bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impaired Aortic Contractility to Uridine Adenosine Tetraphosphate in Angiotensin II-Induced Hypertensive Mice: Receptor Desensitization?
Authors: Zhou Zhichao , Yadav Vishal R. , Sun Changyan , Teng Bunyen , Mustafa Jamal S.
Published: December 2016

OBJECTIVE

We previously showed that uridine adenosine tetraphosphate (Up4A)-mediated aortic contraction is partly mediated through purinergic P2X1 receptors (P2X1R). It has been reported that the plasma level of Up4A is elevated in hypertensive patients, implying a potential role for Up4A-P2X1R signaling in hypertension. This study investigated the vasoactive effect of Up4A in aortas isolated from angiotensin (Ang) II-infused (21 days) hypertensive mice.

METHODS

Blood pressure was measured by tail cuff plethysmography. Aortas were isolated for isometric tension measurements, and protein expression was analyzed by western blot.

RESULTS

Mean and systolic arterial pressures were elevated by ~50% in Ang II-infused mice. Protein levels of both AT1R and P2X1R were upregulated in Ang II-infused aortas. Surprisingly, Up4A (10−9–10−5 M)-induced concentration-dependent contraction was significantly impaired in Ang II-infused mice. Studies in control mice revealed that both P2X1R (MRS2159) and AT1R (losartan) antagonists significantly attenuated Up4A-induced aortic contraction. In addition, desensitization of AT1R by prior Ang II (100 nM) exposure had no effect on Up4A-induced aortic contraction. However, subsequent serial exposure responses to Up4A-induced aortic contraction were markedly reduced, suggesting a desensitization of purinergic receptors. This desensitization was further confirmed in control mice by prior exposure of aortas to the P2X1R desensitizer α, β-methylene ATP (10 μM).

CONCLUSION

Despite upregulation of AT1R and P2X1R in hypertension, Up4A-mediated aortic contraction was impaired in Ang II-infused mice, likely through the desensitization of P2X1R but not AT1R. This implies that vascular P2X1R activity, rather than plasma Up4A level, may determine the role of Up4A in hypertension.
Edlib: a C/C ++ library for fast, exact sequence alignment using edit distance
Authors: Šošić Martin , Šikić Mile
Published: December 2016

We present Edlib, an open-source C/C ++ library for exact pairwise sequence alignment using edit distance. We compare Edlib to other libraries and show that it is the fastest while not lacking in functionality and can also easily handle very large sequences. Being easy to use, flexible, fast and low on memory usage, we expect it to be easily adopted as a building block for future bioinformatics tools.

Availability and Implementation

Source code, installation instructions and test data are freely available for download at https://github.com/Martinsos/edlib, under the MIT licence. Edlib is implemented in C/C ++ and supported on Linux, MS Windows, and Mac OS.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
A general catch comparison method for multi-gear trials: application to a quad-rig trawling fishery for Nephrops
Authors: Browne D. , Minto C. , Cosgrove R. , Burke B. , McDonald D. , Officer R. , Keatinge M.
Published: December 2016

Expeditious uptake of quad-rig trawling in the economically important Irish fishery for Nephrops norvegicus outpaced technical understanding of this newly introduced gear. The main driver for its introduction is increased catch rates of Nephrops. Higher Nephrops discard rates associated with quad-rig trawling are likely to be problematic under the landing obligation unless size selectivity can be improved. Catch comparison methods are suitable for assessing the performance of fishing gear modifications to reduce discards. Utilizing a quad-rig potentially increases the number of gears that can be included in a catch comparison study to four but current modeling methods are limited to two gears. Our study provides a new general multinomial mixed effects modeling framework that can be applied to two or more gears, elucidates how case-specific and choice-specific covariates may influence catch at length, and facilitates discussion on appropriate gear based management measures. Application of the method to catches from four different cod-end mesh sizes revealed significant effects of carapace length, catch weight and net position, on the numbers of Nephrops retained in each cod-end. Results suggest that management measures which specifically address different catch profiles associated with different numbers of trawling rigs are required to optimize Nephrops size selectivity.
Arterial Pressure Variation in Elective Noncardiac Surgery: Identifying Reference Distributions and Modifying Factors
Authors: Mathis Michael R. , Schechtman Samuel A. , Engoren Milo C. , Shanks Amy M. , Thompson Aleda , Kheterpal Sachin , Tremper Kevin K.
Published: December 2016

Background

Assessment of need for intravascular volume resuscitation remains challenging for anesthesiologists. Dynamic waveform indices, including systolic and pulse pressure variation, are demonstrated as reliable measures of fluid responsiveness for mechanically ventilated patients. Despite widespread use, real-world reference distributions for systolic and pulse pressure variation values have not been established for euvolemic intraoperative patients. The authors sought to establish systolic and pulse pressure variation reference distributions and assess the impact of modifying factors.

Methods

The authors evaluated adult patients undergoing general anesthetics for elective noncardiac surgery. Median systolic and pulse pressure variations during a 50-min postinduction period were noted for each case. Modifying factors including body mass index, age, ventilator settings, positioning, and hemodynamic management were studied via univariate and multivariable analyses. For systolic pressure variation values, effects of data entry method (manually entered vs. automated recorded) were similarly studied.

Results

Among 1,791 cases, per-case median systolic and pulse pressure variation values formed nonparametric distributions. For each distribution, median values, interquartile ranges, and reference intervals (2.5th to 97.5th percentile) were, respectively, noted: these included manually entered systolic pressure variation (6.0, 5.0 to 7.0, and 3.0 to 11.0 mmHg), automated systolic pressure variation (4.7, 3.9 to 6.0, and 2.2 to 10.4 mmHg), and automated pulse pressure variation (7.0, 5.0 to 9.0, and 2.0 to 16.0%). Nonsupine positioning and preoperative β blocker were independently associated with altered systolic and pulse pressure variations, whereas ventilator tidal volume more than 8 ml/kg ideal body weight and peak inspiratory pressure more than 16 cm H2O demonstrated independent associations for systolic pressure variation only.

Conclusions

This study establishes real-world systolic and pulse pressure variation reference distributions absent in the current literature. Through a consideration of reference distributions and modifying factors, the authors’ study provides further evidence for assessing intraoperative volume status and fluid management therapies.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome mimics: the role of lung biopsy
Authors: Aublanc Mylène , Perinel Sophie , Guérin Claude
Published: December 2016

Purpose of review

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) mimics is a condition looking like ARDS but that does not fulfill every criterion according to the recent Berlin definition. The purpose of this review is to better delineate ARDS mimics, to discuss why the complete diagnosis of ARDS is important, and to make a brief overview on the role of open lung biopsy in this setting.

Recent findings

Recent autopsy and lung biopsy data from ARDS patients compared lung histologic findings with the new Berlin definition of ARDS. Among them, there are some limited data about two niches, namely open lung biopsy and ARDS mimics suggesting that lung histology is important for making the diagnosis and offering the accurate management. This includes specific new treatments or stopping some medications toxic to the lung. Finally, ARDS with diffuse alveolar damage could be a specific subphenotype of ARDS with poor prognosis.

An ARDS mimic enhances the need of making ARDS diagnosis as comprehensive as possible. In some limited cases, open lung biopsy in skilled hands may have implications for management.
Geohistorical records indicate no impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on oyster body size
Authors: Dietl Gregory P. , Durham Stephen R.
Published: December 2016

Documentation of the near- and long-term effects of the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill, one of the largest environmental disasters in US history, is still ongoing. We used a novel before-after-control-impact analysis to test the hypothesis that average body size of intertidal populations of the eastern oyster (
Crassostrea virginica
) inhabiting impacted areas in Louisiana decreased due to increased stress/mortality related to the oil spill. Time-averaged death assemblages of oysters were used to establish a pre-spill baseline of body-size structure for four impacted and four control locations along a 350 km stretch of Louisiana's coastline. Post-spill body sizes were then measured from live oysters at each site in order to evaluate the differences in body size between oiled (i.e. impact) and unoiled (i.e. control) locations before and after the spill. Our results indicate that average body size of oysters remained relatively unchanged after the oil spill. There were also no temporal patterns in temperature, salinity or disease prevalence that could have explained our results. Together, these findings suggest that oysters either recovered rapidly following the immediate impact of the DWH oil spill, or that its impact was not severe enough to influence short-term population dynamics of the oyster beds.
Sea-level driven glacial-age refugia and post-glacial mixing on subtropical coasts, a palaeohabitat and genetic study
Authors: Dolby Greer A. , Hechinger Ryan , Ellingson Ryan A. , Findley Lloyd T. , Lorda Julio , Jacobs David K.
Published: December 2016

Using a novel combination of palaeohabitat modelling and genetic mixture analyses, we identify and assess a sea-level-driven recolonization process following the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Our palaeohabitat modelling reveals dramatic changes in estuarine habitat distribution along the coast of California (USA) and Baja California (Mexico). At the LGM (approx. 20 kya), when sea level was approximately 130 m lower, the palaeo-shoreline was too steep for tidal estuarine habitat formation, eliminating this habitat type from regions where it is currently most abundant, and limiting such estuaries to a northern and a southern refugium separated by 1000 km. We assess the recolonization of estuaries formed during post-LGM sea-level rise through examination of refugium-associated alleles and approximate Bayesian computation in three species of estuarine fishes. Results reveal sourcing of modern populations from both refugia, which admix in the newly formed habitat between the refuges. We infer a dramatic peak in habitat area between 15 and 10 kya with subsequent decline. Overall, this approach revealed a previously undocumented dynamic and integrated relationship between sea-level change, coastal processes and population genetics. These results extend glacial refugial dynamics to unglaciated subtropical coasts and have significant implications for biotic response to predicted sea-level rise.
The unbalanced distribution of the amino aicds(Arg, Lys) in high pI proteins of complete proteomes, its origin and evolution
Authors: Xie Zhenhua
Published: December 2016

No evolutionary signature has been found in the complete proteomes of eukaryotes by now, although amino acid composition signature of the complete proteomes was discovered as molecular signature of the adaptation for thermophiles and halophiles. Arginine and lysine respectively have the guanidinium group and the ∊-amino group as the ionizable side chain groups with different pKa values of about 12.5 and 10.5. The trends of their distribution seem similar in the range of about pIs < 10.0 and diverge in the range of about pIs≥10.0 in most complete proteomes of 387 species from the three domains of life. The complete proteome of Reticulomyxa filose is the one of only in 287 eukaryotic complete proteomes that has a predominance of the trend of lysine over that of arginine in high pI proteins. The unbalanced distribution of the amino aicds(Arg, Lys) in high pI proteins of complete proteomes may originally come from different pKa values of arginine and lysine and be developed by the influences of an average lysine level of a proteome and evolution. Because of this unbalanced distribution, the pattern of arginine and lysine distribution in high pI proteins of some complete proteomes can form a particular proteomic structure as evolutionary signature that may be shaped by massive natural selection in molecular level from hundreds to ten thousands of proteins in the complete proteomes of many animals and green plants.
The NCA-1 and NCA-2 ion channels function downstream of Gq and Rho to regulate locomotion inC. elegans
Authors: Topalidou Irini , Chen Pin-An , Cooper Kirsten , Watanabe Shigeki , Jorgensen Erik M. , Ailion Michael
Published: December 2016

The heterotrimeric G protein Gqpositively regulates neuronal activity and synaptic transmission. Previously, the Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor Trio was identified as a direct effector of Gqthat acts in parallel to the canonical Gqeffector phospholipase C. Here we examine how Trio and Rho act to stimulate neuronal activity downstream of Gqin the nematodeCaenorhabditis elegans. Through two forward genetic screens, we identify the cation channels NCA-1 and NCA-2, orthologs of mammalian NALCN, as downstream targets of the Gq/Rho pathway. By performing genetic epistasis analysis using dominant activating mutations and recessive loss-of-function mutations in the members of this pathway, we show that NCA-1 and NCA-2 act downstream of Gqin a linear pathway. Through cell-specific rescue experiments, we show that function of these channels in head acetylcholine neurons is sufficient for normal locomotion inC. elegans. Our results suggest that NCA-1 and NCA-2 are physiologically relevant targets of neuronal Gq-Rho signaling inC. elegans.
Clinical metagenomics of bone and joint infections: a proof of concept study
Authors: Ruppé Etienne , Lazarevic Vladimir , Girard Myriam , Mouton William , Ferry Tristan , Laurent Frédéric , Schrenzel Jacques
Published: December 2016

Background

Bone and joint infections (BJI) are severe infections that require a tailored and protracted antibiotic treatment. The diagnostic of BJI relies on the culture of surgical specimens, yet some bacteria would not grow because of extreme oxygen sensitivity or fastidious growth. Hence, metagenomic sequencing could potentially address those limitations. In this study, we assessed the performances of metagenomic sequencing of BJI samples for the identification of pathogens and the prediction of antibiotic susceptibility.

Methods

A total of 179 samples were considered. The DNA was extracted with a kit aiming to decrease the amount of human DNA (Molzym), and sequenced on an Illumina HiSeq2500 in 2x250 paired-end reads. The taxonomy was obtained by MetaPhlAn2, the bacterial reads assembled with MetaSPAdes and the antibiotic resistance determinants (ARDs) identified using a database made of Resfinder+ARDs from functional metagenomic studies.

Results

We could sequence the DNA from 24 out of 179 samples. For monomicrobial samples (n=8), the presence of the pathogen was confirmed by metagenomics in all cases. For polymicrobial samples (n=16), 32/55 bacteria (58.2%) were found at the species level (41/55 [74.5%] at the genus level). Conversely, a total of 273 bacteria not found in culture were identified, 182 being possible pathogens undetected in culture and 91 contaminants. A correct antibiotic susceptibility could be inferred in 94.1% cases for monomicrobial samples and in 76.5% cases in polymicrobial samples.

Conclusions

When sufficient amounts of DNA can be extracted from samples, we found that clinical metagenomics is a potential tool to support conventional culture.
Fine-scale variation in microclimate across an urban landscape changes the capacity ofAedes albopictusto vector arbovirus
Authors: Murdock C. C. , Evans M. V. , McClanahan T. , Miazgowicz K. , Tesla B.
Published: December 2016

Most statistical and mechanistic models used to predict mosquito borne disease transmission incorporate climate drivers of disease transmission by utilizing environmental data collected at scales that are potentially coarser than what mosquito vectors actually experience. Temperature and relative humidity can vary greatly between indoor and outdoor environments, and can be influenced strongly by variation in landscape features. In theAedes albopictussystem, we conducted a proof-of-concept study in the vicinity of the University of Georgia to explore the effects of fine-scale microclimate variation on mosquito life history and vectorial capacity (VC). We placedAe. albopictuslarvae in artificial pots distributed across three replicate sites within three different land uses – urban, suburban, and rural, which were characterized by high, intermediate, and low proportions of impervious surfaces. Data loggers were placed into each larval environment and in nearby vegetation to record daily variation in water and ambient temperature and relative humidity. The number of adults emerging from each pot and their body size and sex were recorded daily. We found mosquito microclimate to significantly vary across the season as well as with land use. Urban sites were in general warmer and less humid than suburban and rural sites, translating into decreased larval survival, smaller body sizes, and lower per capita growth rates of mosquitoes on urban sites. Dengue transmission potential was predicted to be higher in the summer than the fall. Additionally, the effects of land use on dengue transmission potential varied by season. Warm summers resulted in a higher predicted VC on the cooler, rural sites, while warmer, urban sites had a higher predicted VC during the cooler fall season.
Whole-transcriptome sequencing identifies a distinct subtype of acute lymphoblastic leukemia with predominant genomic abnormalities of EP300 and CREBBP
Authors: Qian Maoxiang , Zhang Hui , Kham Shirley Kow-Yin , Liu Shuguang , Jiang Chuang , Zhao Xujie , Lu Yi , Goodings Charnise , Lin Ting-Nien , Zhang Ranran , Moriyama Takaya , Yin Zhaohong , Li Zhenhua , Quah Thuan Chong , Ariffin Hany , Tan Ah Moy , Shen Shuhong , Bhojwani Deepa , Hu Shaoyan , Chen Suning , Zheng Huyong , Pui Ching-Hon , Yeoh Allen Eng-Juh , Yang Jun J.
Published: December 2016

Chromosomal translocations are a genomic hallmark of many hematologic malignancies. Often as initiating events, these structural abnormalities result in fusion proteins involving transcription factors important for hematopoietic differentiation and/or signaling molecules regulating cell proliferation and cell cycle. In contrast, epigenetic regulator genes are more frequently targeted by somatic sequence mutations, possibly as secondary events to further potentiate leukemogenesis. Through comprehensive whole-transcriptome sequencing of 231 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), we identified 58 putative functional and predominant fusion genes in 54.1% of patients (n = 125), 31 of which have not been reported previously. In particular, we described a distinct ALL subtype with a characteristic gene expression signature predominantly driven by chromosomal rearrangements of the ZNF384 gene with histone acetyltransferases EP300 and CREBBP. ZNF384-rearranged ALL showed significant up-regulation of CLCF1 and BTLA expression, and ZNF384 fusion proteins consistently showed higher activity to promote transcription of these target genes relative to wild-type ZNF384 in vitro. Ectopic expression of EP300-ZNF384 and CREBBP-ZNF384 fusion altered differentiation of mouse hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells and also potentiated oncogenic transformation in vitro. EP300- and CREBBP-ZNF384 fusions resulted in loss of histone lysine acetyltransferase activity in a dominant-negative fashion, with concomitant global reduction of histone acetylation and increased sensitivity of leukemia cells to histone deacetylase inhibitors. In conclusion, our results indicate that gene fusion is a common class of genomic abnormalities in childhood ALL and that recurrent translocations involving EP300 and CREBBP may cause epigenetic deregulation with potential for therapeutic targeting.
Quasi-fivefold symmetric electron diffraction patterns due to multiple twinning in silicon thin films grown from hexamethyldisiloxane
Authors: Haddad Farah , Goyal Prabal , Johnson Erik V. , Hong Junegie , Roca i Cabarrocas Pere , Maurice Jean-Luc
Published: December 2016

Unusual quasi-fivefold symmetric electron diffraction patterns are observed for silicon thin films grown by plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition and containing oxygen and carbon impurities in the range of 0.3–5.5%. These films were grown on crystalline (100) silicon wafers using a liquid precursor, hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO), mixed with silane, hydrogen and diborane diluted in argon. The occurrence of this quasi-fivefold symmetry is explained by multiple twinning and imperfect epitaxy. A quantitative method performed on the diffraction patterns is developed to evaluate the number of twin operations. This method is also used to discriminate twin positions from random microcrystalline ones in the diffraction patterns and thus to estimate their respective ratios for different growth conditions. Quite remarkably, the random microcrystalline part remains in the range of a few per cent and the diffracted intensities are the sum of two main contributions: multiple (micro-) twinned and amorphous. Increasing the amount of HMDSO decreases the microtwinned part directly to the benefit of the amorphous part with no significant microcrystalline phase. The causes of twinning are presented and discussed by comparing the observations with the literature; dynamical considerations where the system tends to align {111} planes with the growth direction would explain multiple twinning and, in turn, the fivefold symmetry.
Neutron and high-pressure X-ray diffraction study of hydrogen-bonded ferroelectric rubidium hydrogen sulfate
Authors: Binns Jack , McIntyre Garry J , Parsons Simon
Published: December 2016

The pressure- and temperature-dependent phase transitions in the ferroelectric material rubidium hydrogen sulfate (RbHSO4) are investigated by a combination of neutron Laue diffraction and high-pressure X-ray diffraction. The observation of disordered O-atom positions in the hydrogen sulfate anions is in agreement with previous spectroscopic measurements in the literature. Contrary to the mechanism observed in other hydrogen-bonded ferroelectric materials, H-atom positions are well defined and ordered in the paraelectric phase. Under applied pressure RbHSO4undergoes a ferroelectric transition before transforming to a third, high-pressure phase. The symmetry of this phase is revised to the centrosymmetric space groupP21/c, resulting in the suppression of ferroelectricity at high pressure.
Accurate and efficient representation of intramolecular energy inab initiogeneration of crystal structures. I. Adaptive local approximate models
Authors: Sugden Isaac , Adjiman Claire S. , Pantelides Constantinos C.
Published: December 2016

The global search stage of crystal structure prediction (CSP) methods requires a fine balance between accuracy and computational cost, particularly for the study of large flexible molecules. A major improvement in the accuracy and cost of the intramolecular energy function used in theCrystalPredictor II[Habgoodet al.(2015).J. Chem. Theory Comput.11, 1957–1969] program is presented, where the most efficient use of computational effort is ensuredviathe use of adaptive local approximate model (LAM) placement. The entire search space of the relevant molecule's conformations is initially evaluated using a coarse, low accuracy grid. Additional LAM points are then placed at appropriate points determinedviaan automated process, aiming to minimize the computational effort expended in high-energy regions whilst maximizing the accuracy in low-energy regions. As the size, complexity and flexibility of molecules increase, the reduction in computational cost becomes marked. This improvement is illustrated with energy calculations for benzoic acid and the ROY molecule, and a CSP study of molecule (XXVI) from the sixth blind test [Reillyet al.(2016).Acta Cryst.B72, 439–459], which is challenging due to its size and flexibility. Its known experimental form is successfully predicted as the global minimum. The computational cost of the study is tractable without the need to make unphysical simplifying assumptions.
(Na,□)5[MnO2]13nanorods: a new tunnel structure for electrode materials determinedab initioand refined through a combination of electron and synchrotron diffraction data
Authors: Mugnaioli Enrico , Gemmi Mauro , Merlini Marco , Gregorkiewitz Michele
Published: December 2016

(Nax□1 − x)5[MnO2]13has been synthesized withx= 0.80 (4), corresponding to Na0.31[MnO2]. This well known material is usually cited as Na0.4[MnO2] and is believed to have a romanèchite-like framework. Here, its true structure is determined,ab initio, by single-crystal electron diffraction tomography (EDT) and refined both by EDT data applying dynamical scattering theory and by the Rietveld method based on synchrotron powder diffraction data (χ2= 0.690,Rwp= 0.051,Rp= 0.037,RF2= 0.035). The unit cell is monoclinicC2/m,a= 22.5199 (6),b= 2.83987 (6),c= 14.8815 (4) Å, β = 105.0925 (16)°,V= 918.90 (4) Å3,Z= 2. A hitherto unknown [MnO2] framework is found, which is mainly based on edge- and corner-sharing octahedra and comprises three types of tunnels: per unit cell, two are defined by S-shaped 10-rings, four by egg-shaped 8-rings, and two by slightly oval 6-rings of Mn polyhedra. Na occupies all tunnels. The so-determined structure excellently explains previous reports on the electrochemistry of (Na,□)5[MnO2]13. The trivalent Mn3+ions concentrate at two of the seven Mn sites where larger Mn—O distances and Jahn–Teller distortion are observed. One of the Mn3+sites is five-coordinated in a square pyramid which, on oxidation to Mn4+, may easily undergo topotactic transformation to an octahedron suggesting a possible pathway for the transition among different tunnel structures.
Comparison of hydrogen bonds and diverse weak interactions of the nitro group in 2-methyl-4-nitroanilinium nitrate, bisulfate and two hexafluoridosilicates: elementary graph-set approach
Authors: Daszkiewicz Marek , Mielcarek Agnieszka
Published: December 2016

Crystal structures of (H2m4na)NO3(1), (H2m4na)HSO4(2), (H2m4na)2SiF6(3) and (H2m4na)2SiF6·2H2O (4), where 2m4na = 2-methyl-4-nitroaniline, are presented. Two layers of interactions occur in the structures, N—H...O/F hydrogen bonds and interactions with the nitro group. Although diverse, hydrogen-bonding patterns are compared with each other by means of interrelations among elementary graph-set descriptors and descriptors of hydrogen-bonding patterns. Using mathematical relations, the gradual expansion of the ring patterns was shown in the crystal structures. Parallel and perpendicular arranged nitro groups form weak π(N)NO2...π(O)NO2and π(N)NO2...ONO2interactions, respectively. The πNO2...πringinteraction has an impact to the stabilization of parallel oriented nitro groups. Generally, weak interactions constructed by the nitro group occur in the studied crystals as follows: π(N)NO2...π(O)NO2, πring...πring, C—H...O (1); π(N)NO2...π(O)NO2, π(N)NO2...ONO2(2); π(N)NO2...π(O)NO2, π(N)NO2...ONO2(3); C—H...O (4).
High-Z′ structures of organic molecules: their diversity and organizing principles
Authors: Brock Carolyn Pratt
Published: December 2016

A list has been compiled of 284 well determined organic structures having more than four crystallographically independent molecules or formula units (i.e. Z′ > 4). Another 22 structures were rejected because the space group or unit cell was probably misassigned; the rate for that type of error is then only 7%. The space-group frequencies are unusual; half the structures are in Sohncke groups, partly because the fraction of enantiopure structures of resolvable enantiomers is higher than for lowerZ′ structures. Careful investigation of the 284 structures has shown that they are very diverse; no simple classification can describe them all. Organizing principles have, however, been recognized for almost all of them. The most common features are simple modulations and hydrogen-bonded aggregates; only 14% of the structures have neither. In 50% of the structuresnmolecules are related by a pseudotranslation that would be a crystallographic translation but for small molecular displacements and rotations. In 70% of the structures there are aggregates (e.g. n-mers, columns or layers) held together by strong intermolecular interactions; those aggregates usually have approximate local symmetry. Because then-fold modulations and then-mers often haven 5 have several features that combine to give the highZ′ value. The number of different molecular conformations is usually small,i.e.one or two in 84% of the structures. More exotic packing features, such as ordered faults and alternating layers of different types, are found inca30% of the structures. A very few structures are so complex that it is difficult to understand how the crystals could have formed.
Blended learning for building student-teachers’ capacity to learn and teach science-related interdisciplinary subjects
Authors: Lee Yeung Chung , Lau Kwok-chi , Yip Valerie Wing Yan
Published: December 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report the design and evaluation of an inter-university collaborative project entitled “Blended learning for building student-teachers’ capacity to learn and teach science-related interdisciplinary subjects.” The project is a response of the science education faculty of three Hong Kong tertiary institutes to the challenge of catering to the diversity of academic backgrounds among student-teachers.

Design/methodology/approach

E-learning modules have been produced covering four content domains of science. These modules are designed based on the 5E learning model and are delivered to students using the learning management system provided by Moodle. The design of the modules is iterative, based on the evaluation of three consecutive rounds of trials through student surveys, and focus group interviews with students and course lecturers.

Findings

The evaluation findings indicate positive outcomes for certain attributes such as conceptual understanding, eagerness and confidence in learning science, and metacognitive reflection on students’ own learning. There are challenges to be met in relation to instructional design to cater for the diversity of student abilities, and enhance motivation in self-directed learning.

Practical implications

The project indicates the ways to develop students’ basic science knowledge in a mixed-ability setting through the design of self-directed e-learning modules blended with their major courses and possible measures to address the limitations of such design.

Originality/value

The study represents a conscious effort for the science teacher education faculty of different universities to pull together to tackle a perennial teaching and learning problem. The findings provide important insights into possible ways to blend e-learning with face-to-face learning approaches to better cater to the needs of science learners with mixed abilities to prepare them for interdisciplinary teaching.
Editorial on the international collaboration in Latin American publications on management, vis-à-vis the best papers in Cladea 2015
Authors: Ogliastri Enrique
Published: December 2016

This issue includes five of the best papers, from six different countries, presented in the Cladea Assembly of 2015. This introduction summarises the papers and presents an analysis of Latin American publications on management, and of the advantages and conditions for international collaboration. The first article looks at the positive impact of the decentralization of decision-making processes and the formalisation of work in the innovation of small and medium enterprises. The second studies the fear of failure in work and its relationship to demographic variables. The third analyses the impact of the domestic violence suffered by workers on customer services in Puerto Rican companies. The fourth discusses the relationship between teleworking and the work-family conflict, and finally, the fifth is aimed at optimising the management of dependent demand inventory systems.

This issue includes five articles chosen among the best papers presented at the Cladea Assembly of 2015 organised by Universidad de Valparaíso (Chile). The articles were sent in from Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Spain, and Puerto Rico, and were the best assessed in the fields of organisational behaviour, leadership and human capital management, entrepreneurships and SMEs, technology management and innovation, and operations management and value chains.

The selection process began with the evaluation of the works sent to the conference for each topic. The author wish to thank the organisers, those in charge of each topic, and all the evaluators that helped select the best works. In particular, we thank Sergio Olavarrieta, José Ernesto Amorós, Jorge Ayala, Silvio Borrero, Daniel Cabrera, Reinaldo Calvo, Consuelo García, Valeska Geldres, Jorge Gilbert, Olga Pizarro, José Antonio Robles, and Jorge Tarzijan. Authors interested in publishing their articles were asked to send in a revised version. These new versions were then subjected to a double blind evaluation, and subsequent revisions until reaching the current publication. This has been a collective process in which dozens of academics from all the Cladea schools and countries have taken part.
Evolutionary urban climate resilience: assessment of Seoul’s policies
Authors: Lee Taedong , Lee Taehwa
Published: December 2016

Purpose

Ongoing climate risks require all levels of society to be resilient. Urban areas, which are densely developed with huge levels of population and infrastructure, are critical places to develop adaptation and resilience strategies. This study aims to conceptualize evolutionary urban climate resilience strategies with a step-by-step analytic framework that will be called 3R: Recognition–Readiness–Response.

Design/methodology/approach

This analytic framework is then applied to assess whether and to what extent the components of urban climate resilience are incorporated into the pertinent ordinances and policies of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, including climate change, urban planning and disaster management.

Findings

The findings of this study suggest that the climate change ordinances of Seoul have focused on climate mitigation rather than resilience.

Practical implications

Thus, comprehensive efforts are required to incorporate evolutionary urban climate resilience strategies into ordinances and practices.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to build an analytic framework that provides a step-by-step process with check-list questions based on the sub-components of urban climate resilience procedure.
The impact of the Health and Social Care Act, 2012 on the health and wellbeing of rough sleepers
Authors: Fuller James Sebastian
Published: December 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of the Health and Social Care Act, 2012 on London’s rough sleepers as seen from the perspective of one former homeless service user (currently working as a support worker in a day centre providing outreach and “drop in” facilities for people who are street homeless and other vulnerable adults including female sex workers). The discussion centres on some of the unintended impacts of changes to healthcare commissioning; the new arrangements for patient, public representation; and the enhanced role of local councils.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is grounded in front line practitioner reflection/opinion and draws on practical experience and observation at Spires, as well as research and government papers published by other service providers. The aspirations of the Health and Social Care Act, 2012 are set out before its practical application are examined from the rough sleeper’s dimension.

Findings

Putting clinicians and GPs centre stage in the commissioning and purchasing of healthcare may have some benefits for individual patient choice, but it can also dilute patient public involvement in health and social care with negative effects for vulnerable and excluded groups, including rough sleepers. The terms of reference ascribed to Local Healthwatch Organisations, the official representatives of the people, are narrower than previously and limit their ability to influence official policy. The Act centralises control whilst devolving operational responsibility, especially for public health provision on which rough sleepers often rely. It is suggested that local voluntary organisations and specialist “inclusion” health groups are increasingly being expected to take over responsibility for delivering health and social care and that mainstream collaboration is much reduced rather than enhanced by this fragmentation.

Research limitations/implications

This review is based on the opinion of an “expert by experience” which may not be representative.

Originality/value

This is one of few papers which present a front line service user/practitioner perspective on the impact of clinical commissioning on services for marginalised groups.
The Digital House of Care: information solutions for integrated care
Authors: Muirhead Andrew , Ward Derek George , Howard Brenda
Published: December 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the development of a digital tool in an English county striving towards a vision of integrated information that is used to underpin an increasingly integrated future of health and social care delivery.

Design/methodology/approach

It discusses the policy context nationally, the origins and implementation of the initiative, the authors’ experiences and viewpoint highlighting key challenges and learning, as well as examples of new work undertaken.

Findings

In all, 12 health and care organisations have participated in this project. The ability for local commissioners and providers of services to now understand “flow” both between and within services at a granular level is unique. Costs are modest, and the opportunities for refining and better targeting as well as validating services are significant, thus demonstrating a return on investment. Key learning includes how organisational development was equally as important as the implementation of innovative new software, that change management from grass roots to strategic leaders is vital, and that the whole system is greater than the sum of its otherwise in-silo parts.

Practical implications

Data linkage initiatives, whether local, regional or national in scale, need to be programme managed. A robust governance and accountability framework must be in place to realise the benefits of such as a solution, and IT infrastructure is paramount.

Social implications

Organisational development, collaborative as well as distributed leadership, and managing a change in culture towards health and care information is critical in order to create a supportive environment that fosters learning across organisational boundaries.

Originality/value

This paper draws on the recent experience of achieving large-scale data integration across the boundaries of health and social care, to help plan and commission services more effectively. This rich, multi-agency intelligence has already begun to change the way in which the system considers service planning, and learning from this county’s approach may assist others considering similar initiatives.
What’s organization knowledge management strategy for successful change implementation?
Authors: Imran Muhammad Kashif , Rehman Chaudhry Abdul , Aslam Usman , Bilal Ahmad Raza
Published: December 2016

Purpose

In recent times, progression of technology and growing demands of customers have substantially influenced the services sector to introduce fast real-time mechanisms for providing up-to-mark services. To meet these requirements, organizations are going to change their end-user operating systems but success rate of change is very low. The purpose of this paper is to address one of the practitioners’ complaint “no one tells us how to do it” and uncovers the indirect effects of knowledge management (KM) strategies: personalization and codification, toward organizational change via organizational learning and change readiness. The current study also highlights how organizational learning and change readiness are helpful to reduce the detrimental effects of organizational change cynicism toward success of a change process.

Design/methodology/approach

Temporal research design is used to get the appropriate responses from the targeted population in two stages such as pre-change (Time-1) and post-change (Time-2). In cumulative, 206 responses have been obtained from the banking sector of Pakistan.

Findings

The results of the current study are very promising as it has been stated that KM strategies have an indirect effect on successful organizational change through organizational learning and change readiness. Moreover, change cynicism has a weakening effect on a change process and can be managed through effective learning orientation of employees and developing readiness for change in organizations.

Research limitations/implications

Change agents have to use an optimal mix of personalization and codification strategies to develop learning environment and readiness for change in organizations that are beneficial for implementing a change successfully. Moreover, change readiness and organizational learning in the context of change are equally beneficial to reduce organizational change cynicism as well.

Originality/value

This study is introducing a unique model to initiate a change with the help of KM strategies, organizational learning and readiness for change.
Organizations, prizes and media
Authors: Pallas Josef , Wedlin Linda , Grünberg Jaan
Published: December 2016

Purpose

This paper circulates around two major questions: what is the character of prizes as a media product? And how do the specifics of media prizes relate to the understanding of organizations with respect to a given aspect of their activities? The purpose of this paper is to bring forward theoretical arguments that show the significance of media preferences and values as central in how media prizes and awards are created and operated by discussing these questions.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on a variety of literature – mainly within management and media/communication studies – that is interested in the construction of different assessment tools such as prizes and rankings.

Findings

The paper addresses three particular characteristics of media prizes relevant for the understanding of how media evaluate organizations: the forming and spreading of stereotypical representative or behavior within a specific category or field; the simplification of status through the creation of “winners”; and the popularization of public measures for success in business life.

Research limitations/implications

This is a conceptual paper and as such it needs more systematic empirical testing to validate the findings.

Practical implications

The paper suggests three different roles media prizes have in evaluating organizations’ performance and their social status. The findings suggest that the qualities/aspects emphasized by the prizes are framed in such a way that they follow the rational or logic of media, and that they as such bear witness should be regarded with certain critical scrutiny.

Social implications

The paper discusses an expanding area of journalistic practice – i.e. production and proliferation of media prizes. These prizes have a significant effect on how the authors conceptualize and understand different aspects of the life – in the case business practices such as entrepreneurship. The authors suggest here how media prizes can come to shape the perceptions of reality through processes of simplification, stereotypification and popularization.

Originality/value

Up to now there are few studies focusing on media as a producer of assessments central for building normative and cognitive bases on which organizations are evaluated. The conceptual arguments in this paper highlight a number of areas that can serve as a starting point for future inquiry.
The effect of patent enforcement strength and FDI on economic growth
Authors: Alexiou Constantinos , Nellis Joseph , Papageorgiadis Nikolaos
Published: December 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to study the effects of the strength of patent enforcement on economic growth following the signing of the agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights and the role of inward foreign direct investment (FDI) flows in mediating and enhancing this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Following a generalized method of moments methodology, use is made of a new longitudinal index measuring the strength of enforcement-related aspects of patent systems.

Findings

Stronger levels of patent enforcement have a significant positive effect on the economic growth of both developed and developing countries. Importantly, inward FDI flows have a mediating role in positively boosting this effect for all countries and particularly for developed countries.

Originality/value

This is the first empirical study of the role of the strength of patent enforcement (“law in action”) in stimulating economic growth, as previous empirical studies have focused on the effect of the strength of patent law protection (“law on the books”). The failure in the past to allow for “law in action” was mainly due to the lack of available data that could proxy for the strength of patent enforcement levels in a country. This study utilizes a newly published, longitudinal index that captures the strength of the enforcement-related aspects of patent systems.
Regulatory institutions and Chinese outward FDI: an empirical review
Authors: Zitian Chen Victor , Li Yuanyuan , Hambright Sara
Published: December 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to review the effects of home regulatory institutions on outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) in the context of China and discuss the extent to which they can be extended to other emerging markets. The authors especially compare these empirical studies with theoretical discussions in each category, identify research gaps and suggest future research ideas. Practical implications are discussed.

Design/methodology/approach

It focuses specifically on three categories of regulatory institutions, including overall institutional development, liberalization of OFDI policies and state ownership (and its closely approximate forms). Using a systematic review, this paper has reviewed 26 empirical studies (23 quantitative and 3 qualitative studies) published in peer-reviewed journals.

Findings

These studies suggest that overall institutional development toward a market economy in general leads to increased OFDI, but this effect is contingent on the stage of such development and the capabilities of Chinese multinationals. Liberalized and supportive OFDI policies also facilitate OFDI activities but only into selective areas. Findings on state ownership have been mixed.

Originality/value

This review offers a full picture of empirical evidence on how multiple levels of regulatory institutions affect OFDI from China. In this way, the authors can identify the research gaps between theoretical discussions on home institutions and OFDI and empirical evidence. Thus, they make suggestions for future directions of studies.