bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A corpus-based analysis of pronoun choice in German relative clauses
Authors: Brandt Patrick , Fuß Eric
Published: April 2018

This paper investigates the conditions that govern the choice between the German neuter singular relative pronounsdas‘that’ andwas‘what’. We show thatdasrequires a lexical head noun, while in all other caseswasis usually the preferred option; therefore, the distribution ofdasandwasis most successfully captured by an approach that does not treatwasas an exception but analyzes it as the elsewhere case that applies when the relativizer fails to pick up a lexical gender feature from the head noun. We furthermore show how the non-uniform behavior of different types of nominalized adjectives (positives allow both options, while superlatives triggerwas) can be attributed to semantic differences rooted in syntactic structure. In particular, we argue that superlatives selectwasdue to the presence of a silent counterpart of the quantifieralles‘all’ that is part of the superlative structure.
Spanish time constructions withhacer
Authors: Herce Borja
Published: April 2018

The present work studies the grammatical properties of Spanish time constructions involvinghacer‘to make’ from an empirical, quantitative perspective with insights from both competence and language use. The results show a big difference between the properties of the so-called clausal and adverbial constructions, something unnoticed until now. Whereashacer,in the former, has properties not significantly different from other verbs, in the latter, it shows a strong erosion of its verbal and clausal properties like TAM morphology, negation, time adjunction or word order freedom. This contradicts earlier contributions to the topic and argues against those formal proposals positing a synchronic derivational relation between the two constructions.
Analysis of medium manganese steel through cold-rolling and intercritical annealing or warm-rolling
Authors: Magalhães Aline Silva , dos Santos Carlos Eduardo , Ferreira Aline Oliveira Vasconcelos , Alves Davi Silva , Santos Dagoberto Brandão
Published: April 2018

Medium manganese steel is typically fabricated from hot-rolling followed by cold-rolling and intercritical annealing processes. However, a singular process, warm-rolling, is an appealing prospect. The microstructure, mechanical properties and texture of a 8 wt-% Mn–0.08 wt-% C steel was investigated by cold-rolling followed by intercritical annealing or warm-rolling. The product from both processes exhibited a highly refined microstructure as well as a large volume fraction of austenite. However, a slightly larger volume fraction as well as a more heterogeneous austenite morphology resulted from the warm-rolling process, associated with a higher work-hardening rate. Microstructural analysis revealed intense α-fibre components due to a higher strain following the warm-rolling process as well as a considerably high-angle grain boundary number which was associated with dislocation accumulation.

This paper is part of a Thematic Issue on Medium Manganese Steels.
Athletes’ perceptions of coaching competency and team conflict in sport teams: A multilevel analysis
Authors: González‐Ponce I. , Leo F. M. , Jiménez R. , Sánchez‐Oliva D. , Sarmento H. , Figueiredo A. , García‐Calvo T.
Published: April 2018

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between coaching competency and team conflict, at individual and team levels, over the season. The participants were professional female and male soccer players, who participated in the First and Second Division. A longitudinal study was performed. At Time 1, the sample of participants consisted of 581 soccer players aged between 15 and 39 years. At Time 2, 549 players were recruited from the original sample aged between 15 and 37 years. Finally, at Time 3, the sample comprised 576 players aged between 15 and 37 years. All participants completed a multi‐section questionnaire assessing coaching competency (motivation, game strategy, technique competency, and character‐building competency) and team conflict (task conflict and relationship conflict). Results showed that both task and relationship conflict increased significantly over time. Multilevel modelling analysis showed that game strategy and character‐building competencies negatively predicted both task and relationship conflicts at the individual level, whereas motivation competency was also added as a significant predictor of task conflict at the team level. Moreover, technique competency positively predicted task conflict at the team level. The current study suggests the importance of coaching competency in group dynamics in sport.
Do stakeholders in Denmark know about social investment within long-term care?
Authors: Greve Bent
Published: April 2018

Social investment has become a buzzword in recent years. The concept is not always precise or being used in the same way in all European countries. The central tenet of the social investment approach is to treat public expenditures not just as an economic burden, but also as an investment in the future. This is also a part of the development in the discourse. The social investment perspective is an example of how new ideas might influence social policy development. However, the use of the concept at the political level does not imply that it is also known by stakeholders. The article explains the dichotomy between the use of a concept on an overarching political and academic level with a practical understanding among actors without using the concept. The article concludes that social investment can be used in the field and that actors have an understanding hereof.
Posttranscriptional regulation of T helper cell fate decisions
Authors: Hoefig Kai P. , Heissmeyer Vigo
Published: April 2018

T helper cell subsets orchestrate context- and pathogen-specific responses of the immune system. They mostly do so by secreting specific cytokines that attract or induce activation and differentiation of other immune or nonimmune cells. The differentiation of T helper 1 (Th1), Th2, T follicular helper, Th17, and induced regulatory T cell subsets from naive T cells depends on the activation of intracellular signal transduction cascades. These cascades originate from T cell receptor and costimulatory receptor engagement and also receive critical input from cytokine receptors that sample the cytokine milieu within secondary lymphoid organs. Signal transduction then leads to the expression of subset-specifying transcription factors that, in concert with other transcription factors, up-regulate downstream signature genes. Although regulation of transcription is important, recent research has shown that posttranscriptional and posttranslational regulation can critically shape or even determine the outcome of Th cell differentiation. In this review, we describe how specific microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs, RNA-binding proteins, and ubiquitin-modifying enzymes regulate their targets to skew cell fate decisions.
PI(4,5)P2 determines the threshold of mechanical force–induced B cell activation
Authors: Wan Zhengpeng , Xu Chenguang , Chen Xiangjun , Xie Hengyi , Li Zongyu , Wang Jing , Ji Xingyu , Chen Haodong , Ji Qinghua , Shaheen Samina , Xu Yang , Wang Fei , Tang Zhuo , Zheng Ji-Shen , Chen Wei , Lou Jizhong , Liu Wanli
Published: April 2018

B lymphocytes use B cell receptors (BCRs) to sense the chemical and physical features of antigens. The activation of isotype-switched IgG-BCR by mechanical force exhibits a distinct sensitivity and threshold in comparison with IgM-BCR. However, molecular mechanisms governing these differences remain to be identified. In this study, we report that the low threshold of IgG-BCR activation by mechanical force is highly dependent on tethering of the cytoplasmic tail of the IgG-BCR heavy chain (IgG-tail) to the plasma membrane. Mechanistically, we show that the positively charged residues in the IgG-tail play a crucial role by highly enriching phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-biphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) into the membrane microdomains of IgG-BCRs. Indeed, manipulating the amounts of PI(4,5)P2 within IgG-BCR membrane microdomains significantly altered the threshold and sensitivity of IgG-BCR activation. Our results reveal a lipid-dependent mechanism for determining the threshold of IgG-BCR activation by mechanical force.
On Jensen-type Inequalities for Nonsmooth Radial Scattering Solutions of a Loglog Energy-Supercritical Schrödinger Equation
Authors: Roy Tristan
Published: April 2018

We prove scattering of solutions of the loglog energy-supercritical Schrödinger equation $i \partial _{t} u + \triangle u = |u|^{\frac{4}{n-2}} u g(|u|)$ with $g(|u|) := \log ^{\gamma } {( \log{(10+|u|^{2})} )}$, $0 < \gamma < \gamma _{n}$, n ∈ {3, 4, 5}, and with radial data $u(0) := u_{0} \in \tilde{H}^{k}:= \dot{H}^{k} (\mathbb{R}^{n})\,\cap\,\dot{H}^{1} (\mathbb{R}^{n})$, where $\frac{n}{2} \geq k> 1 \left(\text{resp.}\,\frac{4}{3}> k > 1\right)$ if n ∈ {3, 4} (resp. n = 5). The proof uses concentration techniques (see e.g., [ 2, 12]) to prove a long-time Strichartz-type estimate on an arbitrarily long time interval J depending on an a priori bound of some norms of the solution, combined with an induction on time of the Strichartz estimates in order to bound these norms a posteriori (see e.g., [ 8, 10]). We also revisit the scattering theory of solutions with radial data in $\tilde{H}^{k}$, $k> \frac{n}{2}$, and n ∈ {3, 4}; more precisely, we prove scattering for a larger range of $\gamma$ s than in [ 10]. In order to control the barely supercritical nonlinearity for nonsmooth solutions, that is, solutions with data in $\tilde{H}^{k}$, $k \leq \frac{n}{2}$, we prove some Jensen-type inequalities.
Growth of the Eigensolutions of Laplacians on Riemannian Manifolds I: Construction of Energy Function
Authors: Liu Wencai
Published: April 2018

In this paper, we consider the eigensolutions of $-\Delta u+ Vu=\lambda u$, where $\Delta $ is the Laplacian on a non-compact complete Riemannian manifold. We develop Kato’s methods on manifold and establish the growth of the eigensolutions as r goes to infinity based on the asymptotical behaviors of $\Delta r$ and V (x), where r = r(x) is the distance function on the manifold. As applications, we prove several criteria of absence of eigenvalues of Laplacian, including a new proof of the absence of eigenvalues embedded into the essential spectra of free Laplacian if the radial curvature of the manifold satisfies $ K_{\textrm{rad}}(r)= -1+\frac{o(1)}{r}$.
A quantitative, longitudinal analysis of the impact of mathematics support in an Irish university
Authors: Jacob Maria , Ní Fhloinn Eabhnat
Published: April 2018

Mathematics support has become embedded in a large number of higher education institutes in Ireland and UK in particular. Measuring the impact of such support is a challenging task, which can be attempted either qualitatively, through the use of surveys or focus groups, or quantitatively, looking at data such as number of visits and subsequent exam performance. Here, we consider a quantitative analysis of the impact of a mathematics support centre in an Irish university, based on data gathered over the past 12 years. A binary logistic regression was carried out which showed that, when prior mathematical achievement and module studied were kept constant, the odds of a student who attended mathematics support once passing their module were 1.63 times higher than for one who had never engaged with the service. The odds for those who attended 15 or more times were almost 14 times higher. This study also showed that there was a significant difference between those who never engaged with mathematics support and those who attended once, meaning that such cohorts should be considered differently, which has not traditionally been done in other studies conducted to this point.
Pigmented Deposits in the Skin
Authors: Fernandez-Flores Angel , Bermúdez Carmen Fachal , Molina Inmaculada , Saus Carles , Monteagudo Carlos , Cassarino David Cassarino
Published: April 2018

Pigmented deposits can occur in the skin due to many and varied causes. Some of them are systemic conditions accompanied by involvement of internal organs. Others have serious prognostic implications, and early diagnosis can help in the correct and adequate management of the diseases. In addition, some of them are quite innocuous and the correct diagnosis avoids unnecessary treatments. In this article, we review the morphologic features of some of the most common and some of the less usual pigmented deposits in skin other than tattoos.
Epigenetics: the first 25 centuries
Authors: Ganesan A.
Published: April 2018

Epigenetics is a natural progression of genetics as it aims to understand how genes and other heritable elements are regulated in eukaryotic organisms. The history of epigenetics is briefly reviewed, together with the key issues in the field today. This themed issue brings together a diverse collection of interdisciplinary reviews and research articles that showcase the tremendous recent advances in epigenetic chemical biology and translational research into epigenetic drug discovery.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Frontiers in epigenetic chemical biology’.
The past and presence of gene targeting: from chemicals and DNA via proteins to RNA
Authors: Geel T. M. , Ruiters M. H. J. , Cool R. H. , Halby L. , Voshart D. C. , Andrade Ruiz L. , Niezen-Koning K. E. , Arimondo P. B. , Rots M. G.
Published: April 2018

The ability to target DNA specifically at any given position within the genome allows many intriguing possibilities and has inspired scientists for decades. Early gene-targeting efforts exploited chemicals or DNA oligonucleotides to interfere with the DNA at a given location in order to inactivate a gene or to correct mutations. We here describe an example towards correcting a genetic mutation underlying Pompe's disease using a nucleotide-fused nuclease (TFO-MunI). In addition to the promise of gene correction, scientists soon realized that genes could be inactivated or even re-activated without inducing potentially harmful DNA damage by targeting transcriptional modulators to a particular gene. However, it proved difficult to fuse protein effector domains to the first generation of programmable DNA-binding agents. The engineering of gene-targeting proteins (zinc finger proteins (ZFPs), transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs)) circumvented this problem. The disadvantage of protein-based gene targeting is that a fusion protein needs to be engineered for every locus. The recent introduction of CRISPR/Cas offers a flexible approach to target a (fusion) protein to the locus of interest using cheap designer RNA molecules. Many research groups now exploit this platform and the first human clinical trials have been initiated: CRISPR/Cas has kicked off a new era of gene targeting and is revolutionizing biomedical sciences.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Frontiers in epigenetic chemical biology’.
In silico
epigenetics of metal exposure and subclinical atherosclerosis in middle aged men: pilot results from the Aragon Workers Health Study
Authors: Riffo-Campos Angela L. , Fuentes-Trillo Azahara , Tang Wan Y. , Soriano Zoraida , De Marco Griselda , Rentero-Garrido Pilar , Adam-Felici Victoria , Lendinez-Tortajada Veronica , Francesconi Kevin , Goessler Walter , Ladd-Acosta Christine , Leon-Latre Montse , Casasnovas Jose A. , Chaves F. Javier , Navas-Acien Ana , Guallar Eliseo , Tellez-Plaza Maria
Published: April 2018

We explored the association of metal levels with subclinical atherosclerosis and epigenetic changes in relevant biological pathways. Whole blood DNA Infinium Methylation 450 K data were obtained from 23 of 73 middle age men without clinically evident cardiovascular disease (CVD) who participated in the Aragon Workers Health Study in 2009 (baseline visit) and had available baseline urinary metals and subclinical atherosclerosis measures obtained in 2010–2013 (follow-up visit). The median metal levels were 7.36 µg g
−1
, 0.33 µg g
−1
, 0.11 µg g
−1
and 0.07 µg g
−1
, for arsenic (sum of inorganic and methylated species), cadmium, antimony and tungsten, respectively. Urine cadmium and tungsten were associated with femoral and carotid intima-media thickness, respectively (Pearson's
r
= 0.27;
p
= 0.03 in both cases). Among nearest genes to identified differentially methylated regions (DMRs), 46% of metal-DMR genes overlapped with atherosclerosis-DMR genes (
p
< 0.001). Pathway enrichment analysis of atherosclerosis-DMR genes showed a role in inflammatory, metabolic and transport pathways. In
in silico
protein-to-protein interaction networks among proteins encoded by 162 and 108 genes attributed to atherosclerosis- and metal-DMRs, respectively, with proteins known to have a role in atherosclerosis pathways, we observed hub proteins in the network associated with both atherosclerosis and metal-DMRs (e.g.
SMAD3
and
NOP56
), and also hub proteins associated with metal-DMRs only but with relevant connections with atherosclerosis effectors (e.g.
SSTR5
,
HDAC4
,
AP2A2
,
CXCL12
and
SSTR4
). Our integrative
in silico
analysis demonstrates the feasibility of identifying epigenomic regions linked to environmental exposures and potentially involved in relevant pathways for human diseases. While our results support the hypothesis that metal exposures can influence health due to epigenetic changes, larger studies are needed to confirm our pilot results.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Frontiers in epigenetic chemical biology’.
Levodopa and dopamine dynamics in Parkinson’s disease metabolomics
Authors: Branco Rachel C , Ellsworth William , Niedzwiecki Megan M , Butkovich Laura M , Walker Douglas I , Huddleston Daniel E , Jones Dean P , Miller Gary W
Published: April 2018

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Metabolomics is a powerful tool that can be used to screen for potential biomarkers, exogenous toxicants, and metabolic network changes associated with disease states. Here, we used high-resolution metabolomics to compare over 10,000 plasma metabolic features from older adults with and without PD in an untargeted approach. We performed a network analysis that demonstrates that the presence of the PD drug levodopa influences variation observed between PD and control patients. Metabolome wide association studies and discrimination analysis identified significant differentiation in the metabolomics profile of older adults with and without PD. Notably, 15 metabolic features (ten of which we putatively identified) differed between PD and control adults withp< 0.05 and a corrected false discovery rate less than 20%. Furthermore, 13 metabolic networks were identified to be functionally different between PD and non-PD patients. Lastly, the dopaminergic toxic intermediate DOPAL differed between PD and non-PD populations, which supports the dopaminergic sequestration model of PD. These individual metabolites and metabolic networks have been implicated in past PD pathogenesis models, including the beta-carboline harmalol and the glycosphingolipid metabolism pathway including the ganglioside GM2. We recommend that future studies take into account the confounding effects of levodopa in metabolomic analyses of disease versus control patients, and encourage validation of several promising metabolic markers of PD.
Genomic Data from an Endangered Amphibian Reveal Unforeseen Consequences of Fragmentation by Roads
Authors: McCartney-Melstad Evan , Vu Jannet K. , Shaffer H. Bradley
Published: April 2018

Roads fragment landscapes and can cause the loss of metapopulation dynamics in threatened species, but as relatively new landscape features, few studies have had the statistical power to genetically examine road effects. We used DNA sequence data from thousands of nuclear loci to characterize the population structure of New York-endangered Eastern tiger salamanders(Ambystoma tigrinum)on Long Island and quantify the impacts of roads on population fragmentation. We uncovered highly genetically structured populations over an extremely small spatial scale (approximately 40 km2) in an increasingly human-modified landscape. Geographic distance and the presence of roads between ponds are both strong predictors of genetic divergence, suggesting that both natural and anthropogenic factors are responsible for the observed patterns of genetic variation. Our study demonstrates the value of genomic approaches in molecular ecology, as these patterns did not emerge in an earlier study of the same system using microsatellite loci. Ponds supported small effective population sizes, and pond surface area showed a strong positive correlation with salamander population size. When combined with the high degree of structuring in this heavily modified landscape, our study indicates that these endangered amphibians require management at the individual pond, or pond cluster, level. Particular efforts should be made to preserve large vernal pools, which harbor the greatest genetic diversity, and their surrounding upland habitat. Contiguous upland landscapes between ponds that facilitate natural metapopulation connectivity and demographic rescue from future local extirpations should also be protected.
Cognate T and B cell interaction and association of Follicular helper T cells with B cell responses inVibrio choleraeO1 infected Bangladeshi adults
Authors: Rashu Rasheduzzaman , Bhuiyan Taufiqur Rahman , Hoq Mohammad Rubel , Hossain Lazina , Paul Anik , Khan Ashraful Islam , Chowdhury Fahima , Harris Jason B , Ryan Edward T , Calderwood Stephen B , Weil Ana A , Qadri Firdausi
Published: April 2018

Vibrio choleraeO1 can cause life threatening diarrheal disease if left untreated. A long lasting immune response, producing 3-5 years of protection from subsequent, symptomatic disease following natural infection, is mediated by B cell mediated humoral immunity. T cells can play critical roles in inducing such immunity. However, the mechanism of T cell dependent B cell maturation and whether a key sub-population of T cells are involved is not well established in cholera. We hypothesized that a specific population of T cells, follicular helper T (Tfh) cells, are involved in B cell maturation following cholera; we used flow cytometry, culture and colorimetric assays to address this question. We found thatV. choleraeinfection induces significant increase in circulating Tfh cells expressing B cell maturation associated protein CD40L early in disease. The increased Tfh cells expressing CD40L recognize cholera toxin most prominently, with lessened responses to two antigens tested,V. choleraemembrane preparation (MP) andVibrio choleraecytolysin (VCC). We further showed that early induction of Tfh cells and CD40L was associated with later memory B cell responses to same antigens. Lastly, we demonstratedin vitrothat Tfh cells isolated after cholera can stimulate class switching of cocultured, isolated B cells from patients with cholera, leading to production of the more durable IgG antibody isotype. These studies were conducted on circulating Tfh cells; future studies will be directed at examining role of Tfh cells during cholera directly in the gut mucosa of biopsied samples, at the single cell level if feasible.
The SERM/SERD Bazedoxifene Disrupts ESR1 Helix 12 to Overcome Acquired Hormone Resistance in Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Fanning Sean W. , Jeselsohn Rinath , Dharmarajan Venkatasubramanian , Mayne Christopher G. , Karimi Mostafa , Buchwalter Gilles , Houtman Rene , Toy Weiyi , Fowler Colin E. , Lainé Muriel , Carlson Kathryn E , Martin Teresa A. , Nowak Jason , Nwachukwu Jerome , Hosfield David J. , Chandarlapaty Sarat , Tajkhorshid Emad , Nettles Kendall W. , Griffin Patrick R. , Shen Yang , Katzenellenbogen John A. , Brown Myles , Greene Geoffrey L.
Published: April 2018

Acquired resistance to endocrine therapy remains a significant clinical burden for breast cancer patients. Somatic mutations in theESR1(estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) gene ligand-binding domain (LBD) represent a recognized mechanism of acquired resistance. Antiestrogens with improved efficacy versus tamoxifen might overcome the resistant phenotype in ER+ breast cancers. Bazedoxifene (BZA) is a potent antiestrogen that is clinically approved for use in hormone replacement therapies. We find BZA possesses improved inhibitory potency against the Y537S and D538G ERα mutants compared to tamoxifen and has additional inhibitory activity in combination with the CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib. In addition, comprehensive biophysical and structural biology studies show that BZA’s selective estrogen receptor degrading (SERD) properties that override the stabilizing effects of the Y537S and D538G ERα mutations.

Significance

Bazedoxifene (BZA) is a potent orally available antiestrogen that is clinically approved for use in hormone replacement therapy (DUAVEE). We explore the efficacy of BZA to inhibit activating somatic mutants of ERα that can arise in metastatic breast cancers after prolonged exposure to aromatase inhibitors or tamoxifen therapy. Breast cancer cell line, biophysical, and structural data show that BZA disrupts helix 12 of the ERα ligand binding domain to achieve improved potency against Y537S and D538G somatic mutants compared to 4-hydroxytamoxifen.
Myelinated Inhibitory Axons in Human Neocortex
Authors: Micheva Kristina D. , Chang Edward F. , Nana Alissa L. , Seeley William W. , Ting Jonathan T. , Cobbs Charles , Lein Ed , Smith Stephen J , Weinberg Richard J. , Madison Daniel V.
Published: April 2018

Numerous myelinated axons traverse the human neocortex. In a previous paper (Micheva et al., 2016) we showed that in mouse many of these axons belong to local inhibitory neurons, the parvalbumin-positive basket cells. Here, using samples of neurosurgically-excised cortex, we confirm the presence of myelinated inhibitory axons in all layers of human neocortex. As in mouse, these axons have distinctive features, including high neurofilament content, short nodes of Ranvier, and high content of myelin basic protein in their myelin sheath. We further show that, consistent with the known high-energy demands of parvalbumin interneurons, the inhibitory myelinated axons have more mitochondria, as well more 2’,3’-cyclic nucleotide 3’-phosphodiesterase (a protein enriched in the myelin cytoplasmic channels thought to provide access for trophic support from oligodendrocytes). The distinctive features of myelinated inhibitory axons in human cortical grey matter may have important implications for neurological disorders that involve pathologies of myelinated axons.
Naa15knockdown enhances c2c12 myoblast fusion and induces defects in zebrafish myotome morphogenesis
Authors: Monestier Olivier , Landemaine Aurélie , Bugeon Jérôme , Rescan Pierre-Yves , Gabillard Jean-Charles
Published: April 2018

The comprehension of muscle tissue formation and regeneration is essential to develop therapeutic approaches against muscle diseases or loss in muscle mass and strength during ageing or cancer. One of the critical steps in muscle formation is the fusion of muscle cells to form or regenerate muscle fibres. To identify new genes controlling myoblast fusion, we undertook an siRNA screen in c2c12 myoblasts and found that N-alpha-acetyltransferase 15 (Naa15) knockdown enhanced c2c12 myoblast fusion suggesting thatNaa15negatively regulated myogenic cell fusion. We identified twoNaa15orthologous genes in zebrafish genome:naa15aandnaa15b. These two orthologs are both expressed in myogenic domain of the somite. Knockdown of zebrafishnaa15aandnaa15bgenes induced a “U” shaped segmentation of the myotome and alteration of myotome boundaries resulting in the formation of abnormally long myofibres spanning adjacent somites. Taken together these results show that Naa15 regulates myotome formation and myogenesis in fish.
Causal Evidence for the Dependence of the Magnitude Effect on Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex
Authors: Ballard Ian C. , Aydogan Gökhan , Kim Bokyung , McClure Samuel M.
Published: April 2018

Impulsivity refers to the tendency to insufficiently consider alternatives or to overvalue rewards that are available immediately. Impulsivity is a hallmark of human decision making with well documented health and financial ramifications. Numerous contextual changes and framing manipulations powerfully influence impulsivity. One of the most robust such phenomenon is the finding that people are more patient as the values of choice options are increased. This magnitude effect has been related to cognitive control mechanisms in the dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). We used repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to transiently disrupt dlPFC neural activity. This manipulation dramatically reduced the magnitude effect, establishing causal evidence that the magnitude effect depends on dlPFC.
Cooperate-and-radiate co-evolution between ants and plants
Authors: Kaur Katrina M. , Malé Pierre-Jean G. , Spence Erik , Gomez Crisanto , Frederickson Megan E.
Published: April 2018

Mutualisms may be “key innovations” that spur diversification in one partner lineage, but no study has evaluated whether mutualism accelerates diversification in both interacting lineages. Recent research suggests that plants that attract ant mutualists for defense or seed dispersal have higher diversification rates than non-ant associated plant lineages. We ask whether the reciprocal is true: does the ecological interaction between ants and plants also accelerate diversification in ants? In other words, do ants and plants cooperate-and-radiate? We used a novel text-mining approach to determine which ant species associate with plants in defensive or seed dispersal mutualisms. We investigated patterns of trait evolution and lineage diversification using phylogenetic comparative methods on a large, recent species-level ant phylogeny. We found that ants that associate mutualistically with plants have elevated diversification rates compared to non-mutualistic ants, suggesting that ants and plants cooperate-and-radiate.
Expression of a glucomannan mannosyltransferase gene (GMMT) from Aloe vera is induced by water deficit and abscisic acid
Authors: Salinas Pamela , Salinas Carlos , Contreras Rodrigo A. , Zuñiga Gustavo E. , Dupree Paul , Cardemil Liliana
Published: April 2018

Highlight

GMMT (a possible CSLA9) from Aloe vera is upregulated during water stress. Aloe vera GMMT expression is also induced by exogenous application of the plant stress hormone abscisic acid (ABA) in non-water-stressed plants.

In Aloe barbadensis Miller (Aloe vera), a xerophytic crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plant, the main polysaccharide of the gel present in the leaves is an acetylated glucomannan named acemannan. This polysaccharide is responsible for the plant succulence, helping it to retain water. In this study we determined using polysaccharide analysis by carbohydrate gel electrophoresis (PACE) that the acemannan is a glucomannan without galactose side branches. We also investigated the expression of the gene responsible for acemannan backbone synthesis, encoding a glucomannan mannosyltransferase (GMMT). It was found by in silico analyses that the GMMT gene belongs to the cellulose synthase like A type-9 (CSLA9) subfamily. Using RT-qPCR it was found that the expression of GMMT increased in Aloe vera plants subjected to water stress. This expression correlates with an increase of endogenous ABA levels, suggesting that the gene expression could be regulated by ABA. To corroborate this hypothesis, exogenous ABA was applied to non-water-stressed plants, increasing the expression of GMMT significantly 48 h after ABA treatment.
Novel platinum-based anticancer drug: a complete vibrational study
Authors: Batista de Carvalho A. L. M. , Parker S. F. , Batista de Carvalho L. A. E. , Marques M. P. M.
Published: April 2018

The introduction of cisplatin to oncology, in the 1970s, marked the onset of the search for novel and improved metal-based anticancer drugs. Polynuclear PtII and PdII complexes with linear alkylamines as bridging ligands are a class of potential antineoplastic agents that have shown promising cytotoxicity against low-prognosis human cancers, such as metastatic breast adenocarcinoma and osteosarcoma. The present study reports an analysis of [μ-N,N′-bis(3-aminopropyl)butane-1,4-diamine-κ4
N,N′:N′′,N′′′]bis[dichloridoplatinum(II)], [Pt2Cl4(C10H26N4)], denoted Pt2Spm (Spm is spermine), by vibrational spectroscopy coupled to theoretical calculations. Within the latter, the Density Functional Theory (DFT – mPW1PW/6-31G*) and Effective Core Potential (ECP – LANL2DZ) approaches were used, in order to ensure the most accurate representation of the molecule and achieve a maximum agreement with the experimental data. The solid-state geometry of Pt2Spm corresponds to Ci
symmetry, displaying 132 vibrational modes. A complete assignment of the experimental vibrational profile of the system was attained through the combined application of complementary Raman, FT–IR and Inelastic Neutron Scattering (INS) techniques. INS allowed an unequivocal identification of the CH2 and NH2 rocking modes, not clearly detected by the optical techniques, while Raman measurements led to a clear discrimination of the Pt—N stretching frequencies from the two distinct Pt—N moieties within the chelate. The metal-to-metal distances calculated for the molecule under study were found to allow the establishment of effective inter- and intrastrand crosslinks with DNA. These results will hopefully help to clarify the mode of action of the compound, at the molecular level, contributing to the development of improved cisplatin-like chemotherapeutic drugs having a higher efficacy and specificity coupled to lower acquired resistance and deleterious side effects.
Expanding the use of the ASAM CriteriaTM to make mental health level of care placements
Authors: Drymalski Walter Matthew
Published: April 2018

Purpose

Despite the prevalence of co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, the assessment and placement processes for each often remain separate. The purpose of this paper is to describe an expanded use of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) CriteriaTM to make placements into substance use, co-occurring, and mental health treatment.

Design/methodology/approach

A rationale for the development of two new domains (Domain 7, substance use and Domain 8, independent living skills) and preliminary data supporting the use of the ASAM CriteriaTM as a placement process for all types of behavioral health issues will be provided.

Findings

Dimension 3 and Domains 7 and 8 were correlated with selected clinical indices in the expected direction (Dimension 3: depression (F (4, 4650)=202.092, p<0.001), medication usage (F (4, 4,637)=174.254, p<0.001), and psychotic symptoms (F (4, 4,561)=62.954, p<0.001); Domain 7: alcohol use (F (4, 4,458)=213.786, p<0.001) and drug use (F (4, 4,471)=611.491, p<0.001); and Domain 8: functional impairment (F (4, 3,927)=815.646, p<0.001) and number of “high needs” (F (4, 3,927)=737.568, p<0.001).

Research limitations/implications

The limitations of this research included a lack of inter-rater reliability data and less established intake assessments.

Practical implications

This single placement approach for clients seeking behavioral health services can create a more efficient, person-centered intake experience.

Originality/value

This paper suggests that it is possible to deploy a single assessment and placement approach for all types of behavioral health issues.
Building trust and recovery capital: the professionals’ helpful practice
Authors: Topor Alain , Skogens Lisa , von Greiff Ninive
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The possibility of recovery for persons with co-occurring addiction and mental health problems has been contested. Though, recent studies show that recovery might happen, but without connection to specific treatment interventions. The purpose of this paper is to analyse professionals’ perceptions of their contribution to improvement.

Design/methodology/approach

In all, 15 experienced professionals were interviewed. The interviews were analysed using thematic analysis.

Findings

Recovery processes were dependent of the persons’ access to different forms of recovery capital (RC). Lack of RC was often associated with lack of trust in one’s self and others (identity and personal capital). Professionals had to be accepted as trustful agents through co-creating changes in the person’s life. Trusting a professional might be a basis for trusting one’s self as an agent in one’s recovery process and develop a social network (identity and relationship capital). Other aspects stressed by the professionals were to manage their own fragmentized organisations and societal shortcomings (economic capital).

Practical implications

Recovery has been described as a profoundly individual journey. However, it is also deeply social, involving other persons and contextual factors. Focusing on just one level might counteract the complex work behind double recovery.

Originality/value

Improvement was described as dependent on the presence of personal, inter-personal, organisational and societal factors. The findings give a deep and concrete understanding of the process constituting the development of a working alliance and its dependence on factors outside the direct relation between the staff member and the person.
Gender equality in employment in Saudi Arabia: a relational perspective
Authors: Syed Jawad , Ali Faiza , Hennekam Sophie
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine gender inequality in Saudi Arabia by using a relational perspective that takes into account the interrelated nature of the multilevel factors that influence this phenomenon.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 21 in-depth interviews with female employees in Saudi Arabia were conducted and analysed using a thematic analysis.

Findings

The findings show how the interplay of factors on macro, meso and micro levels influences equal opportunities for women in Saudi Arabia, such as religio-cultural factors, the social power ofwasta, the notions of female modesty and family honour and issues related to gender segregation, discrimination and harassment at work. Moreover, Saudi women’s experiences are varied on the basis of social class, family status and other dimensions of individual identity, adding to a growing body of intersectional research. The paper highlights the role of male guardianship system as well as the intersection of gender and class in pushing gender equality forward.

Originality/value

This study stresses the interrelated nature of the multilevel factors that affect gender equality and highlights the important role of individual agency and resilience.
Construction manager’s technical competencies in Malaysian construction projects
Authors: Abdullah Abd Halid , Yaman Siti Khalijah , Mohammad Hairuddin , Hassan Padzil Fadzil
Published: April 2018

Purpose

Problems of Malaysian construction industry have often been associated, in part to incompetent construction manager (CM) when managing the construction projects. Although various education and training provisions have been introduced, critics argue that the provisions have not been effective. Central in the debate on the adequacy of the CM education and training offered is the answer to the question of “what constitutes the technical competency of the CM?” The purpose of this paper is to present the study that identifies the technical competencies required by the CM to address the question.

Design/methodology/approach

Multi-layered thematic analysis of literature was first carried out to identify the technical competency elements. Then, interviews were undertaken to confirm the elements of competencies. It was followed with questionnaire surveys to test the validity of the technical competencies against different contractors’ category and grade/size.

Findings

The findings suggest that the technical competencies of CM are generic, regardless of the size of construction organisation or the types of projects they undertake. A total of 16 CM technical competencies were identified which include the ability to manage: staff, materials, labour, plant, sub-contractors, safety, money, quality, time, environment, site administration, pre-construction activities, project closeout and handover, third parties, computer literacy, and construction contract.

Originality/value

The findings suggest that generic education and training is possible to develop technically competent CM. It also provides insights to the CM technical competencies which the industry is expecting.
Understanding why Chinese contractors are not willing to purchase construction insurance
Authors: Liu Junying , Lin Sen , Feng Yingbin
Published: April 2018

Purpose

Construction insurance has been advocated as a useful financial means to transfer risks and mitigate potential project losses. However, there is a general reluctance to purchase construction insurance in China. The purpose of this paper is to develop an extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) model to understand and predict contractors’ construction insurance purchasing intention.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitative data were collected through a questionnaire survey. The respondents comprise 130 project directors/managers and contract managers/administrators who were involved in or familiar with the construction insurance purchasing or managing. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

This study developed an extended TPB model to explain the contractors’ intention formation. The results indicated that the insurance purchasing intention was mainly influenced by attitudes and subjective norm, rather than perceived behavioral control. The analyses also revealed that the added variables (risk perception and past experience) had a significant impact on the attitudes and perceived behavioral control.

Originality/value

This study identified the factors leading to Chinese contractors’ low willingness to purchase construction insurance by extending the TPB model to the context of construction insurance purchasing. The extended TPB model may serve as a theoretical framework and basis for the Chinese contractors, insurers, and regulators to understand the root causes of contractors’ low willingness to purchase construction insurance and make joint efforts to address the risks and insurance in the construction industry.
A comparison of the suitability of FIDIC and NEC conditions of contract in Palestine
Authors: Besaiso Haytham , Fenn Peter , Emsley Margaret , Wright David
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The standard forms of construction contract are receiving greater attention in the management of projects scholarship as they probably influence the project success and project disputes. The extant literature suggests that the standard forms of construction contract are one of the top sources of disputes. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effectiveness of the standard forms of construction contract, FIDIC and NEC, in reducing disputes in the Palestinian construction industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The researchers have used qualitative methods to collect data and more specifically have undertaken 12 semi-structured interviews.

Findings

The study reveals that the standard forms of construction contract can be a tool to minimise disputes, but certainly not to eradicate them, and NEC appears to be more capable than FIDIC to do so.

Originality/value

This study contributes to knowledge by bringing an industrial perspective into the role of standard forms of contract in disputes creation and avoidance. The interviewees, recurrent users of FIDIC contract, criticised certain features and expressions and proposed some solutions.
Educational intervention about breastfeeding among secondary school students
Authors: Catipovic Marija , Markovic Martina , Grguric Josip
Published: April 2018

Purpose

Breastfeeding education in the school setting offers the opportunity to improve knowledge base and positively influence beliefs and intentions for students. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the effect of short education program among secondary school students on breastfeeding knowledge and intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

Total of 106 female and 155 male students from four different high schools in Bjelovar were given online questionnaire about intentions to breastfeed and test of knowledge about breastfeeding, both before and shortly after education. The effect of education and school on breastfeeding intentions and knowledge was examined using mixed design ANOVA. Univariate tests were used to examine relation of several independent variables to breastfeeding intention and knowledge scores before and after education.

Findings

Results showed statistically significant effect of education on both intentions and knowledge, whereas the effect of school was significant only for intentions. Students show more positive intentions and better knowledge about breastfeeding after education than before education.

Research limitations/implications

This paper does not entail validation of breastfeeding questionnaire and knowledge test. Due to comprehensiveness and report length, study on validity and reliability of measures is the subject of another paper.

Practical implications

The authors hope that results of the study will influence professional public in Croatia and encourage it to support implementation of breastfeeding education in curriculum.

Originality/value

This paper offers the first national intervention data in relation to breastfeeding intentions and knowledge among secondary school students. It provides an evidence for necessity of implementation of well-structured education module in regular curriculum of secondary education in Croatia.
Climate change and variability: a review of what is known and ought to be known for Uganda
Authors: Nsubuga Francis Wasswa , Rautenbach Hannes
Published: April 2018

Purpose

In view of the consensus that climate change is happening, scientists have documented several findings about Uganda’s recent climate, as well as its variability and change. The purpose of this study is to review what has been documented, thus it gives an overview of what is known and seeks to explain the implications of a changing climate, hence what ought to be known to create a climate resilient environment.

Design/methodology/approach

Terms such as “climate”, “climate change” and “climate variability” were identified in recent peer-reviewed published literature to find recent climate-related literature on Uganda. Findings from independent researchers and consultants are incorporated. Data obtained from rainfall and temperature observations and from COSMO-CLM Regional Climate Model-Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment (CCLM CORDEX) data, European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Interim Re-Analysis (ERA-Interim) data and Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (GPCC) have been used to generate spatial maps, seasonal outputs and projections using GrADS 2.02 and Geographic Information System (GIS) software for visualization.

Findings

The climate of Uganda is tropical in nature and influenced by the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), varied relief, geo-location and inland lakes, among other factors. The impacts of severe weather and climate trends and variability have been documented substantially in the past 20-30 years. Most studies indicated a rainfall decline. Daily maximum and minimum temperatures are on the rise, while projections indicate a decrease in rainfall and increase in temperature both in the near and far future. The implication of these changes on society and the economy are discussed herein. Cost of inaction is expected to become huge, given factors like, the growing rate of the population and the slow expanding economy experienced in Uganda. Varied forms of adaptation to the impacts of climate change are being implemented, especially in the agricultural sector and at house hold level, though not systematically.

Originality/value

This review of scientific research findings aims to create a better understanding of the recent climate change and variability in Uganda and provides a baseline of summarized information for use in future research and actions.