bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Developing inclusive and collaborative entrepreneuring spaces
Authors: Patterson Nicola
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The call for more women to start up and grow businesses as a vehicle for economic vibrancy is a prevailing discourse in the UK. There have been calls for greater co-ordination between research, policy and practice to create collaborative spaces whose focus is to influence and shape structures and processes beyond the individual or community level to a macro level of enterprise policy. However, calls have not specifically focussed on the issues of gender or other categories of social difference. This study aims to understand how such co-ordinations can be established to enable progress within the women’s entrepreneurship space through the development of collaborative spaces fusing research, policy and practice and how they should be structured to ensure inclusion through the process as well as enabling greater inclusion as part of the collaborative space outcome.

Design/methodology/approach

Taking a critical feminist perspective, the study draws from extant literature on women and minority networks research from the women in leadership, diversity and inclusion fields as a lens through which to frame the analysis of women’s enterprise policy in the UK, research and practice.

Findings

The study highlights the importance of collective feminist action drawing upon post-feminist sensibilities and an Engaged–Activist Scholarship approach. Such collective feminist action appreciates the importance of the micro as an enabler to progressive action at the macro level to enact structural and system change within the entrepreneurial ecosystem. A framework for inclusive and collaborative entrepreneuring space development is offered.

Practical implications

This paper offers policymakers, researchers and practitioners a framework as a practical way forward to ensure efforts are progressive and enable structural and systemic change.

Originality/value

The paper offers a framework for developing inclusive and collaborative entrepreneuring spaces to ensure progression by lifting the focus to a macro level of change to enable inclusion as part of the process and outcome of such collaborative spaces.
Domains of decision-making and forms of capital among men and women teachers
Authors: Grinshtain Yael , Addi-Raccah Audrey
Published: March 2020

Purpose

Viewing school as a feminine bias workplace alongside being a field of power relations as argued by Bourdieu, this study examines (1) gender differences among teachers in different forms of capital (cultural, social, and feminine) and in their participation in decision-making (PDM) at school in three domains: managerial, administration, and teaching; (2) the relations between forms of capital and domains of PDM within each gender group.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was based on a random sample of 32 schools in Northern Israel that included 595 teachers (454 women; 141 men) who answered a questionnaire, which included background information; teachers' forms of capital; and PDM in managerial, administrative, and teaching domains. Multiple regression analysis was conducted.

Findings

Men tend to have an advantage in PDM in managerial issues, while women have an advantage in PDM in teaching. Further, women more than men perceived feminine capital and social capital as contributing to their work. It was also found that more types of capital are related to PDM among women as compared to men. For men, academic cultural capital predicts PDM in the teaching domain. For women, social capital predicts PDM in the three domains; academic cultural capital predicts PDM in the managerial domain; and feminine capital predicts PDM in teaching.

Originality/value

This study focuses simultaneously on different forms of capital, emphasizing the varying contribution of each capital to men and to women teachers. It also offers a set of resources that can demonstrate the complex factors that contribute to teachers' work.
Push recovery control of quadruped robot using particle swarm optimization based structure specified mixed sensitivity H2/H∞ control
Authors: Sutyasadi Petrus , Parnichkun Manukid
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a quadruped robot strategy to avoid tipping down because of side impact disturbance and a control algorithm that guarantees the strategy can be controlled stably even in the presence of disturbances or model uncertainties.

Design/methodology/approach

A quadruped robot was developed. Trot gait is applied so the quadruped can be modelled as a compass biped model. The algorithm to find a correct stepping position after an impact was developed. A particle swarm optimization-based structure-specified mixed sensitivity (H2/H∞) robust is applied to reach the stepping position.

Findings

By measuring the angle and speed of the side tipping after an impact disturbance, a point location for the robot to step or the foothold recovery point (FRP) was successfully generated. The proposed particle swarm optimization-based structure-specified mixed sensitivity H2/H∞ robust control also successfully brought the legs to the desired point.

Practical implications

A traditional H∞ controller synthesis usually results in a very high order of controller. This makes implementation on an embedded controller very difficult. The proposed controller is just a second-order controller but it can handle the uncertainties and disturbances that arise and guarantee that FRP can be reached.

Originality/value

The first contribution is the proposed low-order robust H2/H∞ controller so it is easy to be programmed on a small embedded system. The second is FRP, a stepping point for a quadruped robot after receiving side impact disturbance so the robot will not fall.
Rethinking the actor in service research: toward a processual view of identity dynamics
Authors: Koskela-Huotari Kaisa , Siltaloppi Jaakko
Published: March 2020

Purpose

Only a few concepts in the service literature are as pervasive yet as undertheorized as is the concept of the actor. With a growing interest toward value creation as a systemic and institutionally guided phenomenon, there is a particular need for a more robust conceptualization of humans as actors that adopts a processual, as opposed to a static, view. The purpose of this paper is to build such processual conceptualization to advance service-dominant (S-D) logic, in particular, and service research, in general.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is conceptual and extends S-D logic's institutionally constituted account of the actor by drawing from identity theory and social constructionism.

Findings

The paper develops a processual conceptualization of the human actor that explicates four social processes explaining the dynamics between two identity concepts—social and personal identity—and institutional arrangements. The resulting framework reveals how humans are simultaneously constituted by institutions and able to perform their roles in varying, even institution-changing, ways.

Research limitations/implications

By introducing new insights from identity theory and social constructionism, this paper reconciles the dualism in S-D logic's current description of actors, as well as posits the understanding of identity dynamics and the processual nature of actors as central in many service-related phenomena.

Originality/value

This paper is among the few that explicitly theorize about the nature of human actors in S-D logic and the service literature.
A social network based approach to identify and rank influential nodes for smart city
Authors: Tidke Bharat Arun , Mehta Rupa , Rana Dipti , Mittal Divyani , Suthar Pooja
Published: March 2020

Purpose

In online social network analysis, the problem of identification and ranking of influential nodes based on their prominence has attracted immense attention from researchers and practitioners. Identification and ranking of influential nodes is a challenging problem using Twitter, as data contains heterogeneous features such as tweets, likes, mentions and retweets. The purpose of this paper is to perform correlation between various features, evaluation metrics, approaches and results to validate selection of features as well as results. In addition, the paper uses well-known techniques to find topical authority and sentiments of influential nodes that help smart city governance and to make importance decisions while understanding the various perceptions of relevant influential nodes.

Design/methodology/approach

The tweets fetched using Twitter API are stored in Neo4j to generate graph-based relationships between various features of Twitter data such as followers, mentions and retweets. In this paper, consensus approach based on Twitter data using heterogeneous features has been proposed based on various features such as like, mentions and retweets to generate individual list of top-k influential nodes based on each features.

Findings

The heterogeneous features are meant for integrating to accomplish identification and ranking tasks with low computational complexity, i.e. O(n), which is suitable for large-scale online social network with better accuracy than baselines.

Originality/value

Identified influential nodes can act as source in making public decisions and their opinion give insights to urban governance bodies such as municipal corporation as well as similar organization responsible for smart urban governance and smart city development.
Driving consumer–brand engagement and co-creation by brand interactivity
Authors: Cheung Man Lai , Pires Guilherme D. , Rosenberger Philip J. , De Oliveira Mauro Jose
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This paper investigates the impact of brand interactivity within social media on consumer–brand engagement and its related outcomes, including consumers' intention of co-creating brand value and future repurchase of the same brand.

Design/methodology/approach

The theoretical framework is tested for a durable technology product, a smartphone. Data was collected in Brazil from 408 users utilizing a self-administered online survey. Data analysis uses partial least squares–structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

Entertainment interactivity, cognitive information-transfer interaction and cognitive up-to-date information interactivity are the key elements directly influencing consumer–brand engagement, enhancing consumers' intention to co-create brand value and to repurchase the brand. Importantly, the impact of interactivity ease of use and customization interactivity on consumer–brand engagement and its related outcomes is non-significant. This is inconsistent with previous studies on consumer–brand engagement.

Research limitations/implications

The research contributes to the literature by providing an understanding of how to use brand interactivity elements on social-media platforms to strengthen consumer–brand engagement for durable technology products, such as smartphones in Brazil. However, this study is cross-sectional in nature and focus is solely on smartphones in Brazil. Future research might consider a longitudinal design and include comparisons between countries with diverse cultures as well as other industries and product types to enhance the generalizability of the findings.

Practical implications

Marketers may heighten consumer–brand engagement by using content that is entertaining, current and trendy. Incorporating positive referrals on social-media platforms encourages consumers to co-create brand value and to repurchase the same brand in the future.

Originality/value

Examination of the role of social-media marketing in the marketing literature largely overlooks the impact of elements of brand interactivity within social media on consumer–brand engagement. This article contributes to social-media marketing and consumer–brand engagement research by empirically testing a theoretical model, confirming that specific elements of brand interactivity within social media – including entertainment interactivity, cognitive information-transfer interaction and cognitive up-to-date information interactivity – are critical drivers in the process of strengthening consumer–brand engagement in Brazil.
Establishing a link among total quality management, market orientation and organizational performance
Authors: Bhaskar Hari Lal
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This paper presents findings of a survey on total quality management (TQM) practices adopted by the Indian manufacturing organizations. The purpose of this paper is to test and establish the relationship between TQM practice and organizational performance (OP). This paper also aims to examine the impact of TQM practices on OP of Indian manufacturing organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey questionnaire was developed and randomly distributed through e-mail to senior managers of 275 Indian manufacturing organizations. About 230 received questionnaires were used for data analysis. Response rate was 83.63 percent. In particular, hypotheses were developed to examine the effect of TQM on the OP of the manufacturing organizations. Cronbach's alpha reliability of questionnaire was analyzed using factor analysis. Rigorous literature review is enabled to construct structural measurement model, formulation of testable hypothesis and operationalization of constructs.

Findings

It is discovered that TQM has a positive and significant effect on the market orientation (MO). Similarly, the results showed that MO has a positive and significant effect on the OP. With regard to the relationship between TQM and OP, this study found that TQM significantly and positively affects the OP of Indian manufacturing organizations.

Originality/value

This study is a rare and unique empirical study that establishes a link among TQM, MO and OP. The study fulfills need of quality management practice and offers practical implications to Indian managers and motivates further research on the relationship between TQM and OP in Indian manufacturing organizations.
Employees’ resistance to users’ ideas in public service innovation
Authors: Jenhaug Line Margrethe
Published: March 2020

This article contributes to the existing criticism of the positive emphasis on user participation in service innovation as co‐creation by examining employee resistance to user‐driven innovation. The empirical base comprises interviews, document studies, and observations from a project that focused on implementing a user‐initiated idea in public care services in Norway. To discuss employee resistance to innovative user ideas, a power perspective is included by drawing on the Foucault‐based theory of identity regulation and discourse. Employees resist the required identity regulation by distorting the initial innovative idea to align with their problem representations, which is facilitated by entangled discourses. The power relations embedded in the different parties’ subject positions emphasize how governing the user side is incompatible with being governed by the users. The article contributes to our knowledge of service innovation and the co‐creation of value by demonstrating discursive mechanisms for twisting value propositions.
Brexit and the British Constitution: Reflections on the Last Three years and the Next Fifty
Authors: Sumption Jonathan
Published: March 2020

The decision to leave the EU provoked the biggest constitutional crisis of recent British history. The referendum—a device for circumventing the parliamentary process—was followed by conflict between a minority government and a majority of MPs unwilling to leave the EU without satisfactory alternative arrangements. The courts, drawn into this conflict, upheld conventions that sustain the authority of Parliament and restrain the despotic power of ministers. The reaction of members of the current government was to take disreputable and anti‐democratic positions against both the Speaker of the House of Commons and the courts. They now have a sufficient majority in Parliament to resume adherence to constitutional conventions and restore a political culture of debate and tolerance, but they show little sign of doing so, and there is a risk that they will do irreparable damage to the political culture that underpins democracy.
What parties want from their leaders: How office achievement trumps electoral performance as a driver of party leader survival
Authors: ENNSER‐JEDENASTIK LAURENZ , SCHUMACHER GIJS
Published: March 2020

Rational choice theories of political behaviour start from the premise that parties seek policy, office, and votes. In accordance with this premise, previous research has shown that electoral performance and office achievement independently affect party leader survival. However, we know little about how goal attainment interacts across these two domains. This paper proposes a novel hypothesis stating that intrinsic goals (office) dominate over purely instrumental ones (votes). As a result, the impact of electoral performance on party leader survival should be conditional on office achievement. Using data on over 500 party leaders in 14 parliamentary democracies between 1965 and 2012, we show that electoral performance and office achievement strongly affect leadership turnover. However, we also demonstrate that the electoral performance effect disappears when parties enter or exit office at the same time. These results constitute the best direct evidence to date that parties prioritise office achievement over electoral success.
A systematic review of prevention and treatment of infantile colic
Authors: Hjern Anders , Lindblom Kristin , Reuter Antonia , Silfverdal Sven‐Arne
Published: March 2020

Aim

The aim of this review was to evaluate the evidence for interventions for infantile colic.

Methods

This was a systematic review based on a literature search in December 2017 for articles published during 2007–2017 about preventive and treatment interventions for infantile colic in infants. The review included original randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and meta‐analyses with at least 20 infants in each study group that were assessed according to GRADE criteria.

Results

The review found moderately strong evidence that administration of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 shortened the crying duration, with positive evidence from three out of four national contexts. There were four RCTs of acupuncture, all with no or minimal effect on crying duration. All studies reviewed with a follow‐up until or beyond three months of age show a quite steep decline over time in crying duration in both treatment and control groups.

Conclusion

Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 is a promising treatment for infantile colic with moderately strong evidence in this review, but studies in more populations are needed. Acupuncture is not an effective treatment for infantile colic. Systematic support strategies to parents with infantile colic are important knowledge gaps.
How we manage Philadelphia‐negative myeloproliferative neoplasms in pregnancy
Authors: Robinson Susan E. , Harrison Claire N.
Published: March 2020

The combined incidence of classical Philadelphia‐negative myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) is 6–9/100 000 with a peak frequency between 50 and 70 years. MPN is less frequent in women of reproductive age. However, for essential thrombocythaemia (ET) in particular there is a second peak in women of reproductive age and 15% of polycythaemia vera (PV) patients are less than 40 years of age at the time of diagnosis. Thus these diseases are encountered in women of reproductive potential and may be diagnosed in pregnancy or in women being investigated for recurrent pregnancy loss. The incidence of MPN pregnancies is 3·2/100 000 maternities per year in the UK. The majority of data regarding Philadelphia‐negative MPNs relates to patients with ET, for which the literature suggests significant maternal morbidity and poor fetal outcome; specifically maternal thrombosis and haemorrhage, miscarriage, pre‐eclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), stillbirth and premature delivery as summarised in the recent systematic review and meta‐analysis in Blood, 2018, 132, 3046. The literature for PV is more sparse but increasing and is concordant with ET pregnancy outcomes. The literature regarding primary myelofibrosis (PMF) is even more scarce. Treatment options include aspirin, venesection, low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and cytoreductive therapy. Data and management recommendations are often extrapolated from other pro‐thrombotic conditions or from ET to PV and PMF. Women of reproductive age with a diagnosis of MPN should receive information and assurance regarding management and outcome of future pregnancies. From pre‐conceptual planning to the post‐partum period, women should have access to joint care from an obstetrician with experience of high‐risk pregnancies and a haematologist in a multidisciplinary setting. This paper provides an update with regards to Philadelphia‐negative MPN in pregnancy, details local practise in an internationally recognised centre for patients with MPN and outlines a future research strategy.
Vitamin D status and the immune assessment in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome
Authors: Legitimo A , Bertini V , Costagliola G , Baroncelli G I , Morganti R , Valetto A , Consolini R
Published: March 2020

22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) is characterized by a heterogeneous phenotype, including alterations in phospho-calcium metabolism and immunodeficiency. We analyzed vitamin D status and the immune assessment, focusing on T cell subpopulations and dendritic cells (DCs) in a cohort of 17 pediatric 22q11.2DS patients and 17 age-matched healthy subjects. As antigen-presenting cells, DCs are the main target of vitamin D, promoting a tolerogenic T cell response. Patients were subdivided into three groups according to the parameters of phospho-calcium metabolism and serum levels of 25OHD: normal values, vitamin D deficiency and hypoparathyroidism. Different degrees of T cell deficiency, ranging from normal to partial T cell numbers, were observed in the cohort of patients. The group with vitamin D deficiency showed a significant reduction of naive T cells and a significant increase of central memory T cells compared to controls. In this group the number of circulating DCs was significantly reduced. DC decrease affected both myeloid and plasmacytoid DC subsets (mDCs and pDCs), with the most relevant reduction involving pDCs. A direct correlation between 25OHD levels and recent thymic emigrant (RTE) and DC number was identified. Despite the limited cohort analyzed, our results show that deficiency of the pDC subset in patients with 22q11.2DS may be included among the causative factors of the progressive increase of risk of autoimmune diseases in these patients. As most patients suffer from increased susceptibility to infections and heightened prevalence of autoimmune disorders, we suggest a potential role of vitamin D supplementation in preventing autoimmune or proinflammatory diseases in 22q11.2DS.
Cone beam computed tomography artefacts around dental implants with different materials influencing the detection of peri‐implant bone defects
Authors: Schriber Martina , Yeung Andy Wai Kan , Suter Valerie G.A. , Buser Daniel , Leung Yiu Yan , Bornstein Michael M.
Published: March 2020

Objectives

To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) for the diagnosis of peri‐implant bone defects of titanium (Ti), zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) or titanium–zirconium (Ti–Zr) alloy implants.

Materials and Methods

Ti, Ti–Zr or ZrO2 implants with two diameters (3.3 mm, 4.1 mm) and one length (10 mm) were inserted in the angle of the mandible of six fresh defrosted pig jaws. Out of the 12 implants inserted, 6 served in the test group with standardized buccal peri‐implant bone defects, whereas 6 served as control without bone defects. CBCTs were performed with three acquisition protocols (standard, high and low dose) using two devices. Four observers analysed CBCTs as follows: (a) presence of a peri‐implant defect; (b) presence of peri‐implant artefacts and impact on defect diagnosis; and (c) linear measurements of buccal peri‐implant defect including height and width (in mm).

Results

CBCT device, CBCT settings, implant material, implant diameter and observer background did not significantly influence diagnostic accuracy. The sensitivity and specificity values were high for defect detection. ZrO2 led to a lower than average diagnostic accuracy (0.781). The linear measurements of peri‐implant defect were underestimated by <1 mm on average. The subjective impact of artefacts on defect diagnosis was significantly affected by implant material and observer background.

Conclusions

CBCT showed high diagnostic accuracy for peri‐implant bone defect detection regardless of the device, imaging setting or implant material used. If CBCT is indicated to assess peri‐implant bone disease, low dose protocols could be a promising imaging modality.
Cell death through the ages: The ICDS 25th Anniversary Meeting
Authors: Mohammed Jarvier N. , Gelles Jesse D. , Rubio‐Patiño Camila , Serasinghe Madhavika N. , Trotta Andrew P. , Lockshin Richard A. , Zakeri Zahra , Chipuk Jerry E.
Published: March 2020

In June of 2019, the International Cell Death Society (ICDS) held its 25th anniversary meeting in New York City at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai organized by Drs. Richard A. Lockshin (St. John’s University, USA), Zahra Zakeri (Queens College, USA), and Jerry Edward Chipuk (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, USA). The three‐day event, entitled ‘Cell death through the ages: The ICDS 25th anniversary meeting’, hosted ninety‐one delegates including thirty‐four speakers and twenty‐two poster presentations. Additionally, the organizers gave special recognition to the twenty‐one previous ICDS Lifetime Achievement awardees—those who have significantly contributed to the field of cell death and the growth of the organization. Here, we provide a summary of the meeting and highlight trending research in the fields of cell death, autophagy, immunology, and their impact on health and disease.
Enzyme promiscuity, metabolite damage, and metabolite damage control systems of the tricarboxylic acid cycle
Authors: Niehaus Thomas D. , Hillmann Katie B.
Published: March 2020

Promiscuous enzymes and spontaneous chemical reactions can convert normal cellular metabolites into noncanonical or damaged metabolites. These damaged metabolites can be a useless drain on metabolism and may be inhibitory and/or reactive, sometimes leading to toxicity. Thus, mechanisms to prevent metabolite damage from occurring (metabolite damage preemption) or to convert damaged metabolites back to physiological forms (metabolite repair) are essential for sustained operation of metabolic networks. Some iconic examples of metabolite damage and its repair or preemption are associated with the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and other metabolite damage control systems are likely to exist here due to the inherent promiscuity of TCA cycle enzymes and reactivity of TCA cycle intermediates. Here, we review known metabolite damage reactions and metabolite damage control systems associated with the TCA cycle. This includes a previously unrecognized metabolite damage control system – an oxaloacetate (OAA) enol‐keto tautomerase activity that is ‘built‐in’ to the TCA cycle. This activity is required to remove the highly inhibitory enol form of OAA and is likely to be critical for TCA cycle operation. By cataloging these instances, we show that metabolite damage and its repair or preemption is a prevalent feature of the TCA cycle and suggest many more metabolite damage control systems are likely to exist.
Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence in six different ethnic groups living in Amsterdam: The HELIUS study
Authors: Alberts Catharina J. , Jeske Rima , de Martel Catherine , den Hollander Wouter J. , Michel Angelika , Prins Maria , Snijder Marieke B. , Schim van der Loeff Maarten F. , Waterboer Tim
Published: March 2020

Background

Helicobacter pylori prevalence varies greatly worldwide. We explored the prevalence of H. pylori and CagA seropositivity among adults aged 18‐44 years living in the Netherlands by ethnicity and migration status (first vs second generation).

Materials and Methods

Participants from six different ethnic groups were selected from the population‐based multi‐ethnic HELIUS study in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Serum samples were tested for H. pylori antigens using a validated Luminex‐based multiplex serology assay. Prevalence ratios were estimated using Poisson regression analysis.

Results

A total of 4683 participants aged 18‐44 years were randomly selected based on sex, ethnicity, and age. H. pylori seroprevalence was highest in the Ghanaian group (84%), followed by Moroccan (81%), Turkish (66%), African Surinamese (51%), South‐Asian Surinamese (48%), and Dutch (17%) participants. All ethnic minority groups had a significantly higher risk of being H. pylori seropositive compared to the Dutch group. This association was strongest among participants born outside the Netherlands (first generation), but was still significant and apparent among second‐generation participants. Among first‐generation participants, all groups, except the Moroccans, had a significantly higher proportion of individuals with a cagA + H. pylori strain compared to the Dutch participants.

Conclusion

Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence among first‐generation migrants is high in the Netherlands and remains elevated among second‐generation migrants (ie, those born in the Netherlands). High exposure to H. pylori, and especially to the more virulent cagA+ strain, highlights the need for tailored prevention of gastric diseases (notably peptic ulcers and cancers) among migrants.
TERT and TERC mutations detected in cryptic dyskeratosis congenita suppress telomerase activity
Authors: Terada Kazuki , Miyake Koichi , Yamaguchi Hiroki , Miyake Noriko , Yamanaka Keiichiro , Kojima Seiji , Ito Etsuro , Inokuchi Koiti , Okada Takashi
Published: March 2020

Introduction

A cryptic form of dyskeratosis congenita (cDKC) has a gradual onset without the characteristic physical findings of DKC. cDKC is distinguished from other forms of bone marrow failure (BMF) through analysis of telomere shortening and gene mutations. Mutations in the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and telomere RNA component (TERC) genes have been detected in most Japanese cDKC patients. Therefore, we investigated the impact of each TERT and TERC mutation on telomerase activity.

Methods

TERT and TERC mutants observed in DKC or cDKC patients were transfected into Saos‐2 or VA13+TERT (TERT‐expressing VA13 cells) cells to measure telomerase activity.

Results

Telomerase activity in cells expressing a mutant detected in cDKC patients was significantly lower (P < .0001) than in cells expressing the wild‐type genes. In addition, some TERT mutations seen in cDKC (p.P632R, p.T726M) caused weaker (P = .0013) suppression of telomerase activity than others (p.G106W and p.G682D). In contrast, telomerase activity in cells expressing a TERT or TERC mutant detected in DKC patients did not significantly differ from cells expressing the wild‐type genes.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that TERT and TERC mutations detected in cDKC patients could potentially contribute to the pathogenesis of cDKC by blocking telomerase activity. However, TERT and TERC mutations detected in DKC patients did not affect telomerase activities, which means studying the telomerase activity of mutants are not always useful for the diagnosis of DKC.
CW laser‐initiated formation of nano‐Si crystals in glass‐metal nanostructures
Authors: Babich Ekaterina S. , Redkov Alexey V. , Melehin Vladimir G. , Khlopin Dmitry , Béal Jérémie , Laux Frédéric , Gérard Davy , Lipovskii Andrey A.
Published: March 2020

Local and controllable growth of nanocrystalline silicon (nano‐Si) in a commercial borosilicate glass is demonstrated. The nano‐Si was formed in the subsurface region of the glass via aluminothermic reaction in the course of the irradiation of a 2D array of aluminum nanodisks fabricated on the glass surface with CW low‐power 633 and 532 nm lasers. The thermoplasmonic nature of the nanodisks heating is demonstrated: at low incident intensity, the phenomenon takes place only if the plasmon resonance of the array and the laser wavelength is close enough. However, when the laser beam intensity at the sample surface exceeds 8 MW/cm2 mutual position of the plasmon resonance and the laser wavelength weakly influences the phenomenon. The nano‐Si formation is studied with Raman scattering technique, and the average size of the silicon nanocrystals is evaluated.
Effects of ipragliflozin on the development and progression of kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes: An analysis from a multicenter prospective intervention study
Authors: Matsuba Ikuro , Kawata Takehiro , Iemitsu Kotaro , Asakura Taro , Amemiya Hikaru , Ishikawa Masashi , Ito Syogo , Kaneshiro Mizuki , Kanamori Akira , Kubota Akira , Shinoda Kazuaki , Takai Masahiko , Takuma Tetsuo , Takihata Masahiro , Takeda Hiroshi , Tanaka Keiji , Matsuzawa Yoko , Machimura Hideo , Minagawa Fuyuki , Minami Nobuaki , Mokubo Atsuko , Miyakawa Masaaki , Terauchi Yasuo , Tanaka Yasushi
Published: March 2020

Aims/Introduction

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide, but few effective long‐term treatments are available.

Methods

This was an investigator‐initiated multicenter prospective intervention study in which ipragliflozin (50 mg) was administered once daily, and glycemic control, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and adverse events were evaluated until 104 weeks after starting research.

Results

There were 407 patients analyzed. In the eGFR ≥90 group and eGFR ≥60 to <90 group, eGFR had significantly decreased compared with baseline at all time points from 4 to 104 weeks. There were significant increases in the eGFR ≥45 to <60 groups compared with baseline at 36 weeks (2.3 ± 1.0) and 52 weeks (2.6 ± 1.2). Comparison between the eGFR <60, urine albumin‐to‐creatinine ratio >300 group and the eGFR <60, urine albumin‐to‐creatinine ratio <300 group showed a greater reduction in eGFR in the former (−5.4 ± 2.4 vs 3.3 ± 1.1) at 12 weeks and was maintained to 104 weeks. In any group, eGFR did not significantly decrease until 104 weeks compared with 4 weeks. The urine albumin‐to‐creatinine ratio after 52 weeks and after 104 weeks was significantly decreased compared with baseline in the eGFR ≥90 group.

Conclusions

Ipragliflozin lowers eGFR and corrects hyperfiltration in patients with high eGFR (eGFR ≥60). In patients with low eGFR (eGFR ≥30 to <60), ipragliflozin has the possibility of increasing eGFR and exerting a renoprotective effect.
Autophagy in neurodegeneration: New insights underpinning therapy for neurological diseases
Authors: Corti Olga , Blomgren Klas , Poletti Angelo , Beart Philip M.
Published: March 2020

In autophagy long‐lived proteins, protein aggregates or damaged organelles are engulfed by vesicles called autophagosomes prior to lysosomal degradation. Autophagy dysfunction is a hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases in which misfolded proteins or dysfunctional mitochondria accumulate. Excessive autophagy can also exacerbate brain injury under certain conditions. In this review, we provide specific examples to illustrate the critical role played by autophagy in pathological conditions affecting the brain and discuss potential therapeutic implications. We show how a singular type of autophagy‐dependent cell death termed autosis has attracted attention as a promising target for improving outcomes in perinatal asphyxia and hypoxic‐ischaemic injury to the immature brain. We provide evidence that autophagy inhibition may be protective against radiotherapy‐induced damage to the young brain. We describe a specialized form of macroautophagy of therapeutic relevance for motoneuron and neuromuscular diseases, known as chaperone‐assisted selective autophagy, in which heat shock protein B8 is used to deliver aberrant proteins to autophagosomes. We summarize studies pinpointing mitophagy mediated by the serine/threonine kinase PINK1 and the ubiquitin–protein ligase Parkin as a mechanism potentially relevant to Parkinson's disease, despite debate over the physiological conditions in which it is activated in organisms. Finally, with the example of the autophagy‐inducing agent rilmenidine and its discrepant effects in cell culture and mouse models of motor neuron disorders, we illustrate the importance of considering aspects such a disease stage and aggressiveness, type of insult and load of damaged or toxic cellular components, when choosing the appropriate drug, timepoint and duration of treatment.

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Effect of Tooth Preparation Design on Fracture Resistance of Zirconia‐Reinforced Lithium Silicate Overlays
Authors: Falahchai Mehran , Babaee Hemmati Yasamin , Neshandar Asli Hamid , Rezaei Elnaz
Published: March 2020

Purpose

To assess the effect of tooth preparation design on fracture resistance of zirconia‐reinforced lithium silicate overlays.

Materials and Methods

This study evaluated 50 human maxillary first molars with no caries, restorations or anatomical defects. The teeth were randomly divided into five groups (n = 10/group) based on preparation design for the fabrication of overlay restorations: (O) anatomical occlusal reduction, (OS) anatomical occlusal reduction with round shoulder preparation, (OG) anatomical occlusal reduction with a central groove, (OSG) anatomical occlusal reduction with round shoulder preparation and central groove, and (C) no preparation of tooth (control group). All restorations were fabricated using zirconia‐reinforced lithium silicate (Vita Suprinity). The specimens underwent thermomechanical fatigue loading in a masticatory simulator (1.2 million cycles at 98 N). Fracture resistance was measured using a universal testing machine. The mode of failure was determined as well. Data were analyzed using one‐way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post‐hoc test, paired t‐test and Fisher's exact test (α = 0.05).

Results

Group O showed significantly higher fracture resistance than groups OG and OSG (p = 0.002 and p = 0.001, respectively). The fracture resistance of group OS was significantly higher than that of group OSG (p = 0.008). The fracture resistance of the control group was significantly higher than that of OG and OSG (p = 0.001) and had no significant difference with other groups.

Conclusions

Group O (anatomical occlusal reduction alone), which had the most conservative preparation design, yielded the highest fracture resistance.
VioBio lab adaptive optics: technology and applications by women vision scientists
Authors: Marcos Susana , Benedí‐García Clara , Aissati Sara , Gonzalez‐Ramos Ana M , Lago Carmen M , Radhkrishnan Aiswaryah , Romero Mercedes , Vedhakrishnan Shrilekha , Sawides Lucie , Vinas Maria
Published: March 2020

Purpose

Adaptive Optics allows measurement and manipulation of the optical aberrations of the eye. We review two Adaptive Optics set‐ups implemented at the Visual Optics and Biophotonics Laboratory, and present examples of their use in better understanding of the role of optical aberrations on visual perception, in normal and treated eyes.

Recent findings

Two systems (AOI and AOII) are described that measure ocular aberrations with a Hartmann‐Shack wavefront sensor, which operates in closed‐loop with an electromagnetic deformable mirror, and visual stimuli are projected in a visual display for psychophysical measurements. AOI operates in infrared radiation (IR) light. AOII is provided with a supercontiniuum laser source (IR and visible wavelengths), additional elements for simulation (spatial light modulator, temporal multiplexing with optotunable lenses, phase plates, cuvette for intraocular lenses‐IOLs), and a double‐pass retinal camera. We review several studies undertaken with these AO systems, including the evaluation of the visual benefits of AO correction, vision with simulated multifocal IOLs (MIOLs), optical aberrations in pseudophakic eyes, chromatic aberrations and their visual impact, and neural adaptation to ocular aberrations.

Monochromatic and chromatic aberrations have been measured in normal and treated eyes. AO systems have allowed understanding the visual benefit of correcting aberrations in normal eyes and the adaptation of the visual system to the eye's native aberrations. Ocular corrections such as intraocular and contact lenses modify the wave aberrations. AO systems allow simulating vision with these corrections before they are implanted/fitted in the eye, or even before they are manufactured, revealing great potential for industry and the clinical practice. This review paper is part of a special issue of Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics on women in visual optics, and is co‐authored by all women scientists of the research team.
Pre‐ and postnatal Lactobacillus reuteri treatment alters DNA methylation of infant T helper cells
Authors: Forsberg Anna , Huoman Johanna , Söderholm Simon , Bhai Mehta Ratnesh , Nilsson Lennart , Abrahamsson Thomas R. , Ernerudh Jan , Gustafsson Mika , Jenmalm Maria C.
Published: March 2020

Background

Perinatal childhood exposures, including probiotic supplementation, may affect epigenetic modifications and impact on immune maturation and allergy development. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of pre‐ and postnatal Lactobacillus reuteri supplementation on DNA methylation in relation to immune maturation and allergy development.

Methods

DNA methylation patterns were investigated for allergy‐related T helper subsets using a locus‐specific method and at a genome‐wide scale using the Illumina 450K array. From a randomised, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled allergy prevention trial with pre‐ and postnatal probiotic supplementation, CD4+ T helper cells were obtained at birth (from cord blood), and 12 and 24 months of age (total (placebo/probiotics); locus‐specific method: CB = 32 (17/15), 12 months = 24 (9/15), 24 months = 35 (15/20); Illumina: CB = 19 (10/9), 12 months = 10 (6/4), 24 months = 19(11/8)).

Results

Comparing probiotics to placebo, the greatest genome‐wide differential DNA methylation was observed at birth, where the majority of sites were hypomethylated, indicating transcriptional accessibility in the probiotic group. Bioinformatic analyses, including network analyses, revealed a module containing 91 genes, enriched for immune‐related pathways such as chemotaxis, PI3K‐Akt, MAPK and TGF‐β signalling. A majority of the module genes were associated with atopic manifestations (OR = 1.43, P = 2.4 × 10−6), and a classifier built on this model could predict allergy development (AUC = 0.78, P = 3.0 × 10e−3). Pathways such as IFN‐γ signalling and T‐cell activation were more hypermethylated at birth compared with later in life in both intervention groups over time, in line with DNA methylation patterns in the IFNG locus obtained by the locus‐specific methodology.

Conclusion

Maternal L. reuteri supplementation during pregnancy alters DNA methylation patterns in CD4+ T cells towards enhanced immune activation at birth, which may affect immune maturation and allergy development.
Regional and temporal differentiation of virulence phenotypes of Puccinia triticina from common wheat in Russia during the period 2001–2018
Authors: Gultyaeva Elena I. , Shaydayuk Ekaterina L. , Kosman Evsey G.
Published: March 2020

Leaf rust, caused by the fungus Puccinia triticina, is one of the most damaging rust diseases of wheat in Russia. Populations of P. triticina were monitored in seven regions of Russia from 2001 to 2018, with a total of 5,191 single urediniospore isolates from bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) being analysed. Populations have changed significantly in all regions since 2012, after 2 years of drought (2010–2011). Regional collections of P. triticina were also significantly different between the two periods 2001–2009 and 2012–2018, with changes along two geographic gradients from West Siberia to the north‐west and south‐west (North Caucasia) of the European part of Russia. All tested isolates were avirulent to resistance gene Lr9 in 2001–2009 but, since 2010, virulence to Lr9 has occurred and annually increased in the Asian part of Russia (Ural and West Siberia) due to deployment of cultivars with the Lr9 gene. Virulence to Lr2a and Lr15 was considerably lower in Dagestan (6%–33%) and all European regions (35%–67%) than in Asian regions (84%–96%). During 2001–2009, virulence on Lr1 was also lower in Dagestan (33%) and the European regions (50%–77%) than in Asia (91%–96%); however, by 2012–2018, nearly all isolates were virulent on Lr1. Remarkable changes were observed in frequencies of P. triticina races defined by their virulence/avirulence to Lr1 and Lr2a genes. We postulate the P. triticina population in Dagestan is specific to that area and pathogen populations in European and Asian parts of Russia are distinct.
Maternal age at delivery and fertility of the next generation
Authors: Reynolds Tamara S. , Lynch Courtney D. , Hade Erinn M. , Allain Dawn C. , Westman Judith A. , Toland Amanda E.
Published: March 2020

Background

While most known causes of infertility relate to the health of the woman and/or her partner, questions have been raised regarding the possible contributions of transgenerational or epigenetic factors.

Objective

The goal of this hypothesis‐generating work was to examine whether Generation 1’s (G1’s) age at the delivery of G2 (Generation 2) was associated with G2’s fertility in later life.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of women (G2s) recruited online in 2016. A questionnaire queried G2s regarding demographics and fertility. The primary exposure was G1’s age at G2’s birth. Outcome measures included the following: 12‐month infertility, time to pregnancy, and childlessness. The adjusted relative risk (RR) of G2 infertility and childlessness by G1 age at G2’s birth was estimated through a modified Poisson regression approach. The fecundity odds ratio (FOR) for the association between G1’s age at G2 birth and time to pregnancy for G2 was estimated by discrete‐time survival models, with complementary log–log link.

Results

A total of 2,854 women enrolled. We found no association between G1 age at G2’s birth and G2 infertility. Being born to a G1 aged 15‐19 years was associated with a longer time to pregnancy for G2 (FOR 0.84, 95% confidence interval 0.72, 0.99), relative to being born to a G1 aged 20‐24 years. We observed the suggestion of a possible increased risk of childlessness among G2s born to older G1s, but the estimate was imprecise.

Conclusions

While being born to a G1 who was 15‐19 years old was associated with an increase in G2 time to pregnancy, we found no association between G1 age at G2’s birth and infertility and only the suggestion of a modest association with childlessness. These data suggest a possible subtle effect of G1 age at G2’s birth on G2 fertility, which warrants further study.
Periodic leg movements: A marker of cardiovascular risk?
Authors: Howard Mark E. , O'Donoghue Fergal J.
Published: March 2020

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