bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“Putting gender on the table”: Understanding reactions to women who discuss gender inequality
Authors: Anisman-Razin Moran , Kark Ronit , Saguy Tamar
Published: July 2018

Even though gender inequality remains an important challenge across societies, many believe it to be long gone (Marken, 2016). Thus, it is essential to publicly address issues related to gender inequality as a first step towards advancing change in this domain. However, those who address gender inequality may encounter personal costs. In the current research, we examined reactions to women who “put gender on the table.” In Study 1 ( N = 202), men who were exposed to a woman who raised the issue of gender inequality (vs. age inequality or a neutral topic), had more negative attitudes towards both her and gender equality. In Study 2, ( N = 233), women high on feminist identification were more positive toward a woman who discussed gender inequality (vs. other topics), whereas women low on feminist identification were more negative toward both her and the issue. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Changing minds via collective action: Exposure to the 2017 Women’s March predicts decrease in (some) men’s gender system justification over time
Authors: Saguy Tamar , Szekeres Hanna
Published: July 2018

Even though social change efforts are largely aimed at impacting upon public opinion, there is an overwhelming scarcity of research on the potential consequences of collective action. We aimed to fill this gap by capitalizing on the widespread 2017 Women’s March that developed across the US and worldwide in response to Donald Trump’s inauguration. We assessed changes in gender system justification of men and women over time—before and right after the Women’s March ( N = 344). We further considered participants’ level of gender identification and reported levels of exposure to the march as predictors of change. Results showed that gender system justification decreased over time, but only among low-identified men with relatively high exposure to the protests. For men highly identified with their gender, gender system justification actually increased with greater exposure to the protests. For women, we did not observe changes in gender system justification. Implications for collective action and for gender relations are discussed.
Predictors of parental leave support: Bad news for (big) dads and a policy for equality
Authors: Gloor Jamie L. , Li Xinxin , Puhl Rebecca M.
Published: July 2018

Parenthood increases gender inequality in paid (employment) and unpaid labor (e.g., caretaking). New parental leave plans aim to increase gender equality by reducing managerial discretion and offering gender-neutral benefits. However, coworkers may undermine these inclusive aims, particularly if they show variable support per employee characteristics. Thus, we examine why and how employee gender and obesity interactively predict coworkers’ support for parental leave and test an intervention to increase equality. Three between-subjects experiments with working American adults ( Ns = 133–252) indicate that obesity decreases coworkers’ parental leave support for men, but increases coworkers’ parental leave support for women; these effects are replicated and mediated by coworkers’ caregiving ability expectations of the employees, inequalities that are reduced when parental leave is made the default. Discussion focuses on our results’ implications for theory, practice, and for men and women’s paid and unpaid labor, including recommendations for parental leave policy design and delivery to increase equality.
“We for She”: Mobilising men and women to act in solidarity for gender equality
Authors: Subašić Emina , Hardacre Stephanie , Elton Benjamin , Branscombe Nyla R. , Ryan Michelle K. , Reynolds Katherine J.
Published: July 2018

Gender (in)equality is typically studied as a women’s issue to be addressed via systemic measures (e.g., government policy). As such, research focusing on mobilising men (and women) towards achieving gender equality is rare. In contrast, this paper examines the mobilisation of both men and women towards gender equality as common cause. Experiment 1 shows that men’s collective action intentions increase after reading messages that position men as agents of change towards gender equality, compared to messages that frame this issue as stemming from inadequate government policy. Experiments 2 and 3 demonstrate that messages framing gender equality as an issue for both men and women increase men’s collective action intentions, compared to when gender inequality is framed as primarily concerning women. However, this effect emerges primarily under conditions where the source of message is male (Experiment 3). Practical and theoretical implications for mobilising political solidarity in gender equality contexts are discussed.
Neutralising linguistic sexism: Promising but cumbersome?
Authors: Gabriel Ute , Gygax Pascal M. , Kuhn Elisabeth A.
Published: July 2018

The generic use of grammatically (or lexically) gender-marked nouns and pronouns (GM) to refer to women and men in Indo-European languages has been criticised as gender-asymmetric since the 1970s. Two main strategies for eliminating asymmetry have been suggested: visibility by feminisation and de-gendering by neutralisation. Feminisation strategies seek to contribute to women’s visibility in discourse by explicitly and symmetrically referring to women and men, thus continuing to highlight gender boundaries. In contrast, neutralisation strategies downplay gender boundaries by promoting the use of unmarked nouns and pronouns. We discuss feminisation and neutralisation strategies and review: (a) evidence (from our own work and that of others) on the effect of neutralisation and feminisation strategies on speakers’ and readers’ mental representations of gender and associated behaviours, and (b) evidence on individual variables facilitating and hampering the successful implementation of a less asymmetric—and therefore more gender-fair—language use. Based on this review, we suggest, in particular, to use feminisation strategies in contexts that are already gendered, and to use neutralisation strategies in nongendered ones (hence keeping the context gender-neutral).
Using Kaleidographic to visualize multimodal relations within and across texts
Authors: Caple Helen , Bednarek Monika , Anthony Laurence
Published: July 2018

Kaleidographic is a dynamic and interactive data visualization tool that allows users to observe and explore relations between any number of variables. It was developed in reaction to the problem of capturing the complex ways in which words and images combine to make meaning. This article introduces the Kaleidographic tool through a case study examining the multimodal construction of news values in news items widely shared on the Facebook social media platform. The design and functionality of the tool are explained in relation to the challenges faced when exploring both the visual and verbal elements of these news items as part of a multimodal discourse analysis. Through this case study, the authors show that Kaleidographic offers multimodal researchers a means of exploring relations at the intersection of different semiotic modes that might be missed in static graphs and tables. Despite Kaleidographic being initially conceived out of the analysis of text–image relations, the case study demonstrates that it has potential applications beyond multimodal discourse analysis. To facilitate broader applications of the tool, it is now publicly available online for use without charge.
The Ability of Prostate Health Index (PHI) to Predict Gleason Score in Patients With Prostate Cancer and Discriminate Patients Between Gleason Score 6 and Gleason Score Higher Than 6—A Study on 320 Patients After Radical Prostatectomy
Authors: Dolejsova Olga , Kucera Radek , Fuchsova Radka , Topolcan Ondrej , Svobodova Hana , Hes Ondrej , Eret Viktor , Pecen Ladislav , Hora Milan
Published: July 2018

Aim:

The purpose of this study was to investigate the Prostate Health Index as a marker for tumor aggressiveness in prostate biopsy and the optimization of indication for treatment options.

Methods:

Our cohort consisted of 320 patients indicated for radical prostatectomy with preoperative measurements of total prostate-specific antigen, free prostate-specific antigen, [-2]proPSA, calculated %freePSA, and Prostate Health Index. The Gleason score was determined during biopsy and after radical prostatectomy. Using the Gleason score, we divided the group of patients into the 2 subgroups: Gleason score ≤6 and Gleason score >6. This division was performed according to the biopsy Gleason score and according to the postoperative Gleason score. We compared total prostate-specific antigen, [-2]proPSA, %freePSA, and Prostate Health Index in the subgroups Gleason score ≤6 and Gleason score >6 after biopsy and the definitive score.

Results:

On evaluation of the subgroups created by Gleason score ≤6 and Gleason score >6, we observed agreement between biopsy Gleason score and definitive Gleason score in only 45.3% of cases. Of the calculated biopsy, Gleason score ≤6 and Gleason score >6 subgroups, [-2]proPSA, and Prostate Health Index ( P = .0003 and P = .0005) were statistically significant. Of the definitive Gleason score ≤6 and Gleason score >6 subgroups, Prostate Health Index, [-2]proPSA, %freePSA, and PSA ( P < .0001, P < .0001, P = .0003, and P = .0043) were statistically significant. The best area under the curve value (0.7496) was achieved by Prostate Health Index when the subgroups were established according to the postoperative Gleason score.

Conclusion:

Prostate Health Index is the best of the tested markers for the categorization of Gleason score 6 tumors and for facilitating the management of patients with prostate cancer. Prostate Health Index can be a helpful marker for indication of active surveillance or radical prostatectomy. Prostate health index can also simplify the decision of whether to perform nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy.
Assessing the Implementation of the Good Behavior Game: Comparing Estimates of Adherence, Quality, and Exposure
Authors: Collier-Meek Melissa A. , Fallon Lindsay M. , DeFouw Emily R.
Published: July 2018

Treatment fidelity assessment is critical to evaluating the extent to which interventions, such as the Good Behavior Game, are implemented as intended and impact student outcomes. The assessment methods by which treatment fidelity data are collected vary, with direct observation being the most popular and widely recommended. The current study presents an exploratory analysis of the differences between fidelity estimates collected through direct observation versus permanent product across three dimensions of treatment fidelity: adherence, quality, and exposure. Findings indicate that direct observation may allow for a more complete estimate of adherence when compared with permanent product, if implementation occurs within the observation window. Quality was only captured via direct observation. Direct observation may not produce adequate estimates of exposure depending on implementation timing. Implications for treatment fidelity assessment are reviewed.
Trends in Utilization of Upper Extremity Reconstructive Surgery Following Traumatic Brain Injury and Stroke
Authors: Beutel Bryan G. , Marascalchi Bryan J. , Melamed Eitan
Published: July 2018

Background: Spasticity resulting from traumatic brain injury (TBI) or stroke can lead to debilitating sequelae, including deformities from joint subluxation and spasticity, causing a loss of functional independence. Despite the effectiveness of surgery to address these issues, it is unclear how often these procedures are performed. The objective of the study was to determine the rate of, and trends associated with, reconstructive upper extremity surgery in patients following TBI or stroke. Methods: The National Inpatient Sample was queried for International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) diagnosis codes for TBI and stroke as well as procedural codes representing functional upper extremity reconstruction from 2001 to 2012. Temporal trends were assessed for case volume, patient demographics, financial considerations, and hospitalizations. Results: A total of 2132 reconstructive procedures were performed in patients with TBI or stroke during the study period, with fewer than 230 cases conducted in any given year and no appreciable increase in case volume over time. This represented less than 1% of eligible, appropriate candidates undergoing surgery. Middle-aged, white females were the most common patients to have such surgery. Medicare was the primary payer for reconstruction, and the cost of surgery increased substantially over time. There was a trend toward longer hospital stays, and the inpatient mortality was approximately 0.5%. Conclusions: There is a substantial underutilization of upper extremity reconstructive surgery for patients with spasticity following TBI or stroke. Increasing costs and limited access to appropriate care may be contributing to differences in use among specific patient subgroups.
Beyond Forensic Poetry: Lyric and Legal Languages in Contemporary Poems
Authors: Gallerani Guido Mattia
Published: July 2018

In the field of Law and Literature studies, contributions on poetry are rare. This article focuses on a selection of contemporary poetic works: Cornelius Eady’s A Brutal Imagination (2001), Frédéric Boyer’s Le Goût du suicide lent (1999), Maurizio Cucchi’s Il disperso (1976) and Corrado Benigni’s Tribunale della mente (2012). Their lyrical shaping of law establishes a difference from the model of “forensic” poetry that can be found in Charles Reznikoff’s Testimony (1978–1979). Through them, this contribution shows how it is possible to challenge a reflection on the language of lyric poetry and that of law at the same time, if we interpret the lyric poetry as a non-narrative discourse.
Choosing the harder road: Naming the challenges for families in person-centred planning
Authors: Ellem Kathy , Chenoweth Lesley , Edwards Ruth
Published: July 2018

Person-centred planning (PCP) has underpinned disability service provision in many Western countries for the past 30 years. For many people with an intellectual disability, family members are central to this process and are important allies in facilitating positive change. This article presents findings from an evaluation of a family resourcing and capacity building project in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Accounts from families show the merits of such work, but family efforts can be undermined by apathy and discrimination to disability from extended family, community and service providers. Asking families to be the primary support in PCP initiatives may potentially ignore the impacts of structural and psycho-emotional disablism on all family members. For families to support people with intellectual disability in PCP, there is a need to acknowledge and respond to the material, cultural and personal challenges for all family members in planning processes.
Predictions of residual carrying-capacities for fire and near-field blast-damaged reactive powder concrete-filled steel tube columns
Authors: Chen Wanxiang , Zhou Zixin , Zou Huihui , Guo Zhikun
Published: July 2018

An approximate approach is developed to estimate the residual carrying-capacities of fire and near-field blast-damaged reactive powder concrete-filled steel tube columns. The single-degree-of-freedom model is employed to calculate the initial deflections of fire-damaged reactive powder concrete-filled steel tube columns subjected to axial and blast-induced transverse loads, and then a modified formula including double coefficient is further proposed to predict the ultimate resistance. Then, a series of blast-resistance and load carrying-capacity tests on six large-scale reactive powder concrete-filled steel tube columns are conducted to validate the suitability of theoretical method presented in this article. Blast tests demonstrate that the blast-resistances of reactive powder concrete-filled steel tube columns are more sensitive to fire durations than to scale distances. In addition, it is indicated that ISO-834 standard fire exposures cause significant degradations of material properties and have remarkable effects on the residual carrying-capacities of reactive powder concrete-filled steel tube columns. No local bucking and burst could be observed in the residual carrying-capacity tests; also, there are no visible hinge-like deformations in the mid-span area, and the excellent fire-resistances and blast-resistances of reactive powder concrete-filled steel tube columns are experimentally verified. Analytical results show that the predicted axial load capacities of six reactive powder concrete-filled steel tube columns are in good agreement with experimental data. All damage indices of the test specimens are within 0.8, meaning only minor to severe damage is done to the reactive powder concrete-filled steel tube column during fire and blast attacks, which is consistent with the test results.
A tale of two moralities: Politicians, doctors, use of addictive substances and lobbying
Authors: Venkataraman Ashwin , Nutt David
Published: July 2018

Alcohol use during the day is common amongst British MPs and Parliamentary staff even when Parliament is in session. MPs are frequently under the influence of alcohol when deciding on important bills, potentially affecting their judgement. Lobbying from the alcohol and the tobacco industries is rife in Parliament. What hope is there to change alcohol and tobacco policy in a more rational and healthy direction if the companies responsible for their harms are corrupting the political process in this fashion? We propose recommendations in line with the standards required for doctors.
Checking how fact-checkers check
Authors: Lim Chloe
Published: July 2018

Fact-checking has gained prominence as a movement for revitalizing truth-seeking ideals in journalism. While fact-checkers are often assumed to code facts accurately, few studies have formally assessed fact-checkers’ overall performance. I evaluated the performance of two major fact-checkers in the USA, Fact Checker and Politifact, comparing their inter-rater reliability using a method that is regularly employed across the social sciences. Surprisingly, only one in 10 statements was found to be fact-checked by both fact-checkers. Regarding claims evaluated by both organizations, the fact-checkers performed fairly well on outright falsehoods or obvious truths; however, the agreement rate was much lower for statements in the more ambiguous scoring range (that is, “Half True” or “Mostly False”). The results suggest that fact-checking is difficult, and that validation is challenging. Fact-checkers rarely evaluate statements that are exactly the same, and disagree more often than one might suppose, particularly when politicians craft language to be ambiguous. At least in some cases, the strategic ambiguity of politicians may impede the fact-checking movement’s goals.
The Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Quality of Life scale (PCOSQOL): Development and preliminary validation
Authors: Williams Sophie , Sheffield David , Knibb Rebecca C
Published: July 2018

Polycystic ovary syndrome is an endocrine disorder amongst women, which can negatively impact quality of life. Research proposes that a more sensitive PCOS quality of life measure is needed. This study aims to develop and initially validate a quality of life scale for women with the condition in the United Kingdom. Women with PCOS (n = 714) took part in the development and initial validation of the 35-item polycystic ovary syndrome quality of life scale (PCOSQOL)(α = .95). Subscales include Impact of PCOS (α = .95), Infertility (α = .95), Hirsutism (α = .97) and Mood (α = .89). The PCOSQOL scale represents aspects of quality of life important to women with PCOS and may be more sensitive for use in the clinical and research settings.
Social Media for Social Good or Evil: An Introduction
Authors: Hemsley Jeff , Jacobson Jenna , Gruzd Anatoliy , Mai Philip
Published: July 2018

In the heyday of social media, individuals around the world held high hopes for the democratizing force of social media; however, in light of the recent public outcry of privacy violations, fake news, and Russian troll farms, much of optimism toward social media has waned in favor of skepticism, fear, and outrage. This special issue critically explores the question, “Is social media for good or evil?” While good and evil are both moral terms, the research addresses whether the benefits of using social media in society outweigh the drawbacks. To help conceptualize this topic, we examine some of the benefits (good) and drawbacks (evil) of using social media as discussed in eight papers from the 2017 International Conference on Social Media and Society. This thematic collection reflects a broad range of topics, using diverse methods, from authors around the world and highlights different ways that social media is used for good, or evil, or both. We conclude that the determination of good and evil depends on where you stand, but as researchers, we need to go a step further to understand who it is good for and who it might hurt.
Legitimate Peripheral Participation in a Makerspace for Emancipated Emerging Adults
Authors: Bonnette Rachel N. , Crowley Kevin
Published: July 2018

Following emancipation from foster care, youth often transition into adulthood without the support of family or school. For some emancipated emerging adults (EEAs), alternative support may come from informal educational programs like makerspaces—safe spaces to learn, explore identities, build relationships, and become entrepreneurs. This exploratory study uses Lave and Wenger’s concept of legitimate peripheral participation as a lens to for analyzing the diverse relationships of three EEAs (ages 20, 22, and 25) to the maker community of practice, as they live in a transitional housing facility and engage with its on-site makerspace and its affiliated museum.
A Hearing-Model-Based Active-Learning Test for the Determination of Dead Regions
Authors: Schlittenlacher Josef , Turner Richard E. , Moore Brian C. J.
Published: July 2018

This article describes a Bayesian active-learning procedure for estimating the edge frequency, fe, of a dead region, that is, a region in the cochlea with no or very few functioning inner hair cells or neurons. The method is based on the psychophysical tuning curve (PTC) but estimates the shape of the PTC from the parameters of a hearing model, namely fe, and degree of outer hair cell loss. It chooses the masker frequency and level for each trial to be highly informative about the model parameters in the context of previous data. The procedure was tested using 14 ears from eight subjects previously diagnosed with high-frequency dead regions. The estimates of fe agreed well with estimates obtained using “Fast PTCs” or more extensive measurements from an earlier study. On average, 33 trials were needed for the estimate of fe to fall and stay within 0.3 Cams of the final “true” value on the equivalent rectangular bandwidth-number scale. The time needed to obtain a reliable estimate was 5 to 8 min. This is comparable to the time required for Fast PTCs and short enough to be used when fitting a hearing aid. Compared with Fast PTCs, the new method has the advantage of using yes-no judgments rather than continuous Békésy tracking. This allows the slope of a subject’s psychometric function and thus the reliability of his or her responses to be estimated, which in turn allows the test duration to be adjusted so as to achieve a given accuracy.
An interim report of the Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium working groups
Authors: Baron Murray , Kahaleh Bashar , Bernstein Elana J , Chung Lorinda , Clements Philip J , Denton Christopher , Domsic Robyn T , Ferdowsi Nava , Foeldvari Ivan , Frech Tracy , Gordon Jessica K , Hudson Marie , Johnson Sindhu R , Khanna Dinesh , McMahan Zsuzsannah , Merkel Peter A , Narain Sonali , Nikpour Mandana , Pauling John D , Ross Laura , Vergara Antonia Maria Valenzuela , Vacca Alessandra
Published: July 2018

The Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium represents many of the clinical researchers in the world who are interested in improving the efficiency of clinical trials in systemic sclerosis. The Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium has established 11 working groups to develop and validate better ways of measuring and recording multiple aspects of this heterogeneous disease. These include groups working on arthritis, disease damage, disease activity, cardiac disease, juvenile systemic sclerosis, the gastrointestinal tract, vascular component, calcinosis, scleroderma renal crisis, interstitial lung disease, and skin measurement. Members of the Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium may join any one or more of these groups. Some of the working groups have only recently started their work, some are nearing completion of their mandated tasks, and others are in the midst of their projects. All these projects, which are described in this article, will help improve clinical trials and observational studies by improving or developing better, more sensitive ways of measuring various aspects of the disease. As Lord Kelvin stated, “To measure is to know. If you cannot measure it you cannot improve it.” The Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium is dedicated to improving the lives of patients with systemic sclerosis and it is our hope that the contributions of the working groups will be one important step in this process.
A Case–Control Study to Evaluate Serum Lipoprotein Levels and Other Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Disease in Patients With Psoriasis
Authors: Eleryan Misty G. , Akhiyat Sophia , Awosika Olabola , Wenk Kurt , Rengifo-Pardo Monica , Martin Lisa W. , Ehrlich Alison
Published: July 2018

Background:

Studies investigating lipid abnormalities associated with psoriasis have reported conflicting results. The purpose of this study is to evaluate differences in serum lipoprotein levels among patients with psoriasis compared to controls via the use of the Vertical Auto Profile (VAP) test, which directly measures the cholesterol concentrations of all 5 lipoprotein classes and their subclasses. We also assess other cardiovascular biomarkers, including highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), and homocysteine.

Methods:

In this 6-year case–control study, 210 patients (110 patients with psoriasis and 100 controls) elected to participate in VAP testing between November 2009 and April 2016 at The George Washington Medical Faculty Associates dermatology clinic. All psoriatic cases were age-, sex-, and body mass index–matched to control patients. Data were analyzed in June 2016. We evaluated cardiovascular biomarkers in patients with psoriasis versus control patients and whether an association exists between the presence of psoriasis and the level of cardiovascular dysfunction.

Results:

Compared to the control group, patients with psoriasis had significantly lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ( P = .007), HDL2 ( P = .013), and HDL3 cholesterol ( P = .015) as well as higher low-density lipoprotein (LDL) pattern B ( P= .032), LDL3 ( P = .030), and LDL4 cholesterol ( P = .003). Patients with psoriasis also had lower apolipoprotein A1 ( P = .011), lower Lp-PLA2 ( P = .037), and higher hs-CRP ( P = .048).

Conclusion:

Our findings suggest an increased risk of cardiovascular biomarker dysfunction in patients with psoriasis compared to their matched controls. Serum biomarkers such as high LDL pattern B, LDL3, and LDL4 as well as lower HDL2, HDL3, and total HDL were found to have a higher association with psoriatic disease.
商代军事战略战术思想举隅
Authors: 王子杨
Published: July 2018

摘要

关于商代的军事战略战术, 前人已有言及, 但比较零散。本文主要以甲骨卜辞为语料, 选取 “作战地点” 、 “作战路线” 、 “战略战术” 、 “伏击” 和 “攻城” 五个方面对殷代的军事战略战术进行了简单的论述, 希望对殷商史的研究有所助益。
Gradient Echo-Additional Track Sign for Easy Detection of Vertebral Artery Dissection
Authors: Ojha Pawan , Nagendra Shashank , Patil Sarika , Singh Rakesh , Chheda Akash
Published: July 2018

Vertebral artery dissection (VAD), a well-recognized cause of stroke in young, can be easily missed on magneto resonance angiography of the brain. Computed tomography and catheter−based angiography are often used to detect arterial dissection, but they have their limitations. Here, we discuss cases of stroke in young where the presence of the additional track sign on a gradient echo sequence provided the clue to VAD being the etiology of stroke. This sign observed on the routine magnetic resonance imaging brain might be of great help to clinicians and radiologists for the easy detection of VAD.
Extending Caregiver Training Via Telecommunication for Rural Icelandic Children With Autism
Authors: Guðmundsdóttir Kristín , Ala’i-Rosales Shahla , Sigurðardóttir Zuilma Gabriela
Published: July 2018

This study describes the development and evaluation of a behavioral parent training protocol via telecommunication for three parents of preschool children with autism, with limited access to behavioral expertise. A single-subject, multiple baseline experimental design across child behaviors, replicated across parents, was used to evaluate the effects of the training protocol. Dependent measures were collected via telecommunication for most assessments and included parent and child responses during naturalistic play. During intervention, the parents were taught methods to increase their child’s sociocommunicative behavior. All targeted skills increased during intervention. The increase was maintained with two families and some generalization to other settings occurred. The results indicate that training via telecommunication is a viable approach for rural families with low speed Internet connection. Continued development and refinement of telehealth training methods is discussed in context of technological challenges and procedures that fit telecoaching for rural families.
In Vivo Deletion of β-Cell Drp1 Impairs Insulin Secretion Without Affecting Islet Oxygen Consumption
Authors: Hennings Thomas G , Chopra Deeksha G , DeLeon Elizabeth R , VanDeusen Halena R , Sesaki Hiromi , Merrins Matthew J , Ku Gregory M
Published: July 2018

Mitochondria are dynamic organelles that undergo frequent fission and fusion events. Mitochondrial fission is required for ATP production, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and processes beyond metabolism in a cell-type specific manner. Ex vivo and cell line studies have demonstrated that Drp1, a central regulator of mitochondrial fission, is required for glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in pancreatic β cells. Herein, we set out to interrogate the role of Drp1 in β-cell insulin secretion in vivo. We generated β-cell–specific Drp1 knockout (KO) mice (Drp1β-KO) by crossing a conditional allele of Drp1 to Ins1cre mice, in which Cre recombinase replaces the coding region of the Ins1 gene. Drp1β-KO mice were glucose intolerant due to impaired GSIS but did not progress to fasting hyperglycemia as adults. Despite markedly abnormal mitochondrial morphology, Drp1β-KO islets exhibited normal oxygen consumption rates and an unchanged glucose threshold for intracellular calcium mobilization. Instead, the most profound consequences of β-cell Drp1 deletion were impaired second-phase insulin secretion and impaired glucose-stimulated amplification of insulin secretion. Our data establish Drp1 as an important regulator of insulin secretion in vivo and demonstrate a role for Drp1 in metabolic amplification and calcium handling without affecting oxygen consumption.
“Let’s Take a Leap”
Authors: Mourad Ghada
Published: July 2018

This article examines how the Moroccan Francophone writer Mohamed Leftah negotiates a decolonized modernity in his novel Le dernier combat du Captain Niʿmat (2011). This understanding of decolonization is based on Abdelkebir Khatibi’s pensée-autre, a mode of thinking that simultaneously embraces and disavows its constitutive traditions and attempts to formulate its own episteme. Living in Egypt, a queer diaspora for a Moroccan, Leftah employs queer male sexuality in a Sufialist text that tells the story of Niʿmat, an Egyptian retired army officer who pursues a love affair with his young Nubian servant, Islam. Transgressive sexuality, anachronistic gender typology, narrative modes, and historicizing onomastics decenter the metropole of France and articulate a decolonized modernity. Even as it centers male sexual unruliness and invites a queer reading, the text stabilizes other sexual and gender hierarchies, pointing to the need for texts revolving around queer feminist discourse in the Arab world.
Mammalian embryo comparison identifies novel pluripotency genes associated with the naïve or primed state
Authors: Bernardo Andreia S. , Jouneau Alice , Marks Hendrik , Kensche Philip , Kobolak Julianna , Freude Kristine , Hall Vanessa , Feher Anita , Polgar Zsuzsanna , Sartori Chiara , Bock Istvan , Louet Claire , Faial Tiago , Kerstens Hindrik H. D. , Bouissou Camille , Parsonage Gregory , Mashayekhi Kaveh , Smith James C. , Lazzari Giovanna , Hyttel Poul , Stunnenberg Hendrik G. , Huynen Martijn , Pedersen Roger A. , Dinnyes Andras
Published: July 2018

During early mammalian development transient pools of pluripotent cells emerge that can be immortalised upon stem cell derivation. The pluripotent state, “naïve” or “primed”, depends on the embryonic stage and derivation conditions used. Here we analyse the temporal gene expression patterns of mouse, cattle and porcine embryos at stages that harbour different types of pluripotent cells. We document conserved and divergent traits in gene expression, and identify predictor genes shared across the species that are associated with pluripotent states in vivo and in vitro. Amongst these are the pluripotency-linked genes Klf4 and Lin28b. The novel genes discovered include naïve- (Spic, Scpep1 and Gjb5) and primed-associated (Sema6a and Jakmip2) genes as well as naïve-to primed transition genes (Dusp6 and Trip6). Both Gjb5 and Dusp6 play a role in pluripotency since their knockdown results in differentiation and downregulation of key pluripotency genes. Together, our interspecies comparison revealed new insights of pluripotency, pluripotent stem cell identity and a new molecular criterion for distinguishing between pluripotent states in various species including human.
Seasonally dependent relationship between insect herbivores and host plant density in Jatropha nana- a tropical perennial herb
Authors: Nerlekar Ashish N.
Published: July 2018

The fact that plant spatial aggregation patterns shape insect herbivore communities in a variety of ways has resulted in a large body of literature on the subject. The landmark resource concentration hypothesis predicts that density of insect-herbivores per plant will increase as host plant density increases. I examined this prediction across temporal samplings using Jatropha nana and the associated specialist insect-herbivores as a system. Through 12 field samplings, I modelled the effect of host plant density on insect-herbivore loads. The initial samplings (2–3) provided evidence for the resource concentration hypothesis with insect loads increasing with increasing host plant density, whereas the later samplings (4–5, 7–11) showed the opposite- a resource dilution pattern with decline of insect loads with increasing host plant density. These patterns also depend on the biology of the herbivores and have important implications on J. nana population dynamics.
How the egg rolls: a morphological analysis of avian egg shape in the context of displacement dynamics
Authors: Hays Ian R. , Hauber Mark E.
Published: July 2018

Very little is known about how morphology affects the motion, spatial stability, and resulting viability of avian eggs. The limited existing research focuses on the uniquely pyriform egg shapes found in the Alcidae bird family. This unusual shell shape was originally thought to suppress displacement and prevent egg loss on the cliffside nesting habitat of the Uria genus. Unfortunately, these early studies never isolated or quantified the specific morphological features (elongation, asymmetry, and conicality) of these pyriform eggs, which limits their applicability to other taxa and has hampered a robust proof of concept. We isolated each feature as an enumerated variable, produced model 3D printed eggs with incremental expressions of a single variable and then with all three features covarying simultaneously. Recorded motion (egg-rolling) trials were conducted to test the individual and combined effects of each morphological characteristic on displacement over a range of inclines representative of the conditions found in nesting habitats. Increasing elongation and asymmetry significantly increased displacement, whereas increased conicality decreased displacement in the single-variable egg models. In the multivariable egg models, only conicality consistently suppressed displacement, while lower levels of asymmetry significantly increased displacement. Our findings broadly support previous studies’ assertions of the adaptive value of the pyriform eggs while providing methodology and comparative data for future analyses of the interactions between nesting habitat, behavior, and egg shape, beyond the confines of a handful of focal species.
Neuromuscular control of locomotion is altered by tail autotomy in geckos
Authors: Jagnandan Kevin , Higham Timothy E.
Published: July 2018

Animal locomotion is driven by underlying axial and appendicular musculature. In order for locomotion to be effective, these muscles must be able to rapidly respond to changes in environmental and physiological demands. Although virtually unstudied, muscles must also respond to morphological changes, such as those that occur with tail autotomy in lizards. Tail autotomy in leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) results in a 25% loss of caudal mass and significant kinematic alterations to maintain stability. To elucidate how motor control of the locomotor muscles is modulated with these shifts, we used electromyography (EMG) to quantify patterns of in vivo muscle activity in fore- and hind limb muscles before and after autotomy. Forelimb muscles (biceps brachii and triceps brachii) exhibited no changes in motor recruitment, consistent with unaltered kinematics after autotomy. Amplitude of activity of propulsive muscles of the hind limbs (caudofemoralis and gastrocnemius) was significantly reduced and coincided with decreases in the propulsive phases of femur retraction and ankle extension, respectively. The puboischiotibialis did not exhibit these changes, despite significant reductions in femur depression and knee angle, suggesting that reduction in mass and vertical ground-reaction force by autotomy allows for the maintenance of a more sprawled and stable posture without increasing motor recruitment of the support muscles. These results highlight the significant neuromuscular shifts that occur to accommodate dramatic changes in body size and mass distribution, and illuminate the utility of tail autotomy as a system for studying the neuromuscular control of locomotion.
Silencing cuticular pigmentation genes enables RNA FISH in intact insect appendages
Authors: Pentzold Stefan , Grabe Veit , Ogonkov Andrei , Schmidt Lydia , Boland Wilhelm , Burse Antje
Published: July 2018

Optical imaging of gene expression by fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) in insects is often impeded by their pigmented cuticle. Since most chemical bleaching agents are incompatible with FISH, we developed a RNA interference-based method for clearing cuticular pigmentation which enables using whole-mount body appendages for RNA FISH. Silencing laccase2 or tyrosine hydroxylase in two leaf beetles species (Chrysomela populi, Phaedon cochleariae) cleared their pigmented cuticle and decreased light absorbance. Subsequently, intact appendages (palps, antennae, legs) from RNAi-cleared individuals were used to image expression and spatial distribution of antisense mRNA of two chemosensory genes (gustatory receptor, odorant-binding protein). Imaging did neither work for RNAi-controls due to retained pigmentation, nor for FISH-controls (sense mRNA). Several bleaching agents were incompatible with FISH, either due to degradation of RNA, lack of clearing efficacy or long incubation times. Overall, silencing pigmentation genes is a significant improvement over bleaching agents enabling FISH in intact appendages.
A rationale for tRNA modification circuits in the anticodon loop
Authors: Han Lu , Phizicky Eric M.
Published: July 2018

The numerous post-transcriptional modifications of tRNA play a crucial role in tRNA function. While most modifications are introduced to tRNA independently, several sets of modifications are found to be interconnected such that the presence of one set of modifications drives the formation of another modification. The vast majority of these modification circuits are found in the anticodon loop (ACL) region where the largest variety and highest density of modifications occur compared to the other parts of the tRNA and where there is relatively limited sequence and structural information. We speculate here that the modification circuits in the ACL region arise to enhance enzyme modification specificity by direct or indirect use of the first modification in the circuit as an additional recognition element for the second modification. We also describe the five well-studied modification circuits in the ACL, and outline possible mechanisms by which they may act. The prevalence of these modification circuits in the ACL and the phylogenetic conservation of some of them suggest that a number of other modification circuits will be found in this region in different organisms.
Stage 2 Registered Report: Variation in neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with sex chromosome trisomies: testing the double hit hypothesis
Authors: Newbury Dianne F. , Simpson Nuala H. , Thompson Paul A. , Bishop Dorothy V. M.
Published: July 2018

Background: The presence of an extra sex chromosome is associated with an increased rate of neurodevelopmental difficulties involving language. The 'double hit' hypothesis proposes that the adverse impact of the extra sex chromosome is amplified when genes that are expressed from the sex chromosomes interact with autosomal variants that usually have only mild effects. We predicted that the impact of an additional sex chromosome on neurodevelopment would depend on common autosomal variants involved in synaptic functions.

 Methods: We analysed data from 130 children with sex chromosome trisomies (SCTs: 42 girls with trisomy X, 43 boys with Klinefelter syndrome, and 45 boys with XYY). Two comparison groups were formed from 370 children from a twin study. Three indicators of phenotype were: (i) Standard score on a test of nonword repetition; (ii). A language factor score derived from a test battery; (iii) A general scale of neurodevelopmental challenges based on all available information. Preselected regions of two genes, CNTNAP2 and NRXN1, were tested for association with neurodevelopmental outcomes using Generalised Structural Component Analysis.

Results: There was wide phenotypic variation in the SCT group, as well as overall impairment on all three phenotypic measures. There was no association of phenotype with CNTNAP2 or NRXN1 variants in either the SCT group or the comparison groups. Supplementary analyses found no indication of any impact of trisomy type on the results, and exploratory analyses of individual SNPs confirmed the lack of association.

Conclusions: We cannot rule out that a double hit may be implicated in the phenotypic variability in children with SCTs, but our analysis does not find any support for the idea that common variants in CNTNAP2 or NRXN1 are associated with the severity of language and neurodevelopmental impairments that often accompany an extra X or Y chromosome.

Stage 1 report: http://dx.doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.13828.2
НУКЛЕАЦИЯ И ФОРМИРОВАНИЕ ГАЗОГИДРАТОВ В ЗАВИСИМОСТИ ОТ ФИЗИКО-ХИМИЧЕСКИХ СВОЙСТВ НЕФТЕЙ
Authors: Svarovskaya Lidiya Ivanovna , Manakov Andrei Yurevich , Altunina Lubov Konstantinovna
Published: July 2018

Образование газогидратных пробок в промысловых трубопроводах является одним из значимых осложняющих факторов при добыче нефти в холодных регионах и на шельфе. Меры, необходимые для предотвращения образования этих пробок, усложняют и удорожают добычу нефти. Газовые гидраты представляют кристаллы, где молекулы газа заключены в каркас молекул воды. Природные газогидраты образуются при высоком давлении и низкой температуре, что типично условиям добычи нефти в холодном подводном окружении.Нами проведено комплексное исследование сырых нефтей разных месторождений Западной Сибири и их водных эмульсий, приготовленных в концентрации 50%. Технически важные характеристики, такие как вязкость, плотность, температура застывания, групповой состав рассматривались для нефтей и эмульсий воды в нефти. В работе раздельно изучалось влияние состава нефтей на формирование нефте-смачиваемых гидратов.Эмульсии исследованы в модельном эксперименте нуклеации и образования газогидратов. Нефть YuT, из всех исследуемых, проявила положительную реакцию нуклеации и формирования газогидратов. Важным показателем склонности к нуклеации и формированию гидратов является уровень биодеградации сырой нефти. Процесс биодеградации в условиях месторождения оказывает значительное влияние на качество сырой нефти с точки зрения её химического состава и физических свойств.Для выявления функциональных групп конкретных молекулярных структур, определяющих уровень биодеградации, использован метод ИК-Фурье спектроскопии. Анализ ИК-Фурье спектров нефтей показал, что полосы поглощения насыщенных алифатических углеводородов (1465–1377 см-1), ароматических (1610 см-1) и карбонильных групп карбоновой кислоты (1710 см-1) доминируют во всех спектрах исследуемых нефтей. Полевые наблюдения показали, что некоторые потоки воды, газа и сырой нефти не образуют гидратов (hydrateplugs) в процессе добычи нефти, даже при работе в пределах термодинамических условий образования гидратов. Результаты позволяют предположить, что способность нефтей формировать газогидратные пробки может быть связана с продуктами метаболизма, которые образуются при биодеструкции углеводородов нефти.
Meeting the ISA 550 «Related Parties» Requirements Taking into Account the National Jurisdiction
Authors: Кочинев Юрий , Kochinev Yuriy
Published: July 2018

The article analyzes the requirements of the International Standards on Auditing (ISA) 550 «Related parties», as well as the regulations of the Russian tax legislation with respect to transactions with related parties. Recommendations to the auditor on an estimation of possible tax consequences as a result of realization of operations with the connected parties are offered.
Methods of Valuation of Accounting Policies in the Organization of Internal Control
Authors: Клинова Е. , Klinova E. , Сунгатуллина Р. , Sungatullina R.
Published: July 2018

The article reveals the peculiarities of the use of accounting policy as a means of assessing the organization of internal control of accounting of a particular enterprise. The algorithm studies the accounting policies disclosed in the article allows to conduct a comprehensive phased assessment of the accounting policies to be consistent with the requirements of the legislation and realities of the activities of the economic entity.