bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Developmental dynamics of cross-modality in mouse visual cortex
Authors: Hattori Ryoma , Hensch Takao K 
Published: June 2017

SUMMARYMaturation of GABAergic circuits in primary visual cortex (V1) opens a critical period (CP), a developmental window of enhanced plasticity for visual functions. However, how inhibition promotes the plasticity remains unclear. Here, we investigated the developmental dynamics of auditory responses and audiovisual interactions in mouse V1. Modulation of V1 spiking activity by a transient sound was temporally dynamic with alternating enhancement and suppression phases. When paired with grating visual stimuli, sound-driven spike enhancement and suppression were weaker and stronger with preferred orientation than with non-preferred orientations, respectively, leading to impaired net orientation selectivity in V1 neurons. Strikingly, the net orientation selectivity was impervious to sound specifically during the CP due to equal total amounts of sound-driven spike enhancements and suppressions. This balance of spike modulations at the CP was achieved by the preferential maturation of sound-driven spike suppression. However, further maturation of sound-driven spike enhancement broke the balance after the CP. Spectral analysis of field potentials revealed the enhancement of a GABA-mediated sound-driven power suppression specifically at CP. Reduction of inhibition by 10-day dark-exposure or genetic deletion of GAD65 gene dampened sound-driven spike suppression in V1. Furthermore, acute suppression of either parvalbumin-expressing (PV) or somatostatinexpressing (SST) neurons suggested their early or late recruitments by sound, respectively. Our results point to the dampened net non-visual sensory influence as one of the functional roles of GABA circuit maturation during a developmental CP. The insensitivity of visual selectivity to sound during the CP may promote functional maturation of V1 asvisualcortex.
Transcriptome analysis of the quantitative distribution of theCyrtotrachelus buquetipopulation in two cities in China
Authors: Luo Chaobing , Liu Anxuan , Long Wencong , Liao Hong , Yang Yaojun 
Published: June 2017

AbstractBackground:Cyrtotrachelus buquetiis a forest pest that severely damages bamboo shoots. Reducing the population of this insect involves complex mechanisms and is dependent on diverse gene expression influenced by environmental factors.Methods:In this study, samples from two regions of China, Muchuan in Sichuan Province and Chishui in Guizhou Province, were investigated through RNA-seq to explore the causes and molecular mechanisms underlying the population reduction of this species. Environmental factors, such as temperature, heavy metal content, and pH, may affect the reduced population ofC. buquetiin Chishui.Results:Approximately 44 million high-quality reads were generated, and 94.2% of the data were mapped to the transcriptome. A total of 15,641 out of the 29,406 identified genes were predicted. Moreover, 348 genes were differentially expressed between the two groups of imagoes and included 77 upregulated and 271 downregulated UniGenes. The functional analysis showed that these genes were significantly enriched in ribosome and metabolic pathway categories. The candidate genes, which contributed toC. Buquetireduction, included 41 genes involved in the ribosome constitution category, five genes in the one-carbon pool pathway by folate category, and five heat shock protein genes.Conclusions:Downregulation of these candidate genes seems to have impaired metabolic processes, such as protein, DNA, RNA, and purine synthesis, as well as carbon and folate metabolism, and finally resulted in the observed reduced population ofC. buqueti. Furthermore, temperature, heavy metal content, and pH might influence the population by altering the expressions of genes involved in these metabolic processes.
Targeted dynein inhibition generates flagellar beating
Authors: Lin Jianfeng , Nicastro Daniela 
Published: June 2017

SUMMARYMotile cilia and flagella are highly conserved organelles that are essential for the normal development and health of many eukaryotes including humans. To reveal the molecular mechanism of motility, we used cryo-electron tomography of active sea urchin sperm flagella to directly visualize the macromolecular complexes and their structural changes during flagellar beating. We resolved distinct conformations of dynein motors and regulators, and showed that many of them are distributed in bend-direction-dependent fashion in active flagella. Our results provide direct evidence for the conformational switching predicted by the “switch-point-hypothesis”. However, they also reveal a fundamentally different mechanism of generating motility by inhibiting dyneins, rather than activating them, causing an asymmetric distribution of force and thus bending. Our high-resolution structural and biochemical analyses provide a new understanding of the distinct roles played by various dyneins and regulators in ciliary motility and suggest a molecular mechanism for robust beating in an all-or-none manner.HIGHLIGHTSDirect visualization of the switching mechanism for flagellar motility.Flagellar beating is generated by oscillating the side of dynein inhibition.I1 dynein, I1-tether and N-DRC are key regulators that are involved in switching.Structural insights into distinct roles of dynein isoforms in flagellar motility.
Second-generation method for analysis of chromatin binding using formaldehyde crosslinking kinetics
Authors: Zaidi Hussain , Hoffman Elizabeth A. , Shetty Savera J. , Bekiranov Stefan , Auble David T. 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACTFormaldehyde crosslinking underpins many of the most commonly used experimental approaches in the chromatin field, especially in capturing site-specific protein-DNA interactions. Extending such assays to assess the stability and binding kinetics of protein-DNA interactions is more challenging, requiring absolute measurements with a relatively high degree of physical precision. We previously described an experimental framework called CLK, which uses time-dependent formaldehyde crosslinking data to extract chromatin binding kinetic parameters. Many aspects of formaldehyde behavior in cells are unknown or undocumented, however, and could potentially impact analyses of CLK data. Here we report biochemical results that better define the properties of formaldehyde crosslinking in budding yeast cells. These results have the potential to inform interpretations of ‘standard’ chromatin assays including chromatin immunoprecipitation, and the chemical complexity we uncovered resulted in the development of an improved method for measuring binding kinetics using the CLK approach. Optimum conditions included an increased formaldehyde concentration and more robust glycine quench conditions. Notably, we find that formaldehyde crosslinking rates can vary dramatically for different protein-DNA interactions in vivo. Some interactions were crosslinked much faster than the time scale for macromolecular interaction, making them suitable for kinetic analysis. For other interactions, we find the crosslinking reaction occurred on the same time scale or slower than binding dynamics; for these it was in some cases possible to compute the in vivo equilibrium-binding constant but not on- and off-rates for binding. Selected TATA-binding protein-promoter interactions displayed dynamic behavior on the minute to several minutes time scale.
Metagenomic characterization of the effect of feed additives on the gut microbiome and antibiotic resistome of feedlot cattle
Authors: Thomas Milton , Webb Megan , Ghimire Sudeep , Blair Amanda , Olson Kenneth , Fenske Gavin John , Fonder Alex Thomas , Christopher-Hennings Jane , Brake Derek , Scaria Joy 
Published: June 2017

AbstractIn North America, antibiotic feed additives such as monensin and tylosin are added to the finishing diets of feedlot cattle to counter the ill-effects of feeding diets with rapidly digestible carbohydrates. While these feed additives have been proven to improve feed efficiency, and reduce liver abscess incidence, how these products impact the gastrointestinal microbiota is not completely understood. Furthermore, there are concerns that antibiotic feed additives may expand the antibiotic resistome of feedlot cattle by enriching antimicrobial resistance genes in pathogenic and nonpathogenic bacteria in the gut microbiota. In this study, we analyzed the impact of providing antibiotic feed additives to feedlot cattle using metagenome sequencing of treated and untreated animals. Our results indicate that use of antibiotic feed additives does not produce discernable changes at the phylum level however treated cattle had reduced the abundance of gram-positive bacteria at the genus level. The abundance of Ruminococcus, Erysipelotrichaceae and Lachanospira in the gut of treated steers was reduced. This may impact the ability of these animals to exclude pathogens from the gut. However, our results did not show any correlation between the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes in the gut microbiota and the administration of antibiotic feed additives.
Lack of evidence for sex differences in higher cognitive function in macaques
Authors: Nagy Jamie R.J. , Damatac Christienne G. , Baxter Mark G. , Rudebeck Peter H. , Croxson Paula L. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractHere we assessed whether higher cognitive function differed between male and female rhesus monkeys using tests of episodic memory and strategy implementation. We did not find any difference between males and females on behavioral performance or on analyses of grey matter volume of key regions. Our findings suggest that, at least where higher cognitive function in healthy monkeys is concerned, the sexes may not differ.
Large class teaching with Backstage
Authors: Bry François , Pohl Alexander Yong-Su 
Published: June 2017

PurposeSeveral challenges of today’s higher education were motivations to reconsider the contents and formats of lectures and tutorials and to conceive the classroom communication system Backstage, a social media platform supporting a novel form of large-class teaching. The purpose of this paper is to report on the challenges met, on the novel teaching form and on an evaluation of this teaching form.Design/methodology/approachThe use of Backstage in two courses is evaluated. One of the courses has been specially adapted to promote student participation, the other course has been held in a traditional way. To investigate the usefulness and acceptance of Backstage in the given settings the data collected on Backstage and student responses in surveys are analyzed.FindingsThe results indicate that Backstage can foster interactivity and awareness in large-class lectures when used in combination with a teaching format that provides opportunities for and encourges lecture-relevant communication. Furthermore, students appreciated the use of Backstage.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper reports on a case study which lacks generalizability. Further studies under controlled conditions and of the learning effectiveness of the approach are still outstanding.Practical implicationsThis paper describes an approach fostering a form of Active Learning in large classes. Since large classes are widespread in higher education, the approach has a considerable practical potential.Social implicationsThe paper describes an approach to large class higher education teaching in using social media.Originality/valueSimilar results have not been published so far.
Beyond students’ perceptions: investigating learning presence in an educational blogging community
Authors: Jimoyiannis Athanassios , Tsiotakis Panagiotis 
Published: June 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present an integrated framework for designing and investigating students’ engagement patterns and learning presence in educational blogs. The framework was grounded on the ideas of self-directed and reflective learning, and was applied to analyse students’ blogging activities in the context of an undergraduate course.

Design/methodology/approach
The proposed research framework was organized along three dimensions: content artefacts, blogging processes and community building. With regard to the methodological tools used, this study integrates content analysis of students’ posts using the framework of community of inquiry, the representation of learning mapping and social network analysis methods.

Findings
The results have revealed important information about the different ways of students’ engagement and learning presence within the blogging groups, the contribution and the influence each student had, as well as the structure and the cohesion of the learning community developed around the blogging project.

Research limitations/implications
The findings of this study are limited by the blended course features, the specific sample and the context of implementation. Future research needs to consider and analyse students’ lurking or invisible presence in educational blogging communities.

Practical implications
This study has yielded promising results with regard to the design of educational blogs in higher education that aim to enhance students’ engagement, reflection, collaboration and self-directed learning.

Originality/value
The originality concerns the proposed conceptual framework which can guide the design, monitoring and analysis of blogging processes in order to reveal students’ learning presence within self-directed communities of blogging.
Methodological review of studies on educational leaders and emotions (1992-2012)
Authors: Berkovich Izhak , Eyal Ori 
Published: June 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to do methodological review of the literature on educational leaders and emotions that includes 49 empirical studies published in peer-reviewed journals between 1992 and 2012.

Design/methodology/approach
The work systematically analyzes descriptive information, methods, and designs in these studies, and their development over time.

Findings
The review suggests that scholarly interest in educational leaders and emotions has increased over time, and identifies methodological patterns in this body of research. The results are compared with methodological data from other syntheses in the disciplines of educational administration (EA) and organizational behavior for the purpose of using the findings to produce broader insights into the meaning of an emerging research field in EA.

Originality/value
The findings of the methodological review are interpreted from two conceptual perspectives: functionalist and critical. Together, they offer a holistic portrayal of the meaning of producing scientific knowledge in an emerging research field in EA.
Modelling of tri-parameter bidding integrating cost, time and risk: a stochastic approach
Authors: Rabie Mohamad , El-Sayegh Sameh 
Published: June 2017

PurposeThis paper aims to propose a new tri-parameter bidding model integrating cost, time and risk. The key value of the model is that it remains within the framework of the competitive bidding system while controlling the risk resulting from float loss.Design/methodology/approachThe model utilizes stochastic scheduling to quantify the float loss impact at the project level. Prospective bidders are evaluated based on their total combined bid (TCB) including cost, time and risk. The risk parameter is calculated as the relative risk between the bidder’s schedule and the client’s baseline schedule.FindingsThe results confirmed that choosing the contractor based on the lowest price and time reduces the available float and increases the schedule risks. The probability of completing the project on time dropped from 46 per cent for the baseline schedule to 19 per cent for the bidder with the most compressed schedule. The selected bidder, using the proposed model, has the lowest TCB of cost, time and risk. Results show that adding the risk parameter in the evaluation changed the ranking of the bidders.Research limitations/implicationsThe model does not discuss all project risks that the contractor retains. It focuses on schedule risks that result from shortening project duration. The model focuses on solving the problem with price plus time bidding method by addressing the schedule risk issue. Other criteria, such as sustainability, are not considered.Practical implicationsThe proposed model encourages contractors to pay more attention to the time parameter and the schedule risks resulting from aggressive reduction in project duration.Originality/valueProblems arose, in the current complex construction industry, as owners rely solely on price as the award criterion. Recently, the bi-parameter bidding system, A + B, introduced the time parameter to the awarding criteria. However, reducing the project duration by compressing the schedule consumes the float of non-critical activities, which reduces the schedule flexibility of a project. The proposed model allows clients to evaluate potential bidders objectively. Rather than evaluating the bidders based on price, in the conventional low bid system, or based on price and time, as in the A + B system, the bidders are evaluated based on three parameters: price, time and risk.
Mechanical modeling for predicting the axial restraint forces and rotations of steel top and seat angle connections at elevated temperatures
Authors: El Kalash Sana , Hantouche Elie 
Published: June 2017

Purpose
This paper aims at developing a mechanical-based model for predicting the thermally induced axial forces and rotation of steel top and seat angles connections with and without web angles subjected to elevated temperatures due to fire. Finite element (FE) simulations and experimental results are used to develop the mechanical model.

Design/methodology/approach
The model incorporates the overall connection and column-beam rotation of key component elements, and includes nonlinear behavior of bolts and base materials at elevated temperatures and some major geometric parameters that impact the behavior of such connections when exposed to fire. This includes load ratio, beam length, angle thickness, and gap distance. The mechanical model consists of multi-linear and nonlinear springs that predict each component stiffness, strength, and rotation.

Findings
The capability of the FE model to predict the strength of top and seat angles under fire loading was validated against full scale tests. Moreover, failure modes, temperature at failure, maximum compressive axial force, maximum rotation, and effect of web angles were all determined in the parametric study. Finally, the proposed mechanical model was validated against experimental results available in the literature and FE simulations developed as a part of this study.

Originality/value
The proposed model provides important insights into fire-induced axial forces and rotations and their implications on the design of steel bolted top and seat angle connections. The originality of the proposed mechanical model is that it requires low computational effort and can be used in more advanced modelling applications for fire analysis and design.
Influence of high temperature on the stability performance of high density polyethylene and crumb rubber powder modified HMA mixture
Authors: Gibreil Hussein Adam Abdalla , Feng Cheng Pei 
Published: June 2017

Purpose
In high-temperature regions (tropical regions) temperatures rises in summer, which affects the performance of asphalt pavement. Therefore, we must consider the conditions of asphalt pavement, especially in these regions. This study aims to investigate the influence of high temperature on the stability performance of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and crumb rubber powder (CRP) modified hot mix asphalt (HMA) using Marshall design parameters and rutting test.

Design/methodology/approach
In this study, three HMA mixtures with 4 per cent HDPE and 15 per cent CRP, 5 per cent HDPE and 10 per cent CRP, and 6 per cent HDPE and 5 per cent CRP concentrations were used for the Marshall stability test and dynamic stability (rutting test) at 60-75°C, and water stability test at 60°C.

Findings
The results showed that when test temperature was increased from 60°C to 75°C, the Marshall stability and dynamic stability of three HDPE- and CRP-modified HMA mixtures decreased, and these three HDPE- and CRP-modified HMA mixtures have a good moisture damage resistance. Of the three HMA mixtures with different HDPE and CRP concentrations, HMA mixtures with 5 per cent HDPE and 10 per cent CRP concentration exhibit optimal Marshall stability, dynamic stability and water stability.

Originality/value
This study showed the effects of high-temperatures changes on the stability performance of HDPE- and CRP-modified HMA mixtures.
How Can Subnational Governments Deliver Their Policy Objectives in the Age of Austerity? Reshaping Homelessness Policy in Wales
Authors: Connell Andrew , Martin Steve , St Denny Emily 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThis article explores how a devolved government in a small country, faced with external constraints beyond its immediate control, can deploy policy resources to shape a distinctive approach to public services. We analyse recent homelessness policy in Wales using the NATO (Nodality, Authority, Treasure, Organisation) typology of tools of government proposed by Hood and Margetts, and show how this can be applied usefully to understand the choices that governments must make in conducting relationships with other institutions. We conclude that a combination of Nodality and Authority provide powerful resources for a subnational government which has only limited formal powers and fiscal autonomy.
Understanding Suicide Across the Lifespan: A United States Perspective of Suicide Risk Factors, Assessment & Management
Authors: Steele Ian H. , Thrower Natasha , Noroian Paul , Saleh Fabian M. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractSuicide is a troubling, preventable phenomenon. Prior to attempts, individuals often seek help, prompting practitioners to perform risk assessments that ideally use evidence‐based risk management strategies. A literature review was performed using Harvard Countway Library of Medicine, Google Scholar, PubMed. Key words used were “Forensic Science,” “Suicide Risk Management,” “Pediatric Suicide Risk Factors,” “Adult Suicide Risk Factors,” “Geriatric Suicide Risk Factors,” “Suicide Risk Assessment.” Parameters limited articles to studies/reviews completed in the past twenty years in the United States. Results indicated predictors of suicide in juveniles were insomnia, burdensomeness, and recent conflicts with family or a romantic partner. Adults had greater risk if male, substance abusing, with marital/job loss. Elderly individuals with multiple medical comorbidities, hopelessness, and isolation were at higher risk. Everyone evaluated should be screened for access to firearms. Management of suicide risk involves providing the least restrictive form of treatment which maintains an individual's safety.
The Princess and the Dwarf: Polish Perspectives on Collecting and the Grand Tour
Authors: Devitt Tremblay Maeve 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThis article contributes to the re‐evaluation of the Grand Tour by considering ‘alternative’ educational journeys. Two travellers are discussed: a mother accompanying her son on his Grand Tour, and a dwarf who toured Western Europe as a curiosity in royal courts. Although these were atypical Grand Tours, both resulted in increased cultural hegemony, thus having similarities to more typical Grand Tour voyages. By collecting material objects and acquiring new talents abroad, both travellers extended their education and reinforced their positions in society. Moreover, this article attempts to bring greater recognition to Polish Grand Tours as examples of Eastern European cosmopolitanism.