bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
QQSorphan gene regulates carbon and nitrogen partitioning across species via NF-YC interactions
Authors: Li Ling , Zheng Wenguang , Zhu Yanbing , Ye Huaxun , Tang Buyun , Arendsee Zebulun W. , Jones Dallas , Li Ruoran , Ortiz Diego , Zhao Xuefeng , Du Chuanlong , Nettleton Dan , Scott M. Paul , Salas-Fernandez Maria G. , Yin Yanhai , Wurtele Eve Syrkin
Published: November 2015

Significance

Each species contains a subset of genes that are uniquely present in that species; the functions and origins of the vast majority of these “orphan genes” are not well-understood. Expression of theArabidopsis QQS(Qua-Quine Starch;At3g30720) orphan transgene increases the level of protein in soybean lines with high and low protein and acts across flowering plants to increase the protein content of maize and rice. Our results begin to dissect the mechanism of QQS functions by identifying that it binds to the conserved transcription factor nuclear factor Y, subunit C4 (NF-YC4). Increased expression ofNF-YC4inArabidopsismimics the effects of increased expression ofQQS. The ability to optimize protein productivity in plant-based foods would have far-ranging impacts on world health and sustainability.
RNA-directed DNA methylation enforces boundaries between heterochromatin and euchromatin in the maize genome
Authors: Li Qing , Gent Jonathan I. , Zynda Greg , Song Jawon , Makarevitch Irina , Hirsch Cory D. , Hirsch Candice N. , Dawe R. Kelly , Madzima Thelma F. , McGinnis Karen M. , Lisch Damon , Schmitz Robert J. , Vaughn Matthew W. , Springer Nathan M.
Published: November 2015

Significance

RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) provides a system for targeting DNA methylation to asymmetric CHH (H = A, C, or T) sites. This RdDM activity is often considered a mechanism for transcriptional silencing of transposons. However, many of the RdDM targets in the maize genome are located near genes or regulatory elements. We find that the regions of elevated CHH methylation, termed mCHH islands, are the boundaries between highly methylated (CG, CHG), silenced chromatin and more active chromatin. Analysis of RdDM mutants suggests that the function of the boundary is to promote and reinforce silencing of the transposable elements located near genes rather than to protect the euchromatic state of the genes.
Mutations in the linker domain affect phospho-STAT3 function and suggest targets for interrupting STAT3 activity
Authors: Mertens Claudia , Haripal Bhagwattie , Klinge Sebastian , Darnell James E.
Published: November 2015

Significance

Examination of mutants in linker domain of STAT3 suggests contacts with both the DNA binding and SH2 domains that may cause structural changes and affect pSTAT3-dependent transcription, opening the possibility of new targets for drug inhibition of pSTAT3.
Conformational signaling required for synaptic plasticity by the NMDA receptor complex
Authors: Aow Jonathan , Dore Kim , Malinow Roberto
Published: November 2015

Significance

Neurotransmitter binding to NMDA receptors (NMDARs) produces an ion-flow-independent conformational change in its intracellular domain, as well as synaptic depression. An antibody that blocks this movement also blocks ion-flow-independent synaptic depression. The interactions of the NMDAR with signaling proteins that mediate synaptic depression, protein phosphatase 1 (PP1), and calcium-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) are monitored using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) to measure Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). Ligand binding to the NMDAR produces changes in these interactions that require conformational movement, but not ion flow through the receptor. Our study directly measures metabotropic signaling actions by NMDARs and provides insights into the mechanisms of synaptic depression.
Center of excellence for mobile sensor data-to-knowledge (MD2K)
Authors: Kumar Santosh , Abowd Gregory D , Abraham William T , al’Absi Mustafa , Gayle Beck J , Chau Duen Horng , Condie Tyson , Conroy David E , Ertin Emre , Estrin Deborah , Ganesan Deepak , Lam Cho , Marlin Benjamin , Marsh Clay B , Murphy Susan A , Nahum-Shani Inbal , Patrick Kevin , Rehg James M , Sharmin Moushumi , Shetty Vivek , Sim Ida , Spring Bonnie , Srivastava Mani , Wetter David W
Published: November 2015

Mobile sensor data-to-knowledge (MD2K) was chosen as one of 11 Big Data Centers of Excellence by the National Institutes of Health, as part of its Big Data-to-Knowledge initiative. MD2K is developing innovative tools to streamline the collection, integration, management, visualization, analysis, and interpretation of health data generated by mobile and wearable sensors. The goal of the big data solutions being developed by MD2K is to reliably quantify physical, biological, behavioral, social, and environmental factors that contribute to health and disease risk. The research conducted by MD2K is targeted at improving health through early detection of adverse health events and by facilitating prevention. MD2K will make its tools, software, and training materials widely available and will also organize workshops and seminars to encourage their use by researchers and clinicians.
A method for systematic discovery of adverse drug events from clinical notes
Authors: Wang Guan , Jung Kenneth , Winnenburg Rainer , Shah Nigam H
Published: November 2015

Objective Adverse drug events (ADEs) are undesired harmful effects resulting from use of a medication, and occur in 30% of hospitalized patients. The authors have developed a data-mining method for systematic, automated detection of ADEs from electronic medical records.

Materials and Methods This method uses the text from 9.5 million clinical notes, along with prior knowledge of drug usages and known ADEs, as inputs. These inputs are further processed into statistics used by a discriminative classifier which outputs the probability that a given drug–disorder pair represents a valid ADE association. Putative ADEs identified by the classifier are further filtered for positive support in 2 independent, complementary data sources. The authors evaluate this method by assessing support for the predictions in other curated data sources, including a manually curated, time-indexed reference standard of label change events.

Results This method uses a classifier that achieves an area under the curve of 0.94 on a held out test set. The classifier is used on 2 362 950 possible drug–disorder pairs comprised of 1602 unique drugs and 1475 unique disorders for which we had data, resulting in 240 high-confidence, well-supported drug-AE associations. Eighty-seven of them (36%) are supported in at least one of the resources that have information that was not available to the classifier.

Conclusion This method demonstrates the feasibility of systematic post-marketing surveillance for ADEs using electronic medical records, a key component of the learning healthcare system.
Molecular data indicate a cryptic species in Neotoma albigula (Cricetidae: Neotominae) from northwestern México
Authors: Bradley Robert D. , Mauldin Matthew R.
Published: November 2015

DNA sequences from the mitochondrial cytochrome- b gene were obtained from 41 specimens of Neotoma albigula from the southwestern United States and northwestern México. Phylogenetic analyses depicted that samples of N. a. melanura from southern Sonora and northern Sinaloa formed a clade separate from representatives of the other sampled subspecies of N. albigula ( albigula , laplataensis , mearnsi , seri , sheldoni , and venusta ). Genetic distances detected between these clades (7.41%) approached divergence levels reported for other sister species of woodrats and indicated that N. a. melanura is presumably a cryptic and genetically differentiated species relative to N . albigula . Analyses of DNA sequences from a nuclear gene (intron 2 of the alcohol dehydrogenase gene, Adh 1-I2) indicated that samples of N. a. melanura formed a separate, monophyletic clade relative to the remainder of N. albigula . Further, habitat, geographic distinctions, and morphological differences were apparent between members of the 2 clades. Together, those data support the elevation of N. a. melanura to species status.

Secuencias de ADN del gen mitocondrial citocromo- b se obtuvieron de 41 especímenes de Neotoma albigula provenientes del suroeste de los Estados Unidos y del noroeste de México. Análisis filogenéticos revelaron que las muestras de N. a. melanura del sureste de Sonora y del norte de Sinaloa formaron un clado separado de especímenes que representan a las otras subspecies de N. albigula (albigula, laplataensis, mearnsi, seri, sheldoni , y venusta ). Las distancias genéticas detectadas entre estos clados (7.41%) se aproximan a los valores de divergencia reportados para otras especies de ratas magueyeras, indicando que N. a. melanura es presumiblemente una especie críptica y relativamente diferenciada genéticamente de N. albigula . Los análisis de secuencias de ADN de un gen nuclear (intron 2 del gen alcohol deshidrogenasa, Adh -I2) indicaron que las muestras de N. a. melanura formaron un clado separado relativamente a especímenes de N. albigula . Adicionalmente, hábitat, distinciones geográficas, y diferencias morfológicas fueron aparentes entre miembros de los dos clados. Todos estos datos soportan la elevación de N. a. melanura al estatus de especie.
The Laplace resonance in the Kepler-60 planetary system
Authors: Goździewski K. , Migaszewski C. , Panichi F. , Szuszkiewicz E.
Published: November 2015

We investigate the dynamical stability of the Kepler-60 planetary system with three super-Earths. We determine their orbital elements and masses by transit timing variation (TTV) data spanning quarters Q1–Q16 of the Kepler mission. The system is dynamically active but the TTV data constrain masses to ∼4 M⊕ and orbits in safely wide stable zones. The observations prefer two types of solutions. The true three-body Laplace mean-motion resonance (MMR) exhibits the critical angle librating around ≃45° and aligned apsides of the inner and outer pair of planets. In the Laplace MMR formed through a chain of two-planet 5:4 and 4:3 MMRs, all critical angles librate with small amplitudes ∼30° and apsidal lines in planet's pairs are anti-aligned. The system is simultaneously locked in a three-body MMR with librations amplitude ≃10o. The true Laplace MMR can evolve towards a chain of two-body MMRs in the presence of planetary migration. Therefore, the three-body MMR formed in this way seems to be more likely state of the system. However, the true three-body MMR cannot be disregarded a priori and it remains a puzzling configuration that may challenge the planet formation theory.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Risk Factors and Beliefs Reported by Families Presenting to a Pediatric Emergency Department
Authors: Barbour Worth L. , Rodgers Joel B. , Wang Henry E. , Donnelly John P. , Tapley Amanda M. , Galbraith James W.
Published: November 2015

Objectives

Adolescents are at greater risk for acquiring human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) due to increased risk behaviors. Parental influence is known to reduce adolescent risk behaviors. We compared HIV risk behaviors reported by adolescents to parents' perception of adolescent risky behavior engagement. We also examined participants' knowledge of HIV transmission and testing preferences.

Methods

Participants included English-speaking adolescents and parents presenting to a pediatric emergency department. Participants were interviewed separately in private. Modeled after existing instruments, “adolescent” and “parent” questionnaires included multiple choices items, Likert-type scales, and standard yes/no and true/false options. Data were analyzed using a κ statistic and observed agreement to measure discordance between adolescent and parent responses.

Results

Participants included 126 adolescents and 110 parents. Many adolescents reported ever having sex (61%), of which 32% reported always practicing safe sex. Comparative analysis revealed low agreement between adolescents' risk behaviors and parents' perception of risk behavior engagement by youth. Discordance concerning tobacco use was greatest (κ = 0.13), followed by drug use (κ = 0.19) and ever having sex (κ= 0.19), and alcohol use (κ= 0.22). There was also poor agreement regarding HIV transmission knowledge (ie, oral sex; κ = 0.16). Participants shared strong agreement regarding parental support for adolescent interest in HIV testing (95.5%).

Conclusions

Parents are mostly unaware of adolescents' broad risk behaviors. Participants' knowledge of HIV transmission is limited. Adolescents and parents shared strong agreement regarding HIV testing preferences. Multidimensional HIV prevention strategies aiming to decrease adolescent risk behaviors, increase parental involvement, and improve adolescent and parental knowledge of HIV transmission are needed.
Management of Pediatric Forearm Torus Fractures
Authors: Jiang Nan , Cao Zhen-hua , Ma Yun-fei , Lin Zhen , Yu Bin
Published: November 2015

Objectives

Pediatric forearm torus fracture, a frequent reason for emergency department visits, can be immobilized by both rigid cast and nonrigid methods. However, controversy still exists regarding the optimal treatment of the disease. The aim of this study was to compare, in a systematic review, clinical efficacy of rigid cast with nonrigid methods for immobilization of the pediatric forearm torus fractures.

Methods

Literature search was performed of PubMed and Cochrane Library by 2 independent reviewers to identify randomized controlled trials comparing rigid cast with nonrigid methods for pediatric forearm torus fractures from inception to December 31, 2013, without limitation of publication language. Trial quality was assessed using the modified Jadad scale.

Results

Eight randomized controlled trials with a total of 781 participants met all inclusion criteria. The nonrigid methods for immobilization included soft cast, splint, bandage, and slab. Results showed that nonrigid immobilizations had better clinical efficacy than rigid cast regarding functional recovery, treatment cost, and complication rate (relative risk, 3.02; 95% confidence interval, 1.70-5.37; P = 0.0002). Compared with rigid cast, more patients would like to choose the nonrigid methods of immobilization for future use. However, discrepant results sill surrounds the pain levels of the patients.

Conclusions

The current study suggests that the nonrigid immobilization methods have more advantages than rigid cast for immobilization of pediatric forearm torus fracture. The former strategies are also safe enough for clinical therapy.
Introduction to ‘Origin and evolution of the nervous system’
Authors: Strausfeld Nicholas J. , Hirth Frank
Published: November 2015

In 1665, Robert Hooke demonstrated inMicrographiathe power of the microscope and comparative observations, one of which revealed similarities between the arthropod and vertebrate eyes. Utilizing comparative observations, Saint-Hilaire in 1822 was the first to propose that the ventral nervous system of arthropods corresponds to the dorsal nervous system of vertebrates. Since then, studies on the origin and evolution of the nervous system have become inseparable from studies about Metazoan origins and the origins of organ systems. The advent of genome sequence data and, in turn, phylogenomics and phylogenetics have refined cladistics and expanded our understanding of Metazoan phylogeny. However, the origin and evolution of the nervous system is still obscure and many questions and problems remain. A recurrent problem is whether and to what extent sequence data provide reliable guidance for comparisons across phyla. Are genetic data congruent with the geological fossil records? How can we reconcile evolved character loss with phylogenomic records? And how informative are genetic data in relation to the specification of nervous system morphologies? These provide some of the background and context for a Royal Society meeting to discuss new data and concepts that might achieve insights into the origin and evolution of brains and nervous systems.
Where is my mind? How sponges and placozoans may have lost neural cell types
Authors: Ryan Joseph F. , Chiodin Marta
Published: November 2015

Recent phylogenomic evidence suggests that ctenophores may be the sister group to the rest of animals. This phylogenetic arrangement opens the possibility that sponges and placozoans could have lost neural cell types or that the ctenophore nervous system evolved independently. We critically review evidence to date that has been put forth in support of independent evolution of neural cell types in ctenophores. We observe a reluctance in the literature to consider a lost nervous system in sponges and placozoans and suggest that this may be due to historical bias and the commonly misconstrued concept of animal complexity. In support of the idea of loss (or modification beyond recognition), we provide hypothetical scenarios to show how sponges and placozoans may have benefitted from the loss and/or modification of their neural cell types.
Vertebrate brains and evolutionary connectomics: on the origins of the mammalian ‘neocortex’
Authors: Karten Harvey J.
Published: November 2015

The organization of the non-mammalian forebrain had long puzzled neurobiologists. Unlike typical mammalian brains, the telencephalon is not organized in a laminated ‘cortical’ manner, with distinct cortical areas dedicated to individual sensory modalities or motor functions. The two major regions of the telencephalon, the basal ventricular ridge (BVR) and the dorsal ventricular ridge (DVR), were loosely referred to as being akin to the mammalian basal ganglia. The telencephalon of non-mammalian vertebrates appears to consist of multiple ‘subcortical’ groups of cells. Analysis of the nuclear organization of the avian brain, its connections, molecular properties and physiology, and organization of its pattern of circuitry and function relative to that of mammals, collectively referred to as ‘evolutionary connectomics’, revealed that only a restricted portion of the BVR is homologous to the basal ganglia of mammals. The remaining dorsal regions of the DVR, wulst and arcopallium of the avian brain contain telencephalic inputs and outputs remarkably similar to those of the individual layers of the mammalian ‘neocortex’, hippocampus and amygdala, with instances of internuclear connections strikingly similar to those found between cortical layers and within radial ‘columns’ in the mammalian sensory and motor cortices. The molecular properties of these ‘nuclei’ in birds and reptiles are similar to those of the corresponding layers of the mammalian neocortex. The fundamental pathways and cell groups of the auditory, visual and somatosensory systems of the thalamus and telencephalon are homologous at the cellular, circuit, network and gene levels, and are of great antiquity. A proposed altered migration of these homologous neurons and circuits during development is offered as a mechanism that may account for the altered configuration of mammalian telencephalae.
RNA sequencing of Sleeping Beauty transposon-induced tumors detects transposon-RNA fusions in forward genetic cancer screens
Authors: Temiz Nuri A. , Moriarity Branden S. , Wolf Natalie K. , Riordan Jesse D. , Dupuy Adam J. , Largaespada David A. , Sarver Aaron L.
Published: November 2015

Forward genetic screens using Sleeping Beauty (SB)-mobilized T2/Onc transposons have been used to identify common insertion sites (CISs) associated with tumor formation. Recurrent sites of transposon insertion are commonly identified using ligation-mediated PCR (LM-PCR). Here, we use RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data to directly identify transcriptional events mediated by T2/Onc. Surprisingly, the majority (∼80%) of LM-PCR identified junction fragments do not lead to observable changes in RNA transcripts. However, in CIS regions, direct transcriptional effects of transposon insertions are observed. We developed an automated method to systematically identify T2/Onc-genome RNA fusion sequences in RNA-seq data. RNA fusion-based CISs were identified corresponding to both DNA-based CISs (Cdkn2a, Mycl1, Nf2, Pten, Sema6d, and Rere) and additional regions strongly associated with cancer that were not observed by LM-PCR (Myc, Akt1, Pth, Csf1r, Fgfr2, Wisp1, Map3k5, and Map4k3). In addition to calculating recurrent CISs, we also present complementary methods to identify potential driver events via determination of strongly supported fusions and fusions with large transcript level changes in the absence of multitumor recurrence. These methods independently identify CIS regions and also point to cancer-associated genes like Braf. We anticipate RNA-seq analyses of tumors from forward genetic screens will become an efficient tool to identify causal events.
No exclusions – developing an autism diagnostic service for adults irrespective of intellectual ability
Authors: Davidson Conor James , Kam Alwyn , Needham Frances , Stansfield Alison Jane
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– Autism is a spectrum condition, yet many autism services limit access based on IQ score. The Department of Health 2009 enabled enthusiastic clinicians in Leeds with a strong interest in autism to apply for funding to develop an all IQ adult autism diagnostic service and here we present the experience. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

– The process of establishing and then expanding the service is described. Details of the diagnostic pathway and tools used are provided.

Findings

– The number of referrals was higher than expected – a baseline of 20 per year rose to 150 per year as soon as the service opened. Other unexpected findings include relatively low diagnosis rates (32 per cent), high rates of past trauma and patient dissatisfaction when a diagnosis of autism is not given.

Originality/value

– To date, the service has assessed 517 patients, and plans are underway to collaborate with the local adult ADHD team to form a unified adult neurodevelopmental disorders service.
Dynamic relation of Chinese stock price-volume pre- and post- the Split Share Structure Reform
Authors: Wang Dong-Hua , Qing Nan , Lei Man , Chang Xiaohui
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify the bull and bear regimes in Chinese stock market and empirically analyze the dynamic relation of Chinese stock price-volume pre- and post- the Split Share Structure Reform.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors investigate the price-volume relationship in the Chinese stock market before and after the Split Share Structure Reform using Shanghai Composite Index daily data from July 1994 to April 2013. Using a two-state Markov-switching autoregressive model and a modified two-state Markov-switching vector autoregression model, this study identifies bull or bear market and also examine the existence of regime-dependent Granger causality.

Findings

– Using a two-state Markov-switching autoregressive model, the authors detect structural changes in the market volatility due to the reform, and find evidence of a positive rather than an asymmetric price-volume contemporaneous correlation. There is a strong dynamic Granger causal relation from stock returns to trading volume before and after the reform regardless of the market conditions, but the causal effects of volume on returns are only seen in the bear markets before the reform. The model is robust when using different stock indices and time periods.

Originality/value

– The work is different from previous studies in the following aspects: most of the existing empirical literature focus on the well-developed economies, but our interest lies in the emerging Chinese market that has witnessed rapid growth in the past decade; in contrast to many works in the literature that examine the price-volume relationship during one market condition, the authors compare the relationship in a bull market with that in a bear market, using a two-state MS-AR model; the authors also employ a modified two-state Markov-switching vector autoregression model to examine the existence of regime-dependent Granger causality; as the most massive systematic reform for the Chinese stock market since its inception in 2005, the Split Share Structure Reform has a profound impact on the Chinese stock market, thus it is of vital importance to explore its effects on both the price-volume relationship and the market structure.
Cross-border M
&
A and the marketing timing of economic crisis
Authors: Li Chang , Chang Philip , Li Shanming , Shi Xinxiang
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– Cross-border M
&
A is one of the most important ways of international capital flows, and scholars have paid a lot of attention to this area, but a general explaining model has still not been generated. The purpose of this paper, based on Lambrecht (2004) and Bolton et al. (2013), is to build a general explaining model in this area and use the new model to explain some real world issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– The model work in this paper is based on Lambrecht’s (2004) real option model, which is the classical modeling method in this area, and take the economic crisis method of Bolton et al. (2013) into consideration; the authors also use the relative market condition to illustrate the motivation and market timing of cross-border M
&
A in this paper to connected the bidders’ markets and targets’ markets together to build the general explaining model for cross-border M
&
A.

Findings

– By analyzing the new model the authors build in this paper, the authors get three conclusions. Conclusion 1: when the bidders’ technologies are more advanced than the targets’, the bidders prefer market-seeking cross-border M
&
A, and the relatively higher the bidders’ technologies are, the stronger the preference is; when the bidders’ technologies are less advanced than the targets’, the bidders prefer technology-seeking cross-border M
&
A, and there exists an optimal relative technology ratio at which the bidders have the strongest motivation to exercise the technology-seeking type cross-border M
&
A. Conclusion 2: host country’s high economic growth helps attracting market-seeking cross-border M
&
A, conversely host country’s low economic growth helps attracting technology-seeking cross-border M
&
A. Conclusion 3: the bidders prefer to exercise the technology-seeking cross-border M
&
A when the home markets are stable or when economic crises happen in targets markets; and the bidders prefer not to exercise the market-seeking cross-border M
&
A when economic crises happen in home markets; and the relationship between the motivation for bidders to exercise market-seeking cross-border M
&
A and the possibility of the happening of economic crisis in home countries presents an inverse N-shape curve.

Originality/value

– In this paper the authors first use the relative market condition to illustrate the motivation and market timing in the cross-border M
&
A research area and build a general model based on current literatures.
ASVG − Accessible Scalable Vector Graphics: intention trees to make charts more accessible and usable
Authors: Weninger Markus , Ortner Gerald , Hahn Tobias , Drümmer Olaf , Miesenberger Klaus
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to enhance accessibility of graphical information in particular for blind and visually handicapped people.

Design/methodology/approach

– Prototype development based on an intense analysis of the state of the art and potential technologies with later on heuristic analysis of different approaches to enrich graphical information for better accessibility.

Findings

– A novel approach to enhance accessibility named “Intention Tree” for enhancing accessibility. It allows integrating descriptive and navigation information into standard Scalable Vector Graphics and also mechanisms to analyse and aggregate data.

Research limitations/implications

– The approach promises interesting new tools for better accessing and navigating graphical information with potential not only for blind and visually handicapped people.

Practical implications

– Design prototype for further development.

Social implications

– Potential for better social inclusion and participation.

Originality/value

– This paper presents a novel and new approach for enhanced accessibility and usability and a new technique for authoring graphical information.
Central bank’s perception on inflation and inflation expectations of experts
Authors: Montes Gabriel Caldas , Nicolay Rodolfo Tomás da Fonseca
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– Due to the fact that studies on central bank communication in emerging countries are still scarce and there are few studies related to the influence that central bank’s perspectives about the state of the economy have on inflation expectations in emerging economies, the purpose of this paper is to contribute to the literature in the following aspects: it proposes an indicator of the central bank’s perception of inflation based on the minutes of the COPOM meetings, and, it analyzes the influence of central bank communication on expert inflation expectations through such indicator.

Design/methodology/approach

– Due to the fact that the perception of the Central Bank of Brazil is not directly observable, it is measured through the fuzzy set theory by an indicator that captures the informational content of the minutes of the COPOM meetings. The empirical analysis uses ordinary least squares, the generalized method of moments and vector-autoregressive through impulse-response analysis.

Findings

– The findings suggest that the expectations of financial market experts react according to the content of the information provided by the central bank, i.e., announcements cause deterioration of expectations in times of instability, and reduce inflation expectations when inflation is controlled. The results also support the idea that the credibility of inflation targeting plays a key role in determining inflation expectations.

Practical implications

– This paper suggests a new approach on studies about central bank communication. The focus here is not on the effect of the announcements in terms of future monetary policy, but on the perception of the central bank in terms of inflation. This central bank’s perception reflects the optimistic or pessimistic view about the economic outlook and risk of inflation and this perception is considered by experts of financial markets.

Originality/value

– For Brazil, there are no studies about the influence of communication through the minutes of the Brazilian Monetary Policy Committee meetings on inflation expectations. The authors develop an indicator in order to measure central bank’s perception of inflation based on the minutes of COPOM meetings.
Optimal Ramsey taxation with hidden actions
Authors: Dai Darong
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to study the problem of optimal Ramsey taxation in a finite-planning-horizon, representative-agent endogenous growth model including government expenditures as a productive input in capital formation and also with hidden actions.

Design/methodology/approach

– Technically, Malliavin calculus and forward integrals are naturally introduced into the macroeconomic theory when economic agents are faced with different information structures arising from a non-Markovian environment.

Findings

– The major result shows that the well-known Judd-Chamley Theorem holds almost surely if the depreciation rate is strictly positive, otherwise Judd-Chamley Theorem only holds for a knife-edge case or on a Lebesgue measure-zero set when the physical capital is completely sustainable.

Originality/value

– The author believes that the approach developed as well as the major result established is new and relevant.
Providing rehabilitation online – invisible work and diagnostic agents
Authors: Bødker Malene , Juul Nielsen Annegrete
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– Telecare promises to deliver healthcare services more efficiently while, at the same time, improving the quality of care. The purpose of this paper is to challenge these promises by analysing the implications of introducing telecare in the rehabilitation of patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Design/methodology/approach

– Empirically, the paper is based on interviews with and observations of rehabilitation therapists and patients taking part in a Danish telerehabilitation programme. Theoretically, the paper draws on Science and Technology Studies.

Findings

– The introduction of telecare alters rehabilitation practices in multiple ways. First, several new time-consuming work routines, carried out in collaboration between therapists, patients and technical professions, emerge. Although crucial in establishing and maintaining telerehabilitation infrastructures, this work remains invisible in evaluations of the programme. Second, rather than simply increasing patient agency, responsibilities are redistributed and negotiated in subtle and non-uniform ways. These negotiations make it less transparent where one responsibility begins and where another potentially conflicting one ends.

Practical implications

– Evaluations of telecare technologies should pay more attention to work- and responsibility-related effects of introducing telecare in order better to account for predicted and unpredicted as well as desirable and undesirable socio-technical changes.

Originality/value

– Using an ethnographic approach, the paper points to the discrepancy between simplistic political promises that telecare technologies can serve as tools for improvement, on the one hand, and the substantial changes in the organisation and management of healthcare observed in practice, on the other. Rather than regarding telecare as technologies of improvement, it is more productive to regard them as technologies of change.
Culture and cognition in health systems change
Authors: Evans Jenna M. , Baker G. Ross , Berta Whitney , Barnsley Jan
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– Large-scale change involves modifying not only the structures and functions of multiple organizations, but also the mindsets and behaviours of diverse stakeholders. This paper focuses on the latter: the informal, less visible, and often neglected psychological and social factors implicated in change efforts. The purpose of this paper is to differentiate between the concepts of organizational culture and mental models, to argue for the value of applying a shared mental models (SMM) framework to large-scale change, and to suggest directions for future research.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors provide an overview of SMM theory and use it to explore the dynamic relationship between culture and cognition. The contributions and limitations of the theory to change efforts are also discussed.

Findings

– Culture and cognition are complementary perspectives, providing insight into two different levels of the change process. SMM theory draws attention to important questions that add value to existing perspectives on large-scale change. The authors outline these questions for future research and argue that research and practice in this domain may be best served by focusing less on the potentially narrow goal of “achieving consensus” and more on identifying, understanding, and managing cognitive convergences and divergences as part of broader research and change management programmes.

Originality/value

– Drawing from both cultural and cognitive paradigms can provide researchers with a more complete picture of the processes by which coordinated action are achieved in complex change initiatives in the healthcare domain.
Investigating healthcare IT innovations: a “conceptual blending” approach
Authors: Cranfield Steven , Hendy Jane , Reeves Barnaby , Hutchings Andrew , Collin Simon , Fulop Naomi
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to better understand how and why adoption and implementation of healthcare IT innovations occur. The authors examine two IT applications, computerised physician order entry (CPOE) and picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) at the meso and micro levels, within the context of the National Programme for IT in the English National Health Service (NHS).

Design/methodology/approach

– To analyse these multi-level dynamics, the authors blend Rogers’ diffusion of innovations theory (DoIT) with Webster’s sociological critique of technological innovation in medicine and healthcare systems to illuminate a wider range of interacting factors. Qualitative data collected between 2004 and 2006 uses semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 72 stakeholders across four English NHS hospital trusts.

Findings

– Overall, PACS was more successfully implemented (fully or partially in three out of four trusts) than CPOE (implemented in one trust only). Factors such as perceived benefit to users and attributes of the application – in particular speed, ease of use, reliability and flexibility and levels of readiness – were highly relevant but their influence was modulated through interaction with complex structural and relational issues.

Practical implications

– Results reveal that combining contextual system level theories with DoIT increases understanding of real-life processes underpinning implementation of IT innovations within healthcare. They also highlight important drivers affecting success of implementation, including socio-political factors, the social body of practice and degree of “co-construction” between designers and end-users.

Originality/value

– The originality of the study partly rests on its methodological innovativeness and its value on critical insights afforded into understanding complex IT implementation programmes.
The contribution of community leadership upon the performance of mutual health organisations in Ghana
Authors: Adomah-Afari Augustine
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of social dynamics on the performance of mutual health organisations (MHOs) exploring the influence of community wealth and community leadership on policy implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

– Four operating district mutual health insurance schemes were selected using geographical locations, among other criteria, as case studies. Data were gathered through interviews and documentary review. The findings were analysed using community field and social capital theories.

Findings

– Traditional leaders like the Chiefs serve as the pivot around which social and human capital of the communities revolve in the developmental process of the country.

Research limitations/implications

– Lack of exhaustive examination of the financial and institutional viability issues of the MHOs. Future studies could assess the interplay between financial, institutional and social viability models when measuring the financial and overall sustainability of MHOs.

Practical implications

– Health policy makers need to involve traditional leaders in the formulation and implementation of national policies since their acceptance or rejection of central government policy could have negative consequences.

Social implications

– Ghana is a dynamic country and there is the need to utilise existing social networks: inter-family and inter-tribal relationships to ensure the viability of MHOs.

Originality/value

– There is and can be a successful interplay between public sector funding and community sector revenue mobilisation for financing the health sector in Ghana. This justifies the complementarity between government funding and community’s resource mobilisation efforts in the health sector.
Can business counselling help SMEs grow? Evidence from the Swedish business development grant programme
Authors: Widerstedt Barbro , Månsson Jonas
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the state funded business counselling on firm growth.

Design/methodology/approach

– A quasi-experimental difference-in-difference estimation of treatment effects, using a matched sample of comparable untreated firms.

Findings

– Firms that have been granted counselling vouchers have a higher growth in value added than comparable untreated firms. This effect is mainly due to increased use of labour and capital, rather than increased efficiency. Results are upwardly biased due to sample selection among treated firms.

Research limitations/implications

– An improved strategy for identifying potential comparison firms from the pool of all firms may be necessary for further impact evaluations on business development programmes.

Social implications

– Policy makers may have to reconsider the programme design, since the programme currently suffer from a large potential for crowding-out, and low additional value of business counselling.

Originality/value

– The paper uses a matching procedure in order to infer causal effects of business counselling and compares the effect of, respectively, contamination and selection on estimated impact on firm growth and survival. The data used are an original, rich micro-level data set on state investment support to businesses.
Can research “send me high?” Addressing flow theory
Authors: Hudock Sandy L
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to find whether undergraduate students in the first discipline-based class can attain flow state while researching. Despite its widespread acceptance and application, flow theory has not been applied to the research process. Moreover, it can further librarians’ knowledge of the importance of affect in information seeking behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

– Flow is a phenomenological state achieved when skill level is equal to challenge level. Flow experience was operationalized using Z-score analysis as one standard deviation above individuals’ averages. The study used mixed methods including event contingent experience sampling method, Bostick’s library anxiety scale and reflection papers. Following library instruction sessions, undergraduate participants scheduled research consultations with a librarian.

Findings

– Individual research sessions grew more positive as reflected by Z scores over the semester, with one case of flow. Overall, participants’ library anxiety decreased minimally. Reflection papers reiterated the value of approachability and interest of the librarian, with those who had consultations feeling both increased confidence in their skills and in knowing they had an ally in their research.

Research limitations/implications

– The original collaborator and pedagogy were not utilized, thereby limiting the scope and sample size. The author was able to collaborate with other faculty. Future research would benefit from a larger sample size and more collaboration.

Originality/value

– Using flow theory as a model can emphasize the positive aspects of research as interesting and enjoyable, even in the imposed query setting of the classroom, and it can encourage librarians’ display of interest during research consultations.
Detection, Identification, and Prevalence of Pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Fish and Coastal Environment in Jordan
Authors: Alaboudi Akram R. , Ababneh Mustafa , Osaili Tareq M. , Shloul Khalaf Al
Published: November 2015

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is widely distributed in the marine environments and considered the leading cause of human gastroenteritis in Asian countries. A total of 150 marketed fish and 50 water and sediment samples from the Gulf of Aqaba were examined for the prevalence of pathogenic strains of V. parahaemolyticus. A total of 132 typical isolates obtained from the primary selective medium (thiosulfate‐citrate bile salt sucrose agar) and showed positive biochemical properties were subjected to confirmation by polymerase chain reaction targeting the gyrB and toxR genes. These genes were confirmed at rates of 82% (108 isolates) and 72% (95 isolates), respectively. The toxR positive isolates were tested for the presence of thermolabile hemolysin (tlh), thermostable direct hemolysin (tdh), and tdh‐related hemolysin (trh) virulence genes. Accordingly, the prevalence rates of pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus were 4%, 8%, and 12% in sediment, water, and fish samples, respectively. The 16S rRNA amplification and sequences were conducted for confirmation of the isolates and showing the relatedness among these isolates. The results showed that both 16S rRNA and toxR assays had same sensitivity and tested isolates had high nucleotide similarity irrespective of their sources.
BH3 mimetic ABT‐737 induces apoptosis in CD34+ acute myeloid leukemia cells and shows synergistic effect with conventional chemotherapeutic drugs
Authors: Rao Jia , Li Fei , Zhang Rong‐yan , Zhou Huan‐huan , Chen Guo‐an
Published: November 2015

Aims

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an immunophenotypically heterogenous malignant disease. The early immature CD34+ AML cell subpopulation is frequently impervious to intensive chemotherapy, making them largely responsible for relapse of AML. CD34+ AML cells have higher level of Bcl‐2 protein expression than the CD34− subpopulation. As such, development of drugs that specifically target the Bcl‐2 may have the potential to eliminate immature CD34+ AML progenitor cells and provide therapeutic benefit. In this work, we made an attempt to investigate the cytotoxic effect of a novel Bcl‐2 family inhibitor, ABT‐737, on CD34+ AML cell lines (KG1a and Kasumi‐1) as well as CD34+ primary AML cells.

Methods

Primary human CD34+ cells were isolated from bone marrow mononuclear cells using CD34 MicroBead kit. The growth inhibitory effect was measured by cell counting kit‐8. Apoptosis was analyzed by annexin V/PI assays. Protein expression was determined by Western blotting analysis.

Results

Inhibition of Bcl‐2 by ABT‐737 effectively inhibited growth and induced apoptosis in CD34+ AML cell lines and CD34+ primary AML cells without affecting CD34+ normal hematopoietic cells. Furthermore, Western blot analysis showed that ABT‐737 induced apoptosis associated with caspase‐3 activation and poly ADP‐ribose polymerase (PARP) degradation. Finally, ABT‐737 synergistically enhanced the cytotoxic effect of cytarabine and daunorubicin in CD34+ AML cells.

Conclusion

Taken together, these findings indicate that ABT‐737 may offer as a promising molecular targeting agent in CD34+ AML.
Normal impact behaviour of C/SiC rigid‐felt titanium alloy three‐layered plate
Authors: Chen L , Yao X , Cen S. , Wang S
Published: November 2015

In this paper, impact damage behaviours of C/SiC rigid‐felt titanium alloy three‐layered plate under normal impact are investigated. First, low velocity impact experiment of the three‐layered plate is performed by means of a drop weight impact apparatus. Second, the finite element model of the three‐layered plate is established using a damage constitutive model; also, the influences of the initial kinetic energy (the initial velocity and the mass of the impactor) on stress distributions and damage patterns of the three‐layered plate are analysed. Finally, the energy dissipation mechanisms and failure characterizations of the three‐layered plate are discussed; also, the agreements of physical variables and damage morphologies between experimental and numerical results validate the reliability of numerical simulation. The results will play an important role in designing and evaluating advanced thermal protection structure.
An improved method for estimation of Ramberg–Osgood curves of steels from monotonic tensile properties
Authors: Li J. , Zhang Z. , Li C.
Published: November 2015

In the present study, first a method for estimating cyclic yield strength is improved and compared using the experimental data of 121 steels from literature. Correlations between cyclic deformation properties (K′ and n′) and monotonic tensile data are then investigated, and a simple method requiring only the monotonic tensile properties is developed for estimation of the Ramberg–Osgood curve. Prediction capability of the proposed method is not only evaluated using the aforementioned 121 steels, but also compared with several commonly used methods that are available in the literature. The proposed correlations are shown to predict the cyclic deformation properties of most of considered steels reasonable well.