bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early fever after trauma: Does it matter?
Authors: Hinson Holly E. , Rowell Susan , Morris Cynthia , Lin Amber L. , Schreiber Martin A.
Published: June 2017

BACKGROUND

Fever is strongly associated with poor outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI). We hypothesized that early fever is a direct result of brain injury and thus would be more common in TBI than in patients without brain injury and associated with inflammation.

METHODS

We prospectively enrolled patients with major trauma with and without TBI from a busy Level I trauma center intensive care unit (ICU). Patients were assigned to one of four groups based on their presenting Head Abbreviated Injury Severity Scale scores: multiple injuries: head Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score greater than 2, one other region greater than 2; isolated head: head AIS score greater than 2, all other regions less than 3; isolated body: one region greater than 2, excluding head/face; minor injury: no region with AIS greater than 2. Early fever was defined as at least one recorded temperature greater than 38.3°C in the first 48 hours after admission. Outcome measures included neurologic deterioration, length of stay in the ICU, hospital mortality, discharge Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended, and plasma levels of seven key cytokines at admission and 24 hours (exploratory).

RESULTS

Two hundred sixty-eight patients were enrolled, including subjects with multiple injuries (n = 59), isolated head (n = 97), isolated body (n = 100), and minor trauma (n = 12). The incidence of fever was similar in all groups irrespective of injury (11–24%). In all groups, there was a significant association between the presence of early fever and death in the hospital (6–18% vs. 0–3%), as well as longer median ICU stays (3–7 days vs. 2–3 days). Fever was significantly associated with elevated IL-6 at admission (50.7 pg/dL vs. 16.9 pg/dL, p = 0.0067) and at 24 hours (83.1 pg/dL vs. 17.1 pg/dL, p = 0.0025) in the isolated head injury group.

CONCLUSION

Contrary to our hypothesis, early fever was not more common in patients with brain injury, though fever was associated with longer ICU stays and death in all groups. Additionally, fever was associated with elevated IL-6 levels in isolated head injury.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic and Epidemiological study, level III.
Prevalence of nonaccidental trauma among children at American College of Surgeons–verified pediatric trauma centers
Authors: Bogumil David D.A. , Demeter Natalie E. , Kay Imagawa Karen , Upperman Jeffrey S. , Burke Rita V.
Published: June 2017

BACKGROUND

Child abuse remains a national epidemic that has detrimental effects if unnoticed in the clinical setting. Extreme cases of child abuse, or nonaccidental trauma (NAT), have large financial burdens associated with them due to treatment costs and long-term effects of abuse. Clinicians who have additional training and experience with pediatric trauma are better equipped to detect signs of NAT and have more experience reporting it. This additional training and experience can be measured by using the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Pediatric Trauma verification. It is hypothesized that ACS-verified pediatric trauma centers (vPTCs) have an increased prevalence of NAT because of this additional experience and training relative to non-ACS vPTCs.

METHODS

The National Trauma Data Bank, for the years 2007 to 2014, was utilized to compare the prevalence of NAT between ACS vPTCs relative to non-ACS vPTCs to produce both crude and Injury Severity Score adjusted prevalence ratio estimates.

RESULTS

The majority of NAT cases across all hospitals were male (58.3%). The mean age of the NAT cases was 2.3 years with a mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) of 11.1. The most common payment method was Medicaid (64.4%). The prevalence of NAT was 1.82 (1.74–1.90) times higher among ACS vPTCs and 1.81 (1.73–1.90) after adjusting for ISS.

CONCLUSIONS

The greater prevalence of NAT at vPTCs likely represents a more accurate measure of NAT among pediatric trauma patients, likely due to more experience and training of clinicians.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic/Epidemiological, Level II.
Nonoperative management rather than endovascular repair may be safe for grade II blunt traumatic aortic injuries: An 11-year retrospective analysis
Authors: Spencer Stephen M. , Safcsak Karen , Smith Chadwick P. , Cheatham Michael L. , Bhullar Indermeet S.
Published: June 2017

BACKGROUND

The Society of Vascular Surgery (SVS) guidelines currently suggest thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for grade II–IV and nonoperative management (NOM) for grade I blunt traumatic aortic injury (BTAI). However, there is increasing evidence that grade II may also be observed safely. The purpose of this study was to compare the outcome of TEVAR and NOM for grade I–IV BTAI and determine if grade II can be safely observed with NOM.

METHODS

The records of patients with BTAI from 2004 to 2015 at a Level I trauma center were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were separated into two groups: TEVAR versus NOM. All BTAIs were graded according to the SVS guidelines. Minimal aortic injury (MAI) was defined as BTAI grade I and II. Failure of NOM was defined as aortic rupture after admission or progression on subsequent computed tomography (CT) imaging requiring TEVAR or open thoracotomy repair (OTR). Statistical analysis was performed using Mann–Whitney U and χ
2 tests.

RESULTS

A total of 105 adult patients (≥16 years) with BTAI were identified over the 11-year period. Of these, 17 patients who died soon after arrival and 17 who underwent OTR were excluded. Of the remaining 71 patients, 30 had MAI (14 TEVAR vs. 16 NOM). There were no failures in either group. No patients with MAI in either group died from complications of aortic lesions. Follow-up CT imaging was performed on all MAI patients. Follow-up CT scans for all TEVAR patients showed stable stents with no leak. Follow-up CT in the NOM group showed progression in two patients neither required subsequent OTR or TEVAR.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the SVS guidelines suggest TEVAR for grade II–IV and NOM for grade I BTAI, NOM may be safely used in grade II BTAI.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic study, level IV.
Repurposing a pore: highly conserved perforin-like proteins with alternative mechanisms
Authors: Ni Tao , Gilbert Robert J. C.
Published: June 2017

Pore-forming proteins play critical roles in pathogenic attack and immunological defence. The membrane attack complex/perforin (MACPF) group of homologues represents, with cholesterol-dependent cytolysins, the largest family of such proteins. In this review, we begin by describing briefly the structure of MACPF proteins, outlining their common mechanism of pore formation. We subsequently discuss some examples of MACPF proteins likely implicated in pore formation or other membrane-remodelling processes. Finally, we focus on astrotactin and bone morphogenetic protein and retinoic acid-induced neural-specific proteins, highly conserved MACPF family members involved in developmental processes, which have not been well studied to date or observed to form a pore—and which data suggest may act by alternative mechanisms.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘Membrane pores: from structure and assembly, to medicine and technology’.
Haemolytic actinoporins interact with carbohydrates using their lipid-binding module
Authors: Tanaka Koji , Caaveiro Jose M. M. , Morante Koldo , Tsumoto Kouhei
Published: June 2017

Pore-forming toxins (PFTs) are proteins endowed with metamorphic properties that enable them to stably fold in water solutions as well as in cellular membranes. PFTs produce lytic pores on the plasma membranes of target cells conducive to lesions, playing key roles in the defensive and offensive molecular systems of living organisms. Actinoporins are a family of potent haemolytic toxins produced by sea anemones vigorously studied as a paradigm of α-helical PFTs, in the context of lipid–protein interactions, and in connection with nanopore technologies. We have recently reported that fragaceatoxin C (FraC), an actinoporin, engages biological membranes with a large adhesive motif allowing the simultaneous attachment of up to four lipid molecules prior to pore formation. Since actinoporins also interact with carbohydrates, we sought to understand the molecular and energetic basis of glycan recognition by FraC. By employing structural and biophysical methodologies, we show that FraC engages glycans with low affinity using its lipid-binding module. Contrary to other PFTs requiring separate domains for glycan and lipid recognition, the small single-domain actinoporins economize resources by achieving dual recognition with a single binding module. This mechanism could enhance the recruitment of actinoporins to the surface of target tissues in their marine environment.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘Membrane pores: from structure and assembly, to medicine and technology’.
Insertion of proteins and lipopolysaccharide into the bacterial outer membrane
Authors: Botos Istvan , Noinaj Nicholas , Buchanan Susan K.
Published: June 2017

The bacterial outer membrane contains phospholipids in the inner leaflet and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the outer leaflet. Both proteins and LPS must be frequently inserted into the outer membrane to preserve its integrity. The protein complex that inserts LPS into the outer membrane is called LptDE, and consists of an integral membrane protein, LptD, with a separate globular lipoprotein, LptE, inserted in the barrel lumen. The protein complex that inserts newly synthesized outer-membrane proteins (OMPs) into the outer membrane is called the BAM complex, and consists of an integral membrane protein, BamA, plus four lipoproteins, BamB, C, D and E. Recent structural and functional analyses illustrate how these two complexes insert their substrates into the outer membrane by distorting the membrane component (BamA or LptD) to directly access the lipid bilayer.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘Membrane pores: from structure and assembly, to medicine and technology’.
An Eigenvalue Test for spatial Principal Component Analysis
Authors: Montano V. , Jombart T.
Published: June 2017

Background

The spatial Principal Component Analysis (sPCA, Jombart 2008) is designed to investigate non-random spatial distributions of genetic variation. Unfortunately, the associated tests used for assessing the existence of spatial patterns (global and local test; Jombart et al. 2008) lack statistical power and may fail to reveal existing spatial patterns. Here, we present a non-parametric test for the significance of specific patterns recovered by sPCA.

Results

We compared the performance of this new test to the originalglobalandlocaltests using datasets simulated under classical population genetic models. Results show that our test outperforms the originalglobalandlocaltests, exhibiting improved statistical power while retaining similar, and reliable type I errors. Moreover, by allowing to test various sets of axes, it can be used to guide the selection of retained sPCA components.

Conclusions

As such, our test represents a valuable complement to the original analysis, and should prove useful for the investigation of spatial genetic patterns.
In vitro evaluation of antagonism byTrichodermaspp. towardsPhellinus noxiusassociated with rain tree (Samanea saman) and Senegal mahogany (Khaya senegalensis) in Singapore
Authors: Burcham Daniel C. , Wong Jia Yih , Abarrientos Nelson V. , Mohamed Ali Mohamed Ismail , Fong Yok King , Schwarze Francis W. M. R.
Published: June 2017

A series of laboratory tests was conducted to screen and identifyTnchodermaspp. for the biological control ofP. noxiuson pruning wounds. In total, 7Trichodermaisolates were evaluated for their biological fitness and antagonism towards 2 differentP. noxiusisolates associated with Senegal mahogany and rain tree in Singapore. The competitive ability of variousTrichodermaisolates was assessed by their germination rates, growth rates, and chlamydospore production; and the antagonism ofP. noxiusbyTrichodermawas assessed by the interaction of these fungi in dual culture and on wood blocks. In this study, theTrichodermaisolates showed greater competitiveness and antagonism towardsP. noxiuscompared to similar reports in the literature. A majority of theTrichodermaisolates germinated and grew at consistently high rates, but there was considerable variability in the production of chlamydospores among isolates. AllTrichodermaisolates routinely antagonizedP. noxiusin the different bioassays, but there was significant variability in the antagonistic capacity of various isolates and in the susceptibility of theP. noxiusisolates to confrontation withTrichoderma.Relative to the controls,P. noxiuscultures grew significantly slower in the presence of volatile organic compounds emitted by mostTrichodermaisolates, and a large majority ofTrichodermaisolates caused a significant reduction to the dry weight loss of wood blocks inoculated withP. noxius.Although no singleTrichodermaisolate consistently antagonizedP. noxiusbetter than all others in every test,T. harzianum9132 andT. virensW23 notably did so more regularly than others.
Cargo crowding at actin-rich regions along axons causes local traffic jams in neurons
Authors: Sood Parul , Murthy Kausalya , Vinod Kumar T. , Nonet Michael L , Menon Gautam I. , Koushika Sandhya P.
Published: June 2017

Steady axonal cargo flow is central to the functioning of healthy neurons. However, a substantial fraction of cargo in axons remains stationary across a broad distribution of times. We examine the transport of pre-synaptic vesicles (pre-SVs), endosomes and mitochondria inC. eleganstouch receptor neurons (TRNs), showing that stalled cargo are predominantly present at actin-rich regions along the neuronal process. Cargo stalled at actin-rich regions increase the propensity of moving cargo to stall at the same location, resulting in traffic jams. Such local traffic jams at actin-rich regions are likely to be a general feature of axonal transport since they occur inDrosophilaneurons as well. These traffic jams can act as both sources and sinks of vesicles. We propose that they act as functional reservoirs that contribute to maintaining robust cargo flow in the neuron.
Cross-species Y chromosome function between malaria vectors of theAnopheles gambiaespecies complex
Authors: Bernardini Federica , Galizi Roberto , Wunderlich Mariana , Taxiarchi Chrysanthi , Kranjc Nace , Kyrou Kyros , Hammond Andrew , Nolan Tony , Lawniczak Mara N. K. , Papathanos Philippos Aris , Crisanti Andrea , Windbichler Nikolai
Published: June 2017

Y chromosome function, structure and evolution is poorly understood in many species including theAnophelesgenus of mosquitoes, an emerging model system for studying speciation that also represents the major vectors of malaria. While the Anopheline Y had previously been implicated in male mating behavior, recent data from theAnopheles gambiaecomplex suggests that, apart from the putative primary sex-determiner, no other genes are conserved on the Y. Studying the functional basis of the evolutionary divergence of the Y chromosome in the gambiae complex is complicated by complete F1 male hybrid sterility. Here we used an F1xF0 crossing scheme to overcome a severe bottleneck of male hybrid incompatibilities and enabled us to experimentally purify a genetically labelledA. gambiaeY chromosome in anA. arabiensisbackground. Whole genome sequencing confirmed that theA. gambiaeY retained its original sequence content in theA. arabiensisgenomic background. In contrast to comparable experiments inDrosophila, we find that the presence of a heterospecific Y chromosome has no significant effect on the expression ofA. arabiensisgenes and transcriptional differences can be explained almost exclusively as a direct consequence of transcripts arising from sequence elements present on theA. gambiaeY chromosome itself. We find that Y hybrids show no obvious fertility defects and no substantial reduction in male competitiveness. Our results demonstrate that, despite their radically different structure, Y chromosomes of these two species of the gambiae complex that diverged an estimated 1.85Myr ago function interchangeably, thus indicating that the Y chromosome does not harbor loci contributing to hybrid incompatibility. Therefore, Y chromosome gene flow between members of the gambiae complex is possible even at their current level of divergence. Importantly, this also suggests that malaria control interventions based on sex-distorting Y drive would be transferable, whether intentionally or contingent, between the major malaria vector species.
Evolution of gene expression after whole-genome duplication: new insights from the spotted gar genome
Authors: Pasquier Jeremy , Braasch Ingo , Batzel Peter , Cabau Cedric , Montfort Jérome , Nguyen Thaovi , Jouanno Elodie , Berthelot Camille , Klopp Christophe , Journot Laurent , Postlethwait John H. , Guiguen Yann , Bobe Julien
Published: June 2017

Whole genome duplications (WGD) are important evolutionary events. Our understanding of underlying mechanisms, including the evolution of duplicated genes after WGD, however remains incomplete. Teleost fish experienced a common WGD (teleost-specific genome duplication, or TGD) followed by a dramatic adaptive radiation leading to more than half of all vertebrate species. The analysis of gene expression patterns following TGD at the genome level has been limited by the lack of suitable genomic resources. The recent concomitant release of the genome sequence of spotted gar (a representative of holosteans, the closest lineage of teleosts that lacks the TGD) and the tissue-specific gene expression repertoires of over 20 holostean and teleostean fish species, including spotted gar, zebrafish and medaka (the PhyloFish project), offered a unique opportunity to study the evolution of gene expression following TGD in teleosts. We show that most TGD duplicates gained their current status (loss of one duplicate gene or retention of both duplicates) relatively rapidly after TGD (i.e. prior to the divergence of medaka and zebrafish lineages). The loss of one duplicate is the most common fate after TGD with a probability of approximately 80%. In addition, the fate of duplicate genes after TGD, including subfunctionalization, neofunctionalization, or retention of two ‘similar’ copies occurred not only before, but also after the radiation of species tested, in consistency with a role of the TGD in speciation and/or evolution of gene function. Finally, we report novel cases of TGD ohnolog subfunctionalization and neofunctionalization that further illustrate the importance of these processes.
Zika Virus in Salivary Glands of Five Different Species of Wild-Caught Mosquitoes from Mexico
Authors: Elizondo-Quiroga Darwin , Medina-Sánchez Aarón. , Sánchez-González Jorge M. , Eckert Kristen Allison , Villalobos-Sánchez Erendira , Navarro-Zúñiga Antonio Rigoberto , Sánchez-Tejeda Gustavo , Correa-Morales Fabián , González-Acosta Cassandra , Elizondo-Quiroga Armando E. ,   Mexican Network for Virology,   Secretaría de Salud of Mexico
Published: June 2017

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne virus andAedes agyptihas been mentioned as the main vector of the disease. Other mosquito species in theAedesandCulexgenera have been suggested to have the potential for being competent vectors, based on experimental exposition of mosquitoes to an infectious blood meal containing ZIKV. Here, we report the isolation in cell culture of ZIKV from different body parts of wild-caught female mosquitoes (Ae. aegypti,Ae. vexans, Culex quinquefasciatus,Cx. coronator, andCx. tarsalis) and whole male mosquitoes (Ae. aegyptiandCx. quinquefasciatus) in Mexico. Importantly, the virus was isolated from the salivary glands of all of these mosquitoes, strongly suggesting that these species are potential vectors for ZIKV.
A single point mutation in a TssB/VipA homolog disrupts sheath formation in the type VI secretion system ofProteus mirabilis
Authors: Saak Christina C. , Zepeda-Rivera Martha A. , Gibbs Karine A.
Published: June 2017

The type VI secretion (T6S) system is a molecular device for the delivery of proteins from one cell into another. T6S function depends on the contractile sheath comprised of TssB/VipA and TssC/VipB proteins. We previously reported on a mutant variant of TssB that disrupts T6S-dependent export of the self-identity protein, IdsD, in the bacteriumProteus mirabilis. Here we determined the mechanism underlying that initial observation. We show that T6S-dependent export of multiple self-recognition proteins is abrogated in this mutant strain. We have mapped the mutation, which is a single amino acid change, to a region predicted to be involved in the formation of the TssB-TssC sheath. We have demonstrated that this mutation does indeed inhibit sheath formation, thereby explaining the global disruption of T6S activity. We propose that this mutation could be utilized as an important tool for studying functions and behaviors associated with T6S systems.
Crystal structure of (E)-2-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylethan-1-one oxime
Authors: Reuter Hans , Okio Coco K. Y. A.
Published: June 2017

The title compound, C14H13NO2, is a commercially available material and can be used as a multidentate ligand. The molecule of the asymmetric unit has anRconfiguration, while the correspondingS-configured molecule of the racemic mixture is generated by a crystallographic centre of symmetry. Both hydroxy groups (the H atom of the oxime group is equally disordered over two positions) are involved in hydrogen bonding, leading to the formation of chains extending parallel to [001].
2,2′-(Diselane-1,2-diyl)bis(N,N-dimethylnicotinamide)
Authors: Guo Zhiqiang , Wang Yakong , Xu Ying , Wei Xuehong
Published: June 2017

The title compound, C16H18N4O2Se2, is centrosymmetric. The dihedral angle between the pyridine ring and the amide side chain is 56.20 (16)°. In the crystal, a weak C—H...O interaction links the molecules into [010] chains.
4-Benzyl-6-bromo-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-4H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine
Authors: Bourichi Selma , Kandri Rodi Youssef , Jasinski Jerry P. , Kaur Manpreet , Ouzidan Younes , Essassi El Mokhtar
Published: June 2017

In the title compound, C19H13BrClN3, the chlorophenyl ring occupies an equatorial position with respect to the mean plane of the imidazopyridine unit, while the other phenyl ring is twisted by 4.1 (2)° with respect to the mean plane of the imidazopyridine unit. In the crystal, pairwise C—H...Br interactions link the molecules into dimers, forming anR22(16) ring motif. In addition, weak π–π stacking interactions stabilize the crystal packing.
A missing link: the behavioral mediators between resources and entrepreneurial intentions
Authors: Aragon-Sanchez Antonio , Baixauli-Soler Samuel , Carrasco-Hernandez Antonio Jose
Published: June 2017

Purpose

Based on the theory of planned behaviour and the resource-based perspective, the purpose of this paper is to provide a well-supported explanation of how access to resources, defined as those controlled by the family context and not necessarily controlled by the student, changes attitudes, subjective norms and perceived control and, consequently, the entrepreneurial intentions of secondary students.

Design/methodology/approach

In contrast to traditional research methodologies, this study used a different approach based on primary survey data collected from secondary students to study future entrepreneurial intentions. Structural equation models were used in the empirical analysis.

Findings

Secondary students with more access to resources – financial and human capital – have stronger entrepreneurial intentions because they have more favourable attitudes and subjective norms, and greater perceived behavioural control. This study finds that cultural capital has no significant impact on entrepreneurial intention.

Practical implications

Key policy actions should increase access to resources for young people.

Originality/value

This study shows that the effect of access to resources on entrepreneurial intention is mediated by attitudes, social norms and perceived behavioural control. The results suggest that the relationship between access to resources and entrepreneurial intentions is more complex and nuanced than previously thought.
How shared leadership and team personality composition interact to improve entrepreneurial team performance
Authors: Zhou Wencang , Zhang Yanli , Shen Yali
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to explore the contingency effects of personality composition on the shard leadership and entrepreneurial team performance relationship and second, to examine different contingency effects that team personality mean score and team personality diversity have on the shared leadership – entrepreneurial team performance relationship, using the person-team fit theory and the Big-5 framework.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample consisted of 200 entrepreneurial teams in a technology incubator founded in 2009 in eastern China. Data were collected through an online survey.

Findings

Team conscientiousness level and team openness to experience diversity were found to interact with shared leadership to influence team effectiveness in a supplementary way, such that the relationship between shared leadership and team effectiveness will be stronger when the team’s mean score on conscientiousness level is high and diversity score on openness to experience is low. Another finding from this study is that team diversity scores on emotional stability and agreeableness interact with shared leadership in a complementary way; that is, the higher the diversity score, the better influence shared leadership has on team effectiveness.

Practical implications

First, this study provides policy implications for government agencies, foundations, and universities who provide support for start-ups in incubators. These institutions should know the importance of entrepreneurial team composition and team process to start-up performance and should provide entrepreneurial teams support in team development. Second, the study provides entrepreneurs with implications regarding team member selection.

Originality/value

This is one of the first papers to study the interaction between personality composition and shared leadership and its impact on new venture performance. These findings advance the literature on moderators of shared leadership by demonstrating that team personality composition on conscientiousness, openness to experience, emotional stability, and agreeableness moderates the relationship between shared leadership and entrepreneurial team performance.
Greening competitiveness for hotels and restaurants
Authors: Iraldo Fabio , Testa Francesco , Lanzini Pietro , Battaglia Massimo
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a survey-based study performed on Italian SMEs in the “hotel, restaurant, café” (HORECA) sector, aimed at investigating the relationship between pro-environmental strategies and competitiveness and how such strategies can be exploited to outperform competitors.

Design/methodology/approach

The survey involved 317 Italian SMEs. Regression models have been developed to analyze the causal relationship between three dimensions of competitiveness (competitive advantage over competitors, customer satisfaction and employees’ motivation), and environmental practices that can be adopted by HORECA SMEs.

Findings

Top management commitment emerges as a key driver of competitiveness, confirming the strategic relevance of a sound approach to sustainability also in SMEs operating in the tourism sector. Moreover, actions aimed at investing in green food products (e.g. organic food) and awareness campaigns emerge as strong predictors of good business performance. Finally, at managerial level, entrepreneurs and owners evaluate the implementation of internal sustainability monitoring systems as a relevant support to increase their competitive performance.

Research limitations/implications

Since the results are limited to Italian HORECA businesses, a cross-country comparison could represent a potential improvement of the research. Moreover, since the sector is characterized by the predominance of small and micro firms, specific attention should be devoted to the role played by entrepreneurs’ personal values in shaping business strategies.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the ongoing debate on the relationship between SMEs in the tourism sector and the environmental dimension analyzing the link between the adoption of “green” practices and the competitive performance. The results suggest that customer involvement represents an essential pre-requisite to turn sustainability into an opportunity of market distinctiveness and stress the strategic role of the implementation of performance monitoring systems.
Experimental evolution of Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Zeigler Daniel R. , Nicholson Wayne L.
Published: June 2017

The endospore‐forming bacteria have persisted on earth perhaps 3Ga, leveraging the flexibility of their distinctive lifestyle to adapt to a remarkably wide range of environments. This process of adaptation can be investigated through the simple but powerful technique of laboratory evolution. Evolved strains can be analyzed by whole genome sequencing and an array of omics technologies. The intensively studied, genetically tractable endospore‐former, Bacillus subtilis, is an ideal subject for laboratory evolution experiments. Here, we describe the use of the B. subtilis model system to study the adaptation of these bacteria to reduced and stringent selection for endospore formation, as well as to novel environmental challenges of low atmospheric pressure, high ultraviolet radiation, and unfavourable growth temperatures. In combination with other approaches, including comparative genomics and environmental field work, laboratory evolution may help elucidate how these bacteria have so successfully adapted to life on earth, and perhaps beyond.
The complexities of place in crisis renewal discourse: A case study of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting
Authors: Wombacher Kevin , Herovic Emina , Sellnow Timothy L. , Seeger Matthew W.
Published: June 2017

The discourse of renewal is an established strategy for crisis recovery. The current analysis examines the role that place plays in postcrisis communication, in general, and the discourse of renewal, specifically. We describe the extent to which place‐bound crises affect the ability of an organization to enact a discourse of renewal. We propose a modification of renewal discourse to include place as a condition that may make the successful enactment of renewal rhetoric more likely. Specifically, we argue that the place of the crisis can be a decisive element in whether or how renewal is enacted. We analyse the case of the Sandy Hook School shooting to explicate the opportunities and challenges of dealing with a place‐bound crisis.
Humour as a double‐edged sword in response to crises versus rumours: The effectiveness of humorously framed crisis response messages on social media
Authors: Xiao Yi , Cauberghe Verolien , Hudders Liselot
Published: June 2017

Two single‐factorial experiments were used to examine the double‐edged sword effect of humorously framed crisis response messages on an organization's postcrisis reputation. While experiment 1 was conducted in a crisis situation, experiment 2 examined its effectiveness in the case of a rumour—that is a crisis situation that is not yet confirmed (and thus, it remains uncertain that the events took place). The results indicate that in a crisis situation, humour decreased the perceived sincerity of the organizational response, resulting in higher perceived organizational responsibility for the crisis and hence diminished organizational reputation. However, in the case of a rumour, humour created a more positive organizational reputation through decreased perceived crisis severity, leading to lower perceived organizational responsibility.
How mass media attract political elites’ attention
Authors: SEVENANS JULIE
Published: June 2017

Political agenda‐setting research has shown that policy makers are responsive vis‐à‐vis media priorities. However, the mechanisms behind this effect have remained understudied so far. In particular, agenda‐setting scholars have difficulties determining to what extent politicians react to media coverage purely because of the information it contains (information effect), and to what extent the effect is driven not by what the media say but by the fact that certain information is in the media (media channel effect), which is valued for its own sake – for instance, because media coverage is considered to be a reflection of public opinion. By means of a survey‐embedded experiment with Belgian, Canadian and Israeli political elites (N = 410), this study tests whether the mere fact that an issue is covered by the news media causes politicians to pay attention to this issue. It shows that a piece of information gets more attention from politicians when it comes via the media rather than an identical piece of information coming via a personal e‐mail. This effect occurs largely across the board: it is not dependent on individual politician characteristics.
The opposition deficit in EU accountability: Evidence from over 20 years of plenary debate in four member states
Authors: RAUH CHRISTIAN , DE WILDE PIETER
Published: June 2017

Debates about the European Union's democratic legitimacy put national parliaments into the spotlight. Do they enhance democratic accountability by offering visible debates and electoral choice about multilevel governance? To support such accountability, saliency of EU affairs in the plenary ought to be responsive to developments in EU governance, has to be linked to decision‐making moments and should feature a balance between government and opposition. The recent literature discusses various partisan incentives that support or undermine these criteria, but analyses integrating these arguments are rare. This article provides a novel comparative perspective by studying the patterns of public EU emphasis in more than 2.5 million plenary speeches from the German Bundestag, the British House of Commons, the Dutch Tweede Kamer and the Spanish Congreso de los Diputados over a prolonged period from 1991 to 2015. It documents that parliamentary actors are by and large responsive to EU authority and its exercise where especially intergovernmental moments of decision making spark plenary EU salience. But the salience of EU issues is mainly driven by government parties, decreases in election time and is negatively related to public Euroscepticism. The article concludes that national parliaments have only partially succeeded in enhancing EU accountability and suffer from an opposition deficit in particular.
The Effects of Fat Structures and Ice Cream Mix Viscosity on Physical and Sensory Properties of Ice Cream
Authors: Amador Julia , Hartel Rich , Rankin Scott
Published: June 2017

The purpose of this work was to investigate iciness perception and other sensory textural attributes of ice cream due to ice and fat structures and mix viscosity. Two studies were carried out varying processing conditions and mix formulation. In the 1st study, ice creams were collected at −3, −5, and −7.5 °C draw temperatures. These ice creams contained 0%, 0.1%, or 0.2% emulsifier, an 80:20 blend of mono‐ and diglycerides: polysorbate 80. In the 2nd study, ice creams were collected at −3 °C draw temperature and contained 0%, 0.2%, or 0.4% stabilizer, a blend of guar gum, locust bean gum, and carrageenan. Multiple linear regressions were used to determine relationships between ice crystal size, destabilized fat, and sensory iciness. In the ice and fat structure study, an inverse correlation was found between fat destabilization and sensory iciness. Ice creams with no difference in ice crystal size were perceived to be less icy with increasing amounts of destabilized fat. Destabilized fat correlated inversely with drip‐through rate and sensory greasiness. In the ice cream mix viscosity study, an inverse correlation was found between mix viscosity and sensory iciness. Ice creams with no difference in ice crystal size were perceived to be less icy when formulated with higher mix viscosity. A positive correlation was found between mix viscosity and sensory greasiness. These results indicate that fat structures and mix viscosity have significant effects on ice cream microstructure and sensory texture including the reduction of iciness perception.
Overlap Indices: Tools to quantify the amount of anatomical overlap among groups of incomplete terminal taxa in phylogenetic analyses
Authors: Tschopp Emanuel , Tschopp Friedrich A. , Mateus Octávio
Published: June 2017

Phylogenetic analyses of morphological data are often characterized by missing data due to incomplete operational taxonomic units, as in fossils. This incomplete knowledge derives from various reasons, including—in the case of fossils—the numerous filters an organism has to pass through during taphonomy, fossilization, weathering and collecting. Whereas several methods have been proposed to address issues raised by the inclusion of incomplete terminal taxa, until recently no tool existed to easily quantify the amount of anatomical overlap within a particular clade. The Overlap Indices provide such values and might prove useful for comparative cladistics. We herein describe these new indices and their applications in detail and provide an example file for their calculation. A case study of diplodocid sauropod dinosaurs shows how the Overlap Indices will help to explore and quantify, which one of a number of conflicting tree topologies is supported by more anatomical traits, which skeletal regions are underrepresented in a particular phylogenetic matrix, and which taxon would improve character state score completeness.
To Brexit or not to Brexit: The roles of Islamophobia, conspiracist beliefs, and integrated threat in voting intentions for the United Kingdom European Union membership referendum
Authors: Swami Viren , Barron David , Weis Laura , Furnham Adrian
Published: June 2017

We used an identities approach to examine voting intentions in the June 2016 UK referendum on membership of the European Union (EU). In April 2016, 303 British adults (58.7% women, age M = 34.73) indicated their voting intentions for the referendum and completed measures of identification with the national in‐group, perceived threat from Muslim immigrants, belief in Islamophobic conspiracy narratives, Islamophobia, general conspiracist beliefs, ambiguity tolerance, and belief in a clash of civilizations. Path and mediation analyses indicated that greater belief in Islamophobic conspiracy theories mediated the link between Islamophobia and intention to vote to leave. Islamophobia and Islamophobic conspiracist beliefs also mediated the effects of perceived threat from Muslims on voting intentions. Other variables acted as antecedents of perceived threat or Islamophobic conspiracy narratives. These findings highlight the role that identity‐based cognitions may have played in shaping voting intentions for the UK EU referendum.
Link between growth faulting and initiation of a mass transport deposit in the northern Taranaki Basin, New Zealand
Authors: Panpichityota Nuttakarn , Morley Christopher K. , Ghosh Jaydeep
Published: June 2017

The Neogene section in the northern Taranaki Basin, offshore New Zealand, displays an interaction among prograding clinoforms, listric growth faults formed at the base of slope and mass transport deposits that fill the growth fault depocentres. This study focuses on one of these systems, the Karewa Fault and mass transport deposit (MTD), in order to understand the genetic relationship between the fault and the MTD in its hangingwall depocentre, i.e. did the MTD fill existing accommodation space? Did the MTD trigger growth fault displacement? Or is there some other relationship? Most mass transport deposits are elongate in the transport direction and exhibit a length:width aspect ratio of more than 1. However, the 90 km2 Karewa Fault MTD is at least three times wider than it is long, which is atypical for MTDs reported in the literature, where ~80% have a length:width ratio >1. The transport direction of the MTD is to the WNW, as indicated by the location and internal structure of the compressional toe and the headwall scarp region of the Karewa Fault. The structural and sequence geometries on seismic reflection data indicate the MTD formed during the late stage of growth fault activity, and locally truncates the upper part of the Karewa Fault. The MTD is inferred to have originated by local destabilization of the sediment package overlying the Karewa Fault related to the escape of overpressured fluids along the fault. The resulting MTD was translated locally by only a few kilometres. This unusual cause for an MTD also resulted in its atypical length–width–thickness aspect ratios.
Low‐Income Ethnically Diverse Children's Engagement as a Predictor of School Readiness Above Preschool Classroom Quality
Authors: Sabol Terri J. , Bohlmann Natalie L. , Downer Jason T.
Published: June 2017

This study examined whether children's observed individual engagement with teachers, peers, and tasks related to their school readiness after controlling for observed preschool classroom quality and children's baseline skills. The sample included 211 predominately low‐income, racially/ethnically diverse 4‐year‐old children in 49 preschool classrooms in one medium‐sized U.S. city. Results indicated that children's positive engagement with (a) teachers related to improved literacy skills; (b) peers related to improved language and self‐regulatory skills; and (c) tasks related to closer relationships with teachers. Children's negative engagement was associated with lower language, literacy, and self‐regulatory skills, and more conflict and closeness with teachers. Effect sizes were small to medium in magnitude, and some expected relations between positive engagement and school readiness were not found.
When and How Do Students Benefit From Ethnic Diversity in Middle School?
Authors: Juvonen Jaana , Kogachi Kara , Graham Sandra
Published: June 2017

The effects of school‐based ethnic diversity on student well‐being and race‐related views were examined during the first year in middle school. To capture the dynamic nature of ethnic exposure, diversity was assessed both at the school‐level (n = 26) and based on academic course enrollments of African American, Asian, Latino, and White students (n = 4,302; M = 11.33 years). Across all four pan‐ethnic groups, school‐level ethnic diversity was associated with lower sense of vulnerability (i.e., feeling safer, less victimized, and less lonely) as well as perceptions of teachers’ fair and equal treatment of ethnic groups and lower out‐group distance. Underscoring the role of individual experiences, exposure to diversity in academic classes moderated the association between school‐level diversity and the two aforementioned race‐related views.
Fibroblastic connective tissue nevus: Clinicopathological and immunohistochemical study of 14 cases
Authors: Pennacchia Ilaria , Kutzner Heinz , Kazakov Dmitry V. , Mentzel Thomas
Published: June 2017

Background

We present herein a series of 14 lesions showing overlapping features with the newly defined benign cutaneous mesenchymal neoplasm labeled as fibroblastic connective tissue nevus (FCTN).

Methods and Results

Total of 8 patients were male and 5 were female, ranging in age from 1 to 56 years. Lesions appeared as isolated nodules or plaques on the trunk (7 cases), the limbs (4 cases) and the neck (2 cases). Histologically, all cases were composed of bundles of bland spindle cells of fibroblastic/myofibroblastic lineage irregularly branching within the reticular dermis and along fibrous septa in the subcutis. Adnexal structures and dermal adipocytes were entrapped by the fascicles, the epidermis was often papillomatous and elastic fibers were decreased and fragmented. Expression of CD34 and ASMA was found in 8 and 7 cases, respectively. Follow‐up was available for 7 patients (mean follow‐up, 5 years; range, 1‐10 years). None of the cases metastasized or recurred, even when incompletely excised.

Conclusion

The differential diagnosis of FCTN is broad and includes hypertrophic scar, dermatofibroma, dermatomyofibroma, pilar leiomyoma, plaque‐stage DFSP, CD34‐positive plaque‐like dermal fibroma, fibroblastic‐predominant plexiform fibrohistiocytic tumor, lipofibromatosis, superficial desmoid fibromatosis and fibrous hamartoma of infancy, of which it represents probably the monophasic variant.
Contrast‐enhanced harmonic endoscopic ultrasonography for differential diagnosis of localized gallbladder lesions
Authors: Kamata Ken , Takenaka Mamoru , Kitano Masayuki , Omoto Shunsuke , Miyata Takeshi , Minaga Kosuke , Yamao Kentaro , Imai Hajime , Sakurai Tosiharu , Nishida Naoshi , Kashida Hiroshi , Chikugo Takaaki , Chiba Yasutaka , Nakai Takuya , Takeyama Yoshifumi , Lisotti Andrea , Fusaroli Pietro , Kudo Masatoshi
Published: June 2017

Background and Aim

Differential diagnosis of localized gallbladder lesions is challenging. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the utility of contrast‐enhanced harmonic endoscopic ultrasonography (CH‐EUS) for diagnosis of localized gallbladder lesions.

Methods

One hundred and twenty‐five patients with localized gallbladder lesions were evaluated by CH‐EUS between March 2007 and February 2014. This was a single‐center retrospective study.

Utilities of fundamental B‐mode EUS (FB‐EUS) and CH‐EUS in the differentiation of gallbladder lesions and sludge plug were initially compared. Thereafter, these two examinations were compared with respect to their accuracy in the diagnosis of malignant lesions. Five reviewers blinded to the clinicopathological results evaluated microcirculation patterns in the vascular and perfusion images.

Results

In the differentiation between gallbladder lesions and sludge plug, FB‐EUS had a sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 82%, 100%, and 95%, respectively, whereas CH‐EUS had a sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 100%, 99%, and 99%, respectively. FB‐EUS‐based diagnosis of carcinomas based on tumor size and/or shape had a sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 61–87%, 71–88%, and 74–86%, respectively. Additional information regarding irregular vessel patterns in the vascular image and/or heterogeneous enhancement in the perfusion image on CH‐EUS increased the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for the diagnosis of carcinomas to 90%, 98%, and 96%, respectively. There was a significant difference between FB‐EUS and CH‐EUS in terms of carcinoma diagnosis.

Conclusion

CH‐EUS was useful for the evaluation of localized gallbladder lesions.