bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
C‐C chemokine receptor type 5 deficiency exacerbates alcoholic fatty liver disease through pro‐inflammatory cytokines and chemokines‐induced hepatic inflammation
Authors: Park Ju Ho , Lee Dong Hun , Park Mork Soon , Jung Young Suk , Hong Jin Tae
Published: November 2016

Background and Aim

Chemokines and chemokine receptors implicated with alcoholic liver disease. Studies have shown that inflammation and oxidative stress induce fat molecules aggregation in liver. We evaluated the relationship between alcoholic fatty liver disease and C‐C chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) and impact of inflammation and oxidative stress in fat molecule deposition.

Methods

Lieber–DeCarli diet containing ethanol or isocaloric control diets were fed to wild‐type and CCR5 knockout mice for 10 days and gavaged with a single dose of ethanol or isocaloric maltose dextrin at 11th day. Cytokine, chemokine, and reactive oxygen species levels were measured in liver tissues to study the role of CCR5 in alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Results

C‐C chemokine receptor type 5 knockout mice exacerbated ethanol‐induced liver injury. Serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were higher in CCR5 knockout mice than wild‐type mice, and CCR5 knockout mice showed more severe lipid accumulation in liver tissue than wild‐type mice after ethanol feeding. Increased expressions of pro‐inflammatory cytokines TNF‐α and IL‐6 and chemokines CCL2, CCL3, CCL4, and CCL5 result in exacerbation of hepatitis in CCR5 knockout mice after ethanol feeding. Oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species was more severe in CCR5 knockout mice, and increasing level of fatty acid import and decreasing level of lipid degradation resulted in lipid accumulation in ethanol‐fed CCR5 knockout mice.

Conclusion

Deficiency of CCR5 exacerbates alcoholic fatty liver disease by hepatic inflammation induced by pro‐inflammatory cytokines and chemokines and oxidative stress.
Muscle Mass Loss Is a Potential Predictor of 90‐Day Mortality in Older Adults with Aspiration Pneumonia
Authors: Maeda Keisuke , Akagi Junji
Published: November 2016

Objectives

To investigate the association between loss of muscle mass and aspiration pneumonia (AP).

Design

Prospective observational cohort.

Setting

Acute geriatric hospital.

Participants

Individuals admitted to the hospital for AP (N = 151; mean age 85.9; 49.7% male).

Measurements

Appendicular skeletal muscle index (ASMI; appendicular skeletal muscle mass divided by height squared) was used to evaluate muscle mass. Data on age, sex, body mass index, Mini Nutritional Assessment—Short Form score, Barthel Index score, Charlson Comorbidity Index score, and pneumonia severity (Japanese version of the CURB‐65 (C (confusion), U (blood urea nitrogen ≥20 mg/dL), R (respiratory rate ≥30 breaths/min), B (systolic blood pressure <90 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≤60 mmHg), 65 (aged ≥65) severity score (A‐DROP)) were obtained. Outcomes included 30‐ and 90‐day mortality.

Results

Mild, moderate, severe, and extremely severe AP were observed in 1.3%, 70.2%, 25.8%, and 2.6% of participants, respectively. On Kaplan‐Meier analysis, participants in the lowest ASMI quartile for each sex were more likely to die than those in the other quartiles (log‐lank test P = .005). Multivariate logistic analyses showed that ASMI and A‐DROP were independent predictors of 90‐day mortality; only A‐DROP was a significant predictor of 30‐day mortality (P < .001). Cox regression analysis also showed that the first ASMI quartile was independently associated with mortality (hazard ratio = 2.19; 95% confidence interval = 1.06–4.52; P = .03).

Conclusion

Low muscle mass is a potential predictor of long‐term mortality in individuals with AP. Prospectively preventing muscle mass deterioration may be beneficial for recovery from AP in older adults.
Microbial Inoculants with Multifaceted Traits Suppress Rhizoctonia Populations and Promote Plant Growth in Cotton
Authors: Prasanna Radha , Ramakrishnan Balasubramanian , Ranjan Kunal , Venkatachalam Siddarthan , Kanchan Amrita , Solanki Priyanka , Monga Dilip , Shivay Yashbir S. , Kranthi Sandhya
Published: November 2016

The suppressive effects of microbial inoculants on cotton seedling mortality were assessed in Rhizoctonia solani‐infested soil. Per cent mortality ranged from 16 to 32 (60–120 days after sowing, DAS) and significant differences were recorded at 120 DAS, especially after drenching with compost tea of Azotobacter sp. and Anabaena torulosa—Trichoderma viride‐biofilmed formulations. The activity of hydrolytic enzymes was reduced in diseased root tissues due to a majority of the microbially inoculated treatments, compared with healthy root tissues. Per cent changes in the amounts of glomalin‐related soil proteins (GRSPs) were 2 to 85% greater than those of the uninoculated experimental controls. These microbial inoculants altered the rhizosphere bacterial communities as evident from the Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) banding patterns and, also reduced the population of R. solani. While the copy numbers of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene of R. solani in the uninoculated (infested soil) were approximately 1.47 × 1011 per g soil, they were 1.34–1.42 × 105 per g soil after the application of A. torulosa, Anabaena laxa and A. torulosa–Bacillus sp. Increases in yield (ranging from 3 to 23%) due to various microbial inoculants relative to uninoculated controls illustrated their promise as plant growth‐promoting and disease‐suppressing agents. This study illustrates the modulation of rhizosphere ecology through microbial inoculants as a mechanism of disease suppression and sustaining plant growth.
Firm Characteristics and NPD Program Success: The Significant Influence of Global Discovery Management
Authors: Dubiel Anna , Durmusoglu Serdar S. , Gloeckner Sebastian
Published: November 2016

Managing new product development (NPD) with a global point of view is argued to be essential in current business more than ever. Accordingly, many firms are trying to revitalize their NPD processes to make them more global. Therefore, examining global NPD management is one of the top priorities for research. While scholars have examined global launch management, there has been scant attention on the direct effect of global discovery management on NPD success. Therefore, this study investigates how a globally managed discovery phase enhances a firm's overall NPD success. Drawing upon the resource‐based view (RBV) and using Kotabe's () generic model for market success in global competition as the overarching framework, this study examines four drivers of NPD success: global discovery management, the firm's “global footprint,” its inbound knowledge sourcing practices (i.e., “open innovation proclivity”), and nationality of the teams (i.e., “cross‐national global NPD team use”). The hypotheses are tested using a sample of 255 business units from multiple industries, headquartered worldwide, and surveyed during the 2012 PDMA Comparative Performance Assessment Study (CPAS). The PLM‐SEM analyses show that, of the four drivers examined, only global discovery management strongly influences a firm's NPD program success. The findings enhance our understanding of the particularities in global NPD. Based on the study's results, suggestions are provided as to how multinationals can leverage their international operations in the course of their front‐end activities.
Sustainability, Social Media Driven Open Innovation, and New Product Development Performance*
Authors: Du Shuili , Yalcinkaya Goksel , Bstieler Ludwig
Published: November 2016

Sustainability and social media use in open innovation play important roles in a firm's new product development (NPD) process. This research examines, in conjunction, the roles of sustainability and social media driven inbound open innovation (SMOI) for a firm's NPD performance, and further, takes a more refined approach by differentiating between different types of SMOI activities. To this end, this research develops and tests a conceptual framework, which predicts that (1) a firm's sustainability orientation (SO) is positively associated with its NPD performance, (2) customer focus (CF) partially mediates the SO–NPD performance link, and (3) particular SMOI activities moderate the CF–NPD performance link. The empirical results, using data from the Product Development and Management Association (PDMA)'s comparative performance assessment study, provide support for most of the framework. Notably, this research documents a positive link between SO and NPD performance, as well as a partial mediating role of CF. The results further suggest that social media driven open innovation activities focused on gathering market insights enhance CF directly, while social media driven open innovation activities that garner technical expertise enhance the link between CF and NPD performance. This paper bridges the separate literatures on sustainability and open innovation, and contributes to the NPD research. The findings suggest that managers should take a strategic approach to sustainability and embed it in the NPD process. Furthermore, managers should manage social media based open innovation carefully to fully benefit the firm during the front end and back end of NPD.
The Effects of Decentralization in Strategy‐Making and National Culture on NPD Portfolio Planning
Authors: Carbonell Pilar , Rodriguez Escudero Ana I.
Published: November 2016

Traditionally, the understanding among scholars and practitioners has been that a portfolio of NPD projects is the expression of a firm's strategy and thus it must support the strategy. In keeping with this view, the current study focuses on new product development (NPD) portfolio planning, which is defined as a firm's effort to formulate portfolio decisions using a defined innovation strategy. Connecting portfolio decisions to a defined innovation strategy has been associated with higher innovation success. Surprisingly, empirical research indicates that portfolio decisions do not always support the company's innovation strategy. Furthermore, during recent years, an increasing number of authors underscore the importance of responsiveness and adaptability in portfolio decision‐making. The current study addresses these two issues by examining a direct effect of decentralization in strategy‐making on NPD portfolio planning, and a moderating effect of decentralization in strategy‐making on the relationship between NPD portfolio planning and NPD program success. The study also examines the influence of national culture on the proposed relationships. The theoretical model was tested using data from the 2012 PDMA Comparative Performance Assessment Study. Findings indicate that NPD portfolio planning positively influences NPD program success. Also, results revealed inverted U‐shaped direct and moderating effects, respectively, of decentralization in strategy‐making on NPD portfolio planning, and of decentralization in strategy‐making on the relationship between NPD portfolio planning and NPD program success. With regard to the moderating effect of national culture, results indicate that uncertainty avoidance does not moderate the relationship between NPD portfolio planning and NPD program success. Nonetheless, we found significant moderating effects of individualism and power distance on the curvilinear relationship between decentralization in strategy‐making and NPD portfolio planning.
PDMA Comparative Performance Assessment Study (CPAS): Methods and Future Research Directions
Authors: Lee Hyunjung , Markham Stephen K.
Published: November 2016

Best practices data are critical for managing and researching new product development. For these purposes the PDMA Research Foundation conducted the 2012 PDMA Comparative Performance Assessment Study (CPAS). This article reports the use of the CPAS data among product development researchers and provides a complete description of the data gathering and cleaning process needed to write additional articles using these data, including other articles in this special issue. This article also reports important results of the CPAS data, makes comparisons between the Best and the Rest firms, and makes comparisons among firms by geography, industry, product/technology/market types, and company size. The results offer insights for academics and practitioners to conduct further research and to find potential new product development best practices.
Effects of dietary supplementation with a chlorella by‐product on the growth performance, immune response, intestinal microflora and intestinal mucosal morphology in broiler chickens
Authors: Kang H. K. , Park S. B. , Kim C. H.
Published: November 2016

This study aimed to determine the effect of different dietary levels of a Chlorella by‐product (CBP) on the growth performance, immune response, intestinal microflora and intestinal mucosal morphology of broilers. In total, 480 one‐day‐old broiler chickens were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments with four replicated pens consisting of 30 chicks. The basal diet was formulated to be adequate in energy and nutrients. Three additional diets were prepared by supplementing 25, 50 or 75 g/kg of CBP to the basal diet. The diets were fed to the broilers ad libitum for 35 days. Result indicated that increasing inclusion level of CBP improved BW gain (linear, p < 0.05). There was no effect of inclusion level of CBP in diets on total cholesterol, triglyceride, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels during the 35 days. Plasma IgG, IgM and IgA concentrations increased (linear, p < 0.05) with inclusion level of CBP in diets. Supplementation of CBP in the diets increased (linear, p < 0.05) the concentrations of Lactobacillus in the caecal content and decreased (linear, p < 0.05) the concentrations of Escherichia coli and Salmonella in the caecal content. Villus height increased (linear and quadratic, p < 0.05) with inclusion level of CBP in diets. Crypt depth increased (quadratic, p < 0.05) with inclusion level of CBP, and a decreased villus height: crypt depth ratio (quadratic, p < 0.05) was observed as inclusion level of CBP in diets increased. The results of the current experiment indicate that dietary supplementation of CBP improves growth performance of birds. Dietary CBP has improving Lactobacillus spp. concentrations in the gastrointestinal tract, plasma immunoglobulin concentrations and intestinal mucosal morphology.
Dietary chicory root and chicory inulin trigger changes in energetic metabolism, stress prevention and cytoskeletal proteins in the liver of growing pigs – a proteomic study
Authors: Lepczyński A. , Herosimczyk A. , Ożgo M. , Marynowska M. , Pawlikowska M. , Barszcz M. , Taciak M. , Skomiał J.
Published: November 2016

Currently, a wide array of plant preparations exerting health‐promoting properties are commonly used as feed additives. Among them, Cichorium intybus L. have gained considerable attention as a source of compounds showing prebiotic character. Large body of evidence suggests that products of prebiotic fermentation (short‐chain fatty acids) may influence the expression of genes encoding liver enzymes involved in the regulation of energetic metabolism. Given the above, the present study was aimed at estimating the influence of a diet supplemented with chicory root or water extract of chicory inulin on liver proteome in growing pigs. The study was performed on 24 castrated male piglets (PIC × Penarlan P76). Animals were assigned to three equal groups (n = 8) and fed cereal‐based isoenergetic diets: control and supplemented with 2% of inulin extract from chicory root or 4% of dried chicory root. Liver proteins were separated using two‐dimensional electrophoresis, followed by the identification of statistically valid protein spots with the aid of MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometry. Both experimental factors significantly modulated the expression of liver proteins associated with energetic metabolism, particularly those involved in cholesterol and triglyceride metabolism. Additionally, both dietary additives induced increased expression of proteins involved in hepatocyte protection against oxidative stress. In the present study, we have shown for the first time that diet supplementation with dried chicory root or inulin caused significant changes in the expression of liver cytoskeletal proteins. Close attention should be paid to the downregulation of cytokeratin 18, hepatic acute phase protein that can enhance the anti‐inflammatory properties of inulin‐type fructans.
Inducible expression of A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase 8 in chronic periodontitis and gingival epithelial cells
Authors: Aung W. P. P. , Chotjumlong P. , Pata S. , Montreekachon P. , Supanchart C. , Khongkhunthian S. , Sastraruji T. , Krisanaprakornkit S.
Published: November 2016

Background and Objectives

The expression of A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase 8 (ADAM8) is associated with several inflammatory diseases. Elevated ADAM8 levels have been shown in gingival crevicular fluid of patients with chronic periodontitis. The objective of this study was to investigate ADAM8 expression in chronic periodontitis tissues compared with that in normal tissues. ADAM8 expression and its inductive mechanism were examined in human gingival epithelial cells (HGECs) and human gingival fibroblasts.

Material and Methods

Total RNA and protein were extracted from gingival biopsies of 33 patients with chronic periodontitis and those of 23 healthy volunteers. ADAM8 mRNA and protein expression was analyzed by real‐time polymerase chain reaction, immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. ADAM8 expression in control and stimulated cells in the presence or absence of specific inhibitors for mitogen‐activated protein kinase pathways was assayed by real‐time polymerase chain reaction, immunoblotting, flow cytometry and immunofluorescence.

Results

ADAM8 mRNA and protein expression in chronic periodontitis tissues was significantly greater than that in normal tissues (p < 0.01). Significantly increased ADAM8 expression was detected in the gingival epithelium of chronic periodontitis tissues (p < 0.001). ADAM8 mRNA expression in HGECs, but not in human gingival fibroblasts, was significantly induced by stimulation with Fusobacterium nucleatum (p < 0.05), partially via the p44/42 mitogen‐activated protein kinase pathway. ADAM8 expression in the cell lysates and on the surface of HGECs was induced by stimulation with F. nucleatum.

Conclusion

ADAM8 expression is increased in inflamed chronic periodontitis tissues and localized within gingival epithelium, consistent with an upregulation of ADAM8 expression in F. nucleatum‐stimulated HGECs, suggesting a possible role of ADAM8 in innate immunity of periodontal tissue.
The Effects of Boundary Spanners’ Personal Relationships on Interfirm Collaboration and Conflict: A Study of the Role of Guanxi in China
Authors: Cai Shaohan , Jun Minjoon , Yang Zhilin
Published: November 2016

This research studies a unique type of personal relationship between boundary spanners, namely guanxi (connection), in China. We maintain that such guanxi involves interpersonal ganqing (emotional attachment) and two elements of exchange of favor between organizations: information favor and business support. We empirically test our model in the context of a cellular phone distribution network, which consists of one major Chinese cellular phone manufacturer and its 277 independent retailers. Our results show that environmental dynamism and interdependence significantly affect the frequency of boundary spanners’ interactions and the development of interpersonal ganqing between them, which subsequently influences interfirm favor exchanges and then interfirm conflicts. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.
Serum Wisteria floribunda agglutinin‐positive Mac‐2‐binding protein for patients with chronic hepatitis B and C: a comparative study
Authors: Nishikawa H. , Enomoto H. , Iwata Y. , Kishino K. , Shimono Y. , Hasegawa K. , Nakano C. , Takata R. , Nishimura T. , Yoh K. , Ishii A. , Aizawa N. , Sakai Y. , Ikeda N. , Takashima T. , Iijima H. , Nishiguchi S.
Published: November 2016

We compared Wisteria floribunda agglutinin‐positive Mac‐2‐binding protein (WFA+‐M2BP) levels between patients with chronic hepatitis B (n=249) and chronic hepatitis C (n=386) based on the degree of liver fibrosis. We examined WFA+‐M2BP levels in patients with F4 (cirrhosis), F3 or more (advanced fibrosis) and F2 or more (significant fibrosis) in the two groups. We further examined the relationship between five fibrosis markers and the degree of fibrosis. The WFA+‐M2BP values ranged from 0.25 cut‐off index (COI) to 12.9 COI in patients with hepatitis B and 0.34–20.0 COI in patients with hepatitis C (P<.0001). The median WFA+‐M2BP values in F4 in the two groups were 2.83 COI in patients with hepatitis B and 5.03 COI in patients with hepatitis C (P=.0046). The median WFA+‐M2BP values in F3 or more in the two groups were 1.79 COI in patients with hepatitis B and 3.79 COI in patients with hepatitis C (P<.0001). The median WFA+‐M2BP values in F2 or more in the two groups were 1.49 COI in the hepatitis B cohort and 3.19 COI in the hepatitis C group (P<.0001). Among five liver fibrosis markers, WFA+‐M2BP had the highest correlation coefficient (rs=.629) in terms of correlation with the degree of fibrosis in the patients with hepatitis C and had the second highest rs value (.415) in the hepatitis B group. Although WFA+‐M2BP could be a useful indicator of liver fibrosis, WFA+‐M2BP levels in the two groups significantly differed even in the same degree of fibrosis. Individual cut‐off values in each aetiology for the degree of fibrosis should be determined.
Thrombocytopenia in chronic liver disease
Authors: Peck‐Radosavljevic Markus
Published: November 2016

Thrombocytopenia is a common haematological disorder in patients with chronic liver disease. It is multifactorial and severity of liver disease is the most influential factor. As a result of the increased risk of bleeding, thrombocytopenia may impact upon medical procedures, such as surgery or liver biopsy. The pathophysiology of thrombocytopenia in chronic liver disease has long been associated with the hypothesis of hypersplenism, where portal hypertension causes pooling and sequestration of all corpuscular elements of the blood, predominantly thrombocytes, in the enlarged and congested spleen. Other mechanisms of importance include bone marrow suppression by toxic substances, such as alcohol or viral infection, and immunological removal of platelets from the circulation. However, insufficient platelet recovery after relief of portal hypertension by shunt procedures or minor and transient recovery after splenic artery embolization have caused many to question the importance and relative contribution of this mechanism to thrombocytopenia. The discovery of the cytokine thrombopoietin has led to the elucidation of a central mechanism. Thrombopoietin is predominantly produced by the liver and is reduced when liver cell mass is severely damaged. This leads to reduced thrombopoiesis in the bone marrow and consequently to thrombocytopenia in the peripheral blood of patients with advanced‐stage liver disease. Restoration of adequate thrombopoietin production post‐liver transplantation leads to prompt restoration of platelet production. A number of new treatments that substitute thrombopoietin activity are available or in development.
Human Rights Trials in an Era of Democratic Stagnation: The Case of Turkey
Authors: Mecellem Jessica G.
Published: November 2016

Domestic human rights trials are often conceptualized within the context of transition toward democracy. Yet, a recent cascade of trials in Turkey defies this argument. Between 2008 and 2015, Turkish courts oversaw fifteen trials examining individual criminal accountability for human rights violations carried out by the Turkish military during the conflict with the PKK in the 1990s. The cascade of trials has emerged and remained ongoing while the Turkish regime has become steadily more authoritarian. This article explains the emergence of these trials by the redistribution of power among elite actors, which created a window of opportunity allowing for ongoing legal mobilization to result in prosecutions. Drawing on original data from interviews conducted in Turkey between 2014–2015, this study demonstrates the importance of power redistribution for human rights during periods of democratic stagnation, while emphasizing the ability of trials to contribute to the contestation of hegemonic narratives.
Safety and Effectiveness of Mirabegron in Patients with Overactive Bladder in a Real‐World Clinical Setting: A Japanese Post‐Marketing Study
Authors: NOZAWA Yumiko , KATO Daisuke , TABUCHI Hiromi , KUROISHI Kentarou
Published: November 2016

Objectives

To provide real‐world data on Japanese patients with overactive bladder (OAB) initiating treatment with the β3‐adrenoceptor agonist, mirabegron. This study examined prescribing patterns, adverse drug reaction (ADR) incidence, and treatment effectiveness.

Methods

Full medical histories, including prior/concomitant drug use, were collected before initiating mirabegron treatment. After 12 weeks mirabegron, physicians assessed ADR incidence and treatment effectiveness. Residual urine volume was assessed and patients completed the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) and International Prostate Symptom Score‐Quality of Life (I‐PSS QoL) surveys at Baseline and 12 weeks. Data were collected between April 2012 and July 2014.

Results

Of 9795 OAB patients (46.8% male; 80.8% ≥65 years), 71.7% had coexisting disease [notably benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, 32.4%), hypertension (31.9%), and diabetes mellitus (9.4%)] and 53.4% reported concomitant drug use (27.8% α1‐antagonists, 6.3% anticholinergics). The incidence of total ADRs was 6.07% [including constipation (0.97%), thirst (0.47%), and dysuria (0.44%)], of serious ADRs, 0.21%, of cardiovascular ADRs, 0.48% and of urinary retention, 0.31%. Incidence of total ADRs in patients with concomitant cardiovascular disease was 10.09% and of those related to urinary retention in men with untreated BPH, 0.88%. After 12 weeks treatment, physicians judged mirabegron as “effective” in 80.7% of patients, 63.6% of patients achieved the three‐point minimal clinically important change from Baseline in the mean OABSS, and the I‐PSS QoL decreased significantly from Baseline (−2.1 ± 1.77; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

In the clinical setting, mirabegron is well tolerated, with no unanticipated ADRs, and is an effective treatment for Japanese patients with OAB.
Patterns ofMHC‐dependent mate selection in humans and nonhuman primates: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Winternitz J. , Abbate J. L. , Huchard E. , Havlíček J. , Garamszegi L. Z.
Published: November 2016

Genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in vertebrates are integral for effective adaptive immune response and are associated with sexual selection. Evidence from a range of vertebrates supportsMHC‐based preference for diverse and dissimilar mating partners, but evidence from human mate choice studies has been disparate and controversial. Methodologies and sampling peculiarities specific to human studies make it difficult to know whether wide discrepancies in results among human populations are real or artefact. To better understand what processes may affectMHC‐mediated mate choice across humans and nonhuman primates, we performed phylogenetically controlled meta‐analyses using 58 effect sizes from 30 studies across seven primate species. Primates showed a general trend favouring moreMHC‐diverse mates, which was statistically significant for humans. In contrast, there was no tendency forMHC‐dissimilar mate choice, and for humans, we observed effect sizes indicating selection of bothMHC‐dissimilar andMHC‐similar mates. Focusing onMHC‐similar effect sizes only, we found evidence that preference forMHCsimilarity was an artefact of population ethnic heterogeneity in observational studies but not among experimental studies with more control over sociocultural biases. This suggests that human assortative mating biases may be responsible for some patterns ofMHC‐based mate choice. Additionally, the overall effect sizes of primateMHC‐based mating preferences are relatively weak (Fisher's Z correlation coefficient for dissimilarity Zr = 0.044, diversity Zr = 0.153), calling for careful sampling design in future studies. Overall, our results indicate that preference for moreMHC‐diverse mates is significant for humans and likely conserved across primates.
Transcriptome‐based phylogeny of endemic Lake Baikal amphipod species flock: fast speciation accompanied by frequent episodes of positive selection
Authors: Naumenko Sergey A. , Logacheva Maria D. , Popova Nina V. , Klepikova Anna V. , Penin Aleksey A. , Bazykin Georgii A. , Etingova Anna E. , Mugue Nikolai S. , Kondrashov Alexey S. , Yampolsky Lev Y.
Published: November 2016

Endemic species flocks inhabiting ancient lakes, oceanic islands and other long‐lived isolated habitats are often interpreted as adaptive radiations. Yet molecular evidence for directional selection during species flocks radiation is scarce. Using partial transcriptomes of 64 species of Lake Baikal (Siberia, Russia) endemic amphipods and two nonendemic outgroups, we report a revised phylogeny of this species flock and analyse evidence for positive selection within the endemic lineages. We confirm two independent invasions of amphipods into Baikal and demonstrate that several morphological features of Baikal amphipods, such as body armour and reduction in appendages and sensory organs, evolved in several lineages in parallel. Radiation of Baikal amphipods has been characterized by short phylogenetic branches and frequent episodes of positive selection which tended to be more frequent in the early phase of the second invasion of amphipods into Baikal when the most intensive diversification occurred. Notably, signatures of positive selection are frequent in genes encoding mitochondrial membrane proteins with electron transfer chain and ATP synthesis functionality. In particular, subunits of both the membrane and substrate‐level ATP synthases show evidence of positive selection in the plankton speciesMacrohectopus branickii, possibly indicating adaptation to active plankton lifestyle and to survival under conditions of low temperature and high hydrostatic pressures known to affect membranes functioning. Other functional categories represented among genes likely to be under positive selection include Ca‐binding muscle‐related proteins, possibly indicating adaptation to Ca‐deficient low mineralization Baikal waters.
Local adaptation at higher trophic levels: contrasting hyperparasite–pathogen infection dynamics in the field and laboratory
Authors: Parratt Steven R. , Barrès Benoit , Penczykowski Rachel M. , Laine Anna‐Liisa
Published: November 2016

Predicting and controlling infectious disease epidemics is a major challenge facing the management of agriculture, human and wildlife health. Co‐evolutionarily derived patterns of local adaptation among pathogen populations have the potential to generate variation in disease epidemiology; however, studies of local adaptation in disease systems have mostly focused on interactions between competing pathogens or pathogens and their hosts. In nature, parasites and pathogens are also subject to attack by hyperparasitic natural enemies that can severely impact upon their infection dynamics. However, few studies have investigated whether this interaction varies across combinations of pathogen–hyperparasite strains, and whether this influences hyperparasite incidence in natural pathogen populations. Here, we test whether the association between a hyperparasitic fungus,Ampelomyces,and a single powdery mildew host,Podosphaera plantaginis,varies among genotype combinations, and whether this drives hyperparasite incidence in nature. Laboratory inoculation studies reveal that genotype, genotype × genotype interactions and local adaptation affect hyperparasite infection. However, observations of a natural pathogen metapopulation reveal that spatial rather than genetic factors predict the risk of hyperparasite presence. Our results highlight how sensitive the outcome of biocontrol using hyperparasites is to selection of hyperparasite strains.
Intentionality and Content in McDowell
Authors: Philie Patrice
Published: November 2016

In its most general form, the issue of intentionality takes the following shape: How can something be about something else? In basic cases, this relation is one between a subjective occurrence and a state of affairs, allowing the problem of intentionality to be articulated in this manner: What makes it the case that a subjective occurrence has the capacity to be about something external to it? The views of John McDowell on intentionality form the focus of this article. They are examined through the notion of content and via the later Wittgenstein's standpoint on content and intentionality. The main objective is to reach a conspicuous perspective of McDowell's stance on intentionality in order to uncover its presuppositions. This leads to the identification of a pivotal point of tension in McDowell's philosophical commitments, in particular the extent to which he can legitimately claim to be a quietist.
Prospects for improving neovascularization of the ischemic heart: Lessons from development
Authors: Smart Nicola
Published: November 2016

Neovascularization of the ischemic myocardium postinfarction is necessary to restore blood flow to vulnerable cardiomyocytes and will be indispensable for prospective regenerative strategies, to perfuse newly formed myocardium. Therapeutic attempts to enhance new vessel formation have, to date, yielded modest clinical benefits, and innovative approaches are now needed. Intrinsic mechanisms are initiated by the heart in an attempt to rebuild injured vessels, but these are poorly understood. Insight into the underlying mechanisms may reveal targets for therapeutically augmenting this low‐level neovascular response. Starting from a limited number of descriptive studies, this review summarizes what is known of coronary neovascularization and explores putative mechanisms and cellular sources which may endogenously contribute, or that may be pharmacologically triggered, to support vasculo‐ or angiogenesis. As injury responses in the adult frequently recapitulate embryological processes, a particular focus is placed on the developmental mechanisms of coronary vessel formation. An understanding of the cellular sources and the regulatory pathways used by the embryo may reveal novel targets for reactivating coronary vessel and myocardial regeneration.
Transformation of the cucurbit powdery mildew pathogen Podosphaera xanthii by Agrobacterium tumefaciens
Authors: Martínez‐Cruz Jesús , Romero Diego , de Vicente Antonio , Pérez‐García Alejandro
Published: November 2016

The obligate biotrophic fungal pathogen Podosphaera xanthii is the main causal agent of powdery mildew in cucurbit crops all over the world. A major limitation of molecular studies of powdery mildew fungi (Erysiphales) is their genetic intractability. In this work, we describe a robust method based on the promiscuous transformation ability of Agrobacterium tumefaciens for reliable transformation of P. xanthii.

The A. tumefaciens‐mediated transformation (ATMT) system yielded transformants of P. xanthii with diverse transferred DNA (T‐DNA) constructs. Analysis of the resultant transformants showed the random integration of T‐DNA into the P. xanthii genome. The integrations were maintained in successive generations in the presence of selection pressure.

Transformation was found to be transient, because in the absence of selection agent, the introduced genetic markers were lost due to excision of T‐DNA from the genome.

The ATMT system represents a potent tool for genetic manipulation of P. xanthii and will likely be useful for studying other biotrophic fungi. We hope that this method will contribute to the development of detailed molecular studies of the intimate interaction established between powdery mildew fungi and their host plants.
The transcription factor OBP4 controls root growth and promotes callus formation
Authors: Ramirez‐Parra Elena , Perianez‐Rodriguez Juan , Navarro‐Neila Sara , Gude Inmaculada , Moreno‐Risueno Miguel A. , del Pozo Juan C.
Published: November 2016

Plant growth and development require a continuous balance between cell division and differentiation. In root meristems, differentiated cells acquire specialized functions, losing their mitotic potential. Some plant cells, such as pericycle cells, have a remarkable plasticity to regenerate new organs. The molecular mechanisms underlying cell reprogramming are not completely known.

In this work, a functional screening of transcription factors identified Arabidopsis OBP4 (OBF Binding Protein 4) as a novel regulator of root growth and cell elongation and differentiation.

Overexpression of OBP4 regulates the levels of a large number of transcripts in roots, many involved in hormonal signaling and callus formation. OBP4 controls cell elongation and differentiation in root cells. OBP4 does not induce cell division in the root meristem, but promotes pericycle cell proliferation, forming callus‐like structures at the root tip, as shown by the expression of stem cell markers. Callus formation is enhanced by ectopic expression of OBP4 in the wild‐type or alf4‐1, but is significantly reduced in roots that have lower levels of OBP4.

Our data provide molecular insights into how differentiated root cells acquire the potential to generate callus, a pluripotent mass of cells that can regenerate fully functional plant organs.
Three generations of Telework: New ICTs and the (R)evolution from Home Office to Virtual Office
Authors: Messenger Jon C. , Gschwind Lutz
Published: November 2016

‘New ICTs’, such as smartphones and tablet computers, have revolutionised work and life in the 21st Century. Crucial to this development is the detachment of work from traditional office spaces. Today's office work is often supported by Internet connections, and thus can be done from anywhere at any time. Research on detachment of work from the employer's premises actually dates back to the previous century. In the 1970s and 1980s, Jack Nilles and Allan Toffler predicted that work of the future would be relocated into or nearby employees’ homes with the help of technology, called ‘Telework’. Analysing technological advancements—the enabling forces of change in this context—over four decades sheds new light on this term: they have fostered the evolution of Telework in distinct stages or ‘generations’. Today's various location‐independent, technology‐enabled new ways of working are all part of the same revolution in the inter‐relationship between paid work and personal life.
Experiences and the embodied practices of Bhutanese‐New Zealander teenage women: Young bodies, going out and sexual practices
Authors: Basnet Sunita
Published: November 2016

This paper examines the ways in which the lived experiences and the embodied practices of Bhutanese teenage women refugees are entangled with notions of ‘homeliness’, ‘being in place’ and discourses around mobility. For these women, constraints associated with cultural values can create a somewhat paradoxical ‘unhomeliness’ and feelings of ‘being out of place.’ The experience of being a refugee can heighten the importance of home as a refuge, and the desire to build a new home in a wider community. The results reaffirm the importance of investigating and theorising embodied practices in efforts to represent refugee lived experiences and the importance of home to structure notions of being a refugee in a new place.
Environmental interventions for altering eating behaviours of employees in the workplace: a systematic review
Authors: Allan J. , Querstret D. , Banas K. , de Bruin M.
Published: November 2016

Environmental, or ‘choice‐architecture’, interventions aim to change behaviour by changing properties/contents of the environment and are commonly used in the workplace to promote healthy behaviours in employees. The present review aimed to evaluate and synthesize the evidence surrounding the effectiveness of environmental interventions targeting eating behaviour in the workplace. A systematic search identified 8157 articles, of which 22 were included in the current review. All included studies were coded according to risk of bias and reporting quality and were classified according to the emergent typology of choice‐architecture interventions. More than half of included studies (13/22) reported significant changes in primary measures of eating behaviour (increased fruit/veg consumption, increased sales of healthy options and reduction in calories purchased). However, only one study produced a small significant improvement in weight/body mass index. Many studies had a high or unknown risk of bias; reporting of interventions was suboptimal; and the only trial to measure compensatory behaviours found that intervention participants who ate less during the intervention ate more out with the workplace later in the day. Hence, we conclude that more rigorous, well‐reported studies that account for compensatory behaviours are needed to fully understand the impact of environmental interventions on diet and importantly on weight/body mass index outcomes.
Significance of structural variation in thylakoid membranes in maintaining functional photosystems during reproductive growth
Authors: Nozue Hatsumi , Oono Kaori , Ichikawa Yoshinobu , Tanimura Shun , Shirai Kana , Sonoike Kintake , Nozue Masayuki , Hayashida Nobuaki
Published: November 2016

Structural variation in the stroma‐grana (SG) arrangement of the thylakoid membranes, such as changes in the thickness of the grana stacks and in the ratio between grana and inter‐grana thylakoid, is often observed. Broadly, such alterations are considered acclimation to changes in growth and the environment. However, the relation of thylakoid morphology to plant growth and photosynthesis remains obscure. Here, we report changes in the thylakoid during leaf development under a fixed light condition. Histological studies on the chloroplasts of fresh green Arabidopsis leaves have shown that characteristically shaped thylakoid membranes lacking the inter‐grana region, referred to hereafter as isolated‐grana (IG), occurred adjacent to highly ordered, large grana layers. This morphology was restored to conventional SG thylakoid membranes with the removal of bolting stems from reproductive plants. Statistical analysis showed a negative correlation between the incidences of IG‐type chloroplasts in mesophyll cells and the rates of leaf growth. Fluorescence parameters calculated from pulse‐amplitude modulated fluorometry measurements and CO2 assimilation data showed that the IG thylakoids had a photosynthetic ability that was equivalent to that of the SG thylakoids under moderate light. However, clear differences were observed in the chlorophyll a/b ratio. The IG thylakoids were apparently an acclimated phenotype to the internal condition of source leaves. The idea is supported by the fact that the life span of the IG thylakoids increased significantly in the later developing leaves. In conclusion, the heterogeneous state of thylakoid membranes is likely important in maintaining photosynthesis during the reproductive phase of growth.
How to select the right public partner in smart city projects
Authors: Sandulli Francesco Domenico , Ferraris Alberto , Bresciani Stefano
Published: November 2016

Firms that want to exploit Smart City's opportunities need to cooperate with local governments. From a managerial point of view, there is scant research on how to select public partners in Smart City projects. In fact, while there are several cities claiming to be ‘smart’, not all cities fulfil the essential requirements for successful Smart City projects. This paper shows how to build successful public–private alliances in Smart Cities and, more specifically, how to select the right city to test, develop or sell smart technologies. This study uses a multiple‐case research design and follows an exploratory and qualitative methodology. The results show that firms improve the success of their projects if they assess three main aspects of partner selection, these being partner complementarity, commitment and compatibility. The paper, therefore, provides several managerial implications regarding how firms may be more effective in selecting where to start their Smart City projects and how public organisations may become more attractive. Finally, academic implications, limitations and future lines of research are presented.
Regulation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from International Shipping and Jurisdiction of States
Authors: Tanaka Yoshifumi
Published: November 2016

The regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping is becoming a matter of increasing concern. Two issues arise in particular. The first issue concerns the elaboration of rules on this subject. In this regard, Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), amended in 2011, constitutes a key instrument because it was the first legally binding climate change instrument since the Kyoto Protocol. The second issue relates to effective compliance with relevant rules. While the flag State has the primary responsibility to implement relevant rules concerning the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping, the flag State responsibility alone is inadequate to secure effective compliance with relevant rules. Thus, there is a need to examine the question whether and to what extent coastal and port States can regulate greenhouse gas emissions from vessels in international law. This article seeks to address these two issues. The article concludes that while port States can perform a valuable role in effectuating global rules provided in MARPOL Annex VI, port State control encounters several challenges. Thus, securing compliance with relevant rules should be an important issue in the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping.
Regulating Planned Obsolescence: A Review of Legal Approaches to Increase Product Durability and Reparability in Europe
Authors: Maitre‐Ekern Eléonore , Dalhammar Carl
Published: November 2016

Improving product durability and reparability can save natural resources and money for consumers but may not always be in the best interest of all manufacturers. With the emergence of the circular economy as an important policy objective in the European Union (EU), there is renewed interest in policies to promote durability and address planned obsolescence. Different legislative approaches are currently used to provide incentives for design for durability and reparability at the EU and Member State levels. The EU has started to regulate durability through the Ecodesign Directive, whereas Member States have made use of other legal approaches such as longer consumer warranties, the criminalization of planned obsolescence and measures to incentivize the availability of spare parts. In this contribution, we review some of the legislation in place and discuss benefits and disadvantages of different legal approaches.