bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measurements of the femtosecond relaxation dynamics of Tamm plasmon-polaritons
Authors: Afinogenov B. I. , Popkova A. A. , Bessonov V. O. , Fedyanin A. A.
Published: October 2016

This paper reports on measurements of the lifetime of Tamm plasmon-polaritons (TPPs) excited in a 1D photonic-crystal/thin-metal-film structure. A femtosecond pulse reflected from a structure of this kind is found to be significantly distorted if its spectrum overlaps with the Tamm plasmon resonance. It is shown that the TPP lifetime possesses strong polarization and angular dependence. It varies from 20 fs for p-polarized light to 40 fs for s-polarized light at a 45° angle of incidence. The reported lifetime of Tamm plasmons is several times smaller than the previously reported lifetime of surface plasmons.
Effects of drought stress on morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics of wheat species differing in ploidy level
Authors: Wang Jian Yong , Turner Neil C. , Liu Ying Xia , Siddique Kadambot H. M. , Xiong You Cai
Published: October 2016

Modern hexaploid wheat has several diploid and tetraploid predecessors. Morpho-physiological adaptation and the adaptation to drought of these different ploidy wheat species is largely unknown. To investigate the adaptation to drought stress, eight accesssions (two wild diploid (2n) accessions of Aegilops tauschii Coss., two domesticated diploid (2n) accessions of Triticum monococcum L., two domesticated tetraploid (4n) accessions of Triticum dicoccum Schrank ex Schübl. and two domesticated hexaploid (6n) accessions of Triticum aestivum L.) were exposed to three water regimes: (i) well-watered control (WW, 80% field capacity (FC)), (ii) moderate water stress (MS, 50% FC), and (iii) severe water stress (SS, 25% FC) from 30 days after sowing to maturity. The results showed that accession (A), water regime (W), and the interaction of A × W significantly affected yield, morpho-physiological traits, biochemical characteristics and biomass allocation. In the WW treatment, the aboveground biomass, ear biomass, grain yield and harvest index increased, whereas the number of spikes and spikelets per plant decreased from accessions of T. monococcum to T. dicoccum to T. aestivum. Across all accessions, yields decreased by 29% under moderate water stress and 61% under severe water stress. In all three water regimes, yields were positively correlated with photosynthesis (Pn) per plant (Pn × leaf area) at jointing and anthesis, largely the result of the differences and changes in leaf area. Water use efficiency for grain (WUEG) decreased by 2–6% in T. monococcum, but it increased by 15–16% in T. dicoccum and T. aestivum under drought stress. Analysis of the allometric relationships between aboveground biomass (MAB) and root biomass (Mroot) in the different species indicated that less biomass was allocated to roots with greater polyploidy while more biomass was allocated to roots with drought in A. tauschii, but not in the domesticated species. We conclude that domestication, selection and breeding of higher ploidy wheat has increased wheat yields primarily by increasing aboveground biomass and harvest index, increases that were maintained under water stress.
Larval nurseryfish, Kurtus gulliveri (Perciformes : Kurtidae), in the Adelaide River of the Northern Territory: their season, fellow travellers and unusual rib anatomy
Authors: Berra Tim M. , Wedd Dion , He You
Published: October 2016

This study was undertaken to determine the spawning season of the nurseryfish, a species with a unique method of parental care found only in northern Australia and southern New Guinea. Monthly samplings with an ichthyoplankton net at the same locality in the Adelaide River over multiple years yielded no larval nurseryfish in February, March, April and May. Larvae first appeared in June and were collected each month until January. From this we conclude that the nurseryfish spawning season in the Adelaide River is June–January. Twelve other larval fish species from 10 families were collected in the plankton tows with nurseryfish. Larval nurseryfish are readily identified and separated from other larval fishes by their peculiar rib anatomy, an important diagnostic character of Kurtus. The development of the unusual rib anatomy is examined with three-dimensional micro-computerised tomography scans of 12–21-mm standard length (SL) specimens. The bony protection of the swim bladder formed by the ribs is visible in the smallest postflexion specimens examined and is essentially complete by 19 mm SL. These ecological and anatomical observations add another pixel to the big picture of nurseryfish life history.
Cardiac arrhythmia in a mouse model of sodium channel
SCN8A
epileptic encephalopathy
Authors: Frasier Chad R. , Wagnon Jacy L. , Bao Yangyang Oliver , McVeigh Luke G. , Lopez-Santiago Luis F. , Meisler Miriam H. , Isom Lori L.
Published: October 2016

Significance

Patients with epileptic encephalopathy have a high risk of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), an event described as arrhythmia of brain and heart. We investigated the cardiac phenotype of a model of an epileptic encephalopathy caused by mutation of sodium channel
SCN8A
. We observed that mutant heart cells were hyperexcitable, exhibiting abnormal contraction and action potential wave forms. Mutant mice also had reduced heart rates compared with controls. This difference in heart rate was not observed in isolated hearts, implicating changes in cardiac regulation by the parasympathetic nervous system. When challenged with norepinephrine and caffeine, mutant mice had ventricular arrhythmias. These cardiac and parasympathetic abnormalities are predicted to contribute to the mechanism of SUDEP in patients with
SCN8A
mutations.
First Record of Fibropapillomatosis in a Green Turtle Chelonia mydas from the Baja California Peninsula
Authors: Reséndiz Eduardo , Flores-Ramírez Sergio , Koch Volker , Cordero-Tapia Amaury
Published: October 2016

Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is characterized by multiple fibroepithelial tumors in all parts of the skin and has been reported in sea turtles worldwide. Clinically infected individuals are often emaciated and anemic. In Mexico, however, there are few records of this disease. In this study of green turtles Chelonia mydas in Laguna San Ignacio in Baja California Sur (BCS), we noted one juvenile with multifocal fibropapilloma lesions on the external upper surface of its eyes and hind flippers. Light microscopy revealed hyperkeratosis, epidermal hyperplasia, dermal papillary projections, and fibroblast proliferation. Electron microscopy revealed viral particles. Biopsies of normal skin were done to determine the origin of the turtle through genetic analysis. Its mitochondrial DNA matched that of a haplotype (CMP2) from a Hawaiian green turtle population. Finding FP in a turtle captured in BCS elucidates the need for further monitoring along the west coast of Mexico. Further investigation should include testing tumors to detect and characterize any chelonid herpesviruses and explore any association with FP and other diseases that pose a health risk to other sea turtle species.

Received March 26, 2016; accepted August 3, 2016 Published online October 27, 2016
Ageing and the misperception of words: Evidence from eye movements during reading
Authors: Warrington Kayleigh L , White Sarah J , Paterson Kevin B
Published: October 2016

Research with lexical neighbours (words that differ by a single letter while the number and order of letters are preserved) indicates that readers frequently misperceive a word as its higher frequency neighbour (HFN) even during normal reading. But how this lexical influence on word identification changes across the adult lifespan is largely unknown, although slower lexical processing and reduced visual abilities in later adulthood may lead to an increased incidence of word misperception errors. In particular, older adults may be more likely than younger adults to misidentify a word as its HFN, especially when the HFN is congruent with prior sentence context, although this has not been investigated. Accordingly, to address this issue, young and older adults read sentences containing target words with and without an HFN, where the HFN was either congruent with prior sentence context or not. Consistent with previous findings for young adults, eye movements were disrupted more for words with than without an HFN, especially when the HFN was congruent with prior context. Crucially, however, there was no indication of an adult age difference in this word misperception effect. We discuss these findings in relation to the nature of misperception effects in older age.
The effect of inserting an inter-stimulus interval in face–voice matching tasks
Authors: Smith Harriet M. J. , Dunn Andrew K. , Baguley Thom , Stacey Paula C.
Published: October 2016

Voices and static faces can be matched for identity above chance level. No previous face–voice matching experiments have included an inter-stimulus interval (ISI) exceeding 1 s. We tested whether accurate identity decisions rely on high-quality perceptual representations temporarily stored in sensory memory, and therefore whether the ability to make accurate matching decisions diminishes as the ISI increases. In each trial, participants had to decide whether an unfamiliar face and voice belonged to the same person. The face and voice stimuli were presented simultaneously in Experiment 1, and there was a 5-s ISI in Experiment 2, and a 10-s interval in Experiment 3. The results, analysed using multilevel modelling, revealed that static face–voice matching was significantly above chance level only when the stimuli were presented simultaneously (Experiment 1). The overall bias to respond same identity weakened as the interval increased, suggesting that this bias is explained by temporal contiguity. Taken together, the findings highlight that face–voice matching performance is reliant on comparing fast-decaying, high-quality perceptual representations. The results are discussed in terms of social functioning.
Xenolog classification
Authors: Darby Charlotte A , Stolzer Maureen , Ropp Patrick J , Barker Daniel , Durand Dannie
Published: October 2016

Motivation

Orthology analysis is a fundamental tool in comparative genomics. Sophisticated methods have been developed to distinguish between orthologs and paralogs and to classify paralogs into subtypes depending on the duplication mechanism and timing, relative to speciation. However, no comparable framework exists for xenologs: gene pairs whose history, since their divergence, includes a horizontal transfer. Further, the diversity of gene pairs that meet this broad definition calls for classification of xenologs with similar properties into subtypes.

Results

We present a xenolog classification that uses phylogenetic reconciliation to assign each pair of genes to a class based on the event responsible for their divergence and the historical association between genes and species. Our classes distinguish between genes related through transfer alone and genes related through duplication and transfer. Further, they separate closely-related genes in distantly-related species from distantly-related genes in closely-related species. We present formal rules that assign gene pairs to specific xenolog classes, given a reconciled gene tree with an arbitrary number of duplications and transfers. These xenology classification rules have been implemented in software and tested on a collection of ∼13 000 prokaryotic gene families. In addition, we present a case study demonstrating the connection between xenolog classification and gene function prediction.

Availability and Implementation

The xenolog classification rules have been implemented in Notung 2.9, a freely available phylogenetic reconciliation software package. http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~durand/Notung. Gene trees are available at http://dx.doi.org/10.7488/ds/1503.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
IMG/VR: a database of cultured and uncultured DNA Viruses and retroviruses
Authors: Paez-Espino David , Chen I.-Min A. , Palaniappan Krishna , Ratner Anna , Chu Ken , Szeto Ernest , Pillay Manoj , Huang Jinghua , Markowitz Victor M. , Nielsen Torben , Huntemann Marcel , K. Reddy T. B. , Pavlopoulos Georgios A. , Sullivan Matthew B. , Campbell Barbara J. , Chen Feng , McMahon Katherine , Hallam Steve J. , Denef Vincent , Cavicchioli Ricardo , Caffrey Sean M. , Streit Wolfgang R. , Webster John , Handley Kim M. , Salekdeh Ghasem H. , Tsesmetzis Nicolas , Setubal Joao C. , Pope Phillip B. , Liu Wen-Tso , Rivers Adam R. , Ivanova Natalia N. , Kyrpides Nikos C.
Published: October 2016

Viruses represent the most abundant life forms on the planet. Recent experimental and computational improvements have led to a dramatic increase in the number of viral genome sequences identified primarily from metagenomic samples. As a result of the expanding catalog of metagenomic viral sequences, there exists a need for a comprehensive computational platform integrating all these sequences with associated metadata and analytical tools. Here we present IMG/VR (https://img.jgi.doe.gov/vr/), the largest publicly available database of 3908 isolate reference DNA viruses with 264 413 computationally identified viral contigs from >6000 ecologically diverse metagenomic samples. Approximately half of the viral contigs are grouped into genetically distinct quasi-species clusters. Microbial hosts are predicted for 20 000 viral sequences, revealing nine microbial phyla previously unreported to be infected by viruses. Viral sequences can be queried using a variety of associated metadata, including habitat type and geographic location of the samples, or taxonomic classification according to hallmark viral genes. IMG/VR has a user-friendly interface that allows users to interrogate all integrated data and interact by comparing with external sequences, thus serving as an essential resource in the viral genomics community.
Caecilius Statius
Authors: Manuwald Gesine
Published: October 2016

Caecilius (Statius) (b. c. 230–d. 168/167 bce) was a Roman Republican playwright of fabulae palliatae (“comedies in Greek dress”). Situated in between the two famous representatives Plautus and Terence, of whom complete plays survive, he represents an important stage in the development of Roman palliata comedy. Yet, although he is the best-documented comic playwright among those whose works only survive in fragments and was highly regarded in Antiquity (see Ancient Reception), what remains are just forty-two titles of comedies and almost three hundred (partly incomplete) lines quoted in later writers. In aspects such as metrical variety, use of colorful language or employment of linguistic effects and puns Caecilius Statius seems to have followed the conventions of his predecessors; in other respects, such as choice of themes or engagement with the literary tradition, he looks forward to Terence. Caecilius Statius’s comedies apparently included serious thoughts on moral and social issues, mostly related to the immediate family, the corresponding relationships, and the impact of one’s personal affairs on one’s position in society, but they also provided effective drama. As with other fragmentary playwrights, the remains of Caecilius Statius’s dramas have been overshadowed by the fully extant plays by Plautus and Terence. Therefore, he is regularly mentioned in literary histories and overviews of Roman comedy, especially in the context of attempts at establishing a coherent, evolutionary history of this dramatic genre (see Oxford Bibliographies articles in Classics Latin Drama and Latin Poetry: From the Beginnings through the End of the Republic), but there have been fewer studies specifically devoted to him.
Operative treatment of congenital pseudarthrosis of the clavicle: a single-centre experience
Authors: Studer Kathrin , Baker Markus P. , Krieg Andreas H.
Published: October 2016

Congenital pseudarthrosis of the clavicle (CPC) is a very rare condition with a predilection for the right clavicle. Young children are often only symptomatic with activities and as they grow. Operative management in an asymptomatic child is debatable, with various techniques reported in the literature. This is a retrospective, single-centre case series study. All children with CPC treated surgically by resection, bone grafting (nonvascular iliac crest) and plate fixation between 2004 and 2012 at our centre were included. Excluded conditions were traumatic or obstetric fractures of the clavicle, children with musculoskeletal or neurological disorders and children lost to follow-up. Clinical and radiological examination was performed at 6 weeks, 3 months and between 6 and 12 months postoperatively. A total of eight clavicles in seven children (four girls and three boys), with a mean age of 7.1 years (5–8 years), were operated with a mean follow-up of 7 years (4–10 years). In six children, the right (dominant) side was affected, with one child affected bilaterally. Overall, 85% of our patients showed good functional results 6 weeks postoperatively and complete radiographic consolidation at a mean of 8.5 months (3–25 months) postoperatively. One female child showed delayed union, but without clinical deficit. There was low donor-site morbidity. We recommend early operative treatment of CPC with a nonvascularized bone graft from the iliac crest and plate fixation. Level of Evidence: IV.
Abductor Strengthening Subtrochanteric Femoral-shortening Osteotomy in High Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip
Authors: Ilyas Imran
Published: October 2016

Subtrochanteric femoral-shortening osteotomy is frequently performed in high dislocation of the hips (Crowe type IV). These osteotomies are performed to restore the true center of hip rotation and prevent sciatic nerve stretch. Most of the osteotomies described in the literature are able to achieve effective shortening of the femur and restore center of hip rotation, but they do not address the issue of weak abduction and the possibility of nonunion at the osteotomy site. In the following description, a new form of osteotomy is described in which the tendon of the gluteus maximus is preserved and transposed laterally on to the shaft of the femur to enhance abduction strength and aid in early healing of the osteotomy.
Reconstruction of Alar Nasal Cartilage Defects Using a Tissue Engineering Technique Based on a Combined Use of Autologous Chondrocyte Micrografts and Platelet-rich Plasma: Preliminary Clinical and Instrumental Evaluation
Authors: Gentile Pietro , Scioli Maria G. , Bielli Alessandra , Orlandi Augusto , Cervelli Valerio
Published: October 2016

Background:

Developing cartilage constructs with injectability, appropriate matrix composition, and persistent cartilaginous phenotype remains an enduring challenge in cartilage repair. The combined use of autologous chondrocyte micrografts and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an alternative that opens a new era in this field.

Methods:

At the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy, 11 patients underwent nasal alar reconstruction with chondrocyte micrografts gently poured onto PRP in solid form. A computed tomographic scan control was performed after 12 months. Pearson’s Chi-square test was used to investigate difference in cartilage density between native and newly formed cartilages.

Results:

The constructs of chondrocyte micrografts–PRP that were subcutaneously injected resulted in a persistent cartilage tissue with appropriate morphology, adequate central nutritional perfusion without central necrosis or ossification, and further augmented nasal dorsum without obvious contraction and deformation.

Conclusion:

This report demonstrated that chondrocyte micrografts derived from nasal septum poured onto PRP in solid form are useful for cartilage regeneration in patients with external nasal valve collapse.
IMPACT OF VITREORETINAL INTERFACE ARCHITECTURE ON SUCCESSFUL VITREOMACULAR TRACTION RESOLUTION IN EYES SCHEDULED FOR INTRAVITREAL OCRIPLASMIN THERAPY
Authors: Paul Christoph , Heun Christine , Müller Hans H. , Fauser Sascha , Kaymak Hakan , Kazerounian Sara , Sekundo Walter , Mennel Stefan , Meyer Carsten H. , Schmitz-Valckenberg Steffen , Koss Michael J. , Feltgen Nicolas , Bertelmann Thomas
Published: October 2016

Purpose:

To evaluate the impact of the vitreoretinal interface architecture, in specific the angle between the posterior vitreous cortex and the internal limiting membrane, on vitreomacular traction (VMT) resolution in eyes treated with intravitreally injected ocriplasmin (Jetrea).

Methods:

Retrospective, multicenter cohort study and exploratory data analysis. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography assessments were performed before scheduled ocriplasmin injections. General (age and sex) as well as ocular variables (lens status, presence of epiretinal membrane formations, horizontal diameter of VMT, central retinal thickness, and in particular various prespecified angles between the posterior vitreous cortex and internal limiting membrane) were analyzed to evaluate their impact on successful VMT resolution.

Results:

Fifty-nine eyes of 59 patients were included. Univariate analysis of age (odds ratio [OR]: 0.881; 95% CI: [0.812–0.955]; P = 0.0022) and lens status (OR: 11.03; 95% CI: [2.23–54.57]; P = 0.0033) had a significant impact on successful VMT resolution, whereas sex (OR: 0.668; 95% CI: [0.126–2.065]; P = 0.4906), epiretinal membrane formation (OR: 0.581; 95% CI: [0.168–2.006]; P = 0.3903), horizontal diameter of VMT (OR: 0.99930; 95% CI: [0.99825–1.00035]; P = 0.1886), and central retinal thickness (OR: 0.9985; 95% CI: [0.9934–1.00436]; P = 0.56) failed. The angle at 500 μm apart from the fovea centralis, irrespective if measured nasally (OR: 1.135; 95% CI: [1.013–1.272]; P = 0.0289) or temporally (OR: 1.099; 95% CI: [1.001–1.208]; P = 0.0485), showed a significant correlation with VMT resolution.

Conclusion:

The angle between the posterior vitreous cortex and the internal limiting membrane 500 μm apart from the fovea centralis correlates with VMT resolution and may be a clinically useful marker for selection of patients to be treated with ocriplasmin. This observation needs to be proven in a prospective confirmatory investigation.
Analyzing Single Molecule Localization Microscopy Data Using Cubic Splines
Authors: Babcock Hazen P. , Zhuang Xiaowei
Published: October 2016

The resolution of super-resolution microscopy based on single molecule localization is in part determined by the accuracy of the localization algorithm. In most published approaches to date this localization is done by fitting an analytical function that approximates the point spread function (PSF) of the microscope. However, particularly for localization in 3D, analytical functions such as a Gaussian, which are computationally inexpensive, may not accurately capture the PSF shape leading to reduced fitting accuracy. On the other hand, analytical functions that can accurately capture the PSF shape, such as those based on pupil functions, can be computationally expensive. Here we investigate the use of cubic splines as an alternative fitting approach. We demonstrate that cubic splines can capture the shape of any PSF with high accuracy and that they can be used for fitting the PSF with only a 2-3x increase in computation time as compared to Gaussian fitting. We provide an open-source software package that measures the PSF of any microscope and uses the measured PSF to perform 3D single molecule localization microscopy analysis with reasonable accuracy and speed.
An assessment of phylogenetic tools for analyzing the interplay between interspecific interactions and phenotypic evolution
Authors: Drury J.P. , G.F. Grether , Garland T. , Morlon H.
Published: October 2016

Much ecological and evolutionary theory predicts that interspecific interactions often drive phenotypic diversification and that species phenotypes in turn influence species interactions. Several phylogenetic comparative methods have been developed to assess the importance of such processes in nature; however, the statistical properties of these methods have gone largely untested. Focusing mainly on scenarios of competition between closely-related species, we assess the performance of available comparative approaches for analyzing the interplay between interspecific interactions and species phenotypes. We find that currently used statistical methods largely fail to detect the impact of interspecific interactions on trait evolution, that sister taxa analyses often erroneously detect character displacement where it does not exist, and that recently developed process-based models have more satisfactory statistical properties. In weighing the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches, we hope to provide a clear guide for empiricists testing hypotheses about the reciprocal effect of interspecific interactions and species phenotypes and to inspire further development of process-based models.
Lower brain pH as a shared endophenotype of psychotic disorders
Authors: Hagihara Hideo , Catts Vibeke S , Katayama Yuta , Takagi Tsuyoshi , Huang Freesia L , Huang Kuo-Ping , Ishii Shunsuke , Graef Isabella A , Crabtree Gerald R , Nakayama Keiichi I , Weickert Cynthia Shannon , Miyakawa Tsuyoshi
Published: October 2016

Lower pH is a well-replicated finding in the postmortem brains of patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Interpretation of the data, however, is controversial as to whether this finding reflects a primary feature of the diseases or is a result of confounding factors such as medication, postmortem interval, and agonal state. To date, systematic investigation of brain pH has not been undertaken using animal models, which can be studied without confounds inherent in human studies. In the present study, we first confirmed that the brains of patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder exhibit lower pH values by conducting a meta-analysis of existing datasets. We then utilized neurodevelopmental mouse models of psychiatric disorders in order to test the hypothesis that lower brain pH exists in these brains compared to controls due to the underlying pathophysiology of the disorders. We measured pH, lactate levels, and related metabolite levels in brain homogenates from three mouse models of schizophrenia (Schnurri-2KO, forebrain-specificcalcineurinKO, andneurograninKO mice) and one of bipolar disorder (Camk2aHKO mice), and one of autism spectrum disorders (Chd8HKO mice). All mice were drug-naïve with the same postmortem interval and agonal state at death. Upon postmortem examination, we observed significantly lower pH and higher lactate levels in the brains of model mice relative to controls. There was a significant negative correlation between pH and lactate levels. These results suggest that lower pH associated with increased lactate levels is a pathophysiology of such diseases rather than mere artifacts.
Inhibition of microbial biofuel production in drought stressed switchgrass hydrolysate
Authors: Ong Rebecca Garlock , Higbee Alan , Bottoms Scott , Dickinson Quinn , Xie Dan , Smith Scott A. , Serate Jose , Pohlmann Edward , Jones Arthur Daniel , Coon Joshua J. , Sato Trey K. , Sanford Gregg R. , Eilert Dustin , Oates Lawrence G. , Piotrowski Jeff S. , Bates Donna M. , Cavalier David , Zhang Yaoping
Published: October 2016

Background

Interannual variability in precipitation, particularly drought, can affect lignocellulosic crop biomass yields and composition, and is expected to increase biofuel yield variability. However, the effect of precipitation on downstream fermentation processes has never been directly characterized. In order to investigate the impact of interannual climate variability on biofuel production, corn stover and switchgrass were collected during three years with significantly different precipitation profiles, representing a major drought year (2012) and two years with average precipitation for the entire season (2010 and 2013). All feedstocks were AFEX (ammonia fiber expansion)-pretreated, enzymatically hydrolyzed, and the hydrolysates separately fermented using xylose-utilizing strains ofSaccharomyces cerevisiaeandZymomonas mobilis.A chemical genomics approach was also used to evaluate the growth of yeast mutants in the hydrolysates.

Results

While most corn stover and switchgrass hydrolysates were readily fermented, growth of S.cerevisiaewas completely inhibited in hydrolysate generated from drought stressed switchgrass. Based on chemical genomics analysis, yeast strains deficient in genes related to protein trafficking within the cell were significantly more resistant to the drought year switchgrass hydrolysate. Detailed biomass and hydrolysate characterization revealed that switchgrass accumulated greater concentrations of soluble sugars in response to the drought and these sugars were subsequently degraded to pyrazines and imidazoles during ammonia-based pretreatment. When addedex situto normal switchgrass hydrolysate, imidazoles and pyrazines caused anaerobic growth inhibition ofS. cerevisiae.

Conclusions

In response to the osmotic pressures experienced during drought stress, plants accumulate soluble sugars that are susceptible to degradation during chemical pretreatments. For ammonia-based pretreatment these sugars degrade to imidazoles and pyrazines. These compounds contribute toS. cerevisiaegrowth inhibition in drought year switchgrass hydrolysate. This work discovered that variation in environmental conditions during the growth of bioenergy crops could have significant detrimental effects on fermentation organisms during biofuel production. These findings are relevant to regions where climate change is predicted to cause an increased incidence of drought and to marginal lands with poor water holding capacity, where fluctuations in soil moisture may trigger frequent drought stress response in lignocellulosic feedstocks.
Uncertainty in flow stress measurements using X-ray diffraction for sheet metals subjected to large plastic deformations
Authors: Jeong Y. , Gnäupel-Herold T. , Iadicola M. , Creuziger A.
Published: October 2016

X-ray diffraction techniques have been developed to measure flow stresses of polycrystalline sheet metal specimens subjected to large plastic deformation. The uncertainty in the measured stress based on this technique has not been quantified previously owing to the lack of an appropriate method. In this article, the propagation of four selected elements of experimental error is studied on the basis of the elasto-viscoplastic self-consistent modeling framework: (1) the counting statistics error; (2) the range of tilting angles in use; (3) the use of a finite number of tilting angles; and (4) the incomplete measurement of diffraction elastic constants. Uncertainties propagated to the diffraction stress are estimated by conducting virtual experiments based on the Monte Carlo method demonstrated for a rolled interstitial-free steel sheet. A systematic report on the quantitative uncertainty is provided. It is also demonstrated that the results of the Monte Carlo virtual experiments can be used to find an optimal number of tilting angles and diffraction elastic constant measurements to use without loss of quality.
Room with a view: how hedonic and utilitarian choice options of online travel agencies affect consumers’ booking intentions
Authors: Scholl-Grissemann Ursula , Schnurr Benedikt
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate how hedonic and utilitarian choice options of online travel agencies (OTAs) affect consumers’ process enjoyment and booking intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors apply a one-factorial experimental design. The stimuli consisted of screenshots of the fictitious OTA “www.my-holiday.com”. Participants were told to imagine they were planning a city trip to San Francisco and that, during an internet search, they came across a new OTA called “www.my-holiday.com”.

Findings

The authors find that both booking intentions and process enjoyment are higher for hedonic OTAs, i.e. OTAs which offer more hedonic choice options such as entertainment and spa. The authors conclude that these toolkits strongly relate to pleasurable experiences and positive emotions. Therefore, these options drive positive affective reactions in terms of process enjoyment, which subsequently affect booking intentions. Additionally, the authors find that preference insight positively affects consumers’ booking intention as the number of choices provided by the OTA increases.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to tourism research on online travel shopping behavior. The authors apply knowledge from research on online customization tools to an OTA context and show that hedonic and functional choice options of OTAs significantly reflect on consumer behavior.
The role of message strategies in promoting eco-friendly accommodations
Authors: Zanon Johanna , Teichmann Karin
Published: October 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to examine how different levels of message appeals, message sources and social norms influence the purchase (i.e. booking) intention of eco-accommodations.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed hypothesis was tested using a 2 (message appeal; rational vs emotional) × 2 (message source; expert vs blogger) × 2 (social norm; injunctive vs descriptive) between-subject experimental online design.

Findings

Advertising appeals and social norms are major predictors of eco-accommodation’s ad effectiveness and message appeals, sources and social norms, and their classifications interrelate with each other. The highest intention to purchase an eco-accommodation was found for a promotional message, which is sent by an expert, expresses a rational appeal and includes a descriptive social norm. Perceived emotional value in contrast was increased with a blogger statement including an emotional appeal and an injunctive social norm.

Research limitations/implications

The used experiment only focused on one product, namely, eco-friendly accommodations. The impacts of different message contents might vary as a function of the promoted product.

Practical implications

To develop persuasive messages which combine all three message contents, experts should craft messages with rational characteristics and address a descriptive social norm.

Originality/value

Although consumers show a desire to buy eco-friendly tourism products, it seems that supply actually overweighs demand. As research in the field of eco-accommodations is still limited, this study examines the role of different combined promotional message contents to further clarify the apparent gap in green consumption.
Advantages and limitations of community-based post-disaster housing reconstruction projects
Authors: Ophiyandri Taufika , Amaratunga Dilanthi , Keraminiyage Kaushal
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the advantages and limitations of the implementation of a community-based method in post-disaster housing reconstruction.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was based on multiple case studies in the implementation of a community-based post-disaster housing reconstruction project (CPHRP) in Indonesia. Data were gathered by conducting semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire survey.

Findings

The research reveals 22 advantages of a CPHRP. Four advantages can be categorised as highly significant. They are create sense of ownership, fit to local culture/customs/wisdom, build beneficiaries’ confidence and minimize corruption. There are some advantages that cannot be delivered if the housing reconstruction is conducted using a contractor-based approach. It was also found that psychological advantages are more dominant than the physical advantages. Despite its numerous advantages, CPHRP has limitations. First, it requires a long pre-construction process and, second, there is a limitation with regard to the capacity of implementer and there are limitations within the community itself.

Originality/value

This paper is very specific because it attempts to discover the advantages and limitations of a CPHRP.
Share resources through the largest interlibrary loan network
Authors: Burke Gemma , Duncan Erin , Smither JL
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The paper aims to show how using a resource-sharing service can help you provide more resources to your users.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper discusses interlibrary loan challenges and opportunities, specifically with reference to WorldShare Interlibrary Loan.

Findings

This paper describes the service that connects libraries to the largest cooperative resource-sharing network with more than 10,000 borrowing and lending libraries worldwide, the possibilities for the future, facts and figures and how libraries around the world have used the solution successfully.

Originality/value

This paper looks at how WorldShare Interlibrary Loan can help libraries overcome the challenges that they face regarding resource sharing.
Open science: a revolution in sight?
Authors: Rentier Bernard
Published: October 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to describe the evolution of scientific communication, largely represented by the publication process. It notes the disappearance of the traditional publication on paper and its progressive replacement by electronic publishing, a new paradigm implying radical changes in the whole mechanism. It aims also at warning the scientific community about the dangers of some new avenues and why, rather than subcontracting an essential part of its work, it must take back full control of its production.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews the emerging concepts in scholarly publication and aims to answer frequently asked questions concerning free access to scientific literature as well as to data, science and knowledge in general.

Findings

The paper provides new observations concerning the level of compliance to institutional open access mandates and the poor relevance of journal prestige for quality evaluation of research and researchers. The results of introducing an open access policy at the University of Liège are noted.

Social implications

Open access is, for the first time in human history, an opportunity to provide free access to knowledge universally, regardless of either the wealth or the social status of the potentially interested readers. It is an essential breakthrough for developing countries.

Originality/value

Open access and Open Science in general must be considered as common values that should be shared freely. Free access to publicly generated knowledge should be explicitly included in universal human rights. There are still a number of obstacles hampering this goal, mostly the greed of intermediaries who persuade researchers to give their work for free, in exchange for prestige. The worldwide cause of Open Knowledge is thus a major universal issue for the twenty-first century.
Assessing the adoption and use of integrated library systems (ILS) for library service provision in academic libraries in Edo and Delta states, Nigeria
Authors: Omeluzor Saturday U. , Oyovwe-Tinuoye Gloria O.
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the use of integrated library system (ILS) in academic library operations in Edo and Delta states, Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted a descriptive survey research design. Total enumeration was used since the population consisting 88 academic librarians in Edo and Delta states is not large and was considered appropriate to achieve the purpose of this study. Questionnaire titled “Assessment of adoption and use of Integrated Library Software (ILS) for library service provision in academic libraries in Edo and Delta States, Nigeria” was used. Before the administration of the questionnaire on the respondents, face validity was carried out to test the validity of the questions. The questionnaire was given to experts in the Department of Information Resources Management, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State who validated, resolved defects and modified the questionnaire.

Findings

This study showed that there is a general non-use of ILS in academic libraries in Delta state. Findings revealed that three of the four academic libraries in Edo State adopted library software in their library operations except Ambrose Ali University Library, Ekpoma. Findings further showed that the ILS that were used in academic libraries in Edo State are effective. It also revealed that ILS is effective for accessing books and other library materials, retrieval of materials, bibliographic search and provision of links to external databases. Finding also indicated that among the library software that were used in academic libraries in this study, only Koha ILS has the capacity to link to external databases.

Practical implications

The use of ILS in academic library operation is critical. Its adoption and use to a large extent positively affect the library and its users. Non-adoption and use of ILS in most academic libraries is a setback to delivery of quality library services to clientele.

Originality/value

This study is the first that assessed the adoption and use of ILS in academic libraries is Edo and Delta states. It exposed the level of adoption and utilization of ILS in library operations with a view to encouraging libraries to adopt and use ILS for library services.
Understanding academic reading in the context of information-seeking
Authors: Lopatovska Irene , Sessions Deanna
Published: October 2016

Purpose

A study examined reading strategies in relation to information-seeking stages, tasks and reading media in an academic setting. Understanding reading practices and needs in the context of information-seeking can refine our understanding of user choices and preferences for information sources (e.g. textbooks, articles, multimedia content) and media (e.g. print and digital tools used for reading). It can also help to examine the changes in reading practices brought about by digital devices and content.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected via an online questionnaire from a sample of graduate students over the course of two months. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics.

Findings

The authors found that all information-seeking stages and all academic tasks were characterised by a combination of “deep” and “surface” reading and a use of both print and electronic resources. Contrary to previous studies that linked digital media to “surface” reading (e.g. skimming, searching for keywords), the participants reported a high number of “deep” reading tactics (e.g. annotating, connecting text to prior knowledge) while using digital resources.

Research limitations/implications

The study relied on a convenience sample of library and information science students, so some findings can be attributed to the sample’s demographics and academic demands. The findings imply that at all stages of information-seeking for all academic tasks, graduate students were engaged in both deep and surface reading using both print and electronic resources.

Practical implications

The findings show that students read print and digital texts, suggesting that it might be premature for academic libraries to part with their print collections. Understanding relationships between academic task, information-seeking and reading can aid students in choosing the right reading resources for their academic tasks, educators in assigning appropriate materials for course projects, libraries in providing appropriate resources to their readers and information retrieval system designers in offering useful features for different reading needs and styles.

Social implications

The findings indicate a shift in academic work culture and reliance on digital texts for deep and surface reading.

Originality/value

The study produced preliminary support for the development of a unified information-seeking and reading model.
Usefulness of serum 5‐S‐cysteinyl‐dopa as a biomarker for predicting prognosis and detecting relapse in patients with advanced stage malignant melanoma
Authors: Umemura Hiroshi , Yamasaki Osamu , Kaji Tatsuya , Otsuka Masaki , Asagoe Kenji , Takata Minoru , Iwatsuki Keiji
Published: October 2016

With the recent development of novel molecular targeted drugs for advanced stage malignant melanoma (MM), including RAF and mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase inhibitors and immune checkpoint blockers, the early detection of relapse is important for managing patients with MM. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed two conventional serum biomarkers, 5‐S‐cysteinyl‐dopa and lactate dehydrogenase, in patients with MM (n = 140) who were treated at a single Japanese institute from June 2007 to June 2015. At the initial hospital visit, serum 5‐S‐cysteinyl‐dopa levels were significantly increased in patients with stages III (n = 38) and IV (n = 20) MM compared with patients with stages 0–II (n = 62) MM. In addition, in patients with stages III and IV MM, serum 5‐S‐cysteinyl‐dopa levels of more than 15.0 nmol/L at initial hospital visit correlated with a poor prognosis. In 11 of 14 patients whose disease progressed during follow up (mostly from stages III–IV), serum 5‐S‐cysteinyl‐dopa levels exceeded the normal limit of 10.0 nmol/L during the clinical detection of distant metastases. These results indicate the usefulness of measuring serum 5‐S‐cysteinyl‐dopa levels at initial hospital visit and during follow up for early and effective therapeutic interventions using newly developed molecular targeted drugs.
One‐stop thyroid nodule clinic with same‐day fine‐needle aspiration cytology improves efficiency of care
Authors: Patel Rajeshbhai , R. Skandarajah Anita , Gorelik Alexandra , Shears Matthew J. , Tasevski Robert , Miller Julie A.
Published: October 2016

Background

Thyroid nodules are a common presenting complaint for endocrine surgeons; many require ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration cytology (US‐FNAC). In an attempt to streamline our service, we introduced same‐day surgeon‐performed US‐FNAC in 2014.

Methods

Three groups were defined: (A) retrospective group with FNAC performed in radiology prior to August 2014; (B) prospective radiology FNAC group; and (C) prospective surgeon‐performed group. Demographics, nodule characteristics, pathology and management plans were recorded. The number and dates of hospital attendances were extracted from the patient information system.

Results

Over 4 years, 635 patients underwent 757 FNACs. There were 438 patients in group A, 78 in group B and 119 in group C. Patient demographics and nodule size were similar between groups. Those patients undergoing FNAC in endocrine surgery clinic required two visits prior to receiving a diagnosis and management plan, compared with three visits for those performed in radiology. Non‐diagnostic rates between three groups were 6.5%, 7.4% and 5.4% (P = 0.842) whilst malignant FNAC results occurred in 3%, 4% and 8% (P = 0.015) respectively. Median time from US‐FNAC to definitive management plan was 42, 41 and 14 days (P < 0.001). The introduction of the one‐stop clinic resulted in a 41% reduction of patients attending the radiology department for FNAC.

Conclusion

Surgeon‐performed US‐FNAC decreases the time from fine‐needle aspiration request to definitive plan and reduces the number of patient visits, providing more efficient care. Patients referred to the endocrine surgery clinic with thyroid nodules have thyroid cancer more frequently than patients referred to radiology.