bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cut and paste – Efficient cotyledon micrografting for Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings
Authors: Bartusch Kai , Trenner Jana , Quint Marcel
Published: August 2019

Cotyledon micrografting represents a very useful tool for studying the central role of cotyledons during early plant development, especially their interplay with other plant organs with regard to long distance transport. While hypocotyl grafting methods are established, cotyledon grafting is still inefficient. By optimizing cotyledon micrografting, we aim for higher success rates and increased throughput in the model species Arabidopsis thaliana. We established a cut and paste cotyledon surgery procedure on a flat solid but moist surface which improved handling of small plant seedlings. Applying a specific cutting and joining pattern throughput was increased up to 40 seedlings per hour. The combination of short day conditions and low light intensities for germination and long day plus high light intensities and vertical plate positioning after grafting significantly increased ‘ligation’ efficiency. Together, we achieved up to 46 % grafting success in A. thaliana. Reconnection of vasculature was shown by successful transport of a vasculature-specific dye across the grafting site. On a whole plant level, plants with grafted cotyledons match plants with intact cotyledons in biomass production and rosette development. This cut and paste cotyledon-to-petiole grafting protocol simplifies the handling of plant seedlings in surgery, increases the number of grafted plants per hour and produces higher success rates for A. thaliana seedlings. The developed cotyledon micrografting method is also suitable for other plant species of comparable size.
Sugar availability suppresses the auxin-induced strigolactone pathway to promote bud outgrowth
Authors: Bertheloot Jessica , Barbier François , Boudon Frédéric , Perez-Garcia Maria Dolores , Péron Thomas , Citerne Sylvie , Dun Elizabeth , Beveridge Christine , Godin Christophe , Sakr Soulaiman
Published: August 2019

Apical dominance occurs when the growing shoot tip inhibits the outgrowth of axillary buds. Apically-derived auxin in the nodal stem indirectly inhibits bud outgrowth via cytokinins and strigolactones. Recently, sugar deprivation was found to contribute to this phenomenon.

Using rose and pea, we investigated whether sugar availability interacts with auxin in bud outgrowth control, and the role of cytokinins and strigolactones, in vitro and in planta.

We show that sucrose antagonizes auxin’s effect on bud outgrowth, in a dose-dependent and coupled manner. Sucrose also suppresses strigolactone-inhibition of outgrowth, and rms3 strigolactone-perception mutant is less affected by reducing sucrose supply; however, sucrose does not interfere with the regulation of cytokinin levels by auxin, and stimulates outgrowth even with optimal cytokinin supply. These observations were assembled into a computational model where sucrose represses bud response to strigolactones, largely independently of cytokinin levels. It quantitatively captures our observed dose-dependent sucrose-hormones effects on bud outgrowth, and allows us to express outgrowth response to various combinations of auxin and sucrose levels as a simple quantitative law.

This study places sugars in the bud outgrowth regulatory network, and paves the way for better understanding of branching plasticity in response to environmental and genotypic factors.
CD47 suppresses phagocytosis by repositioning SIRPA and preventing integrin activation
Authors: Morrissey Meghan A. , Vale Ronald D.
Published: August 2019

Macrophages must engulf dead cells, debris, and pathogens, while selecting against healthy cells to prevent autoimmunity. Healthy cells express CD47 on their surface, which activates the SIRPA receptor on macrophages to suppress engulfment. Cancer cells overexpress CD47 to evade clearance by the innate immune system, making the CD47-SIRPA signaling axis an appealing therapeutic target. However, the mechanism by which CD47-SIRPA inhibits engulfment remains poorly understood. Here, we dissect SIRPA signaling using a reconstituted target with varying concentrations of activating and inhibitor ligands. We find that SIRPA is excluded from the phagocytic synapse between the macrophage and its target unless CD47 is present. Artificially directing SIRPA to the kinase-rich synapse in the absence of CD47 activates SIRPA and suppresses engulfment, indicating that the localization of the receptor is critical for inhibitory signaling. CD47-SIRPA inhibits integrin activation in the macrophage, reducing macrophage-target contact and suppressing phagocytosis. Chemical activation of integrins can override this effect and drive engulfment of CD47-positive targets, including cancer cells. These results suggest new strategies for overcoming CD47-SIRPA inhibition of phagocytosis with potential applications in cancer immunotherapy.
Rod nuclear architecture determines contrast transmission of the retina and behavioral sensitivity in mice
Authors: Subramanian Kaushikaram , Weigert Martin , Borsch Oliver , Petzold Heike , Garcia Alfonso , Myers Eugene , Ader Marius , Solovei Irina , Kreysing Moritz
Published: August 2019

Rod photoreceptors of nocturnal mammals display a striking inversion of nuclear architecture, which has been proposed as an evolutionary adaptation to dark environments. However, the nature of visual benefits and underlying mechanisms remains unclear. It is widely assumed that improvements in nocturnal vision would depend on maximization of photon capture, at the expense of image detail. Here we show that retinal optical quality improves 2-fold during terminal development, which, confirmed by a mouse model, happens due to nuclear inversion.

We further reveal that improved retinal contrast-transmission, rather than photon-budget or resolution, leads to enhanced contrast sensitivity under low light condition. Our findings therefore add functional significance to a prominent exception of nuclear organization and establish retinal contrast-transmission as a decisive determinant of mammalian visual perception.

One Sentence Summary

Our study reveals that chromatin compaction in rod cells augments contrast sensitivity in mice.
The transformation matrices (distortion, orientation, correspondence), their continuous forms and their variants. Corrigenda
Authors: Cayron Cyril
Published: August 2019

Appendices B4 and B5 of Cayron [Acta Cryst. (2019), A75, 411–437] contain equations involving the point group and the metric tensor in which the equality symbol should be substituted by the inclusion symbol.
XGANDALF – extended gradient descent algorithm for lattice finding
Authors: Gevorkov Yaroslav , Yefanov Oleksandr , Barty Anton , White Thomas A. , Mariani Valerio , Brehm Wolfgang , Tolstikova Aleksandra , Grigat Rolf-Rainer , Chapman Henry N.
Published: August 2019

Serial crystallography records still diffraction patterns from single, randomly oriented crystals, then merges data from hundreds or thousands of them to form a complete data set. To process the data, the diffraction patterns must first be indexed, equivalent to determining the orientation of each crystal. A novel automatic indexing algorithm is presented, which in tests usually gives significantly higher indexing rates than alternative programs currently available for this task. The algorithm does not require prior knowledge of the lattice parameters but can make use of that information if provided, and also allows indexing of diffraction patterns generated by several crystals in the beam. Cases with a small number of Bragg spots per pattern appear to particularly benefit from the new approach. The algorithm has been implemented and optimized for fast execution, making it suitable for real-time feedback during serial crystallography experiments. It is implemented in an open-source C++ library and distributed under the LGPLv3 licence. An interface to it has been added to the CrystFEL software suite.
Crystal structure of (E)-3-(2-hydroxy-4-methylphenyl)-1-(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one
Authors: Jumaah Maadh , Kwong Huey Chong , Khairuddean Melati
Published: August 2019

The title chalcone derivative, C19H20O5, adopts atransconfiguration with respect to the olefinic C=C double bond. The 2-hydroxy-4-methylphenyl ring is coplanar with the attached enone bridge [torsion angle = −179.96 (14)°], where this plane is nearly perpendicular to the 2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl ring [dihedral angle = 75.81 (8)°]. In the crystal, molecules are linked into chains propagating along [010] by an O—H...O hydrogen bond. These chains are further connected into centrosymmetric dimer chainsviaweak C—H...O interactions. The conformations of related chalcone derivatives are surveyed and all of these structures adopt a skeleton with two almost orthogonal aromatic rings.
Synthesis and crystal structure of tert-butyl 1-(2-iodobenzoyl)cyclopent-3-ene-1-carboxylate
Authors: Yin Dejing
Published: August 2019

1-(2-Iodobenzoyl)-cyclopent-3-ene-1-carboxylates are novel substrates to construct bicyclo[3.2.1]octanes with antibacterial and antithrombotic activities. In this context, tert-butyl 1-(2-iodobenzoyl)-cyclopent-3-ene-1-carboxylate, C17H19IO3, was synthesized and structurally characterized. The 2-iodobenzoyl group is attached to the tertiary C atom of the cyclopent-3-ene ring. The dihedral angle between the benzene ring and the mean plane of the envelope-type cyclopent-3-ene ring is 26.0 (3)°. In the crystal, pairs of C-H...O hydrogen bonds link the molecules to form inversion dimers.
Crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis and DFT studies of 5-bromo-1-{2-[2-(2-chloroethoxy)ethoxy]ethyl}indoline-2,3-dione
Authors: Abdellaoui Omar , Hökelek Tuncer , Capet Frédéric , Renard Catherine , Haoudi Amal , Skalli Mohamed Khalid , Kandri Rodi Youssef
Published: August 2019

The title compound, C14H15BrClNO4, consists of a 5-bromoindoline-2,3-dione unit linked to a 1-{2-[2-(2-chloroethoxy)ethoxy]ethyl} moiety. In the crystal, a series of C—H...O hydrogen bonds link the molecules to form a supramolecular three-dimensional structure, enclosing R
2
2(8), R
2
2(12), R
2
2(18) and R
2
2(22) ring motifs. π–π contacts between the five-membered dione rings may further stabilize the structure, with a centroid–centroid distance of 3.899 (2) Å. The Hirshfeld surface analysis of the crystal structure indicates that the most important contributions for the crystal packing are from H...H (28.1%), H...O/O...H (23.5%), H...Br/Br...H (13.8%), H...Cl/Cl...H (13.0%) and H...C/C...H (10.2%) interactions. Hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions are the dominant interactions in the crystal packing. Density functional theory (DFT) optimized structures at the B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) level are compared with the experimentally determined molecular structure in the solid state. The HOMO—LUMO behaviour was elucidated to determine the energy gap. The chloroethoxyethoxyethyl side chain atoms are disordered over two sets of sites with an occupancy ratio of 0.665 (8):0.335 (6).
Synthesis and redetermination of the crystal structure of salicylaldehyde N(4)-morpholinothiosemicarbazone
Authors: Tran Buu Dang , Duong Ba Vu , Khoi Nguyen Hoang Minh , Vu Quoc Trung , Duong Khanh Linh , Oanh Doan Thi Yen , Van Meervelt Luc
Published: August 2019

The structure of the title compound (systematic name: N-{[(2-hydroxyphenyl)methylidene]amino}morpholine-4-carbothioamide), C12H15N3O2S, was previously determined (Koo et al., 1977) using multiple-film equi-inclination Weissenberg data, but has been redetermined with higher precision to explore its conformation and the hydrogen-bonding patterns and supramolecular interactions. The molecular structure shows intramolecular O—H...N and C—H...S interactions. The configuration of the C=N bond is E. The molecule is slightly twisted about the central N—N bond. The best planes through the phenyl ring and the morpholino ring make an angle of 43.44 (17)°. In the crystal, the molecules are connected into chains by N—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen bonds, which combine to generate sheets lying parallel to (002). The most prominent contribution to the surface contacts are H...H contacts (51.6%), as concluded from a Hirshfeld surface analysis.
Promoting access to health information
Authors: Senteio Charles R.
Published: August 2019

Purpose

Describe the design of a health information and technology educational intervention that promotes health information sharing and technology use for older adult African Americans to support access to health information. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

The study team developed a novel method to design the intervention. It drew upon three approaches: intergenerational technology transfer, participatory design and community-based participatory research.

Findings

Older adult African Americans (55+) with diabetes and young adults (18–54) connected to them via familial or naturally occurring social networks designed the intervention, which was conducted in the two study sites in Michigan, USA. In total, 29 participants helped design the intervention. Four themes emerged concerning factors that promote intergenerational information exchange in the context of technology and health. First, focus on one technology skill. Second, working together in small groups is preferred. Third, patience is essential. Last, physical capabilities (i.e., eyesight, operating on relatively small screens) and literacy levels should be considered.

Originality/value

This novel method of having participants from the sample population select the health information materials and technology exercises serves as a guide for implementing health information and education interventions aimed at technology use to support self-management for vulnerable patient populations.
Perspectives of teachers’ on the selection and the development of the school leaders in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: David Solomon Arulraj , Abukari Abdulai
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine teachers’ perspectives on school leaders’ selection and development strategies in order to propose/recommend strategies that are relevant to the context of the United Arab Emirates.

Design/methodology/approach

The study gathered data through group discussion of school teachers who attended the module “leadership for school improvement” taught by the researchers. The teachers who participated in this study include local and expat teachers who are currently working in both public and private schools in the UAE. The reports of the group discussion were used as transcripts and thematic analysis was used to analyse the results.

Findings

The results indicate that there is a strong aspiration for setting better standards for the selection of the school leaders. There is great interest in engaging experts and instrumenting accredited continued professional development training on developing school leaders. The respondents emphasised on the required qualifications, experiences and knowledge, and the need for mentorship approach.

Research limitations/implications

The key limitation of the study is the smaller sample size.

Practical implications

The outcome of the study offers necessary insight to the decision makers on the selection and development of school leaders in the UAE.

Social implications

The study insists that the social and cultural values of the UAE to be considered in the selection and development of school leaders in the UAE.

Originality/value

The study offers potential gap and scope for further research on school leadership in the UAE that could be further explored with many samples and cases for broader understanding.
Human resources management practices and organizational commitment in higher education
Authors: Aboramadan Mohammed , Albashiti Belal , Alharazin Hatem , Dahleez Khalid Abed
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of human resource management (HRM) practices on organizational commitment in Palestinian universities, and to examine the mediating effect of work engagement as a black-box mechanism that defines HRM practices–organizational commitment relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

The source of the data is from 237 employees (academics and administrative staff) from Palestinian universities. The authors used structural equation modeling to verify the hypotheses.

Findings

The results reveal that HRM practices have a significant impact on employee organizational commitment in higher education. In addition, work engagement showed a significant mediating effect between performance appraisal and organizational commitment on the one hand, and between rewards and compensation and organizational commitment on the other hand.

Practical implications

The study suggests university managers to capitalize on HRM practices as vehicle to trigger positive work-related attitudes.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the literature by examining the impact of HRM practices on organizational commitment through the mediation role of work engagement in higher education of a non-western context. The study is one of the few studies that is conducted in the middle east.
Evaluating students’ preferences for university brands through conjoint analysis and market simulation
Authors: Kamal Basha Norazlyn , Sweeney Jillian C. , Soutar Geoffrey Norman
Published: August 2019

Purpose

In recent times, many universities have been pressured to become heavily involved in university branding. The purpose of this paper is to investigate students’ perceptions of different international universities (brands) in terms of important university attributes, including the country in which the university’s main campus is located and educational programs are designed (COD) and the method by which the educational services are distributed internationally (DM).

Design/methodology/approach

Using a conjoint simulation procedure, this paper predicts the impact that university attributes have on Malaysian and Chinese students’ preferences for international universities.

Findings

The results suggest that, although COD and DM are important factors, the extent to which these factors dominate student preference differs significantly across students according to nationality.

Research limitations/implications

The simulation suggests how international universities can improve their branding strategies, and highlights the need to understand students’ preferences when developing marketing strategies.

Originality/value

Past research has compared the importance of university attributes across countries from the perspective of students, but failed to assess this issue in the light of existing university brands (at an institutional or country level). Such knowledge can provide an indication of student preferences and competitive performance, which are of great interest to education marketers. The present study predicts the impact of various university attributes on Malaysian and Chinese students’ preferences for specific international universities (brands) in four different countries, and changes in preference that occur when the style of delivery or course suitability is altered.
Triple helix and its evolution: a systematic literature review
Authors: Galvao Anderson , Mascarenhas Carla , Marques Carla , Ferreira João , Ratten Vanessa
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the most extensively studied topics with respect to the triple, quadruple and quintuple helix models developed to explain these links. The review also focusses on ascertaining future trends within this field.

Design/methodology/approach

Relevant documents obtained from a search in the Institute for Scientific Information’s Web of Science were submitted to bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer software.

Findings

The results of this systematic review illustrate that, despite growing concern about society and the environment, issues related to the three helixes of universities, industries and governments continue to be the most often studied. However, an additional focus on research on the quadruple and quintuple helix models has emerged in the more specialised literature. An analysis of co-citations also identified four clusters of research such as, innovation and knowledge policies; entrepreneurial universities; business innovation strategy; and triple helix stakeholders in innovation, knowledge and regional development.

Originality/value

Some policies are needed. Polices that undergo the mapping of the universities’ specialisations, the industry/society necessities and financial measures could foster the relations between all the stakeholders.
Freedom of science
Authors: Fink Gerhard
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of “freedom of science” (“academic freedom”) for the advancement of society and mankind, which, however, is permanently endangered by powerful organisations, groups and individuals, who in pursuit of their one-sided interests are seeking to constrain information about the truth. As a broad term, freedom of science embraces freedom in research, learning, teaching and publication. All of these activities should be dedicated to identifying the truth and learning about the truth.

Design/methodology/approach

Three theoretical approaches are of importance for framing issues related to freedom of science, which in this paper are integrated into the framework of mindset agency theory: freedom is a value; “freedom” is claimed by agents who pursue specific interests (goals), which might constrain others; and individuals are agents who are interacting with each other within a social system – cooperation, ignorance or conflict.

Findings

Freedom as a value is at the core of intellectual autonomy. Intellectual autonomy is a necessary condition for innovation and advancement of knowledge. The observable modes of interaction/coexistence among researchers are influenced by individual research goals and by the researchers’ access to resources, which may be deliberately constrained by opponents or other researchers as competitors.

Research limitations/implications

For further research, which is beyond this paper, the authors can refer to: analyses of challenges of “academic freedom” – in terms of ethics, protection of individual human rights, political pressures and conflicts of interests; the issues of truth, i.e. the impact of fake news and creation of “alternate facts”; and the relation between academic freedom and employment (academic tenure) in present-day societies. Owing to lack of space, this paper cannot deal with the danger emerging from powerful organisations or powerful individuals, who are challenging freedom of science.

Social implications

If there is no freedom of science then social progress is constrained. If there is no access to right data, decisions will be wrong.

Originality/value

So far, a comprehensive cybernetic model was not published, which supports systems thinking about scholars and teachers (inter)acting in research organisations.
Do all CSR news affect market value equally?
Authors: Pérez Andrea , López-Gutiérrez Carlos , García de los Salmones María del Mar
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study explores the effects that media coverage of corporate social responsibility (CSR) news related to primary stakeholders (e.g. customers, employees and investors) and secondary stakeholders (e.g. community) have on the market value of companies, measured as the impact generated in the positive and negative abnormal returns for those companies.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample of 195 online papers published in the most important Spanish business newspaper during 2015, the authors implement an event study and a regression analysis that confirm the importance of CSR news for corporate financial goals.

Findings

The findings show that negative CSR news related to primary stakeholders such as investors and customers generate significant abnormal returns for companies that are notably larger than the abnormal returns generated by secondary stakeholders (e.g. community). Similarly, positive news related to primary stakeholders such as employees are the only positive news that affect market reactions significantly.

Originality/value

The study provides an empirical analysis that clarifies how media coverage of different types of CSR news affect the market value of companies. In doing so, the paper contributes to previous literature significantly because scant research exists that has compared the differential effects of CSR news focused on primary and secondary stakeholders. The findings are discussed under the premises of the managerial perspective of stakeholder theory.
Knowledge management practices and systems in county governments in developing countries
Authors: Ndiege Joshua Rumo Arongo , Wamuyu Patrick Kanyi
Published: August 2019

Purpose

While several studies have indicated the critical role played by the ability of countries to exploit knowledge as an economic resource, it would appear that there have been very few studies conducted on understanding the practices adopted by governments in relation to exploring knowledge, particularly in Africa. The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevailing knowledge management practices and technological solutions used by governments to support knowledge management.

Design/methodology/approach

To address the research objective of this study, semi-structured interviews and document analysis were used. The interviews were conducted with both senior and junior county officials from five counties in Kenya, with a total of 31 county officials participating. Further, various county documents were analysed both to seek convergence and corroborate the interview findings.

Findings

The study findings revealed that no systematic knowledge management practices existed in the county governments in Kenya, which were investigated. On the few occasions that the study did find evidence of knowledge management practices, these practices were isolated, informal, uncoordinated and rarely documented and/or communicated. Furthermore, the study found that there were inadequate policy frameworks in place to support knowledge management practices. The study also revealed a scarcity of relevant technological solutions tailored to support knowledge management practices.

Research limitations/implications

It was, thus, hoped that this research would promote an understanding of the prevailing local circumstances that hinder the effective utilisation of knowledge management practices and systems. The study recommends that county governments develop the capabilities required for creating and sustaining an enabling knowledge management environment through frameworks and policies that foster knowledge management practices and systems. The findings have practical implications for the way in which county governments in Kenya and other developing countries may improve their knowledge management practices and adopt appropriate technological solutions to support such practices.

Originality/value

Much of the existing literature on knowledge management is focussed on exploring such practices in large businesses. Studies centred specifically on the analysis of knowledge management practices in county governments in Africa, and how technological solutions may be used to build such practices are conspicuously lacking in the relevant literature.
Serum phosphatidylserine‐specific phospholipase A1 as a novel biomarker for monitoring systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity
Authors: Sawada Tetsuji , Kurano Makoto , Shirai Harumi , Iwasaki Yukiko , Tahara Koichiro , Hayashi Haeru , Igarashi Koji , Fujio Keishi , Aoki Junken , Yatomi Yutaka
Published: August 2019

Aim

To assess the utility of serum levels of phosphatidylserine‐specific phospholipase A1 (PS‐PLA1), a lipase involved in the production of lysophosphatidylserine with multi‐immunomodulatory effects, in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Method

Serum PS‐PLA1 was measured in 161 patients with SLE (including 54 untreated patients), 80 disease controls (35 active rheumatoid arthritis [RA], 23 Sjögren's syndrome [SS], and 22 systemic sclerosis [SSc]), and 237 healthy controls.

Results

Serum PS‐PLA1 was significantly higher in SLE patients than in healthy controls, RA and SS patients. Although PS‐PLA1 was significantly elevated in SSc and SS patients compared with healthy controls, PS‐PLA1 was significantly higher in untreated SLE patients than in treated SLE patients and disease control patients. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that a cut‐off value of 18.2 ng/mL distinguished untreated SLE from disease control, with sensitivity and specificity of 71.4% and 57.5%, respectively. PS‐PLA1 was significantly correlated with SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) and immunoglobulin G (IgG), and inversely correlated with white blood cell counts, lymphocyte counts, total complement hemolytic activity (CH50), complements C3, and C4 in SLE patients overall. Stepwise multiple regression identified SLEDAI, CH50, and IgG as significant parameters. In SLEDAI‐based disease activity groups, PS‐PLA1 was significantly higher in SLE patients with high disease activity than in those with low disease activity. PS‐PLA1 decreased significantly in parallel with SLEDAI in 35 SLE patients whose paired serum samples were available pre‐ and post‐treatment.

Conclusion

Serum PS‐PLA1 is associated with disease activity of SLE, indicating its possible use as a biomarker for monitoring SLE disease activity.
AIIB at Three: A Comparative and Institutional Perspective
Authors: Lichtenstein Natalie
Published: August 2019

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) joined the field of multilateral development banks (MDBs) in 2016 as a US$100 billion international financial institution, providing finance for public and private infrastructure projects in Asia. AIIB has been created with the experience of existing MDBs with an aim of innovating for the future. AIIB's establishment is compared here with the origin stories of major MDBs—all born in a mix of geopolitics and development needs. AIIB's policy and strategy framework has continued to be filled out in its first three years, supporting its approved portfolio of over US$8 billion in 45 investment operations. Innovative features in its otherwise classic MDB governance structure are also in operation, such as AIIB's non‐resident board, streamlined decision‐making and uniquely detailed oversight arrangements. For the future, factors that have affected other MDBs may also affect AIIB. Cycles in the global economic and financial environment and shifts in international relations and geopolitics will have an impact on AIIB's members. Institutional governance and leadership have been another source of uncertainty for some others. Time will tell how well AIIB's unique blend of old and new will enable it to serve its mandate and its clients around the world.
Adjuvant‐induced arthritis affects testes and ventral prostate of Wistar rats
Authors: Santos C. R. , Benjamin A. C. A. , Chies A. B. , Domeniconi R. F. , Zochio G. P. , Spadella M. A.
Published: August 2019

Background

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may reduce the testosterone production, thereby leading to testicular dysfunction and subfertility.

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate whether adjuvant‐induced arthritis (AIA) induces histopathological and morphometric‐stereological alterations on testes with repercussions on the prostate, and alternatively, verifying AIA‐induced direct effects on the prostate, regardless of the testicular involvement.

Material and methods

Adult male Wistar rats were sham‐orchiectomized or orchiectomized. Twenty days after the surgery, these animals were injected with vehicle (SHAM and ORQ groups, respectively) or adjuvant (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) to induce arthritis (AIA and ORQ/AIA groups, respectively). Forty days later, testes and ventral prostate were processed for histopathological and morphometric‐stereological analyses, as well as to PCNA immunohistochemistry. Collagen deposit was evaluated in prostate. Circulating testosterone levels were determined 15 days post‐AIA induction in SHAM and AIA rats and 40th day in all groups.

Results

In the testes, AIA promoted histopathological changes characterized by an increase in the percentage of abnormal tubules and reduction in the height of the seminiferous epithelium, daily production of spermatozoa, and cellular proliferation. In the prostate, AIA decreased the luminal volume of the secretory ducts. In condition of androgenic deprivation due to the orchiectomy, AIA induced proliferation of the prostatic epithelium.

Discussion

The effects of arthritis on testes and prostate were observed 40 days post‐AIA induction, possibly results of the hypoandrogenism were already established on 15th day post‐induction, which is related to the decline of the steroidogenesis in the Leydig cells. On the other hand, the joint inflammatory process may also have direct repercussions upon the prostate, regardless of this hypoandrogenism.

Conclusion

AIA effects on reproductive tissues may be related to both hypoandrogenism and other direct inflammatory mechanisms. Possibly, these AIA effects on the testes and prostate occur at a stage in which the inflammatory process is most active, about 15–20 days after induction, remaining evident until the 40th day.
Socially responsible downsizing: Comparing family and non‐family firms
Authors: Sanchez‐Bueno Maria J. , Muñoz‐Bullón Fernando , Galan Jose I.
Published: August 2019

This study seeks to investigate whether family firms are more likely to downsize their workforce than their non‐family counterparts. Drawing on socioemotional wealth approach, we first explore the effect of family presence on workforce downsizing. Furthermore, we examine the moderating role of R&D activity on the family presence–downsizing relationship. Our sample covers a panel of manufacturing SMEs in Spain over the 1993–2014 period. We find that family firms are less likely to downsize than non‐family firms. Our results also reveal a negative association between R&D activity and workforce downsizing. Finally, the relationship between family presence and downsizing is contingent upon R&D activity, that is, family firms engaged in R&D activities are less likely to downsize than non‐innovative family firms.
Variability in In Vitro OATP1B1/1B3 Inhibition Data: Impact of Incubation Conditions on Variability and Subsequent Drug Interaction Predictions
Authors: McFeely Savannah J. , Ritchie Tasha K. , Ragueneau‐Majlessi Isabelle
Published: August 2019

As the research into the organic anion transporting polypeptides (OATPs) continues to grow, it is important to ensure that the data generated are accurate and reproducible. In the in vitro evaluation of OATP1B1/1B3 inhibition, there are many variables that can contribute to variability in the resulting inhibition constants, which can then, in turn, contribute to variable results when clinical predictions (R‐values) are performed. Currently, the only experimental condition recommended by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the inclusion of a pre‐incubation period.1 To identify other potential sources of variability, a descriptive analysis of available in vitro inhibition data was completed. For each of the 21 substrate/inhibitor pairs evaluated, cell type and pre‐incubation were found to have the greatest effect on half‐maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) variability. Indeed, when only HEK293 cells and co‐incubation conditions were included, the observed variability for the entire data set (highest IC50/lowest) was reduced from 12.4 to 5.2. The choice of probe substrate used in the study also had a significant effect on inhibitor constant variability. Interestingly, despite the broad range of inhibitory constants identified, these two factors showed little effect on the calculated R‐values relative to the FDA evaluation cutoff of 1.1 triggering a clinical evaluation for the inhibitors evaluated. However, because of the small data set available, further research is needed to confirm these preliminary results and define best practice for the study of OATPs.
Novel CARD9 mutation in a patient with chronic invasive dermatophyte infection (tinea profunda)
Authors: Nazarian Rosalynn M. , Lilly Evelyn , Gavino Christina , Hamilos Daniel L. , Felsenstein Donna , Vinh Donald C. , Googe Paul B.
Published: August 2019

Caspase Recruitment Domain Family Member 9 (CARD9) is an adaptor molecule that drives antifungal activity of macrophages and neutrophils in the skin. Autosomal recessive loss‐of‐function mutations in CARD9 confer increased susceptibility to invasive disease with select fungi in non‐immunosuppressed patients. We report on a patient with X‐linked ichthyosis complicated by chronic cutaneous invasive dermatophyte infection. We identified a previously reported c.271T>C (p.Y91H) mutation and a novel intronic c.1269+18G>A mutation in CARD9 underlying recurrent deep dermatophytosis in this patient despite various antifungals for over three decades. Our case highlights susceptibility to invasive dermatophytosis related to autosomal recessive CARD9 deficiency and illustrates the range of CARD9 mutations to be pursued in immunocompetent patients with unexplained deep dermatophyte infections. Further studies are needed to define the best therapeutic regimen.
Mechanism of glucose‐lowering by metformin in type 2 diabetes: Role of bile acids
Authors: Sansome Daniel J. , Xie Cong , Veedfald Simon , Horowitz Michael , Rayner Christopher K. , Wu Tongzhi
Published: August 2019

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an increasingly prevalent chronic condition, characterized by abnormally elevated blood glucose concentrations and, as a consequence, increased risk of micro‐ and macrovascular complications. Metformin is usually the first‐line glucose‐lowering medication in T2DM; however, despite being used for more than 60 years, the mechanism underlying the glucose‐lowering action of metformin remains incompletely understood. Although metformin reduces hepatic glucose production, there is persuasive evidence that the gastrointestinal tract is crucial in mediating this effect, particularly via secretion of the incretin hormone glucagon‐like peptide 1 (GLP‐1). It is now well recognized that bile acids, in addition to their established function in fat digestion and absorption, are important regulators of glucose metabolism. Exposure of the small and large intestine to bile acids induces GLP‐1 secretion, modulates the composition of the gut microbiota, and reduces postprandial blood glucose excursions in humans with and without T2DM. Metformin reduces intestinal bile acid resorption substantially, such that intraluminal bile acids may, at least in part, account for its glucose‐lowering effect. The present review focuses on the conceptual shift in our understanding as to how metformin lowers blood glucose in T2DM, with a particular emphasis on the role of intestinal bile acids.
Size and density mediate transitions between competition and facilitation
Authors: Cameron Hayley , Coulson Tim , Marshall Dustin J.
Published: August 2019

Species simultaneously compete with and facilitate one another. Size can mediate transitions along this competition–facilitation continuum, but the consequences for demography are unclear. We orthogonally manipulated the size of a focal species, and the size and density of a heterospecific neighbour, in the field using a model marine system. We then parameterised a size‐structured population model with our experimental data. We found that heterospecific size and density interactively altered the population dynamics of the focal species. Size determined whether heterospecifics facilitated (when small) or competed with (when large) the focal species, while density strengthened these interactions. Such size‐mediated interactions also altered the pace of the focal’s life history. We provide the first demonstration that size and density mediate competition and facilitation from a population dynamical perspective. We suspect such effects are ubiquitous, but currently underappreciated. We reiterate classic cautions against inferences about competitive hierarchies made in the absence of size‐specific data.
Operative posterior disconnection in epilepsy surgery: Experience with 29 patients
Authors: Kalbhenn Thilo , Cloppenborg Thomas , Wörmann Friedrich G. , Blümcke Ingmar , Coras Roland , May Theodor W. , Polster Tilman , Simon Matthias , Bien Christian G.
Published: August 2019

Objective

It has been suggested that multilobar epilepsies caused by lesions restricted to the posterior cerebral quadrant (ie, the parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes) can be treated successfully by a procedure termed posterior disconnection. The objective of the present paper was to identify determinants of the epileptological outcome following posterior disconnection surgery.

Methods

The authors retrospectively analyzed a series of 29 consecutive patients undergoing posterior disconnection surgery between 2005 and 2017 for the treatment of refractory posterior quadrantic epilepsy. Specifically, all presurgical and postoperative magnetic resonance (MR) studies were reviewed to identify cases with an incomplete disconnection, or the presence of a more widespread pathology involving the whole hemisphere rather than only its posterior quadrant. In addition, we reevaluated all presurgical video–electroencephalography (EEG) reports.

Results

Seizure‐free (International League Against Epilepsy [ILAE] 1) after surgery were 3/3 patients with EEG findings restricted to the posterior quadrant, 0/7 patients who had propagation of epileptic activity to the contralateral frontal lobe, and 11/19 (57.9%) who showed propagation to ipsilateral frontal and/or contralateral posterior. Eleven of 13 (84.6%) patients with purely posterior quadrantic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings (as retrospectively diagnosed by neuroimaging) vs 3/16 (18.8%) cases with additional subtle abnormalities outside the posterior quadrant became seizure‐free (P = .001). Eleven of 16 (68.8%) patients with complete disconnections were seizure‐free vs only 3/13 (23.0%) cases with leftover temporal lobe tissue with contact to the insula (P = .025, both Fisher's exact test).

Significance

A posterior disconnection is a technically demanding but very effective operation for posterior quadrantic epilepsy. Good epileptologic outcomes require not only that the epileptogenic lesion does not extend beyond the confines of the disconnected cerebral volume but also the absence of subtle MRI abnormalities, more widespread than the clear‐cut lesion of the posterior quadrant. Hemispheric or contralateral (particularly frontal) propagation of the epileptic activity may also indicate the presence of a hemispheric rather than posterior quadrantic pathology.
A new creep damage assessment method for metallic material under variable load conditions at elevated temperature
Authors: Hu Xu , Ye Wen , Ma Xiao , Song Ying
Published: August 2019

It is significant for structural design and maintenance to assess behaviour and life under varying load conditions. For structures operating in high‐temperature environments, creep is one mechanism responsible for material failures. In this paper, different damage accumulation rules were reviewed, and a new creep damage assessment method was proposed based on the creep damage tolerance parameter λ and load factor Φ. By introducing the creep damage tolerance parameter λ and the minimum creep rate, the loading process and creep behaviour of the material are taken into account in a damage assessment. The parameters in the model can be obtained by the simple variable load creep test, and the remaining life and strain can be predicted using uniaxial creep test data. To analyse the applicability and accuracy of this new model, the strain histories, the life of step load, and the constant load creep from experiments on a titanium alloy at 500°C were obtained, and the prediction results of the novel and previous methods were carefully investigated.
Lamotrigine in the Prevention of Migraine With Aura: A Narrative Review
Authors: Buch Dan , Chabriat Hugues
Published: August 2019

Background

Lamotrigine is not recommended in the prevention of migraine in general but some reports suggest that it might be effective for treating specifically migraine with aura (MA). This review aims to summarize the related data from the literature and to better understand this discrepancy.

Methods

All reports from the literature related to the use of lamotrigine in migraine with or without aura published prior to February 2019 found using PUBMED and the 2 keywords “migraine” AND “lamotrigine” were reviewed. Original studies, published in full, systematic reviews, and all case reports were synthetized. We also examined the risk profile, pharmacokinetics, and mode of action of lamotrigine in view of the presumed mechanism of MA.

Results

Lamotrigine was tested in different populations of migraineurs, but previous studies had small sample sizes (n < 35) and might not have been powered enough for detecting a potential benefit of lamotrigine in MA. Accumulating data suggest that the drug can reduce both the frequency and severity of aura symptoms in multiple conditions and is well tolerated.

Conclusion

Lamotrigine appears promising for treating attacks of MA and related clinical manifestations because of its high potential of efficacy, low‐risk profile, and cost. Additional studies are needed for testing lamotrigine in patients with MA.
The Impact of Shift Work on Migraine: A Case Series and Narrative Review
Authors: Sandoe Claire H. , Sasikumar Sanskriti , Lay Christine , Lawler Valerie
Published: August 2019

Objective

We present a case report of 2 migraine patients engaged in shift work, followed by a narrative review, to assess whether shift work influences headache‐related disability and chronification of migraine.

Background

Numerous modifiable factors can lead to chronification of migraine and to higher headache‐related disability. These include, among others, obesity, depression, overuse of acute medications, ineffective acute treatments, and stressful life events. Sleep disruptions and disorders are also felt to increase the risk of transitioning from episodic to chronic migraine. We hypothesize that shift work, which by definition leads to atypical or irregular sleep cycles, along with poor quality sleep, is a risk factor for chronification of migraine.

Methods

We present the case histories of 2 shift workers with migraine as per International Classification of Headache Disorders 3 criteria, seen at a large, busy academic headache center, followed by a narrative review of the literature.

Results

Previous literature regarding the relationship between shift work and migraine is sparse and conflicting, with more recent studies suggesting that shift work may be a risk factor for migraine‐related disability. In our case series, both patients initially reported severe migraine headache‐related disability and both patients had noted a worsening of their headaches after beginning night shift work. Both improved when switched back to day shifts, then worsened upon being put back on night shifts. Their headache patterns finally reverted from chronic to episodic migraine after eliminating night shifts completely and maintaining a good sleep routine.

Conclusions

In the 2 cases presented, shift work appeared to be associated with chronification of migraine and higher headache‐related disability despite optimal headache management and good patient adherence. A switch to only day shifts promoted transition to an episodic, less disabling pattern of migraine. It is clinically important to take a detailed sleep history in headache patients, and when appropriate, provide support for workplace accommodations. Further larger‐scale, rigorous studies are needed to more clearly delineate the relationship between shift work and migraine.