bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative structural dynamic analysis of GTPases
Authors: Li Hongyang , Yao Xin-Qiu , Grant Barry J.
Published: July 2018

GTPases regulate a multitude of essential cellular processes ranging from movement and division to differentiation and neuronal activity. These ubiquitous enzymes operate by hydrolyzing GTP to GDP with associated conformational changes that modulate affinity for family-specific binding partners. There are three major GTPase superfamilies: Ras-like GTPases, heterotrimeric G proteins and protein-synthesizing GTPases. Although they contain similar nucleotide-binding sites, the detailed mechanisms by which these structurally and functionally diverse superfamilies operate remain unclear. Here we compare and contrast the structural dynamic mechanisms of each superfamily using extensive molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and subsequent network analysis approaches. In particular, dissection of the cross-correlations of atomic displacements in both the GTP and GDP-bound states of Ras, transducin and elongation factor EF-Tu reveals analogous dynamic features. This includes similar dynamic communities and subdomain structures (termed lobes). For all three proteins the GTP-bound state has stronger couplings between equivalent lobes. Network analysis further identifies common and family-specific residues mediating the state-specific coupling of distal functional sites. Mutational simulations demonstrate how disrupting these couplings leads to distal dynamic effects at the nucleotide-binding site of each family. Collectively our studies extend current understanding of GTPase allosteric mechanisms and highlight previously unappreciated similarities across functionally diverse families.

Author Summary

GTPases are a large superfamily of essential enzymes that regulate a variety of cellular processes. They share a common core structure supporting nucleotide binding and hydrolysis, and are potentially descended from the same ancestor. Yet their biological functions diverge dramatically, ranging from cell division and movement to signal transduction and translation. It has been shown that conformational changes through binding to different substrates underlie the regulation of their activities. Here we investigate the conformational dynamics of three typical GTPases by in silico simulation. We find that these three GTPases possess overall similar substrate-associated dynamic features, beyond their distinct functions. Further identification of key common and family-specific elements in these three families helps us understand how enzymes are adapted to acquire distinct functions from a common core structure. Our results provide unprecedented insights into the functional mechanism of GTPases in general, which potentially facilitates novel protein design in the future.
Genome-wide associations reveal human-mouse genetic convergence and modifiers of myogenesis,CPNE1andSTC2
Authors: Cordero Ana I. Hernandez , Gonzales Natalia M. , Parker Clarissa C. , Sokoloff Greta , Vandenbergh David J. , Cheng Riyan , Abney Mark , Skol Andrew , Douglas Alex , Palmer Abraham A. , Gregory Jennifer S. , Lionikas Arimantas
Published: July 2018

Muscle bulk in adult healthy humans is highly variable even after accounting for height, age and sex. Low muscle mass, due to fewer and/or smaller constituent muscle fibers, would exacerbate the impact of muscle loss occurring in aging or disease. Genetic variability substantially influences muscle mass differences, but causative genes remain largely unknown. In a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on appendicular lean mass (ALM) in a population of 85,750 middle-age (38-49 years) individuals from the UK Biobank (UKB) we found 182 loci associated with ALM (P<5×10−8). We replicated associations for 78% of these loci (P<5×10−8) with ALM in a population of 181,862 elderly (60-74 years) individuals from UKB. We also conducted a GWAS on hindlimb skeletal muscle mass of 1,867 mice from an advanced intercross between two inbred strains (LG/J and SM/J) which identified 23 quantitative trait loci. 38 positional candidates distributed across 5 loci overlapped between the two species.In vitrostudies of positional candidates confirmedCPNE1andSTC2as modifiers of myogenesis. Collectively, these findings shed light on the genetics of muscle mass variability in humans and identify targets for the development of interventions for treatment of muscle loss. The overlapping results between humans and the mouse model GWAS point to shared genetic mechanisms across species.
Growth Factor Independent 1 is a tumor suppressor gene in colorectal cancer
Authors: Chen Min-Shan , Lo Yuan-Hung , Chen Xi , Williams Christopher , Donnelly Jessica , Criss Zachary , Patel Shreena , Butkus Joann , Shroyer Noah F.
Published: July 2018

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States, causing about 50,000 deaths each year. Growth Factor-Independent 1 (GFI1) is a critical zinc finger transcriptional repressor responsible for controlling secretory cell differentiation in the small intestine and colon. GFI1 plays a significant role in the development of human malignancies, including leukemia, lung cancer and prostate cancer. However, the role of GFI1 in CRC progression is largely unknown. Our results demonstrate that RNA and protein expression of GFI1 are reduced in advanced stages of non-mucinous CRC. Subcutaneous tumor models demonstrated that the re-expression of GFI1 in 4 different human CRC cell lines inhibits tumor growth by 25-60%. To further investigate the role of Gfi1 in de novo colorectal tumorigenesis, we developed transgenic mice harboring a deletion of Gfi1 in the distal intestine driven by the CDX2cre (Gfi1F/F; CDX2cre/+) and crossed them with ApcMin/+ mice (ApcMin/+; Gfi1F/F; CDX2cre/+). Loss of Gfi1 significantly increased the total number of colorectal adenomas compared to littermate controls with an APC mutation alone. Furthermore, we found that compound (ApcMin/+; Gfi1F/F; CDX2cre/+) mice develop both adenomas as well as carcinoid-like tumors expressing the neuroendocrine marker chromogranin A, a feature that has not been previously described in APC-mutant tumors in mice. Collectively, these results demonstrate that Gfi1 deficiency promotes colorectal tumorigenesis, and suggest that loss of Gfi1 may promote formation of carcinoid cancers of the large intestines.

Significance

These findings reveal that GFI1 functions as a tumor suppressor gene in colorectal tumorigenesis.
Dysregulation of Mdm2 and Mdm4 alternative splicing underlies motor neuron death in spinal muscular atrophy
Authors: Van Alstyne Meaghan , Simon Christian M. , Sardi S. Pablo , Shihabuddin Lamya S. , Mentis George Z. , Pellizzoni Livio
Published: July 2018

Ubiquitous deficiency in the survival motor neuron (SMN) protein causes death of motor neurons—a hallmark of the neurodegenerative disease spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)—through poorly understood mechanisms. Here, we show that the function of SMN in the assembly of spliceosomal small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) regulates alternative splicing of Mdm2 and Mdm4, two nonredundant repressors of p53. Decreased inclusion of critical Mdm2 and Mdm4 exons is most prominent in SMA motor neurons and correlates with both snRNP reduction and p53 activation in vivo. Importantly, increased skipping of Mdm2 and Mdm4 exons regulated by SMN is necessary and sufficient to synergistically elicit robust p53 activation in wild-type mice. Conversely, restoration of full-length Mdm2 and Mdm4 suppresses p53 induction and motor neuron degeneration in SMA mice. These findings reveal that loss of SMN-dependent regulation of Mdm2 and Mdm4 alternative splicing underlies p53-mediated death of motor neurons in SMA, establishing a causal link between snRNP dysfunction and neurodegeneration.
Preserved capacity for scene construction and shifts in perspective after hippocampal lesions
Authors: Rungratsameetaweemana Nuttida , Squire Larry R.
Published: July 2018

The hippocampus has long been recognized as important for the formation of long-term memory. Recent work has suggested that the hippocampus might also be important for certain kinds of spatial operations, as in constructing scenes, shifting perspective, or perceiving the geometry of scenes and their boundaries. We explored this proposal using a task similar to one used previously that related hippocampal activity to scenes and their boundaries. In our study, participants viewed scenes from above that displayed walls and towers. After viewing each scene, participants saw a scene from ground level and judged whether it was the same as or different from the scene just presented. The number of towers and walls in each scene was manipulated so that it was possible to assess how the structure of the scene affected performance. Patients with hippocampal lesions performed similarly to controls in all task conditions and had no special difficulty as a function of the layout of a scene and its boundaries. In contrast, a patient with large medial temporal lobe (MTL) lesions was impaired. Taken together, our findings suggest that the hippocampus is not needed for scene construction, shifts in perspective, or perceiving the geometry of scenes. The impairment associated with large MTL lesions may result from damage in or near parahippocampal cortex.
Service quality, customer satisfaction, and loyalty in the banking sector
Authors: Famiyeh Samuel , Asante-Darko Disraeli , Kwarteng Amoako
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the moderating role of organizational culture in the relationship between service quality, customer satisfaction and loyalty in the banking sector using data from the Ghanaian banking sector. The idea is to understand the relative importance of the various service dimensions to customers patronizing banking services in Ghana and to ascertain what drives customer satisfaction and whether this satisfaction has implication on their loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a survey and relied on partial least squares structural equation modeling to study the relationship between service quality and its impact on customer satisfaction and customer loyalty.

Findings

The result indicates that the reliability, ambiance and social factors all have a significant positive relationship with the satisfaction of customers doing business with these banks. However, assurance and responsiveness of the employees seem to have no significant relationship with the satisfaction of customers. It is also important to indicate that organizational culture seems to strengthen the positive relationship between the service quality dimensions and customer satisfaction. The results further indicate that customer satisfaction has a direct positive relationship with customer loyalty.

Research limitations/implications

Reliability, ambiance and social factors remain the three most important drivers of customer satisfaction in the banking sector in Ghana. It is, therefore, important for bankers to consistently undergo training and education in order to deliver more reliable services to customers. Managers should also make efforts to groom employees, provide attractive promotion materials, provide directions to the banks, make sure the banking halls are neat for customers while waiting and the provision of enough parking spaces for customers. One limitation of this work is that the data focused on only the Ghanaian banking environment.

Practical implications

The research shows the importance of the service quality constructs such as reliability, ambiance and the social factors on customer satisfaction and loyalty in the banking sector. The organizational culture seems to strengthen the positive relationship between empathy, reliability, tangibles and customer satisfaction. It is therefore important for banks to continue to build cultures that will commit employees to their work, so that they feel the sense of ownership of quality in order to contribute meaningfully.

Originality/value

The work illustrates and provides some insights and builds on the literature in the area of service quality, customer satisfaction and loyalty from a developing country’s environment using the stimulus-organism-response model. In addition, this work further highlights the importance of the moderating role of organizational culture in the relationship between the service quality dimensions and customer satisfaction.
Six sigma for gamma-distributed processes: a case study in oil and gas
Authors: Hassan Jawad , Aldowaisan Tariq , Nourelfath Mustapha
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the relationship between reported sigma levels and actual failure rates (FRs) of gamma-distributed processes. The added complexity of the non-normality behavior of the gamma distribution is analyzed for the case of the cycle time (CT) of a real procurement process from the oil and gas industry. Then, recommendations and guidelines for the application of Six Sigma methodology for the case study are proposed.

Design/methodology/approach

Sensitivity analysis is conducted to study the relationship between gamma distribution parameters and FRs considering different quality levels. Then, adjustments for implementing Six Sigma programs for gamma processes are proposed. These adjustments consist of first determining the appropriate probability distribution, the standard CT and the due date, followed by setting performance zones and improvement strategies on target gamma parameters that yield the minimal FR.

Findings

For gamma-distributed processes, simply reporting the sigma level is not sufficient to capture the main characteristics of the process. These characteristics include process FR, mean setting, shape, spread and amount of variation reduction (i.e. improvement effort) required. That is why caution must be exercised when dealing with one-sided non-normal quality characteristics such as CT.

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time that the Six Sigma performance has been evaluated for gamma processes to analyze the link between Six Sigma FRs and gamma distribution parameters leading to the development of a modified Six Sigma methodology for non-normal processes.
Condition monitoring of aluminium electrolytic capacitors using accelerated life testing
Authors: Bhargava Cherry , Banga Vijay Kumar , Singh Yaduvir
Published: July 2018

Purpose

An electrolytic capacitor is extensively used as filtering devices in various power supplies and audio amplifiers. Low cost and higher value of capacitance make it more well known. As environmental stress and electrical parameters increase, capacitors degrade on accelerated pace. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper focusses on the impact of thermal stress on electrolytic capacitors using accelerated life testing technique. The failure time was calculated based on the change in capacitance, equivalent series resistance and weight loss. The experimental results are compared with the outcome of already available life monitoring methods, and the accuracy level of these methods is accessed.

Findings

The results of all the three methods are having maximum 55 per cent accuracy. To enhance the accuracy level of theoretical methods, modifications have been suggested. A new method has been proposed, whose outcome is 92 per cent accurate with respect to experimentally obtained outcomes.

Practical implications

To assess the capacitor’s reliability using an experimental and modified theoretical method, failure prediction can be done before it actually fails.

Originality/value

A new method has been proposed to access the lifetime of capacitor.
The impact of strategic quality orientation on innovation capabilities and sustainable business growth
Authors: Khan Bilal Ahmad , Naeem Hummayoun
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a new conceptual framework for service organizations to achieve sustainable business performance through strategic quality orientation and innovation capabilities on the basis of relevant literature review and integration of various innovation and business sustainability theories and models. The study tests if the strategic quality orientation enhances innovation capabilities in terms of exploitation and explorative innovation, which, in turn, can lead to sustainable business growth. Mediating impact of innovation capabilities between strategic quality orientation and sustainable business growth relationship is also examined.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual framework was developed to test and establish these relationships. Results were analyzed based on 442 questionnaires collected from five different service industries of Pakistan, and the structural equation modeling technique was used to empirically test the conceptual framework.

Findings

The results indicate that strategic quality orientation directly affects innovation capabilities and sustainable business growth and also indirectly impacts sustainable business growth through its effect on innovation capabilities.

Practical implications

The study suggests service organizations can jointly implement quality and innovation using a structured approach, with strategic quality orientation as the foundation. In this way, they can leverage from their strategic quality management, supplier relationship, corporate quality culture, continual improvement and people management in order to ensure innovation and sustainability in their business growth.

Originality/value

The study integrates strategic quality orientation and innovation capabilities, and validates a new organizational framework through empirical examination which can be used by service organizations to ensure their sustainable business growth.
Minority threat, community disadvantage and sentencing
Authors: Arazan Christine L.
Published: July 2018

Purpose

Prior studies of criminal sentencing have largely focused on individual-level predictors of sentencing outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of a variety of theoretically derived community measurements of social threat and disadvantage on the criminal sentencing of convicted felons. This analysis permits an evaluation of whether legal ideals such as equality before the law and policy goals of equal treatment for like offenders are achieved.

Design/methodology/approach

The study examines data of individuals sentenced in the state of Florida and community level measurements of racial and ethnic threat and community disadvantage. Hierarchical generalized linear model is used to analyze the effect of these measures on the dichotomous in/out imprisonment variable, and standard hierarchical linear regression analysis is used to model the continuous dependent variable of sentence length.

Findings

The results provide support for the racial threat perspective though not for ethnic threat nor community disadvantage. The findings and their implications are discussed in terms of theory, research and policy.

Practical implications

Racial disparity in criminal justice practices is receiving increasing public and policy attention, as evidenced by the growing Black Lives Matter movement. Regarding sentencing, racial disparity remains a major research and policy question. While the current research and theoretical literature on sentencing is not conclusive, it is clear that race matters. As a result, racial disparity in sentencing needs to be a priority in subsequent “transitional criminology” efforts between researchers and policy makers to identify, explain and ultimately predict exactly how race impacts sentencing, and how to reduce it as a consideration from sentencing.

Originality/value

This study contributes to a growing body of literature that examines the social context of punishments by using several community level measurements of threat and disadvantage, while modeling the two-step sentencing outcome of imprisonment and sentence length.
A proposal of intellectual capital maturity model (ICMM) evaluation
Authors: Vaz Caroline Rodrigues , Selig Paulo Mauricio , Viegas Claudia Viviane
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a model to evaluate the degree of intellectual capital (IC) maturity into organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a qualitative, applied research designed as an exploratory and descriptive investigation. It employs a case study to apply the intellectual capital maturity model, which is developed from the literature review. The Proknow-C method of systematic literature review is the procedure adopted for the literature review in Scopus, Science Direct and Web of Science databases. In total, 21 IC constructs were derived from such review and assessed by 18 reviewers (judges).

Findings

In the scientific literature, IC is mainly viewed as a resource or set of resources an organization for the creation of competitive advantage and value. Using the information gathered about different views on IC, this study proposes a construction of the theoretical model, based on the models of the capability maturity model–Software Engineering Institute and Asian Productivity Organization–Knowledge Management, the management model and the application protocol.

Practical implications

This research offers view on the nature of the concept of IC showing (IC) as a business asset through maturity scale. The analysis of the concept of IC is focused at organizational and dimensional levels.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the further development of the concept of IC regarding its measurement in organizations through the maturity scale.
SFC’s new guidance note redefines cooperation in disciplinary, civil court and market misconduct tribunal proceedings
Authors: Tang Cynthia , Ng Bryan , Ng Gloria
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the new “Guidance Note on Cooperation with the SFC” released by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (“SFC”) on 12 December 2017, which updates the SFC’s previous guidance note issued in 2006.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper explains key features to the guidance note, the SFC’s current approach in investigations and enforcement and the impact on regulated parties and senior management. In particular, the authors discuss what cooperation means in disciplinary, civil court and market misconduct tribunal proceedings.

Findings

The new guidance note confirms that the SFC will play an increasingly active role in investigations and that taking proactive steps at an early stage, including involving senior management, will have a positive impact on the outcome of the investigation.

Originality/value

Commentary and practical guidance from experienced securities enforcement and financial services regulatory enforcement lawyers.
Strategic risk, banks, and Basel III: estimating economic capital requirements
Authors: Chockalingam Arun , Dabadghao Shaunak , Soetekouw Rene
Published: July 2018

Purpose

Basel III regulations require banks to protect themselves against strategic risk. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive and measurable definition of this risk and proposes a framework to estimate economic capital requirements.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper studies the literature and solicits expert opinion in formulating a comprehensive and measurable definition of strategic risk. The paper postulates that the economic capital for a bank’s strategic risk should be estimated using the cost of equity as the profitability threshold, rather than zero and develops a simulation-based framework to estimate economic capital.

Findings

The framework closely matches the actual economic capital outlay for strategic risk from our case study of ABN AMRO. It is shown that a bank’s strategic growth plans can fall into one of two scenarios based on risk-return characteristics. In one scenario, the required economic capital outlay will increase, and decrease in the other.

Practical implications

This framework is generalizable and makes use of widely accepted and used practices in banks, making it readily implementable in practice. It does not introduce errors resulting from model selection, parameterizations or complex calculations.

Social implications

Society would be worse off in the absence of banking and lending services. Banks need to take risks to grow and stay competitive. The framework facilitates better strategic risk management, protecting banks from collapse and reducing the need for taxpayer-funded bailouts.

Originality/value

The paper provides a measurable and practitioner-verified definition of strategic risk and proposes a simple framework to estimate economic capital requirements, a crucial topic, given the threats and increased levels of strategic risk facing banks.
Enhancing customers’ continued mobile app use in the service industry
Authors: Lee Seonjeong (Ally)
Published: July 2018

Purpose

This study aims to empirically investigate ways to enhance customers’ continued mobile app use intention on the basis of information adoption model.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducted an online, cross-sectional, self-administered survey, recruiting mobile app users in the USA.

Findings

Results identified both argument quality and source credibility positively influenced usefulness of branded apps and parasocial interactions. Results also confirmed a positive influence on usefulness of the branded app and parasocial interaction relating to continued branded app use intentions.

Originality/value

This study enriched the understanding of mobile app use behaviors, extending information adoption model in the service industry.
Determinants of dynamic process of emerging ICT adoption in SMEs – actor network theory perspective
Authors: Eze Sunday C. , Chinedu-Eze Vera C. , Bello Adenike O.
Published: July 2018

Purpose

While traditional theories of information and communication technology (ICT) adoption have been deployed to study ICT adoption in the past, these theories considers ICT adoption as static and rely on conceptualising factors as variables and predicting their levels of outcome at a single decision stage. Although much has been credited to these theories, they have continuously ignored the fact that as decisions to adopt are made and challenged along the adoption process, such decision can be influenced by the same, different or combination of factors at different stages of the adoption process. This paper aims to examine ICT adoption from a dynamic process perspective and to explore the key determinants and how these differ from one stage of the adoption process to another.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative method was adopted in this study. Both unstructured and semi-structured interviews were conducted in two separate stages using purposeful random sampling. Hybrid approach of thematic analysis was adopted in analysing the data.

Findings

This study develops a framework informed by actor network theory (ANT) concepts and finds that using ANT to examine the process of adoption helps to unveil the recursive nature of the process. The study reveals that the 14 determinants identified in this study influenced adoption at different stages. Factors such as ease of use, managerial time, customer focus and adoption influenced adoption at all the stages. This reveals that factors influencing ICT adoption are not static at one particular stage rather it may influence ICT adoption at different stages.

Research limitations/implications

Qualitative research is often subjective and interpretive in nature, and one of the limitations is the sample used in this research. Considering the small number of interviews carried out in this study, the generalisation of finding and the framework remains to be established across a wider population. Therefore, the factors presented could be limited considering that a number of practitioners that are involved in establishing emerging ICT are numerous. Therefore, other factors are prevailing to other industries or sectors that may provide scholars another way of examining these factors. Also, the framework demonstrates that it is a valuable analytical tool for researchers to examine how and why different actors including small and medium enterprise (SME) managers act around emerging ICT.

Originality/value

This study develops a framework that revealed the interactive and recursive nature of ICT adoption and the determinants influencing the process of ICT adoption at different stages thereby advancing ICT adoption research. The study challenges researchers to always consider ICT adoption as dynamic and unpredictable instead of one-off action as factors influencing its adoption are not static rather; they vary from one stage to another.
Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme: a collaboration opportunity for academia and industry
Authors: Mason Jonathan , Crowson Kate , Katsikitis Mary , Moodie Michael
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to summarise the initial experiences of Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). It highlights some of the main challenges being faced by participants, service providers and government, and demonstrates how research can contribute to the ongoing implementation and success of the scheme.

Design/methodology/approach

The historical basis for the need for a new approach to disability funding in Australia is explored. The opportunities that exist and the difficulties that are being encountered by those entering and working within the new scheme are discussed.

Findings

Several problems were identified including difficult transitions between existing support frameworks to new “NDIS plans”, and the risk of market failure. Both the problems and their solutions are discussed and it is hoped that collaboration between the Commonwealth Government, service users, their families, service providers and universities can lead to a number of lasting improvements.

Practical implications

The new funding framework provides exciting opportunities for increasing the funding of people with intellectual and physical disabilities in Australia. Developments in technology, service provision in rural and remote areas and the opportunity to meet aspirational life goals exist alongside a number of challenges, including the need to ensure that those with multiple and complex disabilities retain existing levels of support.

Originality/value

The implementation of the NDIS is still underway, and opportunities exist to implement changes to the scheme where required. Research findings have an important role to play in the national debate regarding how best to improve quality of life for people with a disability in Australia.
Disentangling the drivers of invasion spread in a vector‐borne tree disease
Authors: Osada Yutaka , Yamakita Takehisa , Shoda‐Kagaya Etsuko , Liebhold Andrew M. , Yamanaka Takehiko
Published: July 2018

Pine wilt disease (PWD) invaded southern Japan in the early 1900s and has gradually expanded its range to northern Honshu (Japanese mainland). The disease is caused by a pathogenic North American nematode, which is transmitted by native pine sawyer beetles. Recently, the disease has invaded other portions of East Asia and Europe where extensive mortality of host pines is anticipated to resemble historical patterns seen in Japan.

There is a critical need to identify the main drivers of PWD invasion spread so as to predict the future spread and evaluate containment strategies in newly invaded world regions. But the coupling of pathogen and vector population dynamics introduces considerable complexity that is important for understanding this and other plant disease invasions.

In this study, we analysed historical (1980–2011) records of PWD infection and vector abundance, which were spatially extensive but recorded at coarse categorical levels (none, low and high) across 403 municipalities in northern Honshu. We employed a multistate occupancy model that accounted both for demographic stochasticity and observation errors in categorical data.

Analysis revealed that sparse sawyer populations had lower probabilities of transition to high abundance than did more abundant populations even when regional abundance stayed the same, suggesting the existence of positive density dependence, that is an Allee effect, in sawyer dynamics. Climatic conditions (average accumulated degree days) substantially limited invasion spread in northern regions, but this climatic influence on sawyer dynamics was generally weaker than the Allee effect.

Our results suggest that tactics (eg sanitation logging of infected pines) which strengthen Allee effects in sawyer dynamics may be effective strategies for slowing the spread of PWD.
Too early or too late? Transition to parenthood among former students with special educational needs
Authors: Myklebust Jon Olav
Published: July 2018

This is a study of transition to parenthood, one of the least‐studied topics in disability research. More than 250 students with special educational needs are followed from their first year of upper secondary school into their mid‐30s. Their transition into parenthood is analysed by logistic regression at two ages, at 23 years and at 36 years. Five antecedent covariates are used: gender, functional level, transition to upper secondary school, type of class and support in class. The analysis shows that early births are far more frequent among females than males, a pattern similar to that found in Norway 20 years ago. At the age of 36 there is no difference between men and women. However, the probability of childlessness is higher among those with low functional level, among those schooled in special classes and those with a teaching assistant. This pattern is more pronounced among women than among men.
The need for improving access to emergency care through community involvement in low‐ and middle‐income countries: A case study of cardiac arrest in Hanoi, Vietnam
Authors: Hoang Bui Hai , Dao Xuan Dung , Nakahara Shinji , Sakamoto Tetsuya
Published: July 2018

Out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest patients require immediate interventions by bystanders and emergency medical services (EMS). However, in many low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMIC), bystanders witnessing a cardiac arrest rarely perform chest compressions and contact EMS. This paper attempts to draw lessons from a case of a patient with a cardiac arrest who could have survived with immediate interventions. A 40 year old man collapsed following electrocution at a construction site. His colleagues immediately transferred him to hospital via taxi, without performing chest compressions. At the hospital he showed ventricular fibrillation; resuscitation attempts failed and he died. Ventricular fibrillation due to electrocution is a benign type of cardiac arrest. The chance of survival increases with immediate chest compressions and prompt defibrillation. We discuss the reasons why the bystanders did not perform resuscitation or contact EMS and identify approaches for the improvement of pre‐hospital care in LMICs.
OneTwoTree: An online tool for phylogeny reconstruction
Authors: Drori Michal , Rice Anna , Einhorn Moshe , Chay Ofer , Glick Lior , Mayrose Itay
Published: July 2018

Phylogeny reconstruction is a key instrument in numerous biological analyses, ranging from evolutionary and ecology research, to conservation and systems biology. The increasing accumulation of genomic data makes it possible to reconstruct phylogenies with both high accuracy and at increasingly finer resolution. Yet, taking advantage of the enormous amount of sequence data available requires the use of computational tools for efficient data retrieval and processing, or else the process could quickly become an error‐prone endeavour. Here, we present OneTwoTree (http://onetwotree.tau.ac.il/), a Web‐based tool for tree reconstruction based on the supermatrix paradigm. Given a list of taxa names of interest as the sole input requirement, OneTwoTree retrieves all available sequence data from NCBI GenBank, clusters these into orthology groups, identifies the most informative set of markers, searches for an appropriate outgroup, and assembles a partitioned sequence matrix that is then used for the final phylogeny reconstruction step. OneTwoTree further allows users to control various steps of the process, such as the merging of sequences from similar clusters, or phylogeny reconstruction based on markers from a specific genome type. By comparing the performance of OneTwoTree to a manually reconstructed phylogeny of the Antirrhineae tribe, we show that the use of OneTwoTree resulted in substantially higher data coverage in terms of both taxon sampling and the number of informative markers assembled. OneTwoTree provides a flexible online tool for species‐tree reconstruction, aimed to assist researchers ranging in their level of prior expertise in the task of phylogeny reconstruction.
Rethinking the expert: Co‐creating curriculum to support international work‐integrated learning with community development organisations
Authors: Hammersley Laura , Lloyd Kate , Bilous Rebecca
Published: July 2018

Increasing numbers of Australian students are travelling overseas to undertake short‐term work‐integrated learning placements with community development organisations. In light of recent criticisms emerging in academic and public commentary on short‐term international volunteering, this paper highlights the need for a support curriculum that caters for students from diverse discipline backgrounds, often with little or no previous understanding of community development principles or intercultural engagement. In doing so, we question who is best placed to develop an appropriate curriculum and what might it look like. We draw on Macquarie University's Professional and Community Engagement community development programme to critically reflect on the importance of engaging with diverse knowledge frameworks, approaches to learning and subject expertise of our international community partners. In particular, this paper showcases a community‐based development module co‐created with community partners that aims to encourage students to rethink western‐dominated understandings of development, poverty and inequality. To conclude, we explore how co‐creating curriculum with community partners unsettles assumptions of the university as the only site of expert knowledge and knowledge‐making practices, and reflect on the challenges encountered as we try to contribute to the development of socially and environmentally conscious students.
Complexities of development management in the 2020s: Aligning values, skills and competencies in development studies
Authors: Leslie Helen M. , Banks Glenn , Prinsen Gerard , Scheyvens Regina , Stewart‐Withers Rochelle
Published: July 2018

In the context of rapidly evolving development landscapes, the practice of development management has become increasingly complex. Trends, such as a decline in the overall volume of official development assistance, growing domestic inequality and the localisation agenda, are seeing a shift in the way aid is delivered and managed. This is requiring development managers from the Global North to be much more aware of their own values and world view and to be highly skilled in areas such as relationship management, communication, facilitation, ethics and advocacy alongside more traditional competencies such as monitoring and evaluation. Massey University's own research with the New Zealand global development sector supports this view and we have adapted our core development management course accordingly. Through pedagogy that is value‐based, ethically informed and practice‐orientated, we are working to equip our graduates to adapt to the complexities of development management. This includes prioritising ethics and relationship management and being aware of our responsibilities to Tangata Whenua as a Treaty‐led university. Our universities are well placed to offer the kind of innovative development studies education that will put our graduates and the communities that they serve on a pathway to better development outcomes in the 2020s.
How a growing organismal perspective is adding new depth to integrative studies of morphological evolution
Authors: Sanger Thomas J. , Rajakumar Rajendhran
Published: July 2018

Over the past half century, the field of Evolutionary Developmental Biology, or Evo‐devo, has integrated diverse fields of biology into a more synthetic understanding of morphological diversity. This has resulted in numerous insights into how development can evolve and reciprocally influence morphological evolution, as well as generated several novel theoretical areas. Although comparative by default, there remains a great gap in our understanding of adaptive morphological diversification and how developmental mechanisms influence the shape and pattern of phenotypic variation. Herein we highlight areas of research that are in the process of filling this void, and areas, if investigated more fully, that will add new insights into the diversification of morphology. At the centre of our discussion is an explicit awareness of organismal biology. Here we discuss an organismal framework that is supported by three distinct pillars. First, there is a need for Evo‐devo to adopt a high‐resolution phylogenetic approach in the study of morphological variation and its developmental underpinnings. Secondly, we propose that to understand the dynamic nature of morphological evolution, investigators need to give more explicit attention to the processes that generate evolutionarily relevant variation at the population level. Finally, we emphasize the need to address more thoroughly the processes that structure variation at micro‐ and macroevolutionary scales including modularity, morphological integration, constraint, and plasticity. We illustrate the power of these three pillars using numerous examples from both invertebrates and vertebrates to emphasize that many of these approaches are already present within the field, but have yet to be formally integrated into many research programs. We feel that the most exciting new insights will come where the traditional experimental approaches to Evo‐devo are integrated more thoroughly with the principles of this organismal framework.
Porphyromonas gingivalis in the tongue biofilm is associated with clinical outcome in rheumatoid arthritis patients
Authors: Ceccarelli F , Orrù G , Pilloni A , Bartosiewicz I , Perricone C , Martino E , Lucchetti R , Fais S , Vomero M , Olivieri M , di Franco M , Priori R , Riccieri V , Scrivo R , Shoenfeld Y , Alessandri C , Conti F , Polimeni A , Valesini G
Published: July 2018

Several studies have suggested a link between human microbiome and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) development. Porphyromonas gingivalis seems involved in RA initiation and progression, as supported by the high occurrence of periodontitis. In this case–control study, we analysed tongue P. gingivalis presence and quantification in a large healthy and RA cohort. We enrolled 143 RA patients [male/female (M/F) 32/111, mean ± standard deviation (s.d.), age 57·5 ± 19·8 years, mean ± s.d. disease duration 155·9 ± 114·7 months); 36 periodontitis patients (M/F 11/25, mean ± s.d., age 56 ± 9·9 years, mean ± s.d. disease duration 25·5 ± 20·9 months); and 57 patients (M/F 12/45, mean ± s.d., age 61·4 ± 10·9 years, mean ± s.d. disease duration 62·3 ± 66·9 months) with knee osteoarthritis or fibromyalgia. All subjects underwent a standard cytological swab to identify the rate of P. gingivalis/total bacteria by using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The prevalence of P. gingivalis resulted similarly in RA and periodontitis patients (48·9 versus 52·7%, P = not significant). Moreover, the prevalence of this pathogen was significantly higher in RA and periodontitis patients in comparison with control subjects (P = 0·01 and P = 0·003, respectively). We found a significant correlation between P. gingivalis rate in total bacteria genomes and disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28) (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) (r = 0·4, P = 0·01). RA patients in remission showed a significantly lower prevalence of P. gingivalis in comparison with non-remission (P = 0·02). We demonstrated a significant association between the percentage of P. gingivalis on the total tongue biofilm and RA disease activity (DAS28), suggesting that the oral cavity microbiological status could play a role in the pathogenic mechanisms of inflammation, leading to more active disease.
Conserving European biodiversity across realms
Authors: Giakoumi Sylvaine , Hermoso Virgilio , Carvalho Silvia B. , Markantonatou Vasiliki , Dagys Mindaugas , Iwamura Takuya , Probst Wolfgang N. , Smith Robert J. , Yates Katherine L. , Almpanidou Vasiliki , Novak Tihana , Ben‐Moshe Noam , Katsanevakis Stelios , Claudet Joachim , Coll Marta , Deidun Alan , Essl Franz , García‐Charton José A. , Jimenez Carlos , Kark Salit , Mandić Milica , Mazaris Antonios D. , Rabitsch Wolfgang , Stelzenmüller Vanessa , Tricarico Elena , Vogiatzakis Ioannis N.
Published: July 2018

Terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems are connected via multiple biophysical and ecological processes. Identifying and quantifying links among ecosystems is necessary for the uptake of integrated conservation actions across realms. Such actions are particularly important for species using habitats in more than one realm during their daily or life cycle. We reviewed information on the habitats of 2,408 species of European conservation concern and found that 30% of the species use habitats in multiple realms. Transportation and service corridors, which fragment species habitats, were identified as the most important threat impacting ∼70% of the species. We examined information on 1,567 European Union (EU) conservation projects funded over the past 25 years, to assess the adequacy of efforts toward the conservation of “multi‐realm” species at a continental scale. We discovered that less than a third of multi‐realm species benefited from projects that included conservation actions across multiple realms. To achieve the EU's conservation target of halting biodiversity loss by 2020 and effectively protect multi‐realm species, integrated conservation efforts across realms should be reinforced by: (1) recognizing the need for integrated management at a policy level, (2) revising conservation funding priorities across realms, and (3) implementing integrated land‐freshwater‐sea conservation planning and management.
Coronary risk assessment using traditional risk factors with computed tomography coronary artery calcium scoring: Illustrative cases
Authors: Kerut Edmund K. , Hebert Renee , Hall Michael E. , Turner Michael C. , McMullan Michael R.
Published: July 2018

A patient's coronary artery calcium score (CACS) is a strong independent predictor of cardiovascular risk. Used in conjunction with traditional measures of risk, the CACS helps the clinician discuss cardiovascular (CV) risk and recommend therapies with the patient. We present several cases in which measurement of the CACS and traditional risk factors were used to help guide the clinician–patient conversation and guide therapies.