bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Activator of one protease transforms into inhibitor of another in response to nutritional signals
Authors: Yeom Jinki , Groisman Eduardo A.
Published: August 2019

All cells use proteases to adjust protein amounts. Proteases maintain protein homeostasis by degrading nonfunctional toxic proteins and play regulatory roles by targeting particular substrates in response to specific signals. Here we address how cells tune protease specificity to nutritional signals. We report thatSalmonella entericaincreases the specificity of the broadly conserved proteases Lon and ClpSAP by transforming the Lon activator and substrate HspQ into an inhibitor of the N-degron recognin ClpS, the adaptor of the ClpAP protease. We establish that upon acetylation, HspQ stops being a Lon activator and substrate and that the accumulated HspQ binds to ClpS, hindering degradation of ClpSAP substrates. Growth on glucose promotes HspQ acetylation by increasing acetyl-CoA amounts, thereby linking metabolism to proteolysis. By altering protease specificities but continuing to degrade junk proteins, cells modify the abundance of particular proteins while preserving the quality of their proteomes. This rapid response mechanism linking protease specificity to nutritional signals is broadly conserved.
DNMT3A co-mutation in an IDH1-mutant glioblastoma
Authors: Fomchenko Elena I. , Erson-Omay E. Zeynep , Zhao Amy , Bindra Ranjit S. , Huttner Anita , Fulbright Robert K. , Moliterno Jennifer
Published: August 2019

Glioblastomas are highly aggressive, infiltrative, and genetically heterogeneous primary brain tumors that arise de novo or secondarily progress over time from low-grade tumors. Along with well-established signature mutational profiles, emerging research suggests that the epigenetic tumor landscape plays an important role in gliomagenesis via transcriptional regulation, DNA methylation, and histone modifications. The pursuit of targeted therapeutic approaches, based not only on expression profiles but also on somatic mutations, is fundamental to the effort of improving survival in patients with glioblastoma. Here, we describe a missense DNMT3A p.P904S mutation in an IDH1-mutant glioblastoma. Although never previously reported in gliomas, this mutation is predicted to be pathogenic and has been reported in several other malignancies. Our report suggests that elucidating epigenetic control is important to understanding glioblastoma biology and may likely unveil targets potentially important to glioblastoma treatment in an effort to improve survival.
Genomic testing in pediatric epilepsy
Authors: Thodeson Drew M. , Park Jason Y.
Published: August 2019

Genomic testing has become routine in the diagnosis and management of pediatric patients with epilepsy. In a single test, hundreds to thousands of genes are examined for DNA changes that may not only explain the etiology of the patient's condition but may also inform management and seizure control. Clinical genomic testing has been in clinical practice for less than a decade, and because of this short period of time, the appropriate clinical use and interpretation of genomic testing is still evolving. Compared to the previous era of single-gene testing in epilepsy, which yielded a diagnosis in <5% of cases, many clinical genomic studies of epilepsy have demonstrated a clinically significant diagnosis in 30% or more of patients tested. This review will examine key studies of the past decade and indicate the clinical scenarios in which genomic testing should be considered standard of care.
Measuring the Infectious Titer of Recombinant Adenovirus Using Tissue Culture Infection Dose 50% (TCID50) End-Point Dilution and Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR)
Authors: Lock Martin , Korn Michael , Wilson James , Sena-Esteves Miguel , Gao Guangping
Published: August 2019

Traditionally, adenovirus and recombinant adenovirus infectious titers have been measured by plaque assay, in which the cells are infected with serially diluted adenovirus stock and then overlaid with agar; a plaque will form as the result of a single infectious event. Although this method gives a quantitative readout (number of plaques corrected for the dilution), there can be issues with sensitivity and reproducibility, especially when adenovirus serotypes are used that infect standard cell lines with poor efficiency. An alternative approach is to plate serial dilutions of the cells growing in the wells of a 96-well tissue culture plate and determine the dilution at which 50% of the wells are infected. This ancient and reliable technique known as the “tissue culture infection dose 50%” (TCID50) end-point dilution method has been used for titering a number of viruses, especially those that do not readily form plaques. Usually, infected wells are determined by direct examination for cytopathic effect (CPE) or cell viability. However, by combining a 96-well TCID50 format and the power of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for detection, a large increase in sensitivity—in our hands 10-fold, with a range of both transgenes and adenovirus serotypes—can be achieved. This protocol uses a 96-well TCID50 format, in conjunction with qPCR for sensitive and quantitative positive-well calling, to determine infectious titer of adenovirus vectors.
Blocking of Immunoblots and Incubation with Antibodies: Procedure for Immunoblots Prepared with Whole-Cell Lysates or Purified Proteins
Authors: Litovchick Larisa
Published: August 2019

In this protocol, immunoblots are prepared for detection of the proteins of interest by incubation with blocking solution to prevent nonspecific antibody binding, followed by incubation with primary and secondary antibodies. When labeled primary antibody is used, incubation with secondary antibodies can be omitted.
For structure
Authors: Modell Sven
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contrast actor-network theory (ANT) and critical realism (CR) as two contemporary approaches to critical accounting research and advance a critique centred on the neglect of social structures in the former perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper based on a critical reading of ANT inspired by CR.

Findings

Although the author does not question the ability of ANT to be imbued with critical intentper se, the author is critical of its tendency to downplay the significance of pre-existing, social structures and the concomitant neglect of enduring and ubiquitous states of structural stability as an ontological possibility. This may lead to an overly optimistic view that naively valorises agency as a largely unfettered engine of emancipation. By contrast, CR offers a deeper and more nuanced ontological conception of how social structures constrain as well as enable emancipation. In contrast to the highly empiricist epistemology of ANT, it also provides an epistemological rationale for going beyond empirical descriptions of how social structures work to advance theoretically informed, explanatory critiques that are better suited for realising less easily observable opportunities for emancipation.

Research limitations/implications

The paper advances the debate about how social structures should be examined in critical accounting research and the relative merits of doing so in advancing emancipatory projects.

Originality/value

The paper is an attempt to contrast ANT and CR as two distinct approaches to critical accounting research and thus extends the debate about what such research is and could be.
Consumers’ concern towards palm oil consumption
Authors: Verneau Fabio , La Barbera Francesco , Amato Mario , Sodano Valeria
Published: August 2019

Purpose

Palm oil is a versatile ingredient of many food and non-food products. Yet, over the last year it has rapidly become a controversial product due to its alleged harmful health and environmental effects. Palm oil has rapidly become a controversial product. As a consequence, many food companies have introduced alternative fat sources into their products, in order to meet consumers’ concerns. The purpose of this paper is to: first, investigate consumer purchase intention by assessing whether the environmental, social and health concerns (HCs) act as drivers with regard to the choice of not consuming products containing palm oil; and second, estimate the direct effect of participants’ information seeking (IS) upon their intention, and whether IS mediates the effects of the attitudinal latent constructs on intention.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative survey of 608 respondents was performed. A structural equation modelling (SEM) procedure was implemented.

Findings

Results show that: first, HC is the main driver of participants’ intention to reduce palm oil consumption; second, consumers’ attitudes towards environment and social fairness exert significant direct effects upon intention; third, IS exerts a direct effect on intention; also, it partially mediates the effects of environmental and social concerns, whereas it totally mediates the HC effect.

Originality/value

This is the first study to address the issue of comparison between different drivers of sustainable consumer intentions using a formal test by SEM. Moreover, findings add insightful discussion points to some important issues concerning the role of consumers in the current food system organisational structure and strategies.
Contractual practices between the consultant and employer in Chinese BIM-enabled construction projects
Authors: Liao Xiaofeng , Lee Cen Ying , Chong Heap-Yih
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The management of building information modeling (BIM)-enabled construction projects is challenging and unstructured in nature, particularly in terms of contract administration. Even though previous studies have revealed various legal issues related to BIM, little is known regarding the contractual practices of BIM. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to explore the contractual practices between the BIM consultant and employer in detail.

Design/methodology/approach

An explanatory case study was carried out on four large BIM-enabled construction projects in China.

Findings

The contractual practices differed from one project to another in terms of ownership and intellectual property rights (IPRs) of the BIM model, roles of the BIM consultant, liability of the BIM consultant in the event of errors and delays of the BIM model, and BIM-related costs and payments. Some of the interesting findings are as follows: the employer shall retain the ownership and IPRs of the BIM model, the BIM consultant shall provide a warranty to ensure usability of the BIM model after project handover, the BIM consultant shall pay for damages or losses if the BIM model fails to deliver and the costs of BIM implementation shall be borne by both contracting parties.

Originality/value

This study provides a fresh, realistic insight on the development of plausible contractual practices between the BIM consultant and employer and the findings can be used to improve BIM contract protocols in future projects.
The impact of employees’ perceptions of HR practices on identification with the company and citizenship behavior
Authors: Chih Charles , Lin Chieh-Peng
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review two work groups’ (local vs foreign) perceptions, attitudes and behavior and propose a moderated mediation model to examine perceived HR practices’ impact on identification with the company and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB).

Design/methodology/approach

This paper selects 320 local and foreign production operators at high-tech firms in Taiwan. The hypotheses are tested using SEM-AMOS, and the mediation effects are analyzed by Sobel test with bootstrapping.

Findings

Results show that: first, the relationship influence between identification with the company and OCB is stronger for foreign workers than for local workers; and, second, the moderated mediation of work status exists in perceived practice of rewards for the whole worker model.

Research limitations/implications

To concentrate on research objective, the authors only consider the same characteristics in local and foreign workers’ job environment, neglecting differences in employment conditions, living environment and cultural background.

Practical implications

Two major implications are that: first, different perceptions on HR practices are based on employees’ work status; and, second, in addition to adopting appreciative HR practices for the target group, firms should help employees develop a stronger identification with the company in order to encourage OCB.

Originality/value

This paper studies employees’ perception on HR practices, compares a three-variable model between local and foreign workers, and proposes a moderated mediation model to handle HR practices’ effects on identification with the company and OCB.
Development of bulletproof pad design system using 3D body scan data
Authors: Kang Yeong Hoon , Kim Sungmin
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a system to design a bulletproof pad for chest protection using three-dimensional body scan data.

Design/methodology/approach

Body data were divided into arbitrary number of groups based on the standard normal distribution theory, considering the width and height of the upper body. Several parameters were used to define the cover area of the bulletproof pad, and the shape of this area of each model in a group was averaged to generate the standard bulletproof pad model for that group.

Findings

It is possible to use three-dimensional body scan data in the design process of a mass-customized bulletproof pad for chest protection.

Practical implications

It is expected that it would be possible to design not only bulletproof pad but also many kinds of body-related products that need to reflect the shape of body using the methodology developed in this study.

Social implications

Using this system, the mass customization of special garments and equipment would be possible, which will improve the wearers’ comfort and work efficiency.

Originality/value

Three-dimensional body measurement, parametric definition of cover area and user interface for shape modification developed in this study will facilitate the consumer-oriented product design.
Experimental study on the spinning geometry of multi-thread fancy yarn on hollow-spindle spinning machines
Authors: Alshukur Malek , Yurchenko Daniil
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to define the relationships between the structure of multi-thread fancy yarns and the combination of the rotational speed of the hollow-spindle spinning system and thickness and stiffness of the effect component.

Design/methodology/approach

To do so, two groups of fancy yarns were made using stiff and soft effect threads and at six different machine settings.

Findings

It was found that the stiff effect thread was suitable to make fancy yarns at low rotational speeds, while the thickness of the effect threads was more important than its stiffness at low number of wraps. Additionally, even when using the same number of wraps and the overfeed ratio, a bouclé yarn, a gimp yarn, a wavy yarn or a loop yarn may results if the thickness and stiffness of the effect thread and the rotational speed were all controlled properly.

Originality/value

This study helps fancy yarn spinners to determine the type of final fancy yarns by controlling the spinning geometry in the first spinning zone.
Investor behavior in ETF markets: a comparative study between the US and emerging markets
Authors: da Costa Neto Augusto Ferreira , Klotzle Marcelo Cabus , Figueiredo Pinto Antonio Carlos
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a study on investor behavior in exchange-traded fund (ETF) markets. The standard feedback trading model of Sentana and Wadhwani (1992) is used in a sample of 18 ETFs contracts in Brazil, China, South Africa, Korea, Mexico and India, as well as three ETFs contracts in the US market.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample includes data on daily closing prices and net asset values (NAVs) for three ETFs from each of the emerging markets of Brazil, China, Mexico, Korea and India, as well as on three ETFs from the US market. The authors used the earliest start date available in the Thomson Reuters database pertaining to all of the ETFs, and all series ended on May 5, 2017, and applied the well-established Santana and Wadhwani (1992) seminal model to evaluate evidence of feedback trading in the sample.

Findings

The empirical analysis suggests that there is evidence of feedback trading in emerging markets such as Brazil, Korea, Mexico and India, while there is no such evidence for the US market. The results are consistent with the view that developed markets investors are prone to pursue fundamental-driven investment strategies, while emerging markets investors appear to have informational guided behavior.

Research limitations/implications

Emerging markets still make up a very small part of the global ETF market, led by the USA. Nevertheless, it is extremely important that studies of this nature be gradually expanded as these markets grow, in order to verify how emerging markets compare to their developed counterparts in terms of the efficiency of information sharing and rationalization of its operations.

Practical implications

Emerging markets policy makers could benefit from these findings by stimulating new mechanisms that could minimize informational asymmetry and the persistence of so-called noise traders, a phenomenon observed recently in studies regarding ETF markets (Brown, Davies and Ringgenberg, 2018).

Originality/value

The behavior of investors was investigated by analyzing a sample of 18 ETFs from the emerging markets of Brazil, China, South Africa, Korea, India and Mexico, as well as three ETFs from the US market. Despite of being investigated separately both emerging (Charteris et al., 2014) and developed markets (Chau et al., 2011), the innovation consists in comparing those markets in a single study, pursuing to explain potential reasons for the differences observed between developed and emerging markets.
A study into the reasons for process improvement project failures: results from a pilot survey
Authors: Antony Jiju , Lizarelli Fabiane Letícia , Fernandes Marcelo Machado , Dempsey Mary , Brennan Attracta , McFarlane Julie
Published: August 2019

Purpose

Process improvement initiatives, such as Lean, Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma, typically have common characteristics that are carried through projects. Whilst a project’s performance is an important determinant of the successful implementation of continuous improvement (CI) initiatives, its failure can undermine the impact of any CI initiative on business performance. As a result, an understanding of the reasons of process improvement project failures is crucial. The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a pilot survey highlighting the most common reasons for process improvement project failures.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a pilot survey of 42 Brazilian manufacturing specialists who have been involved in process improvement projects. The participants of this survey were Six Sigma Master Black Belts, Black Belts, Green Belts and Six Sigma champions from manufacturing companies in Brazil. The survey questionnaire was piloted with five experts in the field in order to ensure that the questions were valid and technically sound.

Findings

The execution of Six Sigma projects in organizations results in a moderate rate of project failures. These failures can cost organizations several millions of dollars especially within the context of larger organizations. The main reasons for project failure, as cited by the specialists include: resistance to change, lack of commitment and support from top management and incompetent teams.

Research limitations/implications

The authors report the findings from a pilot survey having a limited sample size. Moreover, the data have been collected from one country and primarily from large manufacturing companies.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first empirical study looking into the reasons for process improvement project failures. The authors argue that if the top reasons for such failures are understood, a framework can be developed in the future that can mitigate the chance of project failures during project execution. This could potentially lead to significant savings to the bottom-line of many organizations.
Development of Lean Six Sigma training module: evidence from an emerging economy
Authors: Sreedharan V. Raja , Sunder M. Vijaya , Madhavan Vandana , Gurumurthy Anand
Published: August 2019

Purpose

Nowadays, firms are keen on improving the quality culture in the organizations. The proven success of Lean and Six Sigma has given rise to the synergetic Lean Six Sigma (LSS) approach that has been catching fire in the past one decade. However, there exists a gap between the understanding and implementation of LSS in the organizations, especially in the emerging economies. Taking this as a valuable opportunity, the purpose of this paper is to present a development of LSS training module.

Design/methodology/approach

This study starts with a literature review of LSS to reinforce the understanding of the research subject in scope of manufacturing sector. Then, an online questionnaire was designed and used to collect responses from 181 companies located in the Indian sub-continent. Subsequently, the results obtained from the survey were analyzed using COARSE approach.

Findings

This study reveals two key findings and associated contributions. First, it was found that the overall awareness of LSS within the responded manufacturing firms is about 70.4 percent. Second, there is no single standard training module that exists in any of the sampled firms to cater to their quality programs. Hence, in order to improve the LSS awareness which could subsequently help managers as a resource for creating an efficient workplace, this paper presents a structured LSS training framework.

Research limitations/implications

Although this paper presents the importance of LSS and associated awareness level among the responded firms, more empirical evidence is required to generalize the model findings. Second, this study is scoped to firms that work out of the Indian sub-continent, and this provides a future opportunity to expand the scope of this research toward a global study for a comparison between emerging and developed economies. Third, this study is limited to manufacturing firms and hence paves an opportunity to research on a similar theme in services context as well.

Practical implications

Before embarking on an LSS journey, an organization can use the LSS training module proposed in this study to assess the employee awareness on LSS. Furthermore, organizations that already have a mature LSS practice can incorporate the LSS training module for periodic evaluation of the employees for effective change management.

Originality/value

The training module presented in this paper is the original contribution by the authors. This is no association to any single identifiable organization or associated funding. The direct practical implication of its application in real time is the value that managers could derive from the proposed LSS training framework.
Managing quality decisions in supply chain
Authors: Alglawe Asama , Kuzgunkaya Onur , Schiffauerova Andrea
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop an optimization model to better allocate cost of quality (COQ) in the supply chain (SC). In addition, the paper provides a roadmap based on COQ that allocates limited given budget among the SC entities.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a comprehensive SC model while introducing six different scenarios, where each scenario minimizes fixed costs and COQ of the SC.

Findings

The results showed that the highest portion of the COQ should be allocated at the retailer echelon while the lowest portion should be kept at the manufacturer echelon. The findings also presented that the retailer should always maintain the highest quality level (QL) compared to the manufacturer and supplier.

Originality/value

Considering prevention, appraisal and failure (PAF) cost model, this research defines the tradeoff among PA, F costs, QL and material flow in the SC network; no work has been published regarding integrating PAF, QL and material flow into SC modeling.
Strategic marketing approaches for the diffusion of innovation in highly regulated industrial markets: the value of market access
Authors: Schiavone Francesco , Simoni Michele
Published: August 2019

Purpose

In industrial markets, different players concur to diffuse the new products and services. However, in high-regulated industries, firms might find substantial limitations to their usual strategies. This paper aims to analyze the strategic marketing approaches adopted by firms to overcome these limitations.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a case study approach to explore the strategies adopted by two multinational health-care companies to promote their new products in the Italian health-care market.

Findings

The two firms adopted three specific strategic marketing approaches: educational activities for all the different players of the market with the involvement of highly reputed partners (e.g. opinion makers, scientific societies and patients’ associations); simulation of the innovation’s impact on the entire system realized; and creation of an ad hoc organizational unit, called market access unit, to deal with the specific issues of this highly regulated market.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the literature on marketing strategies aimed at promoting the diffusion of new products in highly regulated industrial markets by illustrating the strategic approaches that innovative firms can adopt to both achieve regulatory compliance and promote the diffusion of their new products.
Healthy workplaces: what we know and what else we need to know
Authors: Jensen Per Anker , van der Voordt Theo J.M.
Published: August 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the impact of buildings on the creation of healthy workplaces (HWs) and end users’ physical and mental health and well-being. The paper presents available research on the impact of workplace layout, interior design, indoor climate and “green” offices. It ends with reflections on the main lessons learned, gaps in our current knowledge and suggestions for further research.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature research has been conducted of all papers in four corporate real estate management and facilities management-oriented journals from 2008 to 2017 that discuss health and well-being and related topics such as satisfaction, productivity and creativity.

Findings

A conceptual model to analyse impact factors for HWs covers the influence of many different variables. Most papers only discuss a particular influencing factor, mainly plants and indoor climate. Various papers show that the spatial layout, in particular the level of openness and opportunities for communication, concentration and privacy and interior design have an important impact on user satisfaction, perceived productivity support and creativity. These factors may have a positive impact on HWs as well and can also be benefits of HWs.

Practical implications

The paper identifies, which factors are important to consider for creating HWs and potential benefits of HWs.

Originality/value

This paper discusses the role of CREM and FM in creating HWs and reflects on the available knowledge, current omissions and the need for transdisciplinary follow-up research.
Accuracy of chair-side fused-deposition modelling for dental applications
Authors: Yuan Fusong , Sun Yao , Zhang Lei , Sun Yuchun
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to establish a chair-side design and production method for a tooth-supported fixed implant guide and to evaluate its accuracy.

Design/methodology/approach

Three-dimensional (3D) data of the alveolar ridge, adjacent teeth and antagonistic teeth were acquired from models of the edentulous area of 30 patients. The implant guides were then constructed using self-developed computer-aided design software and chair-side fused deposition modelling 3D-printing and positioned on a dental model. A model scanner was used to acquire 3D data of the positioned implant guides, and the overall error was then evaluated.

Findings

The overall error was 0.599 ± 0.146 mm (n = 30). One-way ANOVA revealed no statistical differences among the 30 implant guides. The gap between the occlusal surface of the teeth covering and the tissue surface of the implant guide was measured. The maximum gap after positioning of the implant guide was 0.341 mm (mean, 0.179 ± 0.019 mm). The implanted axes of the printed implant guide and designed guide were compared in terms of overall, lateral and angular error, which were 0.104 ± 0.004 mm, 0.097 ± 0.003 mm, and 2.053° ± 0.017°, respectively.

Originality/value

The results of this study demonstrated that the accuracy of a new chair-side tooth-supported fixed implant guide can satisfy clinical requirements.
Use of key word signing for children and adults with intellectual disability in an Irish context
Authors: Byrne Áine , Pyne Jenna , Sheehan Vanessa
Published: August 2019

Purpose

Lámh is the Irish approach to key word signing (KWS). It was designed to support children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) (including people with autism) and/or communication needs in Ireland. The purpose of this paper is to determine the level of Lámh use in a large organisation for children and adults with IDD and identify factors influencing use.

Design/methodology/approach

An online questionnaire was distributed to 950 staff members in the aforementioned organisation.

Findings

The response rate was 23 per cent (n= 217), with the majority of respondents indicating a belief that all staff should know some key signs (96 per cent) and that Lámh has a positive impact on communication (89 per cent). In sum, 18 per cent of staff who supported a Lámh user reported that they rarely or never use signs. There was a significant association between client group (children or adults) and frequency of Lámh use by staff, with greater use reported in children’s services.

Research limitations/implications

Overall, a positive attitude towards Lámh was identified amongst staff within the organisation. Despite this, there is evidence of inadequate support for Lámh users, particularly in adult services. Identified barriers which impacted the implementation of Lámh included inconsistencies in organisational culture, levels of support and access to training. A consistent Lámh signing environment is crucial to the successful use of Lámh as a communication method. This study suggests that the level of support required to create a consistent signing environment may be underestimated.

Originality/value

This is the first study to evaluate the reported use of key word sign in an Irish disability setting. The findings will be of benefit to any staff members supporting KWS users and, in particular, those involved in the provision of KWS training.
They are young, and they are many: dating freshwater lineages in unicellular dinophytes
Authors: Žerdoner Čalasan Anže , Kretschmann Juliane , Gottschling Marc
Published: August 2019

Dinophytes are one of few protist groups that have an extensive fossil record and are therefore appropriate for time estimations. However, insufficient sequence data and strong rate heterogeneity have been hindering to put dinophyte evolution into a time frame until now. Marine‐to‐freshwater transitions within this group are considered geologically old and evolutionarily exceptional due to strong physiological constraints that prevent such processes. Phylogenies based on concatenated rRNA sequences (including 19 new GenBank entries) of two major dinophyte lineages, Gymnodiniaceae and Peridiniales, were carried out using an uncorrelated molecular clock and five calibration points based on fossils. Contrarily to previous assumptions, marine‐to‐freshwater transitions are more frequent in dinophytes (i.e. five marine‐freshwater transitions in Gymnodiniaceae, up to ten but seven strongly supported transitions in Peridiniales), and none of them occurred as early as 140 MYA. Furthermore, most marine‐to‐freshwater transitions, and the followed diversification, took place after the Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary. Not older than 40 MYA, the youngest transitions within Gymnodiniaceae and Peridiniales occurred under the influence of the Eocene climate shift. Our evolutionary scenario indicates a gradual diversification of dinophytes without noticeable impact of catastrophic events, and their freshwater lineages have originated several times independently at different points in time.
The elephant in the sky: On how to grapple with our academic flying in the age of climate change
Authors: BAER HANS A.
Published: August 2019

This article discusses the author’s personal journey into the anthropology of climate change and his concern about the multiple drivers of anthropogenic climate change, among them an increasing number of aeroplane flights around the world, including those made by academics and more specifically, anthropologists. Given that the people who anthropologists often study will be those most severely impacted by the ravages of climate change, it is imperative that anthropologists find strategies to drastically reduce their flying in relation to attending conferences, research meetings and undertaking fieldwork. In this article, the author urges anthropologists to turn their attention to a growing global ‘fly less’ movement.
Property rights reform to support China’s rural ‐ urban integration: household‐level evidence from the Chengdu experiment
Authors: Deininger Klaus , Jin Songqing , Liu Shouying , Xia Fang
Published: August 2019

In 2008, as part of a national experiment, Chengdu prefecture implemented ambitious property rights reforms including complete registration of all land together with measures to ease transferability and eliminate migration restrictions. Results from a difference‐in‐difference analysis of the National Statistics Bureau's regular household survey suggest that the reforms increased consumption and income, in particular for less wealthy and less educated households, with estimated benefits well above the cost of implementation. Local labour supply increased with the young shifting towards agriculture and the old towards off‐farm employment. The reforms also contributed to higher agricultural yields and profits through three channels, namely: (i) greater rental market activity that transferred land to more productive producers; (ii) substitution of purchased inputs for labour; and (iii) a shift out of grains towards vegetables, corn, and oilseeds all of which offer higher levels of profitability. All of these findings are consistent with the notion that, without reforms, imperfections in factor markets undermined investment and functioning of land and labour markets, preventing high‐value peri‐urban land from being used most effectively and reducing job creation.
“Oh hell no, we don't talk to police”
Authors: Brunson Rod K. , Wade Brian A.
Published: August 2019

Research Summary

We conducted face‐to‐face interviews with 50 young Black men, residents of high‐crime neighborhoods in Brooklyn and the Bronx, individuals who had considerable knowledge about illegal gun markets and the resulting bloodshed. Our findings confirm that distressed milieus reliably fail to produce cooperative witnesses as a result of the cumulative impact of anti‐snitching edicts, fear of retaliation, legal cynicism, and high‐risk victims’ normative views toward self‐help.

Policy Implications

Disadvantaged communities of color typically have low fatal and nonfatal shooting clearance rates in part as a result of poor witness cooperation. Diminished clearance rates have also been shown to intensify minority residents’ claims that officers do not care about keeping them or their neighborhoods safe. Respondents’ accounts identify three overlapping areas instructive for informing public policy: (1) reducing gun violence so that high‐risk individuals live in objectively safer areas, (2) using intermediaries to launch grassroots campaigns countering pro‐violence and anti‐snitching norms, and (3) improving police–minority community relations.
Applying sentinel event reviews to policing
Authors: Hollway John F. , Grunwald Ben
Published: August 2019

Research Summary

A sentinel event review (SER) is a system‐based, multistakeholder review of an organizational error. The goal of an SER is to prevent similar errors from recurring in the future rather than identifying and punishing the responsible parties. In this article, we provide a detailed description of one of the first SERs conducted in an American police department—the review of the Lex Street Massacre investigation and prosecution, which resulted in the wrongful incarceration of four innocent men for 18 months. The results of the review suggest that SERs may help identify new systemic reforms for participating police departments and other criminal justice agencies.

Policy Implications

Police departments and other criminal justice agencies should begin implementing SERs to review a wide range of organizational errors and “near misses.” We offer guiding principles about the kinds of errors that may be more or less susceptible to fruitful review. Congress, state legislatures, and municipalities should also enact policies—such as safe harbor provisions—to encourage agencies to conduct SERs.
Diagnostic performance of 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in the evaluation of glioma
Authors: Shaw Tristan B , Jeffree Rosalind L , Thomas Paul , Goodman Steven , Debowski Maciej , Lwin Zarnie , Chua Benjamin
Published: August 2019

Introduction

Identifying glioma grade through imaging allows clinicians to recommend and accurately direct treatment. We sought to quantify the utility of FDG‐PET/CT (18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography), alone and in combination with MRI, in identifying high‐grade regions of glioma.

Methods

This is a retrospective review of patients who had an FDG‐PET/CT performed as part of the workup of suspected glioma or in follow‐up of known glioma. FDG‐PET/CT scans were reviewed and uptake in the identifiable lesion coded as none, diffusely or focally increased. Patients also underwent gadolinium‐enhanced MRI, noting regions of contrast enhancement. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) were calculated for identification of high‐grade histology (WHO III or IV, or metastatic disease) obtained post‐FDG‐PET/CT.

Results

Thirty‐three patients had 36 FDG‐PET/CT and MRI scans followed by histological confirmation (biopsy or debulking). Increased FDG uptake demonstrated a sensitivity of 59% and specificity of 79%, PPV of 81% and NPV of 55% for identification of high‐grade histology. MRI demonstrated a sensitivity of 77% and specificity of 86%, PPV of 89% and NPV of 71% for identification of high‐grade histology. Only 64% of MRI and FDG‐PET/CT scan series were concordant. When FDG‐PET/CT and MRI were concordant, a specificity of 100% and PPV of 100% was achieved, however, sensitivity was 79% and NPV was 75%.

Conclusion

The combination of FDG‐PET/CT and gadolinium‐enhanced MRI demonstrated marked improvement in identifying potential high‐grade disease over each modality alone. Increased FDG uptake without gadolinium enhancement rarely occurred and identified high‐grade histology in a small number of patients. Due to limited sensitivity and NPV, a negative FDG‐PET/CT alone, or in combination with MRI, should not guide a decision for observation where surgery would otherwise be recommended.
Stereotactic radiosurgery for intracranial IgG4‐related disease
Authors: Fogarty Tamara , Choong Dean , Gill Suki , Harper Chris , Robbins Peter
Published: August 2019

We report the case of a 20‐year‐old woman with intracranial IgG4‐related disease, initially misdiagnosed as a meningioma on biopsy and treated with radiosurgery as it was in an eloquent location and not resectable. Her intracranial IgG4 disease had a near‐complete response to radiosurgery and is still controlled six years later, so this case represents what we believe to be the first reported use of radiotherapy in the treatment of intracranial IgG4‐related disease.
Imaging features of Benign Perianal lesions
Authors: O’Neill Damien C , Murray Timothy E , Thornton Eavan , Burke John , Dunne Ruth , Lee Michael J , Morrin Martina M
Published: August 2019

Magnetic resonance imaging provides detailed visualisation, identification and extent assessment of many anal disorders. While many studies are performed in the evaluation of malignant processes such as anorectal carcinoma, the primary focus of this pictorial review is benign lesions, which involve the anal canal and perianal spaces. This pictorial review will illustrate the MRI appearances of a variety of benign conditions, which predominantly affect the anal canal, including abscess, fistulae, lipomas, developmental cysts and inflammatory conditions. MRI aids in the identification and characterisation of these abnormalities, of coexisting complications and differentiation from other perineal abnormalities. This pictorial review highlights the spectrum of non‐malignant processes involving the perianal region.
Labor‐saving technologies and structural transformation in northern Ghana
Authors: Mueller Valerie , Masias Ian , Vallury Sechindra
Published: August 2019

Labor‐saving technologies played a fundamental role historically in the structural transformation of agrarian economies. We focus on an emerging labor‐saving trend in Ghana, use of motorized tricycles (MTs), which provide an affordable alternative to manually transferring crops from plots to homestead. A household survey collected in 2017 in northern Ghana is used to shed light on how the time savings made available by using MTs may be converted into activities that enhance agricultural productivity and/or diversify the household away from agriculture. Detailed information collected on the agricultural production and agro‐processing behavior of 1,400 households allows us to examine the above transformative channels. Ordinary least squares and instrumental variable regressions are applied to quantify the effect of MTs on related outcomes. We find households are able to diversify their farming activities into selling processed agricultural goods with the time savings provided through MT adoption. Policies aimed to foster the diffusion of MTs elsewhere in Ghana may expedite structural change and, hence, economic growth.
A novel 2‐aminobenzimidazole‐based compound Jzu 17 exhibits anti‐angiogenesis effects by targeting VEGFR‐2 signalling
Authors: Lien Jin‐Cherng , Chung Chi‐Li , Huang Tur‐Fu , Chang Tsung‐Chia , Chen Kuan‐Chung , Gao Ging‐Yan , Hsu Ming‐Jen , Huang Shiu‐Wen
Published: August 2019

Background and Purpose

Recent development in drug discovery have shown benzimidazole to be an important pharmacophore,. Benzimidazole derivatives exhibit broad‐spectrum pharmacological properties including anti‐microbial, anti‐diabetic and anti‐tumour activity. However, whether benzimidazole derivatives are effective in suppressing angiogenesis and its underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. In this study, we aim to characterize the anti‐angiogenic mechanisms of a novel 2‐aminobenzimidazole‐based compound, Jzu 17, in an effort to develop novel angiogenesis inhibitor.

Experimental Approach

Effects of Jzu 17 on endothelial cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and activation of signalling molecules induced by VEGF‐A, were analysed by immunoblotting, MTT, BrdU, migration, and invasion assays. We performed tube formation assay, aorta ring sprouting assay, matrigel plug assay, and a mouse model of metastasis to evaluate ex vivo and in vivo anti‐angiogenic effects of Jzu 17.

Key Results

Jzu 17 inhibited VEGF‐A‐induced cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and endothelial tube formation of HUVECs. Jzu 17 suppressed VEGF‐A‐induced microvessel sprouting ex vivo and attenuated VEGF‐A‐ or tumour cell‐induced neovascularization in vivo. Jzu 17 also reduced B16F10 melanoma lung metastasis. In addition, Jzu 17 inhibited the phosphorylation of VEGFR‐2 and its downstream signalling molecules in VEGF‐A‐stimulated HUVECs. Results from computer modelling further showed that Jzu 17 binds to VEGFR‐2 with high affinity.

Conclusions and Implications

Jzu 17 may inhibit endothelial remodelling and suppress angiogenesis through targeting VEGF‐A‐VEGFR‐2 signalling. These results also suggest Jzu 17 as a potential lead compound and warrant the clinical development of similar agents in the treatment of cancer and angiogenesis‐related diseases.
Transboundary pollution, tax competition and the efficiency of uncoordinated environmental regulation
Authors: Yamagishi Atsushi
Published: August 2019

Under capital tax competition, surprisingly, Ogawa and Wildasin (2009) find that uncoordinated policymaking leads to a first‐best outcome even in the presence of transboundary pollution. However, I show that if the level of environmental regulation is endogenized, the regulation level becomes too loose compared with the optimum (“race to the bottom”). Thus, despite the efficiency result of Ogawa and Wildasin (2009), efforts to achieve international environmental policy coordination are needed. I then examine the dependence of this result on the level of decisive voter's capital endowment. The regulation is inefficiently loose in many cases, but it can be too strict if the decisive voter's capital endowment is above the average. Thus, the possibility of “race to the top” cannot be eliminated. The inefficiency result does not generally depend on the timing of policymaking, although the efficiency may be restored in the limit case where the decisive voter has no capital at all.
Comparison of pure laparoscopic and open living donor right hepatectomy after a learning curve
Authors: Lee Boram , Choi YoungRok , Han Ho‐Seong , Yoon Yoo‐Seok , Cho Jai Young , Kim Sungho , Kim Kil Hwan , Hyun In Gun
Published: August 2019

This study aims to compare the early outcomes between pure laparoscopic living donor right hepatectomy (PLDRH) and open living donor right hepatectomy (ODRH) after those learning curve. Our analysis was based on 78 consecutive cases of living liver donor, who underwent right hepatectomy, of which 43 underwent ODRH and 35 PLDRH. The learning curve for each group was analyzed. Donor characteristics were comparable between the two groups. Two donors in the PLDRH required conversion to an open due to bleeding and large graft size (open conversion rate: 6.06%). The following outcomes during the study period were comparable between the two groups: operative time (P = .64); estimated blood loss (EBL; P = .86); intra‐operative transfusion (P = .57); hospital stay (P = .41); and postoperative complications (P = .51). The operative time stabilized for the ODRH group after 17 cases and for the PLDRH group after 15 cases. After the learning curve, the EBL was lower for PLDRH than ODRH (P = .04). Pure laparoscopic living donor right hepatectomy can be performed as safely as ODRH and with a lower volume of EBL once the surgeon has attained an appropriate level of learning.
Forward‐viewing endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle biopsy using the clip‐with‐thread method for small gastric subepithelial lesions
Authors: Minoda Yosuke , Fujimori Nao , Ihara Eikichi
Published: August 2019

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