bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Azimuthal variations of oxygen abundance profiles in star-forming regions of disc galaxies in EAGLE simulations
Authors: Solar Martín , Tissera Patricia B , Hernandez-Jimenez Jose A
Published: October 2019

The exploration of the spatial distribution of chemical abundances in star-forming regions of galactic discs can help us to understand the complex interplay of physical processes that regulate the star formation activity and the chemical enrichment across a galaxy. We study the azimuthal variations of the normalized oxygen abundance profiles in the highest numerical resolution run of the Evolution and Assembly of GaLaxies and their Environments (EAGLE) Project at $z$ = 0. We use young stellar populations to trace the abundances of star-forming regions. Oxygen profiles are estimated along different line of sights from a centrally located observer. The mean azimuthal variation in the EAGLE discs are ∼0.12 ± 0.03 dex $R_{\rm eff}^{-1}$ for slopes and ∼0.12 ± 0.03 dex for the zero-points, in agreement with previous works. Metallicity gradients measured along random directions correlate with those determined by averaging over the whole discs, although with a large dispersion. We find a slight trend for higher azimuthal variations in the disc components of low star-forming and bulge-dominated galaxies. We also investigate the metallicity profiles of stellar populations with higher and lower levels of enrichment than the average metallicity profiles, and we find that high star-forming regions with high metallicity tend to have slightly shallower metallicity slopes compared with the overall metallicity gradient. The simulated azimuthal variations in the EAGLE discs are in agreement with observations, although the large variety of metallicity gradients would encourage further exploration of the metal mixing in numerical simulations.
Ultraviolet signatures of the multiphase intracluster and circumgalactic media in the romulusc simulation
Authors: Butsky Iryna S , Burchett Joseph N , Nagai Daisuke , Tremmel Michael , Quinn Thomas R , Werk Jessica K
Published: October 2019

Quasar absorption-line studies in the ultraviolet (UV) can uniquely probe the nature of the multiphase cool–warm (104 < T < 106 K) gas in and around galaxy clusters, promising to provide unprecedented insights into (1) interactions between the circumgalactic medium (CGM) associated with infalling galaxies and the hot (T > 106 K) X-ray emitting intracluster medium (ICM), (2) the stripping of metal-rich gas from the CGM, and (3) a multiphase structure of the ICM with a wide range of temperatures and metallicities. In this work, we present results from a high-resolution simulation of an $\sim 10^{14} \, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }$ galaxy cluster to study the physical properties and observable signatures of this cool–warm gas in galaxy clusters. We show that the ICM becomes increasingly multiphased at large radii, with the cool–warm gas becoming dominant in cluster outskirts. The diffuse cool–warm gas also exhibits a wider range of metallicity than the hot X-ray emitting gas. We make predictions for the covering fractions of key absorption-line tracers, both in the ICM and in the CGM of cluster galaxies, typically observed with the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph aboard the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). We further extract synthetic spectra to demonstrate the feasibility of detecting and characterizing the thermal, kinematic, and chemical composition of the cool–warm gas using H i, O vi, and C iv lines, and we predict an enhanced population of broad Ly α absorbers tracing the warm gas. Lastly, we discuss future prospects of probing the multiphase structure of the ICM beyond HST.
The SAMI Galaxy Survey: first detection of a transition in spin orientation with respect to cosmic filaments in the stellar kinematics of galaxies
Authors: Welker C , Bland-Hawthorn J , Van de Sande J , Lagos C , Elahi P , Obreschkow D , Bryant J , Pichon C , Cortese L , Richards S N , Croom S M , Goodwin M , Lawrence J S , Sweet S , Lopez-Sanchez A , Medling A , Owers M S , Dubois Y , Devriendt J
Published: October 2019

We present the first detection of mass-dependent galactic spin alignments with local cosmic filaments with >2σ confidence using IFS kinematics. The 3D network of cosmic filaments is reconstructed on Mpc scales across GAlaxy and Mass Assembly fields using the cosmic web extractor DisPerSe. We assign field galaxies from the SAMI survey to their nearest filament segment in 3D and estimate the degree of alignment between SAMI galaxies’ kinematic spin axis and their nearest filament in projection. Low-mass galaxies align their spin with their nearest filament while higher mass counterparts are more likely to display an orthogonal orientation. The stellar transition mass from the first trend to the second is bracketed between $10^{10.4}$ and $10^{10.9}\, \mathrm{ M}_{\odot }$, with hints of an increase with filament scale. Consistent signals are found in the Horizon-AGN cosmological hydrodynamic simulation. This supports a scenario of early angular momentum build-up in vorticity rich quadrants around filaments at low stellar mass followed by progressive flip of spins orthogonal to the cosmic filaments through mergers at high stellar mass. Conversely, we show that dark matter only simulations post-processed with a semi-analytical model treatment of galaxy formation struggles to reproduce this alignment signal. This suggests that gas physics is key in enhancing the galaxy-filament alignment.
The K2-HERMES Survey: age and metallicity of the thick disc
Authors: Sharma Sanjib , Stello Dennis , Bland-Hawthorn Joss , Hayden Michael R , Zinn Joel C , Kallinger Thomas , Hon Marc , Asplund Martin , Buder Sven , De Silva Gayandhi M , D’Orazi Valentina , Freeman Ken , Kos Janez , Lewis Geraint F , Lin Jane , Lind Karin , Martell Sarah , Simpson Jeffrey D , Wittenmyer Rob A , Zucker Daniel B , Zwitter Tomaz , Bedding Timothy R , Chen Boquan , Cotar Klemen , Esdaile James , Horner Jonathan , Huber Daniel , Kafle Prajwal R , Khanna Shourya , Li Tanda , Ting Yuan-Sen , Nataf David M , Nordlander Thomas , Saadon Mohd Hafiz Mohd , Traven Gregor , Wright Duncan , Wyse Rosemary F G
Published: October 2019

Asteroseismology is a promising tool to study Galactic structure and evolution because it can probe the ages of stars. Earlier attempts comparing seismic data from the Kepler satellite with predictions from Galaxy models found that the models predicted more low-mass stars compared to the observed distribution of masses. It was unclear if the mismatch was due to inaccuracies in the Galactic models, or the unknown aspects of the selection function of the stars. Using new data from the K2 mission, which has a well-defined selection function, we find that an old metal-poor thick disc, as used in previous Galactic models, is incompatible with the asteroseismic information. We use an importance-sampling framework, which takes the selection function into account, to fit for the metallicities of a population synthesis model using spectroscopic data. We show that spectroscopic measurements of [Fe/H] and [α/Fe] elemental abundances from the GALAH survey indicate a mean metallicity of log (Z/Z⊙) = −0.16 for the thick disc. Here Z is the effective solar-scaled metallicity, which is a function of [Fe/H] and [α/Fe]. With the revised disc metallicities, for the first time, the theoretically predicted distribution of seismic masses show excellent agreement with the observed distribution of masses. This indirectly verifies that the asteroseismic mass scaling relation is good to within five per cent. Assuming the asteroseismic scaling relations are correct, we estimate the mean age of the thick disc to be about 10 Gyr, in agreement with the traditional idea of an old α-enhanced thick disc.
Deficit of luminous and normal red galaxies in cosmic voids
Authors: Bruton Sean T , Dai Xinyu , Guerras Eduardo , Munshi Ferah A
Published: October 2019

We construct a sample of 10 680 wall galaxies and 3064 void galaxies with MR ≲ −20 by cross-referencing a void catalogue from literature with Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) CMASS and WiggleZ galaxies, where the CMASS survey targets redder galaxies and the WiggleZ survey targets bluer galaxies. Comparing the density profiles of the red and blue galaxies as a function of the void radius, we find that the number ratio of red-to-blue galaxies increases with distances from the void centres, suggesting a deficit of luminous and normal red galaxies in voids. We find a mean (g – r) magnitude colour of 1.298 and 1.210 for the wall and void galaxies, respectively, when considering the combined red and blue samples, which is found to be a significant difference. However, when considering the blue and red samples separately, we find no significant colour difference. We conclude that the constituents galaxies of each population, rather than intrinsic colour difference, is the main driver in the apparent average colour difference of galaxies in voids and walls, indicating a deficit of luminous and normal red galaxies in voids. Our analysis suggests that the primary environmental-dependence effect on galaxy evolution for normal and luminous galaxies between void and wall regions is manifested in the number of red galaxies, which depends on the environmental-dependent merger history. Using a semi-analytic simulation model, we can successfully reproduce the apparent colour difference between the void and wall galaxies.
Human and Nonhuman Primate Lineage-Specific Footprints in the Salivary Proteome
Authors: Thamadilok Supaporn , Choi Kyoung-Soo , Ruhl Lorenz , Schulte Fabian , Kazim A Latif , Hardt Markus , Gokcumen Omer , Ruhl Stefan
Published: October 2019

Proteins in saliva are needed for preprocessing food in the mouth, maintenance of tooth mineralization, and protection from microbial pathogens. Novel insights into human lineage-specific functions of salivary proteins and clues to their involvement in human disease can be gained through evolutionary studies, as recently shown for salivary amylase AMY1 and salivary agglutinin DMBT1/gp340. However, the entirety of proteins in saliva, the salivary proteome, has not yet been investigated from an evolutionary perspective. Here, we compared the proteomes of human saliva and the saliva of our closest extant evolutionary relatives, chimpanzees and gorillas, using macaques as an outgroup, with the aim to uncover features in saliva protein composition that are unique to each species. We found that humans produce a waterier saliva, containing less than half total protein than great apes and Old World monkeys. For all major salivary proteins in humans, we could identify counterparts in chimpanzee and gorilla saliva. However, we discovered unique protein profiles in saliva of humans that were distinct from those of nonhuman primates. These findings open up the possibility that dietary differences and pathogenic pressures may have shaped a distinct salivary proteome in the human lineage.
Stress Management Competency Framework in English policing
Authors: Houdmont J , Jachens L , Randall R , Colwell J , Gardner S
Published: October 2019

Background

The UK Health and Safety Executive’s Stress Management Competency Framework and associated questionnaire, the Stress Management Competency Indicator Tool (SMCIT), address line managers’ behaviours across four competency areas. The application in policing remains unexplored.

Aims

This study profiled English police officers’ perception of their line managers’ competencies in the framework areas. The odds of experiencing poor mental wellbeing and work attitudes associated with having a line manager with a development need on each competency area were tested.

Methods

Two hundred and sixty-three police officers completed a survey comprising the SMCIT and measures of psychological distress, resilience and work engagement. Bivariate correlations were calculated to identify patterns of relationships between variables. Binary logistic regression analyses tested the odds of psychological distress caseness, low resilience and low work engagement being associated with officers’ perception of their line manager having a development need on the SMCIT criteria.

Results

Approximately half the participants reported their line manager had a development need on the ‘Managing and Communicating Existing and Future Work’, ‘Managing the Individual Within the Team’ and ‘Reasoning and Managing Difficult Situations’ competencies, and one quarter on the ‘Respectful and Responsible: Managing Emotions and Having Integrity’ competency. Officers’ rating of their line manager having a development need on the four competency areas was associated with up to four-fold elevated odds of each undesirable state.

Conclusions

The framework competency areas are relevant to English policing and offer a basis for stress reduction interventions targeted at line managers’ behaviours.
Skin improvement is a surrogate for favourable changes in other organ systems in early diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis
Authors: Nevskaya Tatiana , Zheng Boyang , Baxter Carl A , Ramey Dena R , Pope Janet E , Baron Murray ,   for Canadian Scleroderma Research Group
Published: October 2019

Objectives

Skin improvement in diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc), measured with modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS), is frequently used as a primary outcome in clinical trials, but it is uncertain whether mRSS changes reflect changes in other organ systems. This aim of this study was to explore if skin changes in early dcSSc over 1 and 2 years are associated with changes in severity of other organ involvement.

Methods

Canadian Scleroderma Research Group database patients with dcSSc, disease duration of ≤5 years, no evidence of initial end-stage organ damage and/or significant comorbidity who had 1 year (n = 154) and 2 years (n = 128) of follow-up data were included. mRSS changes of 25% and/or ≥5 points were considered significant. Organ involvement was assessed by Medsger Disease Severity Score and Canadian Scleroderma Research Group definitions using bivariate, chi-square, ANOVA, adjusted regression and longitudinal mixed effect model analyses.

Results

Improvement in mRSS was found in 41% of patients at 1 year and in 50% at 2 years. Improved patients showed less forced vital capacity decline (P = 0.012) and less frequent new cardiac involvement (P = 0.02) over 1 year, as well as better lung (by both Disease Severity Score, P = 0.006, and Δforced vital capacity%, P = 0.026), peripheral vascular (P = 0.006) and joint/tendon (P = 0.002) involvement over 2 years. mRSS worsening was consistently linked to less favourable lung outcomes at both 1- and 2-year follow-up visits, and more severe gastrointestinal disease at 2 years.

Conclusion

Changes in lung function in early dcSSc closely parallel skin changes. mRSS improvement reflects better prognosis for visceral disease and may be a reliable outcome measure in clinical trials.
The effect of ethnicity and team membership on face processing: a cultural neuroscience perspective
Authors: Yan Zhimin , Schmidt Stephanie N L , Saur Sebastian , Kirsch Peter , Mier Daniela
Published: October 2019

In-ethnicity bias, as one of the in-group biases, is widespread in different cultures, interfering with cross-ethnicity communication. Recent studies have revealed that an in-ethnicity bias can be reduced by an in-team bias caused by the membership in a mixed-ethnicity team. However, the neural correlates of different in-group biases are still not clear, especially regarding possible cultural differences. A total of 44 participants (20 Chinese and 24 Germans) were recruited and completed a social categorization fMRI-task, categorizing faces according to their ethnicity and a learned team membership. Our behavioral results revealed both in-ethnicity and in-team bias in German participants, but not in Chinese participants. Our imaging results, however, showed both biases across all participants, as reflected in increased dorsal medial frontal cortex (MFC) activation for in-ethnicity, as well as in-team categorizations, while activation in ventral MFC was higher for in-ethnicity faces in Chinese participants than in the German participants. Our results highlight the importance of the dorsal MFC for in-group categorization across cultures and suggest that cultures might modulate in-group biases.
The opioid crisis
Authors: Schaefer Brooke
Published: October 2019

Utilize the concepts of forgiveness, flexibility, and fortification to improve care for patients with opioid use disorder.
Hyaluronic Acid Filler Injections for Nasolabial Folds in Asian Patients
Authors: Zhao Minghao , Cai Lei , Li Facheng , Han Xuefeng
Published: October 2019

Background

There are multiple techniques used to inject hyaluronic acid to minimize the appearance of nasolabial folds. These techniques vary in accordance with the etiology of the nasolabial folds. Based on our understanding of nasolabial anatomy and our experience with the injection of hyaluronic acid fillers, we herein summarize a systemic treatment plan based on a practical nasolabial fold assessment method.

Methods

From November 2015 to December 2017, 180 patients received hyaluronic acid injections in our clinic to improve the appearance of nasolabial folds. All patients were followed up for at least 1 month. All patients underwent our nasolabial fold assessment and were then treated with an appropriate plan. The therapeutic effect was assessed via the photonumeric wrinkle assessment scale. Patients with complications were monitored for up to 1 year. A follow-up survey was performed 1 month postoperatively, with the outcome rated as excellent, satisfactory, moderate, or unsatisfactory.

Results

Patients demonstrated a significant improvement in the appearance of the nasolabial folds. No infection or vascular complications occurred. The 1-month follow-up survey revealed that the patient satisfaction rate was 96.7% (excellent or satisfactory outcome).

Conclusion

This systemic treatment method for nasolabial folds is effective, safe, and practical.
Prognostic value of the Residual Cancer Burden index according to breast cancer subtype: validation on a cohort of BC patients treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy
Authors: Hamy Anne-Sophie , Darrigues Lauren , Laas Enora , De Croze Diane , Topciu Lucian , Lam Giang-Thanh , Evrevin Clémence , Rozette Sonia , Laot Lucie , Lerebours Florence , Pierga Jean-Yves , Osdoit Marie , Faron Matthieu , Feron Jean-Guillaume , Laé Marick , Reyal Fabien
Published: October 2019

Introduction

The Residual Cancer Burden (RCB) quantifies residual disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Its predictive value has not been validated on large cohorts with long-term follow up. The objective of this work is to independently evaluate the prognostic value of the RCB index depending on BC subtypes (Luminal, HER2-positive and triple negative (TNBCs)).

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated the RCB index on surgical specimens from a cohort of T1-T3NxM0 BC patients treated with NAC between 2002 and 2012. We analyzed the association between RCB index and relapse-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS) among the global population, after stratification by BC subtypes.

Results

717 patients were included (luminal BC (n = 222, 31%), TNBC (n = 319, 44.5%), HER2-positive (n = 176, 24.5%)). After a median follow-up of 99.9 months, RCB index was significantly associated with RFS. The RCB-0 patients displayed similar prognosis when compared to the RCB-I group, while patients from the RCB-II and RCB-III classes were at increased risk of relapse (RCB-II versus RCB-0: HR=3.25 CI [2.1-5.1] p<0.001; RCB-III versus RCB-0: HR=5.6 CI [3.5-8.9] p<0.001). The prognostic impact of RCB index was significant for TNBC and HER2-positive cancers; but not for luminal cancers (Pinteraction = 0.07). The prognosis of RCB-III patients was poor (8-years RFS: 52.7%, 95% CI [44.8 – 62.0]) particularly in the TNBC subgroup, where the median RFS was 12.7 months.

Conclusion

RCB index is a reliable prognostic score. RCB accurately identifies patients at a high risk of recurrence (RCB-III) with TNBC or HER2-positive BC who must be offered second-line adjuvant therapies.
Assessing circular RNAs in Alzheimer disease
Authors: Cervera-Carles Laura , Dols-Icardo Oriol , Cervantes-Gonzalez Alba , Molina-Porcel Laura , Muñoz-Llahuna Laia , Clarimon Jordi
Published: October 2019

Circular RNAs (circRNA) are evolutionary conserved non-coding RNAs resulting from the backsplicing of precursor messengers. Recently, a circular-transcriptome-wide study of circRNA in brain tissue from patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has revealed a striking association between the expression of circRNA and AD pathological diagnosis. In the present study, we aimed at replicating the major findings in an independent case series comprising definitive sporadic and familial AD. In order to assess the specificity of circRNA changes, we also included cases with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), comprising brain specimens with TDP-43 aggregates (FTLD-TDP43) and samples that presented Tau accumulation (FTLD-Tau). Through a quantitative PCR approach, we evaluated a total of eight circRNAs that surpassed the significant threshold in the former meta-analysis (circHOMER1, circDOCK1, circKCNN2, circMAN2A1, circFMN1, circRTN4, circMAP7, and circPICALM). Average expression changes between AD patients and controls followed the same directions as previously reported, suggesting an overall upregulation of circDOCK1, circMAP7, circMAN2A1, circRTN4 and circPICALM, and a downregulation of the remainder (circHOMER1, circFMN1 and circKCNN2) in AD brain tissue. We also confirmed an exacerbated alteration in circRNA expression in the Mendelian AD group compared to the sporadic forms. Two circRNAs, circHOMER1 and circKCNN2, also showed significant expression alterations in the group of FTLD-Tau and FTLD-TDP43, respectively. Overall, these results reinforce the conception that expression of circRNAs is altered in Alzheimer’s disease, and also suggest a wider involvement of this particular class of RNA in other neurodegenerative dementias.
High-resolution Linkage Map with Allele Dosage Allows the Identification of an Apomixis Region and Complex Traits in Guinea Grass (Megathyrsus maximus)
Authors: Deo Thamiris G. , Ferreira Rebecca C. U. , Lara Leticia A. C. , Moraes Aline C. L. , Alves-Pereira Alessandro , de Oliveira Fernanda A. , Garcia Antonio A. F. , Santos Mateus F. , Jank Liana , Souza Anete P.
Published: October 2019

Forage grasses are mainly used in animal feed to fatten cattle and dairy herds. Among tropical forage crops that reproduce by seeds, guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus) is considered one of the most productive. This species has several genomic complexities, such as autotetraploidy and apomixis, due to the process of domestication. Consequently, approaches that relate phenotypic and genotypic data are incipient. In this context, we built a linkage map with allele dosage and generated novel information about the genetic architecture of traits that are important for the breeding ofM. maximus. From a full-sib progeny, a linkage map containing 858 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers with allele dosage information expected for an autotetraploid was obtained. The high genetic variability of the progeny allowed us to map ten quantitative trait loci (QTLs) related to agronomic traits, such as regrowth capacity and total dry matter, and 36 QTLs related to nutritional quality, which were distributed among all homology groups (HGs). Various overlapping regions associated with the quantitative traits suggested QTL hotspots. In addition, we were able to map one locus that controls apospory (apo-locus) in HG II. A total of 55 different gene families involved in cellular metabolism and plant growth were identified from markers adjacent to the QTLs and apomixis locus by using thePanicum virgatumgenome as a reference in comparisons with the genomes ofArabidopsis thalianaandOryza sativa. Our results provide a better understanding of the genetic basis of reproduction by apomixis and traits important for breeding programs that considerably influence animal productivity as well as the quality of meat and milk.
Parietal–prefrontal feedforward connectivity in association with schizophrenia genetic risk and delusions
Authors: Borrajo Danielle , La Michelle , Shah Shefali , Chen Qiang , Berman Karen F , Weinberger Daniel R , Tan Hao Yang
Published: October 2019

Background

Conceptualizations of delusion formation implicate, in part, deficits at feed-forward information transfer across posterior to prefrontal cortices, resulting in dysfunctional integration of new information in favor of over-familiar prior beliefs. Here, we used functional MRI and machine learning models to examine feedforward parietal-prefrontal information transfer in schizophrenia patients in relation to delusional thinking, and polygenic risk for schizophrenia.

Methods

We studied 66 schizophrenia patients and 143 healthy controls as they performed context updating during working memory (WM). Dynamic causal models of effective connectivity were focused on prefrontal and parietal cortex, where we examined parietal-prefrontal connectivity in relation to delusions in patients. We further tested for an effect of polygenic risk for schizophrenia on connectivity in healthy individuals. We then leveraged support vector regression models to define optimal normalized target connectivity tailored for each patient, and tested the extent to which deviation from this target predicted individual variation in delusion severity.

Results

In schizophrenia patients, updating and manipulating context information was disproportionately less accurate than was WM maintenance, with a task accuracy-by-diagnosis interaction. Also, patients with delusions tended to have relatively reduced feedforward effective connectivity during context updating in WM manipulation. The same parietal-prefrontal feedforward prefrontal effective connectivity was adversely influenced by polygenic risk for schizophrenia in healthy subjects. Individual patients’ deviation from predicted ‘normal’ feedforward connectivity based on the support vector models correlated with delusional severity.

Conclusions

These computationally-derived observations support a role for feed-forward parietal-prefrontal information processing deficits in delusional psychopathology, and in genetic risk for schizophrenia.
Fibroblast-specific IL11 signaling is required for lung fibrosis and inflammation
Authors: Ng Benjamin , Dong Jinrui , Viswanathan Sivakumar , Widjaja Anissa A. , Paleja Bhairav S. , Adami Eleonora , Ko Nicole SJ. , Wang Mao , Lim Stella , Tan Jessie , Chothani Sonia P. , Albani Salvatore , Schafer Sebastian , Cook Stuart A.
Published: October 2019

Tissue injury leads to activation of resident stromal, parenchymal and immune cells to initiate reparative processes that, if unresolved, can lead to fibrosis and organ damage. The directionality of effect between fibrosis and inflammation in the lung has been a point of debate for many years. Here, we tested the hypothesis that Interleukin 11 (IL11) signaling in fibroblasts is of primary importance for pulmonary fibrosis and that this event is upstream of lung inflammation. We generated mice with loxP-flankedIl11ra1alleles and crossed them to aCol1a2-CreERT strain to enableIl11ra1deletion in adult fibroblasts (Il11ra1-CKO mice). Lung fibroblasts fromIl11ra1-CKO mice were selectively deleted forIl11ra1and refractory to TGFβ1 stimulation. In the mouse model of bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis,Il11ra1-CKO mice had markedly reduced pulmonary fibrosis and lesser lung damage, which was accompanied by diminished ERK activation in the stromal compartment. Bleomycin lung injury inIl11ra1-CKO mice was also associated with diminished STAT3 activation in inflammatory cells, fewer pulmonary immune cell infiltrates and almost complete inhibition of NF-kB activation. These data reveal an essential role for IL11 signaling in fibroblasts for lung fibrosis and show that inflammation in the lung can be secondary to stromal activation.
Critical role for Slam/SAP signaling in the thymic developmental programming of IL-17- and IFN-γ-producing γδ T cells
Authors: Dienz Oliver , DeVault Victoria L. , Musial Shawn C. , Mistri Somen K. , Mei Linda , Baraev Aleksandr , Dragon Julie A. , Krementsov Dimitry , Veillette Andre , Boyson Jonathan E.
Published: October 2019

During thymic development, γδ T cells commit to either an IFN-γ- or an IL-17-producing phenotype through mechanisms that remain unclear. Here, we investigated whether the SLAM/SAP signaling pathway played a role in the functional programming of thymic γδ T cells. Characterization of SLAM family receptor expression revealed that thymic γδ T cell subsets were each marked by distinct co-expression profiles of SLAMF1, SLAMF4, and SLAMF6. In the thymus, immature CD24hiVγ1 and Vγ4 γδ T cells were largely contained within a SLAMF1+SLAMF6+double positive (DP) population, while mature CD24lowsubsets were either SLAMF1+or SLAMF6+single positive (SP) cells. In the periphery, SLAMF1 and SLAMF6 expression on Vγ1, Vγ4, and Vγ6 T cells distinguished IL-17- and IFN-γ-producing subsets, respectively. Disruption of SLAM family receptor signaling through deletion of SAP resulted in impaired thymic γδ T cell maturation at the CD24hiSLAMF1+SLAMF6+DP stage that was associated with a decreased frequency of CD44+RORγt+γδ T cells. These defects were in turn associated with impaired γδ T cell IL-17 and IFN-γ production in both the thymus as well as in peripheral tissues. The role for SAP was subset-specific, as Vγ1, Vγ4, Vγ5, but not Vγ6 subsets were SAP-dependent. Together, these data suggest that the SLAM/SAP signaling pathway regulates a critical checkpoint in the functional programming of IL-17 and IFN-γ-producing γδ T cell subsets during thymic development.
A simultaneous X-ray diffraction–differential scanning calorimetry study into the phase transitions of mefenamic acid
Authors: Pang Yuying , Buanz Asma , Telford Richard , Magdysyuk Oxana V. , Gaisford Simon , Williams Gareth R.
Published: October 2019

In this study, the polymorphic transitions of mefenamic acid (MA) were studied by synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction combined with differential scanning calorimetry (XRD-DSC). The initial material was found to be phase-pure form I which, when heated, produces two endotherms that can be observed by DSC at 162.72 and 219.55°C. The former was found to correspond to a solid–solid enantiotropic transition from form I to a mixture of forms II and III. The latter is the melting point of form II. As form I is heated, significantly greater unit-cell expansion is seen in the a direction than in b and c, which can be explained by the stronger intermolecular interactions in the bc plane. Refinements of the reported MA structures against the patterns collected during heating revealed that at 175°C there exists a mixture of forms I, II and III, whereas only forms II and III remain at 205°C. However, reflections are observed at both temperatures which cannot be fitted with the known forms of MA. It is hypothesized that a new form of MA is produced upon heating. The stability of MA after the enantiotropic transition temperature is II > III > I, which differs from the previously reported II > I > III.
Identification of critical factors for assessing the quality of restaurants using data mining approaches
Authors: Mahmood Ahsan , Khan Hikmat Ullah
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to apply state-of-the-art machine learning techniques for assessing the quality of the restaurants using restaurant inspection data. The machine learning techniques are applied to solve the real-world problems in all sphere of life. Health and food departments pay regular visits to restaurants for inspection and mark the condition of the restaurant on the basis of the inspection. These inspections consider many factors that determine the condition of the restaurants and make it possible for the authorities to classify the restaurants.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, standard machine learning techniques, support vector machines, naïve Bayes and random forest classifiers are applied to classify the critical level of the restaurants on the basis of features identified during the inspection. The importance of different factors of inspection is determined by using feature selection through the help of the minimum-redundancy-maximum-relevance and linear vector quantization feature importance methods.

Findings

The experiments are accomplished on the real-world New York City restaurant inspection data set that contains diverse inspection features. The results show that the nonlinear support vector machine achieves better accuracy than other techniques. Moreover, this research study investigates the importance of different factors of restaurant inspection and finds that inspection score and grade are significant features. The performance of the classifiers is measured by using the standard performance evaluation measures of accuracy, sensitivity and specificity.

Originality/value

This research uses a real-world data set of restaurant inspection that has, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, never been used previously by researchers. The findings are helpful in identifying the best restaurants and help finding the factors that are considered important in restaurant inspection. The results are also important in identifying possible biases in restaurant inspections by the authorities.
Conflict, caste and resolution: a quantitative analysis for Indian villages
Authors: Borooah Vani Kant , Tagat Anirudh , Mishra Vinod
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a quantitative assessment of caste-based conflict in India. The data for this paper are from the Rural Economic and Demographic Survey (REDS) of 2006 encompassing 8,659 households in 242 villages in 18 Indian states.

Design/methodology/approach

Using these data, the authors examine two broad issues: the sources of conflict in rural India and the degree to which these sources contribute to caste-basted, as opposed to non-caste-based conflict; the sources of conflict resolution in rural India: are some conflict-resolving agencies more effective at dealing with caste-based conflicts and others more effective with non-caste-based conflicts?

Findings

There was a rise in caste-based conflict over the (approximate) period 1996-2006. There are several reasons for the rise in caste-based conflict but, in the main, is the rise in assertiveness of persons belonging to India’s lower castes. In terms of conflict resolution, panchayats and prominent individuals were important in resolving village conflicts: 69 per cent of caste-based, and 65 per cent of non-caste based, conflicts were resolved by one or the other of these two agents.

Originality/value

This is the first attempt, using econometric methodology, to study caste conflict at a village level in India.
Leadership style and teacher performance: mediating role of occupational perception
Authors: Abu Nasra Muhammed , Arar Khalid
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a model in which leadership styles (transformational or transactional leadership) directly and indirectly (through occupation perception) affect teacher performance (in-role performance and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB)).

Design/methodology/approach

The research hypothesis holds that the leadership style (transformational or transactional) has a direct and indirect effect on teacher performance (through occupation perception). These hypotheses have been tested on data collected from 630 Arab Israeli teachers.

Findings

Teachers’ in-role performance increases as they perceive their principals’ leadership style as more transformational and less transactional. In addition, the results reveal that the effect of transformational principals’ leadership style on OCB is expressed only by indirect effect (through occupational perception).

Originality/value

The results of the study contribute to the understanding of the way leadership style and performance interact in schools, and the importance of teachers’ occupational perception in explaining this relationship. Future research should further investigate the teachers’ occupational perceptions and its effect on their performance as little research has been conducted to date.
The influence of team social media usage on individual knowledge sharing and job performance from a cross-level perspective
Authors: Cui Xiling , Huo Baofeng , Lei Yang , Zhou Qiang
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how team social media usage (SMU) affects two types of knowledge sharing (KS), namely, in-role and extra-role KS, and then individual job performance. The study also examines the mediating effects of two types of KS and the main and moderating effects of team performance norms on individual job performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applies the theory of communication visibility to develop a cross-level model and then validate it through a three-wave survey from 600 individuals in 120 teams. Hierarchical linear model is used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results suggest that team SMU improves team members’ in-role and extra-role KS, and thus enhances their individual job performance. The in-role and extra-role KS have partial mediating effects between team SMU and job performance. The results also show that team performance norms have a positive main effect on individual job performance, but negatively moderate the relationship between individual extra-role KS and job performance.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to the operations management literature by examining the effects of team SMU from a multilevel perspective.

Practical implications

The findings provide managers with ways to improve individual KS and job performance.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first to investigate the effects of team SMU on individual KS and job performance. It also identifies the two-sided effects of team performance norms.
Body pack in sick bodies: a retrospective study of somatic and psychiatric comorbidities among body-packers
Authors: Baggio Stéphanie , Guillaume-Gentil Simon , Heller Patrick , Chacowry Pala Komal , Wolff Hans , Gétaz Laurent
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Body-packing means concealing packets of illicit psychoactive substances in the digestive or genital system. The purpose of this paper is to investigate profiles of body-packers and comorbidities associated with body-packing.

Design/methodology/approach

A retrospective study (2005–2016) was conducted among all patients hospitalized for suspicion of body-packing in the Geneva hospital prison unit (n=287). Data were extracted from medical records and included demographics, somatic/psychiatric diseases, suicidal ideation and psychological distress.

Findings

Body-packers were mostly young men (mean age=33.4). A total of 42.2 percent of the participants had at least one psychiatric or somatic comorbidity reported during incarceration (somatic: 28.2 percent, psychiatric: 18.8 percent). The most frequent somatic diseases were infectious (10.5 percent), cardiovascular (10.1 percent), and endocrinological (4.2 percent) diseases, and more precisely HIV (4.5 percent), hepatitis B (3.5 percent), hepatitis C (1.4 percent), high blood pressure (8.0 percent) and diabetes (4.2 percent). The most frequent psychiatric conditions were substance use disorders (10.5 percent) and mood disorders (8.0 percent). Depressed mood/psychological distress and suicidal ideation were frequently reported during hospitalization (27.2/6.6 percent). Comorbidities were associated with demographics: Females were more likely to have somatic and psychiatric diseases detected during hospitalization in detention and participants from Western, educated, industrialized, rich and democratic countries were more likely to report diseases known before detention.

Originality/value

Body-packers bear a heavy burden of disease and psychological distress. This vulnerable subgroup of incarcerated people has been overlooked in previous research and their health needs are not correctly understood. This study was a first step to improve their health care and reintegration.
Improvement of economic and sustainability performance of agribusiness management using ecological technologies in Indonesia
Authors: Mariyono Joko
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the implications of and assess the economic and sustainable impact of environmentally friendly technological packages introduced into agribusiness players in the centre of chilli-producing regions of Indonesia.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a theory of optimisation in production as a fundamental analysis. Producers are assumed to maximise profit by allocating rational amounts of inputs as the components of technological packages. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods was used. The rate of technology adoption was evaluated, and agribusiness performance was measured using an economic advantage and technical efficiency. Data were compiled using group discussions and individual surveys.

Findings

The packages of technologies improved economic and sustainability performance of agribusiness resulting from efficient use of agrochemicals and water resource, and increase the production. Socio-economic and technical factors influenced performance farmers, as agribusiness players responded positively towards the ecological technology packages.

Research limitations/implications

The sustainability of agribusiness was indicated by the reduction in agrochemical use and by the efficient use of water irrigation. There are other measures of sustainability, which are beyond this study. Additional studies are expected to fill the gap.

Practical implications

Considerable potential exists for broad adoption of these technological packages in Indonesia if they are disseminated effectively and in a close partnership with local extension agencies, farmers’ organisations, local non-governmental organisations and private sectors.

Originality/value

This study provides a realistic representation of a current condition because this is an empirical study conducted at the grass-root level. Sustainability of agribusiness practices was achieved with ecological technological packages.
Bi-objective optimization of a project selection and adjustment problem under risk controls
Authors: Heidari-Fathian Hassan , Davari-Ardakani Hamed
Published: October 2019

Purpose

This study aims to deal with a project portfolio selection problem aiming to maximize the net present value of the project portfolio and minimize the resource usage variation between successive time periods.

Design/methodology/approach

A bi-objective mixed integer programming model is presented under resource constraints. The parameters related to outlays and net cash flows of existing and new projects are considered to be uncertain. An augmentedε-constraint (AUGMECON) method is used to solve the proposed model, and a fuzzy approach is used to find the most preferred Pareto-optimal solutions among those generated by AUGMECON method. The effectiveness of the proposed solution method is compared with three other multi-objective optimization methods. Finally, some sensitivity analyses are performed to assess the effect of changing a number of parameters on the values of objective functions.

Findings

The proposed approach helps corporations make optimal decisions for rebalancing their project portfolio, through launching some new candidate projects and upgrading some of the existing projects.

Originality/value

A novel bi-objective optimization model is proposed for designing a project portfolio problem under budget constraints and profit risk controls. Two types of projects including existing and new projects are considered in the problem. Minimization of resource usage variation between successive periods is considered in the model as one objective function. An AUGMECON method is used to solve the proposed bi-objective mathematical model. A fuzzy approach is applied to find the best Pareto-optimal solutions of AUGMECON method. Results of the proposed solution approach are compared with three other multi-objective decision-making methods in different numerical examples.
Group-works: exploring multiplex networks, leadership and group performance
Authors: Yeow Pamela , Dean Alison , Tucker Danielle , Pomeroy Linda
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the effect of “multiplex” (multiple overlapping) networks and leadership on group performance in a higher education setting.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a combination of social network analysis and interviews, the authors employ a case study approach to map the connections between academic group members. This paper analyses the relationship between this mapping and academic performance.

Findings

The authors identified two dimensions which influence group effectiveness: multiplex networks and distributed–coordinated leadership. Where networks are built across tasks, inter-relationships develop that lead to greater group performance.

Practical implications

Where group members create a dense hive of interconnectivity and are active across all group tasks, and also informally, this increases the opportunity for knowledge sharing. When this is similarly experienced by a majority of group members, there is positive reinforcement, resulting in greater group effectiveness.

Originality/value

This paper highlights the importance of the richness of formal ties in knowledge-intensive settings. This paper is the first to differentiate between formal connections between colleagues related to different tasks within their role. This suggests that dense configurations of informal ties are insufficient; they must be coupled with strong ties around formal activity and demonstrative leadership.
The effect of flow experience on users’ social commerce intention
Authors: Zhou Tao
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of flow experience on users’ social commerce intention.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the 287 valid responses collected from a survey, structural equation modeling was used to examine the research model.

Findings

The results indicated that social interaction, which includes human–computer interaction and human–human interaction, has a significant effect on the flow experience, which in turn affects social purchase and social sharing intention.

Research limitations/implications

The results imply that companies need to facilitate social interaction to improve users’ experience and promote their social commerce intention.

Originality/value

Although prior research has examined social commerce user behaviour from multiple perspectives such as trust, perceived value and technological perceptions, it has focused on the effect of cognitive beliefs and neglected the effect of affective beliefs such as flow experience. This research tries to fill the gap.
Understanding governance in the implementation of rainwater systems in the Amazon – Belem
Authors: Cardoso Castro Pedro Pablo , Ravena Nirvia , Mendes Ronaldo
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a case study of niche governance to analyze the governance of rainwater systems in the Amazon.

Design/methodology/approach

A visualization of the interactions of stakeholders was made with the use of social network analysis, where data were collected through interviews to experts from the region. A framework based on niche management and the safe, resilient and sustainable (Safe and SuRe) principles were used to interpret the results.

Findings

The work identifies key players and issues influencing governance for the implementation of rainwater systems; and capture of decision-making powers by agents making evident redundancies in the management of rainwater in the region; highlighting issues of lack of inclusion in the decision-making process, planning and implementation; threatening the sustainability, resilience and governance of rainwater systems in Belem.

Originality/value

Methodologically, this work is the first of its kind for the amazon and contributes to the exploration of tools and frameworks to assess governance in the implementation of rainwater systems.