bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structural survey of HIV-1-neutralizing antibodies targeting Env trimer delineates epitope categories and suggests vaccine templates
Authors: Chuang Gwo-Yu , Zhou Jing , Rawi Reda , Shen Chen-Hsiang , Sheng Zizhang , West Anthony P. , Zhang Baoshan , Zhou Tongqing , Bailer Robert T. , Doria-Rose Nicole A. , Louder Mark K. , McKee Krisha , Mascola John R. , Bjorkman Pamela J. , Shapiro Lawrence , Kwong Peter D.
Published: May 2018

HIV-1 broadly neutralizing antibodies are desired for their therapeutic potential and as templates for vaccine design. Such antibodies target the HIV-1-envelope (Env) trimer, which is shielded from immune recognition by extraordinary glycosylation and sequence variability. Recognition by broadly neutralizing antibodies thus provides insight into how antibody can bypass these immune-evasion mechanisms. Remarkably, antibodies neutralizing >25% of HIV-1 strains have now been identified that recognize all major exposed surfaces of the prefusion-closed Env trimer. Here we analyzed all 206 broadly neutralizing antibody-HIV-1 Env complexes in the PDB with resolution suitable to define their interaction chemistries. These segregated into 20 antibody classes based on ontogeny and recognition, and into 6 epitope categories (V1V2, glycan-V3, CD4-binding site, silent face center, fusion peptide, andsubunit interface) based on recognized Env residues. We measured antibody neutralization on a 208-isolate panel and analyzed features of paratope and B cell ontogeny. The number of protruding loops, CDR H3 length, and level of somatic hypermutation for broadly HIV-1 neutralizing antibodies were significantly higher than for a comparison set of non-HIV-1 antibodies. For epitope, the number of independent sequence segments was higher (P < 0.0001), as well as the glycan component surface area (P = 0.0005). Based on B cell ontogeny, paratope, and breadth, the CD4-binding site antibody IOMA appeared to be a promising candidate for lineage-based vaccine design. In terms of epitope-based vaccine design, antibody VRC34.01 had few epitope segments, low epitope-glycan content, and high epitope-conformational variability, which may explain why VRC34.01-based design is yielding promising vaccine results.
An Assessment of Skin Lesion Measurement Techniques for Use in Clinical Trials of Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections
Authors: Dunne Michael W. , Das Anita , Talbot George H.
Published: May 2018

Background

Limited data are available to support a reproducible measurement technique that could be used to assess the response of a skin lesion associated with a bacterial infection to antibacterial therapy.

Methods

This multicenter, observational study enrolled patients with a major cutaneous abscess, a traumatic wound or surgical site infection, or a cellulitis. The primary objective was to characterize the intra- and inter-observer variability inherent in measuring the size of the erythema associated with the presenting skin infection. At least two observers made ruler measurements of the infection site with the length of the infection measured as the longest dimension of the erythematous area and width measured as the largest dimension perpendicular to the longest length. Intra- and inter-observer variability was determined by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Photographs, tracings, and thermal imaging were also performed.

Results

The intra-observer ICC (95% CI) for lesion area as measured by ruler was 0.999 (0.998, 0.999), suggesting only a very small amount of the variability was due to measurement error. The difference in mean lesion area measurements by the same observer was <1%. The inter-observer ICC (95% CI) for lesion area as measured by ruler was 0.990 (0.981, 0.995) suggesting that the results between observers were also highly reliable.

Conclusions

Measurement of infection area as defined by erythema and measured by ruler shows excellent intra- and inter-observer reliability and can be used in future clinical trials of acute bacterial skin infections.
Population Pharmacokinetics Study of Morinidazole in Patients with Moderate Hepatic Impairment
Authors: Kang Yue , Xu Fengyan , Wang Kun , Zhang Jing , Wu Xiaojie , Wu Jufang , Cao Guoying , Yu Jicheng , Guo Beining , Chen Yuancheng , Zhang Yingyuan
Published: May 2018

Objective

Morinidazole is a novel third generation 5-nitroimidazole antimicrobial drug which has demonstrated substantial antibacterial activity against clinical isolates of anaerobe. The aim of this study was to build population pharmacokinetic (PPK) model of morinidazole among patients with hepatic impairment and to provide dosage adjustment strategy for morinidazole in patients with hepatic impairment and/or renal dysfunction.

Methods

The nonlinear mixed effects modeling tool NONMEM (version7.3, ICON Development Solutions) was used to develop the PPK model of morinidazole.

Results

One-compartment model was conducted to establish the morinidazole PPK model. Disease condition was the significant covariate for CL and weight was the significant covariate for V. The AUC0-∞ was 120.44±37.05 (79.25-207.20) μg×h/mL in hepatic impairment group and was 79.46±23.71 (42.94-116.75) μg×h/mL in control group. The AUC0-∞ was 164.9±44.8 μg×h/mL and 77.2±23.1 μg×h/mLin in the 3 subjects with both hepatic impairment and mild renal impairment and in the 3 matched healthy subjects, respectively.

Conclusion

It is not necessary to adjust morinidazole dosage for patients with moderate hepatic impairment without confirmed renal dysfunction. For patient with moderate hepatic and mild renal impairment, morinidazole regimen should be considered as 500mg every 24 hours. When used in patients with moderate/severe hepatic impairment combined with renal dysfunction, both dosage and interval adjustment of morinidazole should be considered.
Modulation of TOR kinase activity inChlamydomonas reinhardtii: Effect of N-starvation and changing carbon pool
Authors: Upadhyaya Shivani , Agrawal Shreya , Gorakshakar Anmol , Jagadeeshwar Rao Basuthkar
Published: May 2018

TargetOfRapamycin (TOR) kinase is a sensor as well as a central integrator of internal and external metabolic cues. The upstream and downstream signals of this kinase are very well characterized in animals. However, in algae, higher plants and other photosynthetic organisms, the components of the TOR kinase-signaling are yet to be characterized. Here, we establish an assay system to study TOR kinase activity inC.reinhardtiiusing the phosphorylation status of its downstream target, CrS6K. We further use this assay to monitor TOR kinase activity under various physiological states such as photoautotrophy, heterotrophy, mixotrophy and nitrogen starvation. We observe that autotrophy in light (and not in dark) leads to TOR kinase attenuation during N starvation while the same is not observed in mixotrophy. Importantly, we show that the external carbon source glucose is sensed and uptaken byC.reinhardtiicells only in the presence of light and not in the dark. And such exogenously added glucose, as the photoassimilate carbon mimic, results in enhanced production of ROS, induction of autophagy and concomitant drop in TOR kinase activity, creating N-starvation-like cellular state even in N+ conditions. Interestingly, dose dependent addition of glucose revealed TOR kinase activation in low glucose regime (ROS independent) followed by attenuation of TOR kinase (ROS dependent) at high glucose levels.

TOR kinase activity inC.reinhardtiiis modulated by available carbon source especially glucose, where low levels of glucose cause an increase whereas high levels cause a reduction in TOR kinase activity.
Comprehensive variant effect predictions of single nucleotide variants in model organisms
Authors: Wagih Omar , Busby Bede , Galardini Marco , Memon Danish , Typas Athanasios , Beltrao Pedro
Published: May 2018

The effect of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in coding and non-coding regions is of great interest in genetics. Although many computational methods aim to elucidate the effects of SNVs on cellular mechanisms, it is not straightforward to comprehensively cover different molecular effects. To address this we compiled and benchmarked sequence and structure-based variant effect predictors and we analyzed the impact of nearly all possible amino acid and nucleotide variants in the reference genomes of H. sapiens, S. cerevisiae and E. coli. Studied mechanisms include protein stability, interaction interfaces, post-translational modifications and transcription factor binding sites. We apply this resource to the study of natural and disease coding variants. We also show how variant effects can be aggregated to generate protein complex burden scores that uncover protein complex to phenotype associations based on a set of newly generated growth profiles of 93 sequenced S. cerevisiae strains in 43 conditions. This resource is available through mutfunc, a tool by which users can query precomputed predictions by providing amino acid or nucleotide-level variants.
Drug repurposing: omeprazole increases the efficacy of acyclovir against herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2
Authors: Michaelis Martin , Kleinschmidt Malte Christian , Wass Mark N. , Cinatl Jindrich
Published: May 2018

Objectives

Omeprazole was shown to improve the anti-cancer effect of the nucleoside-analogue 5-fluorouracil. Here, we investigated the effects of omeprazole on the activities of the antiviral nucleoside analogues ribavirin and acyclovir.

Methods

West Nile virus-infected Vero cells and influenza A H1N1-infected MDCK cells were treated with omeprazole and/ or ribavirin. Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1)- or HSV-2-infected Vero or HaCat cells were treated with omeprazole and/ or acyclovir. Antiviral effects were determined by examination of cytopathogenic effects (CPE), immune staining, and virus yield assay. Cell viability was investigated by MTT assay.

Results

Omeprazole concentrations up to 80μg/mL did not affect the antiviral effects of ribavirin. In contrast, omeprazole increased the acyclovir-mediated effects on HSV-1- and HSV-2-induced CPE formation in a dose-dependent manner in Vero and HaCat cells. Addition of omeprazole 80μg/mL resulted in a 10.8-fold reduction of the acyclovir concentration that reduces CPE formation by 50% (IC50) in HSV-1-infected Vero cells and in a 47.7-fold acyclovir IC50 reduction in HSV-1-infected HaCat cells. In HSV-2-infected cells, omeprazole reduced the acyclovir IC50 by 7.3-fold (Vero cells) or by 12.9-fold (HaCat cells). Omeprazole also enhanced the acyclovir-mediated effects on viral antigen expression and virus replication in HSV-1- and HSV-2-infected cells. In HSV-1-infected HaCat cells, omeprazole 80μg/mL reduced the virus titre in the presence of acyclovir 1μg/mL by 1.6×105-fold. In HSV-2-infected HaCat cells omeprazole 80μg/mL reduced the virus titre in the presence of acyclovir 2μg/mL by 9.2×103-fold. The investigated drug concentrations did not affect cell viability, neither alone nor in combination.

Conclusions

Omeprazole increases the anti-HSV activity of acyclovir. As clinically well-established and tolerated drug, it is a candidate drug for antiviral therapies in combination with acyclovir.
Correlated Evolution of two Sensory Organs via a Single Cis-Regulatory Nucleotide Change
Authors: Nagy Olga , Nuez Isabelle , Savisaar Rosina , Peluffo Alexandre Erwan , Yassin Amir , Lang Michael , Stern David L. , Matute Daniel , David Jean R. , Courtier-Orgogozo Virginie
Published: May 2018

Diverse traits often covary between species. The possibility that a single mutation could contribute to the evolution of several characters between species is rarely investigated as relatively few cases are dissected at the nucleotide level. Drosophila santomea has evolved additional sex comb sensory teeth on its legs and has lost two sensory bristles on its genitalia. We found that a single nucleotide substitution in an enhancer of the scute gene contributes to both changes. The mutation alters a binding site for the Hox protein Abdominal-B in the developing genitalia, leading to bristle loss, and for another factor in the developing leg, leading to bristle gain. Our study shows that morphological evolution between species can occur through a single nucleotide change affecting several sexually dimorphic traits.
A Genome-Wide Association Analysis Reveals a Role for Recombination in the Evolution of Antimicrobial Resistance in Burkholderia multivorans
Authors: Diaz Caballero Julio , Clark Shawn T. , Wang Pauline W. , Donaldson Sylva L. , Coburn Bryan , Tullis D. Elizabeth , Yau Yvonne C.W. , Waters Valerie J. , Hwang David M. , Guttman David S.
Published: May 2018

Cystic fibrosis (CF) lung infections caused by members of the Burkholderia cepacia complex, such as Burkholderia multivorans, are associated with high rates of mortality and morbidity. We performed a population genomic study of 111 B. multivorans sputum isolates from a single CF patient through three stages of infection including the initial incident infection, deep sampling of a one-year period of chronic infection, and deep sampling of a post-transplant recolonization. We reconstructed the evolutionary history of the population and used a lineage-controlled genome-wide association study (GWAS) approach to identify genetic variants associated with antibiotic resistance. We found that the incident isolate was more susceptible to agents from three antimicrobial classes (β-lactams, aminoglycosides, quinolones), while the chronic isolates diversified into distinct genetic lineages with reduced antimicrobial susceptibility to the same agents. The post-transplant reinfection isolates displayed genetic and phenotypic signatures that were distinct from sputum isolates from all CF lung specimens. There were numerous examples of parallel pathoadaptation, in which individual loci, or even the same codon, were independently mutated multiple times. This set of loci was enriched for functions associated with virulence and resistance. Our GWAS approach identified one variant in the ampD locus (which was independently mutated four times in our dataset) associated with resistance to β-lactams, and two non-synonymous polymorphisms associated with resistance to both aminoglycosides and quinolones, affecting an araC family transcriptional regulator, which was independently mutated three times, and an outer member porin, which was independently mutated twice. We also performed recombination analysis and identified a minimum of 14 recombination events. Parallel pathoadaptive loci and polymorphisms associated with β-lactam resistance were over-represented in these recombinogenic regions. This study illustrates the power of deep, longitudinal sampling coupled with evolutionary and lineage-corrected GWAS analyses to reveal how pathogens adapt to their hosts.
A Rice Glutamyl-tRNA Synthetase Modulates Early Anther Cell Division and Patterning
Authors: Yang Xiujuan , Li Gang , Tian Yuesheng , Song Yu , Liang Wanqi , Zhang Dabing
Published: May 2018

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) have housekeeping roles in protein synthesis, but little is known about how these aaRSs are involved in organ development. Here, we report that a rice (Oryza sativa) glutamyl-tRNA synthetase (OsERS1) maintains proper somatic cell organization and limits the overproliferation of male germ cells during early anther development. The expression of OsERS1 is specifically detectable in meristematic layer 2-derived cells of the early anther, and osers1 anthers exhibit overproliferation and disorganization of layer 2-derived cells, producing fused lobes and extra germ cells in early anthers. The conserved biochemical function of OsERS1 in ligating glutamate to tRNAGlu is enhanced by its cofactor aaRS OsARC. Furthermore, metabolomics profiling revealed that OsERS1 is an important node for multiple metabolic pathways, indicated by the accumulation of amino acids and tricarboxylic acid cycle components in osers1 anthers. Notably, the anther defects of the osers1 mutant are causally associated with the abnormal accumulation of hydrogen peroxide, which can reconstitute the osers1 phenotype when applied to wild-type anthers. Collectively, these findings demonstrate how aaRSs affect male organ development in plants, likely through protein synthesis, metabolic homeostasis, and redox status.
Investigation of interactions in Lewis pairs between phosphines and boranes by analyzing crystal structures from the Cambridge Structural Database
Authors: Milovanović Milan R. , Andrić Jelena M. , Medaković Vesna B. , Djukic Jean-Pierre , Zarić Snežana D.
Published: May 2018

The interactions between phosphines and boranes in crystal structures have been investigated by analyzing data from the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD). The interactions between phosphines and boranes were classified into three types; two types depend on groups on the boron atom, whereas the third one involves frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs). The data enabled geometric parameters in structures to be compared with phosphine–borane FLPs with classical Lewis pairs. Most of the crystal structures (78.1%) contain BH3as the borane group. In these systems, the boron–phosphorus distance is shorter than systems where the boron atom is surrounded by groups other than hydrogen atoms. The analysis of the CSD data has shown that FLPs have a tendency for the longest boron–phosphorus distance among all phosphine–borane pairs, as well as different other geometrical parameters. The results show that most of the frustrated phosphine–borane pairs found in crystal structures are bridged ones. The minority of non-bridged FLP structures contain, beside phosphorus and boron atoms, other heteroatoms (O, N, S for instance).
Theory of order–disorder phase transitions of B-cations in AB′1/2
B′′1/2O3 perovskites
Authors: Sakhnenko V. P. , Ter-Oganessian N. V.
Published: May 2018

Perovskite-like oxides AB′1/2
B′′1/2O3 with two different cations in the B-sublattice may experience cation order–disorder phase transitions. In many cases the degree of cation ordering can be varied by suitable synthesis conditions or subsequent sample treatment, which has a fundamental impact on the physical properties of such compounds. Therefore, understanding the mechanism of cation order–disorder phase transition and estimation of the phase transition temperature is of paramount importance for tuning of properties of such double perovskites. In this work, based on the earlier proposed cation–anion elastic bonds model, a theory of order–disorder phase transitions of B-cations in AB′1/2
B′′1/2O3 perovskites is presented, which allows reliable estimation of the phase transition temperatures and of the reduced lattice constants of such double perovskites.
Being the change: charting Greg de Hoedt’s cannabis journey
Authors: Bone Melissa , de Hoedt Greg
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to document a leading UK cannabis activist’s efforts to bring about policy change and to convey his human story as a medical consumer. The paper contends that it is not enough to present evidence-based policies to effect change in drug policy, it is also vital to tell human stories, which people can relate to, in order to develop narratives which speak to people’s values.

Design/methodology/approach

An in depth, unstructured interview was conducted between Dr Melissa Bone and Cannabis Activist, Greg de Hoedt in December 2017. The interview was recorded, transcribed and formed the basis of the paper, which was co-edited and co-created by both authors.

Findings

The paper charts Greg’s journey from being a cannabis consumer – to being diagnosed with Crohn’s – to being a cannabis activist. The paper interweaves a drug policy discussion with a personal narrative. It connects unique insights into Greg’s life with the broader forces and institutions which influence cannabis policy at a local, national and international level.

Originality/value

Incorporating Greg’s personal narrative within an academic platform integrates his experiential knowledge into the “expert” evidence base. Alongside the potential of personal narratives to facilitate the production of knowledge, Greg’s emotive story could help to shape the public’s perception of cannabis, which could subsequently influence policy.
Strategic competences for pricing quantity surveying consultancy services
Authors: Adesi Michael , Owusu-Manu De-Graft , Murphy Roisin
Published: May 2018

Purpose

Professional quantity surveying (QS) services are critical to successful delivery of construction projects within planned budget, quality and duration. The supply of QS professional services is largely dependent on the price level of services and the willingness of clients to pay. The pricing of professional QS consultancy services has been confronted with a myriad of pricing challenges due to rapid changes in the business environment; the pervasive influence of information technology; and the complexity of clients’ expectation. It is therefore necessary for QS consultancy firms to develop strategic competences for the pricing of their services. In addition, numerous studies have not given the pricing the pricing of professional services the requisite attention. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the strategic competences for pricing professional QS services.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was positioned within the positivist tradition. As a result, the quantitative approach was adopted using a survey questionnaire to collect data from QS consultants. The sample size of the study was 79 professional quantity surveyors chosen by using simple random sampling technique from a population of 372 registered professional QS of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors. Using the χ2 test and factor analysis, the study established relationship between strategic competences and pricing of QS services.

Findings

The study found that strategic competences for pricing QS professional services is significantly related to the managerial and professional competence of QS consultants. The strategic competences of QS consultants identified by this study include business management, services cost management; and production capabilities.

Practical implications

This study provides an empirical basis for QS consultancy firms to focus on strategic direction of their contractual arrangement with clients. Practically, resource configuration and on strategic competences for professional service pricing would create price leadership.

Originality/value

The study advances the pricing knowledge within the QS practice by demonstrating the nexus between strategic competences and the pricing of QS professional services which hitherto this study have not been effectively investigated.
English education as democratic armor
Authors: Gatti Lauren , Masterson Jessica , Brooke Robert , Shah Rachael W. , Thomas Sarah
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the ways in which attention to programmatic vision and coherence – rather than foci on individual courses – might advance the work of justice-oriented, critical English education in important ways. The authors propose that consciously attending to the work of English education on the programmatic level can better enable English educators to cultivate democracy-sustaining dispositions in preservice teachers. Using Grossman et al.’s (2008) definition of “programmatic coherence”, the authors illustrate how one interdepartmental partnership is working to create a shared programmatic vision for English education.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on Cornel West’s call for the development of a three-piece democratic armor – Socratic questioning, prophetic witness and tragicomic hope – the authors describe their programmatic vision for cultivating democracy-sustaining dispositions in preservice teachers. They show how this shared vision constitutes the foundation for the organization, purpose and sequence of the four-semester cohort program. Finally, the authors describe how this vision helps facilitate meaningful and purposeful symbiosis between field experiences and university coursework.

Findings

In an effort to promote replicability regarding programmatic coherence, the authors share structural aspects of their program as well as pose generative questions for colleagues who are interested in approaching the work of critical, democratic English education from the programmatic level.

Originality/value

Addressing the challenges of teacher preparation – especially in this polarized and pitched historical moment – requires shifting the focus from individual courses to a more expansive view that might enable English educators to consider how courses within a program mightcollectivelyadvance a particular vision of critical and democratic English education.
Personal Web Library: organizing and visualizing Web browsing history
Authors: Du Weidan , Qian Zhenyu Cheryl , Parsons Paul , Chen Yingjie Victor
Published: May 2018

Purpose

Modern Web browsers all provide a history function that allows users to see a list of URLs they have visited in chronological order. The history log contains rich information but is seldom used because of the tedious nature of scrolling through long lists. This paper aims to propose a new way to improve users’ Web browsing experience by analyzing, clustering and visualizing their browsing history.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors developed a system called Personal Web Library to help users develop awareness of and understand their Web browsing patterns, identify their topics of interest and retrieve previously visited Web pages more easily.

Findings

User testing showed that this system is usable and attractive. It found that users can easily see patterns and trends at different time granularities, recall pages from the past and understand the local context of a browsing session. Its flexibility provides users with much more information than the traditional history function in modern Web browsers. Participants in the study gained an improved awareness of their Web browsing patterns. Participants mentioned that they were willing to improve their time management after viewing their browsing patterns.

Practical implications

As more and more daily activities rely on the internet and Web browsers, browsing data captures a large part of users’ lives. Providing users with interactive visualizations of their browsing history can facilitate personal information management, time management and other meta-level activities.

Originality/value

This paper aims to help users gain insights into and improve their Web browsing experience, the authors hope that the work they conducted can spur more research contributions in this underdeveloped yet important area.
The dynamics of proximity in multiple-party innovation processes
Authors: Öberg Christina
Published: May 2018

Purpose

Proximity – that is, the closeness of parties – has been increasingly emphasized in studies on innovation networks. The idea of closeness has been discussed in relation to geographic proximity, and has also been referred to as knowledge overlaps and shared understandings between parties. In most of the studies dealing with proximity in relation to innovation networks, a static analysis is pursued. Such an analysis marks how the closeness or distance, often with the conclusion that parties should not be too close or too distant, is measured against innovation outcome at a specific point in time. However, innovation processes would include how parties increasingly converge in their knowledge and understanding, and how they may co-locate their businesses. The purpose of this paper is to discuss proximity in relation to multiple-party innovation processes and their development over time.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical part of this paper consists of a single case study on an innovation community and its development process. The development of the innovation community over time, whether and how geographic, knowledge and cognitive proximity is affected, and the outcome in terms of number of innovations, their newness (incremental or radical innovation), and variety are discussed in the paper.

Findings

Findings indicate how geographic proximity leads to more knowledge overlaps, while it is not a prerequisite for it. Rather, it is in the commitment processes partly connected to cognitive proximity that knowledge increasingly converges, indifferent to the co-location of parties. The speed of such processes, however, is higher if parties co-locate. The commitment processes lead to an increased number of innovations, while these innovations become more and more similar. To avoid increased overlaps of knowledge and thereby maintain the production of a variety of innovations, interaction needs to occur through the introduction of new parties and the termination of previous interaction patterns. This, however, occurs at the cost of commitment, and the knowledge thereby becomes less developed and used in its capacities.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to previous research through discussing proximity in innovation networks in a processual manner. The link between various proximities and their effect on innovation outcome sheds light on how proximity, as discussed in various literature streams, often relates to similar issues that converge around the issue of commitment.
Facebook users’ loneliness based on different types of interpersonal relationships
Authors: Lim Myung Suh , Kim Junghyun
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate: first, the effects of a user’s grandiosity on the loneliness of another user on Facebook who detected it in terms of his/her well-being status; second, the mediational role of envy between grandiosity and loneliness; and, third, whether different effects are given on narcissism, envy, and loneliness depending on social or para-social relationships on Facebook.

Design/methodology/approach

This study’s focus is to investigate how observing others’ grandiose behaviors impact on individuals’ feeling of loneliness. The authors propose that this relationship is mediated by the feeling of envy. The authors further postulate that social relationships that participants may have with other Facebook users would play a key role in feeling different types of envy (i.e. malicious vs benign). Therefore, the current study employed a 2 (levels of grandiosity: high vs low) × 2 (social relationship: para-social vs social) between-subjects design.

Findings

The authors found that one’s grandiosity as reflected on Facebook significantly affects other users’ loneliness through malicious envy. However, no moderated mediation via envy (either benign or malicious) was found within the social relationship group.

Originality/value

Social comparison generated by the use of Facebook was found to have an effect on the user’s loneliness through the mediation of envy. In particular, the possibility that such effects could be triggered in para-social relationships was identified.
The effects of knowledge management processes on human resource management
Authors: Zaim Halil , Keceli Yavuz , Jaradat Ashraf , Kastrati Selma
Published: May 2018

Purpose

Managing knowledge effectively and efficiently is considered to be a key success factor to gain sustainable competitive advantage for organizations. This study aims to analyze the impact of knowledge management (KM) processes on human resource management (HRM).

Design/methodology/approach

To test the relationship of KM processes on HRM, a case study was conducted using structural equation modeling based on data collected from employees and managers of a Telecom company in Turkey. The survey instrument is a self-administered questionnaire composed of 37 questions. Three of them are demographic questions; 20 questions aim to reveal KM processes and 14 for HRM practices. The questionnaire was distributed via google survey link to employees and managers in headquarters office and two branches in Istanbul.

Findings

In this paper, the authors tried to investigate the impact of KM practices on the HRM performance of a company. The results indicate that companies with better KM practices tend to perform better at HRM. The main contribution of this paper lies in pointing out that, among the dimensions of KM, knowledge sharing and knowledge utilization have direct impact on HRM, whereas knowledge generation and knowledge sharing have indirect impacts.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation of this study lies in the fact that data are collected from a single company in telecom industry. Therefore, it is difficult to generalize the results. Although the research findings are aligned with those of the previous studies, further research using data from numerous companies in various industries is still needed to generalize the research findings.

Practical implications

The paper includes implications for the development of knowledge utilization generated and stored within the company. The knowledge can create improvements in the company’s HRM performance if it is shared and used effectively. The paper addresses an important subject and the findings may be used by human resources and KM practitioners interested in the development of organizational knowledge through human resource practices.

Originality/value

This paper fulfills an identified need to investigate the impact of KM practices on the HRM performance of a company.
Between Devolution and Direct Rule: Implications of a Political Vacuum in Northern Ireland?
Authors: Heenan Deirdre , Birrell Derek
Published: May 2018

It is over a year since the collapse of the devolved administration at Stormont, which left one region of the United Kingdom without a functioning executive. Reluctance to introduce direct rule from Westminster reduced Northern Ireland to a desiccated form of governance. This article examines the nature and form of government in this political vacuum. The consequences of this system are examined in terms of the absence of legislation, mechanisms for scrutiny, and participation in intergovernmental relations. In the absence of devolution and direct rule, the potential for greater involvement of the Irish government in the affairs of Northern Ireland is also considered.
Reproductive Health: Morals, Margins and Rights
Authors: Scott Rosamund
Published: May 2018

Reproductive interventions and technologies have the capacity to generate profound societal unease and to provoke hostile reactions underpinned by various moral concerns. This paper shows that this position currently goes relatively unchecked by the European Court of Human Rights, which allows the margin of appreciation and consensus doctrines significantly to limit the scope of reproductive rights under the right to respect for private and family life under Article 8. This occurs both in relation to the interest in avoiding reproduction at stake in abortion, and that in achieving it at stake in medically assisted reproduction. The paper demonstrates significant flaws in the Court's framing and deployment of these doctrines in its reproductive jurisprudence. It argues that, as regards existing and upcoming reproductive interventions and technologies, the Court should attend to the concept of reproductive health, long recognised in international conventions and policy materials.
The Child in European Human Rights Law
Authors: Trotter Sarah
Published: May 2018

This article examines the category of ‘the child’ in European human rights law, based on an analysis of the child‐related jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights. It argues that a full account of legal selfhood is constructed through the notion of ‘the child’ in this jurisprudence. The two notions – of ‘the child’ and ‘the self’ – are, from the outset, mutually dependent. The conceptualisation of ‘the child’ in human rights law is underpinned by an account of the self as originating in another and childhood is cast as enabling self‐understanding by making possible the formation of a narrative about the self. The vision of ‘the self’ that emerges is one of ‘the narrative self’, and I assess the implications of this both for the idea of childhood in which this narrative originates and for the vision of the human condition that is expressed in European human rights law more broadly.
Restoring Confidence: Replacing the Fixed‐term Parliaments Act 2011
Authors: Craig Robert
Published: May 2018

This article considers both the Fixed‐term Parliaments Act 2011 (FTPA) and the political constitution, to place the former in its political and constitutional context. It begins by setting out the background to the FTPA – which was a part of a Coalition agreement – and considers difficulties with the most commonly‐made arguments in favour of fixed‐term parliaments. The second part of the article considers the impact and potential practical legal consequences if the FTPA is repealed without any replacement, arguing that it will only be possible to revive the ‘dissolution’ prerogative by express words in a new Act. The final part of the article addresses the question of whether the prerogative should be revived, before arguing both that it should not and that a statutory power to call an election should be conferred on the Prime Minister subject to a vote by simple majority in the House of Commons.
An Improved Protection for the (Mentally Ill) Trans Parent: A Queer Reading of AP, Garçon and Nicot v France
Authors: Gonzalez‐Salzberg Damian A.
Published: May 2018

The European Court of Human Rights has been deciding cases concerning LGBT rights since the early 1980s. Its case law on trans rights has changed drastically over time, imposing upon the states of the Council of Europe certain minimum standards regarding the legal recognition of gender identity. In its recent judgment of April 2017 the Court laid down a new rule to be adopted by domestic legislation; namely, that the legal recognition of gender transition cannot be made conditional upon pursuing medical or surgical procedures which have (or are likely to have) sterilising effects. This article analyses the judgment from a critical perspective grounded in queer theory, noting both the positive and the negative elements of the Court's decision.
Extracting information or resource? The Hotelling rule revisited under asymmetric information
Authors: Martimort David , Pouyet Jérôme , Ricci Francesco
Published: May 2018

A concessionaire has private information on the initial stock of resource. A “virtual Hotelling rule” describes how the resource price evolves over time and how extraction costs are compounded with information costs along the optimal extraction path. Fields which are heterogeneous in terms of their initial stocks follow different extraction paths. Resource might be left unexploited in the long run as a way to foster incentives. The optimal contract may sometimes be implemented through royalties and license fees. With a market of concessionaires, asymmetric information leads to a “virtual Herfindahl principle” and to another form of heterogeneity across active concessionaires.
Task Type and Resource Allocation Patterns in Multiple‐Task Self‐Regulation
Authors: Converse Patrick D. , Ponto Shelby‐Jo , Merlini Katrina P. , Thackray Michelle , Desai Parth , Tocci Michael C. , Beverage Michael S.
Published: May 2018

Engaging in multiple tasks is a common and important issue in many achievement settings. This research examined task type (quantitative and qualitative) and resource allocation (time) trends in this context. Prior research has focused largely on quantitative tasks and general predictor‐allocation relationships, neglecting qualitative tasks and the potential for multiple distinct allocation trends. These issues were examined in two studies (N = 75 and N = 118) involving quantitative and qualitative tasks. Results indicated that over time participants reduced resource allocation to the qualitative task but not to the quantitative task. Both studies also revealed multiple distinct allocation trends in addition to these general patterns. These findings highlight the importance of examining different task types and exploring for multiple distinct trends underlying broader patterns in multiple task research.
Apparent conflicts of interest, elected officials and codes of conduct
Authors: Jepson Valerie
Published: May 2018

This article examines the concept of an apparent conflict of interest and asserts that it is well established that elected officials ought to avoid both actual and apparent conflicts. The article then examines why there is a reluctance to include an appearance standard in applicable codes of conduct. The article concludes by situating the debate within the broader context of ethics programs for elected officials and encourages a view that such programs be viewed as sui generis frameworks designed for democratic systems of accountability rather than professional regulatory frameworks.
Harnessing the Twittersphere: How using social media can benefit government ethics offices
Authors: Stedman Ian
Published: May 2018

Ethics commissioners who strive to be innovative may be able to exploit opportunities that have emerged as a result of growing public interest in issues of government ethics and transparency. This article explores how social media has driven greater public interest in political discourse, and I offer some suggestions for how government ethics offices can effectively harness the power of these social tools. I argue that, by thinking outside the box, ethics commissioners can take advantage of low‐cost opportunities to inform and empower the public in a way that propels government ethics forward without the need for legislative change.
Commissions of inquiry as vectors for change in public sector ethics: A few thoughts for further research
Authors: Cartier Geneviève
Published: May 2018

This article addresses the question whether public commissions of inquiry have the potential for driving constructive change in ethical behaviour within the public sector. It suggests two hypotheses. One is that the climate of discussion that often accompanies commissions of inquiry, and the systemic approaches that commissions are encouraged to take in their recommendations, negatively affect the receptiveness of public sector members to change in matters of ethics. The other hypothesis is that highly politicized commissions create a dynamic that may press governments to take courses of action that may not be conducive to constructive change in public sector ethics.
Prognostic markers in core‐binding factor AML and improved survival with multiple consolidation cycles of intermediate‐/high‐dose cytarabine
Authors: Prabahran Ashvind , Tacey Mark , Fleming Shaun , Wei Andrew , Tate Courtney , Marlton Paula , Wight Joel , Grigg Andrew , Tuckfield Annabel , Szer Jeff , Ritchie David , Chee Lynette
Published: May 2018

Objectives

Core‐binding factor acute myeloid leukaemia (CBF AML) defined by t(8;21)(q22;q22) or inv(16)(p13q22)/t(16;16)(p13;q22) has a favourable prognosis; however, 30%‐40% of patients still relapse after chemotherapy. We sought to evaluate the risk factors for relapse in a de novo CBF AML cohort.

Patients/Materials/Methods

A retrospective review of patients from four Australian tertiary centres from 2001 to 2012, comprising 40 t(8;21) and 30 inv(16) AMLs.

Results

Multivariate analysis identified age (P = .032) and white cell count (WCC)>40 (P = .025) as significant predictors for inferior OS and relapse, respectively. Relapse risk was higher in the inv(16) group vs the t(8;21) group (57% vs 18%, HR 4.31, 95% CI: 1.78‐10.42, P = .001). Induction therapy had no bearing on OS or relapse‐free survival (RFS); however, consolidation treatment with >3 cycles of intermediate‐/high‐dose cytarabine improved OS (P = .035) and RFS (P = .063). Five patients demonstrated post‐treatment stable q PCR positivity without relapse.

Conclusions

>3 consolidation cycles of intermediate‐/high‐dose cytarabine improves patient outcomes

Age and inv(16) CBF AML subtype are predictors of inferior OS and RFS, respectively.

Stable low‐level MRD by qPCR does not predict relapse

Similar OS in the inv(16) cohort compared to the t(8;21) cohort, despite a higher relapse rate, confirms salvageability of relapsed disease.
Temporomandibular Joint Disorders in Older Adults
Authors: Yadav Sumit , Yang Yun , Dutra Eliane H. , Robinson Jennifer L. , Wadhwa Sunil
Published: May 2018

Objectives

To review the literature and summarize the evidence of temporomandibualar joint (TMJ) disorders (TMDs) in older adults, focusing on clinical manifestations of TMDs in older adults, highlighting the incidence and sexual dimorphism of TMJ degeneration and the role of sex hormones in this process, and providing potential treatment options for TMD in older adults.

Design

Two review authors performed the literature search, study inclusion, and data extraction. PubMed, Embase, and Google scholar were searched for literature until August 2017 (Figure ). We adopted a combination of Medical Subject Headings with related free text words for the search in PubMed and optimized the search in other search engines.

Results

Traditionally, it was believed that TMDs predominantly affected women of childbearing age, but recent large studies in Europe and the United States have shown that the prevalence of TMD peaks after childbearing age (45–64) and then gradually decreases with age, although not much is known about the disease in older adults.

Conclusion

Most older adults have TMJ degeneration, which affects women more than men. In most older adults, the symptoms of TMD are mild and self‐limiting and can usually be treated with self management.
Why Do Incumbents Respond Heterogeneously to Disruptive Innovations? The Interplay of Domain Identity and Role Identity
Authors: Kammerlander Nadine , König Andreas , Richards Melanie
Published: May 2018

We adopt a multifaceted view of organizational identity to contribute to research on organizational identity and incumbent adaptations to disruptive innovations. Based on a qualitative, multi‐case study on the responses of German publishing houses to the emergence of digitalization, we distill a novel and thus far disregarded facet of organizational identity: organizational role identity. We show how organizational role identity and organizational domain identity – the facet that has so far dominated research on identity and innovation – interactively determine how organizations interpret and respond to a disruptive innovation. In contrast to previous studies, we show that incumbents experience dysfunctional identity‐driven struggles when one of the two identity facets is challenged by the disruptive innovation while the other is enhanced. We also induce that domain and role identities can jointly determine how quickly incumbents react to a disruption, whether they adopt that disruption, and the innovativeness of their responses.
A Time‐Symmetric Self‐Normalization Approach for Inference of Time Series
Authors: Lavitas Liliya , Zhang Ting
Published: May 2018

Self‐normalization has been celebrated as an alternative approach for inference of time series because of its ability to avoid direct estimation of the nuisance asymptotic variance. However, when being applied to quantities other than the mean, the conventional self‐normalizer typically exhibits certain degrees of asymmetry, an undesirable feature especially for time‐reversible processes. This paper considers a new self‐normalizer for time series, which (i) provides a time‐symmetric generalization to the conventional self‐normalizer, (ii) is able to automatically reduce to the conventional self‐normalizer in the mean case where the latter is already time‐symmetric to yield a unified inference procedure, and (iii) possibly leads to narrower confidence intervals when compared with the conventional self‐normalizer. For the proposed time‐symmetric self‐normalizer, we establish the asymptotic theory for its induced inference procedure and examine its finite sample performance through numerical experiments.