bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adhesion toughness of multilayer graphene films
Authors: Wood Joseph D. , Harvey Christopher M. , Wang Simon
Published: November 2017

Interface adhesion toughness between multilayer graphene films and substrates is a major concern for their integration into functional devices. Results from the circular blister test, however, display seemingly anomalous behaviour as adhesion toughness depends on number of graphene layers. Here we show that interlayer shearing and sliding near the blister crack tip, caused by the transition from membrane stretching to combined bending, stretching and through-thickness shearing, decreases fracture mode mixity GII/GI, leading to lower adhesion toughness. For silicon oxide substrate and pressure loading, mode mixity decreases from 232% for monolayer films to 130% for multilayer films, causing the adhesion toughness Gc to decrease from 0.424 J m−2 to 0.365 J m−2. The mode I and II adhesion toughnesses are found to be GIc = 0.230 J m−2 and GIIc = 0.666 J m−2, respectively. With point loading, mode mixity decreases from 741% for monolayer films to 262% for multilayer films, while the adhesion toughness Gc decreases from 0.543 J m−2 to 0.438 J m−2.
Inhibition of D-Ala:D-Ala ligase through a phosphorylated form of the antibiotic D-cycloserine
Authors: Batson Sarah , de Chiara Cesira , Majce Vita , Lloyd Adrian J. , Gobec Stanislav , Rea Dean , Fülöp Vilmos , Thoroughgood Christopher W. , Simmons Katie J. , Dowson Christopher G. , Fishwick Colin W. G. , de Carvalho Luiz Pedro S. , Roper David I.
Published: November 2017

D-cycloserine is an antibiotic which targets sequential bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan biosynthesis enzymes: alanine racemase and D-alanine:D-alanine ligase. By a combination of structural, chemical and mechanistic studies here we show that the inhibition of D-alanine:D-alanine ligase by the antibiotic D-cycloserine proceeds via a distinct phosphorylated form of the drug. This mechanistic insight reveals a bimodal mechanism of action for a single antibiotic on different enzyme targets and has significance for the design of future inhibitor molecules based on this chemical structure.
Major depletion of SOX2+ stem cells in the adult pituitary is not restored which does not affect hormonal cell homeostasis and remodelling
Authors: Roose Heleen , Cox Benoit , Boretto Matteo , Gysemans Conny , Vennekens Annelies , Vankelecom Hugo
Published: November 2017

The pituitary gland contains SOX2-expressing stem cells. However, their functional significance remains largely unmapped. We investigated their importance by depleting SOX2+ cells through diphtheria toxin (DT)-mediated ablation. DT treatment of adult Sox2CreERT2/+;R26iDTR/+ mice (after tamoxifen-induced expression of DT receptor in SOX2+ cells) resulted in 80% obliteration of SOX2+ cells in the endocrine pituitary, coinciding with reduced pituisphere-forming activity. Counterintuitively for a stem cell population, the SOX2+ cell compartment did not repopulate. Considering the more active phenotype of the stem cells during early-postnatal pituitary maturation, SOX2+ cell ablation was also performed in 4- and 1-week-old animals. Ablation grade diminished with decreasing age and was accompanied by a proliferative reaction of the SOX2+ cells, suggesting a rescue attempt. Despite this activation, SOX2+ cells did also not recover. Finally, the major SOX2+ cell depletion in adult mice did not affect the homeostatic maintenance of pituitary hormonal cell populations, nor the corticotrope remodelling response to adrenalectomy challenge. Taken together, our study shows that pituitary SOX2+ fail to regenerate after major depletion which does not affect adult endocrine cell homeostasis and remodelling. Thus, pituitary SOX2+ cells may constitute a copious stem cell reserve or may have other critical role(s) still to be clearly defined.
Plasmonic nanograting enhanced fluorescence for protein microarray analysis of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)
Authors: Liu Chang , Meng Fanling , Wang Baogang , Zhang Lei , Cui Xiaoqiang
Published: November 2017

The plasmonic nanograting substrate is demonstrated as a superior promising candidate for developing high-throughput protein microarray platforms.
Studies on the hard confinement effect on the RAFT polymerization of a monomeric ionic liquid. Unexpected triggering of RAFT polymerization at 30 °C
Authors: Maksym Paulina , Tarnacka Magdalena , Wolnica Kamila , Dzienia Andrzej , Erfurt Karol , Chrobok Anna , Zięba Andrzej , Bielas Rafał , Kaminski Kamil , Paluch Marian
Published: November 2017

For the first time, the RAFT polymerization of a monomeric ionic liquid under hard confinement was successfully carried out.
Monomer diffusion into static and evolving polymer networks during frontal photopolymerisation
Authors: Hennessy Matthew G. , Vitale Alessandra , Matar Omar K. , Cabral João T.
Published: November 2017

Monomer diffusion can lead to swelling in polymer networks that are simultaneously being grown by frontal photopolymerisation.
Bioinspired dynamic microcapsules
Authors: AlDala'een N. F. D. , Mohamad W. N. K. W. , Alias N. , Ali A. M. , Shaikh Mohammed J.
Published: November 2017

DynaMicCaps undergo drastic volume changes when exposed to a biochemical ligand, trifluoperazine (TFP), at near physiological pH.
Translationally invariant colloidal crystal templates
Authors: Popli Pankaj , Ganguly Saswati , Sengupta Surajit
Published: November 2017

We propose a strategy for assembling colloidal particles into finite-sized crystals of any given lattice symmetry without altering their elastic and low energy vibrational properties.
Templated co-assembly into nanorods of polyanions and artificial virus capsid proteins
Authors: Hernandez-Garcia A. , Cohen Stuart M. A. , de Vries R.
Published: November 2017

A broad range of polyanions was used to template nanorods by co-assembly with a designed recombinant artificial viral coat protein.
Soft network materials with isotropic negative Poisson's ratios over large strains
Authors: Liu Jianxing , Zhang Yihui
Published: November 2017

Soft network materials with isotropic and relative constant Poisson's ratios in the range from −1 to 1 over large strains are presented, with potential applications in tissue engineering and bioelectronics.
Simple scheme for compressing sparse representation of melodic music
Authors: Rebollo‐Neira L. , Sanches I.
Published: November 2017

A simple scheme for compressing sparse representation of melodic music is outlined. The method is designed to store the output of sparse approximation (SA) of that class of signals. Sparsity is achieved using a trigonometric dictionary and a dedicated greedy strategy aiming at approximating the signal at the good point‐wise quality. Comparisons to the popular MP3 standard illustrate the suitability of the scheme for storing, in a small file, SA of melodic music.
Wide‐band interference mitigation algorithm for SAR based on time‐varying filtering and sparse recovery
Authors: Lu Xingyu , Yang Jianchao , Ma Chao , Gu Hong , Su Weimin
Published: November 2017

Wide‐band interference (WBI) can severely degrade synthetic aperture radar image quality. This Letter proposes a new WBI suppression technique using time‐varying filtering method and sparse recovery. In this method, a time‐varying filter is firstly set up in the short‐time Fourier transform domain as a pre‐processing step to suppress the major power of WBI, and then, an adaptive dictionary‐based sparse recovery algorithm is developed to recover the useful target echo loss resulting from time‐varying filtering. Finally, traditional SAR imaging algorithms can be performed to obtain a well‐focused image. Simulation results demonstrate the validity of the proposed method.
Robust normalisation and P–D state feedback control for uncertain singular Markovian jump systems with time‐varying delays
Authors: Zhuang Guangming , Xia Jianwei , Zhang Baoyong , Sun Wei
Published: November 2017

This study is concerned with the problem of robust normalisation and stabilisation of singular Markovian jump systems (SMJSs) with time‐varying delays and parameter uncertainties. The main aim is to design a proportional and derivative state feedback controller to realise the normalisation and stabilisation of the delayed SMJSs. Based on the constructed Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional, sufficient conditions are presented in terms of linear matrix inequalities via utilising the free‐weighting matrix method. Illustrative examples including an resistor inductor capacitor (RLC) circuit network are employed to demonstrate the effectiveness and usefulness of the obtained results.
Bird and whale species identification using sound images
Authors: Nanni Loris , Aguiar Rafael L. , Costa Yandre M.G. , Brahnam Sheryl , Silla Carlos N. , Brattin Ricky L. , Zhao Zhao
Published: November 2017

Image identification of animals is mostly centred on identifying them based on their appearance, but there are other ways images can be used to identify animals, including by representing the sounds they make with images. In this study, the authors present a novel and effective approach for automated identification of birds and whales using some of the best texture descriptors in the computer vision literature. The visual features of sounds are built starting from the audio file and are taken from images constructed from different spectrograms and from harmonic and percussion images. These images are divided into sub‐windows from which sets of texture descriptors are extracted. The experiments reported in this study using a dataset of Bird vocalisations targeted for species recognition and a dataset of right whale calls targeted for whale detection (as well as three well‐known benchmarks for music genre classification) demonstrate that the fusion of different texture features enhances performance. The experiments also demonstrate that the fusion of different texture features with audio features is not only comparable with existing audio signal approaches but also statistically improves some of the stand‐alone audio features. The code for the experiments will be publicly available at https://www.dropbox.com/s/bguw035yrqz0pwp/ElencoCode.docx?dl=0.
Wideband self‐complementary hybrid ring dielectric resonator antenna for MIMO applications
Authors: Das Gourab , Sharma Anand , Gangwar Ravi Kumar
Published: November 2017

This study investigates a wideband ring dielectric resonator antenna for multiple‐input–multiple‐output (MIMO) applications. The proposed MIMO antenna includes two self‐complementary hybrid radiators. A microstrip line is used to excite both the stepped slots and the ring dielectric resonator. Wide impedance bandwidth is achieved by combining the resonance of both the stepped slots and dielectric resonator. The proposed MIMO antenna has aperture area of 31 × 50 mm2. The presented antenna obtains promising performance such as wide impedance bandwidth (82.75% for port 1 and 85.21% for port 2), good isolation between the antenna elements (20 dB), and stable radiation patterns. The proposed antenna is fabricated and tested in order to verify the simulated results. Various diversity performance parameters are also investigated. The values of these parameters lie within their acceptable limits.
Efficient radio resource allocation in SDN/NFV based mobile cellular networks under the complete sharing policy
Authors: Vassilakis Vassilios G. , Moscholios Ioannis D. , Logothetis Michael D.
Published: November 2017

Novel networking paradigms, such as software‐defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualisation (NFV), introduce new opportunities in the design of next‐generation mobile networks. The present work investigates the benefits of the emerging SDN and NFV technologies on the radio resource management (RRM) in mobile cellular networks. In particular, the aim of the proposed RRM scheme is to enable an efficient and flexible radio resource allocation in order to assure quality of experience of mobile users. The authors consider the orthogonal frequency division multiple access scheme and the complete radio resource sharing policy. To enable time‐ and space‐efficient resource allocation, the authors investigate the applicability of the well‐known Kaufman–Roberts recursion in the context of new architectural and functional changes of SDN/NFV based mobile environments. Finally, they discuss the applicability of the proposed approach for more complicated resource sharing policies.
Synchronous islanded operation of an inverter interfaced renewable rich microgrid using synchrophasors
Authors: Meegahapola Lasantha , Laverty David , Jacobsen Mats‐Robin
Published: November 2017

This study describes a novel strategy for microgrid operation and control, which enables a seamless transition from grid connected mode to islanded mode, and restoration of utility supply, without loss or disruption to loads sensitive to frequency or phase angle dynamics. A simulation study is conducted on a microgrid featuring inverter connected renewable generation, and power electronic interfaced loads. Therefore, the microgrid inherently has low inertia, which would subsequently affect the dynamic characteristics of the microgrid, in particular during mode transition. The microgrid is controlled by means of synchrophasor data to achieve synchronous island operation, enabling the microgrid to track the utility frequency and phase angle. The simulation includes synchrophasor acquisition and telecoms delays, allowing for detailed investigation of the microgrid dynamics under various mode transition scenarios, including the risk of commutation failure of the inverter sources. The proposed method is demonstrated to successfully maintain a microgrid in synchronism with the main utility grid after the transition to islanded mode without significant impact on various equipment connected to the microgrid. Thus, synchronous island operation of low inertia microgrids is feasible. This study also showed that utility supply could be seamlessly restored if the microgrid is operated as a synchronous island.
Multiband filter: estimator of different frequency components of grid voltage
Authors: Huang Chenhui , Yuan Xiaoming , Li Sheng
Published: November 2017

With the rapid development of renewable energy, an increasing number of power electronic devices is integrated into the power system. Multi‐time‐scale controllers of these devices bring about diverse oscillations and harmonics which have threatened the stable operation of the power system. The accurate estimation of oscillations becomes the primary task to tackle this problem. This study proposes a novel cross‐coupled filter to accurately detect fundamental component and other frequency components. In addition, the transfer function in the frequency domain is given to describe the actual input–output relationship. Furthermore, the harmonic components which are filtered out do not have amplitude changes and phase shifts between the input and the output. Finally, the accuracy of the transfer function is verified by simulation.
Optimal scheduling model of wind power generation considering the participation of electric vehicle batteries
Authors: Feng Liang , Wu Kuihua , Wu Jian , Sun Wei , Yang Bo , Wang Jian , An Peng
Published: November 2017

In order to make full use of the cooperation of the electric vehicle batteries and the wind power generation to realise the peak load shifting, this study mainly investigates the optimisation scheduling strategy of synergistic dispatch between electric vehicle batteries and wind power. Firstly, three synergistic dispatch model including electric vehicles, wind power, and power load demand, and three constraint conditions of the available time, the residual capacity of battery, and the charge–discharge power are proposed by considering the characteristics of transportation and power battery of electric vehicles. This optimisation model is then solved by the improved particle swarm optimisation algorithm. Finally, simulation experiments analyse the factors affecting the synergistic optimisation model of electric vehicles and wind power by considering three kinds of wind power output including normal and peak‐regulation and different wind power penetration and the number of electric cars to participate in power grid interaction, and the effectiveness of the synergistic optimisation model to achieve the peak load shifting is confirmed.
Aspects of digestive function in sheep related to phenotypic variation in methane emissions
Authors: Bond J. J. , Cameron M. , Donaldson A. J. , Austin K. L. , Harden S. , Robinson D. L. , Oddy V. H.
Published: November 2017

Ruminant livestock contribute to atmospheric methane (CH4) from enteric microbial fermentation of feed in the reticulo-rumen. Our research aimed to increase understanding of how digestive characteristics and rumen anatomy of the host animal contribute to variation in CH4 emissions between individual sheep. In total, 64 ewes were used in an incomplete block experiment with four experimental test periods (blocks). Ewes were chosen to represent the diversity of phenotypic variation in CH4 emissions: there were at least 10 offspring from each of four sires and a range of liveweights. Throughout the experiment, the ewes were fed equal parts of lucerne and oaten chaff, twice daily, at 1.5 times the maintenance requirements. Daily CH4 emission (g/day) increased significantly (P < 0.001) with an increasing dry-matter intake (DMI) and reticulo-rumen volume (P < 0.001). Lower methane yield (g CH4/kg DMI) was associated with shorter mean retention times of liquid (r = 0.59; P < 0.05) and particle (r = 0.63; P < 0.05) phases of the digesta in the rumen. Significant between sire variation was observed in CH4 emissions and in rumen volume (P = 0.02), the masses of liquids (P = 0.009) and particles (P < 0.03) in the rumen and the proportion of gas in the dorsal sac of the rumen (P = 0.008). The best predictors of variation in CH4 emissions due to the host were DMI, CO2 emissions, rumen volume, liveweight, mean retention time of particles in the rumen, dorsal papillae density and the proportion of liquid in the contents of the rumen compartments.
Benefits of adopting seed-based technologies for rehabilitation in the mining sector: a Pilbara perspective
Authors: Erickson Todd E. , Muñoz-Rojas Miriam , Kildisheva Olga A. , Stokes Brad A. , White Stephen A. , Heyes Joanne L. , Dalziell Emma L. , Lewandrowski Wolfgang , James Jeremy J. , Madsen Matthew D. , Turner Shane R. , Merritt David J.
Published: November 2017

The use of native plant seeds is fundamental to large-scale rehabilitation and the re-establishment of self-sustaining ecosystems after high-impact mining activity has ceased. However, many of the biological attributes of seeds are often overlooked in large-scale rehabilitation programs. Multi-disciplinary, long-term research collaborations are required to improve seed-based mine rehabilitation. In this paper, we review the steps that BHP Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO), a large iron ore mining company that operates in the Pilbara bioregion of north-west Western Australia, has taken over the past 9 years to ensure continuous improvement in rehabilitation procedures. We introduce the mining activities that WAIO undertake in the Pilbara, and emphasise specific examples of how research findings have led to incremental improvements in the seed management cycle, growth media management and mine rehabilitation practices. Specifically, we outline how the implementation of structured seed collection and storage programs has created the capacity to maintain high-quality seed stocks sufficient for 3–5 years of future rehabilitation. Research has documented the prevalence of seed dormancy in the flora (>70% of 105 species examined produce dormant seeds), with physical and physiological classes of dormancy most commonly encountered. We discuss the development of seed-treatments such as optimised wet-heat and dry after-ripening that have increased the germination capacity of many previously dormant seed batches. In addition, we highlight how seed enhancement technologies, such as hydro-priming with smoke-derived germination stimulants and polymer seed coating, and a greater understanding of the biological and physical limitations present in the growing environment, have vastly improved seedling emergence performance under field conditions for key framework Triodia species. Ongoing industry support (e.g. construction of a purpose-built rain manipulation shelter) has ensured research in the Pilbara will continue to unpack and resolve the complex challenges associated with seed regeneration of biodiverse native plant communities after mining.
Characterisation of spatial and temporal distribution of the fire regime in Niassa National Reserve, northern Mozambique
Authors: Ribeiro N. S. , Cangela A. , Chauque A. , Bandeira R. R. , Ribeiro-Barros A. I.
Published: November 2017

The Niassa National Reserve (NNR) is the largest conservation area of the Miombo woodlands in southern Africa, representing one of the most remote and pristine biodiversity spots. Anthropogenic fires have long been one of the main ecological drivers in these woodlands. However, the constraint in understanding fire effects results from limited data and accessibility to existing fire records. This study is intended to contribute to the understanding of fire ecology in these woodlands by assessing the fire regime in NNR. We used the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) daily active fire (MDC14ML) and burned-area (MCD45A1) products to characterise the fire regime in terms of seasonality, intensity, density, burned area, frequency and mean return interval for the period from 2000 to 2012. The results indicated that fire activity starts c. April and peaks in the late dry season (August–October). Approximately 45% of the area burns every year, especially the north-central and eastern sectors, with fire intensity displaying an inverse relationship with frequency. In conclusion, our study demonstrates the relevance of remote sensing for describing the spatial and temporal patterns of fire occurrence in the Miombo eco-region and highlights the necessity for controlling fire and managing fuels in this important conservation area.
Fish trader’s gender and niches in a declining coral reef fishery: implications for sustainability
Authors: McClanahan Timothy R. , Abunge Caroline
Published: November 2017

Introduction:
The state of natural resources is greatly influenced by market access. Consequently, resource trader’s incentives, decisions, and willingness to comply with management can influence efforts to achieve sustainability. Trader’s impacts will depend on their economic niches, which are influenced by cultural norms, skill, social relationships, profitability, and the spatial scale of markets. Consequently, we examined the potential of traders to influence fisheries’ sustainability by evaluating their jobs, gender roles, religion, socioeconomic status, association and perceptions of management systems, and future plans. We studied 142 traders in 19 Kenyan coral reef fisheries landing sites distributed among four gear management systems.

Outcomes:
 We found a strong role of gender, geography, and religion in the participation of these fisheries that was primarily driven by fisheries’ profitability. The associations suggest that overfished fisheries should retain traders with low education, capital, and savings – often women; whereas sustainable stocks favor the opposite characteristics, and often men.

Conclusions:
Therefore, managing for increasing yields, profits, and sustainability could exclude women traders unless they successfully access or adopt the more traditional male economic niche. Gender coexistence is most likely to be achieved by managing for intermediate resource levels where net production, catch, and fish body size diversity are high. Further, reducing risk and increasing the capital and mobility of women traders should reduce their chances of exclusion when fisheries are sustainable.
Dynamical modular curves for quadratic polynomial maps
Authors: Doyle John
Published: November 2017

Motivated by the dynamical uniform boundedness conjecture of Morton and Silverman, specifically in the case of quadratic polynomials, we give a formal construction of a certain class of dynamical analogues of classical modular curves. The preperiodic points for a quadratic polynomial map may be endowed with the structure of a directed graph satisfying certain strict conditions; we call such a graph admissible. Given an admissible graph

G
G

, we construct a curve

X
1

(
G
)

X_1(G)

whose points parametrize quadratic polynomial maps—which, up to equivalence, form a one-parameter family—together with a collection of marked preperiodic points that form a graph isomorphic to

G
G

. Building on work of Bousch and Morton, we show that these curves are irreducible in characteristic zero, and we give an application of irreducibility in the setting of number fields. We end with a discussion of the Galois theory associated to the preperiodic points of quadratic polynomials.
Stu2 uses a 15-nm parallel coiled coil for kinetochore localization and concomitant regulation of the mitotic spindle
Authors: Haase Karen P. , Fox Jaime C. , Byrnes Amy E. , Adikes Rebecca C. , Speed Sarah K. , Haase Julian , Friedman Brandon , Cook Diana M. , Bloom Kerry , Rusan Nasser M. , Slep Kevin C.
Published: November 2017

The yeast microtubule polymerase Stu2’s C-terminal domain is a 15-nm parallel, homodimeric coiled coil with two spatially distinct conserved regions. Determinants in these conserved regions optimally position Stu2 on the mitotic spindle to drive proper spindle structure and dynamics.
Assessing the heterogeneity of in silico plasmid predictions based on whole-genome-sequenced clinical isolates
Authors: Laczny Cedric C , Galata Valentina , Plum Achim , Posch Andreas E , Keller Andreas
Published: November 2017

High-throughput next-generation shotgun sequencing of pathogenic bacteria is growing in clinical relevance, especially for chromosomal DNA-based taxonomic identification and for antibiotic resistance prediction. Genetic exchange is facilitated for extrachromosomal DNA, e.g. plasmid-borne antibiotic resistance genes. Consequently, accurate identification of plasmids from whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data remains one of the major challenges for sequencing-based precision medicine in infectious diseases. Here, we assess the heterogeneity of four state-of-the-art tools (cBar, PlasmidFinder, plasmidSPAdes and Recycler) for the in silico prediction of plasmid-derived sequences from WGS data. Heterogeneity, sensitivity and precision were evaluated by reference-independent and reference-dependent benchmarking using 846 Gram-negative clinical isolates. Interestingly, the majority of predicted sequences were tool-specific, resulting in a pronounced heterogeneity across tools for the reference-independent assessment. In the reference-dependent assessment, sensitivity and precision values were found to substantially vary between tools and across taxa, with cBar exhibiting the highest median sensitivity (87.45%) but a low median precision (27.05%). Furthermore, integrating the individual tools into an ensemble approach showed increased sensitivity (95.55%) while reducing the precision (25.62%). CBar and plasmidSPAdes exhibited the strongest concordance with respect to identified antibiotic resistance factors. Moreover, false-positive plasmid predictions typically contained only few antibiotic resistance factors. In conclusion, while high degrees of heterogeneity and variation in sensitivity and precision were observed across the different tools and taxa, existing tools are valuable for investigating the plasmid-borne resistome. Nevertheless, additional studies on representative clinical data sets will be necessary to translate in silico plasmid prediction approaches from research to clinical application.
Regulation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by intestinal inflammation and the acute phase response
Authors: Herbert Karl E , Erridge Clett
Published: November 2017

Systemic inflammation, induced by disease or experimental intervention, is well established to result in elevated levels of circulating triglycerides, and reduced levels of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), in most mammalian species. However, the relationship between inflammation and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations is less clear. Most reports indicate that systemic inflammation, as observed during sepsis or following high dose experimental endotoxaemia, lowers total, and LDL-C in man. However, isolated reports have suggested that certain inflammatory conditions are associated with increased LDL-C. In this review, we summarize the emerging evidence that low-grade inflammation specifically of intestinal origin may be associated with increased serum LDL-C levels. Preliminary insights into potential mechanisms that may mediate these effects, including those connecting inflammation to trans-intestinal cholesterol efflux (TICE), are considered. We conclude that this evidence supports the potential downregulation of major mediators of TICE by inflammatory mediators in vitro and during intestinal inflammation in vivo. The TICE-inflammation axis therefore merits further study in terms of its potential to regulate serum LDL-C, and as a readily druggable target for hypercholesterolaemia.
Discovery of electron cyclotron MASER emission from the magnetic Bp star HD 133880 with the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope
Authors: Das Barnali , Chandra Poonam , Wade Gregg A
Published: November 2017

We report the discovery of coherent radio emission from the young, rapidly rotating magnetic Bp star HD 133880 at a frequency of 610 MHz with the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT). This is only the second magnetic star in which coherent radio emission has been detected. In our observations of HD 133880 covering the full rotational cycle of the star (except for a phase window 0.17–0.24), we witness an abrupt order-of-magnitude flux enhancement along with ≈100 per cent right circular polarization. We attribute this phenomenon to coherent electron cyclotron MASER emission. We attribute the lack of left circularly polarized emission to the asymmetric topology of the star's magnetic field. The phase of enhancement, 0.73, differs from the previously reported phase of enhancement, 0.16, (at 610 MHz)by one-half cycle. However, no flux enhancement is found at phase 0.16 in our data, which could be due to an unstable or drifting emission region, or a consequence of the reported changes of the star's rotational period. Either of these factors could have shifted the enhancement to the above-mentioned phase window not sampled by our observations.
NaV1.7 and pain: contribution of peripheral nerves
Authors: Hoffmann Tal , Sharon Ohad , Wittmann Jürgen , Carr Richard W. , Vyshnevska Alina , Col Roberto De , Nassar Mohammed A. , Reeh Peter W. , Weidner Christian
Published: November 2017

The sodium channel NaV1.7 contributes to action potential (AP) generation and propagation. Loss-of-function mutations in patients lead to congenital indifference to pain, though it remains unclear where on the way from sensory terminals to central nervous system the signalling is disrupted. We confirm that conditional deletion of NaV1.7 in advillin-expressing sensory neurons leads to impaired heat and mechanical nociception in behavioural tests. With single-fiber recordings from isolated skin, we found (1) a significantly lower prevalence of heat responsiveness to normally mechanosensitive C-fibers, although (2) the rare heat responses seemed quite vigorous, and (3) heat-induced calcitonin gene-related peptide release was normal. In biophysical respects, although electrical excitability, rheobase, and chronaxy were normal, (4) axonal conduction velocity was 20% slower than in congenic wild-type mice (5) and when challenged with double pulses (<100 milliseconds interval), the second AP showed more pronounced latency increase (6). On prolonged electrical stimulation at 2 Hz, (7) activity-dependent slowing of nerve fiber conduction was markedly less, and (8) was less likely to result in conduction failure of the mutant single fibers. Finally, recording of compound APs from the whole saphenous nerve confirmed slower conduction and less activity-dependent slowing as well as the functional absence of a large subpopulation of C-fibers (9) in conditional NaV1.7Adv knockouts. In conclusion, the clear deficits in somatic primary afferent functions shown in our study may be complemented by previously reported synaptic dysfunction and opioidergic inhibition, together accounting for the complete insensitivity to pain in the human mutants lacking NaV1.7.
Computed Tomography–Based Imaging of Voxel-Wise Lesion Water Uptake in Ischemic Brain
Authors: Broocks Gabriel , Flottmann Fabian , Ernst Marielle , Faizy Tobias Djamsched , Minnerup Jens , Siemonsen Susanne , Fiehler Jens , Kemmling Andre
Published: November 2017

Objectives

Net water uptake per volume of brain tissue may be calculated by computed tomography (CT) density, and this imaging biomarker has recently been investigated as a predictor of lesion age in acute stroke. However, the hypothesis that measurements of CT density may be used to quantify net water uptake per volume of infarct lesion has not been validated by direct volumetric measurements so far. The purpose of this study was to (1) develop a theoretical relationship between CT density reduction and net water uptake per volume of ischemic lesions and (2) confirm this relationship by quantitative in vitro and in vivo CT image analysis using direct volumetric measurements.

Materials and Methods

We developed a theoretical rationale for a linear relationship between net water uptake per volume of ischemic lesions and CT attenuation. The derived relationship between water uptake and CT density was tested in vitro in a set of increasingly diluted iodine solutions with successive CT measurements. Furthermore, the consistency of this relationship was evaluated using human in vivo CT images in a retrospective multicentric cohort. In 50 edematous infarct lesions, net water uptake was determined by direct measurement of the volumetric difference between the ischemic and normal hemisphere and was correlated with net water uptake calculated by ischemic density measurements.

Results

With regard to in vitro data, water uptake by density measurement was equivalent to direct volumetric measurement (r = 0.99, P < 0.0001; mean ± SD difference, −0.29% ± 0.39%, not different from 0, P < 0.0001). In the study cohort, the mean ± SD uptake of water within infarct measured by volumetry was 44.7 ± 26.8 mL and the mean percent water uptake per lesion volume was 22.7% ± 7.4%. This was equivalent to percent water uptake obtained from density measurements: 21.4% ± 6.4%. The mean difference between percent water uptake by direct volumetry and percent water uptake by CT density was −1.79% ± 3.40%, which was not significantly different from 0 (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Volume of water uptake in infarct lesions can be calculated quantitatively by relative CT density measurements. Voxel-wise imaging of water uptake depicts lesion pathophysiology and could serve as a quantitative imaging biomarker of acute infarct lesions.
Interactions between cleaner-birds and ungulates are personality dependent
Authors: Found Rob
Published: November 2017

While a growing body of literature explores the ecological implications of consistent individual variation in the behaviour of wildlife, few studies have looked at the reciprocal influences of personality within interspecific interactions, despite the potentially significant impacts on biodiversity. Here I used two species involved in cleaner-bird behaviour—black-billed magpies (
Pica pica
) and Rocky mountain elk (
Cervus canadensis
)—to show that the exhibition of mutualistic behaviour can depend on the personality of the individual involved. I recorded suites of correlated behaviours in both elk and magpies to derive personality gradients from ‘shy’ to ‘bold’, which I compared with observations of interspecific interactions. I measured each half of this mutualistic relationship separately. I found that bold elk were more likely to aggressively reject magpie landings, while shy elk allowed magpies to land and groom them. Contrastingly, I found it was bold magpies that were willing to risk landings, while shy magpies rarely attempted landings. These results show that the exhibition of interspecific behaviour is predicated on the personality of the individuals, and thus likely contributes to the selection and maintenance of personality variation within populations.
Numb prevents a complete epithelial–mesenchymal transition by modulating Notch signalling
Authors: Bocci Federico , Jolly Mohit K. , Tripathi Satyendra C. , Aguilar Mitzi , Hanash Samir M. , Levine Herbert , Onuchic José N.
Published: November 2017

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays key roles during embryonic development, wound healing and cancer metastasis. Cells in a partial EMT or hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal (E/M) phenotype exhibit collective cell migration, forming clusters of circulating tumour cells—the primary drivers of metastasis. Activation of cell–cell signalling pathways such as Notch fosters a partial or complete EMT, yet the mechanisms enabling cluster formation remain poorly understood. Using an integrated computational–experimental approach, we examine the role of Numb—an inhibitor of Notch intercellular signalling—in mediating EMT and clusters formation. We show via an mathematical model that Numb inhibits a full EMT by stabilizing a hybrid E/M phenotype. Consistent with this observation, knockdown of Numb in stable hybrid E/M cells H1975 results in a full EMT, thereby showing that Numb acts as a brake for a full EMT and thus behaves as a ‘phenotypic stability factor' by modulating Notch-driven EMT. By generalizing the mathematical model to a multi-cell level, Numb is predicted to alter the balance of hybrid E/M versus mesenchymal cells in clusters, potentially resulting in a higher tumour-initiation ability. Finally, Numb correlates with a worse survival in multiple independent lung and ovarian cancer datasets, hence confirming its relationship with increased cancer aggressiveness.
Disruption to functional networks in neonates with perinatal brain injury predicts motor skills at 8 months
Authors: Linke Annika C. , Wild Conor , Zubiaurre-Elorza Leire , Herzmann Charlotte , Duffy Hester , Han Victor K. , Lee David S.C. , Cusack Rhodri
Published: November 2017

Objective

Functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging (fcMRI) of neonates with perinatal brain injury could improve prediction of motor impairment before symptoms manifest, and establish how early brain organization relates to subsequent development. Methods: This cohort study is the first to describe and quantitatively assess functional brain networks and their relation to later motor skills in neonates with a diverse range of perinatal brain injuries. Infants (n=65, included in final analyses: n=53) were recruited from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and were stratified based on their age at birth (premature vs. term), and on whether neuropathology was diagnosed from structural MRI. Functional brain networks and a measure of disruption to functional connectivity were obtained from 14 minutes of fcMRI acquired during natural sleep at term-equivalent age.

Results

Disruption to connectivity of the somatomotor and frontoparietal executive networks predicted motor impairment at 4 and 8 months. This disruption in functional connectivity was not found to be driven by differences between clinical groups, or by any of the specific measures we captured to describe the clinical course.

Conclusion

fcMRI was predictive over and above other clinical measures available at discharge from the NICU, including structural MRI. Motor learning was affected by disruption to somatomotor networks, but also frontoparietal executive networks, which supports the functional importance of these networks in early development. Disruption to these two networks might be best addressed by distinct intervention strategies.
Hierarchical clustering for multiple-crystal macromolecular crystallography experiments: the ccCluster program
Authors: Santoni Gianluca , Zander Ulrich , Mueller-Dieckmann Christoph , Leonard Gordon , Popov Alexander
Published: November 2017

This article describes ccCluster, a software providing an intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) and multiple functions to perform hierarchical cluster analysis on multiple crystallographic datasets. The program makes it easier for users to choose, in the case of multi-crystal data collection, those datasets that will be merged together to give good final statistics. It provides a simple GUI to analyse the dendrogram and various options for automated clustering and data merging.
Effect of product involvement and brand prominence on advergamers’ brand recall and brand attitude in an emerging market context
Authors: Vashist Devika
Published: November 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of product involvement and brand prominence on advergamers’ brand recall and brand attitude in an emerging market context. Specifically, this research illustrates the conditions under which brand placements in online games create attention, elaboration and subsequent brand recall and brand attitude by drawing the insights from the limited capacity model of attention and the elaboration likelihood model.

Design/methodology/approach

A 2 (product involvement: low or high) × 2 (brand prominence: prominent or subtle) between-subject measures design is used. In total, 280 students participated in the study. A 2×2 between-subjects MANOVA is used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

In the context of advergames, for a low-involvement product, a prominent brand placement results in greater brand recall than a subtle brand placement. However, for a high-involvement product, a subtle-placement results in greater brand recall than a prominent brand placement. Further, results reveal that for a low-involvement product, a subtle brand placement results in more favorable brand attitude than a prominent brand placement. For a high-involvement product, a prominent brand placement results in more favorable brand attitude than a subtle brand placement.

Research limitations/implications

The findings and conclusions are very important for advertising experts in terms of advergame designing, execution and for an operational use of brand placements in advergames.

Originality/value

This investigation adds to the online advertising literature, specifically the advergames context by examining and analyzing the real-time roles of advergame-specific factor, such as brand prominence and the gamer-specific factor, such as product involvement in creating gamers’ brand recall and brand attitude from attention and elaboration perspectives in an emerging market context like India.
Understanding and predicting antecedents of mobile shopping adoption
Authors: Madan Khushbu , Yadav Rajan
Published: November 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the key factors influencing mobile shopping adoption intention and actual usage in the backdrop of the moderating effect of gender and age.

Design/methodology/approach

The study identifies eight independent variables including two relatively new variables, i.e. perceived regulatory support (PRS) and perceived benefits, and proposes an integrated framework to understand mobile shopping behavior. A total of 304 mobile device users were surveyed using a comprehensive questionnaire. The collected data were utilized to analyze the hypothesized relationships through structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results indicated that all the factors considered in the framework were significant in predicting mobile shopping behavioral intention (BI) except for PRS. Demographic variables such as age and gender moderate the effect of factors such as perceived critical mass, personal innovativeness and hedonic motivation on mobile shopping BI.

Research limitations/implications

The small sample sizes and a possibility to include new variables other than consumer-centric factors are some of the limitations of this study.

Practical implications

The findings of this paper are of significant use for mobile shopping app developers, mobile payment gateway providers and other institutions involved in facilitation and provision of such mobile shopping services to develop suitable strategies to encourage adoption of mobile devices as a medium of online shopping.

Originality/value

The study is first of its kind in India and integrates variables from different areas of technology adoption along with two new variables, i.e PRS and perceived benefits to understand mobile shopping behavior.
Customer’s patronage decision toward health insurance products
Authors: Rahman Muhammad Sabbir , Abdel Fattah Fadi Abdel Muniem , Zaman Mahmud , Hassan Hasliza
Published: November 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of service quality, customer’s satisfaction and religiosity on customer’s patronage decision toward health insurance products. The paper also assesses the influence of religiosity on customer’s patronage decision. The influence of customers’ satisfaction as mediation between service quality and customer’s patronage decision was also measured.

Design/methodology/approach

A structured questionnaire was developed and administered to a sample of 200 respondents. This research applied the exploratory factor analysis, the confirmatory factor analysis and the structural equation modeling to test the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

The findings indicate that customers’ religiosity behavior has a significant influence on customer’s patronage decision for selecting health insurance products. The results also indicated that the role of customer’s satisfaction as a mediator in between the relationship of service quality and customer’s patronage decision is significant.

Research limitations/implications

This research is a cross-sectional study consisting of 200 respondents. In addition, the elements of the sample were Malaysian customers using health insurance products and services.

Practical implications

This study suggests that customers of health insurance products are more concerned with perceived service quality and perceived satisfaction. The role of religiosity also plays a dominant role. As a result, managers of the health insurance service providers need to focus more on benefits of service varieties centered toward their target customers in order to gain higher patronage decision of health insurance products.

Originality/value

The study sought to address the gap of religiosity aspects in health insurance products through intensive literature and offer a conceptual framework that tested service quality, customer’s satisfaction and religiosity in one integrated model under the perspective of health insurance industry. More importantly, it also examines the influence of religiosity on patronage behavior, thus shedding insights into the opportunities for understanding consumers in detail.
Transnational corporation-bangladesh relations: a resource dependence perspective
Authors: Islam Mahommad Rafiqul
Published: November 2017

This article examines the application of "resource dependency theory" to transnational corporations (TNCs) operating in host countries like Bangladesh to explain the relationship between the TNCs and Bangladesh. Data indicate that while the TNCs' participation in a third world host country is encouraged primarily for promoting its economic development, TNCs are mainly attracted by market size, purchasing capacities (determined mainly by GNP) of the population, and stable political condition of the country. Although examination of the application of resource dependency theory provides some insights into understanding the complicated relationship between TNCs and Bangladesh, several other factors, not explained by resource dependency theory, help explain the behavior of TNCs in a host country