bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What's New in Prenatal Genetics? A Review of Current Recommendations and Guidelines
Authors: Post Annalisa L. , Mottola Amy T. , Kuller Jeffrey A.
Published: October 2017

Importance

The rapid development of prenatal genetic testing and screening tools and choices constantly challenges clinicians to stay up to date on current best practice.

Objective

We sought to review, compare, and summarize recent national society guidelines on prepregnancy genetic screening and prenatal diagnosis for aneuploidy with a focus on changes and additions to previous guidelines.

Evidence Acquisition

We performed a descriptive review of 8 recently published (2016–2017) national guidelines and updates on prenatal genetic screening and testing including American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists committee opinions and practice bulletins, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine consult series publications, and an American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics position statement. Topics included carrier screening, cell-free DNA screening, chromosomal microarray analysis, next-generation sequencing, and prenatal diagnostic testing. The recommendations in these publications were compared, and the additions and changes to previous recommendations and guidelines were summarized.

Results

Recent publications contain many updates and changes to previous screening and testing strategies, most of which are consistent between professional societies. Although many new technologies have been integrated into prenatal diagnosis, some newer technologies are not yet routinely recommended for widespread use, often because of lack of clinical trials and validation studies.

Conclusions

Prenatal screening and testing options are rapidly expanding. To provide best-practice prenatal care, obstetric care providers should educate themselves about the most up-to-date recommendations and be prepared to interpret and apply these guidelines to their patients. Society guidelines are largely in agreement.

Target Audience

Obstetricians and gynecologists, family physicians.

Learning Objectives

After completing this activity, the learner should be able to identify best practice guidelines regarding prenatal carrier screening and genetic diagnosis, including recent changes in recommendations; specific topics include carrier screening, use of cell-free fetal DNA screening, microarray testing, next-generation sequencing, and invasive testing; and use these guidelines by offering appropriate strategies to their patients, including referral to a specialist when appropriate.
Chromosomal Polymorphisms Are Associated With Female Infertility and Adverse Reproductive Outcomes After Infertility Treatment: A 7-Year Retrospective Study
Authors: Cheng Ran , Ma Yaxian , Nie Ying , Qiao Xiaoyong , Yang Zhilan , Zeng Rujun , Xu Liangzhi
Published: October 2017

(Abstracted from Reprod Biomed Online 2017;35:72–80)

It was believed for a long time that chromosomal polymorphisms—most of which have no effect on phenotypes—had no clinical significance. However, a large number of studies have shown that chromosomal polymorphisms are associated with an increased frequency of polymorphic variations in infertile patients.
Adverse Event Reporting: Harnessing Residents to Improve Patient Safety
Authors: Tevis Sarah E. , Schmocker Ryan K. , Wetterneck Tosha B.
Published: October 2017

Objectives

Reporting of adverse and near miss events are essential to identify system level targets to improve patient safety. Resident physicians historically report few events despite their role as front-line patient care providers. We sought to evaluate barriers to adverse event reporting in an effort to improve reporting. Our main outcomes were as follows: resident attitudes about event reporting and the frequency of event reporting before and after interventions to address reporting barriers.

Methods

We surveyed first year residents regarding barriers to adverse event reporting and used this input to construct a fishbone diagram listing barriers to reporting. Barriers were addressed, and resident event reporting was compared before and after efforts were made to reduce obstacles to reporting.

Results

First year residents (97%) recognized the importance of submitting event reports; however, the majority (85%) had not submitted an event report in the first 6 months of residency. Only 7% of residents specified that they had not witnessed an adverse event in 6 months, whereas one third had witnessed 10 or more events. The main barriers were as follows: lack of knowledge about how to submit events (38%) and lack of time to submit reports (35%). After improving resident education around event reporting and simplifying the reporting process, resident event reporting increased 230% (68 to 154 annual reports, P = 0.025).

Conclusions

We were able to significantly increase resident event reporting by educating residents about adverse events and near misses and addressing the primary barriers to event reporting. Moving forward, we will continue annual resident education about patient safety, focus on improving feedback to residents who submit reports, and empower senior residents to act as role models to junior residents in patient safety initiatives.
Efficient genome editing in primary cells andin vivousing viral-derived “Nanoblades” loaded with Cas9/sgRNA ribonucleoproteins
Authors: Mangeot Philippe E. , Risson Valérie , Fusil Floriane , Marnef Aline , Laurent Emilie , Blin Juliana , Mournetas Virginie , Massouridès Emmanuelle , Sohier Thibault J. M. , Corbin Antoine , Aube Fabien , Pinset Christian , Schaeffer Laurent , Legube Gaëlle , Cosset François-Loïc , Verhoeyen Els , Ohlmann Théophile , Ricci Emiliano P.
Published: October 2017

Programmable nucleases have enabled rapid and accessible genome engineering in eukaryotic cells and living organisms. However, their delivery into target cells can be technically challenging when working with primary cells orin vivo. Using engineered murine leukemia virus-like particles loaded with Cas9/sgRNA ribonucleoproteins (“Nanoblades”), we were able to induce efficient genome-editing in cell lines and primary cells including human induced pluripotent stem cells, human hematopoietic stem cells and mouse bone-marrow cells. Transgene-free Nanoblades were also capable ofin vivogenome-editing in mouse embryos and in the liver of injected mice. Nanoblades can be complexed with donor DNA for “all-in-one” homology-directed repair or programmed with modified Cas9 variants to mediate transcriptional up-regulation of target genes. Nanoblades preparation process is simple, relatively inexpensive and can be easily implemented in any laboratory equipped for cellular biology.
LIN28 selectively modulates a subclass of let-7 microRNAs
Authors: Ustianenko Dmytro , Chiu Hua-Sheng , Weyn-Vanhentenryck Sebastien M. , Sumazin Pavel , Zhang Chaolin
Published: October 2017

LIN28 is a bipartite RNA-binding protein that post-transcriptionally inhibits let-7 microRNAs to regulate development and influence disease states. However, the mechanisms of let-7 suppression remains poorly understood, because LIN28 recognition depends on coordinated targeting by both the zinc knuckle domain (ZKD)—which binds a GGAG-like element in the precursor—and the cold shock domain (CSD), whose binding sites have not been systematically characterized. By leveraging single-nucleotide-resolution mapping of LIN28 binding sitesin vivo, we determined that the CSD recognizes a (U)GAU motif. This motif partitions the let-7 family into Class I precursors with both CSD and ZKD binding sites and Class II precursors with ZKD but no CSD binding sites. LIN28in vivorecognition—and subsequent 3′ uridylation and degradation—of Class I precursors is more efficient, leading to their stronger suppression in LIN28-activated cells and cancers. Thus, CSD binding sites amplify the effects of the LIN28 activation with potential implication in development and cancer.
Anxiety-like but not despair-like behaviors are further aggravated by chronic mild stress in the early stages of APPswe/PS1dE9 transgenic mice
Authors: Gao Jun-Ying , Chen Ying , Su Dong-Yuan , Marshall Charles , Xiao Ming
Published: October 2017

Early Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and depression share many symptoms, thus it is very difficult to initially distinguish one from the other. Therefore, characterizing the shared and different biological changes between the two disorders will be helpful in making an early diagnosis and planning treatment. In the present study, 8-week-old APPswe/PS1dE9 transgenic mice received chronic mild stress (CMS) for 8 weeks followed by a series of behavioral, biochemical and pathological analyses. APPswe/PS1dE9 mice demonstrated despair- and anxiety-like behaviors, and reduced sociability, accompanied by high levels of soluble beta-amyloid, glial activation, neuroinflammation and brain derived neurotrophic factor signaling disturbance in the hippocampus. Notably, APPswe/PS1dE9 mice exposure to CMS further aggravated anxiety-like behaviors rather than hopelessness and sociability deficits, accompanied with more severe neuroinflammation, and low serum corticosterone increased to the normal level. These results may help to understand the pathogenic mechanism of psychiatric symptoms associated with early AD.
A cell-free synthetic biochemistry platform for raspberry ketone production
Authors: Moore Simon J , Tosi Tomasso , Bell David , Hleba Yonek B , Polizzi Karen M , Freemont Paul S
Published: October 2017

Cell-free synthetic biochemistry provides a green solution to replace traditional petroleum or agricultural based methods for production of fine chemicals. 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-butan-2-one, also known as raspberry ketone, is the major fragrance component of raspberry fruit and is utilised as a natural additive in the food and sports industry. Current industrial processing standards involve chemical extraction with a yield of 1-4 mg per kilo of fruit. As such its market price can fluctuate up to $20,000 per kg. Metabolic engineering approaches to synthesise this molecule by microbial fermentation have only resulted in low yields of up to 5 mg L−1. In contrast, cell-free synthetic biochemistry offers an intriguing compromise to the engineering constraints provided by the living cell. Using purified enzymes or a two-step semisynthetic route, an optimised pathway was formed for raspberry ketone synthesis leading up to 100% yield conversion. The semi-synthetic route is potentially scalable and cost-efficient for industrial synthesis of raspberry ketone.
Across-subjects classification of stimulus modality from human MEG high frequency activity
Authors: Westner Britta U. , Dalal Sarang S. , Hanslmayr Simon , Staudigl Tobias
Published: October 2017

Single-trial analyses have the potential to uncover meaningful brain dynamics that are obscured when averaging across trials. However, low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) can impede the use of single-trial analyses and decoding methods. In this study, we investigate the applicability of a single-trial approach to decode stimulus modality from magnetoencephalography (MEG) high frequency activity. In order to classify the auditory versus visual presentation of words, we combine beamformer source reconstruction with the random forest classification method. To enable group level inference, the classification is embedded in an across-subjects framework.

We show that single-trial gamma SNR allows for good classification performance (accuracy across subjects: 66.44 %). This implies that the characteristics of high frequency activity have a high consistency across trials and subjects. The random forest classifier assigned informational value to activity in both auditory and visual cortex with high spatial specificity. Across time, gamma power was most informative during stimulus presentation. Among all frequency bands, the 75-95 Hz band was the most informative frequency band in visual as well as in auditory areas. Especially in visual areas, a broad range of gamma frequencies (55-125 Hz) contributed to the successful classification.

Thus, we demonstrate the feasibility of single-trial approaches for decoding the stimulus modality across subjects from high frequency activity and describe the discriminative gamma activity in time, frequency, and space.

Author Summary

Averaging brain activity across trials is a powerful way to increase signal-to-noise ratio in MEG data. This approach, however, potentially obscures meaningful brain dynamics that unfold on the single-trial level. Single-trial analyses have been successfully applied to time domain or low frequency oscillatory activity; its application to MEG high frequency activity is hindered by the low amplitude of these signals. In the present study, we show that stimulus modality (visual versus auditory presentation of words) can successfully be decoded from single-trial MEG high frequency activity by combining source reconstruction with a random forest classification algorithm. This approach reveals patterns of activity above 75 Hz in both visual and auditory cortex, highlighting the importance of high frequency activity for the processing of domain-specific stimuli. Thereby, our results extend prior findings by revealing high-frequency activity in auditory cortex related to auditory word stimuli in MEG data. The adopted across-subjects framework furthermore suggests a high inter-individual consistency in the high frequency activity patterns.
Lifetimes and spatio-temporal response of protein crystals in intense X-ray microbeams
Authors: Warkentin Matthew A. , Atakisi Hakan , Hopkins Jesse B. , Walko Donald , Thorne Robert E.
Published: October 2017

Serial synchrotron-based crystallography using intense microfocused X-ray beams, fast-framing detectors and protein microcrystals held at 300 K promises to expand the range of accessible structural targets and to increase overall structure-pipeline throughputs. To explore the nature and consequences of X-ray radiation damage under microbeam illumination, the time-, dose- and temperature-dependent evolution of crystal diffraction have been measured with maximum dose rates of 50 MGy s−1. At all temperatures and dose rates, the integrated diffraction intensity for a fixed crystal orientation shows non-exponential decays with dose. Non-exponential decays are a consequence of non-uniform illumination and the resulting spatial evolution of diffracted intensity within the illuminated crystal volume. To quantify radiation-damage lifetimes and the damage state of diffracting crystal regions, a revised diffraction-weighted dose (DWD) is defined and it is shown that for Gaussian beams the DWD becomes nearly independent of actual dose at large doses. An apparent delayed onset of radiation damage seen in some intensity–dose curves is in fact a consequence of damage. Intensity fluctuations at high dose rates may arise from the impulsive release of gaseous damage products. Accounting for these effects, data collection at the highest dose rates increases crystal radiation lifetimes near 300 K (but not at 100 K) by a factor of ∼1.5–2 compared with those observed at conventional dose rates. Improved quantification and modeling of the complex spatio-temporal evolution of protein microcrystal diffraction in intense microbeams will enable more efficient data collection, and will be essential in improving the accuracy of structure factors and structural models.
Crystal structure of (4,4′-bipyridyl-κN)bis[N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-N-isopropyldithiocarbamato-κ2S,S′]zinc(II)–4,4′-bipyridyl (2/1) and its isostructural cadmium(II) analogue
Authors: Tan Yee Seng , Tiekink Edward R. T.
Published: October 2017

The title structures, [M(C6H12NOS2)2(C10H8N2)]·0.5C10H8N2, forM= Zn, (I), and Cd, (II), feature terminally bound 4,4′-bipyridyl ligands and non-coordinating 4,4′-bipyridyl molecules, with the latter disposed about a centre of inversion. The coordination geometry about the metal atom is defined by two non-symmetrically chelating dithiocarbamate ligands and a pyridyl N atom. The NS4donor sets are distorted but, approximate to trigonal bipyramidal in each case. In the crystal, hydroxy-O—H...O(hydroxy) and hydroxy-O—H...N(pyridyl) hydrogen bonds between the zinc-containing molecules lead to a supramolecular layer parallel to (100). The three-dimensional architecture arises as the layers are linkedviamethine-C—H...S, pyridyl-C—H...O(hydroxy) and π–π [inter-centroid distance between coordinated pyridyl rings = 3.6246 (18) Å] interactions. Channels along thec-axis direction are occupied by the non-coordinating 4,4′-bipyridine molecules, which are held in place by C—H...π(chelate ring) contacts.
A grey-based decision-making approach to the supplier selection problem in a steelmaking company
Authors: Abdulshahed Ali M. , Badi Ibrahim A. , Blaow Mohamed Mehemed
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a supplier selection method using grey system theory for a steelmaking company in Libya.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to tackle incompleteness and imprecision of human’s judgments, grey numbers were used. This work uses a grey-based approach to represent decision makers’ comparison judgments and extent analysis method to select the best supplier. Therefore, an example of a selection problem of a steelmaking company in Libya was used to illustrate the proposed approach.

Findings

Supplier selection in a supply chain is a critical strategic decision for company’s success and has attracted much attention of both academic scholars and decision makers. The authors have found that the Grey model can play an important role in improving supplier selection strategy, especially when it is in a situation where complex sustainability environments (i.e. Libya) exist.

Originality/value

No literature has been found till date for selection of supplier using grey system theory in a steelmaking company in Libya. An attempt in this regard could enhance a decision-making technique for selecting the best suppliers for the selected case company.
Improved GM(1, 1) model based on concave sequences and its applications
Authors: Kong Xinhai , Zhang Peng , Ma Xin
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to improve the GM(1, 1) model based on concave sequences.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the restored sequence of the GM(1, 1) model is proved to be convex, and the residual characters of the GM(1, 1) model for concave sequences are analyzed. Second, two symmetry transformations are introduced to transform an original concave sequence into a convex sequence, and then the GM(1, 1) model is established based on the convex sequence.

Findings

Compared with the traditional modeling method, the new method has high accuracy and is applicable for all concave sequence modeling.

Practical implications

Two cases are used to illustrate the superiority of this modeling method. Case A is to predict China’s per capita natural gas consumption, and case B is to predict the annual output of an oilfield.

Originality/value

The application scope of GM (1, 1) model is greatly extended.
The academic and personal experiences of Mainland Chinese students enrolled in a Canadian Master of Education Program
Authors: Preston Jane P. , Wang Anhui
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to communicate the positive and challenging aspects of a Master of Education program, as perceived by Chinese students at an Atlantic Canadian university.

Design/methodology/approach

Assuming a qualitative methodology, 21 Mainland Chinese students participated in individual, paired, and focus group semi-structured interviews. Interviews were member checked. Data were analyzed through content analysis. The findings are discussed using Deardorff’s (2006, 2009) concept of intercultural competence.

Findings

Students perceived the best features of their educational experience to be personable instructors, their enhanced English skills, and practical course-based experiences embedded in the program. The main challenges were social isolation, English language requirements and related assignments, and theoretical expectations of the program.

Research limitations/implications

This study contains a somewhat small qualitative small sample size (i.e. 21 participants), therein, disabling any generalization of results. In other words, the data findings are unique and non-generalizable beyond the particular research case. However, transferability, which refers to the extent in which the results of an original study can be applied to similar people, contexts, or settings (Lincoln and Guba, 1985), may be applied to the findings if the reader deems the context of this study in alignment with his/her situation.

Practical implications

Approximately, 82 percent of Canadian universities rate internationalization as a top priority, supporting the need for research in this area. An implication of the study is that internationalization of higher education must be more than just the recruitment of international students. Universities have direct and fiduciaries responsibilities to support the academic needs, personal needs of their international students, as well as the intercultural competence of all students, instructors and staff.

Originality/value

There is a plethora of research documenting experiences of international students, in general, but such research is not directly transferrable to the Chinese student. The issues and problems encountered by Chinese international students are unique and should be addressed independently from international students. Moreover, a lot of the research that focuses on Chinese students enrolled in North American universities, predominantly, is conducted within the USA, and such research tends to spotlight the challenges only. In turn, the authors’ research addresses a specialized focus of the international Chinese student in Canada.
Friction and wear behavior of pin-bushing with magnetorheological fluids
Authors: Zhang Peng , Lee Gwanghee , Lee Chulhee , Yoon Hyung
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to carry out research on friction and wear behavior of pin-bushing with magnetorheological fluids (MRFs).

Design/methodology/approach

The oscillation friction characteristics of MRFs with a magnetic field are evaluated by a pin-bushing friction wear tester. The housing is adjusted to apply the magnetic field to MRFs. Experiments are carried out with and without a magnetic field, and the coefficient of friction and temperature on the contact interface are measured. The surfaces of the pin and bushing are also examined by a surface profilometer and an optical microscope before and after tests. The experiment results show a lower coefficient of friction is observed when a magnetic field is applied.

Findings

The temperature is lowest when grease is used. The case when a magnetic field is present shows the higher temperature. The coefficient of friction is higher than grease lubrication when an MRF is applied. The coefficient of friction of the pin-bushing is lowest with grease and highest when a magnetic field is present. The friction coefficient of grease and MRFs decreases as the load increases and remains stable after 3 kN is added. The roughness, surface profile and morphology of the pin show the best results when grease is used as compared with MRFs.

Originality/value

The tribology characteristic of pin-bushing with MRFs shows more deficiency than that with grease. Nevertheless, it is necessary to carry out the research on the friction and wear characteristics of a pin-bushing with MRFs, as it is expected to increase the load-carrying capacity when an MRF is applied to the pin-bush system. Better friction and wear characteristics could be achieved by enhancing the property of MRFs.
Experimental study of wear for implant materials under dry sliding conditions
Authors: Mojumder Soumyajit , Sikdar Soumya , Ghosh Subrata Kumar
Published: October 2017

Purpose

Artificial biomaterials are implanted to the human body to support the structure depending upon the extent of deformity or damage. This paper aims to formulate an experimental approach to assess the suitability of materials that can be used in the manufacture of human implants.

Design/methodology/approach

Five different pin materials such as SS304, Alumina, HDPE, UHMWPE and Brass have been chosen to be suitable for implants. The tribological properties of the aforementioned materials have been tested on a simple pin-on-disc apparatus. EN31 was chosen as the disc material because its hardness value is much higher than that of the pin materials used. The test materials were constructed in the form of spherical end pins to have point contacts and to reduce the depth of wear.

Findings

It has been observed that the polymeric (HDPE and UHMWPE) and ceramic materials (Alumina) are much better than the traditional metallic materials. The wear rate is very low for these materials owing to their self-lubricating properties.

Practical implications

The experimental studies will help predict the performance and life of implant materials in the human body.

Originality/value

In most cases, SS316L that possesses nickel compositions is used as the disc material; SS316L is toxic to the human body. In the present study, a high carbon alloy steel with high degrees of hardness EN31 is used as a disc counter-face material.
Synthesis and properties of thiadiazole lubricant additives
Authors: Xue Weiguo , Ma Wenquan , Xu Xiaohong , Li Tao , Zhou Xuguang , Wang Peng
Published: October 2017

Purpose

Thiadiazole compounds and their derivatives have carrying capacity and good lubricating properties. However, their poor oil-solubility limited their wide usage in lubricating oil. The study aims to develop thiadiazole lubricant additives with better oil-solubility. When the hindered phenol antioxidation functional group and alkyl-chain are introduced to thiadiazole, the resulting product could have better oil-solubility and excellent antioxidation resistance, anti-wear and corrosion resistance in the lubricating oil.

Design/methodology/approach

One kind of thiadiazole lubricant additive, for the first time, has been synthesized from 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole. Its tribological performance has also been evaluated by four-ball test. And, its oxidation resistance has been estimated by rotating pressure vessel oxidation test and pressurized differential scanning calorimetry. The anticorrosion performance of such an additive has been studied by GB/T 5096 standard method test.

Findings

The synthesized thiadiazole additive has excellent anti-oxidation capability, good anti-wear and extreme pressure properties and good anticorrosion performance, in comparison with zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate (ZDDP). In base oils, the comprehensive performance of thiadiazole additive is comparable to ZDDP. Mechanistic studies indicate that the S and N active elements were involved in the formation of a boundary film. This may account for the formation of a composite membrane on the metal surface and thus for the tribological performance of such thiadiazole additives.

Originality/value

The thiadiazole derivatives, which are ashless and have environmentally friendly features, are a potential alternative to ZDDP. Because of the film formed on the friction surface, thiadiazole compounds may serve as an excellent anti-wear additive and are expected to reduce friction and wear between metals.
Life of cutlery cutting tools: effects of surface finish
Authors: Labiapari Wilian da Silva , Costa Henara Lillian , De Mello José Daniel Biasoli
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The progressive wear of cutting tools used in industrial cutlery production results in excessive burr formation and reduces tool service life. This paper aims to investigate the effects of the sheet surface finish on tool wear and service life during blanking.

Design/methodology/approach

Two alternative surface finish techniques were proposed and initially implemented under laboratorial conditions and compared with conventional acid pickling. Those surface finish techniques were then implemented on an industrial scale to improve the service life of cutting tools. Industrial blanking tests characterized the effect of sheet surface finish on tool life.

Findings

In the first technique, called skin pass, an additional mechanical pass under controlled conditions reduced the height of the surface peaks and resulted in partial embedding of the carbides into the surface. The second technique, called electrochemical pickling, removed solely the surface carbides, leaving behind a smoother surface without carbides. Real industrial blanking tests identified that the use of skin pass reduced burr formation and increased tool life by around 300 per cent when compared with conventional acid pickling. With electrochemical pickling, burr formation was further reduced and tool life increased further by 300 per cent when compared with skin pass.

Research limitations/implications

First, this work proposes an alternative surface finishing technique (electrochemical pickling) to be used after annealing of stainless steel. Second, the work clearly shows the presence of protruding surface carbides when conventional surface finishing techniques are used, which do not exist after acid pickling.

Practical implications

When electrochemical pickling is implemented on an industrial scale, the life of blanking tools is substantially improved.

Originality/value

Although the sheet surface finish is widely recognized to affect metalforming processes, the literature lacks studies on the effect of sheet surface finish on tool wear during blanking. First, this work proposes an alternative surface finishing technique (electrochemical pickling) to be used after annealing of stainless steel. Second, the work clearly shows the presence of protruding surface carbides when conventional surface finishing techniques are used, which do not exist after acid pickling. Third, when electrochemical pickling is implemented on an industrial scale, the life of blanking tools is substantially improved.
Relationship between elliptical form error and rotation accuracy of hydrostatic journal bearing
Authors: Zha Jun , Chen Yaolong , Zhang Penghai
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The form error of shaft and hole parts is inevitable because of the machining error caused by rotation error of tool axis in machine tools where the elliptical form error is the most common in shaft and bearing bush. The purpose of this paper is to present the relationship between the elliptical form error and rotation accuracy for hydrostatic journal bearing in precision spindle and rotation table.

Design/methodology/approach

An error averaging effect model of hydrostatic journal bearing is established by using Reynolds equation, pressure boundary conditions, flux continuity equation of the land and kinetic equation of shaft in hydrostatic journal bearing. The effects of shaft and bearing bush on rotation accuracy were analyzed quantitatively.

Findings

The results reveal that the effect of shaft elliptical form error on rotation accuracy was six times larger than bearing bush. Therefore, to improve the rotation accuracy of hydrostatic journal bearing in spindle or rotation table, the machining error of shaft should be controlled carefully.

Originality/value

An error averaging model is proposed to evaluate the effect of an elliptical form error on rotation accuracy of hydrostatic journal bearings, which solves the Reynolds equation, the flux continuity equation and the kinetic equation. The determination of form error parameters of shaft and bearing bush can be yielded from finding results of this study for precision design of hydrostatic journal bearings.
Achieve a low carbon supply chain through product mix
Authors: Chen Xu , Wang Xiaojun
Published: October 2017

Purpose

In the era of climate change, industrial organizations are under increasing pressure from consumers and regulators to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effectiveness of product mix as a strategy to deliver the low carbon supply chain under the cap-and-trade policy.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors incorporate the cap-and-trade policy into the green product mix decision models by using game-theoretic approach and compare these decisions in a decentralized model and a centralized model, respectively. The research explores potential behavioral changes under the cap-and-trade in the context of a two-echelon supply chain.

Findings

The analysis results show that the channel structure has significant impact on both economic and environmental performances. An integrated supply chain generates more profits. In contrast, a decentralized supply chain has lower carbon emissions. The cap-and-trade policy makes a different impact on the economic and environmental performances of the supply chain. Balancing the trade-offs is critical to ensure the long-term sustainability.

Originality/value

The research offers many interesting observations with respect to the effect of product mix strategy on operational decisions and the trade-offs between costs and carbon emissions under the cap-and-trade policy. The insights derived from the analysis not only help firms to make important operational and strategic decisions to reduce carbon emissions while maintaining their economic competitiveness, but also make meaningful contribution to governments’ policy making for carbon emissions control.
Signaling in joint venture capital: a social network perspective
Authors: Wu Jing , Li He , Zheng Haichao , Xu Yun
Published: October 2017

Purpose

Based on the theory of social networks, it is crucial to enhance information superiority through joint venture capital (VC). The purpose of this paper is to explore the impacts of different roles’ structural and relational embeddedness on the information superiority of joint VC alliances.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors design the multiple linear regression models to investigate the leader’s investment ratio from a network embeddedness perspective. Panel data analysis and robustness tests are adopted based on the data from Chinese VCs Database.

Findings

The results show that VC leaders enjoy information search advantages because of their better network positions, while their followers lack this superiority. Information sharing among investors and investees may enhance the influences of structural embeddedness on investors’ information search advantages. Joint VC’s scale and its number of leaders could also increase VC alliances’ information superiority.

Originality/value

This research provides a more holistic understanding of the formation of joint VC alliances’ information superiority from a social network perspective. Both VC managers and social planners can seek guidance from this study to implement better strategies and policies to promote information symmetry in the VC market.
Professional ethics in the information age
Authors: Burmeister Oliver Kisalay
Published: October 2017

Purpose

Professional ethics is explored with three main foci: a critique of codes of conduct and the value of creating a global code for information and communication technology (ICT); a critique of ICT professional certification; and the debate over whether ICT is really a profession.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual reflection on the current state of the ICT industry internationally, informed by the literature.

Findings

Compared to a mature profession, such as health, ICT is a young profession. This is evidenced in the disparity of domains of practice, the lack of agreement on universal values governing the industry and the ongoing difficulties in creating international certification.

Originality/value

Until now, there has been little recognition of the corporatisation of ICT professionals and the effect that has on their ability to engage in appropriate professional ethics. More research is needed to explore appropriate ways in which ethical behaviour can be encouraged in the corporate workplace, including how professional development can be strengthened through building learning organisations.
Genotypic covariance between the performance of a resident species and community assembly in the field
Authors: Riedel Arthur M. , Monro Keyne , Blows Mark W. , Marshall Dustin J.
Published: October 2017

Genetic variation in resident species can influence the assembly and dynamics of communities, but the potential for these genetic effects to persist across generations is largely unresolved. In principle, persistent, directional changes in communities are only predicted when community properties covary genetically with the fitness of resident species.

Estimates of genetic covariance between the fitness of a resident species and its community are therefore necessary to “close the eco‐evolutionary loop” in studies of community genetics, but such estimates are rare. Emulating community genetics experiments in plants, we used clonal replicates of 21 genotypes of a resident species (the encrusting bryozoan, Hippopodina) to investigate the magnitude of genotypic variance contributing to assembly of a marine benthic community.

Genotypes explained up to 35% of variation in community assembly. Critically, the performance of Hippopodina genotypes covaried both with the evenness of communities and with the abundances of some individual species, representing an indirect genetic effect that creates the potential for multigenerational interactions between Hippopodina and co‐existing species. Our results suggest that different genotypes will associate with different community members consistently across generations, and such non‐random associations can give rise to specialization. Further interactions between species other than Hippopodina itself may also be altered by effects of genetic variation in the focal species.

Furthermore, species in the community other than Hippopodina itself will interact more commonly in the presence of some genotypes over others.

Our results support the potential for genetic variation in one species to have deterministic effects on the dynamics of ecological communities.

A plain language summary is available for this article.
High resolution visualization and exo‐proteomics reveal the physiological role of XlnR and AraR in plant biomass colonization and degradation by Aspergillus niger
Authors: Kowalczyk Joanna E. , Khosravi Claire , Purvine Samuel , Dohnalkova Alice , Chrisler William B. , Orr Galya , Robinson Errol , Zink Erika , Wiebenga Ad , Peng Mao , Battaglia Evy , Baker Scott , de Vries Ronald P.
Published: October 2017

In A. niger, two transcription factors, AraR and XlnR, regulate the production of enzymes involved in degradation of arabinoxylan and catabolism of the released l‐arabinose and d‐xylose. Deletion of both araR and xlnR in leads to reduced production of (hemi)cellulolytic enzymes and reduced growth on arabinan, arabinogalactan and xylan. In this study, we investigated the colonization and degradation of wheat bran by the A. niger reference strain CBS 137562 and araR/xlnR regulatory mutants using high‐resolution microscopy and exo‐proteomics. We discovered that wheat bran flakes have a ‘rough’ and ‘smooth’ surface with substantially different affinity towards fungal hyphae. While colonization of the rough side was possible for all strains, the xlnR mutants struggled to survive on the smooth side of the wheat bran particles after 20 and 40 h post inoculation. Impaired colonization ability of the smooth surface of wheat bran was linked to reduced potential of ΔxlnR to secrete arabinoxylan and cellulose‐degrading enzymes and indicates that XlnR is the major regulator that drives colonization of wheat bran in A. niger.
Application of stable‐isotope labelling techniques for the detection of active diazotrophs
Authors: Angel Roey , Panhölzl Christopher , Gabriel Raphael , Herbold Craig , Wanek Wolfgang , Richter Andreas , Eichorst Stephanie A. , Woebken Dagmar
Published: October 2017

Investigating active participants in the fixation of dinitrogen gas is vital as N is often a limiting factor for primary production. Biological nitrogen fixation is performed by a diverse guild of bacteria and archaea (diazotrophs), which can be free‐living or symbionts. Free‐living diazotrophs are widely distributed in the environment, yet our knowledge about their identity and ecophysiology is still limited. A major challenge in investigating this guild is inferring activity from genetic data as this process is highly regulated. To address this challenge, we evaluated and improved several 15N‐based methods for detecting N2 fixation activity (with a focus on soil samples) and studying active diazotrophs. We compared the acetylene reduction assay and the 15N2 tracer method and demonstrated that the latter is more sensitive in samples with low activity. Additionally, tracing 15N into microbial RNA provides much higher sensitivity compared to bulk soil analysis. Active soil diazotrophs were identified with a 15N‐RNA‐SIP approach optimized for environmental samples and benchmarked to 15N‐DNA‐SIP. Lastly, we investigated the feasibility of using SIP‐Raman microspectroscopy for detecting 15N‐labelled cells. Taken together, these tools allow identifying and investigating active free‐living diazotrophs in a highly sensitive manner in diverse environments, from bulk to the single‐cell level.
A Note on Optimal Industrial Policy Towards Bertrand Homogeneous Duopoly
Authors: Duan Qi , Ma Jie
Published: October 2017

Recent studies in strategic trade and industrial policy analysis suggest that an investment subsidy, in the form of an R&D subsidy, a capacity subsidy or an advertising subsidy, would be a robust industrial policy recommendation towards an international differentiated oligopoly. However, in this paper, we show that this result does not carry over to the case of a Bertrand homogeneous duopoly. This result together with the fact that the optimal industrial policy is to set an investment subsidy when in product market competition firms play a Cournot output game, imply immediately that there hardly exists a robust industrial policy recommendation towards homogeneous goods industries.
Maximizing PEDAGOGY for Secondary Co‐Teachers
Authors: Brawand Anne , King‐Sears Margaret E.
Published: October 2017

Student understanding of content can be dependent on the pedagogies that co‐teachers plan and implement, regardless of which co‐teaching model they use. However, when co‐teachers vary instruction using different co‐teaching models, secondary students with and without disabilities have more opportunities to take advantage of having two teachers and more opportunities to be taught using evidence‐based practices. In this article, ‘PEDAGOGY’ is used as an acronym to describe ways in which co‐teachers can design and deliver instruction using various co‐teaching models in multiple content areas at the secondary level.
Study on nutritional monitoring of Persian malnourished school students: A check on reproducibility and validity of questionnaire
Authors: Ashourpour Mahkameh , Kaveh Mohammad‐Hossein , Salehi Musa , Tabatabaee Hamid‐Reza , Taghdir Maryam
Published: October 2017

Aim

To develop a nutritional screening tool and examine its reliability and validity in elementary school children with malnutrition based on PRECEDE–PROCEED model, in Shiraz, Iran.

Methods

A questionnaire was designed and its reproducibility was analysed via test–retest design among students with malnutrition. The students were in the fourth to sixth grades. Validity was assessed using face validity, content validity, construct validity, item difficulty and item discrimination. Reliability was measured by Cronbach's alpha (internal consistency), the intra‐class correlation coefficient (ICC) and κ statistics (test–retest reliability).

Results

A total of 165 primary school students (mean age of 11.21 ± 1.08 years, 65.5% females) participated in the study. The PRECEDE–PROCEED theoretical model for health education was adapted for this questionnaire. The questionnaire was divided into four main sections: predisposing, reinforcing, enabling factors and behaviour. Coefficient α reliability estimate was above 0.9 for most scales. The ICCs for different scales of the questionnaire were within the range of 0.402–0.800. Values for κ ranged from 0.412 to 0.785 for most scales.

Conclusions

The results showed reasonable validity, excellent reliability and moderate to substantial reproducibility for all scales of the questionnaire except two questions for κ statistics. The present study is of great importance, as there are no psychometrically evaluated tools (based on health behaviour models) with accepted validity and reliability for the evaluation of such factors in children with malnutrition. The questionnaire developed in the present study can be used to assess the effect of intervention among primary school students with malnutrition.
A Motion Analysis Protocol for Kinematic Assessment of Poly‐Articulated Prosthetic Hands With Cosmetic Gloves
Authors: Cutti Andrea Giovanni , Cordella Francesca , D'Amico Giulia , Sacchetti Rinaldo , Davalli Angelo , Guglielmelli Eugenio , Zollo Loredana
Published: October 2017

To provide upper‐limb amputees with devices that best fit their needs and to test innovative solutions, it is necessary to quantitatively appraise a device performance with rigorous measurement methods. The aim of this work was to define an optimal motion analysis protocol, suitable for optoelectronic systems, to measure the kinematics of poly‐articulated hands even when covered by a cosmetic glove. This is a fundamental aspect, because gloves can decrease device speed and range of motion and, ultimately, patients' acceptance of the artificial limb. In this work, different mathematical models of the joints and marker‐sets for motion analysis were conceived. A regression model to choose a reduced marker‐set for studying the hand performance with different cosmetic glove models was developed. The proposed approaches for finger motion analysis were experimentally tested on the index finger of the i‐Limb, a commercial myoelectric poly‐articulated prosthetic hand, but the results can be easily extended to the whole hand and to other poly‐articulated prosthetic hands. The methods proposed for the performance analysis of prosthetic hands points out that the cosmetic gloves imply a reduction of the finger flexion/extension (F/E) angles and of the motion velocity. This draws attention to the need for performing independent cyclic tests on commercial products with various cosmetic solutions to better guide component selection.
Semi‐Automatic Conversion of 3D Shape into Flat‐Foldable Polygonal Model
Authors: Miyamoto Emi , Endo Yuki , Kanamori Yoshihiro , Mitani Jun
Published: October 2017

This paper presents a method that can convert a given 3D mesh into a flat‐foldable model consisting of rigid panels. A previous work proposed a method to assist manual design of a single component of such flat‐foldable model, consisting of vertically‐connected side panels as well as horizontal top and bottom panels. Our method semi‐automatically generates a more complicated model that approximates the input mesh with multiple convex components. The user specifies the folding direction of each convex component and the fidelity of shape approximation. Given the user inputs, our method optimizes shapes and positions of panels of each convex component in order to make the whole model flat‐foldable. The user can check a folding animation of the output model. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our method by fabricating physical paper prototypes of flat‐foldable models.
A probabilistic framework for component‐based vector graphics
Authors: Lieng Henrik
Published: October 2017

We propose a framework for data‐driven manipulation and synthesis of component‐based vector graphics. Using labelled vector graphical images of a given type of object as input, our processing pipeline produces training data, learns a probabilistic Bayesian network from that training data, and offer various data‐driven vector‐related tools using synthesis functions. The tools ranges from data‐driven vector design to automatic synthesis of vector graphics. Our tools were well received by designers, our model provides good generalisation performance, also from small data sets, and our method for synthesis produces vector graphics deemed significantly more plausible compared with alternative methods.