bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Simulation of a macrosegregation benchmark with a meshless diffuse approximate method
Authors: Hatić Vanja , Mavrič Boštjan , Šarler Božidar 
Published: January 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to simulate a macrosegregation solidification benchmark by a meshless diffuse approximate method. The benchmark represents solidification of Al 4.5 wt per cent Cu alloy in a 2D rectangular cavity, cooled at vertical boundaries.

Design/methodology/approach
A coupled set of mass, momentum, energy and species equations for columnar solidification is considered. The phase fractions are determined from the lever solidification rule. The meshless diffuse approximate method is structured by weighted least squares method with the second-order monomials for trial functions and Gaussian weight functions. The spatial localization is made by overlapping 13-point subdomains. The time-stepping is performed in an explicit way. The pressure-velocity coupling is performed by the fractional step method. The convection stability is achieved by upstream displacement of the weight function and the evaluation point of the convective operators.

Findings
The results show a very good agreement with the classical finite volume method and the meshless local radial basis function collocation method. The simulations are performed on uniform and non-uniform node arrangements and it is shown that the effect of non-uniformity of the node distribution on the final segregation pattern is almost negligible.

Originality/value
The application of the meshless diffuse approximate method to simulation of macrosegregation is performed for the first time. An adaptive upwind scheme is successfully applied to the diffuse approximate method for the first time.
Suprachoroidal shunts for treatment of glaucoma
Authors: Mauro Alessandro , Romano Mario R. , Romano Vito , Nithiarasu P. 
Published: January 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to compare the fluid dynamic performance of two Aqueous Humor (AH) ocular drainage devices, the SOLX® Gold Micro Shunt (GMS) and the novel Silicon Shunt Device (SSD), implanted by surgeons in human eyes to reduce the IntraOcular Pressure towards physiological values, by draining the AH from the Anterior Chamber to the Suprachoroidal Space, to cure eyes with glaucoma.Design/methodology/approachThe generalized porous medium model is solved to simulate the AH flow through the two ocular drainage devices and the surrounding porous tissues of the eye.FindingsIn the GMS, probable stagnation regions have been found, due to the very small AH velocity values inside the device and to the surrounding tissues, creating possible blockage and malfunction of the device. The simple microtubular geometry of the novel SSD allows to have a regular AH flow and to choose shunts with different diameters and/or with the presence of radial holes, based on patient needs, with consequent reduction of post-operative complications.Research limitations/implicationsThe present model will be further developed taking into account the insertion of the present drainage devices inside the anterior section of the eye. The present results show the comparative fluid dynamic performance of the two shunts considered, and can be useful for surgeons to choose the adequate shunt, based on the required AH flow rate for a specific patient.Practical implicationsThe present numerical approach, employing the generalized porous medium model, represents a useful tool to study the fluid dynamics of ocular drainage devices and to design these shunts, to reduce post-operative complications.Originality/valueThe generalized porous medium model is here applied for the first time to simulate the interaction of ocular drainage devices with the surrounding porous tissues of the eye.
Investigating antecedents and outcome of telepresence on a hotel’s website
Authors: Lee Seonjeong (Ally) 
Published: January 2018

Purpose
This study aims to investigate the relationships among sensory, emotional and cognitive attributes on a hotel’s website, customers’ telepresence, their attitudes toward the hotel’s website, brand attitudes and their behavioral intentions, based on telepresence and parasocial interaction theories as theoretical backgrounds.

Design/methodology/approach
A cross-sectional, online, self-administered survey was conducted to examine the proposed framework from previous hotel guests in the USA, who booked the hotel via its website within the previous 12 months.

Findings
Results identified sensory and emotional attributes influenced customers’ telepresence; however, cognitive attributes did not affect telepresence on the hotel’s website. Telepresence then influenced customers’ attitudes toward the hotel’s website and their behavioral intentions. Both attitudes toward the hotel’s website and brand attitudes influenced customers’ behavioral intentions.

Originality/value
This study was the first study to propose the telepresence model in the hotel website context, investigating antecedents and outcomes of the telepresence.
Impact assessment in higher education: a strategic view from the UK
Authors: Ayres Ruth L. 
Published: January 2018

Purpose
This paper focuses on the importance of impact in higher education from a strategic perspective, exploring its value to institutions, learners and prospective students in today’s higher education context, using the UK as a case study. The increasing prominence of impact assessment in higher education is discussed, with consideration given to the operational structures, tools and approaches which can be adopted to monitor and evaluate the impact of any strategic project or initiative introduced by a higher education provider.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper presents a strategic view of impact assessment in today’s higher education landscape.

Findings
The significance of impact assessment in higher education is discussed from a strategic perspective, drawing upon relevant studies, UK Government policy and initiatives. Consideration is given to the tools and approaches that can be adopted by higher education providers in assessing the impact of any strategic initiatives and projects that have been implemented.

Originality/value
The paper is of value to 'any higher education provider that is currently undertaking, or planning to deliver large-scale strategic projects and initiatives which have been designed to enhance the student learning experience.
A new two-stage grey evaluation decision-making method for interval grey numbers
Authors: Li Peng , Wei Cuiping 
Published: January 2018

Purpose
In multi-criteria decision-making with interval grey number information, decision makers usually take a risk to rank or choose some very similar alternatives. Additionally, when evaluating only one alternative, decision makers can only obtain a specific value using traditional decision-making methods and may find it hard to cluster the alternatives to the “correct class” because these methods lack predetermined reference points. To overcome this problem, this paper aims to propose a two-stage grey decision-making method.

Design/methodology/approach
First, a new type of clustering method for interval grey numbers is designed by proposing a new possibility function for grey numbers. Based on this clustering method, a new grey clustering evaluation model for interval grey numbers is proposed by which decision makers can obtain the grade rating information of each alternative. Then, according to the grey clustering evaluation model, a new two-stage decision-making method is introduced to solve the problem that some alternatives are very similar by designing a grey comprehensive decision coefficient of alternatives.

Findings
The authors propose a new grey clustering evaluation model to deal with interval grey numbers. They design a new model to obtain the membership degree for the interval grey numbers and then propose a new grey clustering evaluation model, which can evaluate only one alternative by predefined grey classes. Then, by the grey comprehensive decision coefficient, a two-stage grey evaluation decision-making method is put forward to solve the problem that some alternatives are very close and hard to be distinguished.

Originality/value
A new grey clustering evaluation model is proposed, which can evaluate only one alternative by predefined grey classes. A two-stage grey evaluation decision-making method is given to solve the problem that some alternatives are very close and hard to be distinguished.
Nanophotonic technologies driving innovations in molecular sensing
Authors: Bogue Robert 
Published: January 2018

Purpose
This paper aims to provide a technical insight into recent molecular sensor developments involving nanophotonic materials and phenomena.

Design/methodology/approach
Following an introduction, this highlights a selection of recent research activities involving molecular sensors based on nanophotonic technologies. It discusses chemical sensors, gas sensors and finally the role of nanophotonics in Raman spectroscopy. Brief concluding comments are drawn.

Findings
This shows that nanophotonic technologies are being applied to a diversity of molecular sensors and have the potential to yield devices with enhanced features such as higher sensitivity and reduced size. As several of these sensors can be fabricated with CMOS technology, potential exists for mass-production and significantly reduced costs.

Originality/value
This article illustrates how emerging nanophotonic technologies are set to enhance the capabilities of a diverse range of molecular sensors.
Enhanced photoelectric responses induced by visible light of acetone gas sensors based on CuO-ZnO nanocomposites at about room temperature
Authors: Miao Yuxin , Pan Guofeng , Sun Caixuan , He Ping , Cao Guanlong , Luo Chao , Zhang Li , Li Hongliang 
Published: January 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the effect of doping, annealing temperature and visible optical excitation on CuO-ZnO nanocomposites’ acetone sensing properties and introduce an attractive candidate for acetone detection at about room temperature.Design/methodology/approachZnO nanoparticles doped with CuO were prepared by sol-gel method, and the structure and morphology were characterized via X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectroscopy and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller. The photoelectric responses of CuO-ZnO nanocomposites to cetone under the irradiation of visible light were investigated at about 30°C. The photoelectric response mechanism was also discussed with the model of double Schottky.FindingsThe doping of CuO enhanced performance of ZnO nanoparticles in terms of the photoelectric responses and the gas response and selectivity to acetone of ZnO nanoparticles, in addition, decreasing the operating temperature to about 30ºC. The optimum performance was obtained by 4.17% CuO-ZnO nanocomposites. Even at the operating temperature, about 30ºC, the response to 1,000 ppm acetone was significantly increased to 579.24 under the visible light irradiation.Practical implicationsThe sensor fabricated by 4.17% CuO-ZnO nanocomposites exhibited excellent acetone-sensing characteristics at about 30ºC. It is promising to be applied in low power and miniature acetone gas sensors.Originality/valueIn the present research, a new nanocomposite material of CuO-ZnO was prepared by Sol-gel method. The optimum gas sensing properties to acetone were obtained by 4.17% CuO-ZnO nanocomposites at about 30ºC operating temperature when it was irradiated by visible light with the wavelength more than 420 nm.
Evolution of a Dominant Natural Isolate of Escherichia coli in the Human Gut over the Course of a Year Suggests a Neutral Evolution with Reduced Effective Population Size
Authors: Ghalayini Mohamed , Launay Adrien , Bridier-Nahmias Antoine , Clermont Olivier , Denamur Erick , Lescat Mathilde , Tenaillon Olivier 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACT

In vitro
and
in vivo
evolution experiments on
Escherichia coli
revealed several principles of bacterial adaptation. However, few data are available in the literature describing the behavior of
E. coli
in its natural environment. We attempted here to study the evolution in the human gut of a commensal dominant
E. coli
clone, ED1a belonging to the B2 phylogroup, through a longitudinal genomic study. We sequenced 24 isolates sampled at three different time points within a healthy individual over almost a year. We computed a mutation rate of 6.90 × 10
−7
mutations per base per year of the chromosome for
E. coli
ED1a in healthy human gut. We observed very limited genomic diversity and could not detect any evidence of selection, in contrast to what is observed in experimental evolution over a similar length of time. We therefore suggest that ED1a, being well adapted to the healthy human gut, evolves mostly neutrally with a low effective population size (

N
e

of ≈500 to 1,700).

IMPORTANCE
In this study, we follow the genomic fate of a dominant clone of
Escherichia coli
in the human gut of a healthy individual over about a year. We could compute a low annual mutation rate that supports low diversity, and we could not retrieve any clear signature of selection. These observations support a neutral evolution of
E. coli
in the human gut, compatible with a very limited effective population size that deviates drastically with the observations made previously in experimental evolution.
Elucidating Waterborne Pathogen Presence and Aiding Source Apportionment in an Impaired Stream
Authors: Weidhaas Jennifer , Anderson Angela , Jamal Rubayat 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACT

Fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) are the basis for water quality regulations and are considered proxies for waterborne pathogens when conducting human health risk assessments. The direct detection of pathogens in water and simultaneous identification of the source of fecal contamination are possible with microarrays, circumventing the drawbacks to FIB approaches. A multigene target microarray was used to assess the prevalence of waterborne pathogens in a fecally impaired mixed-use watershed. The results indicate that fecal coliforms have improved substantially in the watershed since its listing as a 303(d) impaired stream in 2002 and are now near United States recreational water criterion standards. However, waterborne pathogens are still prevalent in the watershed, as viruses (bocavirus, hepatitis E and A viruses, norovirus, and enterovirus G), bacteria (
Campylobacter
spp.,
Clostridium
spp., enterohemorrhagic and enterotoxigenic
Escherichia coli
, uropathogenic
E. coli
,
Enterococcus faecalis
,
Helicobacter
spp.,
Salmonella
spp., and
Vibrio
spp.), and eukaryotes (
Acanthamoeba
spp.,
Entamoeba histolytica
, and
Naegleria fowleri
) were detected. A comparison of the stream microbial ecology with that of sewage, cattle, and swine fecal samples revealed that human sources of fecal contamination dominate in the watershed. The methodology presented is applicable to a wide range of impaired streams for the identification of human health risk due to waterborne pathogens and for the identification of areas for remediation efforts.

IMPORTANCE
The direct detection of waterborne pathogens in water overcomes many of the limitations of the fecal indicator paradigm. Furthermore, the identification of the source of fecal impairment aids in identifying areas for remediation efforts. Multitarget gene microarrays are shown to simultaneously identify waterborne pathogens and aid in determining the sources of impairment, enabling further focused investigations. This study shows the use of this methodology in a historically impaired watershed in which total maximum daily load reductions have been successfully implemented to reduce risk. The results suggest that while the fecal indicators have been reduced more than 96% and are nearing recreational water criterion levels, pathogens are still detectable in the watershed. Microbial source tracking results show that additional remediation efforts are needed to reduce the impact of human sewage in the watershed.
An IgaA/UmoB Family Protein from Serratia marcescens Regulates Motility, Capsular Polysaccharide Biosynthesis, and Secondary Metabolite Production
Authors: Stella Nicholas A. , Brothers Kimberly M. , Callaghan Jake D. , Passerini Angelina M. , Sigindere Cihad , Hill Preston J. , Liu Xinyu , Wozniak Daniel J. , Shanks Robert M. Q. 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACTSecondary metabolites are an important source of pharmaceuticals and key modulators of microbe-microbe interactions. The bacteriumSerratia marcescensis part of theEnterobacteriaceaefamily of eubacteria and produces a number of biologically active secondary metabolites. In this study, we screened for novel regulators of secondary metabolites synthesized by a clinical isolate ofS. marcescensand found mutations in a gene for an uncharacterized UmoB/IgaA family member here namedgumB. Mutation ofgumBconferred a severe loss of the secondary metabolites prodigiosin and serratamolide. ThegumBmutation conferred pleiotropic phenotypes, including altered biofilm formation, highly increased capsular polysaccharide production, and loss of swimming and swarming motility. These phenotypes corresponded to transcriptional changes infimA,wecA, andflhD. Unlike other UmoB/IgaA family members,gumBwas found to be not essential for growth inS. marcescens, yetigaAfromSalmonella enterica,yrfFfromEscherichia coli, and an uncharacterized predicted ortholog fromKlebsiella pneumoniaecomplemented thegumBmutant secondary metabolite defects, suggesting highly conserved function. These data support the idea that UmoB/IgaA family proteins are functionally conserved and extend the known regulatory influence of UmoB/IgaA family proteins to the control of competition-associated secondary metabolites and biofilm formation.IMPORTANCEIgaA/UmoB family proteins are found in members of theEnterobacteriaceaefamily of bacteria, which are of environmental and public health importance. IgaA/UmoB family proteins are thought to be inner membrane proteins that report extracellular stresses to intracellular signaling pathways that respond to environmental challenge. This study introduces a new member of the IgaA/UmoB family and demonstrates a high degree of functional similarity between IgaA/UmoB family proteins. Moreover, this study extends the phenomena controlled by IgaA/UmoB family proteins to include the biosynthesis of antimicrobial secondary metabolites.
Potential Immunological Biomarkers for Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection in a Setting Where M. tuberculosis Is Endemic, Ethiopia
Authors: Teklu Takele , Kwon Keehwan , Wondale Biniam , HaileMariam Milkessa , Zewude Aboma , Medhin Girmay , Legesse Mengistu , Pieper Rembert , Ameni Gobena 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACT

Accurate diagnosis and early treatment of tuberculosis (TB) and latent TB infection (LTBI) are vital to prevent and control TB. The lack of specific biomarkers hinders these efforts. This study's purpose was to screen immunological markers that discriminate
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
infection outcomes in a setting where it is endemic, Ethiopia. Whole blood from 90 participants was stimulated using the ESAT-6/CFP-10 antigen cocktail. The interferon gamma (IFN-γ)-based QuantiFERON diagnostic test was used to distinguish between LTBI and uninfected control cases. Forty cytokines/chemokines were detected from antigen-stimulated plasma supernatants (SPSs) and unstimulated plasma samples (UPSs) using human cytokine/chemokine antibody microarrays. Statistical tests allowed us to identify potential biomarkers that distinguish the TB, LTBI, and healthy control groups. As expected, the levels of IFN-γ in SPSs returned a high area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) value comparing healthy controls and LTBI cases (Z = 0.911;
P
< 0.001). The SPS data also indicated that interleukin 17 (IL-17) abundance discriminates LTBI from healthy controls (Z = 0.763;
P
= 0.001). RANTES and MIP-1β were significantly elevated in SPSs of TB-infected compared to healthy controls (
P
< 0.05), while IL-12p40 and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor II (sTNF-RII) were significantly increased in active TB cases compared to the combined LTBI and control groups (
P
< 0.05). Interestingly, quantitative changes for RANTES were observed using both SPSs and UPSs, with
P
values of 0.013 and 0.012, respectively, in active TB versus LTBI cases and 0.001 and 0.002, respectively, in active TB versus healthy controls. These results encourage biomarker verification studies for IL-17 and RANTES. Combinations of these cytokines may complement IFN-γ measurements to diagnose LTBI and distinguish active TB from LTBI cases.
Cessation from Smoking Improves Innate Host Defense and Clearance of Experimentally Inoculated Nasal Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Cole Amy L. , Schmidt-Owens Mary , Beavis Ashley C. , Chong Christine F. , Tarwater Patrick M. , Schaus James , Deichen Michael G. , Cole Alexander M. 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACT

Staphylococcus aureus
nasal carriage is transient in most humans and usually benign, but dissemination of
S. aureus
to extranasal sites causes the majority of clinical infections, and
S. aureus
is a major cause of serious infections in the United States. A better understanding of innate nasal decolonization mechanisms is urgently needed, as are relevant models for studying
S. aureus
clearance. Here, we screened a population of healthy smokers for nasal
S. aureus
carriage and compared the participants' abilities to clear experimentally applied nasal
S. aureus
before and after completion of a smoking cessation program. We determined that cigarette smoking increases the mean nasal
S. aureus
load (2.6 × 10
4
CFU/swab) compared to the load observed in healthy nonsmokers (1.7 × 10
3
CFU/swab) and might increase the rate of
S. aureus
nasal carriage in otherwise-healthy adults: 22 of 99 smokers carried
S. aureus
at the screening visit, while only 4 of 30 nonsmokers screened positive during the same time period. Only 6 of 19 experimental inoculation studies in active smokers resulted in
S. aureus
clearance within the month of follow-up, while in the cessation group, 6 of 9 subjects cleared nasal
S. aureus
and carriage duration averaged 21 ± 4 days. Smoking cessation associated with enhanced expression of
S. aureus
-associated interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in nasal fluids. Participants who failed to clear
S. aureus
exhibited a higher nasal
S. aureus
load and elevated nasal interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) expression at the preexperiment study visits. We conclude that smokers exhibit higher
S. aureus
loads than nonsmokers and that innate immune pathways, including G-CSF expression and signaling through the IL-1 axis, are important mediators of nasal
S. aureus
clearance.