bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identification of Animal Behavioral Strategies by Inverse Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Yamaguchi Shoichiro , Naoki Honda , Ikeda Muneki , Tsukada Yuki , Nakano Shunji , Mori Ikue , Ishii Shin 
Published: April 2017

AbstractAnimals are able to reach a desired state in an environment by controlling various behavioral patterns. Identification of the behavioral strategy used for this control is important for understanding animals’ decision-making and is fundamental to dissect information processing done by the nervous system. However, methods for quantifying such behavioral strategies have not been fully established. In this study, we developed an inverse reinforcement-learning (IRL) framework to identify an animal’s behavioral strategy from behavioral time-series data. As a particular target, we applied this framework toC. elegansthermotactic behavior; after cultivation at a constant temperature with or without food, the fed and starved worms prefer and avoid from the cultivation temperature on a thermal gradient, respectively. Our IRL approach revealed that the fed worms used both absolute and temporal derivative of temperature and that their strategy comprised mixture of two strategies: directed migration (DM) and isothermal migration (IM). The DM is a strategy that the worms efficiently reach to specific temperature, which explained thermotactic behaviors of the fed worms. The IM is a strategy that the worms track along a constant temperature, which reflects isothermal tracking well observed in previous studies. We also showed the neural basis underlying the strategies, by applying our method to thermosensory neuron-deficient worms. In contrast to fed animals, the strategy of starved animals indicated that they escaped the cultivation temperature using only absolute, but not temporal derivative of temperature. Thus, our IRL-based approach is capable of identifying animal strategies from behavioral time-series data and will be applicable to wide range of behavioral studies, including decision-making of other organisms.Author SummaryUnderstanding animal decision-making has been a fundamental problem in neuroscience and behavioral ecology. Many studies analyze actions that represent decision-making in behavioral tasks, in which rewards are artificially designed with specific objectives. However, it is impossible to extend this artificially designed experiment to a natural environment, because in a natural environment, the rewards for freely-behaving animals cannot be clearly defined. To this end, we must reverse the current paradigm so that rewards are identified from behavioral data. Here, we propose a new reverse-engineering approach (inverse reinforcement learning) that can estimate a behavioral strategy from time-series data of freely-behaving animals. By applying this technique with thermotaxis inC. elegans, we successfully identified the reward-based behavioral strategy.
Auxin Response Factors — output control in auxin biology
Authors: Roosjen Mark , Paque Sébastien , Weijers Dolf 
Published: April 2017

AbstractThe phytohormone auxin is involved in almost all developmental processes in land plants. Most, if not all, of these processes are mediated by changes in gene expression. Auxin acts on gene expression through a short nuclear pathway that converges upon the activation of a family of DNA-binding transcription factors. These AUXIN RESPONSE FACTORS (ARFs) are thus the effector of auxin response and translate the chemical signal to the regulation of a defined set of genes. Given the limited number of dedicated components in auxin signaling, distinct properties among the ARF family likely contributes to the establishment of multiple unique auxin responses in plant development. In the two decades following the identification of the first ARF inArabidopsismuch has been learnt about how these transcription factors act, and how they generate unique auxin responses. Progress in genetics, biochemistry, genomics and structural biology have helped to develop mechanistic models for ARF action. However, despite intensive efforts, many central questions are yet to be addressed. In this review we highlight what has been learnt about ARF transcription factors, and identify outstanding questions and challenges for the near future.
Identification of Genes under Purifying Selection in Human Cancers
Authors: Mathis Robert A. , Sokol Ethan S. , Gupta Piyush B. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractThere is widespread interest in finding therapeutic vulnerabilities by analyzing the somatic mutations in cancers. Most analyses have focused on identifying driver oncogenes mutated in patient tumors, but this approach is incapable of discovering genes essential for tumor growth yet not activated through mutation. We show that such genes can be systematically discovered by mining cancer sequencing data for evidence of purifying selection. We show that purifying selection reduces substitution rates in coding regions of cancer genomes, depleting up to 90% of mutations for some genes. Moreover, mutations resulting in non-conservative amino acid substitutions are under strong negative selection in tumors, whereas conservative substitutions are more tolerated. Genes under purifying selection include members of the EGFR and FGFR pathways in lung adenocarcinomas, and DNA repair pathways in melanomas. A systematic assessment of purifying selection in tumors would identify hundreds of tumor-specific enablers and thus novel targets for therapy.
New corrosion inhibitors based on epoxidized natural rubber for coating protection of metals under UV irradiation
Authors: Mousaa Issa , Radi Hamdi 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
In the present work, under severe conditions of an inert atmosphere and high temperature, epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) with 25 per cent epoxidation level reacts with different aliphatic amine compounds such as ethyl amine (EA), propyl amine (PA) and butyl amine (BA) to prepare ENR/EA, ENR/PA, ENR/BA compounds as, respectively. The produced compounds were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and oxirane oxygen content determination. Different concentrations of the produced compounds were added to epoxy and urethane acrylate coating formulations to evaluate them as corrosion inhibitors for mild steel under UV irradiation. Corrosion resistance tests and weight loss measurements of the coated steel panels were made. It was found that coating formulations containing the prepared ENR/EA compound could protect metal surface from corrosion, and corrosion inhibitors efficiency of the prepared compounds were arranged as follows: ENR/EA > ENR/PA > ENR/BA. The optimum concentrations for all inhibitors which give the best inhibition efficiency for corrosion are 0.4-0.6 phr.

Design/methodology/approach
Corrosion scratch tests were carried out according to ASTM D 1,654-92 (2000). The weight loss of coated steel was measured according to ASTM D 2,688-94 (1999). The measurement of film hardness was carried out with a Wolff–Wilborn pencil hardness tester according to ASTM D 3,363 (2000).

Findings
It was found that coating formulations containing the prepared ENR/EA compound could protect metal surface from corrosion and corrosion inhibitors efficiency of the prepared compounds were arranged as follows: ENR/EA > ENR/PA > ENR/BA. The optimum concentrations for all inhibitors are 0.4-0.6 g/100g coating.

Originality/value
A highly efficient and economically corrosion inhibitors for mild steel were prepared from ENR and series of aliphatic amines.
Corrosion inhibition of organic amine on Q235 steel in ammonium sulfate slurry of ammonia flue gas desulfurization system
Authors: Lian Zhouyang , Luo Zhengwei , Yuan Lirui , Guo Mulin , Wei Wuji , Liu Kuo 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
This paper aims to evaluate diethylenetriamine (DETA) as an inhibitor on Q235 (Gr. D) steel in ammonia flue gas desulfurization (AFGD) system.

Design/methodology/approach
This research was carried out by weight loss, electrochemical measurements, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectrometry. The effects of DETA on crystallization of ammonium sulfate and its co-crystallization were also investigated by X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy.

Findings
The inhibition efficiency of DETA reached a maximum value of 98.96 per cent. DETA is postulated to adsorb on Q235 steel surface, resulting in the formation of a protective film by the accumulation of many flat particles, and the thickness of protective film is 8 μm. DETA had no effect on the crystallization of ammonium sulfate product.

Originality/value
DETA can be used in AFGD system as an inhibitor to protect the equipment well.
Electrochemical property analysis of SiO2-Al2O3-coated steel by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
Authors: Kirtay Sebahattin 
Published: April 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the corrosion resistance of SiO2-Al2O3coating on mild steel.Design/methodology/approachSiO2-Al2O3was coated using sol-gel method, and electrochemical measurements were applied to assess the performance of the coated steel.FindingsThe main conclusion is that SiO2-Al2O3-coated specimens acquired a higher corrosion resistance than that of uncoated specimen. icorrvalues of the coated specimens were between 12 and 14 times smaller than those of uncoated specimen. The coated specimens exhibited a higher Rcorvalue at electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis. The high values of Rcorand low values of CPEdlobserved within the SiO2-Al2O3-coated samples imply an improved anti-corrosion capability.Originality/valueIn this work, there are three points of originality. First, steel specimens were coated with ormosil-based solution by applying sol-gel dip coating method. Second, both SiO2and Al2O3coatings were applied simultaneously at a considerably low temperature, i.e. 200 Â°C. Finally, the performance of the coated materials against wet corrosion was improved significantly.
Microwave-assisted one-pot synthesis and performance test of novel thiadiazole derivatives as an inhibitor of oil transportation pipelines
Authors: Shouqing Xue , Zhaomin Xue 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
This paper aims to improve the anti-corrosion of oil transportation pipelines.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors provide a simple, efficient and inexpensive one-pot method for the novel thiadiazole derivatives synthesized using 2-substituted [1, 3, 4] thiadiazole, P2O5 and chloroacetic acid as materials by using XH-200A computer microwave solid-liquid phase synthesizer. The results showed that microwave heating can finish the reaction sufficiently in 20 min, and the optimal addition reaction conditions were n([1, 3, 4] thiadiazole):n(chloroacetic acid):P2O5 = 1:1.2:1.3. Under such conditions, the yield of the title products was 54 per cent.

Findings
The structure of the title compounds were all confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Water-based inhibitors corrosion behaviors on the stainless steel (SS) surface in 1 mol/L HCl solution at room temperature were also studied by weight loss methods and polarization curves. The results of the curves showed that an appropriate amount of 2a (40 ppm) can improve the anti-corrosion efficiency, whereas an excessive amount of 2a (e.g. 50 ppm) may not significantly increase the anti-corrosion efficiency.

Originality/value
In view of continuation of our studies, this paper presents microwave-assisted one-pot synthesis of 2-substitued [1, 3, 4] thiadiazole derivatives, and its anti-corrosion performance was tested by weight loss methods and polarization curves.
Data-driven modeling of fireside corrosion rate
Authors: Kumari Amrita , Das S.K. , Srivastava P.K. 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
This paper aims to propose an efficient artificial neural network (ANN) model using multi-layer perceptron philosophy to predict the fireside corrosion rate of superheater tubes in coal fire boiler assembly using operational data of an Indian typical thermal power plant.

Design/methodology/approach
An efficient gradient-based network training algorithm has been used to minimize the network training errors. The input parameters comprise of coal chemistry, namely, coal ash and sulfur contents, flue gas temperature, SOX concentrations in flue gas, fly ash chemistry (Wt.% Na2O and K2O).

Findings
Effects of coal ash and sulfur contents, Wt.% of Na2O and K2O in fly ash and operating variables such as flue gas temperature and percentage excess air intake for coal combustion on the fireside corrosion behavior of superheater boiler tubes have been computationally investigated and parametric sensitivity analysis has been undertaken.

Originality/value
Quite good agreement between ANN model predictions and the measured values of fireside corrosion rate has been observed which is corroborated by the regression fit between these values.
Assessment of psychosis in ASD/ID: a case study
Authors: Kildahl Arvid Nikolai , Bakken Trine Lise , Holm Olaf Kristian , Helverschou Sissel Berge 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
Assessment of psychiatric disorders in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disabilities (ID) is challenging. The purpose of this paper is to explore the diagnostic decision making and strategies employed in the assessment of a young man with ASD and ID who eventually got the additional diagnosis of schizophrenia.

Design/methodology/approach
To describe and explore a process not easily converted into quantitative measures, it was chosen to perform a case study of a single case.

Findings
The combined knowledge of ASD, ID and psychiatric disorder was important in the current assessment. General assessment tools were of some value, but their results had to be interpreted with care. The same was true of a more ASD/ID-specific tool. Using multiple informers may strengthen data from such tools in this population, but does not make it interchangeable with self-report. The case presented demonstrates the possibility of negative symptoms and functional decline overshadowing positive psychotic symptoms in people with ASD/ID, as well as the expression of ASD changing with a functional decline.

Originality/value
The present study adds to the few previous reports on identification of psychosis in this population, and in addition, may assist clinicians in making more accurate psychiatric assessments of people with ASD/ID.
Greening the campus intentions: a study of the University of the Aegean non-academic staff
Authors: Bellou Chrysanthi , Petreniti Vassiliki , Skanavis Constantina 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
This study aims to focus on the University of Aegean’s non-academic staff’s environmental sustainability attitudes and behavior both at work and at home, their perceptions for sustainability enforcement and their active participation skills.

Design/methodology/approach
The research participants were the 101 non-academic staff working at the Xenia Hill campus in Lesvos island. The instrument used in this study was a questionnaire consisting of 45 questions, which was sent via e-mail during the summer of 2014.

Findings
The analysis of the results brings light on the environmental profile of the University’s non-academic staff on their intentions for greening their campus and the barriers that obstruct their attempts to promote sustainability at the University.

Originality/value
The paper provides useful insights which allow a better understanding of the role of non-academic staff’s environmental sustainability attitudes and behavior both at work and at home, their perceptions for sustainability enforcement and their active participation skills.
A comparative study of the efficacy of intervention strategies on student electricity use in campus residence halls
Authors: Wisecup Allison K. , Grady Dennis , Roth Richard A. , Stephens Julio 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to determine whether, and how, electricity consumption by students in university residence halls were impacted through three intervention strategies.

Design/methodology/approach
The current investigation uses a quasi-experimental design by exposing freshman students in four matched residence halls and the use of three different interventions designed to encourage energy conservation, specifically electricity conservation. A control residence hall received no intervention. One residence hall had an energy dashboard prominently displayed. Another received various communications and programming designed to raise awareness of the need for energy conservation. A fourth residence hall had an energy dashboard and received programming. Electricity consumption among the residence halls was compared using multivariate analysis.

Findings
Students in all residence halls receiving interventions demonstrated significantly lower electricity consumption compared to the control residence hall. Across two years with different student populations, results were consistent: the residence hall receiving only the communications and programming, but not the dashboard, had the lowest electricity use. The residence hall with only the dashboard also demonstrated a significant but smaller decline in electricity use. Curiously, the residence hall wherein both interventions were used demonstrated the smallest decline in electricity use.

Practical implications
While total costs for the communications and programming are difficult to accurately assess, the results suggest that this approach is cost-effective when compared to the avoided cost of electricity and is superior in terms of electricity cost savings to both the dashboards and to the combined intervention. Results also suggest that any intervention is likely to induce a large enough electricity reduction to be cost-effective and there may be non-economic benefits as well.

Originality/value
This study takes advantage of the availability of four “matched” residence halls to approximate the rigor of a controlled quasi-experimental design to compare different strategies for inducing electricity consumption among freshman residents.
Ideology at work: reconsidering ideology, the labour process and workplace resistance
Authors: Lloyd Anthony 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to consider existing debates within the sociology of work, particularly the re-emergence of labour process theory (LPT) and the “collective worker”, in relation to resistance at work. Through presentation of primary data and a dialectical discussion about the nature of ideology, the paper offers alternative interpretations on long-standing debates and raises questions about the efficacy of workplace resistance.

Design/methodology/approach
The design of this methodology is an ethnographic study of a call centre in the North-East of England, a covert participant observation at “Call Direct” supplemented by semi-structured interviews with call centre employees.

Findings
The findings in this paper suggest that resistance in the call centre mirrors forms of resistance outlined elsewhere in both the call centre literature and classical workplace studies from the industrial era. However, in presenting an alternative interpretation of ideology, as working at the level of action rather than thought, the paper reinterprets the data and characterises workplace resistance as lacking the political potential for change often emphasised in LPT and other workplace studies.

Originality/value
The original contribution of this paper is in applying an alternative interpretation of ideology to a long-standing debate. In asking sociology of work scholars to consider the “reversal of ideology”, it presents an alternative perspective on resistance in the workplace and raises questions about the efficacy of workplace disobedience.
Exploring the approaches to care of faith-based and secular NGOs in Cambodia that serve victims of trafficking, exploitation, and those involved in sex work
Authors: Frame John 
Published: April 2017

PurposeFaith-based organisations (FBOs) and secular NGOs provide important services to victims of trafficking, exploitation, and those involved in sex work, yet comparative analysis of their approaches to care has lacked attention in the literature. The purpose of this paper is to examine these two types of organisations, exploring the extent to which faith influences the ways FBOs work with their clients.Design/methodology/approachIn total, 41 interviews were conducted with leaders of 13 Christian FBOs and 12 secular NGOs in Cambodia, and organisational mission statements were reviewed. An input-output conceptual model was used as a framework to gather and analyse data.FindingsWhile all FBOs maintained a high regard for their clients’ spiritual needs and operated with a faith-related approach to care, secular NGOs also, at times, included culturally embedded religious elements into their programming. The nature of FBOs’ faith-related programming, however, clearly distinguished these organisations from their secular counterparts. Despite such distinctions, similarities were maintained among both types of organisations in the behavioural or recovery outcomes they sought in their clients.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations include the study’s focus on organisations that serve a specific clientele in one development context. Research implications include the study pointing to the necessity of acknowledging the development context as critical to the ways in which religion may or may not influence the approaches to care of both FBOs and secular NGOs. The paper also contributes insight into the relationship between the non-resource input of faith, and services provided by FBOs.Practical implicationsGiven that both types of organisations sought change in their clients, practitioners should ensure that their organisational approaches to care are conducive to the outcomes they seek. Though organisational policy may stipulate that clients are free to choose whether or not to participate in faith-related programming, FBOs should always ensure a care environment in which clients feel free not to participate in such programming.Originality/valueThough FBOs and secular NGOs sought many similar behavioural or recovery outcomes from their clients, the development context in which these organisations worked – unlike some other contexts – and the role of faith “infusing” FBOs, led to clear, observable differences in their approaches to care. The study highlights the importance of taking into account these factors when seeking to decipher differences that may or may not exist between faith-based and secular non-state social policy actors.