bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DeepBound: Accurate Identification of Transcript Boundaries via Deep Convolutional Neural Fields
Authors: Shao Mingfu , Ma Jianzhu , Wang Sheng
Published: April 2017

Motivation

Reconstructing the full-length expressed transcripts (a.k.a. the transcript assembly problem) from the short sequencing reads produced by RNA-seq protocol plays a central role in identifying novel genes and transcripts as well as in studying gene expressions and gene functions. A crucial step in transcript assembly is to accurately determine the splicing junctions and boundaries of the expressed transcripts from the reads alignment. In contrast to the splicing junctions that can be efficiently detected from spliced reads, the problem of identifying boundaries remains open and challenging, due to the fact that the signal related to boundaries is noisy and weak.

Results

We present DeepBound, an effective approach to identify boundaries of expressed transcripts from RNA-seq reads alignment. In its core DeepBound employs deep convolutional neural fields to learn the hidden distributions and patterns of boundaries. To accurately model the transition probabilities and to solve the label-imbalance problem, we novelly incorporate the AUC (area under the curve) score into the optimizing objective function. To address the issue that deep probabilistic graphical models requires large number of labeled training samples, we propose to use simulated RNA-seq datasets to train our model. Through extensive experimental studies on both simulation datasets of two species and biological datasets, we show that DeepBound consistently and significantly outperforms the two existing methods.

Availability

DeepBound is freely available athttps://github.com/realbigws/DeepBound.

Contact

mingfu.shao@cs.cmu.edu,realbigws@gmail.com
Running Promotes Spatial Bias Independently of Adult Neurogenesis
Authors: Snyder Jason S. , Cahill Shaina P. , Frankland Paul W.
Published: April 2017

Different memory systems offer distinct advantages to navigational behavior. The hippocampus forms complex associations between environmental stimuli, enabling flexible navigation through space. In contrast, the dorsal striatum associates discrete cues and favorable behavioral responses, enabling habit-like, automated navigation. While these two systems often complement one another, there are instances where striatal-dependent responses (e.g. approach a cue) conflict with hippocampal representations of spatial goals. In conflict situations, preference for spatial vs. response strategies varies across individuals and depends on previous experience, plasticity and the integrity of these two memory systems. Here, we investigated the role of adult hippocampal neurogenesis and exercise on mouse search strategies in a water maze task that can be solved with either a hippocampal-dependent place strategy or a striatal-dependent cue-response strategy. We predicted that inhibiting adult neurogenesis would impair hippocampal function and shift behavior towards striatal-dependent cue responses. However, blocking neurogenesis in a transgenic nestin-TK mouse did not affect strategy choice. We then investigated whether a pro-neurogenic stimulus, running, would bias mice towards hippocampal-dependent spatial strategies. While running indeed promoted spatial strategies, it did so even when neurogenesis was inhibited in nestin-TK mice. These findings indicate that exercise-induced increases in neurogenesis are not always required for enhanced cognitive function. Furthermore, our data identify exercise as a potentially useful strategy for promoting flexible, cognitive forms of memory in habit-related disorders that are characterized by excessive responding to discrete cues.
Feature extraction through Wavelet decomposition for automatic detection of landmarks on Cephalogram Images
Authors: Vasamsetti Srikanth , Sardana Viren , Kumar Prasoon , Sardana H.K
Published: April 2017

Manual cephalogram marking has long way from marking on tracing sheet to availability of commercial software's for cephalometric analysis. With the effort involved in manual marking and time consumption, it becomes imperative for modern science to envisage algorithms which could automatically locate landmarks on the cephalogram images and perform various analysis. In this work, we herby propose a wavelet transform based feature extraction algorithm for detection of landmark on cephalogram images. 15 landmarks were detected on the images using wavelet transform and all landmarks were detected within the acceptable accuracy limits. This algorithm may have a promising approach in detection of further anatomical landmarks automatically and analysis and thus may help orthodontic practioners in better and faster treatment planning.
An evolutionarily conserved leucine zipper-like motif accounts for strong tetramerization capabilities of SEPALLATA-like MADS-domain transcription factors controlling flower development
Authors: Rümpler Florian , Theißen Günter , Melzer Rainer
Published: April 2017

The development of angiosperm flowers is regulated by homeotic MIKC-type MADS-domain transcription factors that activate or repress target genes via the formation of DNA-bound, organ specific tetrameric complexes. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) capabilities differ considerably between different MIKC-type proteins. The floral homeotic protein SEPALLATA3 (SEP3) acts as a hub that incorporates numerous other MADS-domain proteins into tetrameric complexes that would otherwise not form. However, the molecular mechanisms that underlie these promiscuous interactions remain largely unknown. In this study we created a collection of amino acid substitution mutants of SEP3 to quantify the contribution of individual residues on protein tetramerization during DNA-binding, employing methods of molecular biophysics. We show that leucine residues at certain key positions form a leucine zipper structure that is essential for tetramerization of SEP3, whereas the introduction of physicochemically very similar residues at respective sites impedes the formation of DNA-bound tetramers. Comprehensive molecular evolutionary analyses of MADS-domain proteins from a diverse set of flowering plants revealed exceedingly high conservation of the identified leucine residues within SEP3-subfamily proteins throughout angiosperm evolution. In contrast, MADS-domain proteins that are unable to tetramerize among themselves exhibit preferences for other amino acids at homologous sites. Our findings indicate that the subfamily-specific conservation of amino acid residues at just a few key positions account for subfamily-specific interaction capabilities of MADS-domain transcription factors and shaped the present-day structure of the PPI network controlling flower development.
SMC progressively aligns chromosomal arms inCaulobacter crescentusbut is antagonized by convergent transcription
Authors: Tran Ngat T. , Laub Michael T. , Le Tung B. K.
Published: April 2017

The Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes (SMC) complex plays an important role in chromosome organization and segregation in most living organisms. InCaulobacter crescentus, SMC is required to align the left and the right arms of the chromosome that run in parallel down the long axis of the cell. However, the mechanism of SMC-mediated alignment of chromosomal arms remains elusive. Here, using a genome-wide chromosome conformation capture assay, chromatin immunoprecipitation with deep sequencing, and microscopy of single cells, we show thatCaulobacterSMC is recruited to the centromericparSsite and that SMC-mediated arm alignment depends on the chromosome partitioning protein ParB. We provide evidence that SMC likely tethers theparS-proximal regions of the chromosomal arms together, promoting arm alignment. Strikingly, the co-orientation of SMC translocation and the transcription of highly-expressed genes is crucial for the alignment ofparS-proximal regions of the chromosomal arms. Highly-transcribed genes nearparSthat are oriented against SMC translocation disrupt arm alignment suggesting that head-on transcription interferes with SMC translocation. Our results demonstrate a tight interdependence of bacterial chromosome organization and global patterns of transcription.
Spatially-induced nestedness in a neutral model of phage-bacteria networks
Authors: Valverde Sergi , Elena Santiago F. , Solé Ricard
Published: April 2017

Ecological networks, both displaying mutualistic or antagonistic interactions, seem to share common structural traits: the presence of nestedness and modularity. A variety of model approaches and hypothesis have been formulated concerning the significance and implications of these properties. In phage-bacteria bipartite infection networks, nestedness seems to be the rule in many different contexts. Modeling the coevolution of a diverse virus-host ensemble is a difficult task, given the dimensionality and multi parametric nature of a standard continuous approximation. Here we show that this can actually be overcome by using a simple model of coevolving digital genomes on a spatial lattice and having exactly the same properties,i.e. a genome-independent fitness associated to fixed growth and death parameters. A matching allele model of phage-virus recognition rule is enough to generate a complex, diverse ecosystem with heterogeneous patterns of interaction and nestedness, provided that interactions take place under a spatially-constrained setting. It is found that nestedness seems to be an emergent property of the coevolutionary dynamics. Our results indicate that the enhanced diversity resulting from localized interactions strongly promotes the presence of nested infection matrices.
OGT binds a conserved C-terminal domain of TET1 to regulate TET1 activity and function in development
Authors: Hrit Joel , Li Cheng , Martin Elizabeth Allene , Goll Mary , Panning Barbara
Published: April 2017

Mammalian TET enzymes oxidize 5-methylcytosine to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine and higher oxidized derivatives. TETs are targets of the enzyme OGT, which post-translationally modifies intracellular proteins in response to cellular nutrient status. The biological implications of the OGT-TET interaction have not been thoroughly explored. Here, we show for the first time that modification of TET1 by OGT enhances its activityin vitro. We identify a previously uncharacterized domain of TET1 responsible for binding to OGT and report a point mutation that disrupts the OGT-TET1 interaction. Finally, we show that the interaction between TET1 and OGT is necessary for TET1 to rescuetetmutant zebrafish hematopoetic stem cell formation, suggesting that OGT promotes TET1’s function in development. Our results demonstrate regulation of TET activity by OGTin vitroandin vivo. These results link metabolism and epigenetic control, which may be relevant to the developmental and disease processes regulated by these two enzymes.
Complexity and conservation of regulatory landscapes underlie evolutionary resilience of mammalian gene expression
Authors: Berthelot Camille , Villar Diego , Horvath Julie E. , Odom Duncan T. , Flicek Paul
Published: April 2017

To gain insight into how mammalian gene expression is controlled by rapidly evolving regulatory elements, we jointly analysed promoter and enhancer activity with downstream transcription levels in liver samples from twenty species. Genes associated with complex regulatory landscapes generally exhibit high expression levels that remain evolutionarily stable. While the number of regulatory elements is the key driver of transcriptional output and resilience, regulatory conservation matters: elements active across mammals most effectively stabilise gene expression. In contrast, recently-evolved enhancers typically contribute weakly, consistent with their high evolutionary plasticity. These effects are observed across the entire mammalian clade and robust to potential confounders, such as gene expression level. Overall, our results illuminate how the evolutionary stability of gene expression is profoundly entwined with both the number and conservation of surrounding promoters and enhancers.

Highlights

Gene expression levels and stability are linked to the number of elements in the regulatory landscape.

Conserved regulatory elements associate with tightly controlled, highly expressed genes.

Recently evolved enhancers weakly influence gene expression, but promoters are similarly active regardless of conservation.

The interplay between complexity of the regulatory landscape and conservation of individual promoters and enhancers shapes gene expression in mammals.
GSA-Genie: a web application for gene set analysis
Authors: Zhang Zhe , Taylor Deanne
Published: April 2017

Gene set analysis is often used to interpret results from upstream analysis through predefined gene sets that are linked to biological features such as cell cycle or tumorgenesis. Gene sets have been defined in the literature via various criteria and are archived by numerous databases. We compiled over 2.3 million gene sets from 17 sources, and made them accessible through a web application, GSA-Genie. Selected gene sets can be analyzed online using one of 16 statistical methods. These methods can be grouped into two strategies: test of gene set over-representation within a gene list, or comparison of a gene-level statistics between gene set and background. GSA-Genie operates on a Shiny web server, hosted in a cloud instance within Amazon Web Services. GSA-Genie offers a broad selection of gene sets and statistical methods comparing to existing tools. GSA-Genie is freely available athttp://gsagenie.awsomics.org.
A measure of agreement across numerous conditions: Reproducibility of co-expression networks across tissues
Authors: Cáceres Alejandro , González Juan R.
Published: April 2017

There is great interest to study how co-expression gene networks change across tissues. However, the reproducibility assessment of these studies is challenged by a lack of fully confirmatory experiments from independent researchers. While an increment in the number of studies with expression data for several tissues is expected, statistical measures are still needed to assess the reproducibility between studies. We identified a gap in the statistical literature concerning the assessment of agreement between studies across numerous conditions. The gap precluded us to test, using standard statistics, the level of agreement between the GTEX (RNAseq) and BRAINEAC (microarray) studies to distinguish the structure of co-expression networks across four brain tissues. We propose a generalization of a classical measure of agreement, Cohen’s κ, derive its distributional characteristics and determine its reliability properties. In the gene expression studies, our generalization of κ showed full agreement for genome-wide networks in BRAINEAC benchmarked against GTEX, and highest agreement for brain specific pathways. Our highly interpretable measure can contribute to anticipated efforts on reproducibility research.
GAPPadder: A Sensitive Approach for Closing Gaps on Draft Genomes with Short Sequence Reads
Authors: Chu Chong , Li Xin , Wu Yufeng
Published: April 2017

Background

Closing gaps in draft genomes is an important post processing step in genome assembly. It leads to more complete genomes, which benefits downstream genome analysis such as annotation and genotyping. Several tools have been developed for gap closing. However, these tools don’t fully utilize the information contained in the sequence data. For example, while it is known that many gaps are caused by genomic repeats, existing tools often ignore many sequence reads that originate from a repeat-related gap.

Results

In this paper, we propose a new approach called GAPPadder for gap closing. The main advantage of GAPPadder is that it uses more information in sequence data for gap closing. In particular, GAPPadder finds and uses reads that originate from repeate-related gaps. We show that these repeat-associated reads are useful for gap closing, even though they are ignored by all existing tools. Other main features of GAPPadder include utilizing the information in sequence reads with different insert sizes and performing two-stage local assembly of gap sequences. We compare GAPPadder with GapCloser, GapFiller and Sealer on one bacterial genome, human chromosome 14 and the human whole genome with paired-end and mate-paired reads with both short and long insert sizes. Empirical results show that GAPPadder can close more gaps than these existing tools. Besides closing gaps on draft genomes assembled only from short sequence reads, GAPPadder can also be used to close gaps for draft genomes assembled with long reads. We show GAPPadder can close gaps on the bed bug genome and the Asian sea bass genome that are assembled partially and fully with long reads respectively. We also show GAPPadder is efficient in both time and memory usage. The software tool, GAPPadder, is available for download athttps://github.com/Reedwarbler/GAPPadder.
Analysis ofDICER1in familial and sporadic cases of Transposition of the Great Arteries
Authors: Sabbaghian Nelly , Digilio M. Cristina , Blue Gillian M , Winlaw David S. , Foulkes William D
Published: April 2017

Background

DICER1plays a major role in development and in generating mature microRNAs that are important in gene expression. We screened forDICER1mutations in a family with DICER1 syndrome and we discovered a pathogenic mutation in a child with transposition of the great arteries (TGA). In view of a report linkingDICER1knock-out in murine cardiomyocytes to cardiac outflow defects, we investigated the involvement of DICER1 in TGA.

Findings

We screened 129 germline DNA samples from children with either sporadic or familial forms of TGA forDICER1mutations using a Fluidigm access array, followed by next-generation sequencing. We identified 16 previously reported variants (5 synonymous, 6 intronic, and 5 missense) and 2 novel variants (1 intronic and 1 missense). We did not find any apparent pathological mutation in our cohort.

Conclusion

Here we report thatDICER1mutations do not appear to play a major role in TGA.
Functional Implications of Disordered Terminal Regions ofMacrotyloma uniflorumBowman-Birk Inhibitors: A Molecular Dynamics Study
Authors: Acharya Abhishek
Published: April 2017

Bowman-Birk Inhibitors (BBI) – a class of serine protease inhibitors is of considerable interest due to their anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties. Recent efforts have focused on understanding the structure and dynamics of these inhibitors, and the molecular mechanism behind its bioactive properties. BBI derived from Horsegram seeds is an interesting member of the class that exists as a number of isoforms that differ in length at the C- and N-terminal disordered regions. Interestingly, the length (or conversely, truncation) of the terminal regions affect whether the protein exists as a dimer or monomer. Here, we have investigated the mechanism of dimerization in Horsegram BBI. A recent study has proposed that the dimerization occur via a C-terminal hook that forms a salt bridge with the opposite monomer and is pivotal to the dimerization process. We have employed long computational simulation methods to predict the stability of the proposed C-terminal hook; we show that the terminal regions are highly disordered and the salt bridges are significantly solvent exposed. Further, using Hamiltonian replica exchange method, we have sought to obtain the conformational ensemble of the disordered terminal regions and have identified a conformational state that provides an interaction hot-spot that aids in the dimerization of HGI. Our analysis predicts an alternate model of dimerization that largely agrees with previous experimental studies and yet again, highlights the importance of intrinsically disordered region in tailoring the protein function.
Contextual leadership of a multi-partner approach to health care innovation
Authors: Meyer Ellenore , Scheepers Caren
Published: April 2017

Subject area

Organisational behaviour; Leadership; Organisational development; Public–Private partnership; Health care management; Public health.

Study level/applicability

Masters students in Business Administration, Post Graduate Diploma, Clinical Training of Medical Professionals, Health Leadership Programme.

Case overview

Prof Jannie Hugo, the protagonist in the case, was considering his dilemma of aligning the multiple partners involved in public health care. A high level of collaboration was required of a multitude of stakeholders in developing the Daspoort clinic into a pilot site for the Tshwane district’s implementation of the National Health Insurance system. In addition, the re-engineering of primary health care with the focus on the patient and community orientated approach were launched on this site.

Expected learning outcomes

Gaining insight into international and national landscapes and principles of health care systems. Critically analyse the role of technology in delivering innovative health and social services. Present judgment of Prof Jannie Hugo’s contextual leadership effectiveness in enhancing collaboration between the multiple stakeholders and recommend next steps.

Supplementary materials

2 × DVDs on Vimeo, Slides and teaching plan with discussion or exam questions with model answers.

Subject code

CSS 7: Management Science.
Integrated marketing communication – from an instrumental to a customer-centric perspective
Authors: Bruhn Manfred , Schnebelen Stefanie
Published: April 2017

Purpose

Despite decades of scientific and practical experience in the field of integrated marketing communication (IMC), little is known about the role of IMC in the era of new media. The purpose of the present paper is to undertake a first step to close this gap by proposing thought-provoking impulses for customer-centric IMC. This is done by discussing central premises of customer-centric IMC in terms of the changed conditions on the media markets, its challenges and principles and its implementation issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides a conceptual approach to customer-centric IMC by deriving new lines of thinking from a review of existing literature relating to the concept of IMC.

Findings

The paper positions customer-centric IMC as an important advancement of IMC. It shows that the most important new lines of thinking which could be adopted as strategic components of customer-centric IMC are relationship orientation, content orientation and process orientation. The paper thus suggests that customer-centric IMC is a balancing act between a company’s own branding activities and the integration of customer-centered issues.

Originality/value

The originality of this paper resides in a detailed conceptual discussion of new insights into a customer-centric IMC. In contrast to existing work on IMC, this paper threads together the existing perspectives on IMC (inside-out and outside-in) to highlight the potential role of IMC in the era of social media (customer-centric IMC) by adding an outside-out view to the concept of IMC.
Integrating identity, strategy and communications for trust, loyalty and commitment
Authors: Melewar T.C. , Foroudi Pantea , Gupta Suraksha , Kitchen Philip J. , Foroudi Mohammad M.
Published: April 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to operationalise and juxtapose variables related to identity, strategy and communications, and then examine the impact of such integration on organisational stakeholders’ trust, loyalty and commitment by using commitment/trust theory.

Design/methodology/approach

This research design utilises explanatory research at the preliminary stage, as informed by the literature and conceptual framework. The subsequent model was examined via a positivist survey carried out among stakeholders in high-end retail stores in London. Structural equation modelling (SEM) via AMOS was conducted to gain insight into the various relevant influences and relationships.

Findings

The results indicate that identity and strategy are key drivers of integrated corporate communication, and they serve to build stakeholder trust, loyalty and commitment.

Originality/value

The paper shows that while practitioners have indicated that integrated marketing communication is important for organisations, there are a few other areas of concern with regard to consequences related to trust, loyalty and commitment, especially in a retail context. This paper empirically examined relationships between these constructs by validating a conceptual model by using SEM.
Application of the RBF collocation method to transient coupled thermoelasticity
Authors: Mavrič Boštjan , Šarler Božidar
Published: April 2017

Purpose

In this study, the authors aim to upgrade their previous developments of the local radial basis function collocation method (LRBFCM) for heat transfer, fluid flow, electromagnetic problems and linear thermoelasticity to dynamic-coupled thermoelasticity problems.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors solve a thermoelastic benchmark by considering a linear thermoelastic plate under thermal and pressure shock. Spatial discretization is performed by a local collocation with multi-quadrics augmented by monomials. The implicit Euler formula is used to perform the time stepping. The system of equations obtained from the formula is solved using a Newton–Raphson algorithm with GMRES to iteratively obtain the solution. The LRBFCM solution is compared with the reference finite-element method (FEM) solution and, in one case, with a solution obtained using the meshless local Petrov–Galerkin method.

Findings

The performance of the LRBFCM is found to be comparable to the FEM, with some differences near the tip of the shock front. The LRBFCM appears to converge to the mesh-converged solution more smoothly than the FEM. Also, the LRBFCM seems to perform better than the MLPG in the studied case.

Research limitations/implications

The performance of the LRBFCM near the tip of the shock front appears to be suboptimal because it does not capture the shock front as well as the FEM. With the exception of a solution obtained using the meshless local Petrov–Galerkin method, there is no other high-quality reference solution for the considered problem in the literature yet. In most cases, therefore, the authors are able to compare only two mesh-converged solutions obtained by the authors using two different discretization methods. The shock-capturing capabilities of the method should be studied in more detail.

Originality/value

For the first time, the LRBFCM has been applied to problems of coupled thermoelasticity.
Research on qualities of compact spun silk yarn
Authors: Liu Xinjin , Wang Xingfeng
Published: April 2017

Purpose

Spun silk is one of the top grade textile materials, and its products have high added value and meet the needs of the market. However, the technology level and process design of silk spinning are still much lower than cotton spinning; especially singeing is applied on spun silk yarn, and generates waste materials. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a kind of pneumatic compact spinning, four-line compact spinning (FLCS), into silk spinning and study the corresponding spun yarn qualities.

Design/methodology/approach

First, taking the silk spinning frame FK501 as an example, the process of modification of FLCS is presented. Then, three kinds of spun silk yarns, 80 Nm (12.5tex), 100 Nm (10tex) and 120 Nm (8.3tex), are spun on the common silk spinning frame FK501 and the spinning frame modified with FLCS. The evenness, breaking strength and hairiness of spun yarns are tested and comparatively analyzed. After the ply yarn production, three singeing procedures should be applied on the ring ply yarns, while only two singeing procedures should be applied on the compact ply yarns, which is beneficial for material saving.

Findings

The results show that compared with ring spun silk yarns, the comprehensive quality of compact spun silk yarns is improved, especially the harmful long hairiness (=3 mm) of yarn. Compared with the single spun silk yarn, the comprehensive qualities of the ply yarn are improved; especially, the breaking strength of the ply yarns is two times larger than the single yarn. After singeing, the hairiness of the ply yarn is decreased greatly, and the evenness is also improved, while the strength is decreased. Compared with ring spun silk yarn, the singeing times of compact spun silk yarn can be decreased, and the gas consumption in each singeing is also decreased, which is beneficial for material saving.

Originality/value

In this paper, a kind of pneumatic compact spinning, FLCS, is introduced into the silk spinning. It is shown that compared with ring spun silk yarns, the comprehensive quality of compact spun silk yarns is improved, especially the harmful long hairiness (=3 mm) of yarn. After the ply yarn production, three singeing procedures should be applied on the ring ply yarns, while only two singeing procedures should be applied on the compact ply yarns, which is beneficial for material saving.
The effect of Islamic values on voluntary corporate governance disclosure
Authors: Albassam Waleed M. , Ntim Collins G.
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The study aims to examine the effect of Islamic values on the extent of voluntary corporate governance (CG) disclosure. In addition, the authors investigate the effect of traditional ownership structure and CG mechanisms on the extent of voluntary CG disclosure.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors distinctively construct Islamic values and voluntary CG disclosure indices using a sample of 75 Saudi-listed firms over a seven-year period in conducting multivariate regressions of the effect of Islamic values on the extent of voluntary CG disclosure. The analyses are robust to controlling for firm-level characteristics, fixed-effects, endogeneities and alternative measures.

Findings

The authors find that corporations that depict greater commitment towards incorporating Islamic values into their operations through high Islamic values disclosure index score engage in higher voluntary CG disclosures than those that are not. Additionally, the authors find that audit firm size, board size, government ownership, institutional ownership and the presence of a CG committee are positively associated with the level of voluntary CG disclosure, whereas block ownership is negatively associated with the extent of voluntary CG disclosure.

Practical implications

The study has clear practical implications for future research, practice and broader society by demonstrating empirically that corporations that voluntarily incorporate Islamic values into their operations are more likely to be transparent about their CG practices and thereby providing new crucial insights on the effect of Islamic values on voluntary CG compliance and disclosure.

Originality/value

This is the first empirical attempt at explicitly examining the effect of Islamic values on the extent of voluntary CG disclosure. The authors also offer evidence on the effect of traditional CG and ownership structures on the extent of voluntary CG disclosure.
The effects of expertise and brand schematicity on the perceived importance of choice criteria: a Bordeaux wine investigation
Authors: Carsana Laurence , Jolibert Alain
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to understand the effects of expertise and brand schematicity on the perceived importance of choice criteria in the context of purchasing red wine purchase.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected via an online survey of 307 French wine consumers. The interaction effects of expertise and brand schematicity on the importance assigned to choice criteria were then investigated.

Findings

First, the results show that commercial brand is more important for brand-schematic consumers (novice and expert) than for brand-aschematic (novice and expert) consumers. Second, to make their choice, brand-schematic consumers place a greater reliance on quality cues than brand-aschematic consumers, whether they are novices or experts. Third, brand-aschematic novice consumers are only interested in two quality cues [Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) label and wine category], but French brand-schematic novice and brand-aschematic expert consumers look for five quality cues (AOC label, wine category, vintage, commercial brand and place of bottling). Fourth, brand-schematic expert consumers take into account all quality cues.

Practical implications

The individual characteristics of consumers, that is, level of expertise and schematicity, influence the importance assigned to the information contained on the label. Care should be taken when designing a wine label, especially when consumers make their purchases in supermarkets and have no opportunity to seek advice. To convince these customers, it is essential that the font and size of the label ensure that the AOC label, wine category, vintage, commercial brand and place of bottling can be easily read. Brand-schematic consumers are interested in many quality cues to make their choice, and therefore, such information should be available in supermarkets (e.g. flyers and posters). Managers should also focus on brand content strategy to influence and hit brand-aschematic consumers.

Originality/value

There has been little research on the effect of brand schematicity on the importance of choice criteria. The interaction of brand schematicity and degree of expertise regarding product category has not been previously studied in relation to wine selection. Brand schematicity may be used as a segmentation criterion by managers in communication campaigns and brand content strategies.
Consumer attitudes toward online video advertisement: YouTube as a platform
Authors: Yang Keng-Chieh , Huang Chia-Hui , Yang Conna , Yang Su Yu
Published: April 2017

Purpose

Online video advertisement is a wide-ranging phenomenon on the internet that provides huge opportunities for business enterprises. The revenues of website service providers come primarily from advertisement. However, it is rare to find research focusing on consumer attitudes toward online video advertisement. This study aims to investigate consumer attitudes toward advertisement while they are watching online videos on YouTube.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper followed Brackett and Carr’s (2001) Web Advertising Attitudes Model and combined it with the theory of reasoned action (TRA) and the flow theory. This study investigates consideration of the factors affecting attitudes toward advertisement and the influence on shopping intention and purchase behavior.

Findings

The findings indicate that entertainment, informativeness, irritation and credibility have a shopping influence on purchase attitudes. Flow, on the other hand, does have an influence on shopping intention and purchase behavior. The discussion and conclusion have been further discussed.

Originality/value

This study provides a comprehensive model for online video advertisement. This model was based on Brackett and Carr’s model, combining the users and gratifications theory, TRA and flow theory to develop an online video advertisement model. Researchers can consider this model as a framework and use it to capture a more complete picture of the relevant phenomena in their works.
The dynamics of transmission and the dynamics of networks
Authors: Farine Damien
Published: April 2017

A toy example depicted here highlighting the results of a study in this issue of theJournal of Animal Ecologythat investigates the impact of network dynamics on potential disease outbreaks. Infections (stars) that spread by contact only (left) reduce the predicted outbreak size compared to situations where individuals can become infected by moving through areas that previously contained infected individuals (right). This is potentially important in species where individuals, or in this case groups, have overlapping ranges (as depicted on the top right). Incorporating network dynamics that maintain information about the ordering of contacts (central blocks; including the ordering of spatial overlap as noted by the arrows that highlight the blue group arriving after the red group in top‐right of the figure) is important for capturing how a disease might not have the opportunity to spread to all individuals. By contrast, a static or ‘average’ network (lower blocks) does not capture any of these dynamics. Interestingly, although static networks generally predict larger outbreak sizes, the authors find that in cases when transmission probability is low, this prediction can switch as a result of changes in the estimated intensity of contacts among individuals. [Colour figure can be viewed atwileyonlinelibrary.com].

In Focus: Springer, A., Kappeler, P.M. & Nunn, C.L. (2017) Dynamic vs. static social networks in models of parasite transmission: PredictingCryptosporidiumspread in wild lemurs.Journal of Animal Ecology,86, 419–433.

The spread of disease or information through networks can be affected by several factors. Whether and how these factors are accounted for can fundamentally change the predicted impact of a spreading epidemic. Springer, Kappeler & Nunn (2017) investigate the role of different modes of transmission and network dynamics on the predicted size of a disease outbreak across several groups of Verreaux's sifakas, a group‐living species of lemur. While some factors, such as seasonality, led to consistent differences in the structure of social networks, using dynamic vs. static representations of networks generated differences in the predicted outbreak size of an emergent disease. These findings highlight some of the challenges associated with studying disease dynamics in animal populations, and the importance of continuing efforts to develop the network tools needed to study disease spread.
Benefits of the destinations, not costs of the journeys, shape partial migration patterns
Authors: Yackulic Charles B. , Blake Stephen , Bastille‐Rousseau Guillaume
Published: April 2017

The reasons that lead some animals to seasonally migrate, and others to remain in the same area year‐round, are poorly understood. Associations between traits, such as body size, and migration provide clues. For example, larger species and individuals are more likely to migrate.

One explanation for this size bias in migration is that larger animals are capable of moving faster (movement hypothesis). However, body size is linked to many other biological processes. For instance, the energetic balances of larger animals are generally more sensitive to variation in food density because of body size effects on foraging and metabolism and this sensitivity could drive migratory decisions (forage hypothesis).

Identifying the primary selective forces that drive migration ultimately requires quantifying fitness impacts over the full annual migratory cycle. Here, we develop a full annual migratory cycle model from metabolic and foraging theory to compare the importance of the forage and movement hypotheses. We parameterize the model for Galapagos tortoises, which were recently discovered to be size‐dependent altitudinal migrants.

The model predicts phenomena not included in model development including maximum body sizes, the body size at which individuals begin to migrate, and the seasonal timing of migration and these predictions generally agree with available data. Scenarios strongly support the forage hypothesis over the movement hypothesis. Furthermore, male Galapagos tortoises on Santa Cruz Island would be unable to grow to their enormous sizes without access to both highlands and lowlands.

Whereas recent research has focused on links between traits and the migratory phases of the migratory cycle, we find that effects of body size on the non‐migratory phases are far more important determinants of the propensity to migrate. Larger animals are more sensitive to changing forage conditions than smaller animals with implications for maintenance of migration and body size in the face of environmental change.
Functional responses in animal movement explain spatial heterogeneity in animal–habitat relationships
Authors: Mason Tom H. E. , Fortin Daniel
Published: April 2017

Understanding why heterogeneity exists in animal–habitat spatial relationships is critical for identifying the drivers of animal distributions. Functional responses in habitat selection – whereby animals adjust their habitat selection depending on habitat availability – are useful for describing animal–habitat spatial heterogeneity. However, they could be yielded by different movement tactics, involving contrasting interspecific interactions.

Identifying functional responses in animal movement, rather than in emergent spatial patterns like habitat selection, could disentangle the effects of different movement behaviours on spatial heterogeneity in animal–habitat relationships. This would clarify how functional responses in habitat selection emerge and provide a general tool for understanding the mechanistic drivers of animal distributions.

We tested this approach using data fromGPS‐collared woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus), a prey species under top‐down control. We tested how caribou selected and moved with respect to a key resource (lichen‐conifer stands) as a function of the availability of surrounding refuge land‐cover (closed‐conifer stands), using step selection functions.

Caribou selected resource patches more strongly in areas richer in refuge land‐cover – a functional response in habitat selection. However, adjustments in multiple movement behaviours could have generated this pattern: stronger directed movement towards resource patches and/or longer residency within resource patches, in areas richer in refuges. Different contributions of these behaviours would produce contrasting forager spatial dynamics.

We identified functional responses in both movement behaviours: caribou were more likely to move towards resource patches in areas richer in refuge land‐cover, and to remain in these patches during movement steps. This tactic enables caribou to forage for longer in safer areas where they can rapidly seek refuge in dense cover when predators are detected.

Our study shows that functional responses in movement can expose the context‐dependent movement decisions that generate heterogeneity in animal–habitat spatial relationships. We used these functional responses to characterise anti‐predator movement tactics employed by a large herbivore, but they could be applied in many different scenarios. The movement rules from functional responses in movement are well‐suited to integration in spatial explicit individual‐based models for forecasting animal distributions in landscapes undergoing environmental change.
Are societies paying unnecessarily for an otherwise free lunch? Final musings on the research on Alcoholics Anonymous and its mechanisms of behavior change
Authors: Kelly John F.
Published: April 2017

Commentary to: Is Alcoholics Anonymous religious, spiritual, neither? Findings from 25 years of mechanisms of behavior change research
Trends in the prescription of novel oral anticoagulants in UK primary care
Authors: Loo Simone Y. , Dell'Aniello Sophie , Huiart Laetitia , Renoux Christel
Published: April 2017

Aims

Novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are alternatives to vitamin‐K antagonists (VKAs) for the prevention of thromboembolism. It is unclear how NOACs have been adopted in the UK since first introduced in 2008. The present study was conducted to describe the trends in the prescription of NOACs in the UK, including dabigatran, rivaroxaban and apixaban.

Methods

Using the UK's Clinical Practice Research Datalink, the rates of new use of NOACs and VKAs from 2009 to 2015 were calculated using Poisson regression. Patient characteristics associated with NOAC initiation were identified using multivariate logistic regression.

Results

The overall rate of oral anticoagulant initiation increased by 58% over the study period [rate ratio (RR) 1.58; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.23, 2.03], even as the rate of new VKA use decreased by 31% (RR 0.69; 95% CI 0.52, 0.93). By contrast, the rate of initiation of NOAC increased, particularly from 2012 onwards, with a 17‐fold increase from 2012 to 2015 (RR 17.68; 95% CI 12.16, 25.71). In 2015, NOACs accounted for 56.5% of oral anticoagulant prescriptions, with rivaroxaban prescribed most frequently, followed by apixaban and then dabigatran. Compared to VKAs, new NOAC users were less likely to have congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular disease, and more likely to have a history of ischaemic stroke.

Conclusions

In the UK, the rate of initiation of NOACs has increased substantially since 2009, and these agents have now surpassed VKAs as the anticoagulant of choice. Moreover, the characteristics of patients initiated on NOACs have changed over time, and this should be accounted for in future studies comparing NOACs and VKAs.
Inhibition of tyrosinase by 4H‐chromene analogs: Synthesis, kinetic studies, and computational analysis
Authors: Brasil Edikarlos M. , Canavieira Luciana M. , Cardoso Érica T. C. , Silva Edilene O. , Lameira Jerônimo , Nascimento José L. M. , Eifler‐Lima Vera L. , Macchi Barbarella M. , Sriram Dharmarajan , Bernhardt Paul V. , Silva José Rogério Araújo , Williams Craig M. , Alves Cláudio N.
Published: April 2017

Inhibition of mushroom tyrosinase was observed with synthetic dihydropyrano[3,2‐b]chromenediones. Among them, DHPC04 displayed the most potent tyrosinase inhibitory activity with a Ki value of 4 μm, comparable to the reference standard inhibitor kojic acid. A kinetic study suggested that these synthetic heterocyclic compounds behave as competitive inhibitors for the L‐DOPA binding site of the enzyme. Furthermore, molecular modeling provided important insight into the mechanism of binding interactions with the tyrosinase copper active site.
Mistranslations of Josephus and the expansion of public charity in late antiquity
Authors: Anderson Mark
Published: April 2017

Three Latin mistranslations of Josephus' Jewish War I.61 between the fourth and the seventh centuries ce reflect the expansion of a series of charitable institutions, called xenodocheia and nosokomeia, around the Mediterranean in late antiquity and the early medieval period. In the late fourth century, authors known as pseudo‐Rufinus and pseudo‐Hegesippus independently mistranslated Josephus' report that the Hasmonean ruler John Hyrcanus hired mercenary troops at the conclusion of a Seleucid siege of Jerusalem. In their confusion, these authors both interpreted this as a charitable action and pseudo‐Hegesippus anachronistically imported the xenodocheion into the Hellenistic period. In the early seventh century Isidore of Seville expanded upon pseudo‐Hegesippus' mistake to transform the hiring of mercenaries into the genesis of both the xenodocheion and the nosokomeion. Isidore's inclusion of these institutions in his Etymologiae indicated their ubiquity and popularity by the seventh century, while for later writers his work canonized the mistaken origin.