bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Monoclinic Ga2O3 (100) surface as a robust photocatalyst for water-splitting
Authors: Ma Yaqiang , Zhao Xu , Niu Mengmeng , Li Wei , Wang Xiaolong , Zhai Caiyun , Wang Tianxing , Tang Yanan , Dai Xianqi
Published: January 2017

The β-Ga2O3 (100) surface, with or without defects, as a robust photocatalyst for water decomposition was studied on the basis of density functional theory (DFT).
Membrane properties and anti-bacterial/anti-biofouling activity of polysulfone–graphene oxide composite membranes phase inversed in graphene oxide non-solvent
Authors: Mokkapati V. R. S. S. , Koseoglu-Imer Derya Yuksel , Yilmaz-Deveci Nurmiray , Mijakovic Ivan , Koyuncu Ismail
Published: January 2017

PSF–GO composite membrane fabrication using a new and facile method where after casting, the polymer solution was phase inversed in di-water–GO non-solvent.
Microemulsion prepared Ni88Pt12 for methane cracking
Authors: Zhou Lu , Harb Moussab , Hedhili Mohamed Nejib , Mana Noor Al , Basset Jean Marie
Published: January 2017

Ni88Pt12 were synthesized by water-in-oil microemulsion method and showed stable methane cracking activity at 600–700 °C to produce hydrogen and carbon nanotubes.
In situ synthesis of noble metal nanoparticles on onion-like carbon with enhanced electrochemical and supercapacitor performance
Authors: Wang Changda , Wu Chuanqiang , Chen Shuangming , He Qun , Liu Daobin , Zheng Xusheng , Haleem Yasir A. , Song Li
Published: January 2017

Ultrafine noble metal nanoparticles decorated on onion-like carbon (OLC) were successfully prepared without any reductant or surfactant.
Preparation of hydrophilic surface-imprinted ionic liquid polymer on multi-walled carbon nanotubes for the sensitive electrochemical determination of imidacloprid
Authors: Zhao Lijuan , Yang Juan , Ye Huili , Zhao Faqiong , Zeng Baizhao
Published: January 2017

A hydrophilic ionic liquid monomer was immobilized on carboxylated MWNTs by ion exchange, then reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer precipitation polymerization was performed in the presence of a template, imidacloprid.
Phosphorus-doped activated carbon as a promising additive for high performance lead carbon batteries
Authors: Wang Feng , Hu Chen , Lian Jiali , Zhou Min , Wang Kangli , Yan Jie , Jiang Kai
Published: January 2017

Remarkable inhibition of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is demonstrated on phosphorus-doped activated carbon, which shows great potential as an additive to the negative electrodes of lead-carbon batteries and other electrochemical applications.
The effect of methane decomposition on the formation and magnetic properties of iron carbide prepared from oolitic hematite
Authors: Wang Henghui , Li Guangqiang , Ma Jianghua , Zhao Dong
Published: January 2017

The dependence among the carburization degree, the carbon utilization and the mass ratio of carbon to iron at 1023 K.
Integration of Ag/AgCl and Au nanoparticles into isostructural porous coordination polymers of Ni(ii), Co(ii) and Mn(ii): magnetic studies
Authors: Agarwal Rashmi A. , Gupta Neeraj K.
Published: January 2017

Ag/AgCl and Au NP formation within non-activated isostructural porous coordination polymers at room temperature is reported without the use of reducing agent and deterioration of host frameworks.
Selective signalling of sialic acid in solution by circularly polarised luminescence spectroscopy using a dynamically racemic europium(iii) complex
Authors: Neil Emily R. , Parker David
Published: January 2017

Reversible binding of sialic acid to a phenylboronate derivative of a chiral europium(iii) complex is signalled by a strong induced CPL signature.
Dynamic formation of nanostructured particles from vesicles via invertase hydrolysis for on-demand delivery
Authors: Fong Wye-Khay , Sánchez-Ferrer Antoni , Ortelli Francesco Giovanni , Sun Wenjie , Boyd Ben J. , Mezzenga Raffaele
Published: January 2017

Controlled hydrolysis via invertase action alters molecular shape and therefore lipid curvature, consequently triggering the release of encapsulated drug.
Synthesis of well-dispersed ZnO–Co–C composite hollow microspheres as advanced anode materials for lithium ion batteries
Authors: Lu Xiangjun , Xie An , Jiang Chunhai , Lu Mi , Zhang Yong , Zhong Haichang , Zhuang Shuxin
Published: January 2017

Well-dispersed ZnO–Co–C composite hollow microspheres exhibit excellent electrochemical properties when used as anode materials for lithium ion batteries.
Synthesis, mesomorphic and photophysical properties of novel triads and pentads of perylene liquid crystals with cholesterol units at the bay-position
Authors: Zhu Mingguang , Guo Hongyu , Yang Fafu , Wang Zusheng
Published: January 2017

Perylene derivatives with cholesterol units at the bay-position exhibited good mesomorphic and photophysical properties.
High electrical conductivity in Ba2In2O5brownmillerite based materials induced by design of a Frenkel defect structure
Authors: Ito Shigeharu , Mori Toshiyuki , Yan Pengfei , Auchterlonie Graeme , Drennan John , Ye Fei , Fugane Keisuke , Sato Takaya
Published: January 2017

The present work presented a design paradigm for synthesis of Ba2In2O5based materials with both high electrical conductivity and small volume change which are important factors for solid-state device applications.
Bio-inspired enantioselective full transamination using readily available cyclodextrin
Authors: Zhang Shiqi , Li Guangxun , Liu Hongxin , Wang Yingwei , Cao Yuan , Zhao Gang , Tang Zhuo
Published: January 2017

The mimics of vitamin B6-dependent enzymes that catalyzed an enantioselective full transamination in the pure aqueous phase have been realized through the establishment of a new catalytical system with readily available β-cyclodextrin.
Lead-free pseudo-three-dimensional organic–inorganic iodobismuthates for photovoltaic applications
Authors: Li Tianyue , Hu Yue , Morrison Carole A. , Wu Wenjun , Han Hongwei , Robertson Neil
Published: January 2017

X-ray diffraction, electronic characterisation and mesoscopic solar cell evaluation were performed for two novel iodobismuthates, C5H6NBiI4([py][BiI4]) and C6H8NBiI4([mepy][BiI4]).
Organosilane oxidation with a half million turnover number using fibrous nanosilica supported ultrasmall nanoparticles and pseudo-single atoms of gold
Authors: Dhiman Mahak , Chalke Bhagyashree , Polshettiwar Vivek
Published: January 2017

The combination of ultrasmall nanoparticles and pseudosingle atoms of gold (Au) and fibrous nanosilica (KCC-1) enabled the design of KCC-1-APTS/Au nanocatalysts with very high turnover numbers (TONs).
Recent advances in inorganic 2D materials and their applications in lithium and sodium batteries
Authors: Shi Le , Zhao Tianshou
Published: January 2017

Inorganic 2D materials have found broad applications in lithium and sodium batteries.
Synthesis and functionalization of dextran-based single-chain nanoparticles in aqueous media
Authors: Gracia R. , Marradi M. , Cossío U. , Benito A. , Pérez-San Vicente A. , Gómez-Vallejo V. , Grande H.-J. , Llop J. , Loinaz I.
Published: January 2017

Water-dispersible dextran-based single-chain polymer nanoparticles (SCPNs) were prepared in aqueous media and under mild conditions.
Probing photophysical properties of isomeric N-heterocyclic carbene Ir(iii) complexes and their applications to deep-blue phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes
Authors: Cho Yang-Jin , Kim So-Yoen , Kim Jin-Hyoung , Lee Jiwon , Cho Dae Won , Yi Seungjun , Son Ho-Jin , Han Won-Sik , Kang Sang Ook
Published: January 2017

The photophysical and electrochemical properties of the two isomeric N-heterocyclic carbene Ir(iii) complexes were investigated.
Chiral recognition of optically active CoFe2O4magnetic nanoparticles by CdSe/CdS quantum dots stabilised with chiral ligands
Authors: Visheratina A. K. , Purcell-Milton F. , Serrano-García R. , Kuznetsova V. A. , Orlova A. O. , Fedorov A. V. , Baranov A. V. , Gun'ko Y. K.
Published: January 2017

We report a new optical sensing approach based on the chiral recognition of optically active CoFe2O4magnetic nanoparticles by CdSe/CdS core/shell quantum dots stabilized with cysteine of different chiralities.
Rapid one-pot electrodeposition of polyaniline/manganese dioxide hybrids: a facile approach to stable high-performance anodic electrochromic materials
Authors: Zhou Dan , Che Boyang , Lu Xuehong
Published: January 2017

Polyaniline/manganese dioxide hybrid films are prepared via one-pot potentiostatically anodic electrodeposition and exhibit enhanced electrochromic properties, especially, excellent cycling stability.
Tuning of electronic properties via labile N→B-coordination in conjugated organoboranes
Authors: Schraff Sandra , Sun Yu , Pammer Frank
Published: January 2017

In this report we demonstrate that labile intramolecular N→B-Lewis pair formation can serve to tailor the properties of π-conjugated electronic materials.
Development of a BALB/c mouse model for food allergy: comparison of allergy-related responses to peanut agglutinin, β-lactoglobulin and potato acid phosphatase
Authors: Chen Chen , Lianhua Lu , Nana Sun , Yongning Li , Xudong Jia
Published: January 2017

Histopathology results of ear segments in mice (sensitized with 0.05 mg and 0 protein) i.p. and i.g. challenged with the corresponding proteins are shown below.
Near-infrared scattered light properties of the HR 4796 A dust ring
Authors: Milli J. , Vigan A. , Mouillet D. , Lagrange A.-M. , Augereau J.-C. , Pinte C. , Mawet D. , Schmid H. M. , Boccaletti A. , Matrà L. , Kral Q. , Ertel S. , Chauvin G. , Bazzon A. , Ménard F. , Beuzit J.-L. , Thalmann C. , Dominik C. , Feldt M. , Henning T. , Min M. , Girard J. H. , Galicher R. , Bonnefoy M. , Fusco T. , de Boer J. , Janson M. , Maire A.-L. , Mesa D. , Schlieder J. E. ,   the SPHERE Consortium
Published: January 2017

Context. HR 4796 A is surrounded by a debris disc, observed in scattered light as an inclined ring with a high surface brightness. Past observations have raised several questions. First, a strong brightness asymmetry detected in polarised reflected light has recently challenged our understanding of scattering by the dust particles in this system. Secondly, the morphology of the ring strongly suggests the presence of planets, although no planets have been detected to date.

Aims. We aim here at measuring with high accuracy the morphology and photometry of the ring in scattered light, in order to derive the phase function of the dust and constrain its near-infrared spectral properties. We also want to constrain the presence of planets and set improved constraints on the origin of the observed ring morphology.

Methods. We obtained high-angular resolution coronagraphic images of the circumstellar environment around HR 4796 A with VLT/SPHERE during the commissioning of the instrument in May 2014 and during guaranteed-time observations in February 2015. The observations reveal for the first time the entire ring of dust, including the semi-minor axis that was previously hidden either behind the coronagraphic spot or in the speckle noise.

Results. We determine empirically the scattering phase function of the dust in the H band from 13.6° to 166.6°. It shows a prominent peak of forward scattering, never detected before, for scattering angles below 30°. We analyse the reflectance spectra of the disc from the 0.95 μm to 1.6 μm, confirming the red colour of the dust, and derive detection limits on the presence of planetary mass objects.

Conclusions. We confirm which side of the disc is inclined towards the Earth. The analysis of the phase function, especially below 45°, suggests that the dust population is dominated by particles much larger than the observation wavelength, of about 20 μm. Compact Mie grains of this size are incompatible with the spectral energy distribution of the disc, however the observed rise in scattering efficiency beyond 50° points towards aggregates which could reconcile both observables. We do not detect companions orbiting the star, but our high-contrast observations provide the most stringent constraints yet on the presence of planets responsible for the morphology of the dust.
Understanding Knowledge Re-integration in Backsourcing
Authors: Ejodame Kayode , Oshri Ilan
Published: January 2017

Backsourcing is the process where a client firm brings previously outsourced services from a supplier back in-house. Traditionally, the existing literature on backsourcing has focused on how firms reach the decision to bring back previously outsourced services. In this paper, we move beyond focusing on IT backsourcing decision to explore the process of backsourcing from a knowledge perspective. The predominant view in the relevant literature argues that the re-acquisition of knowledge by a client firm during backsourcing takes place similarly to knowledge acquisition by a supplier in a typical outsourcing process. In this paper, we argue that knowledge re-integration in backsourcing occurs differently from outsourcing projects mainly because of the existence of knowledge asymmetries between the client and the supplier. By examining seven backsourcing events, we reveal that knowledge transfer and re-integration in backsourcing emerges as a coordinative activity, complementing knowledge transfer mechanisms reported in the IS outsourcing literature.
Sitting ducks face chronic disease: an analysis of newspaper coverage of sedentary behaviour as a health issue in Australia 2000–2012
Authors: Chau Josephine Y. , Bonfiglioli Catriona , Zhong Amy , Pedisic Zeljko , Daley Michelle , McGill Bronwyn , Bauman Adrian
Published: January 2017

Issue addressed

This study examines how sedentary behaviour (too much sitting) was covered as a health issue by Australian newspapers and how physical activity was framed within this newspaper coverage.

Methods

Articles featuring sedentary behaviour published in Australian newspapers between 2000 and 2012 were analysed for content and framing. Main outcome measures were volume, number and content of newspaper articles; framing and types of sedentary behaviour; responsibility for the problem of and solutions to high levels of sedentary behaviour; and physical activity mentions and how it was framed within sedentary behaviour coverage.

Results

Out of 48 articles, prolonged sitting was framed as bad for health (52%) and specifically as health compromising for office workers (25%). Adults who sat a lot were framed as ‘easy targets’ for ill health (21% of headlines led with ‘sitting ducks’ or ‘sitting targets’). Prolonged sitting was framed as an issue of individual responsibility (>90%) with less mention of environmental and sociocultural contributors. Thirty‐six of 48 articles mentioned physical activity; 39% stated that being physically active does not matter if a person sits for prolonged periods of time or that the benefits of physical activity are undone by too much sitting.

Conclusions

News coverage should reflect the full socio‐ecological model of sedentary behaviour and continually reinforce the independent and well‐established benefits of health‐enhancing physical activity alongside the need to limit prolonged sitting.

So what?

It is important that the entire ‘move more, sit less, every day!’ message is communicated by news media.
Insights into movement behaviour of snapper (Chrysophrys auratus, Sparidae) from a large acoustic array
Authors: Fowler A. J. , Huveneers C. , Lloyd M. T.
Published: January 2017

Snapper is a significant fishery species in Australasia whose movement behaviour remains poorly understood. This was addressed in the present study at the within-region scale using acoustic telemetry in the Gulf St Vincent, South Australia. Over 3 years from May 2011, 54 snapper were monitored throughout ~160km2 using 41 acoustic receivers. The dispersion of >500000 detections varied in space and time, reflecting three types of space use, dependent on different types of movement behaviour. One station, near a large shipwreck, accounted for 67.8% of all detections, particularly during winter, when fish were sedentary and site attached. In spring, the fish dispersed throughout the study area to different habitats and, through summer, occupied different larger restricted areas than used in winter. Snapper were highly mobile and demonstrated systematic behaviour at several temporal scales. They moved linear distances of up to ~100km and could achieve tens of kilometres in a day in episodic movements. Through the year, their activity was distributed across areas of hundreds of square kilometres. The regional spatial management regimen was assessed against this enhanced understanding of movement behaviour. A new marine park sanctuary zone that encompassed the shipwreck was appropriately located, but possible benefits of a nearby spatial spawning closure area appear limited.
Indicators for continuous quality improvement for otitis media in primary health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
Authors: Sibthorpe Beverly , Agostino Jason , Coates Harvey , Weeks Sharon , Lehmann Deborah , Wood Marianne , Lannigan Francis , McAullay Daniel
Published: January 2017

Otitis media is a common, generally self-limiting childhood illness that can progress to severe disease and have lifelong sequelae, including hearing loss and developmental delays. Severe disease is disproportionately prevalent among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Primary health care is at the frontline of appropriate prevention and treatment. Continuous quality improvement in the prevention and management of important causes of morbidity in client populations is accepted best practice in primary health care and now a requirement of Australian Government funding to services providing care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. To date, there have been no indicators for continuous quality improvement in the prevention and management of otitis media and its sequelae in primary health care. Through an expert group consensus process, seven evidence-based indicators, potentially extractable from electronic health records, have been developed. The development process and indicators are described.
Improving information design practice
Authors: Pontis Sheila , Babwahsingh Michael
Published: January 2017

As novel tools and techniques for visualizing information grow popular, many information design solutions are increasingly demonstrating high technical and visual sophistication, but often at the expense of thoughtful, effective communication. This recurring phenomenon highlights an overemphasis on the production of design outputs and failure to understand the initial problem, content, and audience early in a project. We assert that ineffective information design results primarily from a lack of rigor in the conceptual stage of the design process, when critical decisions determine the end result. We propose 23 methods information designers may adopt to reinforce their conceptual design activities.
Processing conjunctive entailment of disjunction
Authors: Liu Chin-Ting Jimbo , Chen Li-mei
Published: January 2017

In a sentence where the disjunctionhuo‘or’ appears under the negationmei‘no’ (e.g.:Ta mei chi qingjiao huo qiezi. ‘He did not eat green peppers or eggplants.’), the sentence is globally ambiguous between the conjunctive interpretation and the disjunctive interpretation. The primary goal of this study is to investigate if there is a default meaning for simple negative statements containinghuo‘or’. Data collected from the self-paced region-by-region reading experiment indicated that the participants consistently preferred the conjunctive interpretation. Additionally, in the conjunction-biased condition where the sentences turned out to favor the disjunctive interpretations at the end, there was reading time penalty at the last region of the sentences and participants spent significantly longer time judging the appropriateness of those sentences. Contrary toJing’s (2008)assertion that both disjunction and conjunction readings are equally prominent in an out-of-the-blue context, the results from the quantitative data revealed that the conjunction reading is the default meaning for simple negative statements containinghuo‘or’. The findings of the current experiment provide essential implications to the study of child language acquisition. Specifically, we argue that understanding the adults’ linguistic patterns is a prerequisite to the study of children’s language acquisition patterns.
Once again on methodology and argumentation in linguistics
Authors: LaPolla Randy J.
Published: January 2017

There have been challenges to the received view of the structure of the Sino-Tibetan language family. This is all well and good, as we should constantly challenge our most basic assumptions. In this paper I look at the arguments presented with a view to convincing us to change our conception of Sino-Tibetan and to change the name of the family to “Trans-Himalayan”, and find them less than convincing, due to problems of fact and argumentation.
Degradation kinetics of passion fruit pectin in subcritical water
Authors: Klinchongkon Khwanjai , Khuwijitjaru Pramote , Adachi Shuji
Published: January 2017

The degradation of passion fruit pectin by subcritical water treatment in a continuous flow-type reactor was investigated in the temperature range of 80−160 °C at a constant pressure of 5 MPa. Changes in the degree of polymerization and reducing end formation were monitored and modeled by applying the Emsley equation and zeroth-order kinetics, respectively. The results showed that both the pectin degradation rate constant and the change in the amount of reducing end were enhanced by temperature, and that the temperature dependence of these parameters obeyed the Arrhenius relationship. The activation energies for pectin degradation and reducing end formation were 62.8 and 86.9 kJ/mol, respectively. The non-linear relationship between the ratio of broken galacturonic acid units to the total galacturonic acid units and the change in the amount of reducing end indicated that pectin cleavage became easier as hydrolysis progressed.
Nanoscale patterning, macroscopic reconstruction, and enhanced surface stress by organic adsorption on vicinal surfaces
Authors: Pollinger Florian , Schmitt Stefan , Sander Dirk , Tian Zhen , Kirschner Jürgen , Vrdoljak Pavo , Stadler Christoph , Maier Florian , Marchetto Helder , Schmidt Thomas , Schöll Achim , Umbach Eberhard
Published: January 2017

Self-organization is a promising method within the framework of bottom-up architectures to generate nanostructures in an efficient way. The present work demonstrates that self-organization on the length scale of a few to several tens of nanometers can be achieved by a proper combination of a large (organic) molecule and a vicinal metal surface if the local bonding of the molecule on steps is significantly stronger than that on low-index surfaces. In this case thermal annealing may lead to large mass transport of the subjacent substrate atoms such that nanometer-wide and micrometer-long molecular stripes or other patterns are being formed on high-index planes. The formation of these patterns can be controlled by the initial surface orientation and adsorbate coverage. The patterns arrange self-organized in regular arrays by repulsive mechanical interactions over long distances accompanied by a significant enhancement of surface stress. We demonstrate this effect using the planar organic molecule PTCDA as adsorbate and Ag(10 8 7) and Ag(775) surfaces as substrate. The patterns are directly observed by STM, the formation of vicinal surfaces is monitored by high-resolution electron diffraction, the microscopic surface morphology changes are followed by spectro-microscopy, and the macroscopic changes of surface stress are measured by a cantilever bending method. The in situ combination of these complementary techniques provides compelling evidence for elastic interaction and a significant stress contribution to long-range order and nanopattern formation.
Single-cell histories in growing populations: relating physiological variability to population growth
Authors: Thomas Philipp
Published: January 2017

Cell size and individual growth rates vary substantially across genetically identical cell populations. This variation cannot entirely be explained by asynchronous cell division cycles, but also needs to take into account the differences in the histories that cells experience during their lifespan. We describe a stochastic framework to characterise cell size histories in an exponentially growing population. We show that these histories differ from cells observed in isolation, such as observed in mother machines. Quantifying these historical fluctuations allows us to predict the population growth rate. We highlight that the maximum attainable population growth cannot exceed the rate at which an average cell grows, but the population doubles faster than an average cell doubles its size. We validate this prediction using recent single-cell data. The theory thus provides fundamental limits on population fitness in terms of individual cell properties.
Deconvolving sequence features that discriminate between overlapping regulatory annotations
Authors: Kakumanu Akshay , Velasco Silvia , Mazzoni Esteban , Mahony Shaun
Published: January 2017

Genomic loci with regulatory potential can be identified and annotated with various properties. For example, genomic sites may be annotated as being bound by a given transcription factor (TF) in one or more cell types. The same sites may be further labeled as being proximal or distal to known promoters. Given such a collection of labeled sites, it is natural to ask what sequence features are associated with each annotation label. However, discovering such label-specific sequence features is often confounded by overlaps between annotation labels; e.g. if regulatory sites specific to a given cell type are also more likely to be promoter-proximal, it is difficult to assess whether motifs identified in that set of sites are associated with the cell type or associated with promoters. In order to meet this challenge, we developed SeqUnwinder, a principled approach to deconvolving interpretable discriminative sequence features associated with overlapping annotation labels. We demonstrate the novel analysis abilities of SeqUnwinder using three examples. Firstly, we show SeqUnwinder’s ability to unravel sequence features associated with the dynamic binding behavior of TFs during motor neuron programming from features associated with chromatin state in the initial embryonic stem cells. Secondly, we characterize distinct sequence properties of multi-condition and cell-specific TF binding sites after controlling for uneven associations with promoter proximity. Finally, we demonstrate the scalability of SeqUnwinder to discover cell-specific sequence features from over one hundred thousand genomic loci that display DNase I hypersensitivity in one or more ENCODE cell lines.

Availability

https://github.com/seqcode/sequnwinder
Transposons modulate transcriptomic and phenotypic variation via the formation of circular RNAs in maize
Authors: Chen Lu , Zhang Pei , Fan Yuan , Huang Juan , Lu Qiong , Li Qing , Yan Jianbing , Muehlbauer Gary J. , Schnable Patrick S. , Dai Mingqiu , Li Lin
Published: January 2017

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are covalently closed, single-stranded RNA molecules. Recent studies in human showed that circRNAs can arise via transcription of reverse complementary pairs of transposons. Given the prevalence of transposons in the maize genome and dramatic genomic variation driven by transposons, we hypothesize that transposons in maize may be involved in the formation of circRNAs and further modulate phenotypic variation. To test our hypothesis, we performed circRNA-Seq on B73 seedling leaves and integrate these data with 977 publicly available mRNA-Seq datasets. We uncovered 1,551 high-confidence maize circRNAs, which show distinct genomic features as compared to linear transcripts. Comprehensive analyses demonstrated that LINE1-like elements (LLE) and their Reverse Complementary Pairs (LLERCPs) are significantly enriched in the flanking regions of circRNAs. Interestingly, the accumulation of circRNA transcripts increases, while the accumulation of linear transcripts decreases as the number of LLERCPs increases. Furthermore, genes with LLERCP-mediated circRNAs are enriched among loci that are associated with phenotypic variation. These results suggest that LLERCPs can modulate phenotypic variation by the formation of circRNAs. As a proof of concept, we showed that the presence/absence variation of LLERCPs could result in expression variation of one cicrRNA, circ352, and further related to plant height through the interaction between circRNA and functional linear transcript. Our first glimpse of circRNAs uncovers a new role for transposons in the modulation of transcriptomic and phenotypic variation via the formation of circRNAs.
Transcriptional repression by ApiAP2 factors is central to chronic toxoplasmosis
Authors: Radke Joshua B. , Worth Danielle , Hong Dong-Pyo , Huang Sherri , Sullivan William J. , Wilson Emma H. , White Michael W.
Published: January 2017

Bradyzoite differentiation is marked by major changes in gene expression resulting in a parasite that expresses a new repertoire of surface antigens hidden inside a modified parasitophorous vacuole called the tissue cyst. The factors that control this important life cycle transition are not well understood. Here we describe an importantToxoplasmatranscriptional repressor mechanism controlling bradyzoite differentiation that operates exclusively in the tachyzoite stage. The ApiAP2 factor, AP2IV-4, is a nuclear factor dynamically expressed in late S phase through mitosis/cytokinesis of the tachyzoite cell cycle. Remarkably, deletion of the AP2IV-4 locus resulted in the increased expression of bradyzoite mRNAs in replicating tachyzoites, and in two different genetic lineages we confirmed the misexpression of tissue cyst wall components (e.g. BPK1, MCP4, CST1) and the bradyzoite surface antigen SRS9 in the tachyzoite stage. In the murine animal model, the loss of AP2IV-4 had profound biological consequences. Type II prugniaud strain parasites lacking AP2IV-4 were unable to form tissue cysts in brain tissue and the absence of this factor also recruited a potent immune response characterized by increases inflammatory monocytes, IFN-γ and higher numbers of both CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells. Altogether, these results indicate that suppression of bradyzoite antigens by AP2IV-4 during acute infection is required forToxoplasmato establish a chronic infection in the immune-competent host.

Author Summary

TheToxoplasmabiology that underlies the establishment of a chronic infection is developmental conversion of the acute tachyzoite stage into the latent bradyzoite-tissue cyst stage. Despite the important clinical consequences of this developmental pathway, the molecular basis of the switch mechanisms that control formation of the tissue cyst is still poorly understood. A fundamental feature of tissue cyst formation is the expression of bradyzoite-specific genes. Here we show the transcription factor AP2IV-4 directly silences bradyzoite mRNA and protein expression in the acute tachyzoite stage demonstrating that developmental control of tissue cyst formation is as much about when not to express bradyzoite genes as it is about when to activate them. Loosing the suppression of bradyzoite gene expression in the acute tachyzoite stage caused by deleting AP2IV-4 blocked the establishment of chronic disease in healthy animals through the pre-arming of the immune system suggesting a possible strategy for preventing chronicToxoplasmainfections.
A theoretical framework of external accounting communication
Authors: Merkl-Davies Doris M. , Brennan Niamh M.
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a theoretical framework of external accounting communication in the form of a typology based on perspectives, traditions, and theories from the discipline of communication studies. The focus is accounting communication with external audiences via public written documents outside the audited financial statements, i.e., annual reports, press releases, CSR reports, websites, conference calls, etc.

Design/methodology/approach

The theoretical framework is based on two broad research perspectives on accounting communication: (A) a functionalist-behavioural transmission perspective and (B) a symbolic-interpretive narrative perspective. Eight traditions of communication research are introduced which provide alternative ways of conceptualising accounting communication, namely (1) mathematical tradition, (2) socio-psychological tradition, (3) cybernetic/systems-oriented tradition, (4) semiotic tradition, (5) rhetorical tradition, (6) phenomenological tradition, (7) socio-cultural tradition, and (8) critical tradition. Exemplars of each tradition from prior accounting research, to the extent they have been adopted, are discussed. Finally, a typology is developed, which serves as a heuristic device for viewing similarities and differences between research traditions.

Findings

Prior accounting studies predominantly focus on the role of discretionary disclosures in accounting communication in the functioning of the relationship between organisations and their audiences. Research is predominantly located in the mathematical, the socio-psychological, and the cybernetic/systems-oriented tradition. Accounting communication is primarily viewed as the transmission of messages about financial, environmental, and social information to external audiences. Prior research is mainly concerned with the communicator (e.g. CEO personality) and the message (e.g. intentions and effects of accounting communication). Research from alternative traditions is encouraged, which explores how organisations and their audiences engage in a dialogue and interactively create, sustain, and manage meaning concerning accounting and accountability issues.

Originality/value

The paper identifies, organises, and synthesises research perspectives, traditions, and associated theories from the communication studies literature in the form of a typology. The paper concludes with an extensive agenda for future research on accounting communication.
From “mad men” to “math men”
Authors: Viale Thierry , Gendron Yves , Suddaby Roy
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The authors study how communication agencies became important sites for the rise of measurement expertise in the government of consumer conduct following the development of online consumption. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the processes by which digital measurement developed (within the agencies) as a new legitimate form of expertise, able to produce relevant and detailed knowledge about the government of web users.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors carried out a field examination in France, predicated on 100 interviews with actors involved in communication consultancy. Drawing on the concepts of governmentality and inter-jurisdictional experimentation, the authors examine how digital measurement expertise acquired legitimacy within agencies. The authors also analyze how contemporary technologies of measurement and surveillance, as operated by in-house digital experts, provide advertising specialists and advertisers with increasingly precise data on consumer conduct and thought.

Findings

The constitution and legitimization of digital measurement expertise was characterized by experimentation, culminating in the production of persuasive claims of tangibility concerning communication impact, and in relative agreement on the relevance of digital expertise in operating increasingly powerful technologies of measurement and surveillance.

Originality/value

While the role of experts in promoting and implementing neoliberal governmentality is emphasized in the literature, the study indicates that considerable work is needed to develop and legitimize expertise consequent with neoliberalism. Also, the analysis highlights that the spread of digital measurement expertise and knowledge production in the government of web users constitutes a noteworthy step in the neoliberalization of society. Behind the front of “free” conduct lies an increasingly powerful network of technologies and expertise aimed at rendering consumer conduct knowable and predictable.
Segment reporting in a developing economy: the Indian banking sector
Authors: Birt Jacqueline , Joshi Mahesh , Kend Michael
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the value relevance of segment information for both public and private sector banks in India. In doing so, this paper examines a rapidly developing economy and perhaps its most critical sector during this period of strong economic growth.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study uses the simplified Ohlson model, for a sample of 136 private sector and public sector banks for the period 2007-2010 in India.

Findings

The paper finds that public sector banks have higher share prices, higher earnings and more equity compared with private sector banks. Segment earnings data is highly value relevant for both sectors; however, segment equity data is only marginally value relevant for Indian banks. The number of segments is also value relevant and associated with higher share prices.

Originality/value

The results of this study contribute additional evidence to the literature on segment reporting by studying the effect of adoption of segment reporting in an emerging market. Findings from the paper are particularly relevant as India is currently in the process of changing its segment reporting requirements and moving to an IFRS-based segment standard.
Management of income statement variables to report small positive earnings numbers
Authors: Lee B. Brian , Shin Haeyoung , Vetter William , Kim Dong Wuk
Published: January 2017

Purpose

Charting the earnings numbers reported by Korean firms produces a bell curve, but for a sharp discontinuity in the area surrounding zero. The purpose of this paper is to investigate if and how a large segment of Korean managers might manage accounting numbers to produce the observed result.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts an empirical research method using Korean listed firms as a sample. The primary focus of investigation is on major income statement variables that might produce the observed results in earnings from operations and net income.

Findings

Managers of Korean firms opportunistically use almost all income statement variables to influence earnings numbers. They manage revenues and selling, general & administrative expenses to report small positive earnings from operations, but manage non-operating gains (losses) to report small positive net income.

Research limitations/implications

This paper does not answer several questions related to loss avoidance. First, the paper did not examine which actions, such as discretionary accruals, opportunistic business decisions, or bogus transactions, were employed to affect line items on the income statement. Second, the paper did not investigate what specific incentives trigger Korean managers to report small positive earnings. Korean firms have traditionally raised capital by borrowing funds from creditors and governmental agencies. Thus, they may be concerned that reporting losses would reduce their borrowing capacity. Finally, corporate governance, such as CEO tenure and option grants may influence the extent of earnings management to avoid losses, but most corporate governance data for Korean companies must be manually collected. Accordingly, these subjects are left for future studies as well.

Originality/value

This study contributes to accounting literature by reporting how managers of Korean firms artificially coordinate major income statement variables and report small positive earnings figures, noting the differences between earnings management investigating methodology and ones used in previous studies.
Tie strength, green expertise, and interpersonal influences on the purchase of organic food in an emerging market
Authors: Chang Sheng-Hsiung , Chang Chin-Wen
Published: January 2017

Purpose

Set in an emerging economy context, the purpose of this paper is to examine the determinants of green consumers’ purchase behavior on organic food by analyzing the impact of word-of-mouth (WOM) effects (i.e. tie strength, sender’s green expertise, receiver’s green expertise), conformity behaviors (i.e. normative interpersonal influence and informational interpersonal influence) on green purchase intention, and the relationship between green purchase intention and green purchase behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected by self-administered questionnaire completed by respondents who had purchase experience of organic food in the last six months. The specific context of this study is green consumption for organic food in Taiwan. Data collection was implemented in a convenience sampling method. Among the 578 consumers who had filled the questionnaire, 147 did not have any purchase history of organic food, resulting in a final usable sample of 431 (response rate 74.57 percent) in Taiwan. The data were collected during a five-week period in late 2015.

Findings

Through structural equation modeling analysis, data were analyzed and the empirical results indicate that tie strength, sender’s green expertise, and receiver’s green expertise have a positive influence on green consumer’s susceptibility to informational interpersonal influences and normative interpersonal influences, separately. In addition, informational interpersonal influences and normative interpersonal influences both have a positive relationship on green purchase intention, which will further positively influence the green purchase behavior.

Originality/value

This study reminds marketers of the impact of WOM effects as well as interpersonal influences on consumers. It examines the impact of tie strength, senders’ green expertise, and receivers’ green expertise on green purchase intention and green purchase behavior. This study also explores the mediation effects of green consumers’ susceptibility to interpersonal influences. Consumers’ susceptibility to interpersonal influence is discussed in the marketing literature. However, few prior studies have explored its effect in the green setting. Last, few attempts have discussed the relationship between green purchase intention and green purchase behavior. This study contributes to the literature by examine the relationship between green purchase intentions and green purchase behavior.
A preliminary study on the quality and safety of street-vended warankasi (a Nigerian soft white cheese) from Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria
Authors: Adeyeye Samuel Ayofemi Olalekan
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the quality and safety of street-vended warankasi, a Nigerian soft white cheese.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 80 samples were collected in two batches of 40 samples each in January and June, 2015 from eight major markets from Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. The samples were analyzed for the proximate components, quality indices (total soluble nitrogen, TSN and volatile fatty acid, VFA), and for the presence of pathogenic bacteria, Campylobacter jejuni (CJ), Listeria monocytogenes (LM), Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MT), Salmonella spp. (SS), Escherichia coli (EC), and Yersinia enterocolitica (YE), and heavy metals such as (lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and chromium (Cr) concentrations.

Findings

The results revealed that the values of moisture, protein, fat, crude fiber, and ash contents (%) of warankasi samples were in the range 46.26±1.41-51.24±1.61, 33.92±1.18-37.26±1.42, 6.74±0.64-8.33±0.96, 1.27±0.02-1.73±0.09, 1.31±0.03-1.78±0.08, respectively. The values of TSN (mgN/kg) and VFA (%) were in the range of 1.19+0.10-2.54+0.18, and 5.79+0.19-9.12+0.30, respectively. The results further revealed the presence of CJ and SS and the absence of LM, MT, EC, and YE from the warankasi samples. Heavy metals detected in all the warankasi samples were generally below the maximum acceptable limits set by the World Health Organization for Pb (0.3 ppm), Cd (0.2 ppm), Hg (0.2 ppm), and Cr (0.5 ppm) with the exemption of samples from Iwo Road and Ojoo which were higher than other samples.

Research limitations/implications

This research work was conducted between January and June, 2015 and better results could be obtained if the study had been done for a longer period of time.

Practical implications

The paper helps in showing the quality and microbial safety of street-vended warankasi and this may bring imperative information and general consciousness on the microbiological safety of warankasi.

Originality/value

Much has been done concerning warankasi processing but little work has been done concerning street-vended warankasi. Therefore, this study was carried out to assess it.
Organic and conventional milk – insight on potential differences
Authors: Smigic Nada , Djekic Ilija , Tomasevic Igor , Stanisic Nikola , Nedeljkovic Aleksandar , Lukovic Verica , Miocinovic Jelena
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate if there is a difference in hygiene parameters of raw milk produced in organic and conventional farm of similar size. In parallel, the aim was to determine if there are differences in pasteurized organic and conventional milk samples delivered on the market.

Design/methodology/approach

Raw milk samples were analyzed for aerobic colony count (ACC), somatic cell count (SCC), acidity, temperature, fat and protein content. On the other side, final products of organic and conventional pasteurized milk with 2.8 percent declared milk fat were analyzed for Raman spectroscopy, color change and sensorial difference.

Findings

Results of raw milk analysis showed statistically significant differences in fat content, SCC, acidity, temperature and ACC (p<0.05). It is of note that ACC for organic milk were lower for approx. 1 log CFU/ml compared to conventional milk samples. Pasteurized organic milk samples had a significantly higher L* value than those samples originating from conventional farms, indicating that organic is “more white” compared to conventional milk. According to the results of triangle test, with 95 percent confidence no more than 10 percent of the population is able to detect a difference.

Research limitations/implications

A limitation of this research is the fact that good veterinary practices at farms, namely, animal health and adequate usage of medicine for treating the animals, animal welfare and animal feeding were not analyzed.

Originality/value

This study analyzed potential differences in organic and conventional milk at two important production stages of the milk chain – at receipt at dairy plant (raw milk) and perceived by consumers (final product).