bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Marked compositional changes in harvestmen assemblages in Amazonian forest islands induced by a mega dam
Authors: Lúcia Tourinho Ana , Benchimol Maíra , Porto Willians , Peres Carlos A. , Storck-Tonon Danielle 
Published: February 2019

AbstractMega hydroelectric dams have become one of the main drivers of habitat loss in tropical forests, converting large tracts of pristine forests into isolated forest islands. Understanding how biodiversity cope with landscape modification in these archipelagic landscapes is of paramount importance to assess the environmental consequences of dam infrastructure and propose mitigation actions for biodiversity conservation. In this context, harvestmen (Opiliones, Arachnida) comprise a good indicator taxon of habitat quality, given their high sensitivity to desiccation and microclimatic change. Here, we investigate the effects of landscape change induced by a mega hydropower dam on forest harvestmen species richness, abundance and composition within the Balbina Hydroelectric Dam, Central Brazilian Amazon. Using both nocturnal search and diurnal beating tray surveys, we sampled 20 islands and five mainland continuous forests, relating our biological response variables to local, patch and landscape scale metrics. We captured 783 harvestmen representing 31 species, 22 genera and 9 families considering all sampling sites, with species composition differing across islands and mainland sites. Although species richness was unaffected by any local, patch and landscape variables, species composition and abundance were differentially affected by a set of predictor variables at different scales. Forest cover and fallen woody stems were significant predictors of species composition patterns, whereas vegetation density, forest cover, island area, abundance of palm trees, and fallen woody stems best explained harvestmen abundance. We recommend retaining large forest habitat patches surrounded by a great amount of forest cover to prevent the rapid decay in tree communities and minimize forest disturbance effects in large hydroelectric dams.
Evolution of leaf-cutter behavior in bees (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) as inferred from total-evidence tip-dating analyses
Authors: Gonzalez Victor H. , Gustafson Grey T. , Engel Michael S. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractA unique feature among bees is the ability of some species ofMegachile s.l. to cut and process fresh leaves for nest construction. The presence of razors between the female mandibular teeth (interdental laminae) to facilitate leaf-cutting (LC) is a morphological novelty that might have triggered a subsequent diversification in this group. However, we have a limited understanding of the evolutionary origins of this behavior and associated structures. Herein, we use total-evidence tip-dating analyses to infer the origin of LC bees and patterns of variation of interdental laminae. Our datasets included five nuclear genes, representatives of all fossil taxa, 80% of the extant generic-level diversity of Megachilidae, and the full range of generic and subgeneric diversity of Megachilini. Our analyses support the notion of a recent origin of LC bees (15–25 Ma), casting doubts on Eocene trace fossils attributed to these bees. We demonstrate that interdental laminae developed asynchronicaly from two different structures in the mandible (teeth or fimbrial ridge), and differ in their phenotypic plasticity. Based on the phylogenetic results, we propose robust classificatory solutions to long-standing challenges in the systematics of Megachilidae. We discuss the implications of our findings as a foundational framework to develop novel evolutionary, ecological, and functional hypotheses on this behavior.
SwiftOrtho: a Fast, Memory-Efficient, Multiple Genome Orthology Classifier
Authors: Hu Xiao , Friedberg Iddo 
Published: February 2019

AbstractIntroductionGene homology type classification is a requisite for many types of genome analyses, including comparative genomics, phylogenetics, and protein function annotation. A large variety of tools have been developed to perform homology classification across genomes of different species. However, when applied to large genomic datasets, these tools require high memory and CPU usage, typically available only in costly computational clusters. To address this problem, we developed a new graph-based orthology analysis tool, SwiftOrtho, which is optimized for speed and memory usage when applied to large-scale data.ResultsIn our tests, SwiftOrtho is the only tool that completed orthology analysis of 1,760 bacterial genomes on a computer with only 4GB RAM. Using various standard orthology datasets, we also show that SwiftOrtho has a high accuracy. SwiftOrtho enables the accurate comparative genomic analyses of thousands of genomes using low memory computers.Availabilityhttps://github.com/Rinoahu/SwiftOrtho
Networked information interactions of epileptic EEG based on symbolic transfer entropy
Authors: Yao Wenpo , Wang Jun 
Published: February 2019

AbstractIdentifying networked information exchanges among brain regions is important for understanding the brain structure. We employ symbolic transfer entropy to facilitate the construction of networked information interactions for EEGs of 22 epileptics and 22 healthy subjects. The epileptic patients during seizure-free interval have lower information transfer in each individual and whole brain regions than the healthy subjects. Among all of the brain regions, the information flows out of and into the brain area of O1 of the epileptic EEGs are significantly lower than those of the healthy (p<0.0005), and the information flow from F7 to F8 (p<0.00001) is particularly promising to discriminate the two groups of EEGs. Moreover, Shannon entropy of probability distributions of information exchanges suggests that the healthy EEGs have higher complexity and irregularity than the epileptic brain electrical activities. By characterizing the brain networked information interactions, our findings highlight the long-term reduced information exchanges, degree of brain interactivities and informational complexity of the epileptic EEG.
Who Are The Traditional Healers Treating Mental Illnesses In Rural Ethiopia? A population-Based Descriptive Study
Authors: Belachew Ayele , Molla Mitikie , Fekadu Abebaw 
Published: February 2019

AbstractBackgroundEthiopia is a traditional country with a pluralistic health care system where people use the traditional health care systems in combination with the modern health care. In view of this, we assessed the profile of faith and traditional healers and their experience in treating people with mental illness in rural district Ethiopia so that inform the health minister to consider working towards integration with modern biomedical care to improve access.MethodsWe conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study among 173 traditional healers in Sodo district of Ethiopia. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews by trained enumerators using pretested structured questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS version 20.ResultThe median age of traditional and faith based healers was 55 (IQR=48.5, 67 years), about a third (29.5%) of them were female and 54(31.2%) earned their living exclusively from traditional healing practice. Eighty six (48.6%) healers didn’t attend formal education. Four types of healers were identified-herbalists accounted for 59% (n=102), faith healers were 36 (20.8%) mixed herbal and faith practitioners were 19(11.0%) and 16 (9.2%) were diviners. Most, 119(69%) had been practicing for an average of 15 years. Half of healers entered into the healing practice due to family kinship, whereas 26(15%) because of ancestral spirit.Seventy one (41%) of the healers reported that they have ever treated patients with mental illness in their lifetime. Sixty three(36.4%) reported that they had treated mental illness within the past one year, of which 30(47%) treat only mental illness while 33(52%) treat both mental and physical illnesses. All faith healers and divine healers reported treating mental illness while 11(57.9%) of mixed healers, and no herbalists reported treating mental illness. Only 58(33.5%) believed that mental illness can be cured completely.ConclusionSignificant proportion of traditional healers manages mental illness and remains an important part of the healthcare system in the rural setting of Ethiopia. Herbalists believed that biomedical treatments are preferable for mental illnesses, while faith healers and diviners believed traditional practices alone or in combination with biomedical practices is the treatment of choice.
Remodeling gut microbiota by Streptococcus thermophilus 19 attenuates inflammation in septic mice
Authors: Han Fu , Zhang Yijie , Yang Xuekang , Fang Zhuoqun , Han Shichao , Li Xiaoqiang , Cai Weixia , Xiao Dan , Liu Jiaqi , Zhang Wanfu , Wu Gaofeng , Hu Dahai 
Published: February 2019

AbstractSepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection and is the leading cause of death in burn patients. Streptococcus thermophilus 19 is a highly effective probiotic, with well-studied health benefits, but its role in protecting viscera against injury caused by sepsis and the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. The goal of this study was to evaluate protection potency of S. thermophilus against inflammation in mice and evaluate the influence of sepsis and S. thermophilus on microbial community. We tested the utility of S. thermophilus 19 in attenuating inflammation in vitro and vivo of LPS-induced sepsis mouse model. We also evaluated the influence of sepsis and S. thermophilus on microbial community. In vitro, S. thermophilus 19 decrease the expression of inflammatory factors. Additionally, in a lipopolysaccharide-induced septic mouse model, mice administered the probiotic 19 was highly resistant to Lps and exhibited decreased expression of inflammatory factors compared to Lps-treated control mice. A MiSeq-based sequence analysis revealed that gut microbiota alterations in mice intraperitoneally injected with 1 mg/ml LPS were mitigated by the administration of oral probiotics 19. Together these findings indicate that S. thermophilus 19 may be a new avenue for interventions against inflammation caused by sepsis and other systemic inflammatory diseases. In an analysis of the gut microbiota of the all group mice, we found that sepsis is associated with gut microbiota and probiotics attenuate the inflammation through remodeling gut microbiota.ImportanceSepsis is life-threatening organ dysfunction which is the leading cause of death in burn patients. Although our understanding of sepsis has increased substantially in recent years, it’s still reported to be the leading cause of death in seriously ill patients. Evidences showed that gut microbiota play an important role in sepsis. Moreover, probiotics have been used to prevent numbers of gut health disorders and alleviate inflammation associated with some human diseases by promoting changes in the gut microbiota composition. Hence, to investigate the mechanism of probiotics in the treatment of sepsis has emerged. The significance of our research is in identifying the role of gut microbiota in sepsis and found an effective probiotic that reduces inflammation, S. thermophilus 19, and investigating the therapeutic effect and mechanism of S. thermophilus 19 on sepsis, which might be a new avenue for interventions against inflammation caused by sepsis and other systemic inflammatory diseases.
Amyloid conformers of the FXR1 protein prevent mRNA degradation in cortical neurons
Authors: Sopova J.V. , Koshel E. I , Belashova T.A. , Zadorsky S.P. , Sergeeva A.V. , Siniukova V.A. , Shenfeld A.A. , Velizhanina M.E. , Volkov K.V. , Nizhnikov A.A. , Gaginskaya E.R. , Galkin A.P. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractFunctional amyloids regulate vital processes in a variety of organisms from bacteria to higher eukaryotes. The development of methods enabling large-scale screening for amyloids opens up opportunity for systemic analysis of the prevalence of amyloids in nature. Using an original proteomic approach, we identified several proteins forming amyloid-like detergent-resistant aggregates in the rat brain. One of them is the FXR1 protein, which is known to regulate memory and emotions (1, 2). We demonstrated that in brain FXR1 forms amyloid oligomers and insoluble detergent-resistant aggregates that strongly colocalize with amyloid-specific dye Thioflavin S and bind mRNA molecules. Moreover, we demonstrated that mRNAs colocalized with FXR1 amyloid particles are completely resistant to treatment with RNAse A. Taking into consideration that the members of ribonuclease A superfamily function in neurons (3) we can conclude that amyloid conformers of FXR1 control RNA stability in brain. Thus, in contrast to pathological amyloids that cause neurodegeneration, FXR1 is the functional amyloid in forebrain. We showed that amyloid properties of FXR1 depend on its N-terminal part from 1 to 379 amino acids. This fragment forms amyloid fibrils in vitro that bind Congo red and manifest apple-green birefringence when assayed by polarization microscopy. The amyloid-forming region of FXR1 is highly conserved in mammals. These data suggest that the ability of amyloid conformers of FXR1 to protect mRNAs is characteristic of different mammalian species, including humans.Significance StatementAmyloids are highly ordered cross-β sheet protein fibrils associated with many neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease. However, some amyloid proteins regulate vital processes. We identified a set of proteins that form amyloid-like aggregates in the brain of healthy rats. One of them - the FXR1 protein is known to regulate memory and emotions. FXR1 forms amyloid fibrils that bind RNA molecules and prevent their degradation in brain cortex neurons. Amyloid-forming sequence of FXR1 is highly conserved across mammals including human. Discovery of functional amyloids in mammalian brain shows that strategy aimed at the development of universal anti-amyloid drugs is unpromising. Such potential drugs should prevent or suppress formation of pathological aggregates of a certain protein, but not affect functional amyloids.
Optimal iron concentrations for growth-associated polyhydroxyalkanoate biosynthesis in the marine photosynthetic purple bacteriumRhodovulum sulfidophilum
Authors: Pin Foong Choon , Higuchi-Takeuchi Mieko , Numata Keiji 
Published: February 2019

AbstractPolyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a group of natural biopolyesters that resemble petroleum-derived plastics in terms of physical properties but are less harmful biologically to the environment and humans. Most of the current PHA producers are heterotrophs, which require expensive feeding materials and thus contribute to the high price of PHAs. Marine photosynthetic bacteria are promising alternative microbial cell factories for cost-effective, carbon neutral and sustainable production of PHAs. In this study,Rhodovulum sulfidophilum, a marine photosynthetic purple nonsulfur bacterium with a high metabolic versatility, was evaluated for cell growth and PHA production under the influence of various media components found in previous studies. We evaluated iron, using ferric citrate, as another essential factor for cell growth and efficient PHA production and confirmed that PHA production inR. sulfidophilumwas growth-associated under microaerobic and photoheterotrophic conditions. In fact, a subtle amount of iron (1 to 2 μM) was sufficient to promote rapid cell growth and biomass accumulation, as well as a high PHA yield during the logarithmic phase. However, an excess amount of iron did not enhance the growth rate or PHA productivity. Thus, we successfully confirmed that an optimum concentration of iron, an essential nutrient, promotes cell growth inR. sulfidophilumand also enhances PHA utilization.
Family business governance: what’s wrong? What’s right? What’s next?
Authors: Saleem Irfan , Khalid Faiza , Nadeem Muhammad 
Published: February 2019

Learning outcomes
This case study can help the reader to understand how to build an effective board for family business, and why evolving board structure can help family firm to sustain for a longer period in Market. Reader can also learn about role of independent director, CEO's Succession process and ways to deal with duality issue that family owned enterprise may face during a transition from generation X to Y.

Case overview/synopsis
This teaching case study describes various decision-making situations using example of a Pakistani family firm and entrepreneurs who started the business few decades back in France. This partially disguised case is based on actual events. The data are collected based on discussions with family business owners and minutes of meetings. The objective of study is to make sense of the family business theories e.g. socio emotional wealth stakeholder and agency. Case readers can also learn about the family’s business governance practices using diverse scenarios presented in this case.

Complexity academic level
This study is suitable for graduate and undergraduate studies.

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 7: Management science.
Use of Basu-Dhar bivariate geometric distribution in the analysis of the reliability of component series systems
Authors: Oliveira Ricardo Puziol , Achcar Jorge Alberto 
Published: February 2019

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a new method to estimate the reliability of series system by using a discrete bivariate distribution. This problem is of great interest in industrial and engineering applications.Design/methodology/approachThe authors considered the Basu–Dhar bivariate geometric distribution and a Bayesian approach with application to a simulated data set and an engineering data set.FindingsFrom the obtained results of this study, the authors observe that the discrete Basu–Dhar bivariate probability distribution could be a good alternative in the analysis of series system structures with accurate inference results for the reliability of the system under a Bayesian approach.Originality/valueSystem reliability studies usually assume independent lifetimes for the components (series, parallel or complex system structures) in the estimation of the reliability of the system. This assumption in general is not reasonable in many engineering applications, since it is possible that the presence of some dependence structure between the lifetimes of the components could affect the evaluation of the reliability of the system.
Preliminary study on tuned mass damper utilization to reduce wave-induced vibration of jacket platforms
Authors: Zahra Faridah , Rildova Rildova , Adiyastuti Sri Murti , Falahi Fajrin 
Published: February 2019

PurposeDuring its operation, vibrations in jacket platform due to high operational and environmental loads could reduce its productivity and endanger its safety. Tuned mass damper (TMD) is one of the vibration control devices commonly used in buildings to reduce their response. Basically, TMD is a device attached to a structure as a mass on properly tuned spring and damping elements. The purpose of this paper is to study the utilization of TMD to reduce the wave-induced vibration of platforms.Design/methodology/approachFirst, the study investigates the optimum TMD parameters to reduce the response of the platform. The effectiveness of the optimized TMD in reducing platform response due to wave load is then analyzed. Finally, the reduced response of the platform is attributed to an extension of platform service life. Cyclic load in the form of vibration is related to cyclic stress on the tubular connections on a jacket platform, which causes fatigue failure. Fatigue performance of a platform is quantified by its fatigue life, which should be at least twice the intended service life.FindingsIt is found that the optimized TMD cannot be achieved by simply adjusting the TMD damping as high as possible. The results show that the response of controlled platforms by properly tuned TMD could be reduced by about 20 percent from the uncontrolled case.Originality/valueAlthough vibration of a structure can be reduced by increasing its stiffness, this approach is considered not economical since it increases the cost for material construction. With the falling of oil prices, an optimization of jacket platform structure is considered necessary to reduce its construction cost. TMD can be used as an alternate solution, even though the only recorded utilization of TMD on a jacket platform is known in Sakhalin Platform in Russia. This fact gives a motivation to carry out more studies about TMD application on jacket platform, as this device is already used in numerous of inland structures.
Theoretical and numerical analysis of stress and stress intensity factor in bi-material
Authors: Hamli Benzahar Hamid 
Published: February 2019

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to evaluate theoretically and numerically the stress and stress intensity factor (SIF) at the time of propagation of the crack in bi-material. The problem is formulated using two thin materials which are bound by a cracked adhesive at the tip and having a micro-crack in one of these two materials.Design/methodology/approachThe plane stresses and the SIF will be determined as a function of two parameters (Poisson’s ratio and Shear modulus). The numerical analysis is carried out on a flat element, having a main crack in one of these ends, and a micro-crack varies in the vicinity of this main crack. The problem is analyzed by the finite element method and processed by computational software (ABAQUS).FindingsThe numerical and theoretical analysis allowed the author to determine and compare the values of plane stresses and SIF in each area of the material.Originality/valueThe theoretical analysis of SIF is based mainly on a mathematical calculation of equations of plane stresses; these equations are determined by development of complex analytical functions of bi-materials given by other researchers. Using the numerical method, several models are modeled by changing the micro-crack position relative to the main crack to determine the plane stresses and SIF for each position.
Formation of dairy fouling deposits on food contact surfaces
Authors: Fysun Olga , Kern Heike , Wilke Bernd , Langowski Horst‐Christian 
Published: February 2019

This study aimed to compare microbiological, biochemical and physical methods to quantify dairy fouling deposits. The influence of factors affecting dairy fouling formation is investigated by selected methods with respect to material type (polytetrafluoroethylene and stainless steel) and temperature (4 and 20 °C) for a defined time. The factors were investigated using nonmicrobiologically caused and microbiologically caused dairy deposits formed by UHT and pasteurised milk inoculated with Pseudomonas fragi. Both deposit types exhibited different adhesion behaviours. The highest positive correlation coefficient was found between biochemical and microbiological methods (0.932) obtained at both incubation temperatures after 24 and 48 h.