bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Xanthine urolithiasis: Inhibitors of xanthine crystallization
Authors: Grases Felix , Costa-Bauza Antonia , Roig Joan , Rodriguez Adrian
Published: May 2018

OBJECTIVE

To identify in vitro inhibitors of xanthine crystallization that have potential for inhibiting the formation of xanthine crystals in urine and preventing the development of the renal calculi in patients with xanthinuria.

METHODS

The formation of xanthine crystals in synthetic urine and the effects of 10 potential crystallization inhibitors were assessed using a kinetic turbidimetric system with a photometer. The maximum concentration tested for each compound was: 20 mg/L for 3-methylxanthine (3-MX); 40 mg/L for 7-methylxanthine (7-MX), 1- methylxanthine (1-MX), theobromine (TB), theophylline, paraxanthine, and caffeine; 45 mg/L for 1-methyluric acid; 80 mg/L for 1,3-dimethyluric acid; and 200 mg/L for hypoxanthine. All crystals were examined by scanning electron microscopy.

RESULTS

Only 7-MX, 3-MX, and 1-MX significantly inhibited xanthine crystallization at the tested concentrations. Mixtures of inhibitors had an additive effect rather than a synergistic effect on crystallization.

CONCLUSION

Two of the inhibitors identified here —7-MX and 3-MX — are major metabolites of TB. In particular, after TB consumption, 20% is excreted in the urine as TB, 21.5% as 3-MX, and 36 % as 7-MX. Thus, consumption of theobromine could protect patients with xanthinuria from the development of renal xanthine calculi. Clinical trials are necessary to demonstrate these effects in vivo.
The power of language: functional brain network topology of deaf and hearing in relation to sign language experience
Authors: Sinke Michel R.T. , Buitenhuis Jan W. , van der Maas Frank , Nwiboko Job , Dijkhuizen Rick M. , Diessen Eric van , Otte Willem M.
Published: May 2018

Prolonged auditory sensory deprivation leads to brain reorganization, indicated by functional enhancement in remaining sensory systems, a phenomenon known as cross-modal plasticity. In this study we investigated differences in functional brain network shifts from eyes-closed to eyes-open conditions between deaf and hearing people. Electroencephalography activity was recorded in deaf (N = 71) and hearing people (N = 122) living in rural Africa, which yielded a unique data-set of congenital, pre-lingual and post-lingual deaf people, with a divergent experience in American Sign Language. Functional networks were determined from the synchronization of electroencephalography signals between fourteen electrodes distributed over the scalp. We studied the synchronization between the auditory and visual cortex and performed whole-brain minimum spanning tree analysis based on the phase lag index of functional connectivity. This tree analysis accounts for variations in global network density and allows unbiased characterization of functional network backbones. We found increased functional connectivity between the auditory and visual cortex in deaf people during the eyes-closed condition in both the alpha and beta bands. Furthermore, we found functional network backbone shifts both in deaf and healthy people as they went from eyes-closed to eyes-open conditions. In both the alpha and beta band the deafs’ brain showed larger functional backbone-shifts in node strength compared to controls. In the alpha band this shift in network strength differed among deaf participants and depended on type of deafness: congenital, pre-lingual or post-lingual deafness. In addition, a correlation was found between functional backbone characteristics and experience of sign language. Our study revealed more insights in functional network reorganization specifically due to prolonged lack of auditory input, but might also be helpful for sensory deprivation and cross-modal plasticity in general. Global cortical network reorganization in deaf people supports the plastic capacities of the young brain. The differences between type of deafness stresses that etiology affects functional reorganization, whereas the association between network organization and acquired sign language experience reflects ongoing brain adaptation in people with hearing disabilities.
Removal of alleles by genome editing – RAGE against the deleterious load
Authors: Johnsson Martin , Gaynor R Chris , Jenko Janez , Gorjanc Gregor , de Koning Dirk-Jan , Hickey John M
Published: May 2018

Background

In this paper, we simulate deleterious load in an animal breeding program, and compare the efficiency of genome editing and selection for decreasing load. Deleterious variants can be identified by bioinformatics screening methods that use sequence conservation and biological prior information about protein function. Once deleterious variants have been identified, how can they be used in breeding?

Results

We simulated a closed animal breeding population subject to both natural selection against deleterious load and artificial selection for a quantitative trait representing the breeding goal. Deleterious load was polygenic and due to either codominant or recessive variants. We compared strategies for removal of deleterious alleles by genome editing (RAGE) to selection against carriers. Each strategy varied in how animals and variants were prioritized for editing or selection.

Conclusions

Genome editing of deleterious alleles reduces deleterious load, but requires simultaneous editing of multiple deleterious variants in the same sire to be effective when deleterious variants are recessive. In the short term, selection against carriers is a possible alternative to genome editing when variants are recessive. The dominance of deleterious variants affects both the efficiency of genome editing and selection against carriers, and which variant prioritization strategy is the most efficient. Our results suggest that in the future, there is the potential to use RAGE against deleterious load in animal breeding.
SCHiRM: Single Cell Hierarchical Regression Model to detect dependencies in read count data
Authors: Intosalmi Jukka , Mannerström Henrik , Hiltunen Saara , Lähdesmäki Harri
Published: May 2018

Motivation

Modern single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technologies have made it possible to measure the RNA content of individual cells. The scRNA-seq data provide us with detailed information about the cellular states but, despite several pioneering efforts, it remains an open research question how regulatory networks could be inferred from these noisy discrete read count data.

Results

Here, we introduce a hierarchical regression model which is designed for detecting dependencies in scRNA-seq and other count data. We model count data using the Poisson-log normal distribution and, by means of our hierarchical formulation, detect the dependencies between genes using linear regression model for the latent, cell-specific gene expression rate parameters. The hierarchical formulation allows us to model count data without artificial data transformations and makes it possible to incorporate normalization information directly into the latent layer of the model. We test the proposed approach using both simulated and experimental data. Our results show that the proposed approach performs better than standard regression techniques in parameter inference task as well as in variable selection task.

Availability

An implementation of the method is available athttps://github.com/jeintos/SCHiRM.

Contact

jukka.intosalmi@aalto.fi,harri.lahdesmaki@aalto.fi
Serotonin inhibits axonal regeneration of identifiable descending neurons after a complete spinal cord injury in lampreys
Authors: Sobrido-Cameán Daniel , Robledo Diego , Sánchez Laura , Rodicio María Celina , Barreiro-Iglesias Antón
Published: May 2018

Classical neurotransmitters are mainly known for their roles as neuromodulators, but they also play important roles in the control of developmental and regenerative processes. Here, we used the lamprey model of spinal cord injury to study the effect of serotonin in axon regeneration at the level of individually identifiable descending neurons. Pharmacological and genetic treatments after a complete spinal cord injury showed that endogenous serotonin inhibits axonal regeneration in identifiable descending neurons through the activation of serotonin 1A receptors and a subsequent decrease in cAMP levels. RNA sequencing revealed that changes in the expression of genes that control axonal guidance could be a key factor on the serotonin effects during regeneration. This study provides new targets of interest for research in non-regenerating mammalian models of traumatic CNS injuries and extends the known roles of serotonin signalling during neuronal regeneration.
PCSK9 genetic variants, life-long lowering of LDL-cholesterol and cognition: a large-scale Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Lyall Donald M. , Ward Joey , Banach Maciej , Smith George Davey , Gill Jason G. , Pell Jill P. , Holmes Michael V , Sattar Naveed
Published: May 2018

Aims

PCSK9 inhibitors lower LDL cholesterol and are efficacious at reducing risk of vascular disease, however questions remain about potential adverse effects on cognitive function. We examined the association of LDL cholesterol-lowering genetic variants in PCSK9 with continuous measures of cognitive ability

Methods and Results

Six independent SNPs in PCSK9 were used in up to 337,348 individuals from the UK Biobank who underwent measures of cognitive ability (fluid reasoning, reaction time, trial making test and digit symbol coding. Scaled to a 50mg/dL lower LDL cholesterol, the PCSK9 allele score was associated with a lower risk of CHD (odds ratio 0.73; 95% CI: 0.60 to 0.90, P = 0.003). The scaled PCSK9 allele score nominally associated with worse log reaction time (0.04 standard deviations; 95%CI: 0.00, 0.08; P=0.038). Although no strong associations of the PCSK9 allele score were identified with any cognitive trait, the imprecision around the estimates meant that we could not exclude a similar magnitude of effect of genetic inhibition of PCSK9 to that seen with established risk factors, including APOEe4 or smoking status for any of the individual cognition traits. Point estimates for the PCSK9 allele score and cognition traits were all on the harmful side of unity.

Conclusions

Using currently available data in UK Biobank, we are not able to rule out meaningful associations of PCSK9 genetic variants with cognition traits. These data highlight the need for further large-scale genetic analyses and, in parallel, continued pharmacovigilance for patients currently treated with PCSK9 inhibitors.
The cargo receptor SURF4 promotes the efficient cellular secretion of PCSK9
Authors: Emmer Brian T. , Hesketh Geoffrey G. , Kotnik Emilee , Tang Vi T. , Lascuna Paul J. , Xiang Jie , Gingras Anne-Claude , Chen Xiao-Wei , Ginsburg David
Published: May 2018

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a secreted protein that plays an important role in regulating plasma cholesterol and cardiovascular disease risk. PCSK9 secretion uniquely depends on the cytoplasmic COPII protein SEC24A, suggesting the presence of a transmembrane ER cargo receptor mediating this interaction. Here, we report a novel approach that combines proximity-dependent biotinylation and proteomics together with genome-scale CRISPR screening to identify proteins that facilitate the efficient secretion of PCSK9 heterologously expressed in HEK293T cells. We first identified 35 candidate proteins that were labeled by BirA* fusions to PCSK9 and either COPII component SAR1A or SAR1B. We then performed genome-scale pooled CRISPR mutagenesis to identify genes whose perturbation resulted in intracellular accumulation of PCSK9-eGFP but not the control A1AT-mCherry. The 4 most enriched sgRNAs in this screen all targeted SURF4, a homologue of the yeast endoplasmic reticulum (ER) cargo receptor Erv29p and the only candidate also identified by proximity-dependent biotinylation. The functional contribution of SURF4 to PCSK9 secretion was confirmed with multiple independent SURF4-targeting sgRNAs, clonal SURF4-deficient cell lines, and functional rescue with SURF4 cDNA. Compatible with a function of SURF4 as a cargo receptor for PCSK9, fluorescence microscopy localized SURF4 to the early secretory pathway, coimmunoprecipitation revealed a physical interaction between SURF4 and PCSK9, and SURF4 deletion resulted in decreased extracellular secretion of PCSK9 and PCSK9 accumulation in the ER. Taken together, these findings support a model in which SURF4 functions as an ER cargo receptor for the efficient cellular secretion of PCSK9.
Force localization modes in dynamic epithelial colonies
Authors: Schaumann Erik N. , Staddon Michael F. , Gardel Margaret L. , Banerjee Shiladitya
Published: May 2018

Collective cell behaviors, including tissue remodeling, morphogenesis and cancer metastasis rely on dynamics between cells, their neighbors and the extracellular matrix. The lack of quantitative models precludes understanding of how cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions regulate tissue-scale force transmission to guide morphogenic processes. We integrate biophysical measurements on model epithelial tissues and computational modelling to explore how cell-level dynamics alter mechanical stress organization at multicellular scales. We show that traction stress distribution in epithelial colonies can vary widely for identical geometries. For colonies with peripheral localization of traction stresses, we recapitulate previously described mechanical behavior of cohesive tissues with a continuum model. By contrast, highly motile cells within colonies produce traction stresses that fluctuate in space and time. To predict the traction force dynamics, we introduce an Active Adherent Vertex Model (AAVM) for epithelial monolayers. AAVM predicts that increased cellular motility and reduced intercellular mechanical coupling localize traction stresses in the colony interior, in agreement with our experimental data. Furthermore, the model captures a wide spectrum of localized stress production modes that arise from individual cell activities including cell division, rotation, and polarized migration. This approach provides a robust quantitative framework to study how cell-scale dynamics influence force transmission in epithelial tissues.
Parallel sexual and parasexual population genomic structure inTrypanosoma cruzi
Authors: Schwabl Philipp , Imamura Hideo , Van den Broeck Frederik , Costales Jaime A. , Maiguashca Jalil , Miles Michael A. , Andersson Bjorn , Grijalva Mario J. , Llewellyn Martin S.
Published: June 2018

Genetic exchange and hybridization in parasitic organisms is fundamental to the exploitation of new hosts and host populations. Variable mating frequency often coincides with strong metapopulation structure, where patchy selection or demography may favor different reproductive modes. Evidence for genetic exchange inTrypanosoma cruziover the last 30 years has been limited and inconclusive. The reproductive modes of other medically important trypanosomatids are better established, although little is known about their variability on a spatio-temporal scale. Targeting a contemporary focus ofT. cruzitransmission in southern Ecuador, we present compelling evidence from 45 sequenced genomes thatT. cruzi(discrete typing unit I) maintains sexual populations alongside others that represent clonal bursts of parasexual origin. Strains from one site exhibit genome-wide Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and intra-chromosomal linkage decay consistent with meiotic reproduction. Strains collected from adjacent areas (>6 km) show excess heterozygosity, near-identical haplo-segments, common mitochondrial sequences and levels of aneuploidy incompatible with Mendelian sex. Certain individuals exhibit trisomy in as many as fifteen chromosomes. Others present fewer, yet shared, aneuploidies reminiscent of mitotic genome erosion and parasexual genetic exchange. Genomic and intra-genomic phylogenetics as well as haplotype co-ancestry analyses indicate a clear break in gene-flow between these distinct populations, despite the fact that they occasionally co-occur in vectors and hosts. We propose biological explanations for the fine-scale disconnectivity we observe and discuss the epidemiological consequences of flexible reproductive modes and their genomic architecture for this medically important parasite.
The Dimer-dependent Catalytic Activity of RAF Family Kinases Is Revealed Through Characterizing Their Oncogenic Mutants
Authors: Yuan Jimin , Ng Wan Hwa , Lam Paula Y.P. , Wang Yu , Xia Hongping , Yap Jiajun , Guan Shou Ping , Lee Ann S.G. , Wang Mei , Baccarini Manuela , Hu Jiancheng
Published: June 2018

Although extensively studied for three decades, the molecular mechanisms that regulate the RAF/MEK/ERK kinase cascade remain ambiguous. Recent studies identified the dimerization of RAF as a key event in the activation of this cascade. Here, we show that in-frame deletions in the β3-αC loop activate ARAF as well as BRAF and other oncogenic kinases by enforcing homodimerization. By characterizing these RAF mutants, we find that ARAF has less allosteric and catalytic activity than the other two RAF isoforms, which arises from its non-canonical APE motif. Further, these RAF mutants exhibit a strong oncogenic potential, and a differential inhibitor resistance that correlates with their dimer affinity. Using these unique mutants, we demonstrate that active RAFs, including the BRAF(V600E) mutant, phosphorylate MEK in a dimer-dependent manner. This study characterizes a special category of oncogenic kinase mutations, and elucidates the molecular basis that underlies the differential ability of RAF isoforms to stimulate MEK-ERK pathway. Further, this study reveals a unique catalytic feature of RAF family kinases that can be exploited to control their activities for cancer therapies.
H3K9me3 is Required for Inheritance of Small RNAs that Target a Unique Subset of Newly Evolved Genes
Authors: Lev Itamar , Gingold Hila , Rechavi Oded
Published: June 2018

In Caenorhabditis elegans, RNA interference (RNAi) responses can transmit across generations via small RNAs. RNAi inheritance is associated with Histone-3-Lysine-9 tri-methylation (H3K9me3) of the targeted genes. In other organisms, maintenance of silencing requires a feed-forward loop between H3K9me3 and small RNAs. Here we show that in C. elegans not only is H3K9me3 unnecessary for inheritance, the modification’s function depends on the identity of the RNAi-targeted gene. We found an asymmetry in the requirement for H3K9me3 and the main worm H3K9me3 methyltransferases, SET-25 and SET-32. Both methyltransferases promote heritable silencing of the foreign gene gfp, but are dispensable for silencing of the endogenous gene oma-1. Genome-wide examination of heritable endogenous small interfering RNAs (endo-siRNAs) revealed that the SET-25-dependent heritable endo-siRNAs target newly acquired and highly H3K9me3 marked genes. Thus, “repressive” chromatin marks could be important specifically for heritable silencing of genes which are flagged as “foreign”, such as gfp.
Small Molecule Inhibition of the Innate Immune Response Increases Transgene Expression
Authors: Spivack Kyle , Muzzelo Christine , Neely Christopher , Vanzelli Julia , Kurt Evan , Elmer Jacob
Published: June 2018

Foreign molecules like plasmid DNA trigger a complex and potent innate immune response comprised of highly redundant signal transduction cascades that result in the activation of transcription factors and the production of inflammatory cytokines. Unfortunately, this defense mechanism can hinder gene therapy by inhibiting transgene expression. The goal of this study was to increase transgene expression by inhibiting key components of the innate immune response (β-catenin, NF-κB/AP1, TBK1, TLR9, and p38 MAPK) with small molecule inhibitors (iCRT-14, curcumin, BX-795, E6446, and VX-702 respectively). The effects of each drug on transgene (luciferase) expression, inflammatory cytokine (IL-6) levels, and cell viability were quantified in prostate (PC3), breast (MCF-7), and murine bladder (MB49) cancer cell lines. The β-catenin inhibitor iCRT-14 (1 μM) provided the highest enhancement of 35.5 ± 19-fold in MCF-7 cells, while the other inhibitors increased transgene expression at a more modest level (2-9 fold). The optimal concentrations of iCRT-14, curcumin, and VX-702 showed no significant effect on cell proliferation; however, optimal concentrations of BX-795 and E6446 did significantly reduce cell proliferation. Nonetheless, inhibition of the innate immune response by iCRT-14 and curcumin was confirmed by a concomitant decrease in IL-6 production in PC3 cells. These results demonstrate that these inhibitors can improve gene therapy by preventing an inflammatory innate immune response.
Synchrotron inline phase contrast µCT enables detailed virtual histology of embedded soft-tissue samples with and without staining
Authors: Saccomano Mara , Albers Jonas , Tromba Giuliana , Dobrivojević Radmilović Marina , Gajović Srećko , Alves Frauke , Dullin Christian
Published: May 2018

Synchrotron radiation micro-computed tomography (SRµCT) based virtual histology, in combination with dedicated ex vivo staining protocols and/or phase contrast, is an emerging technology that makes use of three-dimensional images to provide novel insights into the structure of tissue samples at microscopic resolution with short acquisition times of the order of minutes or seconds. However, the high radiation dose creates special demands on sample preparation and staining. As a result of the lack of specific staining in virtual histology, it can supplement but not replace classical histology. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish and compare optimized ex vivo staining and acquisition protocols for SRµCT-based virtual histology of soft-tissue samples, which could be integrated into the standard workflow of classical histology. The high grade of coherence of synchrotron radiation allows the application of propagation-based phase contrast imaging (PBI). In this study, PBI yielded a strong increase in image quality even at lower radiation doses and consequently prevented any damage to the tissue samples or the embedding material. This work has demonstrated that the improvement in contrast-to-noise ratio by PBI enabled label-free virtual histology of soft-tissue specimens embedded in paraffin to a level of detail that exceeds that achieved with staining protocols.
Image, performance, attitudes, trust, and loyalty in financial services
Authors: Akhgari Mehdi , Bruning Edward R. , Finlay Jesse , Bruning Nealia S.
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to determine the extent to which hedonic and utilitarian attitudes and loyalty are influenced by perceived financial performance (PFP) and executive compensation plan image (ECPI) in financial services; second, the authors evaluate relationships among hedonic and utilitarian attitudes, trust, and loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a quasi-experimental design in Study 1 the authors test the relationship between antecedents (PFP and ECPI) and relational elements (attitudes, trust, and loyalty) to address the first objective. To accomplish the second objective, the authors employ structural equation modeling in Study 2 to test the relationship among hedonic and utilitarian attitudes, trust, and loyalty.

Findings

Study 1 confirms that PFP and ECPI positively impact both hedonic and utilitarian attitudes but do not directly affect loyalty. Study 2 demonstrates a positive association between utilitarian attitudes and trust, although the hedonic attitudes-trust relationship is negative. Hedonic attitudes are also significantly related to utilitarian attitudes. Finally, trust mediates the relationship between attitudes and loyalty.

Practical implications

Building customer trust is an important correlate of loyalty, and emphasizing an attribute-based aspect of perceived financial service generates greater trust compared to enhancing a non-attribute aspect (i.e. minimizing negative effects on image of executive compensation plans).

Originality/value

The authors link attitude research to service/relationship quality research and discover that attitudes are indirectly related to loyalty through increases in trust. The findings suggest that perceived image and performance of financial services are important to relationship quality when applied to financial services.
Development of a Green Lean Six Sigma model for public sectors
Authors: Sreedharan V. Raja , G. Sandhya , Raju R.
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to improve the operational excellence of public sector services such as construction, telecommunication and health care. To achieve this endeavor, the study explores the structural attributes and obstacles in the public services and develops a Green Lean Six Sigma (GLSS) model for the public sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The study involved two stages: first, structured literature reviews; second, a focus group study involving Black Belts and supply chain practitioners. Using the results from the literature reviews and focus group study, the researchers have developed a Green Lean Six Sigma (GLSS) model for the public sectors.

Findings

Black belts and supply chain practitioners have identified the success in deploying Lean Six Sigma with green supply chain management. This leads to eradicating the obstacles faced by the public sector, leading to process improvement.

Practical implications

This study proposed an approach for developing a GLSS model for the public services, which can be applicable for other public service organizations.

Originality/value

The current paper presents a predictive model for process improvement in the public sector by integrating green supply chain management with Lean Six Sigma.
Springing from where? How emerging market firms become multinational enterprises
Authors: Hennart Jean-François
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show that existing theories, principally Dunning’s OLI model, Mathews LLL model and Rugman’s version of internalization theory are unable to explain the rise of emerging market multinationals (EMNEs). The reason is that they over-emphasize the strategic importance of intangibles and ignore that of complementary local assets. Taking complementary local assets into account makes it possible to understand why EMNEs are able to finance their intangible-buying sprees and, often with the help of their governments, to swap market access for technology.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper based on the bundling model (JIBS 2009) and backed by the case histories of four EMNEs.

Findings

The author shows that EMNEs have much better prospects vis-à-vis established MNEs than generally thought in Western Europe and the USA and that they will become serious competitors.

Originality/value

This is, as far as the author knows, the first explanation of why EMNEs have the bargaining power and the resources necessary to swap or buy technology from established MNEs.
Lost in the transition from cash to accrual accounting
Authors: Gigli Sabrina , Mariani Laura
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the change from cash accounting to accrual accounting, identifying and assessing the institutional and organisational barriers that may affect this process. A specific focus on knowledge gaps is provided.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs a mixed method design, combining action research activities, a survey, and in-depth qualitative interviews in the setting of Italian public universities.

Findings

The findings highlight a low degree of compliance with the accrual accounting system and budgeting system, which is the result of the lack of an accrual accounting culture in the Italian public sector.

Originality/value

The analysis confirms some barriers to the transition highlighted by previous literature and also adds further explanations of such limitations in terms of the lack of skills and accounting knowledge of the universities’ administrative staff possesses.
Ge-whiz! How students choose their general education classes
Authors: Seeley Eugene Lyle , Goddard Todd , Mellado Miller Ronald
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand how students choose their general education elective courses.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was given to 12,000 undergraduate students at Utah Valley University (UVU) that asked about how they selected distribution courses to fulfill the requirements for the general education. UVU offers 113 different courses in the general education distribution area, but only six are needed to meet the requirements. Students were asked to both select all methods that they used and then to rank their selected methods. The results were analyzed usingχ2methods.

Findings

“Personal interest” and “What best fit my schedule” were the top choices and where chosen as a method used by 69 and 67 percent of the students respectively. When asked to rank the methods, “Personal interest” ranked first most frequently at 32 percent and “What best fits my schedule” was ranked first by 29 percent of students. The results indicate that although personal interest is the most used method for choosing these classes, it does not dominate, and schedule remains a significant factor for students at UVU.

Originality/value

The data provide a look into the perceptions and attitudes of students at what is predominately a commuter school. This research provides the first step in understanding student motives in selecting elective classes.
Are two heads better than one? Intellectual capital, learning and knowledge sharing in a dyadic interdisciplinary relationship
Authors: Wang Jue-Fan JF , Tarn David DC
Published: June 2018

Purpose

Past studies have paid extensive attention to investigate learning issues in individual, organizational and team contexts. Learning activities in the workplace, however, often occur in the interdisciplinary dyadic context. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to clarify what factors make interdisciplinary dyads lead to better learning effects. The authors attempted to clarify two major agendas: What knowledge factors (intellectual capitals) owned by the parties of the dyads can induce better learning effects? What contextual factors (learning tasks) can make better learning effects during the dyadic learning process?

Design/methodology/approach

To examine the previous agendas, the authors first conducted in-depth interviews and an exploratory survey so that a four-element dyadic intellectual capital (DIC) architecture was circumscribed: knowledge interdependency, expertise similarity, collaborative routines and mutual trust. Dyadic learning tasks were classified as exploitative and exploratory learning. The authors then sampled 248 respondents for the formal empirical survey to examine the relationship between DIC, dyadic learning tasks and knowledge sharing.

Findings

The statistical evidences confirmed the positive relationships between DIC and knowledge sharing, and the results also signified the previous relationships with a mediating effect from exploratory learning, while the effect of exploitative learning was not supported. Thus, only dyads (the two heads) with knowledge interdependency and mutual trust can make the exploratory task better than that of one individual (the one head).

Originality/value

This study provides a new insight into the learning issue with an interdisciplinary dyadic perspective to supplement the existing gap between academic efforts and learning practices in the workplace.
A holistic model for inter-plant knowledge transfer within an international manufacturing network
Authors: Noruzi Farhad , Stenholm Daniel , Sjögren Peter , Bergsjö Dag
Published: May 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a holistic view to support the choice of appropriate strategy for conducting a knowledge transfer (KT) project in an international manufacturing network (IMN) environment. It proposes a model that includes multiple aspects of a KT project along with guidelines on each aspect.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the research goals, multiple case study method was adopted. Data have been collected by conducting semi-structured interviews regarding five KT projects in three multinational corporations. Data were triangulated by means of comparisons to complementary data acquired through observations and archival documents.

Findings

The results of this paper detail the key issues of five KT projects. Furthermore, the paper proposes an aggregated model comprising the main aspects and strategies for a KT project within an IMN.

Research limitations/implications

Despite the abundant research on KT area, not many research projects provide holistic views on KT process. The focus has rather been sectional and concentrated on each specific aspect within the KT.

Practical implications

The paper guides practitioners to identify multiple aspects in KT that will eventually increase the odds for successfully performing such projects.

Originality/value

The proposed learning network model improves the performance of KT projects by providing a holistic view including several factors that the organization should emphasize to succeed with inter-plant KT.
Development programs, household income and economic vulnerability
Authors: Mamun Abdullah Al , Ibrahim Mohd Asrul Hery Bin , Muniady Rajennd , Ismail Mohammad Bin , Nawi Noorshella Binti Che , Nasir Noorul Azwin Binti Md
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to improve the socio-economic condition of low-income households in Malaysia, many products and services are available, including access to working capital and enterprise development training programs. This study examined the impact of access to working capital and micro-enterprise development training programs on household income and economic vulnerability among participants of development initiatives in the eKasih (national poverty data bank) in Peninsular Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

Adopting a cross-sectional design, the authors collected data randomly from the selected 300 micro-entrepreneurs from the list of development organizations available in the eKasih (national poverty data bank) located in four states of Peninsular Malaysia. Quantitative data were collected through structured interviews with the respondents from October to November 2017.

Findings

Both the length of participation and total amount of economic loan were found to increase the household income. However, there was no positive and significant impact of total number of training hours on household income. Interestingly, length of participation was found to reduce the level of economic vulnerability, except total amount of economic loan, and total number of training hours.

Originality/value

Despite the overwhelming empirical evidence, the findings indicated that the impact of enterprise development training programs was inconclusive. The effect of total amount of loan on economic vulnerability was also inconclusive. Hence, both policy makers and development organizations should understand how their programs benefit the poor households that can be improved through new implementation strategies.
Isolation, identification and screening of high‐quality yeast strains for the production of milk beer
Authors: Wang Liang , Gao Enyan , Hu Man , Oladejo Ayobami , Gong Xiaofen , Wang Jiangyue , Zhong Hao
Published: May 2018

The aim of this study was to screen yeast strains from kefir grains for good fermentation abilities to produce milk beer. Molecular identification tests revealed the 17 yeast strains isolated belonged to four different species [Kluyveromyces marxianus (4/17), Pichia kudriavzevii (6/17), Dekkera anomala (1/17), Kazachstania unispora (6/17)]. Through physical and chemical testing of the 17 fermentation sample strains, five strains met the standard for milk beer production. Of the five strains, three strains showed better characteristics based on sensory evaluation and volatile components analysis. Based on principal component analysis, strain MJ1 (K. marxianus) performed the best and was deemed the most suitable for milk beer fermentation.
Exploring factors that influence adult presentation to an emergency department in regional Queensland: A linked, cross‐sectional, patient perspective study
Authors: O'Loughlin Mary , Harriss Linton , Thompson Fintan , McDermott Robyn , Mills Jane
Published: May 2018

Objective

Explore factors that influence presentation at a regional hospital ED and identify opportunities to reduce attendance, particularly for adults with chronic conditions.

Methods

Cross‐sectional survey of ED attenders, for 1 month period (March to April 2014), with linkage of survey data to administrative data sets.

Results

A total of 1000 adults completed the survey of which 549 (54.9%) self‐identified as living with a chronic condition. Over half (n = 572, 57.2%) had their presenting problem for less than 24 h prior to attending the ED and 56.8% (n = 568) attended the ED outside working hours. Most ED presentations were recorded in the administrative data set as self‐referred (n = 933, 93.3%); however, 29% (n = 290) of survey participants reported being referred to the ED by a medical practitioner. The majority of adults had a regular general practice (n = 863, 86.3%) with 30% (n = 258) visiting their practice in the week prior to presentation at the ED. Awareness of services such as the 13‐Health telephone advice line was generally low (n = 370, 37%) and most did not consider alternative health services as suitable for their care. High‐quality care, co‐location of diagnostic services and extended hours of service were important to patients.

Conclusion

Despite being connected to a general practice, people focussed their health‐seeking behaviour on the ED in the immediate period prior to presentation. Patients reported a limited awareness of alternative health services and opportunities exist to potentially reduce ED attendance, particularly for young and middle‐aged adults with chronic conditions.
Towards informed metrics for examining the role of human‐induced animal responses in tag studies on wild animals
Authors: WILSON Rory P. , HOLTON Mark , WILSON Vianney L. , GUNNER Richard , TYSSE Brenda , WILSON Gwendoline I. , QUINTANA Flavio , DUARTE Carlos , SCANTLEBURY D. Michael
Published: May 2018

Two prime issues can detrimentally affect animals that have been equipped with tags: (i) the effect of the capture and restraint process; and (ii) the effect of the tag itself. This work examines some of the issues surrounding quantification of tag effects on wild animals for both restrained and free‐living animals. A new method to quantify stress effects based on monitoring ventilation rates in relation to activity is suggested for restrained animals which may help improve the practice of handling animals. It is also suggested that various metrics, many derived from accelerometers, can be examined in tagged wild animals to examine the change in behaviors over time with a view to having a better understanding of welfare issues, assuring the quality of recorded data and informing best practice.
Variations in the oxytocin receptor gene and prosocial behavior: moderating effects of situational factors
Authors: WU Nan , SU Yanjie
Published: May 2018

Humans are the most prosocial primate species and they often exhibit high levels of prosocial behavior toward genetically unrelated individuals. Traditional evolutionary theories are not sufficient to explain the individual differences and mechanisms related to prosociality. In this study, we focused on the gene–situation interaction in prosocial behaviors, and the patterns of genotype variance related to cooperation and comforting in different situations. We explored the interaction between the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene and situations, and the genotype variance under low and high prosociality situations between outgroup and ingroup recipients in a sample of 422 Chinese males. Prosociality was tested by measuring the prosocial tendencies, and prosocial behaviors were tested in cooperation and comforting tasks. OXTR single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. The results suggested that the relationship between OXTR SNPs (specifically rs13316193, rs1042778 and rs237887) and prosocial behavior varied across different situations, and that the associations were moderated by the recipient's identity and the prosocial cost. Our findings indicate the action of a moderating mechanism between the OXTR gene and prosocial behaviors according to situational factors.
Predictors and consequences of postdischarge gastrointestinal bleeding after percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Zhu Pei , Tang Xiaofang , Xu Jingjing , Song Ying , Liu Ru , Zhang Yin , Gao Lijian , Gao Zhan , Chen Jue , Yang Yuejin , Gao Runlin , Xu Bo , Yuan Jinqing
Published: June 2018

Aim

To evaluate the incidence, predictors, and outcomes of postdischarge gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) in patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in a 2‐year follow‐up study.

Methods and Results

All consecutive patients who underwent PCI throughout 2013 were enrolled. Multivariable cox proportional hazards regression were used to identify predictors of postdischarge GIB and 2‐year major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). Among 10 637 enrolled patients, postdischarge GIB events occurred in 123 (1.1%) patients at a median time of 329 days (interquartile range: 191‐504 days). Predictor of postdischarge GIB included renal dysfunction and use of ticagrelor. There was no significant association between postdischarge GIB and MACCE (7.3% vs 12.0%, P = .092). Among whole population, 310 (2.91%) patients had dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) cessation. DAPT cessation was strongly associated with 2‐year mortality (21.6% vs 0.4%, P < .001).

Conclusion

In this large cohort of real‐world patients after PCI, postdischarge GIB was not significantly associated with MACCE up to 2 years of follow‐up but lead to an increase in DAPT cessation, and DAPT cessation was strongly associated with 2‐year mortality.
ALK‐rearranged lung cancer with intradural extramedullary spinal cord metastases responding to ceritinib treatment: A case report
Authors: Xu Yan , Zhong Wei , Chen Minjiang , Zhao Jing , Wang Mengzhao
Published: June 2018

Intradural extramedullary spinal cord metastases in lung cancer are rarely reported, but are a disastrous event because of severe clinical symptoms and poor prognosis. Herein, we report a case of a lung cancer patient with ALK rearrangement who experienced brain, leptomeningeal, and intradural extramedullary spinal cord metastases after developing resistance to crizotinib. After ceritinib therapy, his clinical symptoms improved and magnetic resonance imaging revealed that the intradural extramedullary lesions had reduced.
Pre‐operative fluid bolus for improved haemodynamic stability during minor surgery: A prospectively randomized clinical trial
Authors: Kratz T. , Hinterobermaier J. , Timmesfeld N. , Kratz C. , Wulf H. , Steinfeldt T. , Zoremba M. , Aust H.
Published: May 2018

Background

Haemodynamic instability during the induction of anaesthesia and surgery is common and may be related to hypovolaemia caused by pre‐operative fasting or chronic diuretic therapy. The aim of our prospective, controlled, randomized study was to test the hypothesis that a predefined fluid bolus given prior to general anaesthesia for minor surgery would increase haemodynamic stability during anaesthetic induction.

Methods

Two hundred and nineteen fairly healthy adult patients requiring minor surgery were enrolled. All received standard treatment, including a pulse contour analysing device for non‐invasive measurement of cardiac index. Infusion therapy was started in all patients at induction. The intervention group (106 patients) was randomized to receive an additional fluid bolus of 8 mL/kg Ringer's acetate solution before the induction of anaesthesia. The primary endpoint was the incidence of haemodynamic instability, defined as a significant reduction of blood pressure or cardiac index during induction of anaesthesia.

Results

The interventional group had a lesser incidence of haemodynamic instability during induction (41.5% vs 56.6%, P = .025). This group also had higher cardiac index, stroke volume index, systolic and mean blood pressure and a greater left ventricular end‐diastolic area.

Conclusions

A fluid bolus prior to anaesthesia reduced the incidence of haemodynamic instability during induction of general anaesthesia. The total fluid volume was slightly greater in the intervention group compared to the control group (1370 ± 439 mL vs 1219 ± 483 mL, P = .007). We conclude that a defined fluid bolus can help stabilizing haemodynamics in patients undergoing general anaesthesia.
Hindlimb bone maturation during postnatal life in the Greater Rhea (Rhea americana, Aves, Palaeognathae): Implications for palaeobiological and zooarchaeological interpretations
Authors: Picasso Mariana B. J. , Barbeito Claudio Gustavo
Published: June 2018

The objective of this study was to study the morphological pattern of bone maturation of the hindlimb bones of Rhea americana and find out how it can affect bone morphology after a taphonomic process. Juvenile specimens (n = 10) ranging from one month old to eight months old were studied. For comparison, bones from adults and juveniles from museum specimens (n = 4 and n = 6, respectively) were studied. In fresh bones, ossification centres were identified in the proximal and distal epiphyses of the tibiotarsi and in the proximal epiphysis of the tarsometatarsi, whereas the distal region of the femora and tarsometatarsi showed abundance of cartilage. The development and extension of the ossification centres of the tibiotarsi were different. In the proximal epiphysis, the centre presented less development with respect to the distal epiphysis. In the dry tibiotarsi, the proximal centre was absent and the distal one was well preserved. Both the fresh and dry juvenile tarsometatarsi presented unfused metatarsals and bulkier and wider aspect than the adult ones. The dry femora presented a noticeable excavation between condyles, whereas the dry tarsometatarsi showed the absence of the proximal epiphysis. The femora, tibiotarsi and tarsometatarsi possessed different traits of immaturity, which differentially affect the morphology of the preserved bones during a taphonomic process.
Time and Relational Possibility: Cultural Anthropology in 2017
Authors: Tamarkin Noah
Published: May 2018

This essay reviews work produced in predominantly US cultural anthropology publications throughout 2017. It asks: What makes an anthropological inquiry timely, what sorts of relationalities command anthropological attention, and to what end? Noting our ongoing methodological commitment to long‐term ethnography alongside increasingly important online forums for reaching broader publics and responding quickly to emerging issues, it expands the range of work surveyed to include some online‐only short essays alongside the larger collection of traditionally published research articles. Characterized by empathic inquiry, frequently drawing on years of ethnographic and personal experience with the places, people, and other entities that we write about, and often attentive to histories at multiple scales, cultural anthropology of this moment, however published, grapples with dark times while it also offers ways of imagining other, better futures and ways of being in relation to others. Two thematic clusters organize this essay: the first considers temporality alongside mobility and sovereignty, and the second considers relationality alongside subjectivity and mediation. Together, all of these concerns—that are both of the moment and long standing—build a varied body of work that grapples with the interrelationalities that constitute power, place, and possibility. I argue that what makes an anthropological inquiry timely is the extent to which it is relationally informed and attuned to care for worlds that we inhabit and imagine, together. [year in review, sociocultural anthropology, temporality, mobility, sovereignty, relationality, subjectivity, mediation]