bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adaptive mutations in RNA polymerase and the transcriptional terminator Rho have similar effects onEscherichia coligene expression
Authors: González-González Andrea , Hug Shaun M. , Rodríguez-Verdugo Alejandra , Suresh Patel Jagdish , Gaut Brandon S.
Published: November 2016

Modifications to transcriptional regulators play a major role in adaptation. Here we compared the effects of multiple beneficial mutations within and betweenEscherichia coli rpoB, the gene encoding the RNA polymerase β subunit, andrho, which encodes a transcriptional terminator. These two genes have harbored adaptive mutations in numerousE. colievolution experiments but particularly in our previous large-scale thermal stress experiment, where the two genes characterized two alternative adaptive pathways. To compare the effects of beneficial mutations, we engineered four advantageous mutations into each of the two genes and measured their effects on fitness, growth, gene expression and transcriptional termination at 42.2°C. Among the eight mutations, tworhomutations had no detectable effect on relative fitness, suggesting they were beneficial only in the context of epistatic interactions. The remaining six mutations had an average relative fitness benefit of ∼20%. TherpoBmutations altered the expression of ∼1700 genes;rhomutations altered the expression of fewer genes, most of which were a subset of the genes altered byrpoB. Across our eight mutants, relative fitness correlated with the degree to which a mutation restored gene expression back to the unstressed, 37.0°C state. Therhomutations do not enhance transcriptional termination in knownrho-terminated regions, but the genome-wide effects of mutations in both genes was to enhance termination. Although beneficial mutations in the two genes did not have identical effects on fitness, growth or gene expression, they acted predominantly through parallel phenotypic effects on gene expression and transcriptional termination.
Homozygous c.259G>A variant inISCA1is associated with a new multiple mitochondrial dysfunctions syndrome
Authors: Shukla Anju , Hebbar Malavika , Srivastava Anshika , Kadavigere Rajagopal , Upadhyai Priyanka , Kanthi Anil , Brandau Oliver , Bielas Stephanie , Girisha Katta M
Published: November 2016

The iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster (ISC) biogenesis pathway is indispensable for many fundamental biological processes and pathogenic variations in genes encoding several components of the Fe-S biogenesis machinery, such asNFU1, BOLA3, IBA57andISCA2are already implicated in causing four types of multiple mitochondrial dysfunctions syndromes (MMDS) among other human diseases. MMDS are clinically characterized by neurodevelopmental delay, neurological deterioration, lactic acidosis, extensive white matter abnormalities and early death. We report on two unrelated families, with two affected children each with neurodevelopmental delay, regression of developmental milestones, seizures, extensive white matter abnormalities, cortical migrational abnormalities, lactic acidosis and early demise. Exome sequencing of two affected individuals, one from each family, revealed a homozygous c.259G>A variant inISCA1and Mendelian segregation was confirmed in both families. ISCA1 is a specialized factor known to mediate maturation of distinct Fe-S cluster (ISC) proteins.In silicofunctional analyses and structural modeling of the protein predict the identifiedISCA1variant to be detrimental to protein stability and function. Notably the phenotype observed in all affected subjects with theISCA1pathogenic variant is similar to that previously described in all 4 types of MMDS. TheISCA1variant lies in the only shared region of homozygosity between the two families suggesting the possibility of a founder effect. To the best of our knowledge this is the first instance where ISCA1 deficiency has been shown to be associated with a human disease, a new type of multiple mitochondrial dysfunctions syndrome.
Multiparameter characterization of subnanometre Cr/Sc multilayers based on complementary measurements
Authors: Haase Anton , Bajt Saša , Hönicke Philipp , Soltwisch Victor , Scholze Frank
Published: November 2016

Cr/Sc multilayer systems can be used as near-normal incidence mirrors for the water window spectral range. It is shown that a detailed characterization of these multilayer systems with 400 bilayers of Cr and Sc, each with individual layer thicknesses <1 nm, is attainable by the combination of several analytical techniques. EUV and X-ray reflectance measurements, resonant EUV reflectance across the Sc L edge, and X-ray standing wave fluorescence measurements were used. The parameters of the multilayer model were determined via a particle-swarm optimizer and validated using a Markov chain Monte Carlo maximum-likelihood approach. For the determination of the interface roughness, diffuse scattering measurements were conducted.
Fast iterative reconstruction of data in full interior tomography
Authors: Arcadu F. , Marone F. , Stampanoni M.
Published: November 2016

This paper introduces two novel strategies for iterative reconstruction of full interior tomography (FINT) data, i.e. when the field of view is entirely inside the object support and knowledge of the object support itself or the attenuation coefficients inside specific regions of interest are not available. The first approach is based on data edge-padding. The second technique creates an intermediate virtual sinogram, which is, then, reconstructed by a standard iterative algorithm. Both strategies are validated in the framework of the alternate direction method of multipliers plug-and-play with gridding projectors that provide a speed-up of three orders of magnitude with respect to standard operators implemented in real space. The proposed methods are benchmarked on synchrotron-based X-ray tomographic microscopy datasets of mouse lung alveoli. Compared with analytical techniques, the proposed methods substantially improve the reconstruction quality for FINT underconstrained datasets, facilitating subsequent post-processing steps.
Lattice reduction using a Euclidean algorithm
Authors: Mujica A.
Published: November 2016

The need to reduce a periodic structure given in terms of a large supercell and associated lattice generators arises frequently in different fields of application of crystallography, in particular in theab initiotheoretical modelling of materials at the atomic scale. This paper considers the reduction of crystals and addresses the reduction associated with the existence of a commensurate translation that leaves the crystal invariant, providing a practical scheme for it. The reduction procedure hinges on a convenient integer factorization of the full period of the cycle (or grid) generated by the repeated applications of the invariant translation, and its iterative reduction into sub-cycles, each of which corresponds to a factor in the decomposition of the period. This is done in successive steps, each time solving a Diophantine linear equation by means of a Euclidean reduction algorithm in order to provide the generators of the reduced lattice.
Cognitive relationships between automobile attributes and personal values
Authors: Pimenta Márcio Lopes , Piato Éderson Luiz
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an analysis of the cognitive relationship between personal values of buyers and attributes of automobiles.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 60 interviews were performed with buyers of sporty and compact cars. The qualitative laddering technique guided data collection and analysis, resulting in two cognitive value maps (HVM). The results were interpreted based on three theoretical approaches: Schwartz (1994), Allen (2000) and Gutman (1982).

Findings

The dominant chains from the two models indicate connection between “design and hedonism,” “internal finishing and hedonism” and “security items and safety as a value.” Therefore, these customers are predominantly characterized by individualistic values: by the pursuit of personal pleasure and concern for personal safety.

Research limitations/implications

Due to qualitative techniques having been used, future research could validate some presented results through surveys based on the connections between the set of attributes and values presented in this research.

Practical implications

Results from this study can help to develop segmentation and advertising strategies, as well as marketing aftermarket actions based on the psychographic profile provided by the HVMs. They may also assist integration between the initial and final phases of new vehicles’ development which have concepts similar to those studied here.

Originality/value

The extant literature provides few studies with the specific objective of identifying connections between vehicle attributes and the personal values of the consumers. This paper presents an interpretation of the cognitive relationships between vehicle attributes and personal values through three theoretical perspectives, providing multidimensional profiles to explain consumers’ values.
Consumer digital piracy behaviour among youths: insights from Indonesia
Authors: Arli Denni , Tjiptono Fandy
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the antecedents of consumers’ attitude towards, and intention to commit, digital piracy in Indonesia, a country with the world’s fourth largest population and one of the highest digital piracy rates. This study explored the effects of six variables derived from the theory of planned behaviour, ethics theory, and deterrence theory on young consumers in Indonesia.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a convenience sampling approach, researchers hand delivered 400 questionnaires to undergraduate students at one large private university and one major public university in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Findings

The results showed that consumers’ intention to pirate digital products was strongly influenced by consumers’ attitude towards digital piracy. Interestingly, fear of legal consequences and perceived likelihood of punishment were not significant predictors of consumers’ attitude towards digital piracy. This suggests that the principles of deterrence theory have a limited impact on consumers’ attitudes in Indonesia.

Originality/value

The results of this study will provide some insights to government and digital industries on how to reduce the prevalence of digital piracy.
“Chopin” effect? An exploratory study on how musical tempo influence consumer choice of drink with different temperatures
Authors: Septianto Felix
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the effect of musical tempo on consumer choice of tea in different temperatures.

Design/methodology/approach

Across two studies, participants were asked to listen to several musical stimuli with different tempi (i.e. slow or fast). Then, they were asked to evaluate and choose one drink (i.e. iced tea or hot tea).

Findings

Results suggest that consumers who listen to fast (slow) tempo music are more likely to choose iced (hot) tea. This effect is robust across different musical modes (i.e. major or minor) (Study 1). However, this musical tempo effect is attenuated when the participants are aware that the music they listened to can influence their judgments (Study 2).

Research limitations/implications

This research is an exploratory study. Thus, further examinations are needed to fully understand the underlying mechanism of this effect. Nonetheless, this research provides an initial evidence of the mediator of this effect.

Originality/value

This research explores how different musical tempi can influence consumer choice of hot or iced tea. Thus, this research adds understanding on how auditory cues (e.g. musical stimuli) can influence consumer choice of other food and drink variables (e.g. temperature).
Cultural context in word-of-mouth activity
Authors: Tercia Christiana Yosevina , Teichert Thorsten
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how monetary incentives foster purchase intention in WOM settings.

Design/methodology/approach

This study investigates offering mobile coupons as an incentive and word-of-mouth (WOM) tool. An empirical study compares achievable effects on WOM behavior in an Eastern cultural context, which an Indonesian sample represents, and in a Western cultural context, which a German sample of incentivized WOM represents.

Findings

Providing senders and receivers’ with differing incentives leads to German consumers having an unfavorable attitude toward such incentives, but not for Indonesian consumers. Furthermore, Indonesian consumers base their decision to redeem mobile coupons more on their personal judgment and their overall deal proneness, while German consumers rely on their personal judgment and on others’ opinion.

Research limitations/implications

There is a need to explore more countries to enrich the Western and Eastern cultural perspectives.

Practical implications

Western firms should consider providing senders and receivers with the same incentives. Alternatively, a non-transparent strategy might be a solution. For firms located in Indonesia, or in other Eastern societies, the transparency of the provided incentives is not a main concern, because inequality is not a big issue in an Eastern society, while senders’ or receivers’ deal proneness character strongly influences their intention to redeem a coupon.

Originality/value

The use of a mobile coupon as a novel incentive and WOM tool.
To tenure or not to tenure? Some implications for school leaders’ proactive behavior from a comparative perspective
Authors: Nir Adam E. , Ifanti Amalia A.
Published: November 2016

Purpose

Tenure is frequently conceived as a two-edged sword: on the one hand, it provides professional security enabling individuals to initiate hazardous endeavors characterized by uncertainty, risk and potential negative results. On the other hand, professional security may negatively affect motivation, promote indifference and undermine genuine initiatives. The purpose of this paper is to assess the implications tenure has on school leaders’ proactive behavior, evident in their tendency to innovate and initiate creative and authentic endeavors.

Design/methodology/approach

Questionnaires were administered to 30 non-tenured Greek school principals and 42 tenured Israeli school leaders. School leaders were questioned about their tendency to innovate and act creatively and authentically.

Findings

Comparisons of groups’ mean scores show that Greek school leaders obtained higher scores when creativity, authenticity and innovativeness are compared between the two groups. These findings are further supported in a discriminant analysis indicating that the two groups’ orientations toward the discriminant function comprising variables, which characterize proactive behavior, are opposite.

Originality/value

The findings of the authors obtained in this study show that job security, which follows tenure, does not guarantee proactive behavior. Implications are further discussed.
Practicing the integration of education for sustainable development (ESD) into the school curriculum
Authors: Lee Stephanie W. , Ma Samson C.W. , Lee Ngok
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine efforts made by the UNESCO Hong Kong Association (UNESCOHK) in integrating education for sustainable development (ESD) into school subjects and into the curriculum in 2009-2016. It investigates: the distribution and development of the three key components of environment, society and economy in student work, and in school assessment reports; the relevancy level of ESD learning to school subjects; the condition in Hong Kong in practicing the integration of ESD learning into the school curriculum; and the practices of integration of ESD learning into the school curriculum in Hong Kong and other countries.

Design/methodology/approach

Grounded theory is deployed to analyze the distribution and development of ESD as understood by students and schools, and the application of knowledge acquired through school subjects to ESD learning activities undertaken by students and schools.

Findings

The study succeeds in identifying the precise distribution and development of the three key components of environment, society and economy in ESD, and in establishing the level of relevancy of ESD learning activities to school subjects and to the school curriculum. UNESCOHK’s initiative is in line with the general trend adopted by countries to integrate ESD into the school curriculum.

Research limitations/implications

The scope of investigation is limited to ESD learning activities in eight schools and to one single economy.

Social implications

The study facilitates attempts to reorientate the lifestyles of students and their parents.

Originality/value

The study is a pioneering work in Hong Kong to integrate ESD learning into school subjects, which is in alignment with the trend to integrate ESD into the school curriculum.
Store image perceptions and customer knowledge cues in emerging markets
Authors: Diallo Mbaye Fall , Cliquet Gérard
Published: November 2016

Purpose

International retailers operating in different emerging countries should figure out how their store image is perceived across these countries and whether they should adapt or standardise the retail offer. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how store image is perceived across different emerging markets and how it relates to customer knowledge cues and personal characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

A store-intercept survey undertaken in Brazil and Vietnam generated 505 usable responses from customers of two metropolitan cities (Brasilia and Hanoi), respectively, in Brazil and Vietnam. The questionnaires were collected in Extra (Brazil) and Big C (Vietnam) retail chains belonging both to the same group (Casino, France).

Findings

Overall, this paper reveals that emerging market customers assess positively modern retail stores and are concerned about services, merchandise, and store layout when shopping. More specifically, the results indicate differences and similarities between Brazilian and Vietnamese customers in terms of store image attributes, store image dimensions, and overall store image. Moreover, customer knowledge of retailers affects store image perceptions at different levels in both countries. Also, significant differences arise across age, gender, and education in both countries, but not across household income categories.

Research limitations/implications

Respondents were customers of only two emerging markets (Brazil and Vietnam) and shoppers of two retail chains (Extra and Big C). Caution should therefore be exercised when generalising the results to other emerging markets.

Practical implications

The paper shows both differences and similarities in store image perceptions in different emerging countries. Because store layout is more positively rated in Brazil than in Vietnam, retailers should be careful to that attribute. In both countries, to improve assortment perceptions, managers might focus on first price (budget) store brands, which can help diversify the assortment and attract less wealthy customers. The service dimension also demands careful management, but personnel training should mirror the local culture.

Originality/value

This research highlights differences and similarities between Brazilian and Vietnamese customers in terms of store image perceptions. It shows that store image mechanisms are similar in emerging countries as in developed countries. Furthermore, the paper is the first to relate store image perceptions to customer knowledge cues in emerging countries.
The dark side of experience-seeking mall shoppers
Authors: Rosenbaum Mark Scott , Otalora Mauricio Losada , Ramírez Germán Contreras
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate that mall shoppers who participate in a mall’s experiential offerings, including entertainment and activities, do not necessarily exhibit more favorable attitudes or behaviors toward the mall than mall shoppers who do not participate in these offerings.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs survey methodology from a sample collected in an expansive regional mall that offers customers experiential activities.

Findings

The findings show that mall shoppers who partake in mall-based activities are less satisfied, are less likely to spread positive word of mouth, and have lesser desire to return to the mall than shoppers who do not partake in these activities. The findings also reveal that mall expenditures are the same between shoppers who partake in mall activities and those who do not.

Research limitations/implications

Researchers have argued that malls can compete with digital retailers by offering shoppers experiential activities. Although segments of shoppers partake in these activities, this study finds that experiential investments do not result in significant favorable shopper outcomes.

Practical implications

Mall developers that implement experiential offerings as a means to combat competition from digital retailers may not attain managerially relevant results from doing so.

Originality/value

Although retailing academics and consultants espouse the idea that retailers can obtain financial benefits by creating memorable experiences for shoppers, this research offers empirical evidence that counters these speculations. In the case of enclosed malls, investments in experiential features and activities may not lead to improved shopper attitudes, behaviors, or sales.
Predicting intention to participate in family takaful scheme using decomposed theory of planned behaviour
Authors: Md Husin Maizaitulaidawati , Ab Rahman Asmak
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors that influence an individual’s intention to participate in the family takaful scheme based on decomposed theory of planned behaviour (DTPB). The central hypotheses for this study are that individual’s intentions to participate in family takaful scheme are a result of attitudes towards participation in family takaful scheme, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control (PBC). Awareness and knowledge, as well as exposure and religiosity, are integrated into the model.

Design/methodology/approach

Using primary data collection method, 384 questionnaires were distributed to target respondents comprising of Muslims in Klang Valley, Malaysia. The data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences and SmartPLS.

Findings

The DTPB model is effective in predicting individual’s intention to participate in family takaful scheme. Out of 15 hypotheses, 12 were found to be significant. Attitudes towards participation in family takaful scheme, PBC, knowledge, and exposure have significant influences on purchase intention. However, this study found the path from religiosity, awareness, and subjective norm to intention was insignificant.

Practical implications

The results of this study highlight the applicability of DTPB into takaful research and suggest marketing strategies for family takaful operators.

Originality/value

The value of this paper lies in its presentation of a model for factors that affect individual’s intention to participate in family takaful scheme.
An empirical analysis of fertiliser use intensity in rural Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Danlami Abubakar Hamid , Islam Rabiul , Applanaidu Shri Dewi , Tsauni Ahmad Muhammad
Published: November 2016

Purpose

It is generally agreed that shortage of food, which is one of the main problems bedevilling Sub-Saharan African region, can be eliminated via the adoption of modern agricultural production technology, one of which is chemical fertiliser. The purpose of this paper is to assess the factors that can be used to improve the intensity of fertiliser use in rural Sub-Saharan African countries, taking Tofa, a local government area in Kano State, Nigeria, as the case study.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted a two-stage sampling technique. In the first stage, four districts were chosen using a simple random sampling technique from the list of the 15 districts in the local government area, namely, Tofa, Langel, Lambu and Doka. In the second stage, 25 farmer households were systematically selected from each of the selected communities. Moreover, Tobit Regression model was used to examine and analyse the influence of some socio-economic factors on fertiliser use intensity.

Findings

To improve the rate of fertiliser use intensity, farmers need to be exposed to skills and training on some off-farm jobs to raise the farmers’ income to enable them to afford more fertiliser. The study finds that income, contact with extension agent, age of the farmer and method of fertiliser application have positive significant impacts on the intensity of fertiliser use. On the other hand, price of fertiliser was found to have negative impact on the intensity of using fertiliser in the study area. Furthermore, based on the data obtained from the selected samples, the average rate of fertiliser application in Tofa local government area during the crop season of 2011/2012 was 25 kg per hectare.

Originality/value

Policies that will strengthen the farmers’ contact with extension agents throughout the farming periods should be adopted. Also, farmers need to be exposed with skills and training on some off farm jobs to raise the farmers’ income to enable them afford more fertiliser.
Aggregation with a mix of indivisible and continuous labor supply decisions
Authors: Vasilev Aleksandar
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the problem of non-convex labor supply decision in an economy with both discrete and continuous labor decisions. In contrast to the setup in McGrattan et al. (1997), here each household faces an indivisible labor supply choice in the market sector, while it can choose to work any number of hours in the non-market sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors show how lotteries as in Rogerson (1988) can again be used to convexify consumption sets, and aggregation over individual preferences.

Findings

With a mix of discrete and continuous labor supply decisions, disutility of non-market work becomes separable from market work, and the elasticity of the latter increases from unity to infinity.

Research limitations/implications

As a possible venue for future research, the authors plan to feed the derived aggregate utility function above in a sophisticated real-business-cycle model to investigate the effect of those preferences for the transmission of technology and fiscal shocks.

Originality/value

This is a novel and interesting result in the aggregation literature.
Sen, Marx and justice: a critique
Authors: Fraser Ian
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to offer a critique of Sen’s utilisation of aspects of Marx’s thought that inform his idea of justice. Marx’s ideas appear in four main areas of discussion: Sen’s positioning of Marx in relation to the other thinkers in his approach to justice; Marx’s fluid notion of identity and its relation to social choice; the problem of going beyond a subjective perspective to consider objective concerns by considering the impact of what Sen calls “objective illusion”; and the issue of just redistribution.

Design/methodology/approach

The author utilises a Marxian framework of analysis that engages in immanent critique of Sen’s use of Marx in relation to his theory of justice. This is accomplished through textual analysis and by critical assessment of the analytical Marxist tradition that Sen can be seen as using in his own theories with all their inherent weaknesses.

Findings

Sen’s attempt to use Marx’s ideas to inform his theory of justice founder because: he groups Marx with thinkers that would not accept his desire for the abolition of capitalism and a more just society beyond it. He reduces Marx to the analytical tradition with all its inherent weaknesses. He resorts to a methodological individualist approach of choice that Marx rejects. His search for positional objectivity is undermined by the power of capitalist ideology and ruling class interest. His discussion of just redistribution ignores how Marx’s approach can overcome the arbitrariness that Sen thinks is inevitable when making just decisions.

Research limitations/implications

Theoretically, the paper suggests that, based on immanent critique and textual analysis, Sen’s use of Marx’s idea of justice is problematic most notably because Sen keeps his analysis within the framework of capitalism that Marx would reject. The implication for further research is the development of Marx’s own arguments on what constitutes a just society.

Practical implications

Practically, the paper raises questions about the capacity for justice to be achieved within the capitalist system for the reasons discussed in relation to Sen.

Social implications

Socially, the paper implies that far greater measures to tackle the injustices of the world are necessary than seem to be admitted to by justice theorists such as Sen.

Originality/value

The author shows that the use of Marx’s theories to inform Sen’s notion of justice, while to be welcomed, lose their efficacious power to expose the full injustice of capitalism and the need for its transcendence.
Acceptance of seniors towards automatic in home fall detection devices
Authors: Feldwieser Florian , Marchollek Michael , Meis Markus , Gietzelt Matthias , Steinhagen-Thiessen Elisabeth
Published: November 2016

Purpose

Senior citizen falls are one of the highest-cost factors of healthcare within this population group. Various approaches for automatic fall detection exist. However, little is known about the seniors’ acceptance of these systems. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the acceptance of automatic fall detection devices as well as the technological commitment and the health status in community-dwelling adults with a predefined risk of falling.

Design/methodology/approach

Seniors with a risk of falling were equipped with either an accelerometer or an accelerometer with an additional visual and optical fall detection system in a sub-group of the study population for a period of eight weeks. Pre- and post-study questionnaires were used to assess attitudes and acceptance toward technology.

Findings

In total, 14 subjects with a mean age of 75.1 years completed the study. Acceptance toward all sensors was high and subjects were confident in their ability to handle technology. Medical assessments showed only very mild physical and no mental impairments. Measures that assured subjects privacy protection were welcomed. Sensor technology should be as unobtrusive as possible.

Originality/value

Privacy protection and uncomplicated use of the fall detection equipment led to high acceptance in seniors with high-technical commitment and good health status. Issues to further improve acceptance could be identified. Future research on different populations is necessary.
Understanding learning in senior public relations practices
Authors: Powell Mandy , Pieczka Magda
Published: November 2016

Purpose

Over the last 50 years the social legitimacy of public relations has improved by standardising and monitoring the education and training of its practitioners. While successful in developing a professional development trajectory from novice to competent practitioner, the profession has struggled to fully understand the development trajectory of its senior public relations practitioners. The diversity of occupational contexts in which public relations is practised, the condition of professional seniority and the knowledge and tools required for working at occupational boundaries is challenging for senior public relations practitioners. It is also a challenge therefore, for the profession to develop and support the learning required for senior practice beyond competency frameworks. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper employs socio-cultural learning theory and supporting empirical evidence gained in semi-structured interviews with senior practitioners in the field to explore what senior practice entails and how senior professionals learn.

Findings

Communities of practice is useful for understanding novice practitioner learning but has insufficient explanatory power for understanding senior practitioner learning. There is an urgent need for support for senior public relations learning that moves beyond reified competency frameworks and enables senior practitioners to function autonomously outside the core community of practice. Seniority requires its learners to embrace uncertainty and confront the challenge of creating new knowledges and in the everyday practices of their professional lives.

Originality/value

“Communities of practice” has been influential in the fields of management and organisations (Bolisani and Scarso, 2014). This paper employs the idea of a learning process that takes place in “constellations of practices” (Wenger, 1998) to offer a view of senior practice as boundary dwelling (Engestrom, 2009) rather than boundary spanning and learning as situated (Lave and Wenger, 1991) in the liminal spaces those boundaries provide.
Clinical and epidemiological analysis in 149 cases of rhododendrol‐induced leukoderma
Authors: Yoshikawa Momoko , Sumikawa Yasuyuki , Hida Tokimasa , Kamiya Takafumi , Kase Kimi , Ishii‐Osai Yasue , Kato Junji , Kan Yuji , Kamiya Shiori , Sato Yuki , Yamashita Toshiharu
Published: November 2016

Rhododendrol‐induced leukoderma is an acquired depigmentation that develops mainly at the contact site after repeated use of skin‐whitening cosmetics containing rhododendrol. In most cases, cessation of further depigmentation or occurrence of repigmentation is observed after discontinuing the use of cosmetics. However, some patients develop vitiligo vulgaris through the spread of depigmentation into the non‐exposed areas. Our study aims to investigate the patient‐specific factors that may affect the extent of depigmentation or repigmentation, as well as development of vitiligo vulgaris. The degree of depigmentation of the face, neck and hands where exposed to rhododendrol was scored using photographs over time. The relationships between depigmentation score at first visit/improvement rate of depigmentation score and patient demographics were evaluated and three important clinical observations were made. First, repigmentation of the face was superior compared with that of the hands and neck, suggesting a possible role for the migration and differentiation of melanocyte stem cells from hair follicles, as a mechanism of repigmentation. Second, the intensity of rhododendrol exposure did not contribute to differences in the severity of depigmentation. This suggested a possibility of underlying genetic susceptibility to melanocyte cytotoxicity or immune reaction. Third, depigmentation score at first visit and past history of atopic dermatitis were significantly high in patients who developed vitiligo vulgaris. This suggested that severe chemical damage of melanocytes by rhododendrol leads to a higher risk of developing vitiligo vulgaris through the possible involvement of an immune reaction. These clinical observations may help to further understand the pathogenesis of rhododendrol‐induced leukoderma.
Morphological analyses in fragility of pili torti with Björnstad syndrome
Authors: Marubashi Yuki , Yanagishita Takeshi , Muto Jun , Taguchi Nobuhiko , Sugiura Kazumitsu , Kawamoto Yoshiyuki , Akiyama Masashi , Watanabe Daisuke
Published: November 2016

Pili torti is an extremely rare hair phenotype characterized by short length of hairs with hair shafts being easily broken. However, the mechanism of fragility in pili torti is unclear. In this study, we examined the underlying morphological features responsible for pili torti formation using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We used pili torti samples from a patient with Björnstad syndrome and normal hairs from a healthy subject as a comparison. The macroscopic morphological features of the samples agreed with the results of a previous study showing that pili torti is twisted, flattened, thin and with partial trichorrhexis. Young's modulus of the samples was lower than that of normal hairs. Because the cross‐sectional area of the pili torti samples was also smaller than that of normal hairs, it was clarified that the tensile strength of pili torti is 2.1‐times lower than that of normal hair. Assessment of morphological features by TEM showed that the cuticle layers of the samples had wavy shapes with different thicknesses. Additionally, the cortex in the samples showed loose keratin intermediate filaments (IF). Our results suggested that these abnormalities in pili torti had already occurred below the infundibulum. Thus, the weakness of pili torti in tensile strength is thought to result from loose IF because of dysformation of disulfide bonds.
Disruption of plant–soil–microbial relationships influences plant growth
Authors: Keymer Daniel P. , Lankau Richard A.
Published: November 2016

Differential dispersal of plant and microbial propagules may result in the geographical disassociation of plant populations from their local abiotic conditions and microbial communities, especially in the face of species introductions and changing climates.

To assess the potential consequences of disrupting historical relationships between plant populations, microbial communities and soil conditions, we grew Carpinus caroliniana seedlings from populations across the species range in combinations of sterilized soils and soil microbial communities, in soils collected from sites with or without conspecific trees. This controlled environment study simulated the consequences for seedling growth of independently or jointly disrupting the historical plant population–soil match, plant population–microbial community match and microbial community–soil match.

Seedlings grown in soils from areas without conspecifics had lower biomass, but benefited from inoculation with their historical microbial communities. For conspecific‐cultured soils, growth was optimized when seedlings grew with novel microbial communities, but only when microbial communities were local with respect to abiotic soil conditions. Correlative evidence suggests that this may stem from alignment of ectomycorrhizal fungal communities to abiotic soil conditions.

Synthesis. Maintaining historical plant–microbial community relationships may benefit plant species spreading into new areas; however, for movement within current ranges, maintaining the historical relationship between microbial communities and the abiotic aspects of soils may have more important consequences for early growth.
The evolution of weak standards: the case of the Swedish rheumatology quality registry
Authors: Essén Anna , Sauder Michael
Published: November 2016

Research in sociology suggests that the effects of standards are not nearly as straightforward or as homogenising as they first appear. The present study extends these insights by demonstrating how even standards designed simply to collect data can produce extensive and unanticipated effects in medical fields as their uses evolve across actors and contexts. We draw on an embedded case study exploring the multifaceted consequences of the use of a practice‐driven voluntary documentation standard: the Swedish rheumatology quality registry from 1995–2014. Data collection included document analysis; 100 interviews with specialists, patients and stakeholders in the field; fieldwork; and observations of physician‐patient encounters. Our findings show that the scope and influence of the registry increased over time, and that this standard and its evolution contributed to changes in rheumatologist clinical practice, research practice, and governmental practice. These findings suggest that even initially ‘weak’, voluntary forms of standardisation can generate far‐reaching and unpredictable consequences for the performance and delivery of care as well as for the development of a medical field. Future work about how standards can contribute both to uniformity and diversity is warranted.
Psychiatric, Demographic, and Brain Morphological Predictors of Relapse After Treatment for an Alcohol Use Disorder
Authors: Durazzo Timothy C. , Meyerhoff Dieter J.
Published: November 2016

Background

Relapse in alcohol use disorders (AUD) is related to a complex interplay among multiple biological, psychiatric, psychological, and psychosocial factors, which may change dynamically during and after treatment. At treatment entry for AUD, morphological abnormalities in anterior frontal regions and the insula have been observed in those who ultimately relapse following treatment. The goal of this study was to determine whether anterior frontal and insula measures of brain thickness, surface area, and volume predict posttreatment drinking status (i.e., relapser or abstainer) over an extended period after outpatient treatment for AUD, while concurrently considering common psychiatric, psychological, and psychosocial factors previously associated with relapse.

Methods

Alcohol‐dependent individuals (n = 129) were followed for 18 months after treatment to determine posttreatment drinking status (abstainers [n = 47] or relapsers [n = 82]). Brain morphometrics were derived from FreeSurfer. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to identify the regional brain thickness, surface area, and volume (all scaled to intracranial volume), demographic, psychiatric, other substance use (e.g., cigarette smoking), and alcohol consumption variables, obtained at entry into treatment, that best predicted posttreatment drinking status. Survival analyses determined variables that were related to duration of abstinence after treatment.

Results

ROC analyses indicated that mood disorders, education, and volumes of the right caudal anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), right rostral ACC, and total right frontal gray matter were significant predictors of posttreatment drinking status. Among relapsers, survival analyses showed smokers and individuals with a comorbid medical condition relapsed earlier after treatment. Additionally, a greater frequency of smokers relapsed within 6 months of AUD treatment.

Conclusions

Results reinforce that relapse in AUD is a function of multiple biological, psychiatric, psychological, and psychosocial factors. Effective treatment of depressive disorders and cigarette smoking concurrent with AUD‐focused interventions may promote better treatment outcomes.
Alcohol Misuse and Co‐Occurring Mental Disorders Among New Soldiers in the U.S. Army
Authors: Stein Murray B. , Campbell‐Sills Laura , Gelernter Joel , He Feng , Heeringa Steven G. , Nock Matthew K. , Sampson Nancy A. , Sun Xiaoying , Jain Sonia , Kessler Ronald C. , Ursano Robert J. ,   the Army STARRS Collaborators
Published: November 2016

Background

Problem drinking that predates enlistment into military service may contribute to the overall burden of alcohol misuse in the Armed Forces; however, evidence bearing on this issue is limited. This study examines prevalence and correlates of alcohol misuse among new U.S. Army soldiers.

Methods

Cross‐sectional survey data were collected from soldiers reporting for basic combat training. The survey retrospectively assessed lifetime alcohol consumption and substance abuse/dependence, enabling estimation of the prevalence of lifetime binge drinking and heavy drinking in a sample of 30,583 soldiers and of probable alcohol use disorder (AUD) among 26,754 soldiers with no/minimal lifetime use of other drugs. Co‐occurrence of mental disorders and other adverse outcomes with binge drinking, heavy drinking, and AUD was examined. Discrete‐time survival analysis, with person‐year the unit of analysis and a logistic link function, was used to estimate associations of AUD with subsequent onset of mental disorders and vice versa.

Results

Weighted prevalence of lifetime binge drinking was 27.2% (SE = 0.4) among males and 18.9% (SE = 0.7) among females; respective estimates for heavy drinking were 13.9% (SE = 0.3) and 9.4% (SE = 0.4). Among soldiers with no/minimal drug use, 9.5% (SE = 0.2) of males and 7.2% (SE = 0.5) of females had lifetime AUD. Relative to no alcohol misuse, binge drinking, heavy drinking, and AUD were associated with increased odds of all mental disorders and other adverse outcomes under consideration (adjusted odds ratios [AORs] = 1.5 to 4.6; ps < 0.001). Prior mental disorders and suicidal ideation were associated with onset of AUD (AORs = 2.3 to 2.8; ps < 0.001), and prior AUD was associated with onset of mental disorders and suicidal ideation (AORs = 2.0 to 3.2, ps < 0.005).

Conclusions

Strong bidirectional associations between alcohol misuse and mental disorders were observed in a cohort of soldiers beginning Army service. Conjoint recognition of alcohol misuse and mental disorders upon enlistment may provide opportunities for risk mitigation early in a soldier's career.
Alcohol Exposure Causes Overexpression of Heart Development‐Related Genes by Affecting the Histone H3 Acetylation via BMP Signaling Pathway in Cardiomyoblast Cells
Authors: Shi Jin , Zhao Weian , Pan Bo , Zheng Min , Si Lina , Zhu Jing , Liu Lingjuan , Tian Jie
Published: November 2016

Background

Abusive alcohol utilization of pregnant woman may cause congenital heart disease (CHD) of fetus, where alcohol ignites histone H3 hyperacetylation leading to abnormal development of heart morphogenesis and associated genes. Knowledge about the regularized upstream genes is little, but bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling may actively and prominently take part in alteration in acetylation of histone H3. The supreme objective of this study was to unearth the involvement of BMP signaling pathway in alcohol‐driven hyperacetylation of histone H3 in cardiomyoblast cells.

Methods

Cardiomyoblast cells (H9c2 cells) were addicted with alcohol (100 mM) for 24 hours. Dorsomorphin (5 μM) was used for the inhibition of BMP signaling pathway. We detected the phosphorylation activity of SMAD1/5/8, mRNA expression, histone acetyltransferases (HAT)/histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity, and acetylation of histone H3.

Results

Following alcohol exposure, phosphorylation of SMAD1/5/8 and HAT activities was increased to a significant extent, while histone H3 acetylation and expression of heart development‐related genes were also increased. The said phenomenon influenced by alcohol was reverted upon dorsomorphin treatment to the cells without effecting HDAC activity.

Conclusions

The data clearly identified that BMP‐mediated histone H3 acetylation of heart development‐related genes might be one of the possible cellular mechanisms to control alcohol‐induced expression of heart development‐related genes. Dorsomorphin, on the other hand, may modulate alcohol‐induced hyperacetylation of histone H3 through BMP targeting, which could be a potential way to block CHD.