bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Arthrobacter endophyticus sp. nov., an endophytic actinobacterium isolated from root of Salsola affinis C. A. Mey
Authors: Wang Hong-Fei , Li Li , Zhang Yong-Guang , Hozzein Wael N. , Zhou Xing-Kui , Liu Wei-Hong , Duan Yan-Qing , Li Wen-Jun
Published: April 2015

A Gram-staining-positive, white-coloured, aerobic, non-motile, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative, endophytic actinobacterium, designated strain EGI 6500322T, was isolated from the surface-sterilized root of the halophyte Salsola affinis C. A. Mey collected from Urumqi, Xinjiang province, north-west China. Growth occurred at 5–35 °C (optimum 25–30 °C), at pH 5–10 (optimum pH 7–8) and with 0–13 % NaCl (w/v) (optimum 0–5 %). The predominant menaquinone was MK-9 (93.1 %). The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0 (49.5 %) and iso-C15:0 (15.1 %). The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained lysine, alanine and glutamic acid. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, two unknown phospholipids and one unknown glycolipid. The DNA G+C content of strain EGI 6500322T was 62.0 mol%. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the nearest phylogenetic neighbours of strain EGI 6500322T were identified as Arthrobacter ardleyensis DSM 17432T (98.38 %) and Arthrobacter bergerei DSM 16367T (98.37 %). The DNA–DNA relatedness between strain EGI 6500322T and Arthrobacter ardleyensis DSM 17432T and Arthrobacter bergerei DSM 16367T was 53.4 ± 4.1 % and 30.5 ± 1.7 %, respectively. On the basis of the phylogenetic analysis, chemotaxonomic data, physiological characteristics and DNA–DNA hybridization data, strain EGI 6500322T should represent a novel species of the genus Arthrobacter, for which the name Arthrobacter endophyticus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is EGI 6500322T ( = KCTC 29490T = JCM 30091T).
Pullulanibacillus pueri sp. nov., isolated from Pu'er tea
Authors: Niu Lili , Tang Tianyi , Song Lei , Xiong Mengjie , Tian Jianqing , Zhang Kegui , Hu Xing , Zhu Daochen
Published: April 2015

A novel Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, endospore-forming, rod-shaped bacterial strain YN3T was isolated from ripened Pu'er tea. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strain belonged to the family Sporolactobacillaceae and was closely related to Pullulanibacillus naganoensis DSM 10191T (95.8 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and Pullulanibacillus uraniitolerans DSM 19429T (95.4 %). Growth of the strain was observed at 20–50 °C (optimum 30–37 °C), at pH 4.0–8.0 (optimum pH 5.0–6.0). The strain had a cell-wall type A1γ peptidoglycan with meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. The predominant menaquinone was menaquinone-7 (MK-7). The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0, anteiso-C17:0 and C18:1ω7c. The DNA G+C content of strain YN3T was 38.7 mol%. Strain YN3T could be differentiated from recognized species of the genus Pullulanibacillus based on phenotypic characteristics, chemotaxonomic differences, phylogenetic analysis and DNA–DNA hybridization data. On the basis of polyphasic evidence from this study, Pullulanibacillus
pueri sp. nov., is proposed, with strain YN3T ( = CGMCC 1.12777T = JCM 30075T) as the type strain.
Alcanivorax gelatiniphagus sp. nov., a marine bacterium isolated from tidal flat sediments enriched with crude oil
Authors: Kyoung Kwon Kae , Hye Oh Ji , Yang Sung-Hyun , Seo Hyun-Seok , Lee Jung-Hyun
Published: April 2015

A Gram-reaction-negative, rod-shaped marine bacterium, designated MEBiC08158T, was isolated from sediments collected from Taean County, Korea, near the Hebei Spirit tanker oil spill accident. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain MEBiC08158T was closely related to Alcanivorax marinus R8-12T (99.5 % similarity) but was distinguishable from other members of the genus Alcanivorax (93.7–97.1 %). The DNA–DNA hybridization value between strain MEBiC08158T and A. marinus R8-12T was 58.4 %. Growth of strain MEBiC08158T was observed at 15–43 °C (optimum 37–40 °C), at pH 6.0–9.5 (optimum pH 7.0–8.0) and with 0.5–16 % NaCl (optimum 1.5–3.0 %). The dominant fatty acids were C16 : 0, C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c, C12 : 0, C18 : 1ω7c, C12 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 3 (comprising C15 : 0 2-OH and/or C16 : 1ω7c). Several phenotypic characteristics differentiate strain MEBiC08158T from phylogenetically close members of the genus Alcanivorax. Therefore, strain MEBiC08158T should be classified as representing a novel species of the genus Alcanivorax, for which the name Alcanivorax gelatiniphagus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MEBiC08158T ( = KCCM 42990T = JCM 18425T).
MEGSA: A powerful and flexible framework for analyzing mutual exclusivity of tumor mutations
Authors: Hua Xing , Hyland Paula L. , Huang Jing , Zhu Bin , Caporaso Neil E. , Landi Maria Teresa , Chatterjee Nilanjan , Shi Jianxin
Published: April 2015

The central challenge in tumor sequencing studies is to identify driver genes and pathways, investigate their functional relationships and nominate drug targets. The efficiency of these analyses, particularly for infrequently mutated genes, is compromised when patients carry different combinations of driver mutations. Mutual exclusivity analysis helps address these challenges. To identify mutually exclusive gene sets (MEGS), we developed a powerful and flexible analytic framework based on a likelihood ratio test and a model selection procedure. Extensive simulations demonstrated that our method outperformed existing methods for both statistical power and the capability of identifying the exact MEGS, particularly for highly imbalanced MEGS. Our method can be used forde novodiscovery, pathway-guided searches or for expanding established small MEGS. We applied our method to the whole exome sequencing data for fourteen cancer types from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We identified multiple previously unreported non-pairwise MEGS in multiple cancer types. For acute myeloid leukemia, we identified a novel MEGS with five genes (FLT3, IDH2, NRAS, KITandTP53) and a MEGS (NPM1, TP53andRUX1)s whose mutation status was strongly associated with survival (P=6.7×10-4). For breast cancer, we identified a significant MEGS consisting ofTP53and four infrequently mutated genes (ARID1A, AKT1, MED23andTBL1XR1), providing support for their role as cancer drivers.
Prototyping 1,4-butanediol (BDO) biosynthesis pathway in a cell-free transcription-translation (TX-TL) system
Authors: Wu Yong Y. , Culler Stephanie , Khandurina Julia , Van Dien Stephen , Murray Richard M.
Published: April 2015

Current methods for assembling metabolic pathways require a process of repeated trial and error and have a long design-build-test cycle. Further, it remains a challenge to precisely tune enzyme expression levels for maximizing target metabolite production. Recently it was shown that a cell-free transcriptional-translation system (TX-TL) can be used to rapidly prototype novel complex biocircuits as well as metabolic pathways. TX-TL systems allow protein expression from multiple DNA pieces, opening up the possibility of modulating concentrations of DNA encoding individual pathway enzymes and testing the related effect on metabolite production. In this work, we demonstrate TX-TL as a platform for exploring the design space of metabolic pathways using a 1,4-BDO biosynthesis pathway as an example. Using TX-TL, we verified enzyme expression and enzyme activity and identified the conversion of 4-hydroxybutyrate to downstream metabolites as a limiting step of the 1,4-BDO pathway. We further tested combinations of various enzyme expression levels and found increasing downstream enzyme expression levels improved 1,4-BDO production.
An evaluation of the accuracy and speed of metagenome analysis tools
Authors: Lindgreen Stinus , Adair Karen L , Gardner Paul
Published: April 2015

Metagenome studies are becoming increasingly widespread, yielding important insights into microbial communities covering diverse environments from terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems to human skin and gut. With the advent of high-throughput sequencing platforms, the use of large scale shotgun sequencing approaches is now commonplace. However, a thorough independent benchmark comparing state-of-the-art metagenome analysis tools is lacking. Here, we present a benchmark where the most widely used tools are tested on complex, realistic data sets. Our results clearly show that the most widely used tools are not necessarily the most accurate, that the most accurate tool is not necessarily the most time consuming, and that there is a high degree of variability between available tools. These findings are important as the conclusions of any metagenomics study are affected by errors in the predicted community composition. Data sets and results are freely available from http://www.ucbioinformatics.org/metabenchmark.html
New signaling pathways govern the host response to C. albicans infection in various niches
Authors: Liu Yaoping , Shetty Amol C. , Schwartz Jennifer A. , Bradford L. Latey , Xu Wenjie , Phan Qyunh T. , Kumari Priti , Mahurkar Anup , Mitchell Aaron P. , Ravel Jacques , Fraser Claire M. , Filler Scott G. , Bruno Vincent M.
Published: April 2015

Candida albicans, the major invasive fungal pathogen of humans, can cause both debilitating mucosal infections and fatal invasive infections. Understanding the complex nature of the host–pathogen interaction in each of these contexts is essential to developing desperately needed therapies to treat fungal infections. RNA-seq enables a systems-level understanding of infection by facilitating comprehensive analysis of transcriptomes from multiple species (e.g., host and pathogen) simultaneously. We used RNA-seq to characterize the transcriptomes of both C. albicans and human endothelial cells or oral epithelial cells during in vitro infection. Network analysis of the differentially expressed genes identified the activation of several signaling pathways that have not previously been associated with the host response to fungal pathogens. Using an siRNA knockdown approach, we demonstrate that two of these pathways—platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF BB) and neural precursor-cell-expressed developmentally down-regulated protein 9 (NEDD9)—govern the host–pathogen interaction by regulating the uptake of C. albicans by host cells. Using RNA-seq analysis of a mouse model of hematogenously disseminated candidiasis (HDC) and episodes of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) in humans, we found evidence that many of the same signaling pathways are activated during mucosal (VVC) and/or disseminated (HDC) infections in vivo. Our analyses have uncovered several signaling pathways at the interface between C. albicans and host cells in various contexts of infection, and suggest that PDGF BB and NEDD9 play important roles in this interaction. In addition, these data provide a valuable community resource for better understanding host-fungal pathogen interactions.
The trust-commitment challenge in service quality-loyalty relationships
Authors: Moreira Antonio Carrizo , Silva Pedro Miguel
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop and empirically test a model to examine service quality, satisfaction, trust and commitment as loyalty antecedents in a private healthcare service.

Design/methodology/approach

– The approach was tested using structural equation modelling, involving 175 patients from a private Portuguese healthcare unit, using a revised Service Quality Assessment Scale (SQAS) scale for service quality evaluation.

Findings

– The scale used to evaluate service quality is valid and meaningful. Service quality proved to be a multidimensional construct and relevant to build satisfaction. The path satisfaction→trust→loyalty was validated, whereas the path satisfaction→commitment→loyalty was not statistically supported.

Research limitations/implications

– The revised SQAS scale showed good internal consistency in healthcare context. Further trust-commitment antecedents must be examined in a private healthcare landscape to generalise the findings.

Practical implications

– Healthcare quality managers must explore the service quality dimensions to generate satisfaction among their patients. Developing trust generates positive patient attitudes and loyalty.

Originality/value

– This study explores using the SQAS scale in a private healthcare context. The authors provide further evidence that service quality is an antecedent and different from satisfaction. All the measures used proved to be valid and reliable. Trust and commitment play different roles in their relationship with loyalty.
Political connections: a threat to auditor independence?
Authors: Abdul Wahab Effiezal Aswadi , Mat Zain Mazlina , Abdul Rahman Rashidah
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine whether political connections further impair auditor independence by investigating the relationship between non-audit fees and audit fees and as to whether political connections moderate such relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study employs panel regression analysis. The panel data set consists of 379 firm-year observations for three years from year 2001 to 2003.

Findings

– Based on 379 firm-year observations for the period of 2001-2003, grounded on two proxies of political connections namely politically connected firms and the proportion of Bumiputras directors, the authors find a positive and significant relationship between non-audit fees and audit fees, and the relationship becomes weaker, only for Bumiputra-dominated firms connected firms.

Originality/value

– This study contributes to the extant literature by examining the role of political connections in the context of auditor independence. In addition, this study is conducted in Malaysia, which provides a unique institutional environment with the existence of political connections that is built on ethnic grounds.
Attitude, learning environment and current knowledge enhancement of accounting students in Malaysia
Authors: Foong Soon-Yau , Khoo Choo-Hong
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of accounting students’ attitude on their current knowledge enhancement intention and the moderating role of the learning environment on the attitude-intention relationship. The relationship between current knowledge enhancement intention and level of current knowledge acquired is also investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

– Copies of a structured questionnaire were randomly distributed to 400 final-year accounting students from three major public universities and 243 completed questionnaires were analyzed.

Findings

– Attitude is a significant predictor of students’ current knowledge enhancement intention, which, in turn, positively impacts their level of current knowledge. The learning environment significantly moderates the attitude-intention relationship. An inhibiting learning environment tends to accentuate the differences in current knowledge enhancement intention between students with good attitude and those with poor attitude toward current knowledge enhancement.

Research limitations/implications

– The study has the limitations often associated with self-administered questionnaire research. The findings also may not be generalizable to other student and current knowledge settings.

Practical implications

– There is a need to re-orientate the accounting curriculum design and the accounting academics’ attitude from one that is overly technical focussed to one that emphasizes on other competencies necessary for sustained professional success. Educators and teaching pedagogy that promotes a culture of lifelong learning and current knowledge enhancement among students should be encouraged.

Originality/value

– This study fills the gap in the literature by examining the role of the learning environment not as a direct determinant of students’ attitude and their intention, but rather as a moderator of the attitude-intention relationship. The implication is that modifying the learning environment could facilitate or promote development of the desired attitude and hence, intention. The findings of this study support the moderating role of the learning environment in the relationship between current knowledge enhancement attitude and intention of accounting students in Malaysia.
Separation of cash flow rights and control rights and debt among Malaysian family firms
Authors: Abdullah Norhidayah , Pok Wee Ching
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship of separation of cash flow rights (CFR) and control rights (CR) and debt policy of Malaysian listed family firms.

Design/methodology/approach

– The sample of this study consists of 256 observations from companies listed in the Main Board of Bursa Malaysia for the period between year 2005 and 2009. The multivariate ordinary least square regressions have been conducted in order to examine the relationships between separation of CFR and CR and debt.

Findings

– The study reveals that the separation of CFR and CR does not lead to the increase of debt policy among Malaysian listed family-owned firms. Thus, the results suggest there is no expropriation of minority interests in Malaysian family-owned firms. The plausible reason is that Malaysia has better investor or shareholder protection laws compared to other emerging markets such as Indonesia, Thailand and Philippines.

Research limitations/implications

– The first limitation is the underestimation of CFR and CR because the affiliated business of unlisted firms and foreign companies are excluded. The second limitation is the presence of 100 percent ownership in firms controlled by family-owned firms or in firms that are controlled by another firms which are under the controlled of family-owned firms, or both, will lead to equal proportion of CFR and CR. Thus, the degree of separation of CFR and CR of such firms are indeterminable.

Originality/value

– This paper investigates the expropriation of minority interests by Malaysian family-owned firms on which has not been explored.
Earnings management and evolution of the banking regulation
Authors: Elleuch Sarra Hamza , Taktak Nelia Boulila
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the earnings management practices of Tunisian banks after the publication of the first International Monetary Fund (IMF) report (2002) over the period 1998-2007.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study relies on a mixed model that combines both the quantitative and qualitative approaches. First of all, we use the quantitative method to measure the discretionary loan loss provisions based on the model of Cornett et al. (2009), and then we validate the quantitative findings by using the interview approach.

Findings

– Since 2005, Tunisian banks have resorted less and less to accounting earnings management through the loan loss provisions, but conversely, real earnings management has been revealed instead by the sale of investment securities and the use of debt collection agencies. Despite the IMF recommendations, Tunisian banks continue to manage their earnings by changing only their strategies.

Practical implications

– The findings of this study show that the regulation cannot avoid earnings management. Even if the regulation limits the discretion of the manager, the latter finds new alternatives to manipulate the earnings.

Originality/value

– This is the first study that analyses the impact of the IMF recommendations on earnings management in an emerging economy.
International business and the Balti of meaning: food for thought
Authors: Lowe Sid , Kainzbauer Astrid , Magala Slawomir Jan , Daskalaki Maria
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to discuss the interactive processes linking lived embodied experiences, language and cognition (body-talk-mind) and their implications for organizational change.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors use an “embodied realism” approach to examine how people feel/perceive/act (embodied experiences), how they make sense of their experiences (cognition) and how they use language and communication to “talk sense” into their social reality. To exemplify the framework, the authors use a cooking metaphor. In this metaphor, language is the “sauce”, the catalyst, which blends raw, embodied, “lived” experience with consequent rationalizations (“cooking up”) of experience. To demonstrate the approach, the authors employ the study of a Chinese multinational subsidiary in Bangkok, Thailand, where participants were encouraged to build embodied models and tell their stories through them.

Findings

– The authors found that participants used embodied metaphors in a number of ways (positive and negative connotations) in different contexts (single or multicultural groups) for different purposes. Participants could be said to be “cooking up” realities according to the situated context. The methodology stimulated an uncovering of ineffable, tacit or sensitive issues that were problematic or potentially problematic within the organization.

Originality/value

– The authors bring back the importance of lived embodied experiences, language and cognition into IB research. The authors suggest that embodied metaphors capture descriptions of reality that stimulate reflexivity, uncover suppressed organizational problems and promote the contestation of received wisdoms when organizational change is pressing and urgent. The authors see the approach as offering the potential to give voice to embodied cultures throughout the world and thereby make IB research more practically relevant.
Selling a house and the decision to use a real estate broker in Norway
Authors: Stamsø Mary Ann
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the widespread of property sellers choosing to sell by themselves or through an estate agent, what characterises them and the reason for their choice. In addition the paper contains comparisons of the gap between sales price and asking price between the sales methods and satisfaction with the sales process. This study is the first study of these phenomena carried out in Norway.

Design/methodology/approach

– The data used for this study was obtained from a national survey including 1,649 house sellers. A logistic regression analysis is used to analyse the impact of household’s characteristics on the sales method.

Findings

– The main findings of this study are that 83 per cent of the house sellers used an estate agent through the whole sales process and differences in the choices are related to urbanisation, age and education. The most important reason for preferring a real estate broker is that doing the sale on your own is considered too much work. Conversely, the most important reason for doing the sale on your own is that estate agents are too expensive. Those selling without an estate agent were more satisfied and the gap between sales price and asking price was smaller than for those selling through a real estate broker.

Originality/value

– Issues concerning competition within the market for estate agents should be central topics for property management. Property sellers selling their property by themselves are an important contribution to increase the competition in the market for estate agents. This issue has not been on the agenda in Norway, or in Europe, in the same way as in the USA. This is probably due to the complexity in the legislation and strict laws within property sales in Central and Southern Europe. However, in Norway, UK and in the Nordic countries, the legal system is not complicated. It is rather the lockout of private individuals from the housing web sites and the fact that the property sellers are not familiar with this kind of transaction that has prevented property sellers to sell their house by themselves. Today Norway is one of few countries with a booming housing market, which also has increased the commission for estate agents. From 2010 private individuals got access to advertise their house on the housing web sites in Norway. These have influenced the focus on alternative sales methods.
An evaluation model of the financial feasibility of social housing in urban redevelopment
Authors: Tajani Francesco , Morano Pierluigi
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop an evaluation model to support the decisions made by Public Administrations that influence urban regeneration and social housing to be implemented with the involvement of private investors.

Design/methodology/approach

– Carried out with reference to an Italian regional territory, the model, subject to the constraint of financial feasibility for the private investor and the conditions of the local real estate market, allows to define: the maximum amount of social housing, as a percentage of the housing planned, to be sustained by the private investors; the administered price of sale and/or lease of the social housing; the exchange-factor of the area to be redeveloped.

Findings

– The outcome of the research highlights the utility of the model as a tool to support the decisions made by Public Administrations in relation to urban planning.

Practical implications

– The model, in addition to being simple to use, is extremely flexible and can be applied without any major changes in the structure and the type of information required in different spatial contexts.

Social implications

– The work intends to contribute to the achievement of the European objectives of Horizon 2020 that, with the initiative named “Smart Cities and Communities”, deals with urban themes and social issues, ensuring a strong economic impact of funded activities.

Originality/value

– The proposed methodology allows to monitor the land use transformations and, since it is also applicable to historical and architectural buildings, it is an innovative system for the sustainable protection and promotion of cultural heritage as a driver of social cohesion as well as the creation of jobs.
Real estate student satisfaction in Australia: what matters most?
Authors: Poon Joanna , Brownlow Michael
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify the relative importance of the factors that influence the overall satisfaction of real estate students and also examine the extent to which demographic backgrounds affect this. Furthermore, this paper benchmarks the satisfaction of real estate students against that of built environment students.

Design/methodology/approach

– The data used in this paper have been collected from the Course Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) within the Australian Graduate Survey (AGS). Dimensionality reduction was used to prepare the data about the courses identified in the AGS for analysis. This was done in order to simplify classification of real estate and built environment courses examined in this paper. Descriptive and statistical analysis methods were used to analyse student satisfaction variables and identify the extent to which demographic factors influenced overall student satisfaction.

Findings

– Real estate students in Australia have a relatively higher level of student satisfaction compared to built environment students overall, but built environment students have a higher level of satisfaction with regard to compulsory variables such as “Good Teaching Scale” and “Generic Skills Scale”. However, real estate students show a higher level of agreement in the Likert scale regarding the optional variables “Appropriate Assessment” and “Learning Community”, respectively. The most important factor for overall student satisfaction was the question: “the staff made it clear right from the start what they expected from the students”. The answers to this question had a Pearson correlation value of 1.000 for both real estate and built environment students. Age and mode of study also have some impact on the overall satisfaction level of both sets of students, while gender, degree class and the year the university were established are additional factors affecting the overall satisfaction of built environment students.

Practical implications

– This research identifies the factors that affect the satisfaction of property course students in ascending order of importance. Course directors of real estate courses can use the findings of this research to make recommendations on the redesign and redevelopment of their courses in order to make them more attractive and appealing to students to enhance student recruitment and retention.

Originality/value

– This is pioneering research that provides a comprehensive overview of the factors affecting student satisfaction with regard to real estate and built environment students in Australia.
Continuity planning: the importance of including digital property
Authors: Joshi Komal
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– To address the importance of including corporate digital assets in the continuity planning process and the need to adequately protect the company’s digital property.

Design/methodology/approach

– This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.

Findings

– The emergence of digital has given businesses the ability to generate enormous amounts of data, enabling them to effectively communicate with existing customers and stakeholders, attract new customers and remain competitive. Failure to protect the company’s digital property not only can result in a sudden loss of access to vital information but also can create a tangible financial loss and an intangible loss of goodwill.

Practical implications

– By comprehending what digital assets are and their importance to the business, executives – particularly those in startups and small- and medium-sized enterprises – will understand the need to adequately protect these valuable assets.

Originality/value

– The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.
The Role of the State in the Financialisation of the UK Economy
Authors: Davis Aeron , Walsh Catherine
Published: April 2015

This article looks at the role of UK governments in the financialisation of the British economy and its industry. It argues two things. First, the UK state has had a rather more active role here than most observers have acknowledged. Successive governments since the 1970s have not merely abandoned industry, they have handed much of its control to the financial sector. Second, a key part of this policy shift was linked to the rising power of the Treasury and its reshaping of the former Department of Trade and Industry in its own ideal economic policy image. This both boosted the City and disadvantaged industry, thus propelling the UK towards financialisation at a faster pace than almost all rival economies. The arguments are based on evidence from a mix of interviews with central actors, published insider accounts and an analysis of budget statements in the period 1976–2010.
Democracy, Autocracy and the Urban Bias: Evidence from Petroleum Subsidies
Authors: Kim Sung Eun , Urpelainen Johannes
Published: April 2015

Petroleum subsidies are economically costly and environmentally destructive. Autocracies tend to offer higher subsidies for petroleum products than do democracies. Why? This study uses a global dataset of gasoline prices in developing countries for the years 2003–9 to show that the autocratic subsidy premium stems from countries where much of the population lives in small cities. Urban riots are a major threat to autocratic political survival, and high fuel prices cause social unrest. In large cities, autocrats can use public transportation to mitigate the effects of high fuel prices, but this strategy is not practical in small cities. Therefore, autocratic rulers offer high petroleum subsidies if they have large urban populations living in small cities. These findings suggest that the exact nature of urbanization has a critical effect on the political calculus of leaders and on policy outcomes.
Characterisation and partial purification of an antimutagenic peptide produced by Lactobacillus plantarum JNU 2116
Authors: Jeong Jong‐Uk , Song Minyu , Kim Younghoon , Kim Kwang‐Hyun , Kang Jaheon , Oh Sejong
Published: April 2015

The antimutagenic activities of sixteen strains of Lactobacillus were evaluated using three mutagens (4‐nitroquinoline‐N'‐oxide, 4‐NQO; N‐methyl‐N'nitro‐N‐nitrosoguanidine, MNNG; and 2‐amino‐3‐methylimidazole quinoline, IQ). Among the tested Lactobacillus strains, Lactobacillus plantarum strain JNU 2116 had the highest antimutagenic activity in the presence of 4‐NQO, MNNG and IQ (21.5, 25.8 and 34.54% inhibition, respectively). The molecular weight of the antimutagenic peptide was estimated at approximately 762 Da, and the N‐terminal amino acid residue sequence of the purified peptide was identified as NH2‐ XLEXKKAEXITTXX. This peptide may be able to counteract the activity of carcinogens and other toxins if it is added to functional dairy products.
The Instability of Democratic Contractarianism
Authors: Howard Jeffrey W.
Published: April 2015

Democratic contractarianism aspires to unite two previously unconnected strands in political philosophy: a democratic commitment to a social world in which citizens wield equal power; and a contractarian commitment to a strictly prudential justification of political morality. It is argued in this article that the commitment to democratic equality is theoretically unmotivated and risks limiting the applicability of the view to societies in which equal bargaining power already obtains. It is also argued that the view cannot account for why a political order governed by democratic contractarianism will be stable over time. Ultimately, it is suggested that these problems are traceable to a fundamental incompatibility between the two dimensions of democratic contractarianism. The view can be democratic, and it can be contractarian, but it cannot be both.
Democratic Justice and the Boundaries Problem
Authors: Cordelli Chiara
Published: April 2015

This article examines the way in which Albert Weale's procedural account of democratic justice understands: (1) the boundaries of the democratic social contract, in terms of who is included or excluded from the contract; and (2) the boundaries of justice (i.e. the scope of entitlements and obligations of justice) that result from the contract. Either Weale's empirical method justifies the problematic exclusion of certain groups of agents from the democratic contract and thus potentially from the scope of justice, or his method is not as empirical as Weale wants it to be, because in order to evaluate those exclusions as unjust and to prevent them, the theory needs to postulate thick moral standards that are independent from, and external to, democratic procedures. Furthermore, the boundaries of justice resulting from Weale's empirical-contractarian theory are likely to lead to the absence of justice where it would be most needed, especially at the international level. These concerns notwithstanding, Weale's book remains a highly significant contribution to both democratic theory and theories of justice, as well as to our understanding of the relationship between them.
Deliberative Democracy for a Great Society
Authors: O'Flynn Ian
Published: April 2015

According to Albert Weale, as long as the parties to a social contract have equal bargaining power, the agreement they make will incorporate principles of democratic justice. However, as argued in this article, deciding what counts as equal bargaining power requires the parties to display, in the first instance, a prior commitment to deliberation. In other words, it requires them to see things as others see them and to weigh their reasons equally in the balance with their own. Weale is sceptical about the prospects for deliberation in great modern societies; there are simply far too many of us to deliberate together. Hence, he thinks that fairness and equality are better understood as matters of convention. However, this not only overlooks the possibilities for thinking about deliberation in more systemic terms, but also overlooks the fact that sometimes a society can only be truly great by breaking with convention.
Lack of dissemination of acquired resistance to β‐lactams in small wild mammals around an isolated village in the Amazonian forest
Authors: Grall Nathalie , Barraud Olivier , Wieder Ingrid , Hua Anna , Perrier Marion , Babosan Ana , Gaschet Margaux , Clermont Olivier , Denamur Erick , Catzeflis François , Decré Dominique , Ploy Marie‐Cécile , Andremont Antoine
Published: April 2015

In this study, we quantitatively evaluated the spread of resistance to β‐lactams and of integrons in small rodents and marsupials living at various distances from a point of antibiotic's use. Rectal swabs from 114 animals were collected in Trois‐Sauts, an isolated village in French Guiana, and along a 3 km transect heading through the non‐anthropized primary forest. Prevalence of ticarcillin‐resistant enterobacteria was 36% (41/114). Klebsiella spp., naturally resistant to ticarcillin, were found in 31.1% (23/73) of animals from the village and in an equal ratio of 31.7% (13/41) of animals trapped along the transect. By contrast Escherichia coli with acquired resistance to ticarcillin were found in 13.7% (10/73) of animals from the village and in only 2.4% (1/41) of those from the transect (600 m from the village). There was a huge diversity of E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae strains with very unique and infrequent sequence types. The overall prevalence of class 1 integrons carriage was 19.3% (22/114) homogenously distributed between animals from the village and the transect, which suggests a co‐selection by a non‐antibiotic environmental factor. Our results indicate that the anthropogenic acquired antibiotic resistance did not disseminate in the wild far from the point of selective pressure.
Course of Alcohol Symptoms and Social Anxiety Disorder from Adolescence to Young Adulthood
Authors: Black Jessica J. , Clark Duncan B. , Martin Christopher S. , Kim Kevin H. , Blaze Thomas J. , Creswell Kasey G. , Chung Tammy
Published: April 2015

Background

There is limited knowledge of the course of social anxiety disorder (SAD) from adolescence into adulthood, and how SAD and alcohol use disorder (AUD) symptoms change together over time. The current study examined how persistent and adolescent‐limited SAD relate to alcohol symptom trajectories across adolescence and into adulthood, as well as gender differences in the course of SAD and AUD symptoms.

Methods

Participants were 788 youth (ages 12 to 18 at the baseline assessment; 46.2% female; 80.5% White) recruited from the community (n = 220) and from clinical programs (n = 568). Youth completed clinical interviews on their lifetime history of AUD symptoms and SAD at baseline and were followed through age 25. Multivariate polynomial growth mixture modeling was used to estimate developmental trajectories for SAD and AUD symptoms separately, then together in a dual trajectory model. Gender differences were examined using a classify–analyze approach.

Results

Three SAD trajectory classes were identified: adolescent‐limited (15%), persistent (6%), and no SAD (79%). For AUD symptoms, 5 trajectories were identified: severe (10%), moderate (22%), remitting (18%), young adult onset (22%), and stable low (28%). Those with a history of SAD were about twice as likely to be in the severe AUD symptom class compared to those without a history of SAD. Compared to those with persisting SAD, those in the adolescent‐limited SAD class were more likely to belong to the stable low AUD trajectory. Compared to males with SAD, females with SAD were less likely to be in the moderate AUD symptom class and were more likely to be in stable low and young adult onset AUD symptom classes.

Conclusions

A history of SAD was associated with membership in the severe AUD trajectory group. The association of gender with SAD and AUD differed depending on developmental period. Future research should examine whether treating SAD in early adolescence may prevent subsequent AUD symptoms.
A lower reduction in umbilical artery pulsatility in mid‐pregnancy predicts higher infant blood pressure six months after birth
Authors: Khoury J , Knutsen M , Stray‐Pedersen B , Thaulow E , Tonstad S
Published: April 2015

Aim

The Norwegian‐based Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Diet in Pregnancy study found that a cholesterol‐lowering diet during pregnancy was associated with an accentuated reduction in the umbilical artery pulsatility index. This follow‐up study assessed the possible association between the index and the infants’ blood pressure at six months of age.

Methods

In the original study, pregnant women consumed an anti‐atherogenic or usual diet from gestational weeks 17–20 to birth and underwent Doppler velocimetry at 24, 30 and 36 gestational weeks. In this follow‐up study, blood pressure was measured in 105 mother–infant pairs in the intervention group and 106 mother–infant pairs in the control group six months after birth.

Results

Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures were not significantly different between both groups. When the groups were combined, multivariate linear analyses showed that a lower versus higher reduction (≥−0.17 versus <−0.17) in the umbilical artery pulsatility index between gestational weeks 24 and 30 and maternal diastolic blood pressure at six months postpartum were significant predictors of higher infant systolic blood pressure (p = 0.03, 0.01, respectively).

Conclusion

A lower reduction in umbilical pulsatility index in mid‐pregnancy was associated with higher infant blood pressure at six months of age. This suggests that fetoplacental intrauterine factors may influence future cardiovascular risk.
Review article: gut‐directed hypnotherapy in the management of irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Peters S. L. , Muir J. G. , Gibson P. R.
Published: April 2015

Background

Gut‐directed hypnotherapy is being increasingly applied to patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and to a lesser extent, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Aim

To review the technique, mechanisms of action and evidence for efficacy, and to identify gaps in the understanding of gut‐directed hypnotherapy as a treatment for IBS and IBD.

Methods

A review of published literature and a systematic review of clinical trials in its application to patients with IBS and IBD were performed.

Results

Gut‐directed hypnotherapy is a clearly described technique. Its potential mechanisms of action on the brain‐gut axis are multiple with evidence spanning psychological effects through to physiological gastrointestinal modifications. Six of seven randomised IBS studies reported a significant reduction (all P < 0.05) in overall gastrointestinal symptoms following treatment usually compared to supportive therapy only. Response rates amongst those who received gut‐directed hypnotherapy ranged between 24% and 73%. Efficacy was maintained long‐term in four of five studies. A therapeutic effect was also observed in the maintenance of clinical remission in patients with ulcerative colitis. Uncontrolled trials supported the efficacy and durability of gut‐directed hypnotherapy in IBS. Gaps in understanding included to whom and when it should be applied, the paucity of adequately trained hypnotherapists, and the difficulties in designing well controlled‐trials.

Conclusions

Gut‐directed hypnotherapy has durable efficacy in patients with IBS and possibly ulcerative colitis. Whether it sits in the therapeutic arsenal as a primary and/or adjunctive therapy cannot be ascertained on the current evidence base. Further research into efficacy, mechanisms of action and predictors of response is required.
CSF3R and CALR mutations in paediatric myeloid disorders and the association of CSF3R mutations with translocations, including t(8; 21)
Authors: Sano Hitoshi , Ohki Kentaro , Park Myoung‐ja , Shiba Norio , Hara Yusuke , Sotomatsu Manabu , Tomizawa Daisuke , Taga Takashi , Kiyokawa Nobutaka , Tawa Akio , Horibe Keizo , Adachi Souichi , Hayashi Yasuhide
Published: April 2015

Mutations in the colony‐stimulating factor 3 receptor (CSF3R) and calreticulin (CALR) genes have been reported in a proportion of adults with myeloproliferative disease. However, little is known about CSF3R or CALR mutations in paediatric myeloid disorders. We analysed CSF3R exons 14 and 17, and CALR exon 9, using direct sequencing in samples of paediatric acute myeloid leukaemia (AML; n = 521), juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia (JMML; n = 40), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS; n = 20) and essential thrombocythaemia (ET; n = 21). CSF3R mutations were found in 10 (1·92%) of 521 patients with AML; two in exon 14 (both missense mutations resulting in p.T618I) and eight in exon 17 (three frameshift mutations: p.S715X, p.Q774R, and p.S783Q; and five novel missense mutations: p.Q754K, p.R769H, p.L777F, p.T781I, and S795R). All of the patients with mutations in CSF3R exon 17 had chromosomal translocations, including four with t(8;21). At the time of reporting, seven of these ten patients are alive; three have died, due to side effects of chemotherapy. No CSF3R mutations were found in cases of MDS, JMML or ET. The only mutation found in the CALR gene was a frameshift (p.L367 fs) in one ET patient. We discuss the potential impact of these findings for the leukaemogenesis and clinical features of paediatric myeloid disorders.
The relation between long‐term cortisol levels and the metabolic syndrome in HIV‐infected patients
Authors: Langerak Thomas , van den Dries Lennert W. J. , Wester Vincent L. , Staufenbiel Sabine M. , Manenschijn Laura , van Rossum Elisabeth F. C. , van Gorp Eric C. M.
Published: April 2015

Objective

Patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have an increased risk of metabolic complications such as dyslipidaemia, insulin resistance and hypertension; symptoms that are also associated with an excess of the hormone cortisol. We studied the relationship between long‐term cortisol levels and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in HIV‐infected patients.

Design

Cross‐sectional study performed at the outpatient clinic of infectious diseases of the Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Methods

Fasting blood samples and anthropometric data were collected in 126 HIV‐infected patients. An ELISA‐based technique was used to determine long‐term cortisol levels in scalp hair. Cortisol levels were compared to 191 healthy controls.

Results

A higher risk of MetS was observed in HIV patients with a low hair cortisol (odds ratio lower vs upper tertile 4·23, P = 0·04). Hair cortisol levels were not significantly different between HIV patients and healthy controls (16·4 pg/mg vs 13·5 pg/mg; P = 0·14).

Conclusion

The risk of MetS was significantly higher in HIV‐infected patients in the lowest hair cortisol group compared with patients in the highest hair cortisol group. This finding contrasts with results from studies in uninfected individuals where a high cortisol level in hair is associated with metabolic syndrome. The results of this study suggest that these metabolic complications might be related to relative cortisol hypersensitivity in HIV patients.