bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease in China: Critical Community Size and Spatial Vaccination Strategies
Authors: Van Boeckel Thomas P. , Takahashi Saki , Liao Qiaohong , Xing Weijia , Lai Shengjie , Hsiao Victor , Liu Fengfeng , Zheng Yaming , Chang Zhaorui , Yuan Chen , Metcalf C. Jessica E. , Yu Hongjie , Grenfell Bryan T. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractHand Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) constitutes a considerable burden for health care systems across China. Yet this burden displays important geographic heterogeneity that directly affects the local persistence and the dynamics of the disease, and thus the ability to control it through vaccination campaigns. Here, we use detailed geographic surveillance data and epidemic models to estimate the critical community size (CCS) of HFMD associated enterovirus serotypes CV-A16 and EV-A71 and we explore what spatial vaccination strategies may best reduce the burden of HFMD. We found CCS ranging from 336,979 (±225,866) to 722,372 (±150,562) with the lowest estimates associated with EV-A71 in the southern region of China where multiple transmission seasons have previously been identified. Our results suggest the existence of a regional immigration-recolonization dynamic driven by urban centers. If EV-A71 vaccines doses are limited, these would be optimally deployed in highly populated urban centers and in high-prevalence areas. If HFMD vaccines are included in China’s National Immunization Program in order to achieve high coverage rates (>85%), routine vaccination of newborns largely outperforms strategies in which the equivalent number of doses is equally divided between routine vaccination of newborns and pulse vaccination of the community at large.
An automatic tooth preparation technique: A preliminary study
Authors: Yuan Fusong , Wang Yong , Zhang Yaopeng , Sun Yuchun , Wang Dangxiao , Lyu Peijun 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThe aim of this study is to validate the feasibility and accuracy of a new automatic tooth preparation technique in dental healthcare. An automatic tooth preparation robotic device with three-dimensional motion planning software was developed, which controlled an ultra-short pulse laser (USPL) beam (wavelength 1,064 nm, pulse width 15 ps, output power 30 W and repeat frequency rate 100 kHz) to complete the tooth preparation process. A total of 15 freshly extracted human intact first molars were collected and fixed into a phantom head and the target preparation shapes of these molars were designed using customised computer-aided design (CAD) software. The accuracy of tooth preparation was evaluated using the Geomagic Studio and Imageware software and the preparing time of each tooth was recorded. Compared with the target preparation shape, the average shape error of the 15 prepared molars was 0.05–0.17 mm, the preparation depth error of the occlusal surface was approximately 0.097 mm and the error of the convergence angle was approximately 1.0°. The average preparation time was 17 minutes. These results validated the accuracy and feasibility of the automatic tooth preparation technique.
Growth Mechanism of Strain-Dependent Morphological Change in PEDOT:PSS Films
Authors: Lee Yoo-Yong , Choi Gwang Mook , Lim Seung-Min , Cho Ju-Young , Choi In-Suk , Nam Ki Tae , Joo Young-Chang 
Published: April 2016

AbstractUnderstanding the mechanism of the strain-dependent conductivity change in polymers in stretched conditions is important. We observed a strain-induced growth of the conductive regions of PEDOT:PSS films, induced by a coalescence of conductive PEDOT-rich cores. This growth due to coalescence leads to a gradual decrease in the electrical resistivity up to 95%, independent of the thickness of the PEDOT:PSS films. The primary mechanism for the evolution of the PEDOT-rich cores proceeds by the cores growing larger as they consuming relatively smaller cores. This process is caused by a strain-induced local rearrangement of PEDOT segments in the vicinity of PSS shells around the cores and also changes the chemical environment in PEDOT, induced by the electron-withdrawing effects around the PEDOT chains. The strain-induced growth mechanism is beneficial to understanding the phenomenon of polymeric chain rearrangement in mechanical deformation and to modulating the electrical conductivity for practical applications.
The routes for transformation of follicular lymphoma
Authors: Okosun Jessica , Montoto Silvia , Fitzgibbon Jude 
Published: April 2016

Purpose of review
Aggressive transformation, a frequent event in the natural history of follicular lymphoma, is associated with increased lymphoma-related mortality and yet the underlying biology remains poorly defined. This review outlines recent advances in our understanding of the genetic basis and evolutionary process leading to transformation.

Recent findings
Both the antecedent indolent and transformed follicular lymphoma (tFL) arise through branched divergent evolution with tumors emerging from a founder precursor population, the common progenitor cell. Although the majority of tFLs maintain a germinal center B-cell gene expression signature, an activated B-cell-type (ABC-type) profile appears to predominate in BCL2-translocation negative cases. It does not appear that a single unifying genetic or epigenetic event promotes a fitter and more aggressive clone.

Summary
Transformed follicular tumors are genetically heterogeneous perhaps reflecting the varying clinical behavior and outcomes of this disease event. Follicular lymphoma and tFL remain incurable tumors highlighted by our inability to eradicate the founder common progenitor cell population with current therapies. Progress has now been made in defining the genetic events and evolutionary pathways responsible for transformation. Although more research is required in predicting and understanding the biology of transformation, there are opportunities to improve outcomes by preferentially directing targeted therapies toward ‘actionable’ early and transformation-specific aberrations.
Proportion of cocaine-coding neurons in the orbitofrontal cortex determines individual drug preferences
Authors: Guillem Karine , Ahmed Serge H. 
Published: April 2016

SUMMARYCocaine addiction is a harmful preference for drug use over and at the expense of other nondrug-related activities. Here we identify in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) – a prefrontal region involved in choice and decision-making – a mechanism that explains individual preferences in rats between cocaine use and an alternative, nondrug action. We found that initiation of these actions is selectively encoded by two non-overlapping populations of OFC neurons, and that the relative size and differential pre-choice activity of the cocaine action-coding population determine an individual preference, a larger size and a higher pre-choice activity being associated with cocaine preference. A larger size is a structural feature that may confer to a population of OFC neurons a competitive advantage during choice in favor of the encoded action. Such structural encoding also explains two other major defining features of an individual drug preference, its stability over time and its resistance to change.
An examination of the quality of social and environmental disclosures by Nigerian oil companies
Authors: Odera Odhiambo , Scott Albert , Gow Jeff 
Published: April 2016

PurposeThis study seeks to examine the quantity and quality of social and environmental disclosures (SEDs) of Nigerian oil companies. The study aims to analyse SED activities as reported by the oil companies in their annual reports.Design/methodology/approachThe study analyses annual reports through content analysis. SED quantity is measured by alternative two units: number of sentences and number of pages. A two-point scale system to assess SED quality is used as follows: 1 = if SED is quantitative and reports specific activities of a company concerning its social and environmental responsibility; 0 = otherwise. Correlation analysis is performed among the different SED categories to identify the relationships among them. Kolmongrov–Smirnov and Shapiro–Wilk tests for normality are utilised.FindingsSED activities are reported by most of the companies, and by quantity, employee information is found to be the most common type of disclosure. SED quantity and quality in the environment category is found to be overwhelmingly low despite the large-scale public concern expressed about the levels of the environmental degradation caused by oil company operations.Research limitations/implicationsThe data collected for this study are based on one country, which controls diversity but limits the generalizability of the findings. The study is limited by the sample which includes mainly quoted companies, as they are believed to make improved disclosures because of their investor orientation and statutory obligations.Originality/valueThe study extends SED research by focusing on social disclosures such as employee-, community- and health- and safety-related disclosures. The study also investigates the motivations of SED providers and establishes a link between stakeholder demands/engagement and the level of disclosure.
The missing middle in developing countries revisited
Authors: Dasgupta Kunal 
Published: April 2016

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a dynamic model to understand the evolution of the firm size distribution in developing countries.

Design/methodology/approach
Evidence points to the existence of a “missing middle” in the size distribution of firms in developing countries. In the model presented in this paper, the bimodality arises because of agents optimally selecting into a traditional and a modern sector. The key parameter in this model is the mean level of knowledge in the economy.

Findings
For a low mean, the two sectors co-exist. As the mean rises, the size distribution converges from a bimodal to an unimodal distribution.

Originality/value
Unlike existing explanations, this model does not rely on frictions to generate the bimodality in size distribution.
E-banking users’ behaviour: e-service quality, attitude, and customer satisfaction
Authors: Ayo Charles k. , Oni Aderonke Atinuke , Adewoye Oyerinde J. , Eweoya Ibukun O. 
Published: April 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to investigate factors affecting e-banking usage based on electronic service (e-service) quality, attitude and customer satisfaction.Design/methodology/approach– A conceptual model to investigate factors that influence e-banking usage was developed based on review of existing literature. The model employed e-services quality variable, diffusion of innovation construct and self-efficacy to better reflect the users’ views of e-banking usage. Data collected from 254 e-banking users were used to test the model. The data were analysed based on PLS-SEM using SmartPLS 3.0.Findings– The result reveals that perceived e-service quality has a strong influence on customer satisfaction and use of e-banking, which means that greater quality of e-service has the potential to increase satisfaction and consequently result in to more use of e-banking. In this research findings, competence of e-service support staff, system availability, service portfolio, responsiveness and reliability, in that order, were found to be most significant in rating e-service quality.Practical implications– This offers financial institutions and professional relevant information e-banking services that will promote greater customer satisfaction and use of e-banking.Originality/value– This paper contributes to knowledge advancement in bank marketing by providing insight into motivational factors of e-banking services quality and personal characteristics.
A method for controlling crowd flow by changing recommender information on navigation application
Authors: Shen Ruiwei , Terada Tsutomu , Tsukamoto Masahiko 
Published: April 2016

Purpose
This paper aims to control the crowd flow naturally by presenting appropriate information.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors developed a navigation application for an event held in Osaka called “Osaka Mizube Bar”, and divided users into three groups to present different information in restaurants’ view list.

Findings
The results of the experiment confirmed that users will focus on the position of the rank list, regardless of the information for each item.

Originality/value
This paper used persuasive technology in information presentation for event application.
Accumulated knowledge and innovation as antecedents of reputation in new ventures
Authors: Hormiga Esther , García-Almeida Desiderio Juan 
Published: April 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to analyse the effect of an entrepreneur’s accumulated knowledge and firm’s innovation on the development of reputation in the early years of a new venture from a knowledge-based approach.Design/methodology/approach– The study proposes a model that is tested with a sample of 130 firms in non-high-tech industries from the Canary Islands (Spain) using structural equation modelling. Data were collected through a survey.Findings– This study provide interesting insights on the effect of reputation on the performance in new ventures, along with antecedents of the new firm’s reputation from the knowledge-based view. The findings confirm that innovation and prior knowledge play important roles in the development of reputation in the early years of a new venture and that reputation has a significant effect on the performance of a new firm. The entrepreneur’s stock of knowledge does not reveal itself as a significant determinant of innovation and knowledge creation in this context.Research limitations/implications– The entrepreneur’s accumulated knowledge should be seen as a valuable existing asset for a new venture, and innovation and knowledge creation can be used to develop core competencies in orientating the strategic direction of a new venture. Both elements become fundamental despite addressing non-high-tech industries.Practical implications– Entrepreneurs should be aware of the key role that the creation and the stock of knowledge play in the first years of company life and this research shows how significant this relationship with the initial reputation and performance of new venture in non-high-technology industries is.Originality/value– There is a relative scarcity of studies on reputation-building strategies in new entrepreneurial ventures, and the present study adopts an original knowledge-based perspective to shed new light on the analysis of reputation.
Mixture of Time-Dependent Growth Models with an Application to Blue Swimmer Crab Length-Frequency Data
Authors: Lloyd-Jones Luke R. , Nguyen Hien D. , McLachlan Geoffrey J. , Sumpton Wayne , Wang You-Gan 
Published: April 2016

Summary
Understanding how aquatic species grow is fundamental in fisheries because stock assessment often relies on growth dependent statistical models. Length-frequency-based methods become important when more applicable data for growth model estimation are either not available or very expensive. In this article, we develop a new framework for growth estimation from length-frequency data using a generalized von Bertalanffy growth model (VBGM) framework that allows for time-dependent covariates to be incorporated. A finite mixture of normal distributions is used to model the length-frequency cohorts of each month with the means constrained to follow a VBGM. The variances of the finite mixture components are constrained to be a function of mean length, reducing the number of parameters and allowing for an estimate of the variance at any length. To optimize the likelihood, we use a minorization–maximization (MM) algorithm with a Nelder–Mead sub-step. This work was motivated by the decline in catches of the blue swimmer crab (BSC) (Portunus armatus) off the east coast of Queensland, Australia. We test the method with a simulation study and then apply it to the BSC fishery data.
Role of serum‐ and glucocorticoid‐inducible kinases in stroke
Authors: Inoue Koichi , Leng Tiandong , Yang Tao , Zeng Zhao , Ueki Takatoshi , Xiong Zhi‐Gang 
Published: April 2016

AbstractIncreased expression of serum‐ and glucocorticoid‐inducible kinase 1 (SGK1) can be induced by stress and growth factors in mammals, and plays an important role in cancer, diabetes, and hypertension. A recent work suggested that SGK1 activity restores damage in a stroke model. To further investigate the role of SGKs in ischemic brain injury, we examined how SGK inhibitors influence stroke outcome in vivo and neurotoxicity in vitro. Infarct volumes were compared in adult mice with middle cerebral artery occlusion, followed by 24 h reperfusion, in the absence or presence of SGK inhibitors. Neurotoxicity assay, electrophysiological recording, and fluorescence Ca2+ imaging were carried out using cultured cortical neurons to evaluate the underlying mechanisms. Contrary to our expectation, infarct volume by stroke decreased significantly when SGK inhibitor, gsk650394, or EMD638683, was administrated 30 min before middle cerebral artery occlusion under normal and diabetic conditions. SGK inhibitors reduced neurotoxicity mediated by N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) receptors, a leading factor responsible for cell death in stroke. SGK inhibitors also ameliorated Ca2+ increase and peak amplitude of NMDA current in cultured neurons. In addition, SGK inhibitor gsk650394 decreased phosphorylation of Nedd4‐2 and inhibited voltage‐gated sodium currents. These observations suggest that SGK activity exacerbates stroke damage and that SGK inhibitors may be useful candidates for therapeutic intervention.
image
To investigate the role of serum‐ and glucocorticoid‐inducible kinases (SGKs) in ischemic brain injury, we examined how SGK inhibitors influence stroke outcome. Infarct volumes induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion were decreased significantly by SGK inhibitors. The inhibitors also reduced glutamate toxicity, at least partly, by attenuation of NMDA and voltage‐gated sodium currents. Thus, SGK inhibition attenuates stroke damage.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Mycobacterium brumae
ATCC 51384
Authors: D'Auria Giuseppe , Torrents Eduard , Luquin Marina , Comas Iñaki , Julián Esther 
Published: April 2016

ABSTRACT

Here, we report the draft genome sequence of
Mycobacterium brumae
type strain ATCC 51384. This is the first draft genome sequence of
M. brumae
, a nonpathogenic, rapidly growing, nonchromogenic mycobacterium, with immunotherapeutic capacities.
Draft Genome Sequence of “
Paramesorhizobium deserti
” A-3-E
T
, a Strain Highly Resistant to Diverse β-Lactam Antibiotics
Authors: Lv Ruichen , Yang Xianwei , Fang Nan , Song Yuqin , Luo Xuesong , Guo Jingyu , Peng Fang , Yang Ruifu , Cui Yujun , Fang Chengxiang , Song Yajun 
Published: April 2016

ABSTRACT

Here, we report the draft genome sequence of “
Paramesorhizobium deserti
” A-3-E
T
, a strain isolated from the Taklimakan Desert of Xinjiang, China, which is resistant to multiple β-lactam antibiotics and other antibiotics (kanamycin, erythromycin, streptomycin, etc.) as well.
High-Quality Draft Genomes from
Thermus caliditerrae
YIM 77777 and
T. tengchongensis
YIM 77401, Isolates from Tengchong, China
Authors: Mefferd Chrisabelle C. , Zhou En-Min , Yu Tian-Tian , Ming Hong , Murugapiran Senthil K. , Huntemann Marcel , Clum Alicia , Pillay Manoj , Palaniappan Krishnaveni , Varghese Neha , Mikhailova Natalia , Stamatis Dimitrios , Reddy T. B. K. , Ngan Chew Yee , Daum Chris , Duffy Kecia , Shapiro Nicole , Markowitz Victor , Ivanova Natalia , Kyrpides Nikos , Williams Amanda J. , Woyke Tanja , Li Wen-Jun , Hedlund Brian P. 
Published: April 2016

ABSTRACT

The draft genomes of
Thermus tengchongensis
YIM 77401 and
T. caliditerrae
YIM 77777 are 2,562,314 and 2,218,114 bp and encode 2,726 and 2,305 predicted genes, respectively. Gene content and growth experiments demonstrate broad metabolic capacity, including starch hydrolysis, thiosulfate oxidation, arsenite oxidation, incomplete denitrification, and polysulfide reduction.
Impact of previous open renal surgery on the outcomes of subsequent percutaneous nephrolithotomy: a meta-analysis
Authors: Hu Henglong , Lu Yuchao , Cui Lei , Zhang Jiaqiao , Zhao Zhenyu , Qin Baolong , Wang Yufeng , Wang Qing , Wang Shaogang 
Published: April 2016

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to systematically compare the perioperative outcomes of percutaneous nephrolithotomy in patients with or without previous ipsilateral open renal surgery (POS).DesignSystematic searches of the PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases were used to identify relevant studies, and, following literature screening and data extraction, a meta-analysis was performed.Results17 retrospective cohort studies involving 4833 procedures (4784 patients) were included. No statistically significant differences were observed between patients with or without POS in terms of supracostal access; single/multiple tracts; metal dilator need; time required to access the collecting system; fluoroscopic duration; demand for analgesics; hospital stay; final stone-free rate; and risk of developing certain complications (eg, fever, haemorrhage, haemo/hydro/pneumothorax, blood transfusion, urinary tract infection and sepsis) as well as regarding the risk of total complications. Patients with POS, however, had a greater drop in haemoglobin (weighted mean difference (WMD), 1.78 g/L; 95% CI 1.09 to 2.47; p<0.00001) and higher risk of bleeding that required angiographic embolisation (relative risk (RR), 3.73; 95% CI 1.36 to 10.21; p=0.01). In addition, patients with POS also had a lower initial stone-free rate (RR, 0.96; 95% CI 0.92 to 0.99; p=0.007) and more secondary treatment (RR, 1.61; 95% CI 1.09 to 2.37; p=0.02). Sensitivity analysis produced comparable results except for differences in operative time and initial stone-free rate, which did, however, prove to be statistically insignificant (p=0.16 and 0.69, respectively).ConclusionsCurrent evidence suggests that percutaneous nephrolithotomy in patients with POS is associated with a significantly greater drop in haemoglobin, higher risk of requiring angiographic embolisation and auxiliary procedures, potentially longer operative time, and lower initial stone-free rate than percutaneous nephrolithotomy in patients without POS.