bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Selection of suitable reference genes for assessing gene expression in pearl millet under different abiotic stresses and their combinations
Authors: Shivhare Radha , Lata Charu 
Published: March 2016

AbstractPearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum(L.) R. Br.] a widely used grain and forage crop, is grown in areas frequented with one or more abiotic stresses, has superior drought and heat tolerance and considered a model crop for stress tolerance studies. Selection of suitable reference genes for quantification of target stress-responsive gene expression through quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR is important for elucidating the molecular mechanisms of improved stress tolerance. For precise normalization of gene expression data in pearl millet, ten candidate reference genes were examined in various developmental tissues as well as under different individual abiotic stresses and their combinations at 1 h (early) and 24 h (late) of stress using geNorm, NormFinder and RefFinder algorithms. Our results revealedEF-1αandUBC-E2as the best reference genes across all samples, the specificity of which was confirmed by assessing the relative expression of aPgAP2 like-ERFgene that suggested use of these two reference genes is sufficient for accurate transcript normalization under different stress conditions. To our knowledge this is the first report on validation of reference genes under different individual and multiple abiotic stresses in pearl millet. The study can further facilitate fastidious discovery of stress-tolerance genes in this important stress-tolerant crop.
Repeated crack healing in MAX-phase ceramics revealed by 4D in situ synchrotron X-ray tomographic microscopy
Authors: Sloof Willem G. , Pei Ruizhi , McDonald Samuel A. , Fife Julie L. , Shen Lu , Boatemaa Linda , Farle Ann-Sophie , Yan Kun , Zhang Xun , van der Zwaag Sybrand , Lee Peter D. , Withers Philip J. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractMAX phase materials are emerging as attractive engineering materials in applications where the material is exposed to severe thermal and mechanical conditions in an oxidative environment. The Ti2AlC MAX phase possesses attractive thermomechanical properties even beyond a temperature of 1000 K. An attractive feature of this material is its capacity for the autonomous healing of cracks when operating at high temperatures. Coupling a specialized thermomechanical setup to a synchrotron X-ray tomographic microscopy endstation at the TOMCAT beamline, we captured the temporal evolution of local crack opening and healing during multiple cracking and autonomous repair cycles at a temperature of 1500 K. For the first time, the rate and position dependence of crack repair in pristine Ti2AlC material and in previously healed cracks has been quantified. Our results demonstrate that healed cracks can have sufficient mechanical integrity to make subsequent cracks form elsewhere upon reloading after healing.
Metabolic Reprogramming by Hexosamine Biosynthetic and Golgi N-Glycan Branching Pathways
Authors: Ryczko Michael C. , Pawling Judy , Chen Rui , Abdel Rahman Anas M. , Yau Kevin , Copeland Julia K. , Zhang Cunjie , Surendra Anu , Guttman David S. , Figeys Daniel , Dennis James W. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractDe novo uridine-diphosphate-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) biosynthesis requires glucose, glutamine, acetyl-CoA and uridine, however GlcNAc salvaged from glycoconjugate turnover and dietary sources also makes a significant contribution to the intracellular pool. Herein we ask whether dietary GlcNAc regulates nutrient transport and intermediate metabolism in C57BL/6 mice by increasing UDP-GlcNAc and in turn Golgi N-glycan branching. GlcNAc added to the drinking water showed a dose-dependent increase in growth of young mice, while in mature adult mice fat and body-weight increased without affecting calorie-intake, activity, energy expenditure, or the microbiome. Oral GlcNAc increased hepatic UDP-GlcNAc and N-glycan branching on hepatic glycoproteins. Glucose homeostasis, hepatic glycogen, lipid metabolism and response to fasting were altered with GlcNAc treatment. In cultured cells GlcNAc enhanced uptake of glucose, glutamine and fatty-acids, and enhanced lipid synthesis, while inhibition of Golgi N-glycan branching blocked GlcNAc-dependent lipid accumulation. The N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase enzymes of the N-glycan branching pathway (Mgat1,2,4,5) display multistep ultrasensitivity to UDP-GlcNAc, as well as branching-dependent compensation. Indeed, oral GlcNAc rescued fat accumulation in lean Mgat5−/− mice and in cultured Mgat5−/− hepatocytes, consistent with N-glycan branching compensation. Our results suggest GlcNAc reprograms cellular metabolism by enhancing nutrient uptake and lipid storage through the UDP-GlcNAc supply to N-glycan branching pathway.
Noggin4 is a long-range inhibitor of Wnt8 signalling that regulates head development in Xenopus laevis
Authors: Eroshkin Fedor M. , Nesterenko Alexey M. , Borodulin Alexander V. , Martynova Natalia Yu. , Ermakova Galina V. , Gyoeva Fatima K. , Orlov Eugeny E. , Belogurov Alexey A. , Lukyanov Konstantin A. , Bayramov Andrey V. , Zaraisky Andrey G. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractNoggin4 is a Noggin family secreted protein whose molecular and physiological functions remain unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that in contrast to other Noggins, Xenopus laevis Noggin4 cannot antagonise BMP signalling; instead, it specifically binds to Wnt8 and inhibits the Wnt/β -catenin pathway. Live imaging demonstrated that Noggin4 diffusivity in embryonic tissues significantly exceeded that of other Noggins. Using the Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP) assay and mathematical modelling, we directly estimated the affinity of Noggin4 for Wnt8 in living embryos and determined that Noggin4 fine-tune the Wnt8 posterior-to-anterior gradient. Our results suggest a role for Noggin4 as a unique, freely diffusing, long-range inhibitor of canonical Wnt signalling, thus explaining its ability to promote head development.
Changes in neurotransmitter levels and expression of immediate early genes in brain of mice infected with Neospora caninum
Authors: Ihara Fumiaki , Nishimura Maki , Muroi Yoshikage , Furuoka Hidefumi , Yokoyama Naoaki , Nishikawa Yoshifumi 
Published: March 2016

AbstractNeospora caninum is an obligate intracellular parasite that causes neurological disorders in dogs and cattle. The majority of host animals are asymptomatic at the chronic stage of infection. However, it remains unclear whether cerebral function is normal in asymptomatic animals. In this study, mice were infected with N. caninum (strain Nc-1) and their brains were examined to understand changes in cerebral function at the chronic stage of infection. Mice infected with N. caninum showed impaired locomotor activity, but no differences in clinical symptoms were observed. In the brains of infected mice, parasites were distributed throughout the brain and histological lesions were observed everywhere except for the cerebellum. Expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines, interferon-gamma and tumour necrosis factor-alpha, were highly upregulated in several brain regions of infected mice. Additionally, the level of neurotransmitters glutamate, glycine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine, were altered in infected mice compared with those of uninfected mice. Interestingly, the expression levels of immediately early genes, c-Fos and Arc, in the brain of infected mice were lower than those of in uninfected mice. Our findings may provide insight into neurological disorders associated with N. caninum infection.
Monitoring temporal opacity fluctuations of large structures with muon radiography: a calibration experiment using a water tower
Authors: Jourde Kevin , Gibert Dominique , Marteau Jacques , de Bremond d’Ars Jean , Gardien Serge , Girerd Claude , Ianigro Jean-Christophe 
Published: March 2016

AbstractUsage of secondary cosmic muons to image the geological structures density distribution significantly developed during the past ten years. Recent applications demonstrate the method interest to monitor magma ascent and volcanic gas movements inside volcanoes. Muon radiography could be used to monitor density variations in aquifers and the critical zone in the near surface. However, the time resolution achievable by muon radiography monitoring remains poorly studied. It is biased by fluctuation sources exterior to the target and statistically affected by the limited number of particles detected during the experiment. The present study documents these two issues within a simple and well constrained experimental context: a water tower. We use the data to discuss the influence of atmospheric variability that perturbs the signal and propose correction formulas to extract the muon flux variations related to the water level changes. Statistical developments establish the feasibility domain of muon radiography monitoring as a function of target thickness (i.e. opacity). Objects with a thickness comprised between ≈50 ± 30 m water equivalent correspond to the best time resolution. Thinner objects have a degraded time resolution that strongly depends on the zenith angle, whereas thicker objects (like volcanoes) time resolution does not.
Differences in the Abilities to Mechanically Eliminate Activation Energies for Unimolecular and Bimolecular Reactions
Authors: Kochhar Gurpaul S. , Mosey Nicholas J. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractMechanochemistry, i.e. the application of forces, F, at the molecular level, has attracted significant interest as a means of controlling chemical reactions. The present study uses quantum chemical calculations to explore the abilities to mechanically eliminate activation energies, ΔE‡, for unimolecular and bimolecular reactions. The results demonstrate that ΔE‡ can be eliminated for unimolecular reactions by applying sufficiently large F along directions that move the reactant and/or transition state (TS) structures parallel to the zero-F reaction coordinate, S0. In contrast, eliminating ΔE‡ for bimolecular reactions requires the reactant to undergo a force-induced shift parallel to S0 irrespective of changes in the TS. Meeting this requirement depends upon the coupling between F and S0 in the reactant. The insights regarding the differences in eliminating ΔE‡ for unimolecular and bimolecular reactions and the requirements for eliminating ΔE‡, may be useful in practical efforts to control reactions mechanochemically.
Fabrication of a Functionally Graded Copper-Zinc Sulfide Phosphor
Authors: Park Jehong , Park Kwangwon , Kim Jongsu , Jeong Yongseok , Kawasaki Akira , Kwon Hansang 
Published: March 2016

AbstractFunctionally graded materials (FGMs) are compositionally gradient materials. They can achieve the controlled distribution of the desired characteristics within the same bulk material. We describe a functionally graded (FG) metal-phosphor adapting the concept of the FGM; copper (Cu) is selected as a metal and Cu- and Cl-doped ZnS (ZnS:Cu,Cl) is selected as a phosphor and FG [Cu]-[ZnS:Cu,Cl] is fabricated by a very simple powder process. The FG [Cu]-[ZnS:Cu,Cl] reveals a dual-structured functional material composed of dense Cu and porous ZnS:Cu,Cl, which is completely combined through six graded mediating layers. The photoluminescence (PL) of FG [Cu]-[ZnS:Cu,Cl] is insensitive to temperature change. FG [Cu]-[ZnS:Cu,Cl] also exhibits diode characteristics and photo reactivity for 365 nm -UV light. Our FG metal-phosphor concept can pave the way to simplified manufacturing of low-cost and can be applied to various electronic devices.
High‐frequency characteristics of Lg = 60 nm InGaAs MOS high‐electron‐mobility‐transistor (MOS‐HEMT) with Al2O3 gate insulator
Authors: Kim T.‐W. , Kim J.S. , Kim D.‐K. , Shin S.H. , Park W.‐S. , Banerjee S. , Kim D.‐H. 
Published: March 2016

High‐frequency characteristics of Lg = 60 nm In0.7Ga0.3As MOS‐high‐electron‐mobility transistor (HEMTs) with a 3 nm aluminium oxide grown by atomic‐layer‐deposition is reported. Fabricated In0.7Ga0.3As MOS‐HEMTs with Lg = 60 nm exhibit subthreshold‐swing (SS) = 89 mV/dec., drain‐induced‐barrier‐lowering = 98 mV/V, gm_max = 1.1 mS/μm, fT = 187 GHz and fmax = 202 GHz at VDS = 0.5 V. The high‐frequency characteristics showed is the best balanced demonstration of fT and fmax in the buried‐channel indium gallium arsenide MOS‐HEMTs, revealing a strong potential of the buried‐channel design scheme for future high frequency, low‐noise and high‐performance logic applications.
54 Gbit/s OOK transmission using single‐mode VCSEL up to 2.2 km MMF
Authors: Stepniak G. , Lewandowski A. , Kropp J.R. , Ledentsov N.N. , Shchukin V.A. , Ledentsov N. , Schaefer G. , Agustin M. , Turkiewicz J.P. 
Published: March 2016

Successful 54 Gbit/s on–off keying (OOK) transmission over 2.2 km of multimode OM4 fibre is demonstrated. The decisive advantages of the single mode over multimode vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) in transmission experiments are shown.
Demonstration of multi‐channel 80 Gbit/s integrated transmitter and receiver for wavelength‐division multiplexing passive optical network and fronthauling applications
Authors: Naughton A. , Lai C.P. , Talli G. , Vaernewyck R. , Yin X. , Bauwelinck J. , Qiu X.Z. , Maxwell G. , Smith D.W. , Borghesani A. , Cronin R. , Grobe K. , Eiselt M. , Parsons N. , Kehayas E. , Townsend P.D. 
Published: March 2016

The performance evaluation of a multi‐channel transmitter that employs an arrayed reflective electroabsorption modulator‐based photonic integrated circuit and a low‐power driver array in conjunction with a multi‐channel receiver incorporating a pin photodiode array and integrated arrayed waveguide grating is reported. Due to their small footprint, low power consumption and potential low cost, these devices are attractive solutions for future mobile fronthaul and next generation optical access networks. A BER performance of <10−9 at 10.3 Gbit/s per channel is achieved over 25 km of standard single mode fibre. The transmitter/receiver combination can achieve an aggregate bit rate of 82.4 Gbit/s when eight channels are active.
Long‐term evolution/wireless wide area network monopole exciter antenna for slim laptop with full metal cover
Authors: Chen S.C. , Tsou Y.C. 
Published: March 2016

A monopole exciter antenna installed in the hinge slot region of a slim laptop with metal covers is presented. The exciter antenna comprises a feeding strip and a matching strip that form a two‐branched monopole structure. A small antenna size of 35 × 8 mm2 enables installation in the hinge slot region between the upper metal cover and the base metal cover of a slim laptop. The proposed exciter antenna can be integrated with the metal surroundings (metal covers and metal hinges) to enhance the operating bandwidth and thus cover the long‐term evolution/wireless wide area network band with high radiation efficiency. The antenna efficiency is approximately 68–88% in the lower band and 52–78% in the upper band.
Soft‐switched non‐isolated high step‐up DC–DC converter with reduced voltage stress
Authors: Molavi Navid , Adib Ehsan , Farzanehfard Hosein 
Published: March 2016

In this study, a novel soft‐switched high step‐up DC/DC converter is presented. This converter is suitable to be employed in photovoltaic and fuel cell systems. The proposed topology is based on coupled inductors and switched‐capacitor techniques to provide high step‐up gain. Also, due to high conversion ratio, and symmetrical structure of the proposed topology, the voltage stress of semiconductor elements is low; therefore, high performance metal–oxide–semiconductor field‐effect transistors with low ON‐resistance, and also low‐voltage rating diodes can be utilised to reduce the circuit cost, conduction, and reverse‐recovery losses which improve the converter efficiency and power density. Furthermore, by adopting an active clamp circuit, the stored energy in the leakage inductance of coupled inductors is recycled and zero‐voltage‐switching turn‐on condition for both main and clamp switches are provided. Operating principle and steady‐state analysis of the converter are discussed in detail. Finally, an experimental prototype of the proposed converter with 200 W output power is implemented which verifies the theoretical analysis.
Making wine and making successful wineries: resource development in new ventures
Authors: West III G. Page , Taplin Ian M 
Published: March 2016

Purpose– Most research on new organizations drawing on resource-based theory examines firms in discrete development stages with resources that already exist. The purpose of this paper is to articulate a broader view of changing resource requirements over the life of new organizations. The authors propose four phases of resources development, arguing that new resources and capabilities must develop as new strategic challenges emerge. The paper identifies salient resources in these phases and finds that internal resource development is context dependent, interacting with the external stage of industry development.Design/methodology/approach– After developing the theoretical model, the authors use an exploratory qualitative study involving extensive case studies of new ventures in the wine industry. Key personnel at a sample of firms were interviewed, supplemented with secondary data from published reports.Findings– The paper finds that a linear stage development model for new organizational ventures is inappropriate. The various combinations of early/later new ventures in a formative/developed industry suggest that some may proceed rapidly in a linear fashion through phases of development, while others may find progress slow, difficult, stalled or occasionally regressive. A combination of resources developed simultaneously in a non-linear pattern appears to be critical to the success of new ventures. In other words, combinations must evolve as the strategic challenges evolve, thus bringing an important contextual view to the examination of dynamic resource development efforts for new organizations. Attempts to focus in a piecemeal fashion on individual aspects of resource development, without accounting for resource interactions at a systemic level or the nature of the strategic demands, is likely to leave researchers and practitioners with incomplete insights.Originality/value– Existing studies have failed to grasp the dynamic and interactive process of resource development as organizations evolve in a new industry setting. The model presented in this paper provides a heuristic device for conceptualizing these changes.
Hybrid organizations: concept and measurement
Authors: Schmitz Björn , Glänzel Gunnar 
Published: March 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to find a new conception of hybridity to set ground for further systematic research. The concept of hybrid organisations is used in many ways. This leads to confusion among scholars and the term of hybridity appears to be meaningless and useless for research and practice.Design/methodology/approach– In this explorative research design, the authors conducted 11 interviews with managing directors and managers of hybrid organisations in four different countries across Europe.Findings– Each and every organisation is hybrid but to different degrees and with different patterns. It is important to measure hybridity to give value to the term of hybrid organisations. According to input, process and output dimensions, the authors could classify possible dimensions of hybridity measurement within organisations.Research limitations/implications– The developed cube model serves as a new point of departure for hybrid organisation research and helps to build analytical types of hybrid organisations. The research has been highly explorative, and the limited number of cases researched leads to the requirement of further validation on a broader basis. In addition, the still rather conceptual state of the cube model will need further validation by means of a set of hybridity indicators.Originality/value– The paper presents a way to deal with the question about what hybridity exactly is and whether hybridity is a term that has an analytical value. It also provides the first attempt to connect more analytical meaning to the concept of hybridity by suggesting an approach to concretely measure it.
An analysis of the status of resource flexibility and lean manufacturing in a textile machinery manufacturing company
Authors: Chauhan Gulshan 
Published: March 2016

Purpose
– As the manufacturing industry is under pressure to face the global competition, it is necessary to improve productivity and reduce costs through minimization of wastage of resources for their survival. This paper aims to present an analysis of the status of resource flexibility and lean manufacturing through conducting a case study in an Indian textile machinery manufacturing company and also demonstrate the various areas of future scope for improving lean manufacturing.

Design/methodology/approach
– The case study has been conducted using the flexible system methodology (FSM) framework (Sushil, 1994). For measuring resource (labour and machine) flexibility and lean manufacturing, various factors contributing towards labour flexibility, machine flexibility and lean manufacturing are identified. To determine their relative weights, an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) has been used. A specially designed questionnaire is used to collect the information during case study on different aspects of resource flexibility and lean manufacturing. SAP-LAP analysis has also been carried out to look in to the ways the company is building up resource flexibility and lean manufacturing.

Findings
– The status of labour flexibility, machine flexibility and lean manufacturing is merely 49.30, 47.10 and 47.40 per cent, respectively. The most important factors of labour flexibility and machine flexibility attained a value of 59.50 and 61.17 per cent, respectively. Similarly, only 39.09 per cent wastes are eliminated through lean manufacturing. There is a huge scope to achieve a higher degree of lean manufacturing through focusing on continuous improvement, just in time (JIT) and resource flexibility factors.

Research limitations/implications
– The present study includes only labour and machines to compute the resource flexibility. Other resources may also be included to compute the overall resource flexibility.

Practical implications
– The present study provides guidelines to analyze the status of resource flexibility and lean manufacturing. According to conclusions, frail areas in the manufacturing system can be identified and a suitable course of action could be planned for the improvement. Hopefully, this study will help the firm’s management to identify the problems to manage resource flexibility and implement an effective lean manufacturing.

Originality/value
– In this work, the theoretical perspective has been used not only to update the original instrument, but also to study the subject from a perspective beyond that usually associated with resource flexibility and lean manufacturing.