bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Building a family network from genetic testing
Authors: Leppig Kathleen A. , Thiese Heidi A. , Carrel David , Crosslin David R. , Dorschner Michael O. , Gordon Adam S. , Hartzler Andrea , Ralston James , Scrol Aaron , Larson Eric B. , Jarvik Gail P.
Published: December 2016

Background

Genetic testing has multigenerational and familial repercussions. However, the “trickle‐down effect” of providing genetic counseling and testing to family members at risk after an initial identification of a pathogenic variant in a medically actionable gene has been poorly understood.

Methods

Three probands were identified during the pharmacogenetics research phase of eMERGEII (electronic MEdical Record and Genomics, phase II) to have variants in genes associated with autosomal dominant adult‐onset disorders determined to be actionable by the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG). Two of the three probands had variants that were classified as pathogenic and the third proband had a variant ultimately classified of uncertain significance, but of concern due to the proband's own phenotype. All probands had additional family members at risk for inheriting the variant. Two of the three probands had family members who received their medical care from the same health care system, Group Health Cooperative (GHC). It was recommended that the proband contact their family members at risk to be referred to genetic counseling for consideration of genetic testing.

Results

The two probands with pathogenic variants contacted some of their family members at risk. Individuals contacted included children and adult grandchildren, particularly if they received their medical care at GHC. To the best of our knowledge, siblings and more distant relatives at risk were not informed by the proband of their genetic risk.

Conclusions

Establishing a family network is essential to disseminate knowledge of genetic risk. These three initial cases describe our experience of contacting eMERGE participants with identified variants, providing the probands with appropriate genetic counseling and care coordination, and recommendations for contacting family members at risk. Greater challenges were observed for coordinating genetics care for family members and extending the family network to include other relatives at risk.
Beam distortion due to gold fiducial markers during salvage high‐intensity focused ultrasound in the prostate
Authors: Georgiou P. S. , Jaros J. , Payne H. , Allen C. , Shah T. T. , Ahmed H. U. , Gibson E. , Barratt D. , Treeby B. E.
Published: December 2016

Purpose

High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) provides a non‐invasive salvage treatment option for patients with recurrence after external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). As part of EBRT the prostate is frequently implanted with permanent fiducial markers. To date, the impact of these markers on subsequent HIFU treatment is unknown. The objective of this work was to systematically investigate, using computational simulations, how these fiducial markers affect the delivery of HIFU treatment.

Methods

A series of simulations was performed modelling the propagation of ultrasound pressure waves in the prostate with a single spherical or cylindrical gold marker at different positions and orientations. For each marker configuration, a set of metrics (spatial‐peak temporal‐average intensity, focus shift, focal volume) was evaluated to quantify the distortion introduced at the focus. An analytical model was also developed describing the marker effect on the intensity at the focus. The model was used to examine the marker's impact in a clinical setting through case studies.

Results

The simulations show that the presence of the marker in the pre‐focal region causes reflections which induce a decrease in the focal intensity and focal volume, and a shift of the maximum pressure point away from the transducer's focus. These effects depend on the shape and orientation of the marker and become more pronounced as its distance from the transducer's focus decreases, with the distortion introduced by the marker greatly increasing when placed within 5 mm of the focus. The analytical model approximates the marker's effect and can be used as an alternative method to the computationally intensive and time consuming simulations for quickly estimating the intensity at the focus. A retrospective review of a small patient cohort selected for focal HIFU after failed EBRT indicates that the presence of the marker may affect HIFU treatment delivery.

Conclusions

The distortion introduced by the marker to the HIFU beam when positioned close to the focus may result in an undertreated region beyond the marker due to less energy arriving at the focus, and an overtreated region due to reflections. Further work is necessary to investigate whether the results presented here justify the revision of the patient selection criteria or the markers’ placement protocol.
CT breast dose reduction with the use of breast positioning and organ‐based tube current modulation
Authors: Fu Wanyi , Tian Xiaoyu , Sturgeon Gregory M. , Agasthya Greeshma , Segars William Paul , Goodsitt Mitchell M. , Kazerooni Ella A. , Samei Ehsan
Published: December 2016

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the breast dose reduction potential of a breast‐positioning (BP) technique for thoracic CT examinations with organ‐based tube current modulation (OTCM).

Methods

This study included 13 female anthropomorphic computational phantoms (XCAT, age range: 27–65 y.o., weight range: 52–105.8 kg). Each phantom was modified to simulate three breast sizes in standard supine geometry. The modeled breasts were then morphed to emulate BP that constrained the majority of the breast tissue inside the 120° anterior tube current (mA) reduction zone. The OTCM mA value was modeled using a ray‐tracing program, which reduced the mA to 20% in the anterior region with a corresponding increase to the posterior region. The organ doses were estimated by a validated Monte Carlo program for a typical clinical CT system (SOMATOM Definition Flash, Siemens Healthcare). The simulated organ doses and organ doses normalized by CTDIvol were used to compare three CT protocols: attenuation‐based tube current modulation (ATCM), OTCM, and OTCM with BP (OTCMBP).

Results

On average, compared to ATCM, OTCM reduced breast dose by 19.3 ± 4.5%, whereas OTCMBP reduced breast dose by 38.6 ± 8.1% (an additional 23.8 ± 9.4%). The dose saving of OTCMBP was more significant for larger breasts (on average 33, 38, and 44% reduction for 0.5, 1, and 2 kg breasts, respectively). Compared to ATCM, OTCMBP also reduced thymus and heart dose by 15.1 ± 7.4% and 15.9 ± 6.2% respectively.

Conclusions

In thoracic CT examinations, OTCM with a breast‐positioning technique can markedly reduce unnecessary exposure to radiosensitive organs in anterior chest wall, specifically breast tissue. The breast dose reduction is more notable for women with larger breasts.
A novel pre‐processing technique for improving image quality in digital breast tomosynthesis
Authors: Kim Hyeongseok , Lee Taewon , Hong Joonpyo , Sabir Sohail , Lee Jung‐Ryun , Choi Young Wook , Kim Hak Hee , Chae Eun Young , Cho Seungryong
Published: December 2016

Purpose

Nonlinear pre‐reconstruction processing of the projection data in computed tomography (CT) where accurate recovery of the CT numbers is important for diagnosis is usually discouraged, for such a processing would violate the physics of image formation in CT. However, one can devise a pre‐processing step to enhance detectability of lesions in digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) where accurate recovery of the CT numbers is fundamentally impossible due to the incompleteness of the scanned data. Since the detection of lesions such as micro‐calcifications and mass in breasts is the purpose of using DBT, it is justified that a technique producing higher detectability of lesions is a virtue.

Methods

A histogram modification technique was developed in the projection data domain. Histogram of raw projection data was first divided into two parts: One for the breast projection data and the other for background. Background pixel values were set to a single value that represents the boundary between breast and background. After that, both histogram parts were shifted by an appropriate amount of offset and the histogram‐modified projection data were log‐transformed. Filtered‐backprojection (FBP) algorithm was used for image reconstruction of DBT. To evaluate performance of the proposed method, we computed the detectability index for the reconstructed images from clinically acquired data.

Results

Typical breast border enhancement artifacts were greatly suppressed and the detectability of calcifications and masses was increased by use of the proposed method. Compared to a global threshold‐based post‐reconstruction processing technique, the proposed method produced images of higher contrast without invoking additional image artifacts.

Conclusions

In this work, we report a novel pre‐processing technique that improves detectability of lesions in DBT and has potential advantages over the global threshold‐based post‐reconstruction processing technique. The proposed method not only increased the lesion detectability but also reduced typical image artifacts pronounced in conventional FBP‐based DBT.
Generation of non‐equilibrium condition in solution plasma discharge using low‐pass filter circuit
Authors: Heo Yong Kang , Lee Seung Hyo , Bratescu Maria Antoaneta , Kim Sung Min , Lee Gyoung‐Ja , Saito Nagahiro
Published: December 2016

Solution plasma process has been researched as one of the synthetic methods of nano‐ and functional materials using plasma discharge in liquids. In this study, a low‐pass filter circuit was introduced to increase the density and temperature of electrons involved in a non‐equilibrium condition. The discharge properties of the solution plasma generated by conventional and low‐pass filter circuits were characterized and comparatively analyzed. Filtration of the MHz range current oscillations, an increase in the maximum discharge current, and a higher stability of solution plasma were obtained by simply inserting a resistor‐capacitor (RC) component in the circuit, which leads to the increases in the density and temperature of electrons.
Exploring researchers' participation in online research identity management systems
Authors: Wu Shuheng , Stvilia Besiki , Lee Dong Joon
Published: December 2016

Prior studies have identified a need for engaging researchers in providing and curating their identity data. This poster reports preliminary findings of a qualitative study exploring how researchers use and engage in online research identity management (RIM) systems. The findings identify nine activity or task related motivations of using RIM systems. This study also identified three levels of participation in RIM systems: Readers, Personal Record Managers, and Community Members. Most participants of this study fell into the category of Personal Record Managers, who may maintain their own profiles in a RIM system. This suggests that a majority of researchers may be willing to maintain their research identity profiles. Institutional repository managers may consider recruiting researchers as not only research information and data providers, but also curators of their own research identity data.
Off to a Flying Start
Authors: Deveson Anne
Published: December 2016

And we have lift‐off! ChemistrySelect offers researchers a society‐owned quality venue for all their research results. It is your forum for publishing all topics within the chemical sciences, both widely applicable and specialized, and a focus on scientific rigor and accuracy. Find out what has happened in the first year in this Editorial.
Human capital matters: Market valuation of firm investments in training and the role of complementary assets
Authors: Riley Shawn M. , Michael Steven C. , Mahoney Joseph T.
Published: December 2016

Research summary:This article empirically examines the economic value to firms of investing in the training of their employees and firm‐level factors that influence how much the firms benefit. Event study methodology is used to obtain a measure of the economic impact of information regarding a firm's human capital management investments and policies. Subsequent regression analyses are then used to test hypotheses regarding possible complementary relationships between firm‐level factors and human capital investments. Results provide robust support for the proposition that effective investments in human capital and training matter, and that these human capital investments are more impactful when combined with complementary assets of R&D, physical capital, and advertising investments.

Managerial summary:Do firm investments in training and the development of employee human capital matter with regard to financial performance? We find that, yes, these investments do matter. Our results show that managers who view employee human capital as an asset to be invested in and developed can expect to outperform those who view it as a cost to be minimized. In addition, we find that these human capital investments will be of even greater economic value to firms when they have made complementary investments in R&D, physical capital, and advertising. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dental Pulp Stem Cells Model Early Life and Imprinted DNA Methylation Patterns
Authors: Dunaway Keith , Goorha Sarita , Matelski Lauren , Urraca Nora , Lein Pamela J. , Korf Ian , Reiter Lawrence T. , LaSalle Janine M.
Published: December 2016

Early embryonic stages of pluripotency are modeled for epigenomic studies primarily with human embryonic stem cells (ESC) or induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). For analysis of DNA methylation however, ESCs and iPSCs do not accurately reflect the DNA methylation levels found in preimplantation embryos. Whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) approaches have revealed the presence of large partially methylated domains (PMDs) covering 30%-40% of the genome in oocytes, preimplantation embryos, and placenta. In contrast, ESCs and iPSCs show abnormally high levels of DNA methylation compared to inner cell mass (ICM) or placenta. Here we show that dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), derived from baby teeth and cultured in serum-containing media, have PMDs and mimic the ICM and placental methylome more closely than iPSCs and ESCs. By principal component analysis, DPSC methylation patterns were more similar to two other neural stem cell types of human derivation (EPI-NCSC and LUHMES) and placenta than were iPSCs, ESCs or other human cell lines (SH-SY5Y, B lymphoblast, IMR90). To test the suitability of DPSCs in modeling epigenetic differences associated with disease, we compared methylation patterns of DPSCs derived from children with chromosome 15q11.2-q13.3 maternal duplication (Dup15q) to controls. Differential methylation region (DMR) analyses revealed the expected Dup15q hypermethylation at the imprinting control region, as well as hypomethylation over SNORD116, and novel DMRs over 147 genes, including several autism candidate genes. Together these data suggest that DPSCs are a useful model for epigenomic and functional studies of human neurodevelopmental disorders.
Hope and anxiety in physics class: Exploring their motivational antecedents and influence on metacognition and performance
Authors: González Antonio , Fernández María‐Victoria Carrera , Paoloni Paola‐Verónica
Published: December 2016

Recent research on achievement in science asserts that motivation, emotion, and metacognition are important driving forces for learning. This study sought to examine the relationships between two physics class emotions (hope and anxiety), their motivational predictors (instrumentality and self‐efficacy), and their effects on metacognitive problem solving strategies (planning, monitoring, and evaluation) and performance. Data were collected from 520 grade 11 Spanish students (54.7% girls). Structural equation models (SEM), followed by a bootstrap procedure, were used to examine direct and mediated relationships. The results supported the model, suggesting that instrumentality and self‐efficacy negatively predicted anxiety, and enhanced hope, planning, monitoring, evaluation, and performance; metacognitive strategies and performance were negatively predicted by anxiety, and were positively predicted by hope; metacognitive strategies positively predicted performance. Furthermore, the hypothesized mediated relations were also statistically significant. The interpretation of these findings, their implications for physics teaching and learning, and future lines of research are discussed. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 54:558–585, 2017
Extraction of Phospholipids from Egg Yolk Flakes Using Aqueous Alcohols
Authors: Wang Hui , Yao Linxing , Lee Show‐Ling , Wang Tong
Published: December 2016

Two alcohols, ethanol and butanol, with different water contents were evaluated for phospholipids (PL) sequential extraction from drum dried egg yolk flakes. It showed that butanol was more effective in extracting total yolk lipids compared to ethanol, but the PL in the extract had the same concentration as in the original yolk total lipid. The use of aqueous ethanol of 95 and 75% resulted in lipid extracts with higher PL concentration during the initial stages of the sequential extraction. When ethanol was further diluted to a concentration of 55%, the solvent lost its PL extraction ability, and the total lipid recovery also decreased dramatically. When both the PL purity and recovery were considered, 75% ethanol was the most effective aqueous alcohol for PL extraction and enrichment from the yolk flakes. In the first stage of extraction using such a solvent, 67% of the total PL in the original yolk was recovered in a lipid fraction with a PL purity of 75%. This study identified the optimal ethanol concentration for PL extraction from dried egg yolk. With this information, the best solid:solvent ratio can be designed to extract and enrich the polar lipids from lipid‐bearing materials with known moisture content using a renewable or “green” solvent, ethanol.
Targeted genome editing, an alternative tool for trait improvement in horticultural crops
Authors: Subburaj Saminathan , Tu Luhua , Jin Yong-Tae , Bae Sangsu , Seo Pil Joon , Jung Yu Jin , Lee Geung-Joo
Published: December 2016

Improving crops through plant breeding, an important approach for sustainable agriculture, has been utilized to increase the yield and quality of foods and other biomaterials for human use. Crops, including cereals, vegetables, ornamental flowers, fruits, and trees, have long been cultivated to produce high-quality products for human consumption. Conventional breeding technologies, such as natural cross-hybridization, mutation induction through physical or chemical mutagenesis, and modern transgenic tools are often used to enhance crop production. However, these breeding methods are sometimes laborious and complicated, especially when attempting to improve desired traits without inducing pleiotropic effects. Recently, targeted genome editing (TGE) technology using engineered nucleases, including meganucleases, zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) nucleases, has been used to improve the traits of economically important plants. TGE has emerged as a novel plant-breeding tool that represents an alternative approach to classical breeding, but with higher mutagenic efficiency. Here, we briefly describe the basic principles of TGE and the types of engineered nucleases utilized, along with their advantages and disadvantages. We also discuss their potential use to improve the traits of horticultural crops through genome engineering.
HiC‐3DViewer: a new tool to visualize Hi‐C data in 3D space
Authors: Djekidel Mohamed Nadhir , Wang Mengjie , Zhang Michael Q. , Gao Juntao
Published: December 2016

Background

Although significant progress has been made to map chromatin structure at unprecedented resolution and scales, we are short of tools that enable the intuitive visualization and navigation along the three‐dimensional (3D) structure of chromatins. The available tools people have so far are generally script‐based or present basic features that do not easily enable the integration of genomic data along with 3D chromatin structure, hence, many scientists find themselves in the obligation to hack tools designed for other purposes such as tools for protein structure study.

Methods

We present HiC‐3DViewer, a new browser‐based interactive tool designed to provide an intuitive environment for investigators to facilitate the 3D exploratory analysis of Hi‐C data along with many useful annotation functionalities. Among the key features of HiC‐3DViewer relevant to chromatin conformation studies, the most important one is the 1D‐to‐2D‐to‐3D mapping, to highlight genomic regions of interest interactively. This feature enables investigators to explore their data at different levels/angels. Additionally, investigators can superpose different genomic signals (such as ChIP‐Seq, SNP) on the top of the 3D structure.

Results

As a proof of principle we applied HiC‐3DViewer to investigate the quality of Hi‐C data and to show the spatial binding of GATA1 and GATA2 along the genome.

Conclusions

As a user‐friendly tool, HiC‐3DViewer enables the visualization of inter/intra‐chromatin interactions and gives users the flexibility to customize the look‐and‐feel of the 3D structure with a simple click. HiC‐3DViewer is implemented in Javascript and Python, and is freely available at: http://bioinfo.au.tsinghua.edu.cn/member/nadhir/HiC3DViewer/. Supplementary information (User Manual, demo data) is also available at this website.
Effect of platelet‐rich plasma on reconstruction with nerve autografts
Authors: Teymur Hakan , Tiftikcioglu Yigit Ozer , Cavusoglu Turker , Tiftikcioglu Bedile Irem , Erbas Oytun , Yigitturk Gurkan , Uyanikgil Yigit
Published: December 2016

Despite advances in understanding of peripheral nerve injuries and regeneration and advances in surgical techniques, successful outcomes cannot be guaranteed after reconstructive surgery. Platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) has been reported to have positive effects on nerve regeneration, as well as on tissue healing. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of PRP on nerve‐grafted defects. Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into four surgery groups (n= 7 in each). A 1‐cm long nerve defect was created in the upper thigh and then reconstructed using a nerve autograft in all groups. The wet muscle weights, electromyographic findings, and histomorphologic changes were evaluated 10 weeks later. As shown by both the electromyographic (p< 0.001) and histomorphologic findings (p< 0.001), PRP had more positive effects on nerve gap reconstruction in Group 3 then Group 4 as compared to the control groups. The present study is novel in that it evaluated the regeneration effect of PRP on a large nerve defect reconstructed with a nerve graft rather than primary repair. The results are encouraging for further experimental studies on the role of PRP in nerve healing.
Democracy without Solidarity: Political Dysfunction in Hard Times – Introduction to Special Issue
Authors: Jones Erik , Matthijs Matthias
Published: December 2016

Why do democratic institutions struggle to maintain their vitality and legitimacy in hard times? In this special issue ofGovernment and Opposition, we identify a loss of solidarity as the root cause of Western political dysfunction over the past decade. The argument is developed in four parts. The first part is theoretical insofar as it sketches the causal mechanism that describes what we mean by democratic dysfunction. Here we set out some of the key concepts that are central to our project. The second part is empirical insofar as it offers four negative illustrations of the fundamentalproblématique, which gives us the opportunity to suggest why this collection of research articles is relevant to the contemporary debate on democracy and its discontents. The third part explores the many possible sources of democratic dysfunction, which we have organized around two thematic clusters. Here we introduce the other articles in our special issue. The fourth and last part suggests implications of living in a democratic world with waning solidarity, allowing us to draw preliminary conclusions and suggest avenues for future research.
Qualitative Researchers, Heal (and Help) Thyself Too
Authors: Zickar Michael J.
Published: December 2016

A persistent lament by qualitative organizational researchers is that qualitative research is not published, published enough, cited enough, or valued by industrial–organizational (I-O) psychologists. Pratt and Bonaccio (2016) present convincing data that there has been an increase in the visibility of qualitative studies throughout many organizational research journals, though some of the flagship journals in I-O psychology are less receptive. Also, they present a series of suggestions that largely entail ways that journal editors and nonqualitative researchers can adapt their attitudes and behaviors to help qualitative research have more of an impact. I agree with those suggestions and think that they should be pursued. On the other hand, I was disappointed that none of the suggestions presented by Pratt and Bonaccio offered things that qualitative researchers might do to make their research more impactful to I-O psychologists. For qualitative research to have a bigger impact in the organizational literature, qualitative researchers need to make changes as well. In this short commentary, I propose three things that qualitative researchers might do to improve their impact within the field of I-O psychology.
Additional Suggestions for Breaking Barriers Against Qualitative Research in I-O
Authors: Fisher David M. , Narayan Anupama
Published: December 2016

In their focal article, Pratt and Bonaccio (2016) describe the potential value that qualitative research can bring to the field of industrial–organizational psychology (I-O) and also highlight several challenges (and myths) that must be overcome for this value to be fully realized. We agree with these authors, particularly with regard to the barriers that appear to stand in the way of fully integrating qualitative approaches with the science and practice of our field. Our purpose in this commentary is to build on the ideas of Pratt and Bonaccio by expanding the discussion of barriers against qualitative research. It is our view that further highlighting such barriers will illuminate several paths forward toward the increased adoption of qualitative methods, ideas, and approaches. More specifically, we focus on the following three barriers: (a) categorical thinking, (b) the uncertainty of that which is unknown, and (c) an overemphasis on generalizability in psychological research. We discuss each of these in turn below.
Comparing Rater Groups: How To Disentangle Rating Reliability From Construct-Level Disagreements
Authors: Viswesvaran Chockalingam , Ones Deniz S. , Schmidt Frank L.
Published: December 2016

In this commentary, we build on Bracken, Rose, and Church's (2016) definition stating that 360° feedback should involve “the analysis of meaningful comparisons of rater perceptions across multiple ratees, between specific groups of raters” (p. 764). Bracken et al. expand on this component of the definition later by stressing that “the ability to conduct meaningful comparisons of rater perceptions both between (inter) and within (intra) groups is central and, indeed, unique to any true 360° feedback process” (p. 767; italicized in their focal article). Bracken et al. stress that “This element of our definition acknowledges that 360° feedback data represent rater perceptions that may contradict each other while each being true and valid observations” (p. 767).
Holding Leaders Accountable During the 360° Feedback Process
Authors: Young Stephen F. , Gentry William A. , Braddy Phillip W.
Published: December 2016

We agree with Bracken, Rose, and Church (2016) and others that a critical design feature of any 360° feedback process is accountability, where the goal is “creation of sustainable individual, group, and/or organizational change in behaviors valued by the organization” (p. 764). Though we acknowledge the important roles that the organization and raters play in holding leaders accountable for their development, the goal of our commentary is to expand on how the leader's boss and other key individuals can serve as powerful sources of accountability in the 360° feedback process and throughout a leader's development journey. We also want to note that although the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) encourages leaders to share what they have learned from their 360° feedback with their bosses and other accountability partners (e.g., peers), it is the leader's choice as to whether he or she shares key feedback with others. This practice ensures confidentiality of the data, helping leaders trust the process and increasing the likelihood that individuals accept difficult feedback and use it for performance improvement (Fleenor, Taylor, & Chappelow, 2008; King & Santana, 2010).
The Evolution and Devolution of 360° Feedback
Authors: Bracken David W. , Rose Dale S. , Church Allan H.
Published: December 2016

In the 25+ years that the practice of 360° Feedback has been formally labeled and implemented, it has undergone many changes. Some of these have been positive (evolution) in advancing theory, research, and practice, and others less so (devolution). In this article we offer a new definition of 360° Feedback, summarize its history, discuss significant research and practice trends, and offer suggestions for all user communities (i.e., researchers, practitioners, and end users in organizations) moving forward. Our purpose is to bring new structure, discussion, and some degree of closure to key open issues in this important and enduring area of practice.
Collectivism-oriented HRM and individual creative contribution: The roles of value congruence and task interdependence
Authors: Chen Silu , Zhang Guanglei , Jiang Wanxing , Shi Shengping , Liu Tao
Published: December 2016

This study deals with the issue whether collectivism-oriented human resource management (HRM) system influences individual creative contribution to research teams in particular in an Asia-Pacific context. It is argued that, given certain environmental factors, such as high person-organization value congruence among team members and task interdependence, the collectivism-oriented HRM system should have a positive effect on individual creative contribution to the research teams. A multi-level theoretical model is proposed accordingly, which is then tested with data from 40 research teams and 168 individuals in Chinese universities. The results demonstrated that collectivism-oriented HRM helps to enhance individual creative contribution through the path of value congruence. Moreover, the relationship between value congruence and individual creative contribution was moderated by task interdependence. These findings offer novel insight into how an organization can develop its HRM system and improve individual creative contribution in research teams.
Plasma phylloquinone, menaquinone-4 and menaquinone-7 levels and coronary artery calcification
Authors: Torii S. , Ikari Y. , Tanabe K. , Kakuta T. , Hatori M. , Shioi A. , Okano T.
Published: December 2016

Vitamin K is considered to be involved in the pathological mechanisms of coronary artery calcification (CAC). Correlation between CAC and plasma vitamin K levels was studied. A total of 103 patients, with at least one coronary risk factor, were studied. CAC was measured using 64-slice multislice computed tomography (MSCT) and divided into three groups: none (CAC score = 0; n 25), mild to moderate (0 < CAC score < 400; n 52) and severe (CAC score > 400; n 26). Phylloquinone (PK) and menaquinone (MK)-4 and MK-7 were measured by HPLC-tandem MS. Mean age of patients was 64 (sd 13) years, of which 57 % were male. Median CAC score was 57·2. Median levels of PK, MK-4 and MK-7 were 1·33, 0 and 6·99 ng/ml, showing that MK-7 was the dominant vitamin K in this population. MK-7 showed a significant inverse correlation with uncarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC, P = 0·014), protein induced by vitamin K absence of antagonist-2 (PIVKA-2, P = 0·013), intact parathyroid hormone (P = 0·007) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (P = 0·018). CAC showed an inverse correlation with total circulating uncarboxylated matrix Gla protein (t-ucMGP, P = 0·018) and Hb (P = 0·05), and a positive correlation with age (P < 0·001), creatinine, collagen type 1 cross-linked N-terminal telopeptide (NTX, P = 0·03), pulse wave velocity (P < 0·001) and osteoprotegerin (P < 0·001). However, CAC did not have a significant correlation with plasma levels of PK, MK-4 or MK-7. In conclusion, plasma MK-7, MK-4 or PK level did not show significant correlation with CAC despite the association between plasma vitamin K levels and vitamin K-dependent proteins such as ucOC or PIVKA-2.
Efficacy of an SMS-Based Smoking Intervention Using Message Self-Authorship: A Pilot Study
Authors: DeStasio Krista L. , Hill Anne P. , Berkman Elliot T.
Published: December 2016

Introduction: Text-message-based interventions hold great potential for intervention and are increasingly feasible, given advances in information technology.

Aims: This pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to compare the efficacy of self-versus expert-authored content delivered via text-messaging for smoking cessation.

Methods: Sixty-two participants aged 25–66 attended laboratory sessions pre- and post-30 days of text-messaging intervention. Participants were randomised to one of two experimental conditions – self-authorship (SA) only and SA with implementation intentions (SA+ii) – or active control. Participants composed 30–60 brief motivational cessation messages for use during their cessation attempt. SA+ii participants were further instructed to anticipate obstacles and form simple if-then plans to overcome them. Experimental groups received their self-authored texts during the intervention phase, whereas control participants received expert-authored messages.

Results: Overall, smoking decreased as measured by change in exhaled carbon monoxide (CO), F(1,59) = 4.43, p = 0.04. The SA+ii group showed slightly greater CO reduction (M = 3.63, SD = 5.39) than control (M = 0.03, SD = 5.80; t(40) = 2.08, p = 0.04). SA alone (M = 1.97, SD = 9.30) was not more effective than control.

Conclusions: SA does not appear to increase efficacy. However, this pilot supports prior research, indicating that text-based interventions can increase smoking cessation success and may decrease psychological symptoms of withdrawal. Much research is needed to identify ways to bolster intervention efficacy.
When women attack
Authors: McLaughlin Bryan , Davis Catasha , Coppini David , Kim Young Mie , Knisely Sandra , McLeod Douglas
Published: December 2016

The common assumption that female candidates on the campaign trail should not go on the attack, because such tactics contradict gender stereotypes, has not received consistent support. We argue that in some circumstances gender stereotypes willfavorfemale politicians going negative. To test this proposition, this study examines how gender cues affect voter reactions to negative ads in the context of a political sex scandal, a context that should prime gender stereotypes that favor females. Using an online experiment involving a national sample of U.S. adults ($N=599$), we manipulate the gender and partisan affiliation of a politician who attacks a male opponent caught in a sex scandal involving sexually suggestive texting to a female intern. Results show that in the context of a sex scandal, a female candidate going on the attack is evaluated more positively than a male. Moreover, while female participants viewed the female sponsor more favorably, sponsor gender had no effect on male participants. Partisanship also influenced candidate evaluations: the Democratic female candidate was evaluated more favorably than her Republican female counterpart.
The voyage of a navigator
Authors: Tripp Hollie L.
Published: December 2016

North Carolina, a federally facilitated marketplace under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), stumbled in 2013 when opening its health-insurance exchange. Trouble was easy to foresee, as North Carolina had instituted a law barring any state agency from assisting enrollment in health-insurance plans made available through the ACA. Trained workers were needed to help citizens and legal immigrants “navigate” to these plans. Some of these “navigators” could be paid with federal funds, but many others had to work as volunteers. I was one of these volunteer navigators. Much went wrong in training, staffing, and operations, but much still was accomplished. Here I report observations, share assessments, and offer suggestions for similarly complex situations.
State responses to biotechnology
Authors: Harris Rebecca C.
Published: December 2016

This article reviews biotechnology legislation in the 50 states for 11 policy areas spanning 1990–2010, an era of immense growth in biotechnology, genetic knowledge, and significant policy development. Policies regarding health insurance, life insurance, long-term care insurance, DNA data bank collection, biotech research protection, biotech promotion and support, employment discrimination, genetic counselor licensing, human cloning, and genetic privacy each represent major policy responses arising from biotechnology and coinciding with key areas of state regulation (insurance, criminal justice, economic development, labor law, health and safety, privacy, and property rights). This analysis seeks to answer three questions regarding biotechnology legislation at the state level: who is acting (policy adoption), when is policy adopted (policy timing), and what is policy doing (policy content). Theoretical concerns examine state ideology (conservative or liberal), policy type (economic or moral), and the role of external events (federal law, news events, etc.) on state policy adoption. Findings suggest ideological patterns in adoption, timing, and content of biotech policy. Findings also suggest economic policies tend to be more uniform in content than moral policies, and findings also document a clear link between federal policy development, external events, and state policy response.
Reproductive policy and the social construction of motherhood
Authors: Stabile Bonnie
Published: December 2016

Background. Reproductive technologies allow women to embrace or forgo motherhood, but a woman’s ability to make autonomous reproductive choices depends on access to these technologies. In the United States, public policies — laws, regulations, appropriations, and rulings — have either broadened or narrowed this access.

Question. Have U.S. public policies affecting reproductive choices conformed to attitudinal distinctions about motherhood itself?

Methods. I identified policies covering infertility, contraception, and abortion and examined them contextually within the Ingram-Schneider social construction framework.

Findings. Women’s choices fell within social construction quadrants as being positively portrayed and powerful; negatively portrayed but powerful; positively portrayed but powerless; and negatively portrayed and powerless. Married heterosexual women embracing motherhood were likely to be viewed positively and to reap benefits. Women forgoing motherhood, poor women, and women seeking to form nontraditional families were likely to be viewed negatively and to bear burdens; critical among these burdens was restriction of access to technologies that could be used to support a decision to avoid motherhood or to achieve motherhood through nontraditional methods.

Conclusion. Yes, U.S. public policies affecting reproductive choices have conformed to attitudinal distinctions about motherhood itself. These policies may also have altered those choices.
Disinformation squared: Was the HIV-from-Fort-Detrick myth a Stasi Success? — CORRIGENDUM
Authors: Geissler Erhard , Sprinkle Robert Hunt
Published: December 2016

Doi:10.2990/32_2_2, published by Association for Politics and the Life Sciences at Texas Tech University and the University of Maryland School of Public Policy, October 2013.
On recent advances in human engineering
Authors: Anton Roman
Published: December 2016

Advances in embryology, genetics, and regenerative medicine regularly attract attention from scientists, scholars, journalists, and policymakers, yet implications of these advances may be broader than commonly supposed. Laboratories culturing human embryos, editing human genes, and creating human-animal chimeras have been working along lines that are now becoming intertwined. Embryogenic methods are weaving traditionalin vivoandin vitrodistinctions into a new “in vivitro” (in life in glass) fabric. These and other methods known to be in use or thought to be in development promise soon to bring society to startling choices and discomfiting predicaments, all in a global effort to supply reliably rejuvenating stem cells, to grow immunologically nonprovocative replacement organs, and to prevent, treat, cure, or even someday eradicate diseases having genetic or epigenetic mechanisms. With humanity’s human-engineering era now begun, procedural prohibitions, funding restrictions, institutional controls, and transparency rules are proving ineffective, and business incentives are migrating into the most basic life-sciences inquiries, wherein lie huge biomedical potentials and bioethical risks. Rights, health, and heritage are coming into play with bioethical presumptions and formal protections urgently needing reassessment.
Demographic variation in how the social brain processes news messages
Authors: van Driel Irene Ingeborg , Grabe Maria Elizabeth , Bas Ozen , Kleemans Mariska
Published: December 2016

A high capacity for visual perception distinguishesHomo sapiensfrom other primates. This human ability to detect social cues and retain visual records of social networks has been tested mostly with static facial images in laboratory settings. However, media consumption has become closely entangled with the way social life is navigated. Therefore, the study reported here tested demographic differences (gender and education) in visual information processing of social and nonsocial objects featured in audiovisual news content. Women recognized(accuracy)and recalled(salience)social images better than men. On the other hand, men were more skilled at recognizing, but not recalling, nonsocial images. Participants with lower educational levels recognized and recalled fewer images than individuals with higher educational levels. Interactions between demographic variables and time suggest that memory records for social images are more stable than those for nonsocial images. Memory may have survival-relevant importance, serving navigational functions that vary across environmental demands, resulting in differences across demographic groups.
Shaking the tyrant’s bloody robe
Authors: Kiper Jordan , Sosis Richard
Published: December 2016

Group violence, despite much study, remains enigmatic. Its forms are numerous, its proximate causes myriad, and the interrelation of its forms and proximate causes poorly understood. We review its evolution, including preadaptations and selected propensities, and its putative environmental and psychological triggers. We then reconsider one of its forms, ethnoreligious violence, in light of recent discoveries in the behavioral and brain sciences. We find ethnoreligious violence to be characterized by identity fusion and by manipulation of religious traditions, symbols, and systems. We conclude by examining the confluence of causes and characteristics before and during Yugoslavia’s wars of disintegration.
Evidence for marine redox control on spatial colonization of early animals during Cambrian Age 3 (c. 521–514 Ma) in South China
Authors: JIN CHENGSHENG , LI CHAO , ALGEO THOMAS J. , CHENG MENG , LEI LIDAN , ZHANG ZIHU , SHI WEI
Published: December 2016

The early Cambrian Period was a key interval in Earth history with regard to changes in both ocean chemistry and animal evolution. Although increasing ocean ventilation has been widely assumed to have played a key role in the rapid appearance, diversification and spatial colonization of early animals, this relationship is in fact not firmly established. Here, we report a high-resolution Fe-C-S-Al-Ti geochemical study of the lower Cambrian Wangjiaping section from an outer-shelf setting of the Yangtze Sea of South China. Iron speciation data document a redox transition from dominantly euxinic to ferruginous conditions during Cambrian Age 3 (c. 521–514 Ma). Interpretation of coexisting pyrite sulphur isotope (δ34Spy) records from Wangjiaping reveals relatively high marine sulphate availability at Wangjiaping. Furthermore, Wangjiaping section shows lower δ34Spy (‒2.1±5.3‰) and lower TOC (2.4±1.1%) values but higher positive correlation (R2 = 0.66, p < 0.01) between TOC and Fepy/FeHR relative to deeper sections reported previously, suggesting that euxinia developed at Wangjiaping in response to increasing marine productivity and organic matter-sinking fluxes. Our reconstructed redox conditions and fossils at Wangjiaping in comparison with previously well-studied strata in the inner-shelf Xiaotan and Shatan sections suggest that planktonic and benthic planktonic trilobites with bioturbation appeared in the oxic water columns, whereas only planktonic trilobites without bioturbation occurred within the anoxic (even euxinic) water columns during Cambrian Age 3. This finding indicates that spatial heterogeneity of redox conditions in the shelves had an important effect on early animal distribution in the Yangtze Block.
ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE TOWARDS CONSANGUINEOUS MARRIAGES AMONG A COHORT OF MULTIETHNIC HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IN SAUDI ARABIA
Authors: Alnaqeb Dhekra , Hamamy Hanan , Youssef Amira M. , Al-Rubeaan Khalid
Published: December 2016

This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitude and practice related to consanguinity among multiethnic health care providers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Using a cross-sectional study design, a validated, self-administered close-ended questionnaire was randomly distributed to health care providers in different health institutions in the country between 1st August 2012 and 31st July 2013. A total of 1235 health care providers completed the study questionnaire. Of the 892 married participants (72.23% of total), 11.43% were married to a first cousin, and were predominantly Arabs, younger than 40 years and male. Only 17.80% of the patients seen by the health care providers requested consanguinity related counselling. A knowledge barrier was expressed by 27.49% of the participants, and 85.67% indicated their willingness to have more training in basic genetic counselling. A language barrier was expressed as a limiting factor to counselling for consanguinity among non-Arabs. The health care providers had a major dearth of knowledge that was reflected in their attitude and practice towards consanguinity counselling. This finding indicates the need for more undergraduate and postgraduate medical and nursing education and training in the counselling of consanguineous couples. It is recommended that consanguinity counselling is included in the current premarital screening and counselling programmes in the Kingdom.
Cash Holdings, Competition, and Innovation
Authors: Lyandres Evgeny , Palazzo Berardino
Published: December 2016

We demonstrate theoretically and empirically that strategic considerations are important in shaping the cash policies of innovative firms. In our model, firms compete in product markets with uncertain structure using cash as a commitment device to invest in innovation. We show that firms’ equilibrium cash holdings are related to the expected intensity of competition. The sign and magnitude of this relation depends on firms’ financial constraints. Consistent with the strategic motive for hoarding cash, we show that firms’ cash holdings are negatively affected by their rivals’ cash-holding choices, even more so when competition is expected to be intense.