bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Adult vultures outperform juveniles in challenging thermal soaring conditions
Authors: Harel Roi , Horvitz Nir , Nathan Ran 
Published: June 2016

AbstractDue to the potentially detrimental consequences of low performance in basic functional tasks, individuals are expected to improve performance with age and show the most marked changes during early stages of life. Soaring-gliding birds use rising-air columns (thermals) to reduce energy expenditure allocated to flight. We offer a framework to evaluate thermal soaring performance and use GPS-tracking to study movements of Eurasian griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus). Because the location and intensity of thermals are variable, we hypothesized that soaring performance would improve with experience and predicted that the performance of inexperienced individuals (<2 months) would be inferior to that of experienced ones (>5 years). No differences were found in body characteristics, climb rates under low wind shear and thermal selection, presumably due to vultures’ tendency to forage in mixed-age groups. Adults, however, outperformed juveniles in their ability to adjust fine-scale movements under challenging conditions, as juveniles had lower climb rates under intermediate wind shear, particularly on the lee-side of thermal columns. Juveniles were also less efficient along the route both in terms of time and energy. The consequences of these handicaps are probably exacerbated if juveniles lag behind adults in finding and approaching food.
Long-term in vivo polychlorinated biphenyl 126 exposure induces oxidative stress and alters proteomic profile on islets of Langerhans
Authors: Loiola Rodrigo Azevedo , dos Anjos Fabyana Maria , Shimada Ana Lúcia , Cruz Wesley Soares , Drewes Carine Cristiane , Rodrigues Stephen Fernandes , Cardozo Karina Helena Morais , Carvalho Valdemir Melechco , Pinto Ernani , Farsky Sandra Helena 
Published: June 2016

AbstractIt has been recently proposed that exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is a risk factor to type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). We investigated this hypothesis using long-term in vivo PCB126 exposure to rats addressing metabolic, cellular and proteomic parameters. Male Wistar rats were exposed to PCB126 (0.1, 1 or 10 μg/kg of body weight/day; for 15 days) or vehicle by intranasal instillation. Systemic alterations were quantified by body weight, insulin and glucose tolerance and blood biochemical profile. Pancreatic toxicity was measured by inflammatory parameters, cell viability and cycle, free radical generation and proteomic profile on islets of Langerhans. In vivo PCB126 exposure enhanced the body weight gain, impaired insulin sensitivity, reduced adipose tissue deposit and elevated serum triglycerides, cholesterol and insulin levels. Inflammatory parameters in the pancreas and cell morphology, viability and cycle were not altered in islets of Langerhans. Nevertheless, in vivo PCB126 exposure increased free radical generation and modified the expression of proteins related to oxidative stress on islets of Langerhans, which are indicative of early β-cell failure. Data herein obtained show that long-term in vivo PCB126 exposure through intranasal route induced alterations on islets of Langerhans related to early end points of DM2.
Cardiomyocyte GTP Cyclohydrolase 1 Protects the Heart Against Diabetic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Wu Hsiang-En , Baumgardt Shelley L. , Fang Juan , Paterson Mark , Liu Yanan , Du Jianhai , Shi Yang , Qiao Shigang , Bosnjak Zeljko J. , Warltier David C. , Kersten Judy R. , Ge Zhi-Dong 
Published: June 2016

AbstractDiabetic cardiomyopathy increases the risk of heart failure and death. At present, there are no effective approaches to preventing its development in the clinic. Here we report that reduction of cardiac GTP cyclohydrolase 1 (GCH1) degradation by genetic and pharmacological approaches protects the heart against diabetic cardiomyopathy. Diabetic cardiomyopathy was induced in C57BL/6 wild-type mice and transgenic mice with cardiomyocyte-specific overexpression of GCH1 with streptozotocin and control animals were given citrate buffer. We found that diabetes-induced degradation of cardiac GCH1 proteins contributed to adverse cardiac remodeling and dysfunction in C57BL/6 mice, concomitant with decreases in tetrahydrobiopterin, dimeric and phosphorylated neuronal nitric oxide synthase, sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ handling proteins, intracellular [Ca2+]i and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ content and increases in phosphorylated p-38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and superoxide production. Interestingly, GCH-1 overexpression abrogated these detrimental effects of diabetes. Furthermore, we found that MG 132, an inhibitor for 26S proteasome, preserved cardiac GCH1 proteins and ameliorated cardiac remodeling and dysfunction during diabetes. This study deepens our understanding of impaired cardiac function in diabetes, identifies GCH1 as a modulator of cardiac remodeling and function and reveals a new therapeutic target for diabetic cardiomyopathy.
Ultrafast measurements of optical spectral coherence by single-shot time-stretch interferometry
Authors: Xu Yiqing , Wei Xiaoming , Ren Zhibo , Wong Kenneth K. Y. , Tsia Kevin K. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe palette of laser technology has significantly been enriched by the innovations in ultrafast optical pulse generation. Our knowledge of the complex pulse dynamics, which is often highly nonlinear and stochastic in nature, is however limited by the scarcity of technologies that can measure fast variation/fluctuation of the spectral phase (or coherence) and amplitude in real-time, continuously. To achieve this goal, we demonstrate ultrafast interferometry enabled by optical time-stretch for real- time spectral coherence characterization with microsecond-resolution. Accessing the single-shot interferograms continuously, it further reveals the degree of second-order coherence, defined by the cross-spectral density function, at high speed-a capability absent in any existing spectroscopic measurement tools. As the technique can simultaneously measure both the high-speed variations of spectrally resolved coherence and intensity, time-stretch interferometry could create a new arena for ultrafast pulse characterization, especially favorable for probing and understanding the non-repetitive or stochastic dynamics in real-time.
Analysis of 3-D Tongue Motion From Tagged and Cine Magnetic Resonance Images
Authors: Xing Fangxu , Woo Jonghye , Lee Junghoon , Murano Emi Z. , Stone Maureen , Prince Jerry L. 
Published: June 2016

Purpose
Measuring tongue deformation and internal muscle motion during speech has been a challenging task because the tongue deforms in 3 dimensions, contains interdigitated muscles, and is largely hidden within the vocal tract. In this article, a new method is proposed to analyze tagged and cine magnetic resonance images of the tongue during speech in order to estimate 3-dimensional tissue displacement and deformation over time.

Method
The method involves computing 2-dimensional motion components using a standard tag-processing method called harmonic phase, constructing superresolution tongue volumes using cine magnetic resonance images, segmenting the tongue region using a random-walker algorithm, and estimating 3-dimensional tongue motion using an incompressible deformation estimation algorithm.

Results
Evaluation of the method is presented with a control group and a group of people who had received a glossectomy carrying out a speech task. A 2-step principal-components analysis is then used to reveal the unique motion patterns of the subjects. Azimuth motion angles and motion on the mirrored hemi-tongues are analyzed.

Conclusion
Tests of the method with a various collection of subjects show its capability of capturing patient motion patterns and indicate its potential value in future speech studies.
High‐power epitaxial‐side down mounted terahertz quantum cascade lasers
Authors: Li Yuanyuan , Wang Tao , Zhai Shenqiang , Liu Junqi , Liu Fengqi , Wang Zhanguo 
Published: June 2016

High‐power terahertz quantum cascade lasers at −97.4 μm based on coplanar waveguide epitaxial‐side down (Epi‐down) mounting technique are presented. With the improved thermal management, excellent performance is obtained for the Epi‐down mounted lasers. The maximum output powers of 685 mW in pulsed mode and 164 mW in continuous‐wave (C‐W) mode are realised at 10 K. The maximum C‐W wall‐plug efficiency of 1.67% is also realised. Fundamental lateral mode emissions are achieved for wide ridge lasers through a mode loss differentiation process.
Appendix to Juhani Yli-Vakkuri's ‘Epistemicism and Modality’
Authors: Fritz Peter 
Published: June 2016

AbstractA formal result is proved which is used in Juhani Yli-Vakkuri's ‘Epistemicism and Modality’ to argue that certain two-dimensional possible world models are inadequate for a language with operators for ‘necessarily’, ‘actually’, and ‘definitely’.
Transgenic expression of Telomerase reverse transcriptase (Tert) improves cell proliferation of primary cells and enhances reprogramming efficiency into the induced pluripotent stem cell
Authors: Hidema Shizu , Fukuda Tomokazu , Date Shiori , Tokitake Yuko , Matsui Yasuhisa , Sasaki Hiroki , Nishimori Katsuhiko 
Published: June 2016

Abstract
The enzymatic activity of telomerase is important for the extension of the telomere repeat sequence and overcoming cellular senescence. We generated a conditional transgenic mouse line, carrying the telomerase reverse transcriptase (Tert) expression cassette, controlled by the Cre-loxP-mediated recombination. In our study, Cre recombinase expression efficiently activated Tert expression, resulting in its increased enzymatic activity, which extended the period of cellular proliferation until the keratinocytes entered senescence. This suggests that transgenic Tert expression is effective in enhancing primary cell proliferation. Notably, Tert expression increased colony formation of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells after the introduction of four reprogramming factors, Oct-4, klf4, SOX-2, and c-Myc into the transgenic fibroblasts. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to show that the transgenic Tert expression enhances reprogramming efficiency of iPS cells, which indicates a critical role for Tert in the reprogramming process.
Deciphering the Wisent Demographic and Adaptive Histories from Individual Whole-Genome Sequences
Authors: Gautier Mathieu , Moazami-Goudarzi Katayoun , Hubert Leveziel , Parinello Hugues , Grohs Cécile , Rialle Stéphanie , Kowalczyk Rafal , Flori Laurence 
Published: June 2016

AbstractAs the largest European herbivore, the wisent (Bison bonasus) is emblematic of the continent wildlife but has unclear origins. Here, we infer its demographic and adaptive histories from two individual whole genome sequences via a detailed comparative analysis with bovine genomes. We estimate that the wisent and bovine species diverged from 1.7×106to 850,000 YBP through a speciation process involving an extended period of limited gene flow. Our data further support the occurrence of more recent secondary contacts, posterior to theBos taurusandBos indicusdivergence (ca. 150,000 YBP), between the wisent and (European) taurine cattle lineages. Although the wisent and bovine population sizes experienced a similar sharp decline since the Last Glacial Maximum, we find that the wisent demography remained more fluctuating during the Pleistocene. This is in agreement with a scenario in which wisents responded to successive glaciations by habitat fragmentation rather than southward and eastward migration as for the bovine ancestors.We finally detect 423 genes under positive selection between the wisent and bovine lineages, which shed a new light on the genome response to different living conditions (temperature, available food resource and pathogen exposure) and on the key gene functions altered by the domestication process.
Drift barriers to quality control when genes are expressed at different levels
Authors: Xiong K , McEntee JP , Porfirio DJ , Masel J 
Published: June 2016

ABSTRACTGene expression is imperfect, sometimes leading to toxic products. Solutions take two forms: globally reducing error rates, or ensuring that the consequences of erroneous expression are relatively harmless. The latter is optimal, but because it must evolve independently at so many loci, it is subject to a stringent “drift barrier” – a limit to how weak the effects of a deleterious mutation s can be, while still being effectively purged by selection, expressed in terms of the population sizeNof an idealized population such that purging requiress< −1/N. In previous work, only large populations evolved the optimal local solution, small populations instead evolved globally low error rates, and intermediate populations were bistable, with either solution possible. Here we take into consideration the fact that the effectiveness of purging varies among loci, because of variation in gene expression level and variation in the intrinsic vulnerabilities of different gene products to error. The previously found dichotomy between the two kinds of solution breaks down, replaced by a gradual transition as a function of population size. In the extreme case of a small enough population, selection fails to maintain even the global solution against deleterious mutations, explaining the non-monotonic relationship between effective population size and transcriptional error rate that was recently observed in experiments onE. coli,C. elegansandBuchnera aphidicola.
Impact of service quality on customer satisfaction in private and public sector banks
Authors: Paul Justin , Mittal Arun , Srivastav Garima 
Published: June 2016

Purpose
– In today’s world, with increased competition, service quality has become one of the most popular areas of academic investigation. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of various service quality variables on the overall satisfaction of customers and compare the private and public sector banks using a sample from India.

Design/methodology/approach
– With the help of forward stepwise regression, the authors explain how a variety of variables are both negatively and positively influencing customer satisfaction. The authors collected data from 500 respondents in India; 250 of which were customers of private sector banks, and 250 of which were customers of public sector banks. The authors had a response rate of 65 percent.

Findings
– In the case of private sector banks, knowledge of products, response to need, solving questions, fast service, quick connection to the right person, and efforts to reduce queuing time were found to be the factors that are positively associated with overall satisfaction. Assistance to the customer, appearance, and follow up are negatively associated with customer satisfaction. On the other hand, in the case of public sector banks, knowledge of the product and fast service are the factors which are associated positively and appearance is the only factor that is negatively associated.

Originality/value
– The components of service quality that are positively associated are not the same in public sector banks as they are in private sector banks.
The stakeholder management theory of CSR
Authors: Pérez Andrea , Rodríguez del Bosque Ignacio 
Published: June 2016

Purpose– Based on the principles of the stakeholder management theory, the purpose of this paper is to explore customers’ multidimensional perceptions of both banking companies and the corporate social responsibility (CSR) orientations of these companies. The paper also explores how these multidimensional perceptions affect customer identification and satisfaction towards banking companies.Design/methodology/approach– A structural equation model is tested using information collected from 1,124 banking service customers.Findings– The findings demonstrate that customers’ perceptions of customer-related CSR and broad legal and ethical issues have significant positive impact on both customer identification and satisfaction with banking companies. Perceptions of shareholder-related CSR also significantly boost customer satisfaction. In contrast, perceptions of employee- and community-related CSR do not have a profound effect on customer identification or satisfaction. These findings also confirm the importance of customer identification with the company as a key mediator in their satisfaction responses to the multidimensional perceptions of the companies’ CSR orientations.Originality/value– The contribution of the paper is based on the exploration of a multidimensional approach, relying on the principles of the stakeholder management theory to study customer responses and perceptions of the CSR orientations of banking companies. Previous scholars have reported mixed findings while exploring customer responses to their perceptions of companies’ CSR orientations. However, they frequently considered customer CSR perceptions either as one-dimensional or a reflective second-order construct, thus ignoring the possibility of multidimensional CSR perceptions having multiple effects on customer responses such as identification and satisfaction.
Social innovation success factors: hospitality and tourism social enterprises
Authors: Alegre Ines , Berbegal-Mirabent Jasmina 
Published: June 2016

Purpose
This paper aims to contribute to the existing literature on social enterprises and business model innovation. Particularly, it sheds some light on those factors that turn a social innovation initiative into a success, both in terms of meeting social needs and achieving economic sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach
By using a grounded theory approach, an inductive comparative case study is conducted. Two work integration social enterprises in the hospitality and tourism sector are selected. Both companies are located in Barcelona (Spain) under the same legal regulation and economic situation and initially run a manufacturing business. Due to the economic crisis they were forced to reinvent themselves to survive. Data were collected from different sources and coded using content analysis procedures.

Findings
Results indicate that three factors, namely, value proposition, appropriate market research and stakeholder involvement, heavily contributed to firm’s success, corroborating previous studies. Furthermore, our study reveals that social need pressures and managerial trust on employees are additional factors that drive social business model innovation.

Practical implications
Changes in the demand, the rules governing the market or economic downturns are external drivers for demand-pull innovations. In such context, firms need to reformulate their business models if they wish to survive. Acknowledging the factors that help firms overcome these obstacles is of great interest for both academics and entrepreneurs.

Originality/value
Social innovation in business models is a topic still poorly defined in the literature, yet, its boundaries to other fields are still fuzzy. This paper aims to fulfill this gap by presenting the theoretical domain in which this topic fits in and evidencing those successful factors that should be considered when designing and implementing a business model innovation which may help other firms facing a similar process.
Investigating patient loyalty
Authors: Yarmen Medi , Sumaedi Sik , Bakti I Gede Mahatma Yuda , Rakhmawati Tri , Astrini Nidya Judhi , Widianti Tri 
Published: June 2016

PurposeThis research aims to investigate the simultaneous effect of trust, subjective norm, image and perceived risk on patient loyalty.Design/methodology/approachThis research used quantitative research methodology. The authors surveyed the patient of a healthcare service institution in Depok, Indonesia, and 163 of the institution patients participated in the survey. Multiple regressions analysis was performed to analyze the empirical data.FindingsThe findings showed that subjective norm and image have positive influence on patient loyalty. However, this research also found that trust and perceived risk do not have significant impact on patient loyalty.Research limitations/implicationsThe author(s) used convenience sampling method, and the sample only involved respondents from a healthcare service institution in Depok, Indonesia. Hence, the findings of this research may not be generalized to the other contexts. Therefore, we recommend further research to replicate this research to examine the stability of this research’s findings.Practical implicationsThe research results show that subjective norm and image affect the patient loyalty. Thus, the management of healthcare service institution should consider and manage all of these factors proactively.Originality/valueThis study is believed to be the first to develop and test patient loyalty model that includes trust, subjective norm, image, perceived risk and trust.
Designing conceptual model of after-sales services, in companies producing the capital goods, with the idea of value co-creation
Authors: Tavakoli Gholamreza , Feyz Arefi Majid , Heidari Omid , Mirjafari Masoumeh 
Published: June 2016

Purpose
This study aims to identify the key activities after sales and the intended criteria by the customers, considering their expected services after the product purchase process.

Design/methodology/approach
This study is a qualitative approach, and the co-creation logic and the Delphi technique were used in two rounds to design and validate the proposed model. To achieve this study’s aims, extensive literature, interviews, interaction and exploratory meetings were reviewed with manufacturers and consumers, and then the dimensions of the proposed model were regulated, corrected and validated in the two-round Delphi technique. The final model is presented after establishing the model in the test pilots and getting feedback from industry experts. To present a conceptual model, the enabler’s logic and the underlying results in the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) Excellence Model were used.

Findings
The findings of this study include the identification of dimensions for the after-sales services model and the designing of a conceptual model in both sections of enablers and results. The enabler section of the proposed model includes seven dimensions, three main sectors and four support sections.

Practical implications
This model can be used to design, deploy or improve after-sales services system in manufacturing companies.

Originality/value
For the first time in an innovative procedure, the approach of value co-creation was used to design one of the organizational systems (after-sale services system). On the other hand, the conceptual pattern was proposed inspired by the EFQM Excellence Model, to create the necessary proportionality between the enabler and results sections.