hwa
Published: September 2017

Since impact ionization was observed in semiconductors over half a century ago, avalanche photodiodes (APDs) using impact ionization in a fashion of chain reaction have been the most sensitive semiconductor photodetectors. However, APDs have relatively high excess noise, a limited gain-bandwidth product, and high operation voltage, presenting a need for alternative signal amplification mechanisms of superior properties. As an amplification mechanism, the cycling excitation process (CEP) was recently reported in a silicon p-n junction with subtle control and balance of the impurity levels and profiles. Realizing that CEP effect depends on Auger excitation involving localized states, we made the counter intuitive hypothesis that disordered materials, such as amorphous silicon, with their abundant localized states, can produce strong CEP effects with high gain and speed at low noise, despite their extremely low mobility and large number of defects. Here, we demonstrate an amorphous silicon low noise photodiode with gain-bandwidth product of over 2 THz, based on a very simple structure. This work will impact a wide range of applications involving optical detection because amorphous silicon, as the primary gain medium, is a low-cost, easy-to-process material that can be formed on many kinds of rigid or flexible substrates.
Flexible and wearable 3D graphene sensor with 141 KHz frequency signal response capability
Authors: Xu R. , Zhang H. , Cai Y. , Ruan J. , Qu K. , Liu E. , Ni X. , Lu M. , Dong X.
Published: September 2017

We developed a flexible force sensor consisting of 3D graphene foam (GF) encapsulated in flexible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Because the 3D GF/PDMS sensor is based on the transformation of an electronic band structure aroused by static mechanical strain or KHz vibration, it can detect frequency signals by both tuning fork tests and piezoelectric ceramic transducer tests, which showed a clear linear response from audio frequencies, including frequencies up to 141 KHz in the ultrasound range. Because of their excellent response with a wide bandwidth, the 3D GF/PDMS sensors are attractive for interactive wearable devices or artificial prosthetics capable of perceiving seismic waves, ultrasonic waves, shock waves, and transient pressures.
Bifurcation of self-folded polygonal bilayers
Authors: Abdullah Arif M. , Braun Paul V. , Hsia K. Jimmy
Published: September 2017

Motivated by the self-assembly of natural systems, researchers have investigated the stimulus-responsive curving of thin-shell structures, which is also known as self-folding. Self-folding strategies not only offer possibilities to realize complicated shapes but also promise actuation at small length scales. Biaxial mismatch strain driven self-folding bilayers demonstrate bifurcation of equilibrium shapes (from quasi-axisymmetric doubly curved to approximately singly curved) during their stimulus-responsive morphing behavior. Being a structurally instable, bifurcation could be used to tune the self-folding behavior, and hence, a detailed understanding of this phenomenon is appealing from both fundamental and practical perspectives. In this work, we investigated the bifurcation behavior of self-folding bilayer polygons. For the mechanistic understanding, we developed finite element models of planar bilayers (consisting of a stimulus-responsive and a passive layer of material) that transform into 3D curved configurations. Our experiments with cross-linked Polydimethylsiloxane samples that change shapes in organic solvents confirmed our model predictions. Finally, we explored a design scheme to generate gripper-like architectures by avoiding the bifurcation of stimulus-responsive bilayers. Our research contributes to the broad field of self-assembly as the findings could motivate functional devices across multiple disciplines such as robotics, artificial muscles, therapeutic cargos, and reconfigurable biomedical devices.
Workplace injuries in the Australian allied health workforce
Authors: Anderson Sarah , Stuckey Rwth , Fortington Lauren V , Oakman Jodi
Published: September 2017

Objective This study aims to identify the number, costs and reported injury mechanisms of serious injury claims for allied health professionals. Methods Using Australian Workers’ Compensation injury data, the number, mechanism, and costs of injury claims were calculated for eight groups of allied health professions (chiropractors and osteopaths, speech pathologists and audiologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists, podiatrists, social workers and prosthetists/orthotists) between the 2000–01 and 2013–14 financial years. Workforce injury rates were calculated using the 2011 Australian Census Workforce data (denominator) and 2011 Workers’ Compensation Statistics claims data (numerator). Results Across the allied health professions, 7023 serious injuries (minimum 5 days absence from work) were recorded with an associated total compensation cost of A$201970000. Fewer than 1.5% of each allied health professional group had an injury claim, with the exception of prosthetists/orthotists who had a rate of 25.9% serious injury claims (95% confidence interval 21.9–30.4). The average cost per claim varied across the allied health professions, from the lowest cost of A$19091 per injury for occupational therapists to the highest of A$48466 per claim in chiropractic and osteopathy. Body stressing followed by mental stress were the most common mechanisms of injury. Conclusions Mechanism of injury, both physical and psychosocial, were identified. Prosthetists/orthotists are at the highest risk of workplace injury of all allied health professions. This suggests the need for further investigation and development of appropriately targeted injury prevention programs for each allied health profession. What is known about this topic? Retention of allied health professionals is a significant issue, with workplace injuries identified as one contributing factor to this problem. Healthcare workers are potentially at high risk of injury as they are exposed to a range of physical and psychosocial hazards in their workplace. What does this paper add? This paper is the first to report on serious injuries, minimum 5 days absence from work, from Australian Workers’ Compensation data, across a range of allied health professions. Various allied health professions were examined to identify the number, mechanism and cost of serious workplace injuries finding there is an average of 500 serious claims per year at a cost of A$14million. Prosthetists/orthotists were identified as having the highest proportion of claims per workforce population. What are the implications for practitioners? These results suggest highly varied injury rates across allied health professions. Compensation data does not enable accurate identification of causal factors. Further work is required to identify relevant causal factors so that targeted risk reduction strategies can be developed to reduce workforce injuries.
Monitoring the threatened brush-tailed phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa tapoatafa) at Sugarloaf Reservoir, Victoria
Authors: Scida Mark , Gration Rob
Published: September 2017

The brush-tailed phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa tapoatafa) is a marsupial threatened in Victoria by habitat fragmentation and modification. As part of the development of infrastructure in phascogale habitat, Melbourne Water was required to improve habitat for the phascogale. We aimed to develop and test a method for monitoring phascogales on Melbourne Water land, and to assess the effectiveness of habitat improvements. Trapping, nest boxes, and cameras were all successful in detecting phascogales; however, cameras had the highest detection per unit effort. We suggest that future monitoring should favour camera surveys with trapping potentially every 3–5 years for acquisition of physical data.
Does transformational leadership predict group emotional intelligence in work settings? / ¿Es el liderazgo transformacional un predictor de la inteligencia emocional grupal en los contextos laborales?
Authors: Lopez-Zafra Esther , Pulido-Martos Manuel , Berrios-Martos Pilar , Augusto-Landa Jose M.
Published: September 2017

Contagion of emotions is a widely accepted characteristic of transformational leaders. However, the impact they may have on the Emotional Intelligence of their subordinates is an open question. In this paper, we analyse whether Transformational Leadership (LTF) perceptions influence the Emotional Intelligence of their groups (GEI). This is a novel approach within the actual interest on emotional intelligence and its role in group results. The participants were 272 subordinates from 52 groups that belonged to different private and public organizations in Spain. They completed a questionnaire including the variables of interest. Our study helps to clarify the relations between TFL perceptions and GEI, showing that TFL and GEI relate at the group level and that TFL is one of the predictors of the perception of GEI in work settings. Thus, the development of emotionally competent transformational leaders will produce emotionally competent groups that might increase their performance, efficiency and other processes (i.e., engagement).
Direct measurement and analysis of total ionizing dose effect on 130 nm PD SOI SRAM cell static noise margin*
Authors: Zheng Qiwen , Cui Jiangwei , Liu Mengxin , Su Dandan , Zhou Hang , Ma Teng , Yu Xuefeng , Lu Wu , Guo Qi , Zhao Fazhan
Published: September 2017

In this work, the total ionizing dose (TID) effect on 130 nm partially depleted (PD) silicon-on-insulator (SOI) static random access memory (SRAM) cell stability is measured. The SRAM cell test structure allowing direct measurement of the static noise margin (SNM) is specifically designed and irradiated by gamma-ray. Both data sides’ SNM of 130 nm PD SOI SRAM cell are decreased by TID, which is different from the conclusion obtained in old generation devices that one data side’s SNM is decreased and the other data side’s SNM is increased. Moreover, measurement of SNM under different supply voltages (V
dd) reveals that SNM is more sensitive to TID under lower V
dd. The impact of TID on SNM under data retention V
dd should be tested, because V
dd of SRAM cell under data retention mode is lower than normal V
dd. The mechanism under the above results is analyzed by measurement of I—V characteristics of SRAM cell transistors.
biospear: an R package for biomarker selection in penalized Cox regression
Authors: Ternès Nils , Rotolo Federico , Michiels Stefan
Published: September 2017

The R package biospear allows selecting the biomarkers with the strongest impact on survival and on the treatment effect in high-dimensional Cox models, and estimating expected survival probabilities. Most of the implemented approaches are based on penalized regression techniques.

Availability and implementation

The package is available on the CRAN. (https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=biospear)

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
LDassoc: an online tool for interactively exploring genome-wide association study results and prioritizing variants for functional investigation
Authors: Machiela Mitchell J , Chanock Stephen J
Published: September 2017

Motivation

Existing approaches to plot association results from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are in the form of static Manhattan plots and often lack data integration with rich databases on variant regulatory potential as well as population-specific linkage disequilibrium patterns.

We created an intuitive web module for uploading and efficiently exploring GWAS association results. Interactive plots and sortable tables allow researchers to query genomic regions of interest, facilitating the integration of data on linkage disequilibrium, variant regulatory potential and potential target genes. External links allow for visualization of association results in the UCSC genome browser as well as easy access to publically available databases (e.g. dbSNP and RegulomeDB). Through improved visualization and data integration, LDassoc offers genomic researchers a specialized environment to examine association signals and suggests variants for functional investigation.

Availability and implementation

LDassoc is a free and publically available web tool which can be accessed online at https://analysistools.nci.nih.gov/LDlink/? tab=ldassoc.
Using Elastic Net Penalized Cox Proportional Hazards Regression to Identify Predictors of Imminent Smoking Lapse
Authors: Suchting Robert , Hébert Emily T , Ma Ping , Kendzor Darla E , Businelle Michael S
Published: September 2017

Introduction

Machine learning algorithms such as elastic net regression and backward selection provide a unique and powerful approach to model building given a set of psychosocial predictors of smoking lapse measured repeatedly via ecological momentary assessment (EMA). Understanding these predictors may aid in developing interventions for smoking lapse prevention.

Methods

In a randomized-controlled smoking cessation trial, smartphone-based EMAs were collected from 92 participants following a scheduled quit date. This secondary analysis utilized elastic net-penalized cox proportional hazards regression and model approximation via backward elimination to (1) optimize a predictive model of time to first lapse and (2) simplify that model to its core constituent predictors to maximize parsimony and generalizability.

Results

Elastic net proportional hazards regression selected 17 of 26 possible predictors from 2065 EMAs to model time to first lapse. The predictors with the highest magnitude regression coefficients were having consumed alcohol in the past hour, being around and interacting with a smoker, and having cigarettes easily available. This model was reduced using backward elimination, retaining five predictors and approximating to 93.9% of model fit. The retained predictors included those mentioned above as well as feeling irritable and being in areas where smoking is either discouraged or allowed (as opposed to not permitted).

Conclusions

The strongest predictors of smoking lapse were environmental in nature (e.g., being in smoking-permitted areas) as opposed to internal factors such as psychological affect. Interventions may be improved by a renewed focus of interventions on these predictors.

Implications

The present study demonstrated the utility of machine learning algorithms to optimize the prediction of time to smoking lapse using EMA data. The two models generated by the present analysis found that environmental factors were most strongly related to smoking lapse. The results support the use of machine learning algorithms to investigate intensive longitudinal data, and provide a foundation for the development of highly tailored, just-in-time interventions that can target on multiple antecedents of smoking lapse.
Formal verification: will the seedling ever flower?
Authors: White Neil , Matthews Stuart , Chapman Roderick
Published: September 2017

In one sense, formal specification and verification have been highly successful: techniques have been developed in pioneering academic research, transferred to software companies through training and partnerships, and successfully deployed in systems with national significance. Altran UK has been in the vanguard of this movement. This paper summarizes some of our key deployments of formal techniques over the past 20 years, including both security- and safety-critical systems. The impact of formal techniques, however, remains within an industrial niche, and while government and suppliers across industry search for solutions to the problems of poor-quality software, the wider software industry remains resistant to adoption of this proven solution. We conclude by reflecting on some of the challenges we face as a community in ensuring that formal techniques achieve their true potential impact on society.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘Verified trustworthy software systems’.
Bioimpedance and new onset heart failure: A longitudinal study of ~500,000 individuals from the general population
Authors: Lindholm Daniel , Fukaya Eri , J. Leeper Nicholas , Ingelsson Erik
Published: September 2017

Importance

Heart failure constitutes a high burden on patients and society, but although lifetime risk is high, it is difficult to predict without costly or invasive testing. Knowledge about novel risk factors could enable early diagnosis and possibly preemptive treatment.

Objective

To establish new risk factors for heart failure.

Design

We applied supervised machine learning in UK Biobank in an agnostic search of risk factors for heart failure. Novel predictors were then subjected to several in-depth analyses, including multivariable Cox models of incident heart failure, and assessment of discrimination and calibration.

Setting

Population-based cohort study.

Participants

500,451 individuals who volunteered to participate in the UK Biobank cohort study, excluding those with prevalent heart failure.

Exposure

3646 variables reflecting different aspects of lifestyle, health and disease-related factors.

Main Outcome

Incident heart failure hospitalization.

Results

Machine learning confirmed many known and putative risk factors for heart failure, and identified several novel candidates. Mean reticulocyte volume appeared as one novel factor, and leg bioimpedance another; the latter appearing as the most important new factor. Leg bioimpedance was significantly lower in those who developed heart failure (p=1.1x10-72) during up to 9.8-year follow-up. When adjusting for known heart failure risk factors, leg bioimpedance was inversely related to heart failure (hazard ratio [95%CI], 0.60 [0.48–0.73]) and 0.75 [0.59–0.94], in age- and sex-adjusted and fully adjusted models, respectively, comparing the upper vs. lower quartile). A model including leg bioimpedance, age, sex, and self-reported history of myocardial infarction showed good predictive capacity of future heart failure hospitalization (C-index=0.82) and good calibration.

Conclusions and Relevance

Leg bioimpedance is inversely associated with heart failure incidence in the general population. A simple model of exclusively non-invasive measures, combining leg bioimpedance with history of myocardial infarction, age, and sex provides accurate predictive capacity.

Key points

Question

Which are the most important risk factors for incident heart failure?

Findings

In this population-based cohort study of ~500,000 individuals, machine learning identified well-established risk factors, but also several novel factors. Among the most important were leg bioimpedance and mean reticulocyte volume. There was a strong inverse relationship between leg bioimpedance and incident heart failure, also in adjusted analyses. A model entailing leg bioimpedance, age, sex, and self-reported history of myocardial infarction showed good predictive capacity of heart failure hospitalization and good calibration.

Meaning

Leg bioimpedance appears to be an important new factor associated with incident heart failure.
Codon usage bias in animals: disentangling the effects of natural selection, effective population size and GC-biased gene conversion
Authors: Galtier N. , Roux C. , Rousselle M. , Romiguier J. , Figuet E. , Glémin S. , Bierne N. , Duret L.
Published: September 2017

Selection on codon usage bias is well documented in a number of microorganisms. Whether codon usage is also generally shaped by natural selection in large organisms, despite their relatively small effective population size (Ne), is unclear. Codon usage bias in animals has only been studied in a handful of model organisms so far, and can be affected by confounding, non-adaptive processes such as GC-biased gene conversion and experimental artefacts. Using population transcriptomics data we analysed the relationship between codon usage, gene expression, allele frequency distribution and recombination rate in 31 non-model species of animals, each from a different family, covering a wide range of effective population sizes. We disentangled the effects of translational selection and GC-biased gene conversion on codon usage by separately analysing GC-conservative and GC-changing mutations. We report evidence for effective translational selection on codon usage in large-Nespecies of animals, but not in small-Neones, in agreement with the nearly neutral theory of molecular evolution. C- and T-ending codons are generally preferred over synonymous G- and A-ending ones, for reasons that remain to be determined. In contrast, we uncovered a conspicuous effect of GC-biased gene conversion, which is widespread in animals and the main force determining the fate of AT↔GC mutations. Intriguingly, the strength of its effect was uncorrelated withNe.
Reversal of molecular pathology by RNA-targeting Cas9 in a myotonic dystrophy mouse model
Authors: Batra Ranjan , Nelles David A. , Krach Florian , Thomas James D. , Snjader Lukasz , Blue Steven M. , Aigner Stefan , Swanson Maurice S. , Yeo Gene W.
Published: September 2017

The dominantly inherited, multi-systemic disease myotonic dystrophy type I (DM1) is caused by triplet repeat CTG expansions in theDMPKgene and is the most common form of adult-onset muscular dystrophy. Elimination of the toxic, repetitive CUG RNA constitutes a therapeutic for this disease. We report an RNA-targeting Cas9 (RCas9) system that supports efficient reversal of DM1 phenotypes via delivery to adult poly(CUG) DM1 mouse muscle using adeno-associated virus (AAV). We observe elimination of CUG RNA, restoration of CUG foci-associated Mbnl1 protein to wild-type subcellular localization, correction of DM1-type alternative splicing patterns in candidate genes including the voltage-gated chloride channel 1 (Clcn1)responsible for characteristic myotonia, recovery of Clcn1 staining, and reduction in centralized myonuclei. Our results establish RCas9 as a potential long-termin vivotherapeutic for DM1.

One Sentence Summary

A repurposed CRISPR system termed RNA-targeting Cas9 reverses the molecular pathology associated with the most common type of adult onset muscular dystrophy in adult mouse muscle.
Role of gene body methylation in coral acclimatization and adaptation
Authors: Dixon Groves , Liao Yi , Bay Line K. , Matz Mikhail V.
Published: September 2017

Gene body methylation (GBM) has been hypothesized to modulate responses to environmental change, including transgenerational plasticity, but the evidence thus far has been lacking. Here we show that coral fragments reciprocally transplanted between two distant reefs respond with genome-wide increase or decrease in GBM disparity among genes. Surprisingly, this simple genome-wide adjustment predicted broad-scale gene expression changes and fragments’ fitness in the new environment. This supports GBM’s role in acclimatization, which may consist in modulating the expression balance between environmentally-responsive and housekeeping genes. At the same time, constitutive differences in GBM between populations did not align with plastic GBM changes upon transplantation and were mostly observed amongFSToutliers, indicating that they arose through genetic divergence rather than through transgenerational inheritance of acquired GBM states.

One-sentence summary

Genome-wide shifts in gene body methylation predict gene expression and fitness during acclimatization but do not contribute to epigenetic divergence between populations.
Spatially resolved texture analysis of Napoleonic War era copper bolts
Authors: Malamud Florencia , Northover Shirley , James Jon , Northover Peter , Nneji Stephen , Kelleher Joe
Published: September 2017

The spatial resolution achievable by a time-of-flight neutron strain scanner has been harnessed using a new data analysis methodology (NyRTex) to determine, nondestructively, the spatial variation of crystallographic texture in objects of cultural heritage. Previous studies on the crystallographic texture at the centre of three Napoleonic War era copper bolts, which demonstrated the value of this technique in differentiating between the different production processes of the different types of bolts, were extended to four copper bolts from the wrecks of HMSImpregnable(completed 1786), HMSAmethyst(1799), HMSPomone(1805) and HMSMaeander(1840) along with a cylindrical `segment' of a further incomplete bolt from HMSPomone. These included bolts with works stamps, allowing comparison with documentary accounts of the manufacturing processes used, and the results demonstrated unequivocally that bolts with a `Westwood and Collins' patent stamp were made using the Collins rather than the Westwood process. In some bolts there was a pronounced variation in texture across the cross section. In some cases this is consistent with what is known of the types of hot and cold working used, but the results from the latest study might also suggest that, even in the mature phase of this technology, some hand finishing was sometimes necessary. This examination of bolts from a wider range of dates is an important step in increasing our understanding of the introduction and evolution of copper fastenings in Royal Navy warships.
A two-dimensional Zn coordination polymer with a three-dimensional supramolecular architecture
Authors: Liu Fuhong , Ding Yan , Li Qiuyu , Zhang Liping
Published: September 2017

The title compound, poly[bis{μ2-4,4′-bis[(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)methyl]biphenyl-κ2N4:N4′}bis(nitrato-κO)zinc(II)], [Zn(NO3)2(C18H16N6)2]n, is a two-dimensional zinc coordination polymer constructed from 4,4′-bis[(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)methyl]-1,1′-biphenyl units. It was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The ZnIIcation is located on an inversion centre and is coordinated by two O atoms from two symmetry-related nitrate groups and four N atoms from four symmetry-related 4,4′-bis[(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)methyl]-1,1′-biphenyl ligands, forming a distorted octahedral {ZnN4O2} coordination geometry. The linear 4,4′-bis[(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)methyl]-1,1′-biphenyl ligand links two ZnIIcations, generating two-dimensional layers parallel to the crystallographic (132) plane. The parallel layers are connected by C—H...O, C—H...N, C—H...π and π–π stacking interactions, resulting in a three-dimensional supramolecular architecture.
Crystal structure of (1S,2S,5R)-5-acetylamino-4-oxo-2,3-diphenyl-1,3-thiazinan-1-ium-1-olate
Authors: Yennawar Hemant P. , Noble Duncan J. , Silverberg Lee J.
Published: September 2017

The asymmetric unit of the enantiomerically pure title compound, C18H18N2O3S, comprises two independent molecules (AandB) having almost identical conformations. When overlayed, the alignment–r.m.s. deviation value is 0.30 Å. The six-membered heterocycle has a twisted half-chair conformation in both molecules. The O atom on the S atom of the ring is pseudo-axial on the thiazine ring andtransto both a phenyl group substituent and the acetamide group in each case. The two benzene rings in each molecule are almost orthogonal to each other, with interplanar dihedral angles of 83.79 (17) and 86.95 (16)°. The acetamide group is pseudo-equatorial and a phenyl ring is pseudo-axial on the thiazine ring. Both molecules show a weak intramolecular C—H...O interaction between H-atom donors of one of the phenyl rings and the acetamide group. In the crystal, an intermolecular N—H...O(thiazine) hydrogen bond linksBmolecules along the 21(b) screw axis and, in addition, an N—H...O(acetamide) hydrogen bond linksAandBmolecules acrossa. A two-dimensional layered structure lying parallel to (001) is generated, also involving weak intermolecular C—H...O interactions.
Ethyl 2-allyl-2-(5-methyl-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-yl)pent-4-enoate
Authors: El Hafi Mohamed , Lahmidi Sanae , Boulhaoua Mohammed , Essaghouani Abdelhanine , Essassi El Mokhtar , Mague Joel T.
Published: September 2017

In the title molecule, C16H20N4O2, the dihedral angle between the planes of the fused rings is 2.26 (8)°. In the crystal, [\overline{2}10] chains of molecules linked by C—H...O and C—H...N hydrogen bonds arise, which are further linked by weak C—H...π interactions.
“Tata i-Shakti” to “Tata Sampann”: rebranding or repositioning?
Authors: Varshneya Geetika , Das Gopal
Published: September 2017

Subject area

Marketing.

Study level/applicability

This case may be used by instructors to teach undergraduate, post graduate and executive level programmes in management. It may be used in basic marketing, branding or marketing strategy courses. The case may serve as a platform for the instructor to discuss the concepts and issues related to positioning and repositioning.

Case overview

Tata Chemicals, a subsidiary of the Tata group, launched the “i-Shakti” brand six years ago for its low-cost “solar-evaporated” salt for rural customers. In 2010, the company extended the brand equity of i-Shakti to a premium segment and launched a new brand “Tata i-Shakti” with a range of unpolished pulses. Changing the brand name and customer base from “i-Shakti for rural market” to “Tata i-Shakti for premium market” created a dilemma among customers in the market. To overcome this problem, in October 2015, the company’s portfolio of pulses, gram flour and food grade soda under “Tata i-Shakti” label has migrated into a new brand “Tata Sampann”. The company also launched a range of spices under the brand name of “Tata Sampann”. This new brand “Tata Sampann” was launched to serve the premium segment with an aim to “enrich everyday meals with extra nutrition and extra joy”. Also, this brand recreation was made by the company with anticipation to make avenues for future launches in the staples and food segment under Tata’s consumer products business. It has been almost a year since Tata Sampann was launched in the market. Given the tough competition and expected growth of the spices market in India, it remained to be seen whether “Tata i-Shakti” was rightly rebranded or repositioned with “Tata Sampann”.

Expected learning outcomes

To make participants understand the basic concepts of branding such as umbrella branding, brand repositioning and rebranding. To make participants learn about various brand elements and how they contribute in communicating the value proposition of the brand. To make participants appreciate various marketing and brand related strategies.

Supplementary materials

Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Subject code

CSS: 8: Marketing.
Strategic logistics outsourcing: upstream-downstream supply chain comparison
Authors: Alkhatib Saleh Fahed
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a new integrated approach for the strategic logistics outsourcing process through identifying the logistics independent success factors (ISFs) and linking them with the firm’s strategic objectives and logistics requirements. Then, the new integrated approach will be used to compare the outsourcing processes for the upstream and downstream supply chain members. Studies of logistics outsourcing reveal the strategic importance of this process and the increasing need for new strategic approach.

Design/methodology/approach

The design is based on mixed methodology and integrated approach. The fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory technique has contributed to the construction of interdependent relationships, development of impact-relationship maps (IRMs) and identifying ISFs. The fuzzy quality function deployment technique was used to link the strategic objectives, logistics requirements and the ISFs to evaluate and select logistics service providers (LSPs) strategically. Finally, two case studies (upstream and downstream supply chains) are used to demonstrate the new approach effectiveness and to highlight the differences/similarities between the two streams.

Findings

In addition to the new strategic logistics outsourcing approach, this study analysed the impact relationships of the LSPs’ framework factors and constructed their maps. In all, 21 ISFs have been identified: 8 logistics key performance indicators, 7 logistics services and activities and 6 logistics resources and capabilities. The two streams’ comparison relived several differences in terms of strategic objectives, logistics requirements and ISFs.

Research limitations/implications

The new approach for strategic logistics outsourcing can help firms to perform a better multi-stakeholder multi-criteria strategic outsourcing process. In addition, the upstream–downstream supply chain comparison increases our understanding how different supply chain members perform different outsourcing processes.

Originality/value

This is one of the pioneering studies that compares the supply chain upstream–downstream perspectives to highlight logistics outsourcing similarities and differences. To the best of author’s knowledge, this is one of the first logistics outsourcing studies that identifies ISFs for strategic logistics outsourcing, provides the first IRMs for the strategic logistics factors and develops a new integrated approach for strategic logistics outsourcing
KMS re-contextualization – recognizing learnings from OMIS research
Authors: Mühlburger Manuel , Oppl Stefan , Stary Christian
Published: September 2017

Purpose

Deployment of knowledge management systems (KMSs) suffers from low adoption in organizational reality that is attributed to a lack of perceivable added value for people in actual work situations. Poor task/technology fit in the process of knowledge retrieval appears to be a major factor influencing this issue. Existing research indicates a lack of re-contextualizing stored information provided by KMSs in a particular situation. Existing research in the area of organizational memory information systems (OMISs) has thoroughly examined and widely discussed the topic of re-contextualization. The purpose of this paper, thus, is to examine how KMS design can benefit from OMIS research on approaches for re-contextualization in knowledge retrieval.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper examines OMIS literature and inductively derives a categorization scheme for KMS according to their strategy of re-contextualizing knowledge. The authors have validated the scheme validated in a multiple case study that examines the differentiatory value of the scheme for approaches with various re-contextualization strategies.

Findings

The classification scheme allows a step-by-step selection of approaches for re-contextualization of information in KMS design and development derived from OMIS research. The case study has demonstrated the applicability of the developed scheme and shows that the differentiation criteria can be applied unambiguously.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the chosen case study approach for validation, the validation results may lack generalizability.

Practical implications

The scheme enables an informed selection of KMSs appropriate for a particular OMIS use case, as the scheme’s attributes serve as design rationale for a certain architecture or constellation of components. Developers can not only select from various approaches when designing re-contextualizaton but also come up with rationales for each candidate because of structured representation. Hence, stakeholders can be supported in a more informed way and design KMSs more effectively along organizational change processes.

Originality/value

The paper addresses an identified need for systematic characterization of KMS approaches and systems intending to meet the objectives of OMISs. As such, it allows streamlining further research in this field, as approaches can be judged according to their originality and positioned relative to each other.
Light competition explains diversity decline better than niche dimensionality
Authors: DeMalach Niv , Kadmon Ronen
Published: September 2017

One of the most widely documented patterns in plant ecology is the decrease in species diversity following nutrient enrichment. A long‐standing explanation for this diversity decline is an increase in the relative importance of size‐asymmetric light competition which accelerates the rate of competitive exclusion (the ‘light asymmetry hypothesis’).

Recently, an alternative hypothesis has been proposed which attributes the negative effect of nutrient enrichment on species diversity to a reduction in the number of limiting resources (i.e. a reduced niche ‘dimensionality’). A recent global‐scale experiment demonstrating that increasing the number of added resources leads to a decrease in species diversity was interpreted as a support for this ‘niche dimension hypothesis’.

Here we highlight a number of theoretical considerations that question this interpretation and demonstrate that a deeper analysis of the new global‐scale dataset provides a stronger support for the light asymmetry hypothesis.
Out of the shadows: multiple nutrient limitations drive relationships among biomass, light and plant diversity
Authors: Harpole W. Stanley , Sullivan Lauren L. , Lind Eric M. , Firn Jennifer , Adler Peter B. , Borer Elizabeth T. , Chase Jonathan , Fay Philip A. , Hautier Yann , Hillebrand Helmut , MacDougall Andrew S. , Seabloom Eric W. , Bakker Jonathan D. , Cadotte Marc W. , Chaneton Enrique J. , Chu Chengjin , Hagenah Nicole , Kirkman Kevin , La Pierre Kimberly J. , Moore Joslin L. , Morgan John W. , Prober Suzanne M. , Risch Anita C. , Schuetz Martin , Stevens Carly J.
Published: September 2017

The paradigmatic hypothesis for the effect of fertilisation on plant diversity represents a one‐dimensional trade‐off for plants competing for below‐ground nutrients (generically) and above‐ground light: fertilisation reduces competition for nutrients while increasing biomass and thereby shifts competition for depleted available light.

The essential problem of this simple paradigm is that it misses both the multivariate and mechanistic nature of the factors that determine biodiversity as well as their causal relationships.

We agree that light limitation, as DeMalach and Kadmon argue, can indeed be an important factor associated with diversity loss, and we presented it as an integral part of our tests of the niche dimension hypothesis.

We disagree with DeMalach and Kadmon that light is the ‘main’ factor explaining diversity, because this misrepresents the causal structure represented in the design of our experiment in which multiple nutrient addition was the ultimate causal driver of a suite of correlated responses that included diversity and light, and especially live and dead biomass, which are the factors that control light depletion.

Our findings highlight that multiple nutrient limitations can structure plant diversity and composition independently of changes in light and biomass. For example, approximately one‐third of our sites showed no significant increase in biomass with greater number of added nutrients yet still lost diversity when nutrients were added.

The important message is that while light limitation can be an important contributor to diversity loss, it is not a necessary mechanism.