bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Setting our bibliographic references free: towards open citation data
Authors: Peroni Silvio , Dutton Alexander , Gray Tanya , Shotton David
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– Citation data needs to be recognised as a part of the Commons – those works that are freely and legally available for sharing – and placed in an open repository. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

– The Open Citation Corpus is a new open repository of scholarly citation data, made available under a Creative Commons CC0 1.0 public domain dedication and encoded as Open Linked Data using the SPAR Ontologies.

Findings

– The Open Citation Corpus presently provides open access (OA) to reference lists from 204,637 articles from the OA Subset of PubMed Central, containing 6,325,178 individual references to 3,373,961 unique papers.

Originality/value

– Scholars, publishers and institutions may freely build upon, enhance and reuse the open citation data for any purpose, without restriction under copyright or database law.
Community as stakeholder of the corporate social responsibility programme in Malaysia: outcomes in community development
Authors: Ismail Maimunah , Alias Siti Noormi , Mohd Rasdi Roziah
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– This study aims to explore the outcome of a corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme in community development from the perspective of its participants in Malaysia. It is argued that information regarding community development CSR, the providers of CSR and the outcomes of CSR on community development in Malaysia has been scant. Hence, this study examines specifically the profiles of participants of CSR programmes in community development, the profiles of selected CSR-participating corporations, the orientation of CSR responsibilities undertaken by corporations as perceived by the participants and the types of community development contribution from CSR-participating corporations. Outcomes were determined through the results of the last two objectives.

Design/methodology/approach

– Building on the stakeholder theory and the work of Visser’s CSR pyramid, this article explores the outcomes of CSR resulting from the participation of individuals in the community. Data were gathered from 336 respondents who were participants of CSR programmes sampled from 58 local and multinational corporations in Malaysia.

Findings

– The results showed that about half of the respondents were in the younger age group with a mean age of 24.40 years. The majority of the CSR-participating corporations had implemented CSR programmes from the first decade of the millennium and had their core businesses in diverse sectors. Legal responsibility was ranked the most important orientation and ethical responsibility the least important orientation. Education-related activities formed the dominant type of CSR contribution.

Research limitations/implications

– The study addresses a gap in the literature on Malaysian community CSR, particularly from the perspective of the community, which is one of the important stakeholders.

Originality/value

– This research contributes to the scarce literature on CSR in Malaysia by analysing the way business organisations in the country contribute to community development through CSR. The findings of this study should be useful to community development practitioners, CSR providers and researchers.
Consumer reaction towards corporate social responsibility in United Arab Emirates
Authors: Anadol Yaprak , Youssef Mohamed A. , Thiruvattal Eappen
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to examine five distinct consumer reactions, including corporate social responsibility (CSR) awareness, consumers’ complaining, boycotting behavior, work preferences and consumer donation behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

– The analysis in this paper was based on data collected by a team of experts in the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry from more than 555 United Arab Emirates (UAE) individuals, aged 18 years or older. Our study postulated that there will be no statistically significant differences in any or all of the five reactions among respondents with different age, varying degree of CSR awareness, working preference, donation and boycotting behavior, and methods of complaining about companies or their products.

Findings

– Gender analysis indicated that there is a statistically significant difference between male and female in terms of boycotting and complaining behaviors. Our analysis also showed that young consumers in the age group of 18-24 years react significantly different than older age group in terms of job preference. Third, the results of location analysis indicated that the UAE consumers’ contacting behavior to a company to voice an opinion about a company’s product or services are significantly different across the seven Emirates of UAE.

Research limitations/implications

– The findings of this study have many implications. First, there is no doubt that such findings will raise the consumers’ awareness of CSR. UAE companies will become more cognizant of their consumers’ behavior, especially when the consumers’ voice their opinion and show interest in the products or services offered by these companies. The implications of this study for the academics are that this study can be replicated in different parts of the globe to confirm or refute our findings.

Practical implications

– The findings of this study will enable UAE companies to design and implement strategies that aim at increasing their efficiency, competitiveness and the ability to compete in global markets.

Social implications

– Many of the developing economies started to realize how important CSR is. A fast growing economy such as that of UAE has given such topic an unprecedented attention. The social implication of our findings is that UAE corporations will have to rethink their strategies when it comes to their social responsibility toward society in which they exist. Our findings also enlighten consumers when it comes to their dealing with socially responsible corporations.

Originality/value

– This study is unique in that it is the first empirically based study to address the consumer behavior and their reaction toward socially responsible corporations.
Voluntary CSR disclosure works! Evidence from Asia-Pacific banks
Authors: Jain Ameeta , Keneley Monica , Thomson Dianne
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to evaluate corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting in six large banks each from Japan, China, Australia and India over the period of 2005-2011.

Design/methodology/approach

– CSR and banks’ annual reports and websites were analysed using a comprehensive disclosure framework to evaluate the themes of ethical standards, extent of CSR reporting, environment, products, community, employees, supply chain management and benchmarking.

Findings

– Over the seven years, bank CSR disclosure improved in all four countries. Australian banks were found to have the best scores and Indian banks demonstrated maximum improvement. Despite the absence of legislative requirements or standards for CSR, this paper finds that CSR reporting continued to improve in quality and quantity in the region on a purely voluntary basis.

Research limitations/implications

– This study indicates that financial institutions have a commitment to CSR activities. The comparison between financial institutions in developed and developing economies suggests that the motivation for such activities is complex. A review of the studied banks suggests that strategic rather than economic drivers are an important influence.

Practical implications

– Asia-Pacific Governments need not mandate bank CSR reporting standards as the banks improved their CSR reporting consistently over the seven years despite the Global Financial Crisis (GFC).

Originality/value

– A disclosure framework index is used to assess the comprehensiveness of bank practice in relation to CSR reporting. This approach enables cross-sectional and cross-country comparisons over time and the ability to replicate and apply to other industries or sectors.
Convergence in resource use efficiency across trees with differing hydraulic strategies in response to ecosystem precipitation manipulation
Authors: Limousin Jean‐Marc , Yepez Enrico A. , McDowell Nate G. , Pockman William T.
Published: February 2015

Plants are expected to respond to drought by maximizing the efficiency of the most limiting resource, the water use efficiency (WUE), at the expense of nitrogen and carbon use efficiencies (NUE and CUE). Therefore, plants resource use efficiencies are viewed as indicators of species drought tolerance.

We tested these predictions by measuring leaf‐level intrinsic WUE (WUEi, the ratio of net assimilation to stomatal conductance), photosynthetic NUE (PNUE, the ratio of daily maximum net assimilation to leaf nitrogen content) and leaf‐scale CUE (approached by the ratio of night‐time respiration to daytime net assimilation, Rd/An) in piñon pine and juniper, two tree species that differ in drought tolerance and vulnerability to drought‐induced mortality. Variations in resource use efficiency in the two species were measured in response to seasonal drought and in response to an ecosystem‐scale precipitation manipulation experiment comprising three precipitation treatments: ambient, irrigation (+30%) and partial rainfall exclusion (−45%).

Increasing water limitation, either seasonally or across treatments, resulted in increased WUE and decreased PNUE and CUE in both species. WUE, PNUE and CUE varied more strongly in response to water limitation than across species and converged to the same relationships against precipitation for piñon and juniper.

Plasticity in WUE, PNUE and CUE in response to water limitation was associated, in both species, with low carbon acquisition during drought. Our results exhibited a convergence in resource use efficiency across piñon and juniper which contradicts the paradigm that resource use efficiencies are indicators of species drought tolerance and ecological strategy.
Assessing the distribution of disease‐bearing rodents in human‐modified tropical landscapes
Authors: Morand Serge , Bordes Frédéric , Blasdell Kim , Pilosof Shai , Cornu Jean‐François , Chaisiri Kittipong , Chaval Yannick , Cosson Jean‐François , Claude Julien , Feyfant Tristan , Herbreteau Vincent , Dupuy Stéphane , Tran Annelise
Published: February 2015

We tested how habitat structure and fragmentation affect the spatial distribution of common murine rodents inhabiting human‐dominated landscapes in South‐East Asia. The spatial distribution patterns observed for each rodent species were then used to assess how changes in habitat structure may potentially affect the risk of several major rodent‐borne diseases.

For this analysis, we used an extensive geo‐referenced data base containing details of rodents trapped from seven sites in Thailand, Cambodia and Lao PDR. We also developed land‐cover layers for each site. Results from published studies that screened for five major rodent‐borne pathogens in rodents were used to estimate how these pathogens would likely be impacted by these alterations in habitat structure and composition.

Our results confirmed the specialist and/or synanthropic status of several rodent species, although the majority of species studied demonstrated some degree of low level of habitat specialization.

Habitat diversity and its alteration (decreasing forest cover, increasing fragmentation, increasing urbanization) were found to favour the presence of synanthropic rodent species such as Rattus tanezumi, known to damage crops and host important rodent‐borne diseases.

Synthesis and applications. The five major rodent‐borne pathogens were linked to ongoing changes in habitat structure. In particular, the presence of Bartonella spp. and hantaviruses seemed to be favoured in wooded landscapes affected by ongoing fragmentation and human encroachments. Rodents also pose significant problems for crop production in South‐East Asia. Our results showed that the structure of the landscape affects the likely presence of rodent species considered as agricultural pests. The patchy structure of a landscape can either enhance, such as B. indica, or decrease, such as B. savilei, the presence of rodents that may cause serious damage to crops.
Identification of Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy‐Causing Gene Mutations in Young Sudden Unexpected Death Autopsy Cases
Authors: Sato Takako , Nishio Hajime , Suzuki Koichi
Published: February 2015

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) results in an increased risk of sudden death. We sought mutations of desmoglein‐2 (DSG2), desmoplakin (DSP), and plakophilin‐2 (PKP2) in 15 cases of sudden death whose causes of death could not be determined at autopsy. In three victims, mutations were identified in DSP. Two of these mutations were novel; one had previously been reported in a patient with ARVC that had been diagnosed clinically. Histological findings were not typical of ARVC; however, it was notable that these mutations were present in three of 15 cases, a relatively high proportion. The causal relationship between the mutations and ARVC is unclear, but the mutations might have been associated with faulty desmosomal proteins resulting in fatal arrhythmia. Combining information gathered by the traditional means of gross and histological examination with postmortem genetic analysis of young victims would assist in identifying their cause of death.
Epidemiology of Huntington disease: first post‐HTT gene analysis of prevalence in Italy
Authors: Squitieri F. , Griguoli A. , Capelli G. , Porcellini A. , D'Alessio B.
Published: February 2015

Huntington disease (HD) prevalence shows geographic variability and has been recently updated by taking into account the mutation diagnostic test. In Italy, the last epidemiological estimation was reported well before the HTT gene discovery and the availability of the corresponding genetic test. It reported a prevalence of affected subjects ranging between 2.3 and 4.8/100,000 in some restricted areas of Northern Italy. We have performed a service‐based epidemiological analysis in a very restricted geographic area named Molise, where our institutions currently operate and represent the only point of reference for rare neuropsychiatric diseases. The estimated prevalence rate found was 10.85/100,000 (95% confidence interval (CI): 7.20–14.50), remarkably higher than that previously described before the gene test analysis was available, and expected to an increase of an additional 17% by 2030, because of Italian population aging. According to our analysis, we estimate that about 6500 subjects are currently affected by HD in Italy, and that this number will further increase in the next decades because of population aging, variable phenotype penetrance and improved life expectancy.
Brain structural and functional development: genetics and experience
Authors: Berardi Nicoletta , Sale Alessandro , Maffei Lamberto
Published: February 2015

Brain development is the result of the combined work of genes and environment. In this paper we first briefly discuss how, in terms of cellular and molecular plasticity mechanisms, the richness of early environment can control developmental trajectories and can induce long‐term changes in neural circuits that underlie enduring changes in brain structure and function. We then see that experience most effectively moulds neural circuit development during specific time windows called critical periods. After the closure of these privileged windows for plasticity, it is very difficult to promote repair from ‘errors’ in brain development. As an example, congenital cataracts, refractive defects, or strabismus, if not precociously corrected during development, cause permanent deficit in visual acuity of the affected eye, a condition known as amblyopia. Little or no recovery from amblyopia is possible in the adult. However, recent results show that by using protocols of enriched environment it is possible to design interventions, which, by acting on specific plasticity factors, enhance adult cortical plasticity and allow recovery from amblyopia. This suggests that a better knowledge of how experience and environment engage endogenous plasticity factors could help to design interventions aimed at promoting recovery from neurodevelopmental defects, even after the end of critical periods.
Translational studies exploring neuroplasticity associated with motor skill learning and the regulatory role of the dopamine system
Authors: Diaz Heijtz Rochellys , Forssberg Hans
Published: February 2015

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders associated with lifelong motor impairment and disability. Current intervention programmes aim to capitalize on the neuroplasticity of the undamaged part of the brain to improve motor functions, by engaging individuals in active motor learning and training. In this review, we highlight recent animal studies (1) exploring cellular and molecular mechanisms contributing to neuroplasticity during motor training, (2) assessing the functional role of the mesocortical dopaminergic system in motor skill learning, and (3) exploring the impact of naturally occurring genetic variation in dopamine‐related gene expression on the acquisition and performance of fine motor skills. Finally, the potential influence of the dopamine system on the outcome of motor learning interventions in cerebral palsy is discussed.
Post‐stroke epilepsy in Polish paediatric patients
Authors: Kopyta Ilona , Sarecka‐Hujar Beata , Skrzypek Michal
Published: February 2015

Aim

The aim of this study was to characterize a group of children with early and late remote seizures, which occurred after arterial ischaemic stroke (AIS), and to find predictors of post‐stroke seizures.

Method

The study group, recruited in the Department of Neuropediatrics (Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland), comprised 78 individuals (range 1–18y) who had suffered a stroke: 13 participants had early seizures, occurring up to 7 days after AIS, seven participants had late remote seizures, occurring more than 7 days after AIS, and 58 participants had no seizures.

Results

Post‐stroke epilepsy occurred in 10 patients having post‐stroke seizures. Participants affected by late remote seizures were younger, on average, than participants unaffected by seizures. The frequencies of total anterior circulation infarct (TACI) stroke subtype and focal cerebral arteriopathy (FCA) were significantly higher in the late seizure subgroup than in the subgroup without seizures (71% vs 26%, p=0.014, OR 7.17, and 100% vs 51%, p=0.015 respectively). Multivariable Cox analysis showed that age at time of stroke (p=0.027), FCA (p=0.010), and the number of infarct foci (p<0.001) were significant predictors of post‐stroke seizures.

Interpretation

Age at time of stroke, presence of FCA, and number of infarct foci are predictors of post‐stroke seizures in Polish paediatric patients.
Using multiple‐source occurrence data to identify patterns and drivers of decline in arid‐dwelling Australian marsupials
Authors: McDonald Peter J. , Luck Gary W. , Dickman Chris R. , Ward Simon J. , Crowther Mathew S.
Published: February 2015

Many of the world's terrestrial mammal species are imperilled, but recent extinctions and declines have been most severe in Australia. In particular, arid‐dwelling marsupials in a critical weight range (35–5500 g) have declined dramatically following European settlement. In the absence of long‐term monitoring, documenting these declines or distribution shifts and their causes often relies on occurrence data from multiple sources. Using atlas records, we compared the distributions of all currently extant marsupials in the critical weight range in Australia's arid Northern Territory pre‐ and post‐1975. For taxa with evidence of range contraction, we evaluated alternative hypotheses to explain this contraction (i.e. competition, predation, productivity, climate) using several techniques to improve our confidence in the results. Despite a substantial increase in the number of mammal records across the study region post‐1975, the bilbyMacrotis lagotisand desert form of the common brushtail possumTrichosurus vulpeculaappear to have contracted in distribution by 25 and 40%, respectively. These changes in distribution were best explained by hypotheses of competition and climate‐change, respectively.Macrotis lagotiswas more likely to occur on land without a history of cattle grazing and with low rabbit densities, whileT. vulpeculahas contracted to parts of its distribution that experience cooler maximum temperatures over the hottest months of the year. For five other taxa (including the vulnerable black‐footed rock‐wallabyPetrogale lateralis) we recorded increases in distribution post‐1975, probably reflecting increased survey effort rather than actual range expansion. We conclude that models using multiple‐source occurrence data can provide key insights into the patterns and drivers of contemporary species’ declines, and represent useful tools for conservation.
The curious case of Skokholm: equilibrium, non‐equilibrium and a phase shift in an island landbird assemblage
Authors: McCollin Duncan
Published: February 2015

Previous work has indicated that the landbirds of Skokholm island (Wales) are not in equilibrium as defined in MacArthur–Wilson's classic theory of island biogeography. This study takes a new dataset with over six decades of data and investigates equilibrium on Skokholm using cluster analysis to identify periods of turnover stability. The attributes of the identified periods were investigated in relation to the MacArthur–Wilson model using analyses of change in numbers of species, S, from one year to the next and measures of variability in S quantified for each of the periods identified together with a consideration of the dynamics in the numbers of species by habitat groupings. Cluster analysis identified four main periods of which two middle periods appeared to be in equilibrium but with a phase shift in‐between. The first and last periods showed non‐equilibrium dynamics but plots of species by habitat groupings suggested that this was due to habitat changes going on at those times. This decadal long dataset indicates that the landbirds of Skokholm exhibit periods of both equilibrium and non‐equilibrium with the latter attributable to habitat change. The apparent phase shift in the equilibrium number of species was unexpected within the framework of island biogeographic theory and not easily explained using the current MacArthur–Wilson framework. There is a need to integrate the theory of island biogeography with more recent work on alternative stable states, tipping points, and phase (or regime) shifts, together with equilibrium and non‐equilibrium dynamics, into a single framework.
18F‐FP‐(+)‐DTBZ positron emission tomography detection of monoaminergic deficient network in patients with carbon monoxide related parkinsonism
Authors: Chang C.‐C. , Hsiao I.‐T. , Huang S.‐H. , Lui C.‐C. , Yen T.‐C. , Chang W.‐N. , Huang C.‐W. , Hsieh C.‐J. , Chang Y.‐Y. , Lin K.‐J.
Published: February 2015

Background and purpose

Although parkinsonism after carbon monoxide (CO) intoxication is well known, neurotransmitter deficient networks that are responsible for the severity of parkinsonism have rarely been systemically evaluated.

Methods

Eighteen patients with CO‐related parkinsonism and nine age‐ and sex‐matched controls were enrolled for detailed neurological examinations, three‐dimensional T1‐weighted images, diffusion tensor imaging and 18F‐9‐fluoropropyl‐(+)‐dihydrotetrabenzazine (18F‐FP‐(+)‐DTBZ) positron emission tomography (PET). The structural analysis included voxel‐based morphometry to assess grey matter atrophy and tract‐based spatial statistics related to white matter involvement. For presynaptic monoaminergic assessment, volume of interest analysis in six subcortical regions and non‐parametric voxel‐wise comparison were performed on PET images with estimation of registration parameters from magnetic resonance images. All the imaging modalities were compared between the patients and controls. For the patients, a regression model for correlation with cognitive behaviour and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) score was used.

Results

In the patients, monoaminergic deficit networks were found in the caudate, anterior putamen, anterior insular, thalamus and anterior cingulate cortex. The UPDRS revealed significant correlations with the prefrontal white matter fractional anisotropy values and with the 18F‐FP‐(+)‐DTBZ uptake values in the caudate nucleus, insular, medial prefrontal and dorsomedial thalamus. The neuropsychiatric inventory score correlated with the 18F‐FP‐(+)‐DTBZ uptake values in the anterior cingulate cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated monoaminergic deficits and white matter damage networks in CO‐related parkinsonism that determined the severity of parkinsonism or behaviour changes. As the substantia nigra was spared, the monoaminergic topography of involvement suggests a different pathophysiology in CO‐related parkinsonism.
The antimycotic agent clotrimazole inhibits melanogenesis by accelerating ERK and PI3K‐/Akt‐mediated tyrosinase degradation
Authors: Chung Bo Young , Kim Su Yeon , Jung Joon Min , Won Chong Hyun , Choi Jee Ho , Lee Mi Woo , Chang Sung Eun
Published: February 2015

Azole antimycotic agents are known to have anti‐inflammatory and anti‐cancer effects, which are mediated through their effects on the p38‐cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2)‐prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) pathway, as well as anti‐oxidant effects. Furthermore, pyridinyl imidazole compounds, such as SB203580 have recently been shown to inhibit melanogenesis. Accordingly, we hypothesized that azole antifungal agents might affect skin pigmentation. We herein investigated the effect of clotrimazole, the most commonly used azole antifungal agent, on melanogenesis. Intriguingly, clotrimazole reduced the melanin content in human melanocytes and mouse melanocytes, as well as in B16F10 mouse melanoma cells. Clotrimazole reduced levels of tyrosinase protein without altering mRNA expression. Simultaneous treatment with a proteasomal inhibitor restored both the suppression of melanin synthesis, and the downregulation of tyrosinase level, by clotrimazole. Clotrimazole also induced the phosphorylation of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) and PI3K/Akt, while each inhibitor of these two signals abolished the decrease of melanin synthesis by clotrimazole. Thus, our data suggest that clotrimazole inhibits melanin synthesis by promoting the proteasomal degradation of tyrosinase, which is mediated through activation of the ERK and Akt signaling pathways. These results may indicate a new role for clotrimazole as a molecular‐mechanism‐based, safe depigmenting agent for topical management of hyper‐pigmentary sequelae related to fungal infection, or for other skin inflammatory disorders.
4‐1BBL signaling promotes cell proliferation through reprogramming of glucose metabolism in monocytes/macrophages
Authors: Tu Thai H. , Kim Chu‐Sook , Nam‐Goong Il S. , Nam Chang W. , Kim Young‐Il , Goto Tsuyoshi , Kawada Teruo , Park Taesun , Yoon Park Jung H. , Ryoo Zae Y. , Park Jeong W. , Choi Hye‐Seon , Yu Rina
Published: February 2015

Obesity‐induced monocyte/macrophage proliferation and activation play a crucial role in various chronic inflammatory metabolic disorders, such as insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, and atherosclerosis. 4‐1BBL, a member of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily expressed on monocytes/macrophages, provides inflammatory signals to modulate their proliferation, survival, and cytokine release. Previously, we demonstrated that 4‐1BBL signaling promotes adipose inflammation through enhancement of macrophage activation. Here, we show that 4‐1BBL stimulation on monocytes/macrophages enhanced reprogramming of glucose metabolism in the cells, and that this was accompanied by cell proliferation. 4‐1BBL stimulation on macrophages increased glucose uptake, transcript/protein levels of glucose transporter 1 and glycolytic enzymes, and lactate production. It also enhanced transcript levels of genes involved in the pentose phosphate pathway and lipogenesis. The 4‐1BBL‐induced metabolic reprogramming was mediated by AKT–mammalian target of rapamycin signaling. The effect of 4‐1BBL‐induced macrophage proliferation was completely abolished by 2‐deoxyglucose, a glycolytic inhibitor. These findings suggest that 4‐1BBL signaling promotes cell proliferation through reprogramming of glucose metabolism in monocytes/macrophages to support their energy demands and biomass production. The 4‐1BBL signaling pathway may be a valid target for controlling macrophage‐mediated chronic inflammation in obesity and metabolic diseases.
Is the developmentally immature immune response in paediatric sepsis a recapitulation of immune tolerance?
Authors: Maddux Aline B. , Douglas Ivor S.
Published: February 2015

Immunologically immature neonates suffer the highest incidence of paediatric sepsis. Postnatal immunological maturation is characterized by a relatively hypo‐inflammatory immune response. The mechanisms that differentiate the mature and immature immune responses resemble those that differentiate the hyper‐ and hypo‐inflammatory responses in severe sepsis. Immunological maturational differences likely affect the neonate's ability to mount an appropriate hyper‐inflammatory response, a counteractive hypo‐inflammatory response, and subsequent return to immune system homeostasis. To better understand the role of the hypo‐inflammatory response in paediatric sepsis, we will explore the maturation of the immune system and the effect it may have on the sepsis‐induced hypo‐inflammatory response.
Antecedents of the expectation of remaining in nursing until retirement age
Authors: Liebermann Susanne C. , Müller Andreas , Weigl Matthias , Wegge Jürgen
Published: February 2015

Aims

To identify job‐related resources which strengthen nurses' expectation of remaining in the same job until retirement age.

Background

The dramatic shortage of qualified nurses in industrialized countries makes it necessary to take steps to retain nurses at work at all career stages. The study introduces to the nursing literature the construct ‘expectation of remaining in the same job until retirement age’ as an early indicator of attitudes responsible for employees leaving the job prematurely.

Design

Longitudinal questionnaire survey.

Methods

In 2010, a longitudinal study was carried out and data were collected from 387 nurses aged 21–63 years. To ensure predictive validity, the dependent variable was assessed again in 2011 after a time lag of 6 months. Data were analysed applying multiple regression analyses.

Findings

The expectation of remaining in the same job until retirement age is positively related to work‐time control, role clarity and colleague support. Supervisor support exerts an indirect effect via job resources. Vitality partially mediates the relationship between job resources and the expectation of remaining in the same job until retirement age. Most importantly, as hypothesized, the analysed relationships are different for younger (<30 years), middle‐aged (30–50 years) and older (>50 years) nurses.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that interventions that seek to retain nurses should promote different job resources along the working life span to strengthen nurses' vitality in all age groups. Future research should apply age‐differentiated measures to unveil work conditions that improve the retention of nurses.
(Re)constructing Myself: the process of transition to motherhood for women with a disability
Authors: Lawler Denise , Begley Cecily , Lalor Joan
Published: February 2015

Aim

This paper presents a substantive theory that explains the transition to motherhood for women with a disability.

Background

Over the last thirty years, interest in exploring women's experiences of motherhood has increased. Extant theories on transition to motherhood originate, primarily, from the perspective and experiences of non‐disabled women with few exploring the phenomenon from the perspective and experiences of women with a disability. Those that do tend to focus on issues of accessibility, profiling the challenges that women with a disability encounter while accessing maternity services, attaining a maternal role and fulfilling the requirements of that role. Little is known about the experiences of women with a disability and their transition to motherhood and even less about the relationship of this process on the self.

Design

The study was conducted using a Strauss and Corbin approach to grounded theory.

Method

Individual interviews (n = 22) were conducted over 4 years (2008–2012). Women were interviewed during pregnancy and in the postnatal period. All interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, imported into Nvivo 8 and analysed using the constant comparative method.

Findings

The substantive theory that emerged from the study provides a conceptual framework clinicians can reference when counselling, assisting and facilitating women with a disability during their preparation for and transition to motherhood.

Conclusion

The substantive theory presented in this paper will increase clinicians' understanding of the process involved in the transition to motherhood for women with a disability.
Microglia and neuroprotection
Authors: Chen Zhihong , Trapp Bruce D.
Published: February 2015

Microglia were first identified over a century ago, but our knowledge about their ontogeny and functions has significantly expanded only recently. Microglia colonize the central nervous system (CNS) in utero and play essential roles in brain development. Once neural development is completed, microglia function as the resident innate immune cells of the CNS by surveying their microenvironment and becoming activated when the CNS is challenged by infection, injury, or disease. Despite the traditional view of microglia as being destructive in neurological diseases, recent studies have shown that microglia maintain CNS homeostasis and protect the CNS under various pathological conditions. Microglia can be prophylactically activated by modeling infection with systemic lipopolysaccharide injections and these activated microglia can protect the brain from traumatic injury through modulation of neuronal synapses. Microglia can also protect the CNS by promoting neurogenesis, clearing debris, and suppressing inflammation in diseases such as stroke, autism, and Alzheimer's.

image

Microglia are the resident innate immune cells of the CNS. Despite the traditional view of microglia as being destructive in neurological diseases, recent studies have shown that they maintain tissue homeostasis and protect the CNS under various pathological conditions. They achieve so by clearing debris, promoting neurogenesis, suppressing inflammation and stripping inhibitory synapses. This review summarizes recent advances of our understanding on the multi‐dimensional neuroprotective roles of microglia.
Expression of the synaptic exocytosis‐regulating molecule complexin 2 in taste buds and its participation in peripheral taste transduction
Authors: Kurokawa Azusa , Narukawa Masataka , Ohmoto Makoto , Yoshimoto Joto , Abe Keiko , Misaka Takumi
Published: February 2015

Taste information from type III taste cells to gustatory neurons is thought to be transmitted via synapses. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying taste transduction through this pathway have not been fully elucidated. In this study, to identify molecules that participate in synaptic taste transduction, we investigated whether complexins (Cplxs), which play roles in regulating membrane fusion in synaptic vesicle exocytosis, were expressed in taste bud cells. Among four Cplx isoforms, strong expression of Cplx2 mRNA was detected in type III taste cells. To investigate the function of CPLX2 in taste transduction, we observed taste responses in CPLX2‐knockout mice. When assessed with electrophysiological and behavioral assays, taste responses to some sour stimuli in CPLX2‐knockout mice were significantly lower than those in wild‐type mice. These results suggested that CPLX2 participated in synaptic taste transduction from type III taste cells to gustatory neurons.

image

A part of taste information is thought to be transmitted via synapses. However, the molecular mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. To identify molecules that participate in synaptic taste transduction, we investigated complexins (Cplxs) expression in taste bud cells. Strong expression of Cplx2 mRNA was detected in taste bud cells. Furthermore, taste responses to some sour stimuli in CPLX2‐ knockout mice were significantly lower than those in wild‐type mice. These suggested that CPLX2 participated in synaptic taste transduction.
When Parents and Adolescents Disagree About Disagreeing: Observed Parent–Adolescent Communication Predicts Informant Discrepancies About Conflict
Authors: Ehrlich Katherine B. , Richards Jessica M. , Lejuez C. W. , Cassidy Jude
Published: February 2015

Adolescence is accompanied by increased stress in the parent–adolescent relationship, which frequently results in conflict. Researchers often rely on self‐reports to measure conflict, but these reports are frequently discrepant from one another. In two studies, we examined the extent to which communication observed during parent–adolescent discussions of conflict were associated with discrepancies in reports about conflict. We also examined links between informant depressive symptoms and discrepancies. Across studies, observed parent–adolescent conflict behaviors consistently predicted absolute discrepancies in reports of conflict. Informant depressive symptoms sometimes predicted directional discrepancies in reports. Results suggest that informant discrepancies about conflict may stem, in part, from a lack of open communication in the relationship.
Interactions among proteins of floral MADS‐box genes in Nuphar pumila (Nymphaeaceae) and the most recent common ancestor of extant angiosperms help understand the underlying mechanisms of the origin of the flower
Authors: Li Lin , Yu Xian‐Xian , Guo Chun‐Ce , Duan Xiao‐Shan , Shan Hong‐Yan , Zhang Rui , Xu Gui‐Xia , Kong Hong‐Zhi
Published: February 2015

Floral organ identity genes, most of which are MADS‐box genes, play key roles in flower development and floral organ identity determination. To specify the identities of different floral organ types, proteins of the floral MADS‐box genes need to form dimers and higher‐level complexes before they bind to the control regions of downstream genes and regulate their expression. Previous studies have shown that understanding the evolution of the interactions among proteins of the floral MADS‐box genes may be an excellent step towards uncovering the underlying mechanisms of the origin of the flower. Yet, due to the lack of such information in early‐branching angiosperm lineages, it has been difficult to determine the evolutionary changes of the protein–protein interactions (PPIs) before and after the origin of the flower. In this study, we first isolated counterparts of the floral MADS‐box genes from Nuphar pumila (Timm) D.C., a representative of the basalmost angiosperms Nymphaeales, and investigated the interactions among their proteins by carrying out yeast two‐hybrid assays. We then estimated the PPIs in the most recent common ancestor of extant angiosperms by using two different methods: ancestral character state reconstruction and ancestral sequence reconstruction followed by yeast two‐hybrid assay. Based on these results, we examined the evolutionary transitions of the PPIs before and after the occurrence of extant angiosperms, and discussed their contributions to the origin of the flower. We found that duplication and diversification of floral MADS‐box genes, as well as non‐random losses of some once‐existed PPIs, have been the driving force of the origin of the flower.
Brain‐Based Learning and Educational Neuroscience: Boundary Work
Authors: Edelenbosch Rosanne , Kupper Frank , Krabbendam Lydia , Broerse Jacqueline E. W.
Published: February 2015

Much attention has been given to “bridging the gap” between neuroscience and educational practice. In order to gain better understanding of the nature of this gap and of possibilities to enable the linking process, we have taken a boundary perspective on these two fields and the brain‐based learning approach, focusing on boundary‐spanning actors, boundary objects, and boundary work. In 26 semistructured interviews, neuroscientists and education professionals were asked about their perceptions in regard to the gap between science and practice and the role they play in creating, managing, and disrupting this boundary. Neuroscientists and education professionals often hold conflicting views and expectations of both brain‐based learning and of each other. This leads us to argue that there are increased prospects for a neuroscientifically informed learning practice if science and practice work together as equal stakeholders in developing and implementing neuroscience research.
Neuromyths Among Teachers and Student Teachers
Authors: Tardif Eric , Doudin Pierre‐André , Meylan Nicolas
Published: February 2015

Many so‐called brain‐based educational approaches have been strongly criticized for their lack of empirical support and occasionally for their use of pseudoscientific concepts. As a result, several use the term neuromyths to refer to false beliefs or misinterpretations regarding neuroscientific facts. We surveyed both teachers and student teachers concerning their agreement toward hemispheric dominance, modality dominance, and the Brain Gym© method. Results suggest that teachers as well as student teachers believe in the reality of hemispheric and modality dominance but only a few were aware of the Brain Gym© method. Correlation analyses show moderate relationships across different beliefs and/or their perceived benefits in education. Teachers believed more than student teachers in hemispheric dominance and its pedagogical relevance. Together with other studies, the results suggest that teachers and student teachers could benefit from appropriate training in this new field of research.
Mesophyll conductance in leaves of Japanese white birch (Betula platyphylla var. japonica) seedlings grown under elevated CO2 concentration and low N availability
Authors: Kitao Mitsutoshi , Yazaki Kenichi , Kitaoka Satoshi , Fukatsu Eitaro , Tobita Hiroyuki , Komatsu Masabumi , Maruyama Yutaka , Koike Takayoshi
Published: February 2015

To test the hypothesis that mesophyll conductance (gm) would be reduced by leaf starch accumulation in plants grown under elevated CO2 concentration [CO2], we investigated gm in seedlings of Japanese white birch grown under ambient and elevated [CO2] with an adequate and limited nitrogen supply using simultaneous gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence measurements. Both elevated [CO2] and limited nitrogen supply decreased area‐based leaf N accompanied with a decrease in the maximum rate of Rubisco carboxylation (Vc,max) on a CO2 concentration at chloroplast stroma (Cc) basis. Conversely, only seedlings grown at elevated [CO2] under limited nitrogen supply had significantly higher leaf starch content with significantly lower gm among the treatment combinations. Based on a leaf anatomical analysis using microscopic photographs, however, there were no significant difference in the area of chloroplast surfaces facing intercellular space per unit leaf area among treatment combinations. Thicker cell walls were suggested in plants grown under limited N by increases in leaf mass per area subtracting non‐structural carbohydrates. These results suggest that starch accumulation and/or thicker cell walls in the leaves grown at elevated [CO2] under limited N supply might hinder CO2 diffusion in chloroplasts and cell walls, which would be an additional cause of photosynthetic downregulation as well as a reduction in Rubisco activity related to the reduced leaf N under elevated [CO2].
A novel HLA‐A allele, HLA‐A*02:488, identified by sequence‐based typing
Authors: Li W.‐X. , Xia J.‐A. , Ma Y. , Peng J.‐S. , Lu H.‐X.
Published: February 2015

HLA‐A*02:488 differs from HLA‐A*02:01:01:01 by one nucleotide exchange at position 425(A > G) with an amino exchange.
HLA‐A*02:541, a novel variant of HLA‐A*02, discovered in a Taiwanese unrelated hematopoietic stem cell donor
Authors: Yang K. L. , Lee S. K. , Hung J. H. , Lin P. Y.
Published: February 2015

Two nucleotide changes at residue 524 and residue 527 of HLA‐A*02:07:01 results in a novel allele, HLA‐A*02:541.
KIR3DS1*0130111: a novel KIR allele identified using molecular typing methods
Authors: Wang L. , Xu K. , Dong T. , Rowland‐Jones S. L. , Yindom L.‐M.
Published: February 2015

KIR3DS1*0130111 differs from KIR3DS1*0130101 with two previously undescribed single nucleotide polymorphisms.
Microtubule Motors Power Plasma Membrane Tubulation in Clathrin‐Independent Endocytosis
Authors: Day Charles A. , Baetz Nicholas W. , Copeland Courtney A. , Kraft Lewis J. , Han Bing , Tiwari Ajit , Drake Kimberly R. , De Luca Heidi , Chinnapen Daniel J.‐F. , Davidson Michael W. , Holmes Randall K. , Jobling Michael G. , Schroer Trina A. , Lencer Wayne I. , Kenworthy Anne K.
Published: February 2015

How the plasma membrane is bent to accommodate clathrin‐independent endocytosis remains uncertain. Recent studies suggest Shiga and cholera toxin induce membrane curvature required for their uptake into clathrin‐independent carriers by binding and cross‐linking multiple copies of their glycosphingolipid receptors on the plasma membrane. But it remains unclear if toxin‐induced sphingolipid crosslinking provides sufficient mechanical force for deforming the plasma membrane, or if host cell factors also contribute to this process. To test this, we imaged the uptake of cholera toxin B‐subunit into surface‐derived tubular invaginations. We found that cholera toxin mutants that bind to only one glycosphingolipid receptor accumulated in tubules, and that toxin binding was entirely dispensable for membrane tubulations to form. Unexpectedly, the driving force for tubule extension was supplied by the combination of microtubules, dynein and dynactin, thus defining a novel mechanism for generating membrane curvature during clathrin‐independent endocytosis.