bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DNA methylation and histone H1 cooperatively repress transposable elements and aberrant intragenic transcripts
Authors: Choi Jaemyung , Lyons David B. , Yvonne Kim M. , Moore Jonathan D. , Zilberman Daniel
Published: January 2019

DNA methylation and histone H1 mediate transcriptional silencing of genes and transposable elements, but how they interact is unclear. In plants and animals with mosaic genomic methylation, functionally mysterious methylation is also common within constitutively active housekeeping genes. Here we show that H1 is enriched in methylated sequences, including genes, ofArabidopsis thaliana, yet this enrichment is independent of DNA methylation. Loss of H1 disperses heterochromatin, globally alters nucleosome organization, and activates H1-bound genes, but only weakly de-represses transposable elements. However, H1 loss strongly activates transposable elements hypomethylated through mutation of DNA methyltransferaseMET1. Loss of H1 also activates antisense transcripts within demethylated genes. Our results demonstrate that H1 and DNA methylation cooperatively maintain transcriptional homeostasis by silencing transposable elements and aberrant intragenic transcripts. Such functionality plausibly explains why DNA methylation, a well-known mutagen, has been maintained within coding sequences of crucial plant and animal genes.

Highlights

Histone H1 is enriched in methylated DNA independently of methylation

Loss of H1 activates genes, alters nucleosome organization and disperses heterochromatin

DNA methylation and H1 jointly silence transposons

DNA methylation and H1 cooperatively suppress intragenic antisense transcripts
The Glossina Genome Cluster: Comparative Genomic Analysis of the Vectors of African Trypanosomes
Authors: Attardo Geoffrey Michael , Abd-Alla Adly M.M. , Acosta-Serrano Alvaro , Allen James E , Bateta Rosemary , Benoit Joshua , Bourtzis Kostas , Caers Jelle , Caljon Guy , Christensen Mikkel B. , Farrow David W. , Friedrich Markus , Hua-Van Aurélie , Jennings Emily C. , Larkin Denis M , Lawson Daniel , Lehane Michael J. , Lenis Vasileios P. , Lowy-Gallego Ernesto , Macharia Rosaline W. , Malacrida Anna R. , Marco Heather G. , Masiga Daniel , Maslen Gareth L. , Matetovici Irina , Meisel Richard P. , Meki Irene , Michalkova Veronika , Miller Wolfgang J. , Minx Patrick , Mireji Paul O. , Ometto Lino , Parker Andrew G. , Rio Rita , Rose Clair , Rosendale Andrew J. , Rota Stabelli Omar , Savini Grazia , Schoofs Liliane , Scolari Francesca , Swain Martin T. , Takáč Peter , Tomlinson Chad , Tsiamis George , Van Den Abbeele Jan , Vigneron Aurélien , Wang Jingwen , Warren Wesley C. , Waterhouse Robert M. , Weirauch Matthew T. , Weiss Brian L. , Wilson Richard K. , Zhao Xin , Aksoy Serap
Published: January 2019

Background: Tsetse flies (Glossina sp.) are the sole vectors of human and animal trypanosomiasis throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Tsetse are distinguished from other Diptera by unique adaptations, including lactation and the birthing of live young (obligate viviparity), a vertebrate blood specific diet by both sexes and obligate bacterial symbiosis. This work describes comparative analysis of six Glossina genomes representing three sub-genera: Morsitans (G. morsitans morsitans (G.m. morsitans), G. pallidipes, G. austeni), Palpalis (G. palpalis, G. fuscipes) and Fusca (G. brevipalpis) which represent different habitats, host preferences and vectorial capacity. Results: Genomic analyses validate established evolutionary relationships and sub-genera. Syntenic analysis of Glossina relative to Drosophila melanogaster shows reduced structural conservation across the sex-linked X chromosome. Sex linked scaffolds show increased rates of female specific gene expression and lower evolutionary rates relative to autosome associated genes. Tsetse specific genes are enriched in protease, odorant binding and helicase activities. Lactation associated genes are conserved across all Glossina species while male seminal proteins are rapidly evolving. Olfactory and gustatory genes are reduced across the genus relative to other characterized insects. Vision associated Rhodopsin genes show conservation of motion detection/tracking functions and significant variance in the Rhodopsin detecting colors in the blue wavelength ranges. Conclusions: Expanded genomic discoveries reveal the genetics underlying Glossina biology and provide a rich body of knowledge for basic science and disease control. They also provide insight into the evolutionary biology underlying novel adaptations and are relevant to applied aspects of vector control such as trap design and discovery of novel pest and disease control strategies.
Long-term potentiation in neurogliaform cells modulates excitation-inhibition balance in the temporoammonic pathway
Authors: Mercier Marion S. , Magloire Vincent , Cornford Jonathan H. , Kullmann Dimitri M.
Published: January 2019

Apical dendrites of pyramidal neurons integrate information from higher-order cortex and thalamus, and gate signaling and plasticity at proximal synapses. In the hippocampus, neurogliaform cells and other interneurons located within stratum lacunosum-moleculare mediate powerful inhibition of CA1 pyramidal neuron distal dendrites. Is the recruitment of such inhibition itself subject to use-dependent plasticity, and if so, what induction rules apply? Here we show that interneurons in mouse stratum lacunosum-moleculare exhibit Hebbian NMDA receptor-dependent long-term potentiation (LTP). Such plasticity can be induced by selective optogenetic stimulation of afferent fibers in the temporoammonic pathway from the entorhinal cortex, but not by equivalent stimulation of afferents from the thalamic nucleus reuniens. We further show that theta-burst patterns of afferent firing induces LTP in neurogliaform interneurons identified using neuron-derived neurotrophic factor (Ndnf)-Cre mice. Theta-burst activity of entorhinal cortex afferents led to an increase in disynaptic feed-forward inhibition, but not monosynaptic excitation, of CA1 pyramidal neurons. Activity-dependent synaptic plasticity of neurogliaform cells in stratum lacunosum-moleculare thus alters the excitation-inhibition balance at entorhinal cortex inputs to the apical dendrites of pyramidal neurons, implying a dynamic role for these interneurons in gating CA1 dendritic computations.

Significance statement

Electrogenic phenomena in distal dendrites of principal neurons in the hippocampus have a major role in gating synaptic plasticity at afferent synapses on proximal dendrites. Apical dendrites also receive powerful feed-forward inhibition mediated in large part by neurogliaform neurons. Here we show that theta-burst activity in afferents from the entorhinal cortex induces ‘Hebbian’ long-term potentiation at excitatory synapses recruiting these GABAergic cells. Such LTP increases disynaptic inhibition of principal neurons, thus shifting the excitation-inhibition balance in the temporoammonic pathway in favor of inhibition, with implications for computations and learning rules in proximal dendrites.
Selective inhibition of HDAC3 targets synthetic vulnerabilities and activates immune surveillance in lymphoma
Authors: Mondello Patrizia , Tadros Saber , Teater Matt , Fontan Lorena , Chang Aaron Y. , Jain Neeraj , Singh Shailbala , Ma Man Chun John , Yang Haopeng , Toska Eneda , Alig Stefan , Durant Matthew , Stanchina Elisa de , Mottok Anja , Nastoupil Loretta , Neelapu Sattva , Weigert Oliver , Inghirami Giorgio , Baselga Josè , Dhogan Ahmet , Younes Anas , Yee Cassian , Scheinberg David A. , Melnick Ari , Green Michael R.
Published: January 2019

CREBBP mutations are highly recurrent in B-cell lymphomas and either inactivate its histone acetyltransferase (HAT) domain or truncate the protein. Herein, we show that these two classes of mutations yield different degrees of disruption of the epigenome, with HAT mutations being more severe and associated with inferior clinical outcome. Genes perturbed by CREBBP mutation are direct targets of the BCL6/HDAC3 onco-repressor complex. Accordingly, we show that HDAC3 selective inhibitors fully reverse CREBBP mutant aberrant epigenetic programming resulting in: a) growth inhibition of lymphoma cells through induction of BCL6 target genes such as CDKN1A and b) restoration of immune surveillance due to induction of BCL6 repressed IFN pathway and antigen presentation genes. By reactivating these genes, exposure to HDAC3-i restored the ability of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes to kill DLBCL cells in an MHC II and MHC I dependent manner. Hence HDAC3-i represent a novel mechanism-based immune-epigenetic therapy for CREBBP mutant lymphomas.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

We have leveraged the molecular characterization of different types of CREBBP mutations to define a rational approach for targeting these mutations through selective inhibition of HDAC3. This represents an attractive therapeutic avenue for targeting synthetic vulnerabilities in CREBBP mutant cells in tandem with promoting anti-tumor immunity.
Quality of Whole Genome Sequencing from Blood versus Saliva Derived DNA in Cardiac Patients
Authors: Yao Roderick A. , Akinrinade Oyediran , Chaix Marie , Mital Seema
Published: January 2019

Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) is becoming an increasingly important tool for detecting genomic variation. Blood derived DNA is the current standard for WGS for research or clinical purposes. We compared the level of microbial contamination, sequencing coverage, as well as yield and concordance of single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and copy number variant (CNV) calls in WGS from paired blood and saliva samples from 5 pediatric heart disease patients. We found that although saliva samples contained a higher proportion of sequence reads that map to the human oral microbiome, these reads were readily excluded by mapping the reads to the human reference genome. Sequencing coverage was low only in 1 of 5 saliva samples. Over 95% SNPs (including rare SNPs) but <80% CNVs called in blood genomes were detected in paired saliva genomes. These findings suggest that most good quality saliva samples can serve as an alternative to blood samples for detection of sequence variants from WGS in cardiovascular disease patients.
Redating of the To’aga site (Ofu Island, Manu’a) and a revised chronology for the Lapita to Polynesian Plainware transition in Tonga and Samoa
Authors: Petchey Fiona , Kirch Patrick V.
Published: January 2019

Radiocarbon dating Pacific archaeological sites is fraught with difficulties. Often situated in coastal beach ridges or sand dunes, sites exhibit horizontal and vertical disturbances, while datable materials such as wood charcoal are typically highly degraded, or derived from old trees or drift wood and bone collagen rarely survives in the tropical conditions. Shell, therefore, is the most logical material for dating Pacific sites since it is resistant to alteration, can be sampled to ensure only the last few seasons of growth are represented and is often closely tied to human economic activities. However, shell radiocarbon (14C) dating has been plagued by interpretive problems largely due to our limited knowledge of the 14C cycle in near shore marine and estuarine environments. Consequently, shell dates are typically ignored in regional chronometric evaluations and often avoided for dating altogether. Recent advances in our understanding of the source of shell 14C content as well as the development of the first South Pacific Gyre model of changing marine 14C over time, combined with Bayesian statistical modelling, have now provided us with insight into the value of these shell radiocarbon dates, enabling a revision of the age of the To’aga site on Ofu Island, an early occupation site associated with the initial Polynesian Plainware period in Samoa, the earliest use of which is now dated to between 2782 and 2667 cal BP.
A glucose-dependent spatial patterning of exocytosis in human β-cells is disrupted in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Fu Jianyang , Githaka John Maringa , Dai Xiaoqing , Plummer Gregory , Suzuki Kunimasa , Spigelman Aliya F. , Bautista Austin , Kim Ryekjang , Greitzer-Antes Dafna , Fox Jocelyn E Manning , Gaisano Herbert Y. , MacDonald Patrick E
Published: February 2019

Impaired insulin secretion in type 2 diabetes (T2D) is linked to reduced insulin granule docking, disorganization of the exocytotic site, and an impaired glucose-dependent facilitation of insulin exocytosis. We show in β-cells from 80 human donors that the glucose-dependent amplification of exocytosis is disrupted in T2D. Spatial analyses of granule fusion events, visualized by total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy, demonstrate that these are non-random across the surface of β-cells from donors with no diabetes (ND). The compartmentalization of events occurs within regions defined by concurrent or recent membrane-resident secretory granules. This organization, and the number of membrane-associated granules, is glucose-dependent and notably impaired in T2D β-cells. Mechanistically, multi-channel Kv2.1 clusters contribute to maintaining the density of membrane-resident granules and the number of fusion ‘hot spots’, while SUMOylation sites at the channel N-(K145) and C-terminus (K470) determine the relative proportion of fusion events occurring within these regions. Thus, a glucose-dependent compartmentalization of fusion, regulated in part by a structural role for Kv2.1, is disrupted in β-cells from donors with type 2 diabetes.

HIGHLIGHTS

Exocytosis of secretory granules is non-random across the surface of human β-cells, and this organization is disrupted in type 2 diabetes.

Increasing glucose facilitates the spatial compartmentalization of fusion, independent of an overall increase in event frequency.

Compartmentalized ‘hot spots’ occur at sites marked by membrane-associated granules, the density of which is regulated in part by a clustered K+ channel (Kv2.1).

SUMOylation status of the channel controls the proportion of events that occur within these local regions.
Modulating the human functional connectome using deep brain stimulation
Authors: Horn Andreas , Wenzel Gregor , Irmen Friederike , Hübl Julius , Li Ningfei , Neumann Wolf-Julian , Krause Patricia , Bohner Georg , Scheel Michael , Kühn Andrea A.
Published: February 2019

Neuroimaging has seen a paradigm shift from a formal description of local activity patterns toward studying distributed brain networks. The recently defined framework of the ‘human connectome’ allows to globally analyse parts of the brain and their interconnections. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an invasive therapy for patients with severe movement disorders aiming to retune abnormal brain network activity by local high frequency stimulation of the basal ganglia. Beyond clinical utility, DBS represents a powerful research platform to study functional connectomics and the modulation of distributed brain networks in the human brain. We acquired resting-state functional MRI in twenty Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients with subthalamic DBS switched ON and OFF. An age-matched control cohort of fifteen subjects was acquired from an open data repository. DBS lead placement in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) was localized using a state-of-the art pipeline that involved brain shift correction, multispectral image registration and use of a precise subcortical atlas. Based on a realistic 3D model of the electrode and surrounding anatomy, the amount of local impact of DBS was estimated using a finite element method approach. On a global level, average connectivity increases and decreases throughout the brain were estimated by contrasting ON and OFF DBS scans on a voxel-wise graph comprising eight thousand nodes. Local impact of DBS on the sensorimotor STN explained half the variance in global connectivity increases within the sensorimotor network (R = 0.711, p < 0.001). Moreover, local impact of DBS on the motor STN could explain the degree of how much voxel-wise average brain connectivity normalized toward healthy controls (R = 0.713, p < 0.001). Finally, a network based statistics analysis revealed that DBS attenuated specific couplings that are known to be pathological in PD. Namely, coupling between motor thalamus and sensorimotor cortex was increased and striatal coupling with cerebellum, external pallidum and STN was decreased by DBS.

Our results show that rs-fMRI may be acquired in DBS ON and OFF conditions on clinical MRI hardware and that data is useful to gain additional insight into how DBS modulates the functional connectome of the human brain. We demonstrate that effective DBS increases overall connectivity in the motor network, normalizes the network profile toward healthy controls and specifically strengthens thalamo-cortical connectivity while reducing striatal control over basal ganglia and cerebellar structures.
Missense variants in NOX1 and p22phox in a case of very-early-onset inflammatory bowel disease are functionally linked to NOD2
Authors: Lipinski Simone , Petersen Britt-Sabina , Barann Matthias , Piecyk Agnes , Tran Florian , Mayr Gabriele , Jentzsch Marlene , Aden Konrad , Stengel Stephanie T. , Klostermeier Ulrich C. , Sheth Vrunda , Ellinghaus David , Rausch Tobias , Korbel Jan O. , Nothnagel Michael , Krawczak Michael , Gilissen Christian , Veltman Joris A. , Forster Michael , Forster Peter , Lee Clarence C. , Fritscher-Ravens Annette , Schreiber Stefan , Franke Andre , Rosenstiel Philip
Published: February 2019

Whole-genome and whole-exome sequencing of individual patients allow the study of rare and potentially causative genetic variation. In this study, we sequenced DNA of a trio comprising a boy with very-early-onset inflammatory bowel disease (veoIBD) and his unaffected parents. We identified a rare, X-linked missense variant in the NAPDH oxidase NOX1 gene (c.C721T, p.R241C) in heterozygous state in the mother and in hemizygous state in the patient. We discovered that, in addition, the patient was homozygous for a common missense variant in the CYBA gene (c.T214C, p.Y72H). CYBA encodes the p22phox protein, a cofactor for NOX1. Functional assays revealed reduced cellular ROS generation and antibacterial capacity of NOX1 and p22phox variants in intestinal epithelial cells. Moreover, the identified NADPH oxidase complex variants affected NOD2-mediated immune responses, and p22phox was identified as a novel NOD2 interactor. In conclusion, we detected missense variants in a veoIBD patient that disrupt the host response to bacterial challenges and reduce protective innate immune signaling via NOD2. We assume that the patient's individual genetic makeup favored disturbed intestinal mucosal barrier function.
Hematologic malignancies and Li–Fraumeni syndrome
Authors: Swaminathan Mahesh , Bannon Sarah A. , Routbort Mark , Naqvi Kiran , Kadia Tapan M. , Takahashi Koichi , Alvarado Yesid , Ravandi-Kashani Farhad , Patel Keyur P. , Champlin Richard , Kantarjian Hagop , Strong Louise , DiNardo Courtney D.
Published: February 2019

Li–Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is an autosomal dominant condition associated with a high risk of a broad range of childhood- and adult-onset cancers. LFS is related to germline mutations of the tumor-suppressor gene TP53. The most common reported leukemia associated with LFS is hypodiploid acute lymphoblastic leukemia, but myeloid malignancies including acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic myeloid leukemia, and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) are also reported, often in the setting of therapy-related disease. We reviewed the clinicopathologic characteristics including cytogenetics and molecular analysis for seven adult patients with LFS and hematologic malignancies evaluated at the Hereditary Hematologic Malignancy Clinic (HHMC) at MD Anderson Cancer Center. We present this LFS review series to increase awareness of LFS for the appropriate diagnosis of both patients and potentially affected relatives, as well as provide experience with patient outcomes in this difficult to treat population.
How to Win the Battle with RNase
Authors: Green Michael R. , Sambrook Joseph
Published: February 2019

Because ribose residues carry hydroxyl groups in both the 2′ and 3′ positions, RNA is chemically much more reactive than DNA and is easy prey to cleavage by contaminating RNases—enzymes with various specificities that share the property of hydrolyzing diester bonds linking phosphate and ribose residues. Because RNases are released from cells following lysis and are present on the skin, constant vigilance is required to prevent contamination of glassware and bench tops and the creation of aerosols carrying RNase. The problem is compounded because there is no simple method to inactivate RNases. Because of the presence of intrachain disulfide bonds, many RNases are resistant to prolonged boiling and mild denaturants and are able to refold quickly when denatured. Unlike many DNases, RNases do not require divalent cations for activity and thus cannot be easily inactivated by the inclusion of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) or other metal ion chelators in buffer solutions. The best way to prevent problems with RNase is to avoid contamination in the first place.
Improving customer satisfaction of a healthcare facility: reading the customers’ needs
Authors: Gonzalez Marvin E.
Published: January 2019

Purpose

Customer satisfaction refers to the extent to which customers are happy and satisfied with the products and services provided by a business. The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to integrate lean tools in the analysis of customer satisfaction and, second, to examine its implications for research and practice.

Design/methodology/approach

The author proposes the combination of three lean tools in order to design a service quality system that has customer expectations (CEs) as the first input. These tools are quality function deployment (QFD), Hoshin Kanri planning process (HKPP) and benchmarking. The author uses a case study to show the functionality of these tools and the final design of a service quality system for a medical center.

Findings

Interaction between the service provider and the customer is the primary core activity for service-oriented businesses of different natures. A key relationship between trust in service quality and customer satisfaction cannot be ignored in interpersonal-based service encounters. However, there is a gap in the literature in terms of standardized lean-based procedures or methodologies that lead to improved customer satisfaction that are based directly on CEs.

Research limitations/implications

Given the variety of the population, the authors developed several methodologies to standardize the customer responses. Using several total quality management tools, the standardization allows the authors to separate the different CEs. The gathering of customers’ expectations (voice of the customers) allows the companies to focus on the real problems expressed by the users of the service, increasing their loyalty and, most importantly in the field under study, the customer’s satisfaction with the service received.

Practical implications

For practitioners, this study helps with the use of lean tools such as QFD, benchmarking and HKPP and attempts to bridge such a gap with an evidence-based real case.

Social implications

With the incorporation of all the customer needs, additional elements must be considered in the design of new services. Availability for all and sustainability play an important part of the CEs.

Originality/value

This paper presents a real application of QFD and Hoshin Kanri and how they may help the service organizations with future development.
Benchmarking the strategic roles of the project management office (PMO) when developing business ecosystems
Authors: Sandhu Maqsood Ahmad , Al Ameri Tareq Zayed , Wikström Kim
Published: January 2019

Purpose

Projects are an inherent part of implementing strategies. Still, the challenge is to connect a long-term strategy for larger ecosystem development to the individual projects being undertaken. The purpose of this paper is to test the ability of seven project management office (PMO) roles to achieve strategic planning in large society development public organisations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Design/methodology/approach

The questionnaire survey that was employed for data collected from 450 project members in 19 project-based public organisations having PMO unit had a response rate of 60 per cent. The received data analysed quantitatively by using multiple regression.

Findings

The survey data revealed that PMO enhanced the achievement of the strategic plan for better development of the business ecosystem. The analysis outputs, as expected, have indicated that 95 per cent of the targeted organisations established their own PMO for developing business ecosystem.

Research limitations/implications

Despite there are PMOs hosted by private organisations, the study is limited to the PMO within the context of the government and semi-government organisations in the UAE.

Practical implications

These findings further utilised in developing the conceptual PMO model that would be flexible to be applied to similar project management methodology in various business settings, as well as pave the way for further scholarly investigations.

Originality/value

This work is both exploratory and causal study, which concentrates on investigating the effectiveness of seven proposed PMO roles (as independent variables) in carrying out the strategic plan (as the dependent variable) of the public-sector organisations in the UAE for the development of business ecosystem.
An empirical study on productivity analysis of Indian leather industry
Authors: Gupta Sandeep Kumar , Gupta Shivam , Dhamija Pavitra
Published: January 2019

Purpose

It is essential to track the development of resource and pollution intensive industries such as textile, leather, pharmaceutical, etc., under burgeoning pressure of environmental compliance. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to analyze the progress of Indian leather industry in terms of individual factors and total factor productivity.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applies and examines the various concepts of productivity such as labor productivity, capital productivity, material productivity and energy productivity. Further, it assesses and compares the performance of Indian leather industry in Tamil Nadu (TN), West Bengal (WB) and Uttar Pradesh (UP) based on productivity analysis, spatial variations determinants in productivity and technology closeness ratio.

Findings

The findings suggest that as per the productivity analysis, WB leather clusters have performed remarkably better in terms of partial factor productivity and technical efficiency (TE), followed by TN and UP. This can be attributed to shifting of leather cluster of WB to a state-of art leather complex with many avenues for resource conservation. Further, the findings reveal that the firm size and partial factor productivities have significant positive correlation with TE which supports technological theory of the firm.

Practical implications

The results of this study can be useful for the policy makers associated with the Indian leather industry especially to design interventions to support capacity building at individual firm level as well as cluster level to enhance the efficiency and productivity of overall industry.

Social implications

The findings also support the resource dependence theory of firm according to which the larger size firms should reflect on resource conservation practices, for instance the concept of prevention is better than cure based upon 3R (reduce, recycle and reuse) principles.

Originality/value

The paper gives an explanation of the productivity in the leather industry in terms of its factor productivity and TE.
An empirical investigation on lean production system framework in the Indian manufacturing industry
Authors: Jasti Naga Vamsi Krishna , Kodali Rambabu
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to verify the applicability of proposed lean production system (LPS) framework in the Indian manufacturing industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a cross-sectional study to collect responses from five major sectors, namely, automobile, process, machines and equipment, electronics and components and textile. They collected 200 responses to perform empirical validation from Indian manufacturing industry. They performed reliability analysis on the proposed framework of LPS in the Indian manufacturing industry.

Findings

The findings revealed that all the elements and sub-elements have a high value in reliability. Subsequently, the study performed principles component analysis on LPS framework. The empirical investigation revealed that the proposed LPS framework has a high level of reliability as well as validity in the Indian manufacturing industry. Hence, the study concluded that the LPS framework is helpful to implement lean principles in a structured manner in any Indian manufacturing industry to achieve excellence in organizational functions.

Originality/value

The authors conducted an empirical survey to verify the applicability of the proposed LPS framework in the Indian manufacturing industry. They observed that many researchers proposed various LPS frameworks, but none of the researchers focused on verifying the proposed frameworks. To overcome, the same limitations, the study verified the proposed framework with the larger sample size.
Which personal values matter most? Job performance and job satisfaction across job categories
Authors: Ismail Hussein N. , Karkoulian Silva , Kertechian Sevag K.
Published: January 2019

Purpose

As one of the first studies in this field, the purpose of this paper is to explore the effect of personal values on job performance and job satisfaction across different jobs. Further, it aims to identify personal value types that are positively, or negatively, related to behavioural and attitudinal outcomes in different job categories.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a sample of 270 participants across several job categories including finance, accounting, marketing, sales, HR (human resources), operations and information technology (IT), this research explores the relationship between personal values, job performance and job satisfaction across the listed job categories. Ordinary least square (OLS) stepwise-regression and partial least square (PLS) regression were used in analysing the results.

Findings

Findings showed that for some of the jobs examined, different types of personal values were associated with different worker outcomes.

Originality/value

This research study identifies sets of personal values that are suited to some jobs more than others in terms of job performance and job satisfaction outcomes. Moreover, this research demonstrates the importance of controlling for job categories in future research models that investigate the links between values, performance and satisfaction.
Assessment of academic stress and coping strategies among built environment undergraduate students in Nigerian higher education
Authors: Dada Joshua Oluwasuji , Babatunde Solomon Olusola , Adeleye Racheal Oluwatoyin
Published: January 2019

Purpose

Stress has become an important topic in the academic environment. However, studies on academic stress among built environment students have received little attention. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to assess the causes of academic stress, and its coping strategies among built environment undergraduate students in public higher education institution (HEI) in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

An extensive literature review was conducted to identify the causes of academic stress and its coping strategies among the students in HEIs, using quantity surveying students as a case. Primary data were elicited through questionnaire survey administered on 189 quantity surveying students in Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. A total of 169 copies of the questionnaire were returned and suitable for analysis. The data obtained were analyzed using the mean score and t-test.

Findings

The study identified 27 causes of students’ academic stress, and the analysis of the total ranking revealed that 8 out of 27 causes of academic stress were considered important. The results of t-test indicated that except for 5 out of 27 identified causes of student academic stress, there is no statistically significant difference in the perceptions of male and female students. The study further identified 30 coping strategies employed by students in dealing with academic stress, out of which six identified coping strategies were considered important. In addition, the results of t-test revealed that except for 11 out of 30 identified coping strategies, there is no statistically significant difference in the perceptions of male and female students surveyed.

Practical implications

The identification of the important causes of academic stress and its coping strategies among the students in the public higher education will be useful for the university management to formulate policies toward providing a well-balanced academic environment that is conducive to better learning. In addition, policy recommendations are proposed.

Originality/value

The findings will help the academic staff and university management to design and implement policies toward refining the teaching procedures in higher education. Also, this study would be of great value to academic staff and university administrators to develop a framework for incorporating stress coping strategies in the higher education curriculum. This study is important as not many empirical studies relating to academic stress and its coping strategies have been conducted in the built environment disciplines.
Plant geographic origin and phylogeny as potential drivers of community structure in root‐inhabiting fungi
Authors: Koyama Akihiro , Maherali Hafiz , Antunes Pedro M.
Published: January 2019

Root‐inhabiting fungal communities, including mutualists and antagonists, influence host plant performance, and can potentially shape plant community composition. However, there is uncertainty about how root‐inhabiting fungal communities are structured, and if fungal community characteristics are significant predictors of host plant abundance.

In this study, we first assessed how root‐inhabiting fungal communities were structured in relation to the phylogeny and geographic origins (native vs. exotic) of their host plants in an old‐field community. In addition, we took into consideration the spatial arrangements (i.e. physical locations) of the individual host plants. We then tested if the relative abundances of pathogenic and beneficial arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi could predict host plant abundances.

We found that host plant phylogeny was an important factor in structuring the whole fungal community, irrespective of host plant origin. Furthermore, the spatial arrangements of individual host plants were a strong predictor of AM fungal community structure. Host plant phylogeny and spatial arrangements appeared to similarly affect the structure of pathogenic fungal communities. No distinct differences were observed between native and exotic plant species in fungal community characteristics. The relative abundances of AM and pathogenic fungi were not significant predictors for observed abundances of their host plants.

Synthesis. Host plant phylogeny and spatial arrangements can structure naturally occurring root‐inhabiting fungal communities. The absence of distinct differences in fungal community composition, including pathogens, in exotic and native plants suggests long residence times and the consequent naturalization of exotic species in the region, allowing for the establishment of similar plant–microbial interactions between native and exotic species.
Spatial organization of the gene expression hardware in Pseudomonas putida
Authors: Kim Juhyun , Goñi‐Moreno Angel , Calles Belén , de Lorenzo Víctor
Published: January 2019

The localization of ribosomes, RNA polymerase (RNAP) and the nucleoid of Pseudomonas putida cells has been inspected with genetic, microscopical and physiological approaches. To this end, strains of P. putida were constructed with fluorescent tags to either ribosomal proteins or the RNAP or both. Their relative positions in respect to the bacterial DNA revealed the separation of the ribosomal pool from the nucleoid, which however co‐localized entirely with the tridimensional distribution of RNAP. This split was kept under all growth conditions: exponential versus stationary and different carbon sources. To test the robustness of what appeared to be a phase separation phenomenon, different types of perturbations were entered. In one case, cells were grown under conditions known to accumulate polyhydroxyalkanoate granules that caused a mechanical impact in the cytoplasm – which failed to destroy the split between the translation versus transcription machineries. However, both chloramphenicol and rifampicin blurred – but not eliminated – the boundaries between the phases. The picture that emerges from all these data is not only that the different components of the gene expression hardware are physically divided but also that a large share of the mRNAs ought to move from their site of transcription towards ribosome‐rich regions of the cell.
Patterns of geographic variation between mitochondrial and nuclear markers in Heaviside's (Benguela) dolphins (Cephalorhynchus heavisidii)
Authors: GOPAL Keshni , KARCZMARSKI Leszek , TOLLEY Krystal A.
Published: January 2019

The Heaviside's (or Benguela) dolphin (Cephalorhynchus heavisidii) is endemic to the west coast of southern Africa. The present study investigated the population genetic structure across a large portion of the species distribution using mitochondrial control region and nuclear (microsatellite) markers. A total of 395 biopsy skin samples were analyzed; they were collected from free‐ranging Heaviside's dolphins in 7 locations along 1650 km of coast between Table Bay, South Africa and Walvis Bay, Namibia. Both genetic markers rejected the hypothesis of 1 homogenous population but revealed contrasting results in the genetic structuring of putative populations. Mitochondrial DNA suggested either 2 populations or a fine‐scale division with 6 (sub) populations, while microsatellite markers were indicative of 2 widespread populations with measurable gene flow between them. Neutrality tests and mismatch distribution of the mitochondrial sequences indicated a departure from mutation–drift equilibrium due to a population expansion at the 2 extremes of the geographic range, but not towards the middle of the distribution. These results highlight the importance of evaluating multiple genetic markers to gain reliable insights into population processes and structure.
The Design of Environmental Priorities in the SDGs
Authors: Elder Mark , Olsen Simon Høiberg
Published: January 2019

This article argues that the environment was extensively incorporated into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with broad and ambitious targets, reflecting environmental concerns throughout the SDGs. Many environment‐related targets – including some of the most important ones – were placed under ‘non‐environmental’ goals. The SDGs also adopted the view that economic growth can be made environmentally sustainable using ‘decoupling’ and ‘resource efficiency’ as key technological solutions. Governments rejected a more transformative objective ‘beyond GDP’, the concept of planetary boundaries, and strong implementation mechanisms. Most disappointing, the environmental elements in many targets were not included in indicators, or the indicators lacked ambition, or were watered down. Key factors in achieving the strong and integrated approach to environment and development at the level of goals and targets were: (1) the role of new ideas on the importance of the environment and an integrated approach to sustainable development which was promoted by the science and research community; (2) a group of norm entrepreneurs, who promoted these ideas; and (3) the institutional structure and working modalities of the Open Working Group (which drafted the text of the SDGs) whose special characteristics facilitated the final agreement. The dilution of the indicators resulted from a very different institutional structure and process with different actors and from the development focused legacy of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that had not resulted in sufficient capacity for thoroughly measuring environmental concerns.
Power, Politics and Knowledge Claims: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in the SDG Era
Authors: Yamin Alicia Ely
Published: January 2019

The selection of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) , targets and indicators for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) can only be understood in the light of struggles to advance these rights amid a context of the growing reliance on indicators to measure progress. If the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) de‐politicized inherently polemical issues in SRHR, the (re)production of knowledge of rights in the SDGs poses a subtler, but just as serious, threat. Although rights, and SRHR in particular, are apparently taken into account, the apparent neutrality of these metrics obscures politics and ideology. There is a danger that over‐reliance on quantitative indicators obscures the structural challenges facing the advancement of SRHR, and therefore indicators should be coupled with qualitative information derived in context.
The Sustainable Development Goals Confront the Infrastructure of Measurement
Authors: Merry Sally Engle
Published: January 2019

This brief article comments on the special issue on SDGs ‐ Knowledge and Politics in Setting and Measuring the SDGs. Acknowledging that the articles in the issue show how reliance on indicators changes the way development is conceived, Merry asks why is it so difficult to produce better indicators. If they are too narrow, why not simply produce more? She argues that conceiving of measurement as an infrastructure provides important insight into these questions.
Objectivity as Distance or Engagement: The Riddle of SDG Measurement
Authors: Lehohla Pali
Published: January 2019

What is objectivity in SDG measurement? This commentary explores the complexity of objectivity in measurement when the problems are ‘global’ yet manifest themselves with local specificities. This special issue helps elicit gaps in knowledge, tools and contexts in SDG measurement. But in doing so through the lens of political economy, ‘sets the cat among the pigeons’. The key question they raise is the sanitization of measurement and its sanctification to the status of objectivity without realizing that the process is fraught with contexts that make self‐ interest and conflict of interest an endemic risk.
Layers of Politics and Power Struggles in the SDG Indicators Process
Authors: Kapto Serge
Published: January 2019

The process of designing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was intensely political, as it can be expected of United Nations negotiations of that magnitude. Inevitably, those politics have spilled over into the technical process of formulating global indicators to monitor the Sustainable Development Goals. This commentary explores some of the tensions between competing priorities and various constituencies that affect the design of the global SDG indicator framework.
General hospital admission rates in people diagnosed with personality disorder
Authors: Fok M. L.‐Y. , Chang C.‐K. , Broadbent M. , Stewart R. , Moran P.
Published: January 2019

Objective

To determine the frequency of all‐cause general hospital admissions for individuals with personality disorder (PD) in a large clinical population using linked secondary mental healthcare and hospitalisation data.

Method

A retrospective cohort study, using anonymised electronic mental health records from South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM), linked to Hospital Episodes Statistics in England. People with PD aged 15 years or older, receiving care within SLaM between April 2007 and March 2013, were identified and compared to residents from the local catchment area. Standardised admission ratios (SARs) were calculated for all major categories of causes of general hospital admission for this defined group, with local residents in 2011 UK Census as the standard population.

Results

For the 7677 people identified with PD, SAR for all causes of admission was 2.75 (95% CI: 2.70, 2.81). Both men and women with PD had increased SARs across multiple ICD‐10 categories, including circulatory, respiratory, digestive, nervous, and musculoskeletal system disorders and endocrine, blood and infectious disorders. Sensitivity analysis (removing the impact of repeated admissions by same individual for same diagnosis in the same year) yielded similar findings.

Conclusions

By comparison with members of the general population, individuals with a diagnosis of personality disorder are at significantly higher risk of hospital admission resulting from a wide range of physical health problems.
Tacrolimus treatment for infertility related to maternal‐fetal immune interactions
Authors: Yamaguchi Koushi
Published: January 2019

Many approaches have been used to achieve successful pregnancies in patients with infertility, though existing treatments remain unsatisfactory in patients with infertility caused by abnormal maternal‐fetal immunity. However, our understanding of the immunological aspects of infertility has steadily progressed, aided by recent research into organ transplantation and cancer. The results of these recent analyses have led to the development and evaluation of several candidate immunological treatments, but the use of immunological treatments remains a novel approach. The current paper presents the hypothesis that tacrolimus may have potential as a candidate agent for the treatment of maternal‐fetal immunity‐related infertility.
Low hepatitis B surface antigen and HBV DNA levels predict response to the addition of pegylated interferon to entecavir in hepatitis B e antigen positive chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Liem Kin Seng , van Campenhout Margo J. H. , Xie Qing , Brouwer Willem Pieter , Chi Heng , Qi Xun , Chen Liang , Tabak Fehmi , Hansen Bettina E. , Janssen Harry L. A.
Published: January 2019

Background

Various treatment combinations of peginterferon (PEG‐IFN) and nucleos(t)ide analogues have been evaluated for chronic hepatitis B (CHB), but the optimal regimen remains unclear.

Aims

To study whether PEG‐IFN add‐on increases response compared to entecavir (ETV) monotherapy, and whether the duration of ETV pretreatment influences response.

Methods

Response was evaluated in HBeAg positive patients previously treated in two randomized controlled trials. Patients received ETV pretreatment for at least 24 weeks and were then allocated to 24‐48 weeks of ETV+PEG‐IFN add‐on, or continued ETV monotherapy. Response was defined as HBeAg loss combined with HBV DNA <200 IU/mL 48 weeks after discontinuing PEG‐IFN.

Results

Of 234 patients, 118 were assigned PEG‐IFN add‐on and 116 continued ETV monotherapy. Response was observed in 38/118 (33%) patients treated with add‐on therapy and in 23/116 (20%) with monotherapy (P = 0.03). The highest response to add‐on therapy compared to monotherapy was observed in PEG‐IFN naive patients with HBsAg levels below 4000 IU/mL and HBV DNA levels below 50 IU/mL at randomization (70% vs 34%; P = 0.01). Above the cut‐off levels, response was low and not significantly different between treatment groups. Duration of ETV pretreatment was associated with HBsAg and HBV DNA levels (both P < 0.005), but not with response (P = 0.82).

Conclusions

PEG‐IFN add‐on to ETV therapy was associated with higher response compared to ETV monotherapy in patients with HBeAg positive CHB. Response doubled in PEG‐IFN naive patients with HBsAg below 4000 IU/mL and HBV DNA below 50 IU/mL, and therefore identifies them as the best candidates for PEG‐IFN add‐on (Identifiers: NCT00877760, NCT01532843).
Letter: impact of Epstein‐Barr virus serological status on clinical outcomes in adult patients with inflammatory bowel disease – authors' reply
Authors: de Francisco Ruth , Castaño‐García Andrés , Riestra Sabino
Published: January 2019

Linked Content

This article is linked to de Francisco et al and Ahmed et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14933 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15104.