bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A gendered critique of the African Peer Review Mechanism in Africa
Authors: Chiweshe Manase Kudzai
Published: June 2016

In March 2003, the African Union launched the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) as one of the key instruments of its New Partnership for Africa’s Development initiative. Whilst being lauded in some quarters as a progressive initiative, the APRM has received scathing critique from those who believe that African leaders neither have the will nor moral authority to peer review and censure each other. This occasional paper provides an analysis how gender has been integrated, mainstreamed and taken up within the APRM process. The discussion outlines the evolution of the gender question in Africa specifically issues around gender discrimination, inequality and difference. It argues that gender has received token attention within the APRM. The everyday experiences of African women and their dreams, hopes, fears and ideas are not reflected within this initiative. Its concerns with macro democratic and governance questions have meant women are relegated to the periphery. For so long women’s issues have been ghettoized and defined as irrelevant to governance. Yet experiences in Africa have shown that women’s issues are governance issues. The paper also focuses on how gender can be infused as a critical element of the debate around democratization in Africa. Without addressing gender disparities most of what Africa aspires for in terms of good governance and development will remain a pipe dream. The paper provides recommendations to policy makers on how the APRM process can take up gender issues. It is based mainly on desk research which draws on official AU documents, country reports, reviews, journal particles, reports and working papers.
Cool?
Authors: Parker Becky
Published: June 2016

The original paper

‘Cool?’ was first published in Physics Education in 1969 (Mpemba and Osborne 1969 Phys. Educ.
4

172). Written by Erasto Mpemba and Denis Osborne this paper has been cited 26 times to date, has led to hundreds of articles being written and has a story behind it to inspire every student. We asked Becky Parker, the director of and inspiration behind the Institute for Research in Schools (www.researchinschools.org/), to write a commentary.
Attention bias to threat indicates anxiety differences in sheep
Authors: Lee Caroline , Verbeek Else , Doyle Rebecca , Bateson Melissa
Published: June 2016

Humans and animals show increased attention towards threatening stimuli when they are in increased states of anxiety. The few animal studies that have examined this phenomenon, known as attention bias, have applied environmental manipulations to induce anxiety but the effects of drug-induced anxiety levels on attention bias have not been demonstrated. Here, we present an attention bias test to identify high and low anxiety states in sheep using pharmacological manipulation. Increased anxiety was induced using 1-methyl-chlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP) and decreased anxiety with diazepam, and then we examined the behaviour of sheep in response to the presence of a dog as a threat. Increased attention towards the threat and increased vigilance were shown in sheep that received the m-CPP and reduced in sheep receiving the diazepam. The modulated attention towards a threat displayed by the m-CPP and diazepam animals suggests that attention bias can assess different levels of anxiety in sheep. Measuring attention bias has the potential to improve animal welfare assessment protocols.
Distinct effects of pollinator dependence and self-incompatibility on pollen limitation in South African biodiversity hotspots
Authors: Rodger James G. , Ellis Allan G.
Published: June 2016

Global synthesis indicates that limitation of plant fecundity by pollen receipt (pollen limitation) is positively related to regional plant diversity and is higher for self-incompatible than self-compatible species. While self-incompatible species are always dependent on pollinating agents, self-compatible species may be pollinator-dependent or autofertile. This should cause variation in pollen limitation among self-compatible species, with lower pollen limitation in autofertile species because they do not depend on pollinators. We hypothesized that the intensity of pollen limitation in self-incompatible compared with pollinator-dependent self-compatible species should depend on whether pollen limitation is determined more by quantity than quality of pollen received. We compared pollen limitation between these three groups using a dataset of 70 biotically pollinated species from biodiverse regions of South Africa. Comparison with a global dataset indicated that pollen limitation in the South African biodiversity hotspots was generally comparable to other regions, despite expectations of higher pollen limitation based on the global plant diversity–pollen limitation relationship. Pollen limitation was lowest for autofertile species, as expected. It was also higher for pollinator-dependent self-compatible species than self-incompatible species, consistent with increased pollen-quality limitation in the former group due to negative consequences of pollinator-mediated self-pollination. However, there was a higher frequency of plants with zygomorphic flowers, which were also more pollen-limited, among pollinator-dependent self-compatible species. Thus, we could not attribute this difference in pollen limitation exclusively to a difference in pollen quality. Nevertheless, our results indicate that comparative studies should control for both pollinator dependence and self-incompatiblity when evaluating effects of other factors on pollen limitation.
Multidisciplinary approaches to understanding collective cell migration in developmental biology
Authors: Schumacher Linus J. , Kulesa Paul M. , McLennan Rebecca , Baker Ruth E. , Maini Philip K.
Published: June 2016

Mathematical models are becoming increasingly integrated with experimental efforts in the study of biological systems. Collective cell migration in developmental biology is a particularly fruitful application area for the development of theoretical models to predict the behaviour of complex multicellular systems with many interacting parts. In this context, mathematical models provide a tool to assess the consistency of experimental observations with testable mechanistic hypotheses. In this review, we showcase examples from recent years of multidisciplinary investigations of neural crest cell migration. The neural crest model system has been used to study how collective migration of cell populations is shaped by cell–cell interactions, cell–environmental interactions and heterogeneity between cells. The wide range of emergent behaviours exhibited by neural crest cells in different embryonal locations and in different organisms helps us chart out the spectrum of collective cell migration. At the same time, this diversity in migratory characteristics highlights the need to reconcile or unify the array of currently hypothesized mechanisms through the next generation of experimental data and generalized theoretical descriptions.
The missing link: does tunnelling nanotube-based supercellularity provide a new understanding of chronic and lifestyle diseases?
Authors: Rustom Amin
Published: June 2016

Tunnelling nanotubes (TNTs) are increasingly recognized as central players in a multitude of cellular mechanisms and diseases. Although their existence and functions in animal organisms are still elusive, emerging evidence suggests that they are involved in developmental processes, tissue regeneration, viral infections or pathogen transfer, stem cell differentiation, immune responses as well as initiation and progression of neurodegenerative disorders and cancer (see Sisakhtnezhad & Khosravi 2015
Eur. J. Cell Biol.
94, 429–443. (
doi:10.1016/j.ejcb.2015.06.010
)). A broader field of vision, including their striking functional and structural resemblance with nanotube-mediated phenomena found throughout the phylogenetic tree, from plants down to bacteria, points to a universal, conserved and tightly regulated mechanism of cellular assemblies. Based on our initial definition of TNTs as open-ended channels mediating membrane continuity between connected cells (Rustom
et al.
2004
Science
303, 1007–1010. (
doi:10.1126/science.1093133
)), it is suggested that animal tissues represent supercellular assemblies that—besides opening discrete communication pathways—balance diverse stress factors caused by pathological changes or fluctuating physiological and environmental conditions, such as oxidative stress or nutrient shortage. By combining current knowledge about nanotube formation, intercellular transfer and communication phenomena as well as associated molecular pathways, a model evolves, predicting that the linkage between reactive oxygen species, TNT-based supercellularity and the intercellular shuttling of materials will have significant impact on diverse body functions, such as cell survival, redox/metabolic homeostasis and mitochondrial heteroplasmy. It implies that TNTs are intimately linked to the physiological and pathological state of animal cells and represent a central joint element of diverse diseases, such as neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes or cancer.
Deceived by stripes: conspicuous patterning on vital anterior body parts can redirect predatory strikes to expendable posterior organs
Authors: Murali Gopal , Kodandaramaiah Ullasa
Published: June 2016

Conspicuous coloration, which presumably makes prey more visible to predators, has intrigued researchers for long. Contrastingly coloured, conspicuous striped patterns are common among lizards and other animals, but their function is not well known. We propose and test a novel hypothesis, the ‘redirection hypothesis’, wherein longitudinal striped patterns, such as those found on the anterior body parts of most lacertilians, redirect attacks away from themselves during motion towards less vulnerable posterior parts, for example, the autotomous tail. In experiments employing human ‘predators’ attacking virtual prey on a touchscreen, we show that longitudinal striped patterns on the anterior half of prey decreased attacks to the anterior and increased attacks to the posterior. The position of stripes mattered—they worked best when they were at the anterior. By employing an adaptive psychophysical procedure, we show that prey with striped patterning are perceived to move slower, offering a mechanistic explanation for the redirective effect. In summary, our results suggest that the presence of stripes on the body (i.e. head and trunk) of lizards in combination with caudal autotomy can work as an effective anti-predator strategy during motion.
Socially segregated, sympatric sperm whale clans in the Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Gero Shane , Bøttcher Anne , Whitehead Hal , Madsen Peter Teglberg
Published: June 2016

Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) are unusual in that there is good evidence for sympatric populations with distinct culturally determined behaviour, including potential acoustic markers of the population division. In the Pacific, socially segregated, vocal clans with distinct dialects coexist; by contrast, geographical variation in vocal repertoire in the Atlantic has been attributed to drift. We examine networks of acoustic repertoire similarity and social interactions for 11 social units in the Eastern Caribbean. We find the presence of two socially segregated, sympatric vocal clans whose dialects differ significantly both in terms of categorical coda types produced by each clan (Mantel test between clans: matrix correlation = 0.256;p ≤ 0.001) and when using classification-free similarity which ignores defined types (Mantel test between clans: matrix correlation = 0.180;p ≤ 0.001). The more common of the two clans makes a characteristic 1 + 1 + 3 coda, while the other less often sighted clan makes predominantly regular codas. Units were only observed associating with other units within their vocal clan. This study demonstrates that sympatric vocal clans do exist in the Atlantic, that they define a higher order level of social organization as they do in the Pacific, and suggests that cultural identity at the clan level is probably important in this species worldwide.
Harnessing Molecular Motors for Nanoscale Pulldown in Live Cells
Authors: Bird Jonathan E. , Barzik Melanie , Drummond Meghan C. , Sutton Daniel C. , Goodman Spencer M. , Morozko Eva L. , Cole Stacey M. , Skidmore Jennifer , Syam Diana , Wilson Elizabeth A. , Fitzgerald Tracy , Rehman Atteeq U. , Martin Donna M. , Boger Erich T. , Belyantseva Inna A. , Friedman Thomas B.
Published: June 2016

Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) regulate signal transduction and cellular behavior, yet studying PPIs within live cells remains fundamentally challenging. We have miniaturized the affinity pulldown, a gold-standard PPI interrogation technique, for use within live cells. Our assay hijacks endogenous myosin motors to forcibly traffic, or pulldown, macromolecular complexes within the native cytosolic environment. Macromolecules captured by nanoscale pulldown (NanoSPD) are optically interrogatedin situby tagging individual protein components. Critically, continuous motor trafficking concentrates query complexes into nanoscopic subcellular compartments, providing fluorescence enhancement and allowing nanoscale pulldowns to be visualized and quantified by standard microscopy. Nanoscale pulldown is compatible with nuclear, membrane-associated and cytoplasmic proteins and can investigate functional effects of protein truncations or amino acid substitutions. Moreover, binding hierarchies in larger complexes can be quickly examined within the natural cytosol, making nanoscale pulldown a powerful new optical platform for quantitative high-content screening of known and novel PPIs that act within macromolecular assemblies.
The Quick and the Dead: Microbial Demography at the Yeast Thermal Limit
Authors: Maxwell Colin S. , Magwene Paul M.
Published: June 2016

The niche of microorganisms is determined by where their populations can expand. Populations can fail to grow because of high death or low birth rates, but these are challenging to measure in microorganisms. We developed a novel technique that enables single cell measurement of age-structured birth and death rates in the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and used this method to study responses to heat stress in a genetically diverse panel of strains. We find that individual cells show significant heterogeneity in their rates of birth and death during heat stress. Genotype-by-environment effects on processes that regulate asymmetric cell division contribute to this heterogeneity. These lead to either premature senescence or early life mortality during heat stress, and we find that a mitochondrial inheritance defect explains the early life mortality phenotype of one of the strains we studied. This study demonstrates how the interplay of physiology, genetic variation, and environmental variables influences where microbial populations survive and flourish.
Identification of polymorphic and off-target probe binding sites on the Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip
Authors: McCartney Daniel L. , Walker Rosie M. , Morris Stewart W. , McIntosh Andrew M. , Porteous David J. , Evans Kathryn L.
Published: June 2016

Genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation has now become a relatively inexpensive technique thanks to array-based methylation profiling technologies. The recently developed Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip interrogates methylation at over 850,000 sites across the human genome, covering 99% of RefSeq genes. This array supersedes the widely used Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip, which has permitted insights into the relationship between DNA methylation and a wide range of conditions and traits. Previous research has identified issues with certain probes on both the HumanMethylation450 BeadChip and its predecessor, the Infinium HumanMethylation27 BeadChip, which were predicted to affect array performance. These issues concerned probe-binding specificity and the presence of polymorphisms at target sites. Usingin silicomethods, we have identified probes on the Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip that are predicted to (i) measure methylation at polymorphic sites and (ii) hybridise to multiple genomic regions. We intend these resources to be used for quality control procedures when analysing data derived from this platform.
Decoding of generic mental representations from functional MRI data using word embeddings
Authors: Pereira Francisco , Lou Bin , Pritchett Brianna , Kanwisher Nancy , Botvinick Matthew , Fedorenko Evelina
Published: June 2016

Several different groups have demonstrated the feasibility of building forward models of functional MRI data in response to concrete stimuli such as pictures or video, and of using these models to decode or reconstruct stimuli shown while acquiring test fMRI data. In this paper, we introduce an approach for building forward models of conceptual stimuli, concrete or abstract, and for using these models to carry out decoding of semantic information from new imaging data. We show that this approach generalizes to topics not seen in training, and provides a straightforward path to decoding from more complex stimuli such as sentences or paragraphs.
Stabilizing membrane domains antagonizes n-alcohol anesthesia
Authors: Machta B.B. , Grey E. , Nouri M. , McCarthy N.L.C. , Gray E.M. , Miller A.L. , Brooks N.J. , Veatch S.L.
Published: June 2016

Diverse molecules induce general anesthesia with potency strongly correlated both with their hydrophobicity and their effects on certain ion channels. We recently observed that several n-alcohol anesthetics inhibit heterogeneity in plasma membrane derived vesicles by lowering the critical temperature (Tc) for phase separation. Here we exploit conditions that stabilize membrane heterogeneity to further test the correlation between the anesthetic potency of n-alcohols and effects onTc. First we show that hexadecanol acts oppositely to n-alcohol anesthetics on membrane mixing and antagonizes ethanol induced anesthesia in a tadpole behavioral assay. Second, we show that two previously described ‘intoxication reversers’ raiseTcand counter ethanol’s effects in vesicles, mimicking the findings of previous electrophysiological and behavioral measurements. Third, we find that hydrostatic pressure, long known to reverse anesthesia, also raises Tc in vesicles with a magnitude that counters the effect of butanol at relevant concentrations and pressures. Taken together,these results demonstrate that ΔTcpredicts anesthetic potency for n-alcohols better than hydrophobicity in a range of contexts, supporting a mechanistic role for membrane heterogeneity in general anesthesia.
Dark diversity illuminates the dim side of conservation and restoration
Authors: Moeslund Jesper Erenskjold , Brunbjerg Ane Kirstine , Clausen Kevin Kuhlmann , Dalby Lars , Flojgaard Camilla , Juel Anders , Lenoir Jonathan
Published: June 2016

1Dark diversityis a promising concept for prioritizing management efforts as it focuses on missing species, i.e., species present in the regional pool, but locally absent despite suitable environmental conditions.2We applied the concept to a massive national plant diversity database (236,923 records from 15,160 surveys involving 564 species) to provide the first geographically comprehensive assessment of dark diversity across a large area (43,000 km2), at a spatial scale (~75 m2) relevant for conservation and restoration planning and across multiple terrestrial habitats, thus maximising its practical application potential. The likelihood for a given plant species to belong to the dark diversity pool was computed and logistically regressed against its ecological preferences (nutrient availability, pH etc.), strategies (competitor, stress tolerance, ruderal), mycorrhizal dependence and infection percentage, seed mass and maximum dispersal distance.3Forty-six percent of the species were absent in >95 % of the suitable sites, whereas 7 % of the species were absent in less than 60 % of sites that were deemed suitable.4Species that were more likely to belong to the dark diversity tended to depend on mycorrhiza, were mostly adapted to low light and nutrient levels, had poor dispersal abilities, were ruderals and had a low stress tolerance.Synthesis and applicationsOur findings have important implications for the planning and management of natural ecosystems requiring detailed knowledge of what triggers the presence/absence of individual plant species in a seemingly suitable habitat. We conclude that practitioners may need to carefully consider mycorrhizal inoculations with a suitable assemblage of fungi for certain plant species to become established. Also assisted migration might be necessary to help poor dispersers although spatial and temporal processes are also important to have in mind. Finally, it is important to vary nutrient loads making room for plant species to colonise both nutrient-poor and nutrient-rich localities.
A Dormant Microbial Component in the Development of Pre-Eclampsia1
Authors: Kell Douglas B. , Kenny Louise C.
Published: June 2016

Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a complex, multi-system disorder that remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in pregnancy. Four main classes of dysregulation accompany PE, and are widely considered to contribute to its severity. These are abnormal trophoblast invasion of the placenta, anti-angiogenic responses, oxidative stress, and inflammation. What is lacking, however, is an explanation of how these themselves are caused.

We here develop the unifying idea, and the considerable evidence for it, that the originating cause of PE (and of the four classes of dysregulation) is in fact microbial infection, that most such microbes are dormant and hence resist detection by conventional (replication-dependent) microbiology, and that by occasional resuscitation and growth it is they that are responsible for all the observable sequelae, including the continuing, chronic inflammation. In particular, bacterial products such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), also known as endotoxin, are well known as highly inflammagenic and stimulate an innate (and possibly trained) immune response that exacerbates the inflammation further. The known need of microbes for free iron can explain the iron dysregulation that accompanies PE. We describe the main routes of infection (gut, oral, urinary tract infection) and the regularly observed presence of microbes in placental and other tissues in PE. Every known proteomic biomarker of “pre-eclampsia” that we assessed has in fact also been shown to be raised in response to infection. An infectious component to PE fulfils the Bradford Hill criteria for ascribing a disease to an environmental cause, and suggests a number of treatments, some of which have in fact been shown to be successful.

PE was classically referred to as endotoxaemia or toxaemia of pregnancy, and it is ironic that it seems that LPS and other microbial endotoxins really are involved. Overall, the recognition of an infectious component in the aetiology of PE mirrors that for ulcers and other diseases that were previously considered to lack one.

Insight, innovation, integration

Many descriptors of pre-eclampsia are widely accepted (e.g. abnormal trophoblast invasion, oxidative stress, inflammation and altered immune response, and anti-angiogenic responses). However, without knowing what causes them, they do not explain the syndrome. The Biological Insight of this manuscript is that there is considerable evidence to the effect that each of these phenomena (hence PE) are caused by the resuscitation of dormant bacteria that shed (known and potent) inflammagens such as LPS, often as a consequence of iron availability. PE is thus seen as a milder form of sepsis. The Technological Innovations come from the use of molecular markers (of microbes and omics more generally, as well as novel markers of coagulopathies) to measure this. The Benefit of Integration comes from bringing together a huge number of disparate observations into a unifying theme.
tHapMix: simulating tumour samples through haplotype mixtures
Authors: Ivakhno Sergii , Colombo Camilla , Tanner Stephen , Tedder Philip , Berri Stefano , Cox Anthony J.
Published: June 2016

Motivation

Large-scale rearrangements and copy number changes combined with different modes of cloevolution create extensive somatic genome diversity, making it difficult to develop versatile and scalable oriant calling tools and create well-calibrated benchmarks.

Results

We developed a new simulation framework tHapMix that enables the creation of tumour samples with different ploidy, purity and polyclonality features. It easily scales to simulation of hundreds of somatic genomes, while re-use of real read data preserves noise and biases present in sequencing platforms. We further demonstrate tHapMix utility by creating a simulated set of 140 somatic genomes and showing how it can be used in training and testing of somatic copy number variant calling tools.

Availability and implementation

tHapMix is distributed under an open source license and can be downloaded fromhttps://github.com/Illumina/tHapMix.

Contact

sivakhno@illumina.com

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available atBioinformaticsonline.
Phylogenetic and structural analyses reveal the determinants of DNA binding specificities of nucleoid-associated proteins HU and IHF
Authors: Dey Debayan , Nagaraja Valakunja , Ramakumar Suryanarayanarao
Published: June 2016

Nucleoid-associated proteins (NAPs) are chromosome-organizing factors, which affect the transcriptional landscape of a bacterial cell. HU is an NAP, which binds to DNA with a broad specificity while homologous IHF (Integration Host Factor), binds DNA with moderately higher specificity. Specificity and differential binding affinity of HU/IHF proteins towards their target binding sites play a crucial role in their regulatory dynamics. Decades of biochemical and genomic studies have been carried out for HU and IHF like proteins. Yet, questions related to their DNA binding specificity, and differential ability tobendDNA thus affecting the binding site length remained unanswered. In addition, the problem has not been investigated from an evolutionary perspective. Our phylogenetic analysis revealed three major clades belonging to HU, IHFα and IHFβ like proteins with reference toE. coli. We carried out a comparative analysis of three-dimensional structures of HU/IHF proteins to gain insight into the structural basis of clade division. The present study revealed three major features which contribute to differential DNA binding specificity of HU/IHF proteins, I) conformational restriction of DNA binding residues due to salt-bridge formation II) the enrichment of alanine in the DNA binding site increasing conformational space of flexible side chains in its vicinity and III) nature of DNA binding residue (Arg to Lys bias in different clades) which interacts differentially to DNA bases. Differences in the dimer stabilization strategies between HU and IHF were also observed. Our analysis reveals a comprehensive evolutionary picture, which rationalizes the origin of multi-specificity of HU/IHF proteins using sequence and structure-based determinants, which could also be applied to understand differences in binding specificities of other nucleic acid binding proteins.
Personally tailored cancer management based on knowledge banks of genomic and clinical data
Authors: Gerstung Moritz , Papaemmanuil Elli , Martincorena Inigo , Bullinger Lars , Gaidzik Verena I , Paschka Peter , Heuser Michael , Thol Felicitas , Bolli Niccolo , Ganly Peter , Ganser Arnold , McDermott Ultan , Döhner Konstanze , Schlenk Richard F , Döhner Hartmut , Campbell Peter J
Published: June 2016

Sequencing of cancer genomes, or parts thereof, has become widespread and will soon be implemented as part of routine clinical diagnostics. However the clinical ramifications of this have not been fully assessed. Here we assess the utility of sequencing large and clinically well-annotated cancer cohorts to derive personalized predictions about treatment outcome. To this end we study a cohort of 1,540 patients with AML (acute myeloid leukemia) with genetic profiles from 111 cancer genes, cytogenetic data and diagnostic blood counts. We test existing and develop new models to compute the probability of six different clinical outcomes based on more than 100 genetic and clinical variables. The predictions derived from our knowledge bank are more detailed and outperform strata currently used in clinical practice (concordance C=72% v C=64%), and are validated on three cohorts and data from TCGA (C=70%). Our prognostic algorithm is available as an online tool (http://cancer.sanger.ac.uk/aml-multistage). A simulation of different treatment scenarios indicates that a refined risk stratification could reduce the number of bonemarrow transplants by up to 25%, while achieving the same survival. Power calculation show that the inclusion of further genes most likely has small effects on the prognostic accuracy; increasing the number of cases will further reduce the error of personalized predictions.
Global and local connectivity differences converge with gene expression in a neurodevelopmental disorder of known genetic origin
Authors: Bathelt Joe , Barnes Jessica , Raymond F Lucy , Baker Kate , Astle Duncan
Published: June 2016

1

Knowledge of genetic cause in neurodevelopmental disorders can highlight molecular and cellular processes critical for typical development. Furthermore, the relative homogeneity of neurodevelopmental disorders of known genetic origin allows the researcher to establish the subsequent neurobiological processes that mediate cognitive and behavioural outcomes. The current study investigated white matter structural connectivity in a group of individuals with intellectual disability due to mutations in ZDHHC9. In addition to shared cause of cognitive impairment, these individuals have a shared cognitive profile, involving oro-motor control difficulties and expressive language impairment. Analysis of structural network properties using graph theory measures showed global reductions in mean clustering coefficient and efficiency in the ZDHHC9 group, with maximal differences in frontal and parietal areas. Regional variation in clustering coefficient and local efficiency across cortical regions in cases and controls were significantly associated with known pattern of expression of ZDHHC9 in the normal adult human brain. The results demonstrate that a mutation in a single gene impacts upon white matter organisation across the whole-brain, but also shows regionally specific effects, according to variation in gene expression. Furthermore, these regionally specific patterns may link to specific developmental mechanisms, and correspond to specific cognitive deficits.
RADpainterandfineRADstructure: population inference from RADseq data
Authors: Malinsky Milan , Trucchi Emiliano , Lawson Daniel John , Falush Daniel
Published: June 2016

Powerful approaches to inferring recent or current population structure based on nearest neighbour haplotype ‘coancestry’ have so far been inaccessible to users without high quality genome-wide haplotype data. With a boom in non-model organism genomics, there is a pressing need to bring these methods to communities without access to such data. Here we presentRADpainter, a new program designed to infer the coancestry matrix from restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) data. We combine this program together with a previously published MCMC clustering algorithm intofineRADstructure- a complete, easy to use, and fast population inference package for RADseq data (https://github.com/millanek/fineRADstructure). Finally, with two example datasets, we illustrate its use, benefits, and robustness to missing RAD alleles in double digest RAD sequencing.
Patient speaking for patients
Authors: Cassels Alan
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to recognize the vital reasons for including public and patient voices in health policy decision-making, but illustrates the challenge it creates for decision-makers who must consider whether those voices represent patient interests or corporate interests.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper takes the form of a narrative review.

Findings

– The history of flibanserin, a controversial new drug to treat a debatable condition, illustrates how a public relations campaign could circumvent the well-established process to weigh evidence of potential harm vs benefit by one of the most robust drug regulators in the world.

Practical implications

– It is both vital to recognize a fundamental problem that exists when corporate interests deceptively assume the mantle of “the patient voice” and then act to reduce that influence while supporting and building capacity in genuinely independent, consumer-focused activities.

Originality/value

– This paper suggests that organizations interested in consumer protection and the safe and cost-effective use of health resources create policies and procedures that can foster genuine consumer involvement while recognizing the danger to patient safety and consumer interests when consumer involvement is hijacked by vested interests.
Health services: governing body vs care receiver – a comparison between China and Hong Kong
Authors: Fung Ita M. , Chan Wai Yee , Chan Eric
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to bring consideration to the care receivers’ point of view when setting policies for the delivery of health services.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper briefly reviews the delivery of health services designed by the governing body in Hong Kong and China. It also looks into how the care receivers behave in the respective delivery system.

Findings

– With different objectives and fundamentals, Hong Kong and China strive to improve the delivery of health services. However, there are issues which make the implementation of these improvements challenging. This paper looks into the care receiver’s concerns that impact the delivery of health services.

Originality/value

– Provide areas for consideration when setting up health policy.
A journey of partnership
Authors: Johnson Harmony , Ulrich Cathy , Cross Nicole , Greenwood Margo
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to describe the process of transformation in the Northern Health region of British Columbia (BC), Canada, based on a new relationship between governments of BC, Canada, and First Nations.

Design/methodology/approach

– Written from the perspective of four key participants in the transformation process, this paper highlights the ways in which partnership has been integral to the transformation of health service delivery to First Nations communities in Northern BC.

Findings

– In sharing their experiences with health system transformation through partnership, the authors of this paper hope to contribute to a growing set of promising practices as indigenous health service organizations take a greater role in health service provision, and non-indigenous health service organizations improve their understanding of and relationships with indigenous communities.

Originality/value

– This paper outlines a unique and leading edge transformation in health service delivery, told from the perspectives of key partners involved in the transformation process.
IJHG review
Authors: MacVane Phipps Fiona
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of the this paper is to provide readers with a succinct summary of the issue’s content.

Design/methodology/approach

– Each individual article is reviewed, with common themes identified.

Findings

– The paper enables readers to scan content and select articles of most interest or relevance to their needs.

Practical implications

– The review sections enable readers to identify articles of special interest.

Originality/value

–IJHG is the only Emerald publication containing a review section of this kind. It has been a feature of the journal since its early inception as the British Journal of Clinical Governance (BJCG) and has developed over the years to reflect the current needs of the journal.
Fund managers’ herding and mutual fund governance
Authors: Casavecchia Lorenzo
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify the implications of managerial herding for investors’ wealth and capital allocation across funds, and the critical role played by fund governance in monitoring herding incentives.

Design/methodology/approach

– The author adopt the fund herding measure first proposed by Grinblatt et al. (1995) over the long sample period 1992-2007. Univariate and multivariate tests are then constructed to examine the relationship between managerial herding, performance, and investors’ sensitivities. OLS, fixed-effect panel data models are utilized to conduct the tests.

Findings

– The author show that managers that do not herd have above-average managerial skills, trade less on noise, and significantly outperform herding managers. The author also illustrate that although fund herding could be used as a signal of managerial quality, underperforming herding funds manage to survive in equilibrium, indicating that investor flows do not adequately respond to the information content of a persistent herding behavior. Finally, the author demonstrate that better governance in the form of stronger managerial incentive schemes constitutes a significant deterrent against detrimental herding strategies, representing an effective monitoring device of the response of fund managers to poor flow-performance sensitivity.

Originality/value

– The paper provides original evidence on the efficacy of external and internal governance in deterring wealth-reducing herding strategies. The author document that where more effective managerial incentives schemes are put in place by the management companies, fund managers are more likely to be better informed, resulting in fewer incentives to mimic the trading decisions of their peers.
The impact of environmental and social sustainability practices on sourcing behavior
Authors: Thomas Rodney W. , Fugate Brian S. , Robinson Jessica L , Tasçioglu Mertcan
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to make an initial attempt to understand if environmental and social sustainability practices of suppliers influence the buying decision and ultimate supplier selection in a purchasing organization.

Design/methodology/approach

– In order to test the effects of sustainability on sourcing decisions, this research utilizes two scenario-based behavioral experiments grounded in a transportation carrier selection context.

Findings

– Two scenario-based experiments with managerial participants were conducted and results suggest that environmental and social aspects of sustainability are indeed relevant sourcing considerations that impact both economic and relational aspects of exchange relationships. These sustainability aspects enable carriers to differentiate themselves in a highly commoditized market.

Originality/value

– Extant research advocates for sourcing organizations to take an active role in selecting sustainable suppliers. However, little is known about how supplier sustainability performance impacts sourcing decisions and supplier selection. This research addresses this gap in the literature and explores the effects of price, environmental, and social sustainability on purchase intentions and trust formation in a transportation carrier selection context.
The changing landscape of off-label prescription drug promotion
Authors: Sarkees Matthew E. , Fitzgerald M. Paula
Published: June 2016

Purpose

Off-label drug prescribing by healthcare providers is a growing practice. Yet, the US Food and Drug Administration bans the marketing of drugs for off-label uses. In recent years, legal challenges by the pharmaceutical industry have chipped away government restrictions on off-label drug promotion. Although the changing legal landscape has been discussed, this paper aims to examine how key stakeholders and policy-makers might interact to provide a more transparent marketing environment for off-label drug discussions in the patient–provider relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on a variety of sources, the authors assess the current marketing landscape of off-label drugs and some of the issues that challenge the healthcare provider–patient relationship. The authors then examine opportunities to improve the off-label promotion environment and the relevant decision-making theories that key stakeholders need to consider when formulating marketing efforts and policies.

Findings

The authors suggest that fewer restrictions on truthful, non-misleading off-label drug promotion provide an opportunity to improve drug knowledge and, importantly, healthcare provider and consumer decision-making. Key stakeholders should consider, among other solutions, criteria for defining truthful information on off-label drugs, alternative methods of approval of off-label uses and ubiquitous icons to identify off-label prescribing to all stakeholders.

Originality/value

Rather than rehash the legal landscape of off-label drug promotion, this paper focuses on how the healthcare provider–patient relationship is impacted and how stakeholders can improve information flow in this changing environment.
A case of tightrope walking
Authors: Bramwell Donna , Sanders Caroline , Rogers Anne
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– Given that current policy in the UK is focused on encouraging individuals with long-term health conditions (LTCs) to work wherever possible, the purpose of this paper is to explore employer’s and manager’s perspectives of supporting those with LTCs as any successful workplace engagement will largely be influenced by their readiness to be supportive.

Design/methodology/approach

– In total, 40 semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with employers’ and managers’ from a range of organisations in the north-west of England during the period March 2011 to January 2012. Comparative analysis of the data was guided and informed by grounded theory principles.

Findings

– All bar one participant typified their role as one of a difficult “balancing” act of additional and often incompatible demands, pressures and feelings. It was evident that coping with this ambivalent situation incurred an emotional consequence for participants.

Practical implications

– Employers’ and managers’ response to ambivalent feelings may serve to undermine their capacity to translate supportive intentions into tangible action and are thus reflected in employee’s perceptions of unsupportive relations. Developing an intervention to raise awareness of the potential for this situation and subsequent impact on the return to work process would be beneficial for all stakeholders – the government, employees and employers alike.

Originality/value

– This in-depth study gives voice to employers and managers whose experiences and perceptions of supporting people with LTCs is largely unknown and empirically under-researched. Findings add to the wealth of research from the employee perspective to provide a more nuanced picture of the workplace for those working with and/or supporting those with LTCs.
Predicting entrepreneurial intentions of freshmen students from EAO modeling and personal background
Authors: Aloulou Wassim J.
Published: June 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the effects of personal background and entrepreneurial attitudes on entrepreneurial intentions of Saudi Freshmen students of Al Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University. After reviewing the literature and related theories on entrepreneurship, attitudes and intentions, this study provides a conceptual framework trying to identify the effects of most influential factors on individual’s intention to become an entrepreneur.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a survey study developed from previous empirical studies, the paper aims to investigate the significant elements of intentions from a sample of 103 students randomly selected. This study is both descriptive and analytical using correlations and multiple regressions.

Findings

The findings show that significant correlations among variables were found. The achievement and innovation attitudes are significant elements to entrepreneurial intentions. Students scored quite high on them, but, moderate on personal control and self-esteem attitudes. Students might have a real intention for starting their own businesses later that could be sustained during their studies at university. Additionally, entrepreneurs among relatives and entrepreneurship training were also the other significant elements to intentions.

Research Limitations/implications

Implications for future research are described and some pragmatic recommendations are provided to promote students’ entrepreneurial initiatives and behaviors at university.

Social Implications

The exploratory analysis suggests the need to develop more the awareness of students to entrepreneurship as potential career choice to help them to be active in the society.

Originality/value

In this paper, the Entrepreneurial Attitude Orientation model is validated for a Saudi university considered as a specific context. Broader reflections about a freshman student entrepreneurship as refocused research agenda is also considered by undertaking some new research and developing a comprehensive and contextual framework.
Exploring the role of motivational cultural intelligence in SIE women’s adjustment
Authors: Schreuders-van den Bergh Riana , Du Plessis Yvonne
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore and discuss the role of motivational cultural intelligence and its related strategies in the experiential learning and cross-cultural adjustment of self-initiated expatriate (SIE) women.

Design/methodology/approach

– Interactive qualitative analysis (IQA) was the design and process used for this research. Two IQA focus groups were conducted with a non-probability purposive sample of 21 SIE women, aged between 26 and 53 who were living and working in the Netherlands at the time of the research. Participants were invited to brainstorm about their adjustment experience and actively construct a framework of their adjustment experiences.

Findings

– Evidence is provided for the role of motivational CQ, with specific reference to reinvention, self-efficacy and goal-setting as motivational strategies, in the successful adjustment of SIE women. Conceptual frameworks of the cyclical learning process and motivational strategies with choice as a moderator in the process, have been developed. Three propositions for future research are also presented.

Originality/value

– This study represents an under-researched group and proposes conceptual frameworks for understanding the complex, multidimensional process of SIE women adjustment and the role of motivation, from a participant perspective.