bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Women at work! Evaluating equal employment policies and outcomes in construction
Authors: French Erica , Strachan Glenda
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine equal employment policies in Australia’s male-dominated construction industry and categorise the types of activities undertaken against an equal employment typology to identify links to outcomes for women in the form of increased participation and management.

Design/methodology/approach

– To explore the issue of low representation of women in construction through the content analysis of 83 construction organisations’ equal employment opportunity (EEO) reports.

Findings

– This industry is not engaging with equal employment issues and the numbers of women working in the industry and/or management are based on individual decision rather than an institutional commitment to equality in diversity.

Research limitations/implications

– Australian legislation mandates organisational reporting of relevant data and offers public access to this information offering a unique data set.

Practical implications

– An ageing population means that the predominately older male workforce is leaving construction in greater numbers with fewer potential replacements making new labour markets a vital consideration.

Social implications

– Legislation and organisational policies designed to promote EEO for women have existed in numerous countries for decades. One objective of this legislation was to reduce male domination in senior positions and industries/occupations where women were under-represented. Despite this, few women are employed in construction in operational or management roles worldwide.

Originality/value

– This study offers a comprehensive analysis of a male-dominated industry in one jurisdiction rather than a few selected cases and uses a broader rigorous typology for analysis that acknowledges both equal and different treatment options.
Incarcerated women's HPV awareness, beliefs, and experiences
Authors: Pankey Tyson , Ramaswamy Megha
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore incarcerated women's awareness, beliefs, and experiences with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and vaccination.

Design/methodology/approach

– Researchers conducted focus groups with 45 incarcerated women in an urban Midwestern US jail to assess how women talked about their Papanicolaou (Pap) test screening and abnormal Pap test follow-up experiences. Some focus group questions specifically assessed individual awareness, beliefs, and experiences with HPV infection and vaccination. Based on these data, the authors described participants’ awareness of HPV, as well as used open coding to ultimately extract themes related to beliefs and experiences with HPV infection and vaccine.

Findings

– While all 45 participants reported experiencing an abnormal Pap test event within the last five years, only two-thirds of participants (n=30) reported having heard of the HPV infection. Several themes emerged from the analysis of the data: the women's beliefs about cause and severity of HPV; frustration with age requirements of the vaccine; varied experiences with vaccinations for themselves and their children; the impact of media exposure on knowledge; and desire for more HPV infection and vaccine information.

Originality/value

– Incarcerated women's awareness and limited experiences with HPV infection and vaccination may be a barrier to adequate screening and cervical cancer prevention. This study has implications for the development of cervical health education for this high-risk group of women, who are four to five times as likely to have cervical cancer as non-incarcerated women.
Injecting drug use in prison: prevalence and implications for needle exchange policy
Authors: Wright Nat M.J. , Tompkins Charlotte N. E. , Farragher Tracey M.
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore prison drug injecting prevalence, identify any changes in injecting prevalence and practice during imprisonment and explore views on prison needle exchange.

Design/methodology/approach

– An empirical prospective cohort survey conducted between 2006 and 2008. The study involved a random sample of 267 remand and sentenced prisoners from a large male category B prison in England where no prison needle exchange operates. Questionnaires were administered with prisoners on reception and, where possible, at one, three and six months during their sentence.

Findings

– In total, 64 per cent were injecting until admission into prison. The majority intended to stop injecting in prison (93 per cent), almost a quarter due to the lack of needle exchange (23 per cent). Yet when hypothetically asked if they would continue injecting in prison if needle exchange was freely available, a third of participants (33 per cent) believed that they would. Injecting cessation happened on prison entry and appeared to be maintained during the sentence.

Research limitations/implications

– Not providing sterile needles may increase risks associated with injecting for prisoners who continue to inject. However, providing such equipment may prolong injecting for other prisoners who currently cease injecting on account of needle exchange programmes (NEPs) not being provided in the UK prison setting.

Practical implications

– Not providing sterile needles may increase risks associated with injecting for prisoners who continue to inject. However, providing such equipment may prolong injecting for other prisoners who currently cease injecting on account of NEPs not being provided in the UK prison setting.

Originality/value

– This survey is the first to question specifically regarding the timing of injecting cessation amongst male prisoners and explore alongside intention to inject should needle exchange facilities be provided in prison.
The influence of religiosity on Egyptian Muslim youths’ attitude towards fashion
Authors: Farrag Dalia Abdelrahman , Hassan Mohammed
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to measure the impact of the different religiosity dimensions on the attitude of Muslim youth towards fashion.

Design/methodology/approach

– To understand the relationship between religiosity and Muslim youths’ attitude towards fashion, a structured questionnaire was circulated amongst university students in Cairo and Alexandria (Egypt’s two largest cities) using convenience sampling method. Religiosity has been measured using the operationalized definition by Glock (1972), as consisting of five different dimensions: ideological, Intellectual, ritualistic, experimental and consequential. Likert scales were used to measure religiosity dimensions, and semantic differential scale has been used to measure the attitude of Muslim youth towards fashion. An initial sample size of 350 Egyptian Muslim youth was surveyed on-campus using face-to-face method by a group of volunteer trainer students.

Findings

– Cronbach’s alpha has been measured for all variables to ensure internal consistency. The findings provide evidence that a negative relationship exists with all of the religiosity dimensions under study and attitude of youth towards fashion. More specifically, the intellectual and consequential dimensions had the strongest negative significant relationships with attitude of youth towards fashion.

Research limitations/implications

– The results of this study should be considered in light of a number of limitations on which recommendations for future research are based. First, the use of a student sample, even if these consumers are important and justified for this research, may hinder the generalizability of the findings across other segments of consumers who might behave differently. Second, this study relies on the declared attitudes of the respondents, which are likely to be biased because of respondents’ inclination to give socially desirable answers and spiritually peace reactions. Such an evaluation cannot identify unconscious attitudes and behaviours.

Practical implications

– The paper’s interesting findings serve to remind entrepreneurs and marketers in general that they cannot neglect the element of religion in their marketing activities, particularly in the fashion industry and the development of apparel targeting Muslim women. Such an understanding will help both marketers in designing their marketing practices according to their Muslim consumers’ convictions, and academicians in their research endeavours.

Originality/value

– Investigating and measuring the influence of religion in general and Islam in particular on youth’s attitude towards fashion is considered a very contemporary and raw topic that shall have significant contribution to the existing literature, as well as to fashion designers and marketers.
Non-Muslim consumers’ perception toward purchasing halal food products in Malaysia
Authors: Haque Ahasanul , Sarwar Abdullah , Yasmin Farzana , Tarofder Arun Kumar , Hossain Mirza Ahsanul
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– This study aims to identify the factors that influence Malaysian non-Muslim consumers’ perception towards buying halal food products.

Design/methodology/approach

– A structured close-ended questionnaire was used for data collection through a random distribution to 500 non-Muslim consumers from various states in Malaysia.

Findings

– Using SPSS package, the factor analysis was able to identify three main variables. Later, the hypotheses were tested using structural equation modelling. This study has indicated that the perception of non-Muslim consumers about halal food products is influenced by their attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control, specifically in the context of Malaysia.

Research limitations/implications

– This finding will help both the academics and the industry food makers in understanding the perception of non-Muslim consumers towards the concept of halal food products.

Practical implications

– The outcome of the study can serve as a useful reference to relevant Malaysian statutory bodies on the current perception of the Malaysian non-Muslim consumers towards Malaysian halal agenda. This will also help the industry food makers to serve their customers better as well as maximize their profit through a well-planned marketing campaign.

Social implications

– It prepares a sound basis for Malaysian policymakers to promote the involvement of Malaysian non-Muslim entrepreneurs within the halal food service industry with the intent of improving the socio-economic strata of its participants and, at the same time, fulfilling their religious obligations in providing halal foods for fellow Muslims.

Originality/value

– Because very few researches have studied non-Muslim consumers’ perception towards halal food products, the development of halal food theory will help in capitalizing the practices in non-Muslim countries.
Employee engagement, human resource management practices and competitive advantage
Authors: Albrecht Simon L , Bakker Arnold B , Gruman Jamie A , Macey William H , Saks Alan M
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to argue in support of a model that shows how four key HRM practices focused on engagement influence organizational climate, job demands and job resources, the psychological experiences of safety, meaningfulness and availability at work, employee engagement, and individual, group and organizational performance and competitive advantage.

Design/methodology/approach

– This conceptual review focuses on the research evidence showing interrelationships between organizational context factors, job factors, individual employee psychological and motivational factors, employee outcomes, organizational outcomes and competitive advantage. The proposed model integrates frameworks that have previously run independently in the HR and engagement literatures.

Findings

– The authors conclude that HRM practitioners need to move beyond the routine administration of annual engagement surveys and need to embed engagement in HRM policies and practices such personnel selection, socialization, performance management, and training and development.

Practical implications

– The authors offer organizations clear guidelines for how HR practices (i.e. selection, socialization, performance management, training) can be used to facilitate and improve employee engagement and result in positive outcomes that will help organizations achieve a competitive advantage.

Originality/value

– The authors provide useful new insights for researchers and management professionals wishing to embed engagement within the fabric of HRM policies and practices and employee behaviour, and organizational outcomes.
Investigating factors affecting the acceptance of self-service technology in libraries
Authors: Hsiao Chun-Hua , Tang Kai-Yu
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The self-service technology (SST) launched outside libraries has received great attention in Taiwan. This automatic book stop (ABS), FastBook, has raised some interesting issues regarding users’ behavior in the library context. The purpose of this paper is: first, to assess critical variables that contribute to users’ acceptance of SST in the library context; second, to propose an integrated SST acceptance model in terms of technological and individual factors; and third, to further examine the gender differences among all the theoretical relationships proposed in this research model.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on a sound theoretical foundation, the authors proposed a research model to investigate users’ intention to adopt FastBook, including both technological and individual factors. The survey methodology and structural equation modeling were used in this study.

Findings

– The proposed model successfully accounted for about 92 percent of the total variance explained in attitude and 45 percent in behavioral intention (BI). Individuals’ attitudes toward FastBook had a significant impact on their usage intention. All three technological characteristics (perceived ease of use, usefulness, and reachability) and one individual trait (self-efficacy) were confirmed as critical determinants of attitude. Note that the effect of self-efficacy on attitude was much stronger for male than for female users.

Originality/value

– The SST launched outside libraries has received great popularity and extended the library service to readers in Taiwan. This research connected actual users’ experience and the SST literature to provide a conceptual understanding of FastBook adopting process.
The design and implementation of a Mobile Library APP system
Authors: Pu Ying-Hung , Chiu Po-Sheng , Chen Tzung-Shi , Huang Yueh-Min
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to increase usage rate of libraries in universities and colleges, this study developed a Mobile Library APP System and analyzed users’ usage and level of satisfaction. The analysis results served as the reference for the development and improvement of libraries in universities and colleges’ mobile information systems.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study developed a Mobile Library APP System and probed into and evaluated college students’ usage and level of satisfaction with the system by using questionnaire. Individual interviews were carried out to find out their standpoints and opinions about their library usage via mobile technology.

Findings

– The analysis of experiment results showed that students’ attitude toward the Mobile Library APP System was highly positive. This indicated the system certainly assisted them in increasing their work efficiency and their willingness in continuously using this APP system in library-relevant activities.

Practical implications

– Students’ viewpoints indicated that, by using Mobile Library APP System, they could effectively searched for books, magazines, e-books and other e-resources in a timely manner. The time spent in information searching was shortened and individual work efficiency was promoted. Moreover, in interview sessions, students suggested to add categorized search, book recommendation, book discussion and other functions to increase user population and willingness of continuous usage.

Originality/value

– To find out the actual usage of the Mobile Library, this study developed the Mobile Library APP System and invited students of National University of Tainan in Taiwan to be experimental subjects. The results of data analysis indicate that the system acquires highly favorable view from student. Thus, it can be inferred that research results of this study are representative and have practical values in real world practice.
Comparing flow experience in using digital libraries
Authors: Zha Xianjin , Zhang Jinchao , Yan Yalan , Wang Wentao
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– Flow experience is conceptualized as an optimal experience about an activity, characterized by a match between perceived challenges and perceived skills. The purpose of this paper is to explore mobile libraries by comparing users’ perceptions of web digital libraries and mobile libraries in terms of flow experience so as to obtain insights regarding the healthy development of mobile libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data collected from university digital library users were used for analysis. One figure was used to present the exact nature of users’ perceptions of flow experience in terms of data distribution. The paired samples t-test was used to present the exact mean difference between flow experience in using web digital libraries and mobile libraries.

Findings

– Fewer users can experience flow and more users cannot experience flow in using mobile libraries than in using web digital libraries. The mean of flow experience in using mobile libraries is significantly smaller than that in using web digital libraries.

Practical implications

– Digital libraries have faced severe competition in the modern information society. In China university libraries as a whole are undergoing the transition from web digital libraries to mobile libraries. It is critical to examine user experience in the initial or early stage of mobile library development. The authors believe the findings of this study regarding flow experience provide useful insights for facilitating the healthy development of mobile libraries.

Originality/value

– This study explores and compares users’ perceptions of web digital libraries and mobile libraries in terms of flow experience, which the authors think provides a new view for university digital library research and practice alike.
Nodamura virus B2 amino terminal domain sensitivity to small interfering RNA
Authors: Ali P. Shaik Syed , John Jasmine , Selvaraj Manikandan , Kek Teh Lay , Salleh Mohd Zaki
Published: March 2015

Nodamura virus (NoV) B2, a suppressor of RNA interference, binds double stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) corresponding to Dicer substrates and products. Here, we report that the amino terminal domain of NoV B2 (NoV B2 79) specifically binds siRNAs but not dsRNAs. NoV B2 79 oligomerizes on binding to 27 nucleotide siRNA. Mutation of the residues phenylalanine49 and alanine60 to cysteine and methionine, respectively enhances the RNA binding affinity of NoV B2 79. Circular dichroism spectra demonstrated that the wild type and mutant NoV B2 79 have similar secondary structure conformations.
Evolutionary patterns of adaptive acrobatics and physical performance predict expression profiles of androgen receptor – but not oestrogen receptor – in the forelimb musculature
Authors: Fuxjager Matthew J. , Eaton Joy , Lindsay Willow R. , Salwiczek Lucie H. , Rensel Michelle A. , Barske Julia , Sorenson Laurie , Day Lainy B. , Schlinger Barney A.
Published: March 2015

Superior physical competence is vital to the adaptive behavioural routines of many animals, particularly those that engage in elaborate sociosexual displays. How such traits evolve across species remains unclear.

Recent work suggests that activation of sex steroid receptors in neuromuscular systems is necessary for the fine motor skills needed to execute physically elaborate displays. Thus, using passerine birds as models, we test whether interspecific variation in display complexity predicts species differences in the abundance of androgen and oestrogen receptors (AR and ER‐α) expressed in the forelimb musculature and spinal cord.

We find that small‐scale evolutionary patterns in physical display complexity positively predict expression of AR in the main muscles that lift and retract the wings. No such relationship is detected in the spinal cord, and we do not find a correlation between display behaviour and neuromuscular expression of ER‐α. Also, we find that AR expression levels in different androgen targets throughout the body – namely the wing muscles, spinal cord and testes – are not necessarily correlated, providing evidence that evolutionary forces drive AR expression in a tissue‐specific manner.

These results suggest co‐evolution between the physical prowess necessary for display performance and levels of AR expression in avian forelimb muscles. Moreover, this relationship appears to be both specific to muscle and AR‐mediated signalling.

Given that prior work suggests that activation of muscular AR is a necessary component of physical display performance, our current data support the hypothesis that sexual selection shapes levels of AR expressed in the forelimb skeletal muscles to help drive the evolution of adaptive motor abilities.
Formerly eclamptic women have lower nonpregnant blood pressure compared with formerly pre‐eclamptic women: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Schreurs MP , Cipolla MJ , Al‐Nasiry S , Peeters LLH , Spaanderman MEA
Published: March 2015

Objective

To compare nonpregnant blood pressure and circulating metabolic factors between formerly pre‐eclamptic women who did and did not deteriorate to eclampsia.

Design

Retrospective observational cohort study.

Setting

Tertiary referral centre.

Population

Formerly pre‐eclamptic women with (n = 88) and without (n = 698) superimposed eclampsia.

Methods

Women who experienced pre‐eclampsia with or without superimposed eclampsia during their pregnancy or puerperium were tested for possible underlying cardiovascular risk factors at least 6 months postpartum. We measured blood pressure and determined cardiovascular and metabolic risk markers in a fasting blood sample. Groups were compared using Mann–Whitney U test, Spearman's Rho test or Fisher's Exact test (odds ratios).

Main outcome measures

Differences in postpartum blood pressures and features of the metabolic syndrome between formerly pre‐eclamptic and formerly eclamptic women.

Results

Formerly pre‐eclamptic women who developed eclampsia differed from their counterparts without eclampsia by a lower blood pressure (P < 0.01) with blood pressure correlating inversely with the likelihood of having experienced eclampsia (P < 0.001). In addition, formerly eclamptic women had higher circulating C‐reactive protein levels than formerly pre‐eclamptic women (P < 0.05). All other circulating metabolic factors were comparable. Finally, 40% of all eclamptic cases occurred in the puerperium.

Conclusions

Formerly pre‐eclamptic women with superimposed eclampsia have lower nonpregnant blood pressure compared with their counterparts without neurological sequelae with blood pressure negatively correlated to the occurrence of eclampsia. As about 40% of all eclamptic cases occur postpartum, routine blood pressure monitoring postpartum should be intensified.

Tweetable abstract

Nonpregnant blood pressure of formerly pre‐eclamptic women is negatively correlated to the occurrence of eclampsia.
Revisiting the Impact of Order Effects on Sensitivity to Scope: A Contingent Valuation of a Common‐Pool Resource
Authors: Martin‐Ortega Julia , Azahara Mesa‐Jurado M. , Berbel Julio
Published: March 2015

While many studies have employed stated preferences methods to estimate the value of non‐market ecosystem goods and services, contingent valuation (CV) still generates a significant amount of criticism. Besides ethical concerns, two of the key criticisms relate to insensitivity to scope and order effects. We examine the expectation that the presence of order effects in stepwise disclosure procedures affects the degree of scope sensitivity. We use data from a CV exercise asking farmers in Southern Spain to value two different levels of guarantee of water supply for irrigation in a context of water scarcity. We find that despite order effects being present, they do not affect the existence or the degree of sensitivity to scope. We conclude that, in the light of the mixed evidence found in the literature and the results of our study, it does not seem justified to ascribe order effects and their connection with sensitivity to scope to study design alone (e.g. step‐wise versus advanced disclosure, top‐down versus bottom‐up). The nature of the environmental good under valuation also matters. Our study of irrigation water as a common‐pool resource suggests that, when clear private benefits also exist, these appear to override any ‘good cause dumping effect’ that might arise from the public good component.
The role of political uncertainty in Australian financial markets
Authors: Smales Lee A.
Published: March 2015

Within the developed world, recent Australian political history is uniquely turbulent. This situation invokes indecision regarding investment decisions in both the real economy and the financial markets. This paper explores the relationship between uncertainty in Australian federal election polling and resulting financial market uncertainty. Empirical evidence suggests that increasing (decreasing) levels of uncertainty around the election result induce higher (lower) levels of uncertainty in financial markets. The effect is more pronounced as polling day approaches. Industry‐level analysis suggests that the base materials sector is most significantly affected by election uncertainty in Australia.
A research analytics framework‐supported recommendation approach for supervisor selection
Authors: Zhang Mingyu , Ma Jian , Liu Zhiying , Sun Jianshan , Silva Thushari
Published: March 2015

Identifying a suitable supervisor for a new research student is vitally important for his or her academic career. Current information overload and information disorientation have posed significant challenges for new students. Existing research for supervisor identification focuses on quality assessment of candidates, but ignores indirect relevance with candidate supervisors' previous students, social network connections and their thinking styles. This paper presents a comprehensive student‐centric approach based on research analytics framework for finding and recommending supervisors for new students. In particular, it integrates multiple measurements from three dimensions, ie, relevance, connectivity and quality. A prototype system was developed to support student–supervisor recommendations on a research social network platform (ie, www.ScholarMate.com). The results of user‐based evaluations demonstrate that our proposed approach generates more satisfactory recommendations as compared with that of all baseline methods.
Dissecting the time course of person recognition in natural viewing environments
Authors: Hahn Carina A. , O'Toole Alice J. , Phillips P. Jonathon
Published: March 2015

Person recognition often unfolds over time and distance as a person approaches, with the quality of identity information from faces, bodies, and motion in constant flux. Participants were familiarized with identities using close‐up and distant videos. Recognition was tested with videos of people approaching from a distance. We varied the timing of prompted responses in the test videos, the amount of video seen, and whether the face, body, or whole person was visible. A free response condition was also included to allow participants to respond when they felt ‘confident’. The pattern of accuracy across conditions indicated that recognition judgments were based on the most recently available information, with no contribution from qualitatively diverse and statistically useful person cues available earlier in the video. Body recognition was stable across viewing distance, whereas face recognition improved with proximity. The body made an independent contribution to recognition only at the farthest distance tested. Free response latencies indicated meta‐knowledge of the optimal proximity for recognition from faces versus bodies. Notably, response bias varied strongly as a function of participants’ expectation about whether closer proximity video was forthcoming. These findings lay the groundwork for developing person recognition theories that generalize to natural viewing environments.
Stratigraphic modelling of platform architecture and carbonate production: a Messinian case study (Sorbas Basin, SE Spain)
Authors: Kolodka Christophe , Vennin Emmanuelle , Bourillot Raphael , Granjeon Didier , Desaubliaux Guy
Published: March 2015

The late Messinian mixed carbonate‐siliciclastic platforms of the Sorbas Basin, known as the Terminal Carbonate Complex, record significant changes in carbonate production and geometry. Their facies and stratigraphic architecture result from complex interactions between base‐level fluctuations, evaporite deformation/dissolution and detrital inputs. A 3D quantitative approach (with DIONISOS software) is used to explore the basin‐scale platform architecture and to quantify the carbonate production of the Terminal Carbonate Complex. The modelling strategy consists in integrating detailed 2D field‐based transects and modern carbonate system parameters (e.g. carbonate production rates, bathymetric and hydrodynamic ranges of production). This approach limits user impact and so provides more objective output results. Tests are carried out on carbonate production rates, subsidence and evaporite deformation/dissolution. Numerical modelling provides accurate predictions of geometries, facies distributions and depositional sequence thicknesses, validated by field data. Comparative statistical testing of the field transects and of the various model outputs are used to discern the relative contribution of the parameters tested to the evolution of basin filling. The 3D visualization and quantification of the main carbonate producers (ooids and microbialites) are discussed in terms of changes in base‐level and detrital supply. This study demonstrates that base‐level fluctuations have the greatest impact on the carbonate budget. Evaporite deformation/dissolution affects the type and amount of carbonate production, inducing a transition from an ooid‐ to microbialite‐dominated system and also has a major effect on stratigraphic architecture by inducing the migration of depocentres. The numerical modelling results obtained using modern carbonate system parameters could also be applied to subsurface ooid‐microbialite reservoirs, and the Terminal Carbonate Complex is a good analogue for such systems.
The siRNA cocktail targeting interleukin 10 receptor and transforming growth factor-β receptor on dendritic cells potentiates tumour antigen-specific CD8+ T cell immunity
Authors: Ahn Y-H , Hong S-O , Kim J H , Noh K H , Song K-H , Lee Y-H , Jeon J-H , Kim D-W , Seo J H , Kim T W
Published: March 2015

Dendritic cells (DCs) are promising therapeutic agents in the field of cancer immunotherapy due to their intrinsic immune-priming capacity. The potency of DCs, however, is readily attenuated immediately after their administration in patients as tumours and various immune cells, including DCs, produce various immunosuppressive factors such as interleukin (IL)-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β that hamper the function of DCs. In this study, we used small interfering RNA (siRNA) to silence the expression of endogenous molecules in DCs, which can sense immunosuppressive factors. Among the siRNAs targeting various immunosuppressive molecules, we observed that DCs transfected with siRNA targeting IL-10 receptor alpha (siIL-10RA) initiated the strongest antigen-specific CD8+ T cell immune responses. The potency of siIL-10RA was enhanced further by combining it with siRNA targeting TGF-β receptor (siTGF-βR), which was the next best option during the screening of this study, or the previously selected immunoadjuvant siRNA targeting phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) or Bcl-2-like protein 11 (BIM). In the midst of sorting out the siRNA cocktails, the cocktail of siIL-10RA and siTGF-βR generated the strongest antigen-specific CD8+ T cell immunity. Concordantly, the knock-down of both IL-10RA and TGF-βR in DCs induced the strongest anti-tumour effects in the TC-1 P0 tumour model, a cervical cancer model expressing the human papillomavirus (HPV)-16 E7 antigen, and even in the immune-resistant TC-1 (P3) tumour model that secretes more IL-10 and TGF-β than the parental tumour cells (TC-1 P0). These results provide the groundwork for future clinical development of the siRNA cocktail-mediated strategy by co-targeting immunosuppressive molecules to enhance the potency of DC-based vaccines.
The T cell antigen receptor: the Swiss army knife of the immune system
Authors: Attaf M , Legut M , Cole D K , Sewell A K
Published: March 2015

The mammalian T cell receptor (TCR) orchestrates immunity by responding to many billions of different ligands that it has never encountered before and cannot adapt to at the protein sequence level. This remarkable receptor exists in two main heterodimeric isoforms: αβ TCR and γδ TCR. The αβ TCR is expressed on the majority of peripheral T cells. Most αβ T cells recognize peptides, derived from degraded proteins, presented at the cell surface in molecular cradles called major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. Recent reports have described other αβ T cell subsets. These ‘unconventional’ T cells bear TCRs that are capable of recognizing lipid ligands presented in the context of the MHC-like CD1 protein family or bacterial metabolites bound to the MHC-related protein 1 (MR1). γδ T cells constitute a minority of the T cell pool in human blood, but can represent up to half of total T cells in tissues such as the gut and skin. The identity of the preferred ligands for γδ T cells remains obscure, but it is now known that this receptor can also functionally engage CD1-lipid, or immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily proteins called butyrophilins in the presence of pyrophosphate intermediates of bacterial lipid biosynthesis. Interactions between TCRs and these ligands allow the host to discriminate between self and non-self and co-ordinate an attack on the latter. Here, we describe how cells of the T lymphocyte lineage and their antigen receptors are generated and discuss the various modes of antigen recognition by these extraordinarily versatile receptors.
Glial Pathology in Bipolar Disorder: Potential Therapeutic Implications
Authors: Dong Xiao‐Hua , Zhen Xue‐Chu
Published: March 2015

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a chronic and severe mental disorder with recurrent episodes of mania and depression. In addition to neuronal alterations, accumulating evidences have revealed the importance of glial system in pathophysiology and phenotype of the illness. Postmortem studies have repeatedly demonstrated the alterations in glial cells and its functions in patients with BD. The activated microglia and inflammatory cytokines are proposed to be the potential biomarkers that may help to predict disease exacerbation in BD. On the other hand, anti‐BD drugs have been shown to produce profound effects on glial activity, which not only contributes to the therapeutic efficacy, but may also provide a potential target for the drug development of BD. We will focus on the recent development of glial abnormalities and potential therapeutic benefits targeted to glial modulation in BD.
A novel method for weft and warp yarn segmentation in multicolour yarn‐dyed fabric images
Authors: Luo Lin , Shen Hui‐Liang , Shao Si‐Jie , Xin John H.
Published: March 2015

This paper proposes a novel method for segmentation of weft and warp yarns in multicolour yarn‐dyed fabric images. A multicolour yarn‐dyed fabric is cross‐woven by weft and warp yarns with different colours. When a multispectral imaging system is used to measure the colour of a multicolour yarn‐dyed fabric image, its weft and warp yarns need to be detected before analysing their colours. Detection of interstices between weft and warp yarns is firstly conducted. A modified K‐means clustering approach is then utilised to separate weft and warp yarns. The number of clusters is fixed to 2. The metric to measure the distance between a pixel and the mean of a cluster is the CIELAB colour difference. The initial means are determined by the expected values of fitted Gaussian distributions to CIExyY colour histograms. Experimental results show that the proposed method is promising for the segmentation of weft and warp yarns in multicolour yarn‐dyed fabrics, with an improved segmentation accuracy and much faster processing speed than K‐means clustering in CIEXYZ and CIELAB spaces.
Genotyping‐by‐sequencing approach indicates geographic distance as the main factor affecting genetic structure and gene flow in Brazilian populations of Grapholita molesta (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae)
Authors: Silva‐Brandão Karina Lucas , Silva Oscar Arnaldo Batista Neto e , Brandão Marcelo Mendes , Omoto Celso , Sperling Felix A. H.
Published: March 2015

The oriental fruit moth Grapholita molesta is one of the major pests of stone and pome fruit species in Brazil. Here, we applied 1226 SNPs obtained by genotyping‐by‐sequencing to test whether host species associations or other factors such as geographic distance structured populations of this pest. Populations from the main areas of occurrence of G. molesta were sampled principally from peach and apple orchards. Three main clusters were recovered by neighbor‐joining analysis, all defined by geographic proximity between sampling localities. Overall genetic structure inferred by a nonhierarchical amova resulted in a significant ΦST value = 0.19109. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that SNPs gathered by genotyping‐by‐sequencing can be used to infer genetic structure of a pest insect in Brazil; moreover, our results indicate that those markers are very informative even over a restricted geographic scale. We also demonstrate that host plant association has little effect on genetic structure among Brazilian populations of G. molesta; on the other hand, reduced gene flow promoted by geographic isolation has a stronger impact on population differentiation.
Oceanography and life history predict contrasting genetic population structure in two Antarctic fish species
Authors: Young Emma F. , Belchier Mark , Hauser Lorenz , Horsburgh Gavin J. , Meredith Michael P. , Murphy Eugene J. , Pascoal Sonia , Rock Jennifer , Tysklind Niklas , Carvalho Gary R.
Published: March 2015

Understanding the key drivers of population connectivity in the marine environment is essential for the effective management of natural resources. Although several different approaches to evaluating connectivity have been used, they are rarely integrated quantitatively. Here, we use a ‘seascape genetics’ approach, by combining oceanographic modelling and microsatellite analyses, to understand the dominant influences on the population genetic structure of two Antarctic fishes with contrasting life histories, Champsocephalus gunnari and Notothenia rossii. The close accord between the model projections and empirical genetic structure demonstrated that passive dispersal during the planktonic early life stages is the dominant influence on patterns and extent of genetic structuring in both species. The shorter planktonic phase of C. gunnari restricts direct transport of larvae between distant populations, leading to stronger regional differentiation. By contrast, geographic distance did not affect differentiation in N. rossii, whose longer larval period promotes long‐distance dispersal. Interannual variability in oceanographic flows strongly influenced the projected genetic structure, suggesting that shifts in circulation patterns due to climate change are likely to impact future genetic connectivity and opportunities for local adaptation, resilience and recovery from perturbations. Further development of realistic climate models is required to fully assess such potential impacts.
Inventory of the GH70 enzymes encoded by Leuconostoc citreum NRRL B‐1299 – identification of three novel α‐transglucosylases
Authors: Passerini Delphine , Vuillemin Marlène , Ufarté Lisa , Morel Sandrine , Loux Valentin , Fontagné‐Faucher Catherine , Monsan Pierre , Remaud‐Siméon Magali , Moulis Claire
Published: March 2015

Leuconostoc citreum NRRL B‐1299 has long been known to produce α‐glucans containing both α‐(1→6) and α‐(1→2) linkages, which are synthesized by α‐transglucosylases of the GH70 family. We sequenced the genome of Leuconostoc citreum NRRL B‐1299 to identify the full inventory of GH70 enzymes in this strain. Three new genes (brsA, dsrM and dsrDP) putatively encoding GH70 enzymes were identified. The corresponding recombinant enzymes were characterized. Branching sucrase A (BRS‐A) grafts linear α‐(1→6) dextran with α‐(1→2)‐linked glucosyl units, and is probably involved in the α‐(1→2) branching of L. citreum NRRL B‐1299 dextran. This is the first report of a naturally occurring α‐(1→2) branching sucrase. DSR‐M and DSR‐DP are dextransucrases that are specific for α‐(1→6) linkage synthesis and mainly produce oligomers or short dextrans with molar masses between 580 and 27 000 g·mol−1. In addition, DSR‐DP contains sequences that diverge from the consensus sequences that are typically present in enzymes that synthesize linear dextran. Comparison of the genome with five other L. citreum genomes further revealed that dsrDP is unique to L. citreum NRRL B‐1299. The presence of this gene in a prophage represents the first evidence of phage‐mediated horizontal transfer of genes encoding such enzymes in lactic acid bacteria. Finally, brsA and dsrM are located in a chromosomal region in which genes encoding strain‐specific GH70 enzymes are consistently located. This region may be a good target on which to focus in order to rapidly evaluate the diversity of GH70 enzymes in L. citreum strains.
Students With Learning Disabilities in the Foreign Language Learning Environment and the Practice of Exemption
Authors: Wight Mary Caitlin S.
Published: March 2015

This examination of the literature on foreign, or second, language learning by native English–speaking students with disabilities addresses the benefits of language learning, the practices and policies of language exemption, the perceptions of students and educators regarding those practices, and available resources for supporting students with special needs. It aims to question the policy of granting foreign language exemptions while additionally providing insights for educators into the development of inclusive foreign language learning environments.
Chronic L‐DOPA induces hyperactivity, normalization of gait and dyskinetic behavior in MitoPark mice
Authors: Gellhaar S. , Marcellino D. , Abrams M. B. , Galter D.
Published: March 2015

Dopamine (DA) replacement therapy continues to be the gold standard treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD), as it improves key motor symptoms including bradykinesia and gait disturbances. With time, treatment induces side effects in the majority of patients, known as L‐DOPA‐induced dyskinesia (LID), which are often studied in animals by the use of unilateral, toxin‐induced rodent models. In this study, we used the progressive, genetic PD model MitoPark to specifically evaluate bilateral changes in motor behavior following long‐term L‐DOPA treatment at three different stages of striatal DA depletion. Besides locomotor activity, we assessed changes in gait with two automated gait analysis systems and the development of dyskinetic behavior. Long‐term treatment with a moderate, clinically relevant dose of L‐DOPA (8 mg/kg) gradually produced age‐dependent hyperactivity in MitoPark mice. In voluntary and forced gait analyses, we show that MitoPark mice with severe DA depletion have distinct gait characteristics, which are normalized to control levels following long‐term L‐DOPA treatment. The cylinder test showed an age‐dependent and gradual development of bilateral LID. Significant increase in striatal FosB and prodynorphin expression was found to accompany the behavior changes. Taken together, we report that MitoPark mice model both behavioral and biochemical characteristics of long‐term L‐DOPA treatment in PD patients and provide a novel, consistent and progressive animal model of dyskinesia to aid in the discovery and evaluation of better treatment options to counteract LID.
Evaluation of morphological traits, winter survival and biomass potential in wild Japanese Miscanthus sinensis Anderss. populations in northern Japan
Authors: Anzoua Kossonou G. , Suzuki Kenji , Fujita Shinichi , Toma Yo , Yamada Toshihiko
Published: March 2015

Miscanthus ×giganteus has potential as a biomass feedstock for bioenergy production in cold environments. However, its sterility, high cost propagation and relative lack of cold tolerance constrain its cultivation especially during its first winter. Diploid Miscanthus sinensis is a closely related species with substantial genetic diversity, amenable to seed propagation and broadly distributed across a range of environments in eastern Asia including Japan. Forty‐three wild Japanese M. sinensis populations collected across a range of latitudes (from N31°30′ in southern to N44°30′ northern Japan) and altitudes (0–1375 m) were evaluated in Sapporo (N43°; 56 m), Japan to assess morphological traits, winter survival and biomass productivity (BP). Seventy percent of M. sinensis from Hokkaido Island and 67% from other areas of Japan survived over three winter seasons in Sapporo. M. sinensis populations from cooler climates and higher elevations in other areas of Japan showed greater number of tillers, plant height and leaf length whose characteristics were associated with high BP. BP varied among accessions with higher potential productivity in plants from other areas of Japan than from Hokkaido, but annual biomass yield increase is less in the other Japan group. The present study concludes that wild M. sinensis populations from other areas of Japan could be used for domestication as an energy crop in cold environment areas such as Hokkaido. With the observed variability that exists among wild populations, further genetic improvement of M. sinensis for high yield and stability in BP is feasible.
Clinical and morphological features of collagen type III glomerulopathy: a report of nine cases from a single institution
Authors: Bao Hao , Chen Huiping , Zhu Xiaodong , Xu Feng , Zhu Maoyan , Zhang Minchao , He Qian , Zeng Caihong , Liu Zhihong
Published: March 2015

Aims

We report nine Chinese patients with collagen type III glomerulopathy.

Methods and results

Two males and seven females were studied, ranging in age from 21 to 67 years. Proteinuria and hypertension were the most common symptoms, with incidences of 88.9 and 77.8%, respectively. Two patients had abnormal renal function. Their histological appearances varied. Massive eosinophilic and weakly periodic acid–Schiff (PAS)‐positive substances were deposited along the capillary loops and in the mesangial area in three cases, while others had thickened capillary walls with a chain‐like structure or double‐contour appearance of the PAS‐ and silver‐stained sections. Immunofluorescence analysis showed the abundant deposition of collagen type III. Electron microscopy revealed massive scattered or bundle‐shaped fibre‐like materials in the subendothelial and mesangial areas. During follow‐up, 44.4% of the patients suffered a doubling of serum creatinine. The level of serum creatinine at biopsy was an independent predictor of this doubled serum creatinine value.

Conclusions

Collagen type III deposits in the subendothelial and mesangial areas. Some patients show global nodular lesions, while others show subtle changes only via PAS/silver staining. Proteinuria and hypertension are the most common symptoms, and the serum creatinine level at biopsy is an independent predictor of the doubling of serum creatinine during follow‐up.