bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Angiotensin II on Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 Secretion in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
Authors: Sato Ryo , Hiraishi Chika , Yoshida Hiroshi
Published: January 2018

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), which is secreted from vascular cells, is an enzyme-degrading extracellular matrix protein. MMP molecules, including MMP-2, are involved in the destabilization of atherosclerotic plaque and plaque rupture during the development of cardiovascular disease. Angiotensin II (Ang-II), a vascular stimulant associated with cardiovascular disease progression, has been demonstrated to be mainly involved in cardiovascular remodeling of atherosclerosis and cardiac hypertrophy. This study was performed to investigate the regulation of MMP-2 by Ang-II in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Ang-II significantly increased MMP-2 secretion and MMP-2 messenger RNA expression in HUVECs. The effects of Ang-II were suppressed by the coexistence of telmisartan, a blocker of the Ang-II receptor type 1 (AT1 receptor), or PD123319, a blocker of Ang-II receptor type 2 (AT2 receptor). Especially, PD123319 showed marked suppression of the effect of Ang-II on MMP-2. Therefore, Ang-II-induced upregulation of MMP-2 in HUVECs was considered to be mainly achieved through AT2 receptors, although AT1 and AT2 receptors were expressed in HUVECs, but the detailed mechanisms remain undefined. These findings suggest that Ang-II can enhance MMP-2 mainly through AT2 receptors in endothelial cells, but the significance of circulating MMP-2 as a cardiovascular biomarker requires confirmation in further clinical studies.
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Second-Generation Antipsychotics for the Estimation of Early Drug Effect in First-Episode Psychosis: A Cross-sectional Assessment
Authors: Bustillo Mariana , Zabala Arantzazu , Querejeta Imanol , Carton Jaione I. , Mentxaka Oiane , González-Pinto Ana , García Sainza , Meana J. Javier , Eguiluz J. Ignacio , Segarra Rafael
Published: January 2018

Background:

Studies on therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) have provided conflicting results regarding the association between dose, plasma concentrations, and drug effect and have focused rather on analyzing how individual drugs work. No study has attempted to process data from different SGAs globally to offer a panoramic view of the utility of TDM in clinical practice, and data on patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) are lacking. This study aimed to assess the relationship between dose, plasma concentrations, and drug effect in a sample of patients with FEP, regardless of the SGA prescribed.

Methods:

Data from 64 compliant patients treated with the same SGA during a 2-month follow-up were recorded. Clinical symptoms were assessed using the Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale and the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale. Adverse effects were rated using the Udvalg für Kliniske Undersogelser scale. SGA doses were standardized to chlorpromazine equivalents, and patients were classified into 3 different ranges according to their plasma concentrations (subtherapeutic, therapeutic, and supratherapeutic).

Results:

Plasma concentration ranges were proportionally related to dose. Patients with supratherapeutic plasma concentrations were treated with doses significantly higher than those with subtherapeutic concentrations. Dose and plasma concentrations were not associated with early drug effect.

Conclusions:

TDM seems unable to accurately estimate the early effects of SGAs in FEP. Ours is the first study to categorize plasma concentrations of SGAs into ranges for joint processing of data from a larger number of patients.
SUBRETINAL ENDOSCOPIC SURGERY TO TREAT LARGE SUBRETINAL HEMORRHAGES SECONDARY TO AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION
Authors: Kaga Tatsushi , Kojima Takashi , Yokoyama Sho , Sato Hiroyuki , Yoshida Norihiko , Ichikawa Kazuo
Published: January 2018

Purpose:

To evaluate the potential of subretinal endoscopic surgery as a novel treatment for large subretinal hemorrhage secondary to age-related macular degeneration.

Methods:

Five patients with large subretinal hemorrhage secondary to age-related macular degeneration underwent subretinal endoscopic surgery, with a minimum follow-up of 12 months.

Results:

The large subretinal hemorrhage was completely removed by subretinal endoscopic surgery without a large retinotomy in all cases. The fibrovascular pigment epithelial detachment including choroidal neovascularization was completely removed in four cases. In three of these cases, the bleeding was confirmed to be originating from one point of rupture in the Bruch membrane, which was treated by coagulation using intraocular diathermy. Although visual acuity improved in three cases, it deteriorated and remained stable in one case each. Fibrovascular pigment epithelial detachment persisted in one patient after surgery; he needed anti–vascular endothelial growth factor therapy, whereas the other four did not because their fibrovascular pigment epithelial detachment was removed. At the final follow-up, no severe postoperative complications, such as retinal detachment or proliferative vitreoretinopathy, were noted.

Conclusion:

Subretinal endoscopic surgery can completely remove subretinal hemorrhage and fibrovascular pigment epithelial detachment including choroidal neovascularization without a large retinotomy. It also aids in the direct and detailed confirmation of subretinal lesions by ophthalmic endoscope.
Psychometric Properties of the Glaucoma Treatment Compliance Assessment Tool (GTCAT) in a Brazilian Population
Authors: Abe Ricardo Y. , Wen Lorena de Campos , Barker Gordon T. , Mansberger Steven L.
Published: January 2018

Purpose:

To determine the psychometric properties of a reduced version of the Glaucoma Treatment Compliance Assessment Tool (GTCAT), which was translated to Brazilian Portuguese.

Patients and Methods:

We translated into Portuguese the GTCAT using validated techniques and administered it to a group of glaucoma patients using at least 1 ocular hypotensive eye drop medication. We used principal components analysis to determine construct validity, Rasch analysis, and Cronbach α for internal consistency reliability, frequency analysis for floor and ceiling effects, and Spearman ρ for test-retest reliability.

Results:

We included 76 glaucoma patients. Principal component analysis loaded 14 questions into 7 components that were consistent with the Health Belief Model. The components were related to “barriers due to lack of drops,” “self-efficacy,” “experience of negative effects of the disease,” “well-being,” “general glaucoma knowledge,” “glaucoma symptoms,” and “cues-to-action.” No statements had floor or ceiling effects, and all statements had acceptable test-retest reliability. Components had internal consistency Cronbach α reliability between 0.125 and 0.794. and average Spearman ρ reliability was 0.73, ranging from 0.44 to 1.00. According to Rasch analysis, the mean (±SD) of the person measures was 0.24±0.15 logits, person separation index was 0.58, and person reliability 0.25.

Conclusions:

The Portuguese-translated version of the GTCAT showed acceptable psychometric properties. With further refinement, clinicians and researchers could use it to better investigate glaucoma adherence issues in the Brazilian population.
The Diabetic Foot Assessment
Authors: Johnson Rachel , Osbourne Abe , Rispoli Jessica , Verdin Craig
Published: January 2018

The diabetic foot assessment is a key component in the care of a patient with diabetes. The assessment includes risk factor identification in both the diabetic patient's history and physical examination, foot care education, treatment, and referrals as needed. The foot complications related to diabetes such as peripheral neuropathy, foot ulceration, and amputation can be life altering. The American Diabetes Association recommends a diabetic foot examination annually for patients with diabetes with foot care education. Diabetic foot assessment may be recommended more frequently for individuals with risk factors contributing to ulceration, peripheral arterial disease, and peripheral neuropathy. This article reviews the diabetic foot assessment that nurses in healthcare settings and other healthcare professionals should use when caring for a diabetic patient.
Is There an Optimum Duration of Fluid Bolus in Pediatric Septic Shock? A Critical Appraisal of “Fluid Bolus Over 15–20 Versus 5–10 Minutes Each in the First Hour of Resuscitation in Children With Septic Shock: A Randomized Controlled Trial” by Sankar et al (Pediatr Crit Care Med 2017; 18:e435–e445)
Authors: Russell Mark J. , Kanthimathinathan Hari Krishnan
Published: January 2018

Objectives:

To review the findings and discuss the implications of a longer duration for fluid boluses in the resuscitation of children with septic shock.

Data Sources:

We performed a PubMed.gov search using the criteria “Fluid Bolus” and “Children” and “Septic Shock,” which yielded 29 references.

Study Selection:

One trial compared different durations of fluid boluses in pediatric septic shock and was therefore selected for critical appraisal. (Sankar J, Ismail J, Sankar MJ, et al: Fluid Bolus Over 15–20 Versus 5–10 Minutes Each in the First Hour of Resuscitation in Children with Septic Shock: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Pediatr Crit Care Med 2017; 18:e435–e445.)

Data Extraction:

This trial compared the effectiveness of 20 mL/kg fluid boluses, in children with septic shock, given over 15–20 versus 5–10 minutes in terms of need for invasive ventilation and/or increase in oxygenation index by 5 from baseline at 6 and 24 hours post initial fluid resuscitation. The relative risk of the primary outcome was 0.62 (p = 0.04; 95% CI, 0.39–0.99) at 6 hours and 0.63 (p = 0.02; 95% CI, 0.42–0.93) at 24 hours.

Data Synthesis:

Fragility Index calculations for the primary outcomes of this trial were 1 and 2. Therefore, only one and two children would have needed different outcomes to have given nonsignificant p values greater than 0.05. Analysis of the results did not support the early stopping of this trial at the interim period.

Conclusions:

The article reviewed does not support a change in practice to a longer duration of fluid bolus. The “push” technique for titration of fluid boluses in pediatric septic shock should continue to be the method of choice. Critical Care trials using binary outcomes as endpoints should publish Fragility Index results to aid interpretation and generate stronger conclusions.
Analysis of Pediatric Trauma in Combat Zone to Inform High-Fidelity Simulation Predeployment Training*
Authors: Reeves Patrick T. , Auerbach Marc M. , Le Tuan D. , Caldwell Nicole W. , Edwards Mary J. , Mann-Salinas Elizabeth A. , Gurney Jennifer M. , Stockinger Zsolt T. , Borgman Matthew A.
Published: January 2018

Objectives:

The military uses “just-in-time” training to refresh deploying medical personnel on skills necessary for medical and surgical care in the theater of operations. The burden of pediatric care at Role 2 facilities has yet to be characterized; pediatric predeployment training has been extremely limited and primarily informed by anecdotal experience. The goal of this analysis was to describe pediatric care at Role 2 facilities to enable data-driven development of high-fidelity simulation training and core knowledge concepts specific to the combat zone.

Setting and Patients:

A retrospective review of the Role 2 Database was conducted on all pediatric patients (< 18 yr) admitted to Role 2 in Afghanistan from 2008-2014.

Interventions:

Three cohorts were determined based on commercially available simulation models: Group 1: less than 1 year, Group 2: 1-8 years, Group 3: more than 8 years. The groups were sub-stratified by point of injury care, pre-hospital management, and Role 2 facility medical/surgical management.

Measurements and Main Results:

Appropriate descriptive statistics (chi square and Student t test) were utilized to define demographic and epidemiologic characteristics of this population. Of 15,404 patients in the Role 2 Database, 1,318 pediatric subjects (8.5%) were identified. The majority of patients were male (80.0%) with a mean age of 9.5 years (± sd, 4.5). Injury types included: penetrating (56%), blunt (33%), and burns (7%). Mean transport time from point of injury to Role 2 was 198 minutes (±24.5 min). Mean Glasgow Coma Scale and Revised Trauma Score were 14 (± 0.1) and 7.0 (± 1.4), respectively. Role 2 surgical procedures occurred for 424 patients (32%). Overall mortality was 4% (n = 58).

Conclusions:

We have described the epidemiology of pediatric trauma admitted to Role 2 facilities, characterizing the spectrum of pediatric injuries that deploying providers should be equipped to manage. This analysis will function as a needs assessment to facilitate high-fidelity simulation training and the development of “pediatric trauma core knowledge concepts” for deploying providers.
Actinomycotic Endometritis
Authors: Chiesa-Vottero Andres G.
Published: January 2018

Seven cases of actinomycotic endometritis were identified among 28,906 endometrial biopsies performed in the last 10 yr. The patients’ ages ranged from 44 to 85 yr old. An intrauterine device was in place from 7 to 44 yr. The reasons to perform the biopsies included abnormal uterine bleeding, malodor, prolapse, pelvic inflammatory disease, and suspicion of metastatic uterine sarcoma. Definitive identification of Actinomyces israelii by culture was obtained in 1 case only. Gram, Gomori methenamine silver, and Fite stains were useful in the differential diagnosis with pseudoactinomycotic granules, Nocardia, fungi, and other bacteria. The Actinomyces-like organisms were surrounded by extensive suppurative reaction in all cases. The tissues showed florid neutrophilic and plasmacytic inflammation. The treatment consisted of intrauterine device removal and 10 to 30 d of antibiotics in 4 patients. The Actinomyces-like organisms persisted for 6 wk in spite of antibiotic therapy when the intrauterine device removal was delayed in one of those cases. Two patients had hysterectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy due to tubo-ovarian abscess and hysterectomy, salpingo-oophorectomy, and rectosigmoid excision due to pelvic abscess and septic emboli, both followed by 30 to 45 d of antibiotic therapy. One patient had hysterectomy not followed by antibiotics due to prolapse. No other pelvic abscesses were identified on follow-up, which ranged from 4 to 101 mo (median, 20 mo; mean, 44 mo).
Experience of Using Shear Wave Elastography Imaging in Evaluation of Undescended Testes in Children
Authors: Durmaz Mehmet Sedat , Sivri Mesut , Sekmenli Tamer , Kocaoğlu Canan , Çiftçi İlhan
Published: January 2018

We aimed to determine the difference in tissue stiffness, which might reflect histologic damage, by comparing the potential of the shear wave elastography (SWE) values of operated undescended testes (OUT) with those of undescended testes (UT) and normal testes. A total of 120 patients (235 testes) were enrolled in the current study. Quantitative SWE values were measured by manually drawing contours of the entire testis structure with a free region of interest. A group of 66 OUT were classified as group A. Operation age and the period passed over the operation time and SWE values were compared among the testes assigned to group A. The 50 testes having inguinal canal placement were classified as group B, and the 119 testes whose sonography findings were normal were classified as group C. These 3 groups were compared in terms of the SWE values and volume. The SWE values of group A were significantly higher than those of groups B and C (P< 0.001). The SWE values of group B were significantly higher than those of group C (P< 0.001). The SWE values of OUT were significantly higher than those of the contralateral normal testes and UT (P< 0.001). There were no significant differences among operation age and period passed over the operation time and SWE values in the OUT (P> 0.05). There was no significant correlation between SWE values and testes' volume (P> 0.05). The SWE technique can be used effectively as a new parameter to assess stiffness of the OUT and UT to predict interstitial fibrosis and the severity of histologic damage.
Impact of Surgeon’s Surgical Experience on Outcomes After Laparoscopic Distal Gastrectomy in High Body Mass Index Patients
Authors: Kim Jieun , An Ji Yeong , Choi Min-Gew , Sohn Tae Sung , Bae Jae Moon , Kim Sung , Lee Jun Ho
Published: January 2018

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of surgical experience on laparoscopic distal gastrectomy in high body mass index (BMI) patients. Retrospective data were collected on patients who underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer from July 2002 to December 2014. Patients were divided into a high BMI group (BMI≥25 kg/m2) and a low BMI group (BMI<25 kg/m2) and classified into subgroups by surgeon experience. Patient characteristics and surgical outcomes between groups were analyzed and compared. Mean operation time in the high BMI group was longer than the low BMI group (173.0±52.5 vs. 164.2±48.0 min; P=0.009). Subgroup analysis showed longer operation time in the high BMI group than the low BMI group (200.8±49.3 vs. 187.9±45.2 min; P<0.001) and fewer retrieved lymph nodes (36.3±11.7 vs. 33.0±13.1; P=0.004) in the early surgeon experience period. Patients in the late experience period showed no significant differences in surgical outcomes between the high BMI and low BMI group. High BMI did not influence surgical outcomes of laparoscopic distal gastrectomy after accumulation of surgical experience.
Rituximab Induction to Prevent the Recurrence of PSC After Liver Transplantation—The Lessons Learned From ABO-Incompatible Living Donor Liver Transplantation
Authors: Yamada Yohei , Hoshino Ken , Fuchimoto Yasushi , Matsubara Kentaro , Hibi Taizo , Yagi Hiroshi , Abe Yuta , Shinoda Masahiro , Kitago Minoru , Obara Hideaki , Yagi Takahito , Okajima Hideaki , Kaido Toshimi , Uemoto Shinji , Suzuki Tatsuya , Kubota Keiichi , Yoshizumi Tomoharu , Maehara Yoshihiko , Inomata Yukihiro , Kitagawa Yuko , Egawa Hiroto , Kuroda Tatsuo
Published: January 2018

Background

Multiple studies have failed to reveal an effective method for preventing the recurrence of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) after liver transplantation (LTx). A national study conducted in Japan revealed several risk factors for the recurrence after living donor LTx (LDLTx); however, recipients of ABO-blood type incompatible (ABO-I) LTx were excluded from the previous analysis. In the present study, we investigated the efficacy of an immunosuppressive protocol in ABO-I LTx on the recurrence of PSC after LDLTx.

Methods

We conducted a national survey and analyzed the outcome of recipients who underwent ABO-I LDLTx for PSC (n = 12) between 1994 and 2010 in 9 centers and compared the outcome with that of ABO-compatible LDLTx for PSC (n = 96). The key elements of the immunosuppressive regimen in ABO-I LTx are plasma exchange sessions to remove existing antibodies, and the use of immunosuppression to control humoral immunity. Rituximab was added to the immunosuppression regimen from 2006 onward; 5 patients received rituximab perioperatively.

Results

All 7 recipients who underwent ABO-I LDLTx before 2006 (who did not receive rituximab) died of infection (n = 3), antibody-mediated rejection (n = 1), ABO-incompatibility associated cholangiopathy (n = 1) or recurrence of PSC (n = 2). In contrast, we found that all 5 recipients from 2006 (who were treated with rituximab) retained an excellent graft function for more than 7 years without any recurrence of PSC.

Conclusions

The findings of this study shed light on the efficacy of a novel strategy to prevent the recurrence of PSC and the possible mechanisms provided by rituximab treatment are discussed.
Rapid Differentiation of Epithelial Cell Types in Forensic Samples Using Intrinsic Fluorescence and Morphological Signatures
Authors: Brocato Emily R. , Philpott M. Katherine , Connon Catherine C. , Ehrhardt Christopher J.
Published: January 2018

Establishing the tissue source of epithelial cells within a biological sample is an important capability for forensic laboratories. In this study we used Imaging Flow Cytometry (IFC) to analyze individual cells recovered from buccal, contact epithelial, and vaginal samples that had been dried between 24 hours and more than eight weeks. Measurements capturing the size, shape, and fluorescent properties of cells were collected in an automated manner and then used to build a multivariate statistical framework for differentiating cells based on tissue type. Results showed that cell populations from the three tissue types could be differentiated using a Discriminant Function plot of IFC measurements. Epidermal cells were distinguished from vaginal and buccal cells with an average classification accuracy of ~94%. Ultimately, cellular measurements such as these, which can be obtained non-destructively, may provide probative information for many types of biological samples and complement results from standard genetic profiling techniques.
Crystal structures of two tandem malectin-like receptor kinases involved in plant reproduction
Authors: Moussu Steven , Augustin Sebastian , Roman Andra Octavia , Broyart Caroline , Santiago Julia
Published: January 2018

A complex cell-to-cell communication between the male pollen tube and the female reproductive organs is required for plant fertilization. A family of Catharanthus roseus Receptor Kinase-1 ( CrRLK1L) membrane receptors has been genetically implicated in this process. Here we present crystal structures of the CrRLK1Ls ANXUR1 and 2 at 1.48 and 1.1 Å resolution, respectively. Our structures reveal a novel arrangement of two malectin-like domains connected by a short βhairpin linker and stabilized by calcium ions. The canonical carbohydrate interaction surfaces of related animal and bacterial carbohydrate binding modules are not conserved among plant CrRLK1Ls. In line with this, we failed to detect binding of chemically diverse oligosaccharides to ANXUR1 and HERCULES1. Instead, CrRLK1Ls have evolved a protein-protein interface between their malectin domains, which forms a deep cleft lined by highly conserved aromatic and polar residues. Analysis of the glycosylation pattern of different CrRLK1Ls and their oligomeric states together suggests that this cleft could resemble a binding site for a ligand required for CrRLK1Ls receptor activation.
Water stress and CO2concentration interactions affect carbon isotope signatures of leaf and phloem organic matter
Authors: Zhang Yonge , Yu Xinxiao , Chen Lihua , Jia Guodong , Li Hanzhi
Published: January 2018

Investigation of δ13C of leaf and twig phloem water-soluble organic material (WSOM) is a promising approach for analysis of the effects of environmental factors on plant performance. In this study, orthogonal treatments of three CO2concentrations (Ca) × five soil water contents (SWC) were conducted usingPlatycladus orientalissaplings to investigate the interaction of water stress and CO2concentration on δ13C of leaf and twig phloem WSOM. Under the lowest SWC, the δ13C of leaf and twig phloem WSOM had the most positive values at any Caand their values decreased as Caincreased. However, at improved soil water conditions, the greatest values of δ13C of leaf and twig phloem WSOM were mostly observed at C600. In addition, a more significant relationship between SWC and δ13C of twig phloem WSOM than that between SWC and δ13C of leaf WSOM demonstrated that δ13C of twig phloem WSOM is a more sensitive indicator of SWC. Twig phloem WSOM was generally13C-depleted compared with leaf WSOM for potential post-photosynthetic fractionation, and the13C discrimination from leaves to twig phloem was insensitive to the interaction between SWC and Ca. Clearly, interacting effects play a more important role in photosynthetic fractionation than in post-photosynthetic fractionation.

Highlight

The δ13C of leaf and twig phloem WSOM exhibited the most positive values at C400×35%–45% FC.

Post-photosynthetic fractionation from leaf to twig was not be impacted by the interacting effects.
High-gamma activity in the human hippocampus during inter-trial rest periods of a virtual navigation task
Authors: Pu Yi , Cornwell Brian R. , Cheyne Douglas , Johnson Blake W.
Published: January 2018

In rodents, hippocampal cell assemblies formed during learning of a navigation task are observed to re-emerge during resting (offline) periods, accompanied by high-frequency oscillations (HFOs). This phenomenon is believed to reflect mechanisms for strengthening newly-formed memory traces. Using magnetoencephalography recordings and a beamforming source location algorithm (synthetic aperture magnetometry), we investigated high-gamma (80 – 140 Hz) oscillations in the hippocampal region in 18 human participants during inter-trial rest periods in a virtual navigation task. We found right hippocampal gamma oscillations mirrored the pattern of theta power in the same region during navigation, varying as a function of environmental novelty. Gamma power during inter-trial rest periods was positively correlated with theta power during navigation in the first training set when the environment was new and predicted faster learning in the subsequent training set two where the environment became familiar. These findings provide evidence for human hippocampal reactivation accompanied by high-gamma activities immediately after learning and establish a link between hippocampal high-gamma activities and memory consolidation.
An atlas of silencer elements for the human and mouse genomes
Authors: Doni Jayavelu Naresh , Jajodia Ajay , Mishra Arpit , Hawkins R. David
Published: January 2018

The study of gene regulation is dominated by a focus on the control of gene activation or controlling an increase in the level of expression. Just as critical is the process of gene repression or silencing. Chromatin signatures have allowed for the global mapping of enhancer cis-regulatory elements, however, the identification of silencer elements by computational or experimental approaches in a genome-wide manner are lacking. We present a simple but powerful computational approach to identify putative silencers genome-wide. We used a series of consortia data to predict silencers in over 100 human and mouse cell or tissue types. We performed several analyses to determine if these elements exhibited characteristics expected of a silencers. Motif enrichment analyses on putative silencers determined that motifs belonging to known transcriptional repressors are enriched, as well as overlapping known transcription repressor binding sites. Leveraging promoter capture HiC data from several human and mouse cell types, we found that over 50% of putative silencer elements are interacting with gene promoters having very low to no expression. Next, to validate our silencer predictions, we quantified silencer activity using massively parallel reporter assays (MPRAs) on 7500 selected elements in K562 cells. We trained a support vector machine model classifier on MPRA data and used it to refine potential silencers in other cell types. We also show that similar to enhancer elements, silencer elements are enriched in disease-associated variants. Our results suggest a general strategy for genome-wide identification and characterization of silencer elements.
Lrfn2-mutant mice display suppressed synaptic plasticity and inhibitory synapse development and abnormal social communication and startle response
Authors: Li Yan , Kim Ryunhee , Cho Yi Sul , Kim Doyoun , Kim Kyungdeok , Roh Junyeop Daniel , Park Hanwool , Yang Esther , Kim Soo-Jeong , Ko Jaewon , Kim Hyun , Bae Yong-Chul , Kim Eunjoon
Published: January 2018

SALM1, also known as LRFN2, is a PSD-95-interacting synaptic adhesion molecule implicated in the regulation of NMDA receptor (NMDAR) clustering largely based on in vitro data, although its in vivo functions remain unclear. Here, we found that mice lacking SALM1/LRFN2 (Lrfn2-/- mice) show a normal density of excitatory synapses but altered excitatory synaptic function, including enhanced NMDAR-dependent synaptic transmission but suppressed NMDAR-dependent synaptic plasticity in the hippocampal CA1 region. Unexpectedly, SALM1 expression is detected in both glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons, and Lrfn2-/- CA1 pyramidal neurons show decreases in the density of inhibitory synapses and frequency of spontaneous inhibitory synaptic transmission. Behaviorally, ultrasonic vocalization was suppressed in Lrfn2-/- pups separated from their mothers, and acoustic startle was enhanced, but locomotion, anxiety-like behavior, social interaction, repetitive behaviors, and learning and memory were largely normal in adult Lrfn2-/- mice. These results suggest that SALM1/LRFN2 regulates excitatory synapse function, inhibitory synapse development, and social communication and startle behaviors in mice.

Significance Statement

Synaptic adhesion molecules regulate synapse development and function, which govern neural circuit and brain functions. The SALM/LRFN family of synaptic adhesion proteins consists of five known members whose in vivo functions are largely unknown. Here we characterized mice lacking SALM1/LRFN2 (SALM1 knockout) known to associate with NMDA receptors and found that these mice showed altered NMDA receptor-dependent synaptic transmission and plasticity, as expected, but unexpectedly also exhibited suppressed inhibitory synapse development and synaptic transmission. Behaviorally, SALM1 knockout pups showed suppressed ultrasonic vocalization upon separation from their mothers, and SALM1 knockout adults showed enhanced responses to loud acoustic stimuli. These results suggest that SALM1/LRFN2 regulates excitatory synapse function, inhibitory synapse development, social communication, and acoustic startle behavior.
When informality meets formality: evidence from China
Authors: Yang Kun (Michelle) , Pisani Michael J.
Published: January 2018

Purpose

This study aims to explore “what impact does competition from informal enterprises have on formal firms” within the Chinese economic and business environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper opted for an exploratory study utilizing the cross-sectional survey data “2012 China Enterprise Survey” conducted by the World Bank. The survey is composed of approximately 200 business-related questions across the spectrum of business operations. In all, 2,700 privately owned Chinese firms are included in the logistic regression analysis.

Findings

Results show the impact of informal firm competition upon formal firms in China are influenced by geographical location, industry sector, ownership profile, governmental ownership, online presence and the extent of obeying labor regulations or the time spent in handling the governmental regulatory environment. There is a competitive and complementary simultaneous intertwined relationship between formal and informal economy. It occurs in a formal economy not fully divorced from the structural inertia of the planned economy as it transitions to a market-based economy.

Practical implications

This paper extended the assumption of institutional theory and presented it as a dynamic view of the evolution of organizations. It contributes by offering a simultaneous dual relationship between the formal and informal economy. It also adds one more potential feature of populations in the population ecology theory.

Originality/value

This exploratory paper empirically examines the impacts of informal sector enterprises on formal sectors firms in China and proposes a dual force effect of the informal economy to the formal economy given the current Chinese institutional environment. The study also provides a platform for further research on the interactions between the formal and informal sectors in emerging markets.
Why do Chinese employees engage in building supervisor-subordinateguanxi?
Authors: Ren Han , Chen Charles Weizheng
Published: January 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to explore why some Chinese subordinates will engage in buildingguanxiwith their supervisor while others will not. The authors conceptualize subordinates’ initiative behaviors which aim at building up or improvingguanxiwith their supervisors through social interactions as supervisor–subordinateguanxi(SSG)-building behaviors. Guided by the theory of planned behavior (TPB), this study examines how three psychological antecedents (guanxiorientation as attitude, individual perception of group-levelguanxipractice as subjective norm and person–supervisor [P-S] fit perception as perceived control) independently and interactively predict subordinates’ SSG-building behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a sample of 162 supervisor–subordinate dyads from four enterprises located in Southwest China.

Findings

Results indicated that P-S fit perception is most strongly related to subordinates’ SSG-building behaviors, followed byguanxiorientation and individual perception of group-levelguanxipractice perception.Guanxiorientation is also found to strengthen the positive effect of P-S fit perception on subordinates’ SSG-building behaviors.

Originality/value

The authors’ findings shed light on the psychological mechanisms of Chinese subordinates’ behaviors to build up or improveguanxiwith their supervisors, and advance the current understanding of SSG development from a planned behavioral perspective.
Measuring consumer neural activation to differentiate cognitive processing of advertising
Authors: Daugherty Terry , Hoffman Ernest , Kennedy Kathleen , Nolan Megan
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Herbert Krugman (1971) was among the first marketing scholars to utilize electroencephalography (EEG) to examine advertising. However, nearly five decades have transpired since this innovative research, making it potentially valuable to use a modern-day approach to reproduce a first-generation neuromarketing study. Thus, the purpose of this study is to replicate and extend Krugman’s original work.

Design/methodology/approach

To measure participants’ neural activity, two within-subject experiments were conducted to test the effectiveness of advertising using EEG. Independent factors, as defined by Krugman (1971), were three national brand ads differentiated by their level of effectiveness (high/low) associated with recall and arousal.

Findings

Results from Study 1 largely support Krugman’s original findings, in that an inverse relationship is observed among brain waves (beta, theta and alpha) across multiple exposures and levels. Meaning, similar patterns of activation and dissipation occur regardless of ad type or frequency. Findings from Study 2 were successful in accomplishing what Krugman originally could not by distinguishing between the ads utilizing an event-related potential (ERP) design.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates that a single neuromarketing approach can be used in multiple ways to provide richer insight while adding value during the research process. At the very least, the re-inquiry is an informative act associated with the theoretical relevance of using EEG measurement in marketing research.
Female business owners hiding in plain sight
Authors: Weidhaas Allison D.
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore what female business owners hide to better understand social norms and discourses that influence the decisions women make about how they structure their home and work lives.

Design/methodology/approach

The author used qualitative interviews to access the narratives of female business owners in public relations within the USA. This industry segment attracts primarily women and, unlike a retail store, offers women a variety of ways to structure their business hours and locations.

Findings

Women use hiding as a way to manage others’ impressions and as a way to gain legitimacy for themselves and their organizations. Specifically, the findings fall into three categories: hiding childcare obligations, obscuring their work locations and “fake it until you make it”. Hiding is used a strategy to deal with tensions that arise based on women’s interpretations of social norms and discourses.

Research limitations/implications

Based on the finite nature of any study, it is difficult to assess the long-term impact of hiding. Further, as with many studies, the geographic location, gender and industry segment provide a context for this research, which means the reader must determine the transferability.

Originality/value

Few studies explore hiding as a means to gain access to gendered discourses that can undermine identity construction and business growth. By uncovering what female business owners hide, it provides opportunities for self-awareness and agency.
Context-based patient choice management in healthcare
Authors: Chen An , Lillrank Paul Martin , Tenhunen Henni , Peltokorpi Antti , Torkki Paulus , Heinonen Seppo , Stefanovic Vedran
Published: January 2018

Purpose

In healthcare, there is limited knowledge of and experience with patient choice management. The purpose of this paper is to focus on patient choice, apply and test demand-supply-based operating (DSO) logic integrated with clinical setting in clarifying choice contexts, investigate patient’s choice-making at different contexts and suggest context-based choice architectures to manage and develop patient choice.

Design/methodology/approach

Prenatal screening and testing in the Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District (HUS), Finland, was taken as an example. Choice points were contextualized by using the DSO framework. Women’s reflections, behaviors and experience at different choice contexts were studied by interviewing women participating in prenatal screening and testing. Semi-structured interview data were processed by thematic analysis.

Findings

By applying DSO logic, four choice contexts (prevention, cure, electives and continuous care) were relevant in the prenatal screening and testing episode. Women had different choice-making in prevention and cure mode contexts regarding choice activeness, information needs, social influence, preferences, emotion status and choice-making difficulty. Default choice was widely accepted by women in prevention mode and individual counseling can help women make informed choice in cure mode.

Originality/value

The authors apply the DSO model to contextualize the patient choice in one care episode and compare patient choice-making at different contexts. The authors also suggest the possible context-based choice architectures to manage and promote patient choice
Understanding the nature of mentoring experiences between teachers and student teachers
Authors: Aderibigbe Semiyu , Gray Donald S. , Colucci-Gray Laura
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Mentoring is widely recognised as an effective strategy for supporting the professional learning of teachers and student teachers across different educational contexts. Yet, its effectiveness in initial teacher education (ITE) may be more widely conceived to take account of mentoring as a cultural practice, contributing to a change of professional learning habits and relationships towards collegiate and collaborative reflexivity. The purpose of this paper is to explore the nature of mentoring experiences between teachers and student teachers, how these are embedded within the established professional learning culture of the school and the opportunities for mentoring to affect professional learning.

Design/methodology/approach

Set within the context of a teacher education reform project in Scotland, involving student teachers, mentors and university tutors, the study adopted a critical constructivist theory stance to explore mentoring relationships. A sequential mixed methods approach informed the collection and analysis of data.

Findings

Quantitative data point to a diversity of experiences of mentoring amongst teachers and student teachers. Qualitative data provide a nuanced account of participants’ views of their mentoring experiences, pointing to opportunities for revisiting assumptions about learning in the classroom as well as questioning established professional learning patterns.

Practical implications

The authors conclude that mentoring relationships cannot be disentangled from a critical interrogation of the modes of relationships and values supporting professional learning in ITE. Practical implications centre upon preparation and resources to develop mentoring as a tool for learning, embedded within the professional culture of the school.

Originality/value

This study reframes the concept of mentoring as a practice that does not simply reinforce professional expectations but seeks to redefine teacher professional learning, pedagogy and social relationships in school contexts.
The synergistic impact of ISO 9000 and TQM on operational performance and competitiveness
Authors: Youssef Mohamed A. , Youssef Eyad M.
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of integrating ISO 9000 and total quality management (TQM) on operational performance of manufacturing organizations and their journey toward achieving world-class manufacturing (WCM) status.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a conceptual model and its empirical validation based on a sample of 2,961 responses from one developing and three developed economies. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to test five main hypotheses.

Findings

Plants that integrate ISO 9000 and TQM progressed faster toward achieving WCM status and have better operational performance in terms of quality management, inventory management, time-based performance, and competitiveness.

Research limitations/implications

The sample from the developing economy includes only 254 responses, while the one from the three developed economies includes 2,907 responses.

Practical implications

Findings of this study have many implications for both academic and practitioners. These findings encourage practitioners to consider ISO 9000 and TQM as complementary, not substitutes.

Social implications

Developing economies should follow the footsteps of developed economies in considering quality as a competitive advantage in global markets.

Originality/value

The paper addresses in a unique and unprecedented way the synergistic impact of ISO 9000 and TQM on operational performance. The study is the first in its kind to include responses from both developing and developed economies. The development of the synergy index was never addressed before.
An accelerated life test plan for a two-component parallel system under ramp-stress loading using masked data
Authors: Srivastava Preeti Wanti , Savita Savita
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Most of the literature on the design of accelerated life test (ALT) plan focus on a single system (subsystem) totally disregarding its internal configuration. Many a times it is not possible to identify the components that cause the system failure or that the cause can only be identified by a subset of its components resulting in a masked observation. The purpose of this paper is to deal with the planning of ramp-stress accelerated life testing for a high-reliability parallel system comprising two dependent components using masked failure data. Such a testing may prove to be useful in a twin-engine aircraft. A ramp-stress results when stress applied on the system increases linearly with time.

Design/methodology/approach

A parallel system with two dependent components is taken with dependency modeled by Gumbel-Hougaard copula. The stress-life relationship is modeled using inverse power law, and cumulative exposure model is assumed to model the effect of changing stress. The method of maximum likelihood is used for estimating design parameters. The optimal plan consists in finding optimal stress rate using D-optimality criterion.

Findings

The optimal plan consists in finding optimal stress rate using D-optimality criterion by minimizing the reciprocal of the determinant of Fisher information matrix. The proposed plan has been explained using a numerical example and carrying out a sensitivity analysis.

Originality/value

The model formulated can help reliability engineers obtain reliability estimates quickly of high-reliability products that are likely to last for several years.
Attitudes and behaviors as predictors of service quality in the telecommunications sector context
Authors: Almutawa Zeyad H. , Muenjohn Nuttawuth , Zhang Jiaying
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Service quality (SQ) is considered an organizational performance indicator that largely depends on employees’ attitudes and behaviors. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating effect of employees’ citizenship behavior (OCB) on the relationship between affective commitment (AC) and SQ.

Design/methodology/approach

The current study has relied on two questionnaire surveys to gather cross-sectional data from 800 employees and 400 customers of telecommunications companies in Kuwait. Structural equation modeling via AMOS22 was used to build and test the hypothesized model.

Findings

The results show that OCB significantly and positively affects SQ dimensions except empathy which demonstrates insignificant association. Also, AC was found to be a strong predictor of OCB. More interestingly, the results show that AC does not show any effect on either responsiveness or empathy, while a partial mediation was found between AC and tangibles, reliability, and assurance.

Practical implications

The findings of the current study provide managers and practitioners with empirically validated model of how SQ can be achieved. The model indicates that managers need to increase the level of citizenship behavior through leveraging their employees’ AC, which in turn can result in a positive perception of SQ.

Originality/value

This study is considered among the first to investigate the causal effect of both OCB and AC on achieving high SQ. Also, the findings of this study further support the indirect relationship of AC and SQ. Moreover, this study is unique in its attempt to link both AC and OCB to the dimensions of SQ. Finally, this study is considered the first empirical investigation of SQ in the telecommunication sector in Kuwait.