bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A preliminary investigation on the dependence of arthropod diversity on vegetation diversity across four contrasting ecosystems in Hanthana mountain range of Sri Lanka
Authors: Weerathunga W.A.M.T. , Athapaththu A.M.G.K. , Amarasinghe L.D. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractArthropods contribute significantly to biodiversity and vegetation provides a habitat and resources for them to survive, exist and propagate. We report a preliminary investigation on the extent to which arthropod diversity is dependent upon vegetation diversity across different ecosystems in a humid tropical climate. We determined the diversity of arthropods in four ecosystems closely-located ecosystems with different vegetation. Vegetation surrounding an aquatic environment (AQ), a broad-leaved wet, evergreen forest ecosystem (BL), aPinus caribaeamonoculture plantation (PN) and aPinusplantation artificially enriched with indigenous broad-leaved tree species (PNEN) located in the Hanthana mountain range in Central Sri Lanka were selected. In each environment, arthropods were sampled in three randomly-selected sites (5 m x 5 m) using four sampling methods. Collected arthropods were identified upto the highest possible taxa using standard identification keys. Simultaneously, vegetation diversity was determined via a plant census. Arthropod and vegetation diversities were computed separately for each site using Shannon-Wiener Index (H).Within the 300 m2area of observation plots, arthropod individuals belonging to 68 species and 43 families were found. AQ had the greatest arthropod diversity (H=2.642), dominated byOliosspp. followed by BL (H=2.444), dominated by three arthropods, namely, a tettigonid species,Oxytatespp. andPsechrusspp. PN had the next highest arthropod diversity (H=1.411), dominated byDicaldispaspp. The lowest arthropod diversity was found at PNEN (H=1.3500), dominated by an ant species. Contrastingly, PNEN had the highest plant diversity (H=2.614) and PN the lowest (H=0.879). AQ (H=1.810) and BL (H=1.871) had intermediate values.In a regression involving data from AQ, BL and PN, arthropod diversity was linearly dependent on plant diversity (R2=0.423) whereas it was not so when PNEN was also included (R2=0.008). This finding supports the hypothesis that while higher plant diversity contributes to greater arthropod diversity in ecosystems where human intervention is minimal, artificial enrichment of plant diversity does not necessarily increase arthropod diversity in the short-to medium-term. Further investigations are needed to substantiate these preliminary findings and validate the above hypothesis.
Causal network perturbations for instance-specific analysis of single cell and disease samples
Authors: Buschur Kristina L. , Chikina Maria , Benos Panayiotis V. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractComplex diseases involve perturbation in multiple pathways and a major challenge in clinical genomics is characterizing pathway perturbations in individual samples. This can lead to patient-specific identification of the underlying mechanism of disease thereby improving diagnosis and personalizing treatment. Existing methods rely on external databases to quantify pathway activity scores. This ignores the data dependencies and that pathways are incomplete or condition-specific.ssNPA is a new approach for subtyping samples based onderegulationof their gene networks. ssNPA learns a causal graph directly from control data. Sample-specific network neighborhood deregulation is quantified via the error incurred in predicting the expression of each gene from its Markov blanket. We evaluate the performance of ssNPA on liver development single-cell RNAseq data, where the correct cell timing is recovered. In all analyses ssNPA consistently outperforms alternative methods, highlighting the advantage of network-based approaches.
Systemic sclerosis is a disease of a prematurely senescent, inflammatory and activated immunome
Authors: Paleja Bhairav , Low Hsiu Ling Andrea , Kumar Pavanish , Saidin Suzan , Lajam Ahmad , Nur Hazirah Sharifah , Chua Camillus , Li Yun Lai , Albani Salvatore 
Published: May 2019

ABSTRACTSystemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterised by excessive fibrosis of skin and internal organs, and vascular dysfunction. Association of T and B cell subsets have been reported in SSc, however there is lack of systematic studies of functional relations between immune cell subsets in this disease. This lack of mechanistic knowledge hampers targeted intervention. In the current study we sought to determine differential immune cell composition and their interactions in peripheral blood of SSc patients. Mononuclear cells from blood of SSc patients and healthy controls (HC) were analysed by mass cytometry using a 36 marker (cell-surface and intracellular) panel. Transcriptome analysis (m-RNA sequencing) was performed on sorted T and B cell subsets. Unsupervised clustering analysis revealed significant differences in the frequencies of T and B cell subsets in patients. Correlation network analysis highlighted an overall dysregulated immune architecture coupled with domination of inflammatory senescent T cell modules in SSc patients. Transcriptome analysis of sorted immune cells revealed an activated phenotype of CD4 and MAIT cells in patients, accompanied with increased expression of inhibitory molecules, reminiscent of phenotype exhibited by functionally adapted, exhausted T cells in response to chronic stimulation. Overall this study provides an in-depth analysis of the systemic immunome in SSc, highlighting the potential pathogenic role of inflammation and chronic stimulation mediated “premature senescence” of immune cells.ONE SENTENCE SUMMARYThe immune architecture in Systemic sclerosis is altered and reminiscent of chronic stimulatory environment led premature senescence of immune cells.
Gene knock-ins inDrosophilausing homology-independent insertion of universal donor plasmids
Authors: Bosch Justin A. , Colbeth Ryan , Zirin Jonathan , Perrimon Norbert 
Published: May 2019

AbstractTargeted genomic knock-ins are a valuable tool to probe gene function. However, knock-in methods involving homology-directed repair (HDR) can be laborious. Here, we adapt the mammalian CRISPaint homology-independent knock-in method forDrosophila melanogaster, which uses CRISPR/Cas9 and non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) to insert universal donor plasmids into the genome. This method is a simple and fast alternative to HDR for certain strategies such as C-terminal tagging and gene disruption. Using this method in cultured S2R+ cells, we efficiently tagged four endogenous proteins with the bright fluorescent protein mNeonGreen, thereby demonstrating that an existing collection of CRISPaint universal donor plasmids is compatible with insect cells. In addition, we inserted the transgenesis marker3xP3-RFPinto seven genes in the fly germ line, producing heritable loss of function alleles that were isolated by simple fluorescence screening. Unlike in cultured cells, indels always occurred at the genomic insertion site, which prevents predictably matching the insert coding frame to the target gene. Despite this effect, we were able to isolateT2A-Gal4insertions in four genes that serve as in vivo expression reporters. Finally, we apply this fast knock-in method to uncharacterized small open reading frame (smORF) genes. Therefore, homology-independent insertion is a useful genome editing technique inDrosophilathat will better enable researchers to dissect gene function.Article summaryWe report a fast and simple genomic knock-in method inDrosophilato insert large DNA elements into any target gene. Using CRISPR-Cas9 and non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), an entire donor plasmid is inserted into the genome without the need for homology arms. We demonstrate its usefulness in cultured cells to fluorescently tag endogenous proteins and in the fly germ line to generate heritable insertions that disrupt gene function and can act as expression reporters.
Identifying currency crises indicators: the case of Egypt
Authors: Adams John , Metwally Ali 
Published: May 2019

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the indicators of currency crises in Egypt. Using the annual data over the period 1977–2017, the paper attempts to establish which economic variable(s) are more useful in predicting currency crises and to improve the predictability of such crises.Design/methodology/approachProbit analysis is employed to identify the indicators that are most effective in predicting the probability that a currency crisis episode will occur. This is enabled through the estimation of a market turbulence index (MTI) which measures currency crises in terms of eight “threshold” points at which a crisis is detected or not detected.FindingsThe estimates of the probit model suggest that five variables: the domestic interest rate spread; domestic current account; USA interest rate; real exchange rate; and the real interest rate have the strongest predictive power among the 16 indicators identified in the empirical literature.Research limitations/implicationsThere are a number of limitations associated with this paper. First the data are annual and not monthly which limits the ability of the estimated model to accurately predict the crisis episodes. There is limited open access to monthly data on the Central Bank of Egypt website especially for the period before the 2000s. Were such data available this would allow for much more robust in-sample and out of sample forecasts.Practical implicationsThe analysis and results in the paper suggest that the modelling strategy employed represents a potentially useful tool for Central Banks and policy makers in forecasting currency crises.Social implicationsThere are several such implications but mainly in relation to the possibility of avoiding high social costs resulting from a currency crisis that may have been avoided if forecast correctly.Originality/valueThe paper builds on previous theoretical and empirical work in this field while adding to the literature in terms of the problems in previous literature and modelling approaches. It also strongly advocates the use of the MTI instead of other indices to identify such crises.
Honey: food or medicine? A comparative study between Slovakia and Romania
Authors: Šedík Peter , Pocol Cristina Bianca , Horská Elena , Fiore Mariantonietta 
Published: May 2019

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate different profiles of honey consumers in Slovakia and Romania by using a segmentation approach, thus supporting honey producers from both countries and promoting the consumption of honey for both food and health benefits.Design/methodology/approachA paper and online survey was conducted in two representative regions of Slovakia (n=2,138) and Romania (n=1,100), between November 2017 and February 2018. By carrying out a two-step cluster analysis, several segments of honey consumers based on consumption patterns, demographic profile, purchasing behaviour and honey preferences were defined.FindingsIn both countries, honey is mostly consumed as food product and medicine and the majority of consumers think honey has healing effects. Based on the data, the authors identified similar segments in Slovakia and Romania, in terms of frequency and annual consumption (“maniacs” or “loyal consumers”, “regular consumers”, “occasional consumers” or “sporadic consumers” and “irregular consumers”), but, at the same time, those segments are different in terms of the way in which honey is consumed (multipurpose or direct consumption, spreads, beverages and ingredients for cooking).Originality/valueThe findings provide honey producers–beekeepers a wider information base, which can increase effectiveness of price, distribution and marketing communication strategies. Furthermore, knowledge from results will allow producers to specialise and place the production by designing different marketing strategies in different segments.
Sensitivity analysis using Sobol indices for the thermal modelling of an electrical machine for sizing by optimization
Authors: Le Guyadec Mathias , Gerbaud Laurent , Vinot Emmanuel , Delinchant Benoit 
Published: May 2019

Purpose
The thermal modelling of an electrical machine is difficult because the thermal behavior depends on its geometry, the used materials and its manufacturing process. In the paper, such a thermal model is used during the sizing process by optimization of a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). This paper aims to deal with the sensitivities of thermal parameters on temperatures inside the electrical machine to allow the assessment of the influence of thermal parameters that are hard to assess.

Design/methodology/approach
A sensitivity analysis by Sobol indices is used to assess the sensitivities of the thermal parameters on electrical machine temperatures. As the optimization process needs fast computations, a lumped parameter thermal network (LPTN) is proposed for the thermal modelling of the machine, because of its fastness. This is also useful for the Sobol method that needs too many calls to this thermal model. This model is also used in a global model of a hybrid vehicle.

Findings
The difficulty is the thermal modelling of the machine on the validity domain of the sizing problem. The Sobol indices allow to find where a modelling effort has to be carried out.

Research limitations/implications
The Sobol indices have a significant value according to the number of calls of the model and their type (first-order, total, etc.). Therefore, the quality of the thermal sensitivity analysis is a compromise between computation times and modelling accuracy.

Practical implications
Thermal modelling of an electrical machine in a sizing process by optimization.

Originality/value
The use of Sobol indices for the sensitivity analysis of the thermal parameters of an electrical machine.
Extended Kalman filter-based state estimation of MOSFET circuit
Authors: Bansal Rahul , Majumdar Sudipta 
Published: May 2019

Purpose
This paper aims to present the estimation of the output voltage of metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) using the extended Kalman filter (EKF) method.

Design/methodology/approach
The method uses EKF for MOSFET output voltage estimation. To implement the EKF method, the state space model has been obtained using Kirchhoff’s current law and Enz-Krummenacher-Vittoz model of the MOSFET circuit.

Findings
The proposed method can be used for any mode of MOSFET operation besides near the quiescent point region. The nonlinearity that occurs in the saturation region of MOSFET can also be considered in the proposed method. The proposed method can also be used for a large input signal. Though Kalman filter can be used for the small amplitude input signal, it results in inaccurate estimation due to the linearization of the nonlinear system.

Research limitations/implications
The method is able to track the parameters when they are slowly changing with time.

Originality/value
The proposed method presents maximal precision of simulation as the maximal precision of simulation requires modeling of the circuit in terms of device parameters and circuit elements.
Improvements of bat algorithm using crossover technique and hybridization with Nelder-Mead simplex method
Authors: Kheireddine Bourahla , Zoubida Belli , Tarik Hacib 
Published: May 2019

Purpose
This study aims to improve the bat algorithm (BA) performance for solving optimization problems in electrical engineering.

Design/methodology/approach
For this task, two strategies were investigated. The first one is based on including the crossover technique into classical BA, in the same manner as in the genetic algorithm method. Therefore, the newly generated version of BA is called the crossover–bat algorithm (C-BA). In the second strategy, a hybridization of the BA with the Nelder–Mead (NM) simplex method was performed; it gives the NM-BA algorithm.

Findings
First, the proposed strategies were applied to solve a set of two standard benchmark problems; then, they were applied to solve the TEAM workshop problem 25, where an electromagnetic field was computed by use of the 2D non-linear finite element method. Both optimization algorithms and finite element computation tool were implemented under MATLAB.

Originality/value
The two proposed optimization strategies, C-BA and NM-BA, have allowed good improvements of classical BA, generally known for its poor solution quality and slow convergence rate.
Measuring installation productivity in prefabricated timber construction
Authors: Forsythe Perry John , Sepasgozar Samad M.E. 
Published: May 2019

PurposeA problematic issue for new approaches to prefabricated timber construction is simply that there is insufficient productivity measurement data to assist estimation of resource usage, speed onsite and best practice. A lack of information potentially results in increased pricing behaviour which may slow the uptake of prefabricated construction. The purpose of this paper is to measure installation productivity onsite for prefabricated timber floor cassette panels and develop sufficient understanding of the process to suggest improved practices.Design/methodology/approachA time and motion approach, paired with time-lapse photography was used for detailed capture of prefabricated cassette flooring installation processes onsite. An emphasis was placed on work flow around crane cycles from three case study projects. Time and date stamping from 300 crane cycles was used to generate quantitative data and enable statistical analysis.FindingsThe authors show that crane cycle speed is correlated to productivity including gross and net crane time scenarios. The latter is refined further to differentiate uncontrolled outlying crane cycles from normally distributed data, representing a controlled work process. The results show that the installation productivity rates are between 69.38 and 123.49 m2/crane-hour, based on normally distributed crane cycle times. These rates were 10.8–26.1 per cent higher than the data set inclusive of outlier cycles. Large cassettes also proved to be more productive to place than small.Originality/valueThe contribution of this research is the focus on cranage as the lead resource and the key unit of measure driving installation productivity (in cassette flooring prefabricated construction), as distinct from past research that focuses on labour and craft-based studies. It provides a different perspective around mechanisation, for resourcing and planning of work flow. Crane cycles provide a relatively easy yet reliably repeatable means for predicting productivity. The time-lapse photographic analysis offers a high degree of detail, accuracy and objectivity not apparent in other productivity studies which serves to enable quantitative benchmarking with other projects.
Value creation, innovation practice, and competitive advantage
Authors: Battisti Enrico , Miglietta Nicola , Nirino Niccolò , Villasalero Diaz Manuel 
Published: May 2019

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse companies listed on the FTSE MIB, in order to investigate the introduction of different types of open innovation practice as a key factor to develop a competitive advantage to pursue value creation.Design/methodology/approachThis research uses a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design. A quantitative study was conducted to determine the firms listed on the FTSE MIB that for more than 10 years have paid dividends and beat the yield of the market. The qualitative analysis was designed to provide insights into the adoption of at least one open innovation practice by the listed companies selected in the quantitative phase.FindingsThis work is based on an empirical analysis undertaken with 40 Italian companies listed on the FTSE MIB. In particular, the authors highlight 16 companies that for more than a decade have regularly paid dividends and, at the same time, have beat the FTSE MIB Index. All of these companies implemented at least one open innovation practice during the period investigated.Originality/valueThis is among the first pioneer research works based on the potential relationship among value creation, innovation practice and competitive advantage in the Italian market. This study highlights the fact that 16 out of 40 companies listed on the FTSE MIB create more value for shareholders over a long period, and all of these firms adopt different open innovation practices (e.g. partnership and collaboration with external entities; mergers and acquisitions and alliances; investment in start-ups; hackathons and call for ideas; outsourcing R&D) as a key factor to develop a sustainable competitive advantage.
How ethical leadership influences creativity and organizational innovation
Authors: Shafique Imran , Ahmad Bashir , Kalyar Masood Nawaz 
Published: May 2019

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to answer two questions. What is the impact of ethical leadership on followers’ creativity and organizational innovation? What are the mechanisms through which ethical leadership influences creativity and organizational innovation?Design/methodology/approachConsidering a market-oriented criterion to measure organizational innovation, the data were collected from 322 small-sized information technology firms working in Pakistan. Multilevel modeling and hierarchical regression analyses were used to explore the direct and indirect effects of ethical leadership on creativity and innovation, respectively.FindingsThe results show that ethical leadership is an important predictor of both individual and organizational creativity. For the individual level, the results of multilevel modeling indicate that there is a positive link between ethical leadership and employee creativity. Furthermore, ethical leadership affects employee creativity through knowledge sharing and psychological empowerment. At the organizational level, the results reveal that ethical leadership is positively associated with organizational innovation directly.Practical implicationsThe findings imply that ethical leadership is an important tool to promote creativity and for the advancement of innovation for developing countries as well as for newly developed industries.Originality/valueThis study is first to highlight the role of ethical leadership for organizational innovation. The main contribution of the study is to explore creativity as potential mediator for ethical leadership–organizational innovation nexus; where a market-oriented criterion is taken as proxy of organizational innovation.