bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DrosophilaTrpm mediates calcium influx during egg activation
Authors: Hu Qinan , Wolfner Mariana F.
Published: June 2019

Egg activation is the process in which mature oocytes are released from developmental arrest and gain competency for embryonic development. InDrosophilaand other arthropods, eggs are activated by mechanical pressure in the female reproductive tract, whereas in most other species, eggs are activated by fertilization. Despite the difference in the trigger,Drosophilashares many conserved features with higher vertebrates in egg activation, including a rise of intracellular calcium in response to the trigger. InDrosophila, this calcium rise is initiated by entry of extracellular calcium due to opening of mechanosensitive ion channels and initiates a wave that passes across the egg prior to initiation of downstream activation events. Here, we combined inhibitor tests, germline specific RNAi knockdown, and germline specific CRISPR/Cas9 knockout to identify the Transient receptor potential (TRP) channel subfamily M (Trpm) as a critical channel that mediates the calcium influx and initiates the calcium wave duringDrosophilaegg activation. We observed reduced egg hatchability intrpmgermline knockout mutant females, although eggs were able to complete some egg activation events including cell cycle resumption. Since the mouse Trpm ortholog was recently reported also to be involved in calcium influx during egg activation and in further embryonic development our results suggest that calcium uptake from the environment via TRPM channels is a deeply conserved aspect of egg activation.

Significance

A rise in intracellular free calcium is a conserved feature of the egg-to-embryo transition in almost all animals. InDrosophila, as in vertebrates, the rise starts at one end of the egg, and then travels across the egg in a wave. TheDrosophilacalcium rise is mediated by an influx of calcium, due to the action of mechanically-gated ion channels. Here we identify the ion channel that is critical for the calcium entry as TRPM. TRPM is the ortholog of the channel recently shown to mediate the post-fertilization calcium influxes needed to sustain calcium oscillations in fertilized mouse eggs, suggesting a deep homology – despite species differences in the trigger for egg activation.
Piezoresistive effect in embedded thick-film resistors
Authors: Borecki Janusz , Araźna Aneta , Janeczek Kamil , Kalenik Jerzy , Kalenik Michał , Stęplewski Wojciech , Tarakowski Rafał
Published: June 2019

Purpose

Nowadays, using of material properties for monitoring of phenomena occurring in the surrounding environment is very desirable. Taking into account the dynamic development of Internet of Things and the technological development of printed electronics, research into the using of printed electronic components for sensor applications can be one of the most prominent directions of searching for new innovative solutions. Among others, it is possible to apply them to produce the strain gauges, as well as for construction of advanced sensors for medical applications. The goal of this paper is to present the possibilities and using different constructions of embedded polymer thick-film resistors as the sensors of tension or strain.

Design/methodology/approach

The investigations were based on the polymer thick-film resistors made of carbon or carbon–silver inks printed on copper pads made on FR-4 material on two sides. The longitudinal samples laminated with resin-coated copper foil material and without lamination were bent on a strength machine. During the tests, the resistors depending on their placement were stretched or compressed. Some of the samples were also tested under high pressure. Under the influence of applied stresses, there was a reversible change in electrical resistance, which was monitored.

Findings

The study showed that the polymer thick-film resistors are characterized by a measurable piezoresistive effect. By analyzing the value of the observed resistance changes, a magnitude of strain or pressure can be worked out. During the bending, the piezoresistive effect depends on the location and orientation of the resistor. After stopping of the mechanical strains, the electrical resistance of the resistive elements does not return exactly to the initial value. This is probably related to the substrate material and the resistive paste composition. The results are very promising and further research will be done.

Originality/value

The results provided information about the piezoresistive effect of polymer thick-film resistors printed on the deformable substrate which could be interesting for engineers involved in printed sensor development dedicated for different fields of application. This phenomenon can be used to manufacturing cheap and uncomplicated sensors to monitor deformation. There are several aspects to be solved, but with the use of new types of resistive pastes and substrates, there is a potential possibility of using such resistors as sensors.
Work matters: formerly incarcerated men’s resiliency in reentry
Authors: Palmer Catrina , Christian Johnna
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how formerly incarcerated men remained resilient in the face of adversity while searching for and maintaining employment.

Design/methodology/approach

Grounded theory analysis is used to answer the following research questions: What challenges do formerly incarcerated men encounter in finding and maintaining employment? What strategies do they devise in the face of these barriers? The research entailed 24 face-to-face, semi-structured, in-depth interviews at a Reentry Center in a northeastern state between February 2016 and July 2017.

Findings

The authors present a model of resiliency in the job-seeking and maintaining process. It illustrates the non-linear and complex nature of employment experiences, in which men encountered cycles of anxiety and pressure, and yet also devised resilience strategies fostering growth and adaptation. These processes required adept management of adversities such as involvement with the criminal justice system and the attending social stigma. Shifting mental and behavioral frameworks, adapting and refining expectations for work and adopting a future orientation were essential for participants’ growth. Finally, findings revealed participants’ resiliency strategies were bolstered by pro-social outcomes.

Originality/value

The challenges and barriers to employment for formerly incarcerated men are well documented, but less is known about the processes men employ in order to gain legitimate employment. This paper explores an understudied area of the criminal justice and employment literature – how men demonstrate agency and tenacity in the reintegration process, specifically related to seeking and maintaining work.
Nonlinear analysis of convective-radiative longitudinal fin of various profiles
Authors: Vyas Prashant Dineshbhai , Thakur Harish C. , Darji Veera P.
Published: June 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to study nonlinear heat transfer through a longitudinal fin of three different profiles.

Design/methodology/approach

A truly meshfree method is used to undertake a nonlinear analysis to predict temperature distribution and heat-transfer rate.

Findings

A longitudinal fin of three different profiles, such as rectangular, triangular and concave parabolic, are analyzed. Temperature variation, along with the fin length and rate of heat transfer in steady state, under convective and convective-radiative environments has been demonstrated and explained. Moving least square (MLS) approximants are used to approximate the unknown function of temperature T(x) with Th(x). Essential boundary conditions are imposed using the penalty method. An iterative predictor–corrector scheme is used to handle nonlinearity.

Research limitations/implications

Modelling fin in a convective-radiative environment removes the assumption of no radiation condition. It also allows to vary convective heat-transfer coefficient and predict the closer values to the real problems for the corresponding fin surfaces.

Originality/value

The meshless local Petrov–Galerkin method can solve nonlinear fin problems and predict an accurate solution.
Greetings from Emily! The effects of personalized greeting cards on tipping of hotel room attendants
Authors: Shih I-Hsuan , Jai Tun-Min (Catherine) , Chen Hsiangting Shatina , Blum Shane
Published: June 2019

Purpose

In hotels, room attendants are often invisible to hotel guests. This study aims to understand how customers would increase their voluntary tips when there was less or no personal interaction and communication between customers and service providers. Specifically, the purpose of this study is to investigate whether providing different greeting cards in hotel rooms would affect hotel guest tipping behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

A field study was conducted in an upscale independent hotel. Four types of greeting cards through two personalized factors, perceived effort and personalization, were placed in the hotel rooms. The tipping amount for each room-night was recorded during the data collection.

Findings

There were 3,285 room-nights tip records collected in this study. The results indicated that non-personalized housekeeping greeting cards did not increase the likelihood of guests to tip, but they may increase the average tipping amount; the personalization of greeting cards from room attendants had positive effects on guest tipping behavior; the hand-written greeting card and name-introduction greeting card were predictors that can significantly increase the likelihood of hotel guests to tip.

Research limitations/implications

The empirical research results support social presence theory. With more consistent tipping in hotel rooms, attendants may be able to predict tips through their job performance; thus, creating a win-win in the lodging industry.

Originality/value

This study contributes to understanding guest-tipping behavior in the hotel rooms.
Cognitive antecedents and affective consequences of customers’ self-concept in brand management
Authors: Ahn Jiseon
Published: June 2019

Purpose

This study aims to analyze the antecedents and consequences of customers’ actual and ideal self-congruence in the tourism and hospitality context. This research analyzes playfulness (e.g. creative- and enjoyment-based), self-congruence (e.g. actual and ideal self-congruence) and passion (e.g. harmonious and obsessive).

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 350 integrated resort customers in the USA, and the hypotheses were examined using partial least square-structural equation modeling.

Findings

Findings suggest that creative-based playfulness significantly and positively influences the different types of customers’ self-congruence. Moreover, a fit between integrated resort brand and customers’ actual and ideal self leads to their harmonious and obsessive passion toward integrated resort brand.

Research limitations/implications

In the integrated resort setting, customers’ attitude toward innovation served as the antecedent of self-congruence and passion. The proposed model can be used to other sectors, such as hotels, restaurants and casinos.

Practical implications

The present study contributes to integrated resort service providers through the provision of several insights into how they can manage integrated resort brands.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the service research and extends previous studies in several important ways. Although previous studies have focused on analyzing the effect of the playfulness of product on customers’ behavior, the current study moves a step further by assessing its relationship with dual types of image congruence and passion in the tourism and hospitality setting.
How small things affect the big picture?
Authors: Liu Yuqing , Li Chunxiao , McCabe Scott , Xu Hong
Published: June 2019

Purpose

By adopting retrospective evaluation theories, this study aims to explain how innovations provided by separate suppliers in the tourism value chain influence tourist’s perceived value of the overall experience and further uncover which innovative product attributes are more effective in improving tourist perceptions of the overall value.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey yielded 584 valid responses from tourists who had experienced specific tourist product innovations during their travels. Structural equation modelling was used to test the proposed theoretical model.

Findings

The results reveal that tourists evaluate overall travelling experience value either by recalling an intense, impressive moment (i.e. a heuristic approach) or through an evaluation of the overall utility gained from the whole trip (i.e. a normative approach). Furthermore, innovations that are perceived as increasing convenience and enabling learning contribute to tourists’ overall value perception through both normative and heuristic approaches, while immersion resulting from innovation only contributes to overall perceived value through the heuristic approach.

Practical implications

Given the complex service ecosystem of tourism destinations, each tourism service provider should consider how innovations contribute to the experience of the whole trip and which attributes of innovations increase tourists’ overall perceived experience value.

Originality/value

This study complements existing knowledge by revealing the relationship between product innovation in tourism sectors and tourists’ perceived value of the whole trip. Moreover, it offers a theoretical framework for further investigation into service product innovation in hospitality and tourism industry.
Influence of remittances oncapital endowment of Tibetan refugees in India
Authors: Namgha Tenzin , L. Ganesh , Jyotishi Amalendu
Published: June 2019

Purpose

An issue concerning Tibetan refugees in India is the poverty and unemployment among Tibetan youth. This often leads to households adopting a strategy of sending one of its members abroad towards North American or European countries in search of better income opportunities. Incomes in the form of remittances from these forward migrants have numerous impacts on living standard of left behind families. This study aims to focus on the influence of forward migrant’s remittances on livelihood in terms of human, financial and social capital development of Tibetan refugees in India.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper includes 400 households from high-economic and low-economic-access regions of Tibetan settlements in India. Ordinary least square method was used to study these impacts.

Findings

Findings show that remittances have significantly influenced human and financial capital development. However, it was found to be statistically not significant for social capital development.

Originality/value

The present paper is original work.
Trends and determinants of socioeconomic inequalities in sexual and reproductive health among women in Ghana
Authors: Agyire-Tettey Frank , Asuman Derek , Senadza Bernardin , Addae Lucia
Published: June 2019

Purpose

This study aims to estimate the degree and nature of socioeconomic-related inequalities in sexual and reproductive health in Ghana and further assesses causes of these inequalities using decomposition technique. The authors assess the contribution of personal characteristics of the woman including access to health information and health seeking behaviours, household and locational characteristics to inequalities in sexual and reproductive health in Ghana. The study uses data from the three rounds of the Ghana Demographic and Health Survey conducted in 2003, 2008 and 2014.

Design/methodology/approach

Two indicators – use of modern contraceptives and intention to use modern contraceptives – are used to measure sexual and reproductive health of sexually active women. A wealth index, based on household ownership of assets, consumer goods and living conditions, is used as a measure of socioeconomic status. The paper estimates a concentration index to the relationship between cumulative health and socioeconomic rank. Paper procedures to apply decomposition techniques to determine the causes of socioeconomic inequalities in health based on a linear health regression model.

Findings

The study finds evidence of varying degrees of socioeconomic-related inequalities in sexual and reproductive health indicators. Specifically, the study finds that whilst use of modern contraceptives was concentrated among women in households with high socioeconomic status in 2003 and 2008, modern contraceptive use was prevalent among women in low socioeconomic status households in 2014. Equally, the study finds significant pro-poor inequalities in the intentions to use modern contraceptives in 2003 and 2014. The degree of socioeconomic inequalities in the intentions to use modern contraceptives increased between 2003 and 2014.

Originality/value

There is the lack of evidence on the degree, nature and causes of socioeconomic-related inequalities, which in tend impedes the design and implementation of sexual and reproductive health policies targeted at vulnerable and under-served populations. In addition, there is the need to study inequalities in health over time to monitor progress of health delivery systems towards equitable and universal coverage and understand the evolution of the determinants.
Capability of non-destructive techniques in evaluating damage to composite sandwich structures
Authors: Bělský Petr , Kadlec Martin
Published: June 2019

Purpose

Defects can be caused by a number of factors, such as maintenance damage, ground handling and foreign objects thrown up from runways during an in-service use of composite aerospace structures. Sandwich structures are capable of absorbing large amounts of energy under impact loads, resulting in high structural crashworthiness. This situation is one of the many reasons why sandwich structures are extensively used in many aerospace applications nowadays. Their non-destructive inspection is often more complex. Hence, the choice of a suitable non-destructive testing (NDT) method can play a key role in successful damage detection. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

A comparison of detection capabilities of selected C-scan NDT methods applicable for inspections of sandwich structures was performed using water-squirt, air-coupled and pitch-catch (PC) ultrasonic techniques, supplemented by laser shearography (LS).

Findings

Test results showed that the water-squirt and PC techniques are the most suitable methods for core damage evaluation. Meanwhile, the air-coupled method showed lower sensitivity for the detection of several artificial defects and impact damage in honeycomb sandwiches when unfocussed transducers were used. LS can detect most of the defects in the panels, but it has lower sensitivity and resolution for honeycomb core-type sandwiches.

Originality/value

This study quantitatively compared the damage size indication capabilities of sandwich structures by using various NDT techniques. Results of the realised tests can be used for successful selection of a suitable NDT method. Combinations of the presented methods revealed most defects.
Drivers affecting the adoption and effectiveness of social media investments
Authors: Galati Antonino , Tinervia Salvatore , Tulone Antonio , Crescimanno Maria
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to identify distinct organisational models in a sample of firms operating in the wine industry; and second, to identify the main internal resources that characterise those firms most motivated towards the adoption of social media (SM) tools and those that perceive SM investment as more effective.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical investigation was carried out by administering an online questionnaire to a sample of 82 Sicilian wineries. The principal component analysis was used to identify latent factors that drive managers to invest in SM technologies and to measure the impact perceived by managers. Subsequently, a cluster analysis was performed to identify similar organisational models.

Findings

The findings show that large wineries with a high number of employees possessing knowledge and skills in regard to SM tools and social network (SN) management are highly motivated towards the adoption of SM and perceive their SM investment as more effective.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation of the paper lies in the limited sample size, which does not allow the results to be generalised.

Practical implications

The findings provide support for managers, who could use these results to better focus their investment on infrastructure that facilitates the development of specific skills needed to manage SM tools and SNs, as well as customer relations.

Originality/value

To date, very few empirical studies have focussed on providing evidence on the role and impact of SM integration into the marketing communication plan of a strategic industry, such as the wine industry.
Artificial Intelligence in FinTech: understanding robo-advisors adoption among customers
Authors: Belanche Daniel , Casaló Luis V. , Flavián Carlos
Published: June 2019

Purpose

Considering the increasing impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on financial technology (FinTech), the purpose of this paper is to propose a research framework to better understand robo-advisor adoption by a wide range of potential customers. It also predicts that personal and sociodemographic variables (familiarity with robots, age, gender and country) moderate the main relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from a web survey of 765 North American, British and Portuguese potential users of robo-advisor services confirm the validity of the measurement scales and provide the input for structural equation modeling and multisample analyses of the hypotheses.

Findings

Consumers’ attitudes toward robo-advisors, together with mass media and interpersonal subjective norms, are found to be the key determinants of adoption. The influences of perceived usefulness and attitude are slightly higher for users with a higher level of familiarity with robots; in turn, subjective norms are significantly more relevant for users with a lower familiarity and for customers from Anglo-Saxon countries.

Practical implications

Banks and other firms in the finance industry should design robo-advisors to be used by a wide spectrum of consumers. Marketing tactics applied should consider the customer’s level of familiarity with robots.

Originality/value

This research identifies the key drivers of robo-advisor adoption and the moderating effect of personal and sociodemographic variables. It contributes to understanding consumers’ perceptions regarding the introduction of AI in FinTech.
Informal relationships in a company’s internationalization process
Authors: Dymitrowski Adam , Fonfara Krzysztof , Deszczyński Bartosz
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the role of a company’s external informal relationships in the internationalization process.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the aim of this paper, a qualitative research was undertaken. The data used for analysis were obtained through face-to-face interviews with representatives of 20 companies.

Findings

There are two main findings of the research. First, on the basis of the analysis of the interviews, it was possible to identify 14 different outcomes of informal relationships with external actors in the internationalization process. Second, the outcomes have been assigned to different stages of the internationalization process, thereby covering the whole range of a company’s development timeline.

Originality/value

This paper illustrates and confirms the important and positive role of the informal relationships developed by a company with external actors in the internationalization process and indicates that it can change over time depending on the stage of the internationalization.
The effects of leader support for teacher psychological needs on teacher burnout, commitment, and intent to leave
Authors: Ford Timothy G. , Olsen Jentre , Khojasteh Jam , Ware Jordan , Urick Angela
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The actions of school leaders engender working conditions that can play a role in positively (or negatively) affecting teachers’ motivation, well-being or professional practice. The purpose of this paper is to explore how leader actions might bring about positive teacher outcomes through meeting teachers’ psychological needs at three distinct levels: the intrapersonal, interpersonal and organizational.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample of over 1,500 teachers from 73 schools in a large, high-poverty, urban Midwestern school district, the authors applied a multilevel path analysis to the study of the relationships between the intrapersonal, interpersonal and organizational dimensions of teacher psychological needs and the teacher affective states of burnout, organizational commitment and intent to leave the school and/or profession.

Findings

Whereas the intrapersonal dimension works primarily through burnout, the findings suggest that the interpersonal dimension (teacher–principal interactions) primarily functions to cultivate organizational commitment among teachers. At the organizational level, cultivating a trusting, enabling work environment where teachers can build on existing knowledge and skills had a demonstrated relationship to collective teacher burnout and organizational commitment, but only to the degree that these actions serve to build collective teacher efficacy.

Practical implications

In addressing existing deficits in support for teachers’ psychological needs within a school, school leaders have a significant mechanism through which to affect the attitudes and emotions of teachers which precede turnover behavior. However, addressing teacher psychological needs should be thought of as multidimensional – no single dimension (either the intrapersonal, interpersonal or organizational) alone will be sufficient. Principals should expect to work both one-on-one as well as collectively with teachers to address school working conditions which support their psychological needs as learners.

Originality/value

Prior studies examining the various working conditions of schools have included many common constructs, but the authors demonstrate how self-determination theory could be used to unify these seemingly unique characteristics of school working conditions with respect to how they support (or thwart) the psychological needs of teachers. The authors also empirically test the relationship of these dimensions to a wide-range of commonly-used teacher affective outcomes.
Professional learning communities of teachers: Israeli principals’ perceptions
Authors: Avidov-Ungar Orit
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on professional learning communities (PLCs) run for and by teachers to achieve their ongoing professional development and greater pupil attainment. The paper examined principals’ perceptions of how such PLCs influence teachers, teacher learning and school processes, and their own involvement in PLCs operating in their schools.

Design/methodology/approach

In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 of 97 principals from three of the four educational districts participating in a pilot programme to achieve in-service teacher professional development through supported PLCs.

Findings

Most of the participating principals considered PLCs to influence not only the teacher-leader, but also PLC members and other teaching staff and processes. Principals perceived PLCs as influencing pedagogical processes for both teachers and students, as well as staff leadership processes. Principals reported facilitating the operation of PLCs in their schools by providing the necessary conditions or participating in PLC meetings.

Research limitations/implications

Although nearly 20 per cent of principals involved in the pilot agreed to participate, it was not possible to ensure a representative sample. Self-selection bias cannot be ruled out. Most participants were interviewed individually, with a minority later interviewed as a group to obtain a deeper understanding. Thus, the research should be regarded as exploratory.

Originality/value

The study provides a detailed description of how principals perceive and engage with PLCs. Its findings are relevant to international efforts to understand and leverage teacher PLCs for the purposes of teachers’ professional development and pupil attainment.
Linkage of social care and hospital admissions data to explore non-delivery of planned home care for older people in Scotland
Authors: Evans Josie , Methven Karen , Cunningham Nicola
Published: June 2019

Purpose

As part of a pilot studyassessing the feasibility of record-linking health and social care data, the purpose of this paper is to examine patterns of non-delivery of home care among older clients (>65 years) of a social home care provider in Glasgow, Scotland. The paper also assesses whether non-delivery is associated with subsequent emergency hospital admission.

Design/methodology/approach

After obtaining appropriate permissions, the electronic records of all home care clients were linked to a hospital inpatient database and anonymised. Data on home care plans were collated for 4,815 older non-hospitalised clients, and non-delivered visits were examined. Using case-control methodology, those who had an emergency hospital admission in the next calendar month were identified (n=586), along with age and sex-matched controls, to determine whether non-delivery was a risk factor for hospital admission.

Findings

There were 4,170 instances of “No Access” non-delivery among 1,411 people, and 960 instances of “Service Refusal” non-delivery among 427 people. The median number of undelivered visits was two among the one-third of clients who did not receive all their planned care. There were independent associations between being male and living alone, and non-delivery, while increasing age was associated with a decreased likelihood of non-delivery. Having any undelivered home care was associated with an increased risk of emergency hospital admission, but this could be due to uncontrolled confounding.

Research limitations/implications

This study demonstrates untapped potential for innovative research into the quality of social care and effects on health outcomes.

Originality/value

Non-delivery of planned home care, for whatever reason, is associated with emergency hospital admission; this could be a useful indicator of vulnerable clients needing increased surveillance.
Assembling lines in research education
Authors: Angervall Petra , Silfver Eva
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The higher education sector in Sweden has, over decades, faced increasing demands in terms of efficiency rates in research, as well as increasing demands in the international competition for external revenue. These demands have influenced academic career trajectories and postdoctoral tracks as well as the everyday work of doctoral students. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how doctoral students express and challenge subjectivity in the present context of research education.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors depart from the overall understanding that doctoral students’ lines of actions in research education depend on and form assemblages and, thus, define an academic institution. By re-analysing eight in-depth interviews, they illustrate how doctoral students from different milieus not only comply but also challenge, use border-crossings and change directions in research education.

Findings

The results show that some of these doctoral students try to act as loyal and satisfied, especially in regard to their supervisors, whereas others use coping strategies and resistance. It is illustrated that when some of the students use “unsecure” molecular lines, they appear more open to redefining possibilities and change, in comparison with those on more stable molar lines. Those acting on molar lines sometimes express a lack of emotional (productive) engagement, even though this particular group tend to more often get access to rewarded assemblages. These patterns are partly gender-related.

Social implications

The tension between finding more stable lines and spaces for change is apparent in doctoral students’ subjectivity, but also how this tension is related to gender. The women doctoral students appear not only more mobile but also in a sense more alert than their men peers. This offers insights in how actions define and redefine not only academic institutions but also different subjectivities.

Originality/value

In the present, given the manifold demands on academic institutions, new insights and methodological approaches are necessary to illustrate how contemporary changes affect research education and the everyday life of doctoral students.
Working the edges of Posthuman disability studies: theorising with disabled young people with life‐limiting impairments
Authors: Liddiard Kirsty , Whitney Sally , Evans Katy , Watts Lucy , Vogelmann Emma , Spurr Ruth , Aimes Carrie , Runswick‐Cole Katherine , Goodley Dan
Published: June 2019

This paper is built upon an assumption: that social theory can be generated through a meaningful engagement with a co‐researcher group of disabled young people. Our co‐researchers are theoretical provocateurs and theorists in their own right who, through their activism and writing, are challenging us to reconsider the meaning of life, death and disability. Their work on our funded Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) project has enabled us to consider the promise and potential of humanist and posthuman epistemologies, theories, methodologies, interventions and activisms. The paper introduces the research, the authors of this paper (academics and co‐researchers) and then explores three layers of analysis that work the edges of posthuman thinking; sovereign and assembled selves; affects and desires; mourning and affirmation. We conclude by asserting that as a research team we are engaging with a DisHuman approach to theory and activism: one that blends the pragmatics of humanism with posthuman possibilities.
Potential for the Remediation of Methamphetamine Contamination Using Ozone,
Authors: Rindelaub Joel D. , Miskelly Gordon M.
Published: June 2019

The deposition of methamphetamine within indoor environments due to illegal activities can pose a health risk for occupants. Current cleaning techniques are costly and inefficient, calling for the development of alternative remediation methods. In addition, the fate of methamphetamine in indoor environments is largely unknown, negatively impacting our knowledge on the health risks associated with contaminated dwellings. Under the conditions of this study, 97% of surface deposited methamphetamine on a paper substrate was consumed after 12 min of exposure to ozone, thus demonstrating potential for its use as a remediation agent. The reaction had an effective second‐order rate constant with an upper limit of 2.15 ± 1 × 10−18 cm3/molecule/s, and the main product observed was phenyl‐2‐propanone (P2P) at 8.3% yield, as determined using GC/MS. Several products observed in this study have also been reported as by‐products of methamphetamine synthesis, including P2P—a known methamphetamine precursor, which indicates that their detection at a potential clandestine site is not necessarily evidence of manufacture.
Co‐infection of Wolbachia and Spiroplasma in spider mite Tetranychus truncatus increases male fitness
Authors: Xie Kang , Lu Yi‐Jia , Yang Kun , Huo Shi‐Mei , Hong Xiao‐Yue
Published: June 2019

Wolbachia and Spiroplasma are intracellular bacteria that are of great interest to entomologists, because of their ability to alter insect host biology in multiple ways. In the spider mite Tetranychus truncatus, co‐infection of Wolbachia and Spiroplasma can induce cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) and fitness costs; however, little is known about the effect of co‐infection at the genetic level and the molecular mechanisms underlying CI. In this study, we explored the influence of the two symbionts on male mite host fitness and used RNA sequencing to generate the transcriptomes of T. truncatus with four different types of infection. In total, we found symbiont‐infected lines had a higher hatch proportion than the uninfected line, and the development time of the uninfected line was longer than that of the other lines. Co‐infection changed the expression of many genes related to digestion detoxification, reproduction, immunity and oxidation reduction. Our results indicate that co‐infection of Wolbachia and Spiroplasma confers multiple effects on their hosts, and helps illuminate the complex interactions between endosymbionts and arthropods.
Breast implant‐associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma, an under‐recognised entity
Authors: Gunawardana Ruvini Thashila , Dessauvagie Benjamin F , Taylor Donna B
Published: June 2019

Breast implant‐associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA‐ALCL) is a rare form of T‐cell lymphoma, recently linked to the use of certain types of breast implants. Although rare, BIA‐ALCL is being increasingly recognised and radiologists can play an important role in its early diagnosis. BIA‐ALCL is thought to be related to chronic inflammation from indolent infection of the biofilm surrounding implants leading to malignant transformation of activated T cells in genetically susceptible individuals. Clinical features include breast enlargement or asymmetry, discomfort, heaviness and/or a palpable mass in the context of long‐standing implant(s). Ultrasound is the primary imaging modality, and the presence of more than a trace of peri‐implant fluid should prompt consideration of aspiration for cytology, flow cytometry and microbiological analysis. This article reviews the clinical, imaging and pathology features of BIA‐ALCL. In addition, the current recommended management guidelines for suspected cases are discussed.
Adjustable temperature array for characterizing ecological and evolutionary effects on thermal physiology
Authors: Cocciardi Jennifer M. , Hoskin Conrad J. , Morris Wayne , Warburton Russell , Edwards Lexie , Higgie Megan
Published: June 2019

To accurately characterize a species’ thermal niche and aid in predicting effects of climate change we must not only include information on thermal tolerances and physiological responses to changing temperatures, but also incorporate ecological effects and evolutionary processes that may shape a species’ niche. However, quickly and practically collecting data on key factors such as adaptation potential, behaviour, effects of species interactions, plasticity and thermal tolerances is logistically challenging.

We have therefore created an adjustable temperature array (ATA) to assist with experimental ecology and evolution research. ATA’s are a row of independent temperature points controlled and set by the user and made from commercially available parts. This allows the user to create unique thermal landscapes relevant to their study organism(s) and question(s). Further, the option of using an enclosed cage allows the user to answer questions at the individual, population, or community level in the context of changing thermal environments. ATA’s are able to be user‐set to constant or dynamic temperature regimes and are designed for use on small animals (e.g. fruit flies, beetles, mosquitoes) or plants (e.g. germinating seeds).

We have tested and confirmed the accuracy of the ATA to several thermal landscapes that would be useful for experimental ecology and evolution, including: (a) coarse resolution of a broad thermal niche ranging from 12° to 42°C in 2°C intervals (R2 = 0.998); (b) fine resolution of a narrow thermal niche ranging from 15° to 32°C in 1°C intervals (R2 = 0.997); (c) a pyramid‐shaped niche consisting of a gradient from 14° to 30°C in 2°C intervals (R2 = 0.997); and (d) a very narrow thermal niche with replicate thermal resources ranging from 26.5° to 34°C in 1.5°C intervals (R2 = 0.989).

The equipment described here is an important tool for thermal niche studies and will aid in gathering information on effects of ecological and evolutionary processes to create a comprehensive picture of species responses to climate change.
Role of mPFC and nucleus accumbens circuitry in modulation of a nicotine plus alcohol compound drug state
Authors: Randall Patrick A. , McElligott Zoe A. , Besheer Joyce
Published: June 2019

Combined use of nicotine and alcohol constitute a significant public health risk. An important aspect of drug use and dependence are the various cues, both external (contextual) and internal (interoceptive) that influence drug‐seeking and drug‐taking behavior. The present experiments employed the use of Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs) and complementary Pavlovian drug discrimination procedures (feature‐positive and feature‐negative training conditions) in order to examine whether medial prefrontal cortex (prelimbic; mPFC‐PL) projections to the nucleus accumbens core (AcbC) modulate sensitivity to a nicotine + alcohol (N + A) interoceptive cue. First, we show neuronal activation in mPFC‐PL and AcbC following treatment with N + A. Next, we demonstrate that chemogenetic silencing of projections from mPFC‐PL to nucleus accumbens core decrease sensitivity to the N + A interoceptive cue, while enhancing sensitivity to the individual components, suggesting an important role for this specific projection. Furthermore, we demonstrate that clozapine‐N‐oxide (CNO), the ligand used to activate the DREADDs, had no effect in parallel mCherry controls. These findings contribute important information regarding our understanding of the cortical‐striatal circuitry that regulates sensitivity to the interoceptive effects of a compound N + A cue.
Introduction to Bayesian Statistics, Third Edition. By William M.Bolstad and James M.CurranHoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons. 2017. 601+xvi pages. AUD $219.95 (hardback). ISBN 9781118091562
Authors: Parry Matthew
Published: June 2019

We review techniques from computer science, exploiting the graph structure for exact and approximate inference in graphical models.
Team experiential cognitive style and team performance: The moderating impact of workplace setting
Authors: Bǎlǎu Georgiana , Faems Dries , van der Bij Hans
Published: June 2019

With an increasing need in organizations to come up with novel and useful ideas to renew and survive, team creativity has grown in importance to managers and researchers. As the cognitive resources of team members are the core input for team creativity, researchers increasingly look at team cognition in general and team cognitive styles in particular. In this research stream, the environmental context in which team members are embedded has received limited attention. We therefore experimentally test variation in the physical workplace environment and how it influences the relationship between team experiential cognitive styles and team creativity. Manipulating the nature of architectural elements in the room, we distinguish between a physical workplace with (i) experiential cues and (ii) rational cues. We also use a control condition where architectural elements are absent in the workplace environment. We rely on resource‐matching theory to build our hypotheses. Using data of 75 student teams of a Dutch university, we find that the relationship between teams' experiential cognitive style and team creativity was positive in the control condition. This positive relationship became insignificant in the two conditions where experiential or rational cues were introduced. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Local Editing of Procedural Models
Authors: Lipp M. , Specht M. , Lau C. , Wonka P. , Müller P.
Published: June 2019

Procedural modeling is used across many industries for rapid 3D content creation. However, professional procedural tools often lack artistic control, requiring manual edits on baked results, diminishing the advantages of a procedural modeling pipeline. Previous approaches to enable local artistic control require special annotations of the procedural system and manual exploration of potential edit locations. Therefore, we propose a novel approach to discover meaningful and non‐redundant good edit locations (GELs). We introduce a bottom‐up algorithm for finding GELs directly from the attributes in procedural models, without special annotations. To make attribute edits at GELs persistent, we analyze their local spatial context and construct a meta‐locator to uniquely specify their structure. Meta‐locators are calculated independently per attribute, making them robust against changes in the procedural system. Functions on meta‐locators enable intuitive and robust multi‐selections. Finally, we introduce an algorithm to transfer meta‐locators to a different procedural model. We show that our approach greatly simplifies the exploration of the local edit space, and we demonstrate its usefulness in a user study and multiple real‐world examples.
A Subspace Method for Fast Locally Injective Harmonic Mapping
Authors: Hefetz Eden Fedida , Chien Edward , Weber Ofir
Published: June 2019

We present a fast algorithm for low‐distortion locally injective harmonic mappings of genus 0 triangle meshes with and without cone singularities. The algorithm consists of two portions, a linear subspace analysis and construction, and a nonlinear non‐convex optimization for determination of a mapping within the reduced subspace. The subspace is the space of solutions to the Harmonic Global Parametrization (HGP) linear system [BCW17], and only vertex positions near cones are utilized, decoupling the variable count from the mesh density. A key insight shows how to construct the linear subspace at a cost comparable to that of a linear solve, extracting a very small set of elements from the inverse of the matrix without explicitly calculating it. With a variable count on the order of the number of cones, a tangential alternating projection method [HCW17] and a subsequent Newton optimization [CW17] are used to quickly find a low‐distortion locally injective mapping. This mapping determination is typically much faster than the subspace construction. Experiments demonstrating its speed and efficacy are shown, and we find it to be an order of magnitude faster than HGP and other alternatives.
Learning‐Based Animation of Clothing for Virtual Try‐On
Authors: Santesteban Igor , Otaduy Miguel A. , Casas Dan
Published: June 2019

This paper presents a learning‐based clothing animation method for highly efficient virtual try‐on simulation. Given a garment, we preprocess a rich database of physically‐based dressed character simulations, for multiple body shapes and animations. Then, using this database, we train a learning‐based model of cloth drape and wrinkles, as a function of body shape and dynamics. We propose a model that separates global garment fit, due to body shape, from local garment wrinkles, due to both pose dynamics and body shape. We use a recurrent neural network to regress garment wrinkles, and we achieve highly plausible nonlinear effects, in contrast to the blending artifacts suffered by previous methods. At runtime, dynamic virtual try‐on animations are produced in just a few milliseconds for garments with thousands of triangles. We show qualitative and quantitative analysis of results.