bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Elevated nonlinearity as indicator of transition to overexploitation in fish stocks
Authors: Dakos Vasilis , Glaser Sarah M. , Hsieh Chih-hao , Sugihara George 
Published: May 2016

AbstractEcosystems may experience abrupt changes such as species extinctions, reorganisations of trophic structure, or transitions from stable population dynamics to strongly irregular fluctuations. Although most of these changes have important ecological and at times economic implications, they remain notoriously difficult to detect in advance. Here, we use a Ricker-type model to simulate the transition of a hypothetical stable fisheries population either to irregular boom-bust dynamics or to overexploitation. Our aim is to infer the risk of extinction in these two scenarios by comparing changes in variance, autocorrelation, and nonlinearity between unexploited and exploited populations. We find that changes in these statistical metrics reflect the risk of extinction but depend on the type of dynamical transition. Variance and nonlinearity increase similarly in magnitude along both transitions. In contrast, autocorrelation depends strongly on the presence of underlying oscillating dynamics. We also compare our theoretical expectations to indicators measured in long-term datasets of fish stocks from the California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigation in the Eastern Pacific and from the Northeast Shelf in the Western Atlantic. Our results suggest that elevated variance and nonlinearity could be potentially used to rank exploited fish populations according to their risk of extinction.
Evolutionary dynamics of abundant stop codon readthrough inAnophelesandDrosophila
Authors: Jungreis Irwin , Chan Clara S , Waterhouse Robert M , Fields Gabriel , Lin Michael F , Kellis Manolis 
Published: May 2016

AbstractTranslational stop codon readthrough was virtually unknown in eukaryotic genomes until recent developments in comparative genomics and new experimental techniques revealed evidence of readthrough in hundreds of fly genes and several human, worm, and yeast genes. Here, we use the genomes of 21 species ofAnophelesmosquitoes and improved comparative techniques to identify evolutionary signatures of conserved, functional readthrough of 353 stop codons in the malaria vector,Anopheles gambiae, and 51 additionalDrosophila melanogasterstop codons, with several cases of double and triple readthrough including readthrough of two adjacent stop codons, supporting our earlier prediction of abundant readthrough in pancrustacea genomes. Comparisons betweenAnophelesandDrosophilaallow us to transcend the static picture provided by single-clade analysis to explore the evolutionary dynamics of abundant readthrough. We find that most differences between the readthrough repertoires of the two species are due to readthrough gain or loss in existing genes, rather than to birth of new genes or to gene death; that RNA structures are sometimes gained or lost while readthrough persists; and that readthrough is more likely to be lost at TAA and TAG stop codons. We also determine which characteristic properties of readthrough predate readthrough and which are clade-specific. We estimate that there are more than 600 functional readthrough stop codons inA. gambiaeand 900 inD. melanogaster. We find evidence that readthrough is used to regulate peroxisomal targeting in two genes. Finally, we use the sequenced centipede genome to refine the phylogenetic extent of abundant readthrough.
Capturing Evolutionary Signatures in Transcriptomes with myTAI
Authors: Drost Hajk-Georg , Gabel Alexander , Domazet-Lošo Tomislav , Quint Marcel , Grosse Ivo 
Published: May 2016

AbstractCombining transcriptome data of biological processes or response to stimuli with evolutionary information such as the phylogenetic conservation of genes or their sequence divergence rates enables the investigation of evolutionary constraints on these processes or responses. Suchphylotranscriptomicanalyses recently unraveled that mid-developmental transcriptomes of fly, fish, and cress were dominated by evolutionarily conserved genes and genes under negative selection and thus recapitulated the developmental hourglass on the transcriptomic level. Here, we present a protocol for performing phylotranscriptomic analyses on any biological process of interest. When applying this protocol, users are capable of detecting different evolutionary constraints acting on different stages of the biological process of interest in any species. For each step of the protocol, modular and easy-to-use open-source software tools are provided, which enable a broad range of scientists to apply phylotranscriptomic analyses to a wide spectrum of biological questions.
Acidic pH is a Metabolic Switch for 2-Hydroxyglutarate Generation and Signaling
Authors: Nadtochiy Sergiy M. , Schafer Xenia , Fu Dragony , Nehrke Keith , Munger Joshua , Brookes Paul S. 
Published: May 2016

ABSTRACT2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG) is an important epigenetic regulator, with potential roles in cancer and stem cell biology. The D (R) enantiomer (D-2-HG) is anoncometabolitegenerated from αketoglutarate (α-KG) by mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH), while L (S) 2-HG is generated by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) in response to hypoxia. Since acidic pH is a common feature of hypoxia, as well as tumor and stem cell microenvironments, we hypothesized that pH may regulate cellular 2-HG levels. Herein we report that cytosolic acidification under normoxia moderately elevated 2-HG in cells, and boosting endogenous substrate α-KG levels further stimulated this elevation. Studies with isolated LDH-1 and MDH-2 revealed that generation of 2-HG by both enzymes was stimulated several-fold at acidic pH, relative to normal physiologic pH. In addition, acidic pH was found to inhibit the activity of the mitochondrial L-2-HG removal enzyme L-2-HG dehydrogenase, and to stimulate the reverse reaction of ICDH (carboxylation of αKG to isocitrate). Furthermore, since acidic pH is known to stabilize hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), and 2-HG is a known inhibitor of HIF prolyl hydroxylases, we hypothesized that 2-HG may be required for acid-induced HIF stabilization. Accordingly, cells stably over-expressing L-2HGDH exhibited a blunted HIF response to acid. Together these results suggest that acidosis is an important and previously overlooked regulator of 2-HG accumulation and other oncometabolic events, with implications for HIF signaling.
Critical success factors for Ghanaian contractors
Authors: Ofori-Kuragu Joseph Kwame , Baiden Bernard , Badu Edward 
Published: May 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to explore the development of a set of critical success factors (CSFs) for Ghanaian contractors. The factors collectively define a set of best practices which Ghanaian contractors should focus on improving if they are to attain internationally competitive performance.Design/methodology/approach– A systematic review of previous research, literature on existing programmes, models and frameworks commonly used for improving performance was undertaken to identify the most important success factors. The identified factors were scored and ranked with 16 of the most frequently occurring success factors selected. A questionnaire-based survey of Ghanaian contractors explored their perceptions of the most important success factors. Using factor analysis, the most important success factors were extracted.Findings– Eight CSFs were identified for Ghanaian contractors. These were: quality and zero defects culture, organisational design, work culture and work environment, client satisfaction, strategy, leadership, measurement, analysis of information and knowledge management and implementation of lean principles.Practical implications– The CSFs developed provides a ready set of criteria which can be used by contractors with little or no experience of benchmarking to compare their performance in best practices or to implement improvement programmes.Originality/value– The first formal set of CSFs for Ghanaian contractors is presented. Not much research work has been done on organisational CSFs that are focused by this research.
Transportation price benchmarking: implications for firm performance
Authors: Swanson David 
Published: May 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to understand how transportation price benchmarking impacts firm performance.Design/methodology/approach– In this study, firm transportation costs and other financial variables are examined with regression analysis. This study extends empirical research on benchmarking by using current data, taking a longitudinal approach, using additional research methods, and by taking a contingency theory approach to examine firm performance contingent on the relative size of benchmarking information.Findings– Firms can reduce prices paid for transportation (thereby improving firm performance) by participating in benchmarking consortiums, and the amount of price reduction is contingent on the size of firm transportation spending relative to that of the benchmarked firms. Furthermore, the contingent relationship is concave, which indicates that participation in benchmarking consortiums can be optimized.Research limitations/implications– Despite the wide range of companies in this sample and the longitudinal approach of this research, this study examined benchmarking performance in just one marketplace (truckload transportation).Practical implications– The findings help managers to lower transportation costs and optimize the benefits that can be obtained from benchmarking.Originality/value– Transportation prices paid by firms are difficult to obtain because firms are not required to isolate and disclose this information on financial statements. Therefore, the transparency of transportation pricing data in this study which include a wide cross-section of firms provides a unique examination of actual transportation prices and how they can be used for benchmarking.
Extension of PROMETHEE for robot selection decision making
Authors: Sen Dilip Kumar , Datta Saurav , Mahapatra S.S. 
Published: May 2016

Purpose
– Robot selection is basically a task of choosing appropriate robot among available alternatives with respect to some evaluation criteria. The task becomes much more complicated since apart from objective criteria a number of subjective criteria need to be evaluated simultaneously. Plenty of decision support systems have been well documented in existing literature which considers either objective or subjective data set; however, decision support module with simultaneous consideration of objective as well as subjective data has rarely been attempted before. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach
– Motivated by this, present work exhibits application potential of preference ranking organization method for enrichment evaluations (extended to operate under fuzzy environment) to solve decision-making problems which encounter both objective as well as subjective evaluation data.

Findings
– An empirical case study has been demonstrated in the context of robot selection problem. Finally, a sensitivity analysis has been performed to make the robot selection process more robust. A trade-off between objective criteria measure and subjective criteria measure has been shown using sensitivity analysis.

Originality/value
– Robot selection has long been viewed as an important decision-making scenario in the industrial context. Appropriate robot selection helps in enhancing value of the product and thereby, results in increased profitability for the manufacturing industries. The proposed decision support system considering simultaneous exploration of subjective as well as objective database is rarely attempted before.
Benchmarking of health technologies distribution models
Authors: Creazza Alessandro , Restelli Umberto , Porazzi Emanuele , Garagiola Elisabetta Rachele , Croce Davide , Arpesella Marisa , Dallari Fabrizio , Noè Carlo 
Published: May 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to develop a benchmarking framework for assessing the performance of the distribution models adopted by the local branches of National Health Services (NHSs) for delivering health technologies to patients at a local level, and to derive prescriptions for enhancing design and optimal management of the distribution models.Design/methodology/approach– The authors focussed the study on the distribution of absorbent devices for incontinence, adopting the analytic hierarchy process as a tool for developing the benchmarking framework. The authors applied the framework to the context of the Italian NHS with respect to the Lombard Local Health Authorities, assessing their performance in terms of operational efficiency and service quality.Findings– The developed framework constitutes a novel contribution, and it allows for generating prescriptions. Through its application to the context studied the authors found that a “one-size-fits-all” distribution model cannot be proposed, as regards both efficiency and effectiveness, since process standardization does not provide benefits or savings in all contexts. Rather, a total landed cost approach in the evaluation of the distribution practices must be adopted.Practical implications– This paper offers to managers and decision makers an innovative approach to the design of distribution models for health technologies. It provides policy makers with prescriptions to develop regulations fostering a comprehensive view of the factors for an optimal health technologies distribution at a local level.Originality/value– Given the dearth of scientific publications focussed on the distribution at the local level of health technologies, this paper significantly contributes to the existing body of knowledge and it offers an innovative framework which can be proficiently replicated in manifold contexts.
Spillover effect in Asian financial markets: A VAR-structural GARCH analysis
Authors: Wang Yu , Liu Lei 
Published: May 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to provide a method for computing the spillover index first proposed by Diebold and Yilmaz (2009), with empirical application on Asian stock markets.Design/methodology/approach– It is based on a VAR-structural-GARCH model.Findings– The results clearly show that the main driver of fluctuations in Asian financial markets is the USA, with China having little connection with other markets. Further, evidence of financial contagion is found during both the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the 2008 global financial crisis.Originality/value– The method has two advantages: it is both uniquely determined and dynamic.
Calculation of flexible printed circuit boards (FPC) global and local defect detection based on computer vision
Authors: Wang Liya , Zhao Yang , Zhou Yaoming , Hao Jingbin 
Published: May 2016

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a detection method based on computer vision for automatic flexible printed circuit (FPC) defect detection.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper proposes a new method of watershed segmentation based on morphology. A dimensional increment matrix calculation method and an image segmentation method combined with a fuzzy clustering algorithm are provided. The visibility of the segmented image and the segmentation accuracy of a defective image are guaranteed.

Findings
Compared with the traditional one, the segmentation result obtained in this study is superior in aspects of noise control and defect segmentation. It completely proves that the segmentation method proposed in this study is better matches the requirements of FPC defect extraction and can more effectively provide the segmentation result. Compared with traditional human operators, this system ensures greater accuracy and more objective detection results.

Research limitations/implications
The extraction of FPC defect characteristics contains some obvious characteristics as well as many implied characteristics. These characteristics can be extracted through specific space conversion and arithmetical operation. Therefore, more images are required for analysis and foresight to establish a more widely used FPC defect detection sorting algorithm.

Originality/value
This paper proposes a new method of watershed segmentation based on morphology. It combines a traditional edge detection algorithm and mathematical morphology. The FPC surface defect detection system can meet the requirements of online detection through constant design and improvement. Therefore, human operators will be replaced by machine vision, which can preferably reduce the production costs and improve the efficiency of FPC production.
Effects of organic medium on rheological properties of silver pastes for crystalline silicon solar cells
Authors: Qin Jun , Bai Shuxin , Zhang Weijun , Liu Zhuofeng , Wang Hailiang 
Published: May 2016

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to characterize and understand the effects of polymer binder, thixotropic agent, solvent and organic medium content on the rheological properties of silver pastes for screen printing front electrode films of solar cells.

Design/methodology/approach
Dispersions of silver particles (surface modified with oleic acid) in ethyl cellulose (EC) polymer solutions with and without thixotropic agent were prepared, and yield stress values were measured by setting shear stress to characterize the inter-particle interaction strength of pastes. Steady-state flow, three interval thixotropy shear test and oscillatory measurements were conducted to study the effect of EC polymer and thixotropic agent on viscosity, structure rebuilding and viscoelastic properties of electrode pastes. The effect of solvent was studied by investigating the steady viscosity of cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) polymer solutions and Ag dispersions.

Findings
Weak flocculation network of silver particles was produced because of depletion flocculation. Besides the interaction between thixotropic agent micelles, EC polymer also has a significant interaction with thixotropic agent. Merely increasing EC polymer or thixotropic agent content is not the best way to prevent the layer printed from laying down. The effect of solvent on the viscosity of paste is mainly attributed to the difference of hydromechanics radius and configuration of CAB polymer in solvents. With the increase of organic medium content, the properties of electrode pastes were converted from rigidity to flexibility.

Originality/value
It is still a challenge to obtain high-quality front electrode films for crystalline silicon solar cells by screen printing, because of the difficulty in reducing shadowing losses while ensuring a low series resistance and high filling factor. The paste rheological properties are the key properties related to the paste’s passing ability through the meshes and resistance of paste spreading on the substrate. Organic medium as an important component of the paste is acknowledged to be used to tailor the paste’s rheological properties and have a great role in screen printing.
Parametric optimization of metal conductors in flexible electronics design
Authors: Wang Xiaoling , Hou Yingrui , Wang Guoqing , Hao Mudong , Li Hao 
Published: May 2016

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the dependence of flexible-electronics properties on the metal conductor parameters, such as the width, thickness, connection length and inner meander radius of the conductor.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses the finite element method to simulate flexible electronics with a copper conductor attached to polyimide substrate under tension, by using different parameters of the conductor.

Findings
By careful variation of copper conductor parameters, the authors obtain an optimized structure that can undergo large deformations with small stress concentrations, lending convenience for packaging.

Originality/value
The authors have developed an optimization method for selecting metal conductor parameters in flexible electronics.
Food and meals in caring institutions – a small dive into research
Authors: Hansen Kai Victor 
Published: May 2016

Purpose
– With the growing older population, the increasing interest in the elderly’s eating habits and the meal situation go hand in hand and are challenges in many countries, including Norway. The purpose of this paper is to investigate, part of an ongoing project in Norway, address four categories of elderly people: healthy elderly (HE), old people with home care, elderly living in institutions, and critical ill elderly.

Design/methodology/approach
– The aim of this study was to investigate related articles concerning food and the elderly in the four identified categories, defining six different meal experience categories to disclose possible gaps in the research in terms of core product, room, personal service, company, atmosphere, and management control systems (MCS). Database searches, conducted through JSTOR and Web of Science, started with words in combination with “elderly and meal experiences” and were narrowed down to the most relevant papers with words from the six meal experience categories. Ultimately, 21 of 51 downloaded papers from international journals were reviewed.

Findings
– A comparison of the four elderly groups was made across the six different meal experience categories, which disclosed several gaps. Among the 21 papers, five focused on HE, 12 on older people living with home care, 16 on elderly living in institutions, and one on critical ill elderly. The specific under-researched gaps include room, company, atmosphere, and MCS.

Research limitations/implications
– Future research will need to investigate these groups more thoroughly, and the research should concentrate on the HE and critical ill in connection with the six meal experience aspects.

Originality/value
– The combination of meal experience aspects towards different elderly categories is an original perspective on the aim of the literature review.
Telephone follow-up for cataract surgery: feasibility and patient satisfaction study
Authors: Hoffman Jeremy J.S.L. , Pelosini Lucia 
Published: May 2016

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the feasibility of telephone follow-up (TFU) after uncomplicated cataract surgery in low-risk patients and patient satisfaction with this alternative clinical pathway.

Design/methodology/approach
– Prospective, non-randomised cohort study. A ten-point subjective ophthalmic assessment questionnaire and a six-point patient satisfaction questionnaire were administered to patients following routine cataract surgery at two to three weeks post-procedure. All patients were offered a further clinic review if required. Exclusion criteria comprised ophthalmic co-morbidities, hearing/language impairment and high risk of post-operative complications. Patient notes were retrospectively reviewed over the study period to ensure no additional emergency attendances took place.

Findings
– Over three months, 50 eyes of 50 patients (mean age: 80; age range 60-91; 66 per cent second eye surgery) underwent uncomplicated phacoemulsification surgery received a TFU at 12-24 days (mean: 16 days) post-operatively. Subjective visual acuity was graded as good by 92 per cent of patients; 72 per cent patients reported no pain and 20 per cent reported mild occasional grittiness. Patient satisfaction was graded 8.9 out of 10; 81.6 per cent defined TFU as convenient and 75.5 per cent of patients preferred TFU to routine outpatient review. No additional visits were required.

Research limitations/implications
– Non-randomised with no control group; small sample size. One patient was unable to be contacted.

Practical implications
– Post-operative TFU can be suitably targeted to low-risk patients following uncomplicated cataract surgery. This study demonstrated a high patient satisfaction. A larger, randomised study is in progress to assess this further.

Originality/value
– This is the first study reporting TFU results and patient satisfaction to the usual alternative two-week outpatient review.