bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Invariant Nature of a Morphological Character and Character State: Insights from Gene Regulatory Networks
Authors: Tarasov Sergei 
Published: September 2018

AbstractWhat constitutes a morphological character versus character state has been long discussed in the systematics literature but the consensus on this issue is still missing. Different methods of classifying organismal features into characters and character states can dramatically affect the results of phylogenetic analyses. Here, I show that the modular structure of the gene regulatory network (GRN) underlying trait development, and the hierarchical nature of GRN evolution, essentially remove the distinction between morphological character and character state, thus endowing the character and character state with an invariant property with respect to each other. This property allows representing the states of one character as several individual characters and vice versa. In practice, this means that a phenotype can be encoded using a set of characters or just one complex character with numerous states. The representation of a phenotype using one complex character requires a selection of an appropriate penalty for the state transitions.
Different capsid-binding patterns of the β-herpesvirus-specific tegument protein pp150 (pM32/pUL32) in murine and human cytomegaloviruses
Authors: Liu Wei , Dai Xinghong , Jih Jonathan , Chan Karen , Trang Phong , Yu Xuekui , Balogun Rilwan , Mei Ye , Liu Fenyong , Zhou Z. Hong 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThe phosphoprotein pp150 is a structurally, immunogenically, and regulatorily important capsid-associated tegument protein abundant in β-herpesviruses including cytomegaloviruses (CMV), but absent in α-herpesviruses and Γ-herpesviruses. In human CMV (HCMV), bridging across each triplex and three adjacent major capsid proteins (MCPs) is a group of three pp150 subunits in a “△”-shapedfortifyingconfiguration, 320 of which encase and stabilize the genome-containing capsid. Because murine CMV (MCMV) has been used as a model for HCMV pathogenesis and therapeutic studies, one might expect that pp150 and the capsid in MCMV and HCMV have similar structures. Here, by cryoEM and sub-particle reconstructions, we have obtained structures of MCMV capsid and pp150 at near atomic resolutions and built their atomic models. Surprisingly, the capsid-binding patterns of pp150 differ between HCMV and MCMV despite their highly similar capsid structures. In MCMV, pp150 is absent on triplex Tc and exists as a “Λ”-shaped dimer on other triplexes, leading to only 260 groups of two pp150 subunits per capsid in contrast to 320 groups of three pp150 subunits encasing each HCMV capsid. Many more amino acids contribute to pp150-pp150 interactions in MCMV than in HCMV, making MCMV pp150 dimer inflexible thus incompatible to instigate triplex Tc-binding as observed in HCMV. While pp150 is essential in HCMV, pp150-deleted MCMV mutants remained viable though with attenuated infectivity and exhibiting defects in retaining viral genome. These results support targeting capsid proteins, but invalidate targeting pp150, when using MCMV as a model for HCMV pathogenesis and therapeutic studies.ImportanceCMV infection is a leading viral cause of congenital birth defects and often responsible for life-threating complications in immunocompromised individuals like AIDS and post-organ transplantation patients. Absence of effective vaccines and potent drugs against CMV infections has motivated animal-based studies, mostly based on the mouse model with MCMV, both for understanding pathogenesis of CMV infections and for developing therapeutic strategies. Here, we present the first atomic structures of MCMV and show that the organization patterns of capsid-associated tegument protein pp150 between human and mouse CMV are different despite their highly similar capsid structures. Our functional studies demonstrate that deleting pp150 does not eliminate MCMV infection in contrast to pp150’s essential role in HCMV infections. These results thus establish the validity to target capsid proteins, but raise concerns to target pp150, when using MCMV as HCMV model for pathogenesis and therapeutic studies.
Crowdsourced MRI quality metrics and expert quality annotations for training of humans and machines
Authors: Esteban Oscar , Blair Ross W , Nielson Dylan M , Varada Jan C , Marrett Sean , Thomas Adam G , Poldrack Russell A , Gorgolewski Krzysztof J 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThe neuroimaging community is steering towards increasingly large sample sizes, which are highly heterogeneous because they can only be acquired by multi-site consortia. The visual assessment of every imaging scan is a necessary quality control step, yet arduous and time-consuming. A sizeable body of evidence shows that images of low quality are a source of variability that may be comparable to the effect size under study. We present the MRIQC Web-API, an open crowdsourced database that collects image quality metrics extracted from MR images and corresponding manual assessments by experts. The database is rapidly growing, and currently contains over 100,000 records of image quality metrics of functional and anatomical MRIs of the human brain, and over 200 expert ratings. The resource is designed for researchers to share image quality metrics and annotations that can readily be reused in training human experts and machine learning algorithms. The ultimate goal of the database is to allow the development of fully automated quality control tools that outperform expert ratings in identifying subpar images.
The extracellular gate shapes the energy profile of an ABC exporter
Authors: Hutter Cedric A.J. , Timachi M. Hadi , Hürlimann Lea M. , Zimmermann Iwan , Egloff Pascal , Göddeke Hendrik , Kucher Svetlana , Štefanic Saša , Karttunen Mikko , Schäfer Lars V. , Bordignon Enrica , Seeger Markus A. 
Published: September 2018

ABSTRACTABC exporters harness the energy of ATP to pump substrates across membranes. Extracellular gate opening and closure are key steps of the transport cycle, but the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. Here, we generated a synthetic single domain antibody (sybody) that recognizes the heterodimeric ABC exporter TM287/288 exclusively in the presence of ATP, which was essential to solve a 3.2 Å crystal structure of the outward-facing transporter. The sybody binds to an extracellular wing and strongly inhibits ATPase activity by shifting the transporter’s conformational equilibrium towards the outward-facing state, as shown by double electron-electron resonance (DEER). Mutations that facilitate extracellular gate opening resulted in a comparable equilibrium shift and strongly reduced ATPase activity and drug transport. Using the sybody as conformational probe, we demonstrate that efficient extracellular gate closure is required to dissociate the NBD dimer after ATP hydrolysis to reset the transporter back to its inward-facing state.
Emergence of collective oscillations in adaptive cells
Authors: Wang Shou-Wen , Tang Lei-Han 
Published: September 2018

AbstractCollective oscillations of cells in a population appear under diverse biological contexts. Here, we establish a set of common principles by categorising the response of individual cells against a time-varying signal. A positive intracellular signal relay of sufficient gain from participating cells is required to sustain the oscillations, together with phase matching. The two conditions yield quantitative predictions for the onset cell density and frequency in terms of measured single-cell and signal response functions. Through mathematical constructions, we show that cells that adapt to a constant stimulus fulfil the phase requirement by developing a leading phase in an active frequency window that enables cell-to-signal energy flow. Analysis of dynamical quorum sensing in several cellular systems with increasing biological complexity reaffirms the pivotal role of adaptation in powering oscillations in an otherwise dissipative cell-to-cell communication channel. The physical conditions identified also apply to synthetic oscillatory systems.
Fuzzy model predictive control for 2-DOF robotic arms
Authors: Yang Weilin , Zhang Wentao , Xu Dezhi , Yan Wenxu 
Published: September 2018

Purpose
Robotic arm control is challenging due to the intrinsic nonlinearity. Proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controllers prevail in many robotic arm applications. However, it is usually nontrivial to tune the parameters in a PID controller. This paper aims to propose a model-based control strategy of robotic arms.

Design/methodology/approach
A Takagi–Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy model, which is capable of approximating nonlinear systems, is used to describe the dynamics of a robotic arm. Model predictive control (MPC) based on the T-S fuzzy model is considered, which optimizes system performance with respect to a user-defined cost function.

Findings
The control gains are optimized online according to the real-time system state. Furthermore, the proposed method takes into account the input constraints. Simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the fuzzy MPC approach. It is shown that asymptotic stability is achieved for the closed-loop control system.

Originality/value
The T-S fuzzy model is discussed in the modeling of robotic arm dynamics. Fuzzy MPC is used for robotic arm control, which can optimize the transient performance with respect to a user-defined criteria.
A study on the factors to measure employer brand: the case of undergraduate senior students
Authors: Lee Chi-Cheng , Kao Rui-Hsin , Lin Chia-Jung 
Published: September 2018

Purpose
This paper aims to develop the structure of employer brand and discuss whether employees and employers have the same view on the elements of employer brand.

Design/methodology/approach
The employer brand of Taiwan, which includes 5 facets and 20 eight terms, was obtained. Management, welfare, interest and environment are the common facets of employer brand in China and Western countries. In addition, family and atmosphere is an important factor that merges both Western and Eastern job applicants. Its contents emphasize family life, which is only found in applicants from Taiwan and China.

Findings
The results showed that enterprises utilize functional factors in order to connect emotions closely and satisfy psychological sustenance, which have true attraction to young Taiwanese applicants and the current workforce of employees.

Originality/value
In general, after 20 years of establishment and empirical research, the achievements are rich and many practical opinions are provided. However, most of the existing literatures come from the researches of Western scholars, and they may be affected by the Western social value. This study has explored the Oriental and Western literatures. In the study field of Taiwan, it is found that employer brand will definitely show different style features due to the cultural difference. Therefore, when an enterprise applies the relevant connotation of the employer brand, it is necessary considering the cultural difference. This shows the importance of cross-cultural study of employer brand recently. At the same time, this also highlights the contribution of this study on theory and practice.
Fatigue life prediction of cord–rubber composite structures based on progressive damage analysis
Authors: Jha Niraj Kumar , Nackenhorst Udo 
Published: September 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a progressive damage framework to predict the fatigue life of cord-reinforced rubber composite under cyclic loadings. Special attention has been paid to failure mechanisms, like cord–rubber interfacial debonding, and rubber matrix damage.

Design/methodology/approach
The constitutive modeling is based on the continuum damage mechanics (CDMs) and the thermodynamics of irreversible process. The damage in rubber is described by an istropic law, whereas elasto-plastic continuum model has been proposed for cord–rubber interphase layer. The numerical framework is implemented into commercial finite element code Abaqus/Standard via user subroutine (UMAT).

Findings
One of the most important findings obtained from reviewing various techniques is that meso-level fatigue damage modeling based on developed framework can simulate competitive damage scenarios, e.g. debonding, delamination or matrix failure.

Originality/value
A systematic framework for predicting failure in cord-reinforced rubber composite is formulated within the context of CDMs that can also be applied for industrial components, such as tires and airsprings.
New Wella Salon: a journey towards popularizing the services (B)
Authors: Sattar Muhammad Muzamil , Pathan Nabeel Nisar , Raza Ali 
Published: September 2018

Subject area
Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurial Marketing and Services Marketing.

Study level/applicability
The New Wella Salon case (B) is suitable for teaching at MBA level and last-year students of undergraduate-level courses in services marketing and entrepreneurship.

Case overview
This case discusses the challenges faced by a young entrepreneur Mr Meer, who has successfully brought a new trend in the salon industry of Sukkur City. The new trend focuses on trendier and sophisticated services keeping in mind the changing mindset of consumer and services provided by leading salons of Pakistan. Though, the new salon has proved to be a great success. But recent developments have badly shaken the well-established brand. The most challenging issue was the loss of customers to competition, showing a negative sign for the future of this leading brand of local salon industry. He was confused and upset about the future of the leading salon brand of the local industry. He knew that he has to make some strategic decisions to secure his career and family business but appeared to be confused about how to operationalize these. He soon realized that word-of-mouth publicity and running a Facebook page would not be enough to promote his business effectively; so, he has to explore some new ways to promote his unique and nascent service other than advertising. But what should those be? To capture the growing demand of trendy services and scattered populations as a result of growing competition from similar salons, Meer has chalked down two different options: open another salon at a promising avenue and/or offer more services.

Expected learning outcomes
To identify and differentiate between traits of an entrepreneur and traditional businessman. To discuss how services companies can create and sustain competitive advantage. To understand the various strategic aspects of the small businesses that lever their decision-making. To work out strategic choices available to a new entrepreneurial firm, evaluate the alternatives and devise strategies for successful expansion of the business. To assess the usefulness of traditional and non-traditional marketing channels for promoting a small business.

Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Subject code
CSS 8: Marketing.
An efficient numerical method to solve the Falkner-Skan problem over an isothermal moving wedge
Authors: Delkhosh Mehdi , Parand Kourosh , Ganji D.D. 
Published: September 2018

Purpose
This paper aims to solve the Falkner–Skan problem over an isothermal moving wedge using the combination of the quasilinearization method and the fractional order of rational Chebyshev function (FRC) collocation method on a semi-infinite domain.

Design/methodology/approach
The quasilinearization method converts the equation into a sequence of linear equations, and then by using the FRC collocation method, these linear equations are solved. The governing nonlinear partial differential equations are reduced to the nonlinear ordinary differential equation by similarity transformations.

Findings
The entropy generation and the effects of the various parameters of the problem are investigated, and various graphs for them are plotted.

Originality/value
Very good approximation solutions to the system of equations in the problem are obtained, and the convergence of numerical results is shown by using plots and tables.
Perceived price and service quality as mediators between price fairness and perceived value in business banking relationships
Authors: Zietsman Mariëtte Louise , Mostert Pierre , Svensson Göran 
Published: September 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to test perceived price and service quality as mediators between price fairness and perceived value in service encounters between micro-enterprises and their banks.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on a self-administered and internet-based questionnaire conducted in the banking industry. The sample consists of 381 micro-enterprises in South Africa that employ one or two staff members.FindingsThe findings of this paper provide evidence for both theory and practice that perceived price and service quality influence the relationship between business banking customers’ perception of price fairness and the value of the service offered.Research limitations/implicationsThe measurement and structural properties reported are satisfactory. This paper confirms the hypothesized relationships in the tested research model, and rejects a tested rival model. Limitations are reported, and suggestions for further research are provided.Practical implicationsThis paper offers banking executives guidance in managing the pricing structure of their services, and highlights the value of offering greater transparency with regards to service charges and interest rates.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to insights into the mediating effects of perceived price and service quality between price fairness and perceived value in business relationships between micro-enterprises and their banks.
Value co-creation through digital service capabilities: the role of human factors
Authors: Saunila Minna , Ukko Juhani , Rantala Tero 
Published: September 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the different human factor characteristics that are emphasized when co-creating value through digital service capabilities.Design/methodology/approachEmpirical data are gathered from two small companies that deliver digital services and products in business-to-business markets.FindingsThe study highlights the role and importance of human factors as reflected in employees’ customer orientation while delivering digital service capabilities. The role of human factors also changes during the digital service production process.Originality/valueDeveloping digital service capability is positively associated with value co-creation, but it requires new skills: firms need to evaluate their mechanisms for supporting continuous learning about the properties of digital technologies. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to focus on the role of human factors in in developing digital service capabilities.
Coping with the milk scandal
Authors: Zeng Li , Zhou Lijie , Pan Po-Lin , Fowler Gil 
Published: September 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine crisis communication strategies used by four leading Chinese milk companies at various crisis stages to cope with the largest food safety crisis in China. Approaching the interplay between the situational crisis communication theory (Coombs, 2007) and the image restoration theory (Benoit, 1995), the study attempted to understand the importance of crisis management at various crisis stages by comparing crisis communication strategies used by surviving and thriving companies with those by the company that failed.

Design/methodology/approach
Dividing a crisis management process into three stages, a content analysis was conducted to analyze five major crisis communication strategies – evasion of responsibility, rebuilding, bolstering, endorsement of outside experts and government relations – used by Chinese milk companies at various crisis stages.

Findings
The study demonstrated that Sanlu, which went bankrupt as a result of the scandal, predominately took the Chinese crisis management approach. The other three companies that survived the scandal employed western crisis communication strategies, although with distinct Chinese characteristics. Specifically, all four companies employed similar strategies during the pre-crisis stage – keeping silent/covering-up. During the crisis stage, strategies varied dramatically as companies became involved – looking for government protection and apologizing, while survivors tended to adopt a widely used western strategy – bolstering at the post-crisis stage.

Practical implications
The examination of crisis communication strategies at various crisis stages may shed some light on how effectively Chinese companies and possibly international companies in China can manage future crises that share similar profiles as this milk scandal and further call for attention to scrutinize the social responsibility of corporate citizens in China.

Originality/value
This study would fill the vacancy in research by investigating crisis communication strategies used in the largest food safety crisis in China. The findings provide insight for understanding the current status of crisis communication strategies and management within a Chinese matrix of political, social and cultural factors.
The viable system model and its applications in higher education: an overview
Authors: Rezk Sahar Saeed , Gamal Shahinaz 
Published: September 2018

Purpose
Viable system model (VSM) is a powerful tool mainly used to describe, solve and control systems’ complex problems autonomously. It enables systems to be flexible so that they can survive by rapidly responding and adapting their behaviors to any expected or even unexpected changes in the surrounding environment. This study aims to provide a literature review of the VSM as a conceptual framework for designing viable systems, and its applications in the field of higher education (HE).

Design/methodology/approach
The review is based on explaining “What is organizational cybernetics?”, clarifying the principles of the VSM as a rational model for designing viable organizations, discussing its drawbacks and the extended VSM, and then presenting a literature review of VSM applications in HE based on papers mainly published from 1993 to 2017.

Findings
Although there are many contributions provided by applying the VSM in HE, the previous developed models used Beer’s framework with its drawbacks without referring to some important factors neglected within it which are discussed in this review.

Originality/value
The study presents a summary of previous research on this topic and clarifies the essential issues needed to be addressed to design viable systems. Based on the gaps identified in the literature, some issues have been emphasized to be addressed in future research.