bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Co-constructed caring research and intellectual disability: An exploration of friendship and intimacy in being human
Authors: Rogers Chrissie , Tuckwell Sherrie
Published: June 2016

For this paper, emotional and socio-political questions lie at the heart of relationships in understanding intellectual disability and what it is to be a human. While the sexual and intimate is more often than not based on a private and personal relationship with the self and (an)other, the sexual and intimate life of intellectually disabled people is more often a ‘public’ affair governed by parents and/or carers, destabilizing what we might consider ethical and caring practices. In the socio-political sphere, as an all-encompassing ‘care space’, social intolerance and aversion to difficult differences are played out, impacting upon the intimate lives of intellectually disabled people. As co-researchers (one intellectually disabled and one ‘non-disabled’), we discuss narratives from a small scale research project and our personal reflections. In sociological research and more specifically within disability research it is clear that we need to keep sex and intimacy on the agenda, yet also find ways of doing research in a meaningful, caring and co-constructed way.
‘They’ve said I’m vulnerable with men’: Doing sexuality on locked wards
Authors: Fish Rebecca
Published: June 2016

In intellectual disability services, women’s sexuality has long been considered a problem, with women being removed from their residences and segregated from men as a form of protection. This paper draws on ethnographic research based on a secure unit for people with intellectual disabilities in England. It suggests that staff and clients are concerned about the client mix on the unit, and that staff feel protective towards women service-users. Physical contact on the wards is highly regulated and all spaces are described as ‘public’, therefore women are not afforded privacy to explore their sexuality. During interviews, many of the women disclosed experiences of childhood sexual abuse and some were unsure about their sexual orientation. This paper argues that life on the locked ward positions intellectually disabled women as both sexually vulnerable and as fundamentally asexual. This prevents women from learning the skills needed to make informed choices about sexual partners.
Contraceptive decision-making and women with learning disabilities
Authors: Ledger Susan , Earle Sarah , Tilley Elizabeth , Walmsley Jan
Published: June 2016

This article explores contraceptive decision-making for women with learning disabilities. It sets the historical context of reproductive control by highlighting former practices which overtly aimed to prevent women with learning disabilities from conceiving. This is contrasted with a current legislative framework that strongly endorses the human and reproductive rights of women with learning disabilities. The article presents findings from a small-scale, UK-based survey that invited third parties involved in supporting women with learning disabilities with contraceptive decision-making to share their views and experiences. The survey indicated apparent continuities in practice, showing that key decisions over contraceptive care are often made by other people and not by women themselves. The increasing evidence of a gap between policy and practice is explored; this suggests a need for further research, including studies to explore the experiences of women with high support needs where there may be particular issues in relation to the management of menstruation, decision-making and capacity to consent.
The question of the human in the Anthropocene debate
Authors: Chernilo Daniel
Published: June 2016

The Anthropocene debate is one of the most ambitious scientific programmes of the past 15 or 20 years. Its main argument is that, from a geological point of view, humans are considered a major force of nature, thus implying that our current geological epoch is dominated by human activity. The Anthropocene has slowly become a contemporary meta-narrative that seeks to make sense of the ‘earth-system’ as a whole, and one whose vision of the future is dystopian rather than progressive: as the exploitation of the planet’s natural resources reaches tipping point, the very prospects of the continuity of human life are being questioned. This article aims to explore the implicit notions of the human – indeed of the anthropos – that are being mobilized in the Anthropocene debate. It will proceed in two stages: first, the article will spell out the main arguments of the Anthropocene debate with a particular focus on trying to unpack its implicit ideas of the human. Second, it will use my approach to philosophical sociology to highlight some of the limitations and contradictions of the ideas of agency, reflexivity and responsibility that underpin the Anthropocene debate.
Challenging identity hierarchies: Gender and consociational power-sharing
Authors: Kennedy Ronan , Pierson Claire , Thomson Jennifer
Published: June 2016

Consociational democracy has become the most influential paradigm in the field of power-sharing institutional design and post-conflict peacebuilding. Consociation institutes representation for certain formerly excluded groups. However, it simultaneously inhibits effective political representation for groups that do not align with the societal divisions that consociation seeks to accommodate, specifically the ‘additional’ cleavage of gender. Given the extensive use of the consociational model as a peacebuilding tool in divided states and the growing awareness of the disproportionate negative effect of conflict on women, there is a surprising lack of consideration of the effect that consociational power-sharing has on women’s representation. This article considers the specific impact that the consociational model has on women’s representation. We argue that because gender is an integral factor in conflict, it should therefore be integral to post-conflict governance. With empirical reference to contemporary Northern Ireland, it is illustrated that consociationalism is a ‘gender-blind’ theory.
Joint strength reduction factor of internally ring-stiffened tubular joints at elevated temperatures
Authors: Lan Xiaoyi , Wang Fan , Luo Zhifeng , Liu Dingding , Ning Chen , Xu Xiaofeng
Published: June 2016

This article presents the results of a numerical parametric study on the ultimate strength of internally crown- and saddle-stiffened circular hollow section tubular DT-, T-, and Y-joints subjected to brace axial compression or tension at elevated temperatures. Using well-validated finite element models, an extensive study of 640 ring-stiffened tubular joints consisting of 36 DT-joints, 36 T-joints, and 8 Y-joints at different temperatures ranging from 20°C to 800°C was conducted. The strength of the stiffened joints was obtained from finite element analysis. The joint strength reduction was compared with the reduction factors of steel yield stress and elastic modulus at elevated temperatures. The parametric study shows that the effects of joint geometric parameters and stiffening position on the strength reduction of the stiffened DT-, T-, and Y-joints at elevated temperatures fall in a narrow range. An equation for predicting the strength reduction of the stiffened DT-, T-, and Y-joints at elevated temperatures was proposed by introducing a temperature factor. The statistical analysis shows that the proposed equation could provide reasonably accurate joint strength predictions.
Long-term performance of mechanically post-installed anchor systems
Authors: Kwon Minho , Kim Jinsup , Seo Hyunsu , Jung Wooyoung
Published: June 2016

A mechanically post-installed anchor, which is one of the most widely used post-installed anchors in South Korea, was selected to evaluate long-term usage through a pullout test. Two types of specimens were constructed: the original specimens and freeze and thaw specimens. Mechanically post-installed anchors were installed in both of them. A freeze and thaw test method was utilized to consider the long-term usage. The compressive strength of concrete during the freeze and thaw test method is reduced by about 20% compared to that of the original concrete. From the pullout test results, the pullout strength of the freeze and thaw specimen was smaller by about 50% than that of the original specimens. Furthermore, the failure mode of the freeze and thaw specimens was changed. Cone shape destruction of anchors and anchor pullout destruction occurred in the original specimens; concrete pullout destruction occurred dominantly in the freeze and thaw specimens. Based on the comparison results, the reduction factor ( λ) for long-term usage of the mechanically post-installed anchor was derived using a probability function and was proposed to modify the concrete capacity design equation.
Ethics dilemmas of early detection of obesity
Authors: Vallgårda Signild
Published: June 2016

Aim: To discuss the ethics dilemmas of the early detection of overweight and obesity. Methods: Analysis of the ethical aspects of early detection. Results: The early detection of overweight and obesity entails a number of ethical dilemmas because it may both be helpful and harmful. It may help people to lead a healthier life and non-detection could be considered neglectful. It may, however, cause anxiety, interfere with people’s integrity, focus only on individual causes and responsibilities, cause stigmatization and have adverse effects by inducing weight gain. Conclusions: Documentation of more positive than negative effects is required before early detection is introduced.
A Clinical Review of Return-to-Play Considerations After Anterior Shoulder Dislocation
Authors: Watson Scott , Allen Benjamin , Grant John A.
Published: June 2016

Context:

Shoulder dislocations are common in contact sports, yet guidelines regarding the best treatment strategy and time to return to play have not been clearly defined.

Evidence Acquisition:

Electronic databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase, were reviewed for the years 1980 through 2015.

Study Design:

Clinical review.

Level of Evidence:

Level 4.

Results:

Much has been published about return to play after anterior shoulder dislocation, but almost all is derived from expert opinion and clinical experience rather than from well-designed studies. Recommendations vary and differ depending on age, sex, type of sport, position of the athlete, time in the sport’s season, and associated pathology. Despite a lack of consensus and specific recommendations, there is agreement that before being allowed to return to sport, athletes should be pain free and demonstrate symmetric shoulder and bilateral scapular strength, with functional range of motion that allows sport-specific participation. Return to play usually occurs 2 to 3 weeks from the time of injury. Athletes with in-season shoulder instability returning to sport have demonstrated recurrence rates ranging from 37% to 90%. Increased bone loss, recurrent instability, and injury occurring near the end of season are all indications that may push surgeons and athletes toward earlier surgical intervention.

Conclusion:

Most athletes are able to return to play within 2 to 3 weeks but there is a high risk of recurrent instability.
Nanopit-induced osteoprogenitor cell differentiation: The effect of nanopit depth
Authors: Davison Martin J , McMurray Rebecca J , Smith Carol-Anne , Dalby Matthew J , Meek RM Dominic
Published: June 2016

We aimed to assess osteogenesis in osteoprogenitor cells by nanopits and to assess optimal feature depth. Topographies of depth 80, 220 and 333 nm were embossed onto polycaprolactone discs. Bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stromal cells were seeded onto polycaprolactone discs, suspended in media and incubated. Samples were fixed after 3 and 28 days. Cells were stained for the adhesion molecule vinculin and the osteogenic transcription factor RUNX2 after 3 days. Adhesion was lowest on planar controls and it was the shallowest, and 80-nm-deep pits supported optimal adhesion formation. Deep pits (80 and 220 nm) induced most RUNX2 accumulation. After 28 days, osteocalcin and osteopontin expression were used as markers of osteoblastic differentiation. Deep pits (220 nm) produced cells with the highest concentrations of osteopontin and osteocalcin. All topographies induced higher expression levels than controls. We demonstrated stimulation of osteogenesis in a heterogeneous population of mesenchymal stromal cells. All nanopit depths gave promising results with an optimum depth of 220 nm after 28 days. Nanoscale modification of implant surfaces could optimise fracture union or osteointegration.
Team creativity: Creative self-efficacy, creative collective efficacy and their determinants
Authors: Dampérat Maud , Jeannot Florence , Jongmans Eline , Jolibert Alain
Published: June 2016

This article presents an integrative model of creative self-efficacy and creative collective efficacy. This model investigates the influence of creative self-efficacy and its determinants (knowledge gained through experience and by observation, verbal encouragements from a third party, and emotional activation) as well as the influence of social proximity on creative collective efficacy. In addition, the predictive validity of creative collective efficacy is studied using perceived originality of teams’ creative outcomes. The results confirm the proposed model, including the hypothesized hierarchy of creative self-efficacy determinants. The existence of a quadratic relationship between social proximity and creative collective efficacy, and the partially mediating role of creative self-efficacy between its determinants and creative collective efficacy are also shown.
Relationship between bicultural identity and psychological well-being among American and Japanese older adults
Authors: Yamaguchi Ayano , Kim Min-Sun , Oshio Atsushi , Akutsu Satoshi
Published: June 2016

In a large national sample of American and Japanese older adults, this study investigated how bicultural identity affects perception of health and well-being in 11 individual psychological variables (i.e. positive well-being: self-esteem, optimism, subjective well-being Japanese equivalent, gratitude, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule–positive adjectives, and satisfaction with life; negative well-being: depression, pessimism, social anxiety, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule–negative adjectives, and perceived stress). This sample consisted of 1248 Americans from the Midlife in the United States survey, 2004–2006, and 380 Japanese from the Midlife in Japan survey in Tokyo, Japan, 2008–2010. Results showed that bicultural individuals (having both highly independent and interdependent self-construals) in both countries tend to exhibit higher scores across most perceived health and well-being measures when compared to other groups (i.e. marginal, interdependent, and independent). Cultural-specific aspects of self-construal, health, and well-being are explained to support the findings. Discussion of these findings and their implications is also provided.
Managing the stigma: Exploring body image experiences and self-presentation among people with spinal cord injury
Authors: Bailey K Alysse , Gammage Kimberley L , van Ingen Cathy , Ditor David S
Published: June 2016

Using modified constructivist grounded theory, the purpose of this study was to explore body image experiences in people with spinal cord injury. Nine participants (five women, four men) varying in age (21–63 years), type of injury (C3-T7; complete and incomplete), and years post-injury (4–36 years) took part in semi-structured in-depth interviews. The following main categories were found: appearance, weight concerns, negative functional features, impact of others, body disconnection, hygiene and incontinence, and self-presentation. Findings have implications for the health and well-being of those living with a spinal cord injury.
Hardships of the Great Recession and health: Understanding varieties of vulnerability
Authors: Kirsch Julie A , Ryff Carol D
Published: June 2016

The Great Recession of 2007–2009 is regarded as the most severe economic downturn since World War II. This study examined relationships between reported recession hardships and physical health in a national survey of American adults ( N = 1275). Furthermore, education and psychological resources (perceived control, purpose in life, and conscientiousness) were tested as moderators of the health impacts of the recession. A greater number of hardships predicted poorer health, especially among the less educated. Psychological resources interacted with education and hardships to predict health outcomes. Although typically viewed as protective factors, such resources became vulnerabilities among educationally disadvantaged adults experiencing greater recession hardships.
Religion, Race, and Othering Barack Obama
Authors: Tope Daniel , Rawlinson Brittany D. , Pickett Justin T. , Burdette Amy M. , Ellison Christopher G.
Published: June 2016

The nascent literature on the propensity to endorse conspiratorial views of President Barack Obama suggests that such sentiments may be grounded in racial animus or political partisanship. Yet to date, little attention has been paid to the religious elements that may underlie such claims. We extend the research in this area by using a national survey to assess the relationship between white conservative Protestant affiliation and an inclination to endorse the idea that Obama is a Muslim and/or a noncitizen. The results show that white conservative Protestant affiliation is associated with a greater tendency to support these characterizations of Obama. Importantly, this relationship is substantially mediated by racial resentment. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for the United States’ increasing ethnic and religious pluralism.
Most Likely to Succeed
Authors: Shi Ying , Moody James
Published: June 2016

Sociological explanations for economic success tend toward measures of embeddedness in long-standing social institutions, such as race and gender, or personal skills represented mainly by educational attainment. Instead, we seek a distinctively social foundation for success by investigating the long-term association between high school popularity and income. Using rich longitudinal data, we find a clear and persistent association between the number of friendship nominations received and adult income, even after accounting for the mediating influences of diverse personal, family, and work characteristics. This skill is distinct from conventional personality measures such as the Big Five and persists long into adulthood. We hypothesize that popularity encapsulates a socioemotional skill recognized by peers as the practice of being a good friend rather than an indicator of social status.
The Re-turn: Segments of Recollections from Jawaharlal Nehru University
Authors: Visvanathan Susan
Published: June 2016

This essay is a personal reflection of a teacher of sociology taking into account a life-time of decisions, experiences and nuances which have marked the personal and professional lives of the author. It shows the manner in which the situations in the invisible private worlds of family, kin and friends of a person often impact the relatively public worlds of professional life. In many ways, the colour, rhythm and anxieties of these worlds seep into the worlds and words of sociologists who are rooted to their circumstances and not merely restricted by abstractions of theory.
Retrology: Addicted to the Future
Authors: Heidingsfelder Markus
Published: June 2016

The present investigation examines the hypothesis that contemporary pop music has caught ‘retromania’: infected by its own past, it will bring about its own downfall. It identifies this observation as retrology: a specific school of thought within pop history. The article first looks at the major premises on which retrology is founded. It then asks why these assumptions have been so widely accepted. Next, it offers a sociological approach to look at pop music’s increasing interest in the past without recourse to moralistic divisions. Pop is seen as a social system, and not as an opaque accumulation of individual activities. Reproducing itself by a specific form of communication—the concatenation of songs—its main goal is simply to continue; it therefore desires neither ‘advancement’ nor ‘retro-gression’. The conclusion is that retro does not indicate a crisis; rather the opposite—it allows pop to carry on.
Organizational Climate, Innovation and Performance: A Systematic Review
Authors: Sethibe Tebogo , Steyn Renier
Published: June 2016

Organisational climate (OC) plays an important role in the innovation of an organisation. In addition, innovation has become critical for nations, organisations and individuals in an increasingly complex and challenging world. Yet, very few studies are designed to investigate the causal path of the effect of innovation on organisational performance systematically by examining the influence of organisational climate.

The purpose of the study has been to consolidate, synthesize and critique the empirical studies that have examined the relationship between organisational climate, innovation and organisational performance.

A systematic literature review approach has been followed to find the appropriate studies on these constructs (organisational climate, innovation and organisational performance) and the building blocks of science (concepts, statement and conceptual framework) have been used as a structure to analyse and report on the findings.

After consulting 96 major databases, covering a wide range of fields, only seven articles that investigated the causal path between organisational climate, innovation and organisational performance were identified. The differences and similarities on how concepts were used are presented. These differences become particularly apparent when the tools used to measure these constructs are examined. Studying the articles has also resulted in the development of appropriate and comprehensive typologies concerning the variables. The findings also show that models are typically linear and these are affirmed when subjective, rather than objective, measures are used.

This research study alerts researchers and practitioners alike about the importance of clear and shared definitions of constructs. Without that meaningful communication, observation on the topic is impossible. The findings also show that the methods of measurement influence results, which should be considered when interpreting the results.
Immunoregulatory roles of versican proteolysis in the myeloma microenvironment
Authors: Hope Chelsea , Foulcer Simon , Jagodinsky Justin , Chen Sarah X. , Jensen Jeffrey L. , Patel Sanjay , Leith Catherine , Maroulakou Ioanna , Callander Natalie , Miyamoto Shigeki , Hematti Peiman , Apte Suneel S. , Asimakopoulos Fotis
Published: June 2016

Key Points

Interplay between myeloma niche stromal cells and myeloid cells generates versikine, a novel damage-associated molecular pattern. Versikine may promote antigen-presenting cell maturation and CD8+ T-cell activation/recruitment to the tumor bed.
Exercise training in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: is it of benefit?
Authors: Vainshelboim Baruch
Published: June 2016

Key points

Exercise training has been proven to be a safe and effective behavioural intervention for prevention and rehabilitation of chronic conditions.

Despite the complexity of the signs and symptoms presented in IPF, supervised exercise training is a feasible and effective treatment for clinical improvement.

Emerging data show significant enhancements in exercise capacity, dyspnoea and quality of life among IPF patients after exercise training interventions.

Understanding of the principles of exercise training and the pathophysiology of IPF are essential for effective exercise programme delivery.

Educational aims

To describe the current evidence supporting exercise training for IPF.

To highlight the importance of exercise physiology principles in rehabilitation treatment of patients with IPF.

To introduce an effective practical exercise programme for IPF.

To discuss the possible underlying physiological mechanisms of training effects in IPF.

Exercise is a well-documented safe and effective intervention for prevention and rehabilitation of chronic diseases. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic deadly lung disease associated with severe signs and symptoms, exercise intolerance, diminished quality of life and poor prognosis. In the short term, supervised exercise training programmes have demonstrated clinical benefits in improving exercise capacity, dyspnoea and quality of life in patients with IPF. The underlying mechanisms of chronic adaption to a regular exercise regimen in IPF have yet to be well described and require further investigation. The available data underscore the importance of implementing training principles to target the pathophysiological impairments of IPF in order to optimise training adaption and enhance the outcomes. The current exercise training data in IPF provide sufficient evidence of clinical benefit for consideration to be given to recommending exercise-based pulmonary rehabilitation as standard of care for IPF.
Transcriptome sequences spanning key developmental states as a resource for the study of the cestode Schistocephalus solidus, a threespine stickleback parasite
Authors: Hébert François Olivier , Grambauer Stephan , Barber Iain , Landry Christian R , Aubin-Horth Nadia
Published: June 2016

Background

Schistocephalus solidus is a well-established model organism for studying the complex life cycle of cestodes and the mechanisms underlying host-parasite interactions. However, very few large-scale genetic resources for this species are available. We have sequenced and de novo-assembled the transcriptome of S. solidus using tissues from whole worms at three key developmental states - non-infective plerocercoid, infective plerocercoid and adult plerocercoid - to provide a resource for studying the evolution of complex life cycles and, more specifically, how parasites modulate their interactions with their hosts during development.

Findings

The de novo transcriptome assembly reconstructed the coding sequence of 10,285 high-confidence unigenes from which 24,765 non-redundant transcripts were derived. 7,920 (77 %) of these unigenes were annotated with a protein name and 7,323 (71 %) were assigned at least one Gene Ontology term. Our raw transcriptome assembly (unfiltered transcripts) covers 92 % of the predicted transcriptome derived from the S. solidus draft genome assembly currently available on WormBase. It also provides new ecological information and orthology relationships to further annotate the current WormBase transcriptome and genome.

Conclusion

This large-scale transcriptomic dataset provides a foundation for studies on how parasitic species with complex life cycles modulate their response to changes in biotic and abiotic conditions experienced inside their various hosts, which is a fundamental objective of parasitology. Furthermore, this resource will help in the validation of the S solidus gene features that have been predicted based on genomic sequence.
Imaging Invasion: Micro-CT imaging of adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma highlights cell type specific spatial relationships of tissue invasion
Authors: Apps John R. , Hutchinson J. Ciaran , Arthurs Owen J. , Virasami Alex , Joshi Abhijit , Zeller-Plumhoff Berit , Moulding Dale , Jacques Thomas S. , Sebire Neil J. , Martinez-Barbera Juan Pedro
Published: June 2016

Tissue invasion and infiltration by brain tumours poses a clinical challenge, with destruction of structures leading to morbidity. We assessed whether micro-CT could be used to map tumour invasion in adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma (ACP), and whether it could delineate ACPs and their intrinsic components from surrounding tissue.

Three anonymised archival frozen ACP samples were fixed, iodinated and imaged using a micro-CT scanner prior to the use of standard histological processing and immunohistochemical techniques.

We demonstrate that micro-CT imaging can non-destructively give detailed 3D structural information of tumours in volumes with isotropic voxel sizes of 4–6 microns, which can be correlated with traditional histology and immunohistochemistry.

Such information complements classical histology by facilitating virtual slicing of the tissue in any plane and providing unique detail of the three dimensional relationships of tissue compartments.
The design of a legacy indicator tool for measuring climate change related impacts on built heritage
Authors: Daly Cathy
Published: June 2016

Background

We are experiencing a period of climate change the extent and impact of which is uncertain. In the cultural heritage sector the need for monitoring to inform our understanding is widely agreed, yet there is a lack of consensus over what constitutes ‘monitoring for climate change’. This is due, at least in part, to the extended timescales involved. In this paper the design and implementation of one solution is described; a sustainable legacy indicator tool (LegIT) for the long term tracking of surface weathering effects on built heritage.

Results

The assessment of climate change impacts requires 30–100 years of data collection, equal to the period referred to as the ‘climate norm’ by meteorologists. The LegIT is a sacrificial stone object that registers changes in the severity and/or magnitude of weathering patterns on built surfaces, providing a legacy data source for future decision makers. To ensure its sustainability, careful thought was given to the choice of materials, data retrieval and archiving. The tool aims to track surface changes caused by recession, salt crystallisation and microbiological growth.

Conclusion

The development and installation of the LegIT is the first long-term exposure trial to be initiated at heritage sites in Ireland and is intended as a legacy for future researchers.
Complete genome sequence of the haloalkaliphilic, obligately chemolithoautotrophic thiosulfate and sulfide-oxidizing γ-proteobacterium Thioalkalimicrobium cyclicum type strain ALM 1 (DSM 14477T)
Authors: Kappler Ulrike , Davenport Karen , Beatson Scott , Lapidus Alla , Pan Chongle , Han Cliff , Montero-Calasanz Maria del Carmen , Land Miriam , Hauser Loren , Rohde Manfred , Göker Markus , Ivanova Natalia , Woyke Tanja , Klenk Hans-Peter , Kyrpides Nikos C.
Published: June 2016

Thioalkalimicrobium cyclicum Sorokin et al. 2002 is a member of the family Piscirickettsiaceae in the order Thiotrichales. The γ-proteobacterium belongs to the colourless sulfur-oxidizing bacteria isolated from saline soda lakes with stable alkaline pH, such as Lake Mono (California) and Soap Lake (Washington State). Strain ALM 1T is characterized by its adaptation to life in the oxic/anoxic interface towards the less saline aerobic waters (mixolimnion) of the stable stratified alkaline salt lakes. Strain ALM 1T is the first representative of the genus Thioalkalimicrobium whose genome sequence has been deciphered and the fourth genome sequence of a type strain of the Piscirickettsiaceae to be published. The 1,932,455 bp long chromosome with its 1,684 protein-coding and 50 RNA genes was sequenced as part of the DOE Joint Genome Institute Community Sequencing Program (CSP) 2008.
AQP8 transports NOX2-generated H2O2 across the plasma membrane to promote signaling in B cells
Authors: Bertolotti Milena , Farinelli Giada , Galli Mauro , Aiuti Alessandro , Sitia Roberto
Published: June 2016

H2O2 acts as a second messenger in key signaling circuits, transiently modulating tyrosine phosphatases and kinases. We investigated its origin, membrane transport, and functional role during B cell activation and differentiation. Our data identified NADPH-oxidase 2 as the main source of H2O2 and aquaporin 8 as a transport facilitator across the plasma membrane. On aquaporin 8 silencing, inducible B lymphoma cells responded poorly to TLR and BCR stimulation. Their differentiation was severely impaired, as demonstrated by retarded onset of IgM polymerization, low amounts of IgM secretion, and prolonged BCR expression on the cell surface. A silencing-resistant aquaporin 8 rescued responsiveness, confirming that the import of H2O2 across the membrane is essential for B cell activation. The addition of exogenous catalase to primary B splenocytes severely impaired the tyrosine phosphorylation induced by BCR cross-linking, as did the absence of NOX2 in a murine model of chronic granulomatous disease. Importantly, re-expression of gp91phox through gene therapy restored the specific B cell signaling deficiency in NOX2−/− cells. Thus, efficient induction of B cell activation and differentiation requires intact H2O2 fluxes across the plasma membrane for signal amplification.
Oxidized phosphatidylcholine induces the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages
Authors: Yeon Sang Hyeon , Yang Gabsik , Lee Hye Eun , Lee Joo Young
Published: June 2016

The NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is a multiprotein complex consisting of a receptor, an adaptor protein, and procaspase-1 that induces the secretion of the mature form of IL-1β in response to microbial infection and danger signals. Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome induced by endogenous danger signal molecules is closely linked to the development and progress of chronic inflammatory diseases. The oxidation of phospholipids occurs upon cellular stress and damage, resulting in the accumulation of oxidized phosphatidylcholines (oxPAPC) such as 1-palmitoyl-2-(5-oxovaleroyl)-sn-glycero-phosphocholine (POVPC) at inflammatory sites. In this study, we investigated whether oxidized phosphatidylcholine induces the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages, leading to the secretion of IL-1β. POVPC induced the degradation of procaspase-1 to caspase-1(p10), the cleavage of pro-IL-1β to IL-1β, and oligomerization of ASC in primary mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages. POVPC-induced production of caspase-1, and IL-1β was abolished in macrophages derived from NLRP3- or caspase-1-deficient mice. In an air pouch model and a peritonitis model in mice, POVPC injection resulted in the production of caspase-1(p10), IL-1β, and IL-18 in wild-type, but not in NLRP3-deficient, mice. POVPC-induced inflammasome activation was mediated by mitochondrial reactive oxygen species resulting from intracellular Ca2+ signaling and mitochondrial destabilization. Our results demonstrate that endogenously produced oxidized phosphatidylcholines such as POVPC induce the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, leading to the production of IL-1β in macrophages. The results provide an insight to understand how the oxidized lipids endogenously produced upon cellular stress and tissue damage contribute to the inflammatory reaction at pathologic sites.
Expression of human gene coding RORγT receptor depends on the Sp2 transcription factor
Authors: Ratajewski Marcin , Walczak-Drzewiecka Aurelia , Gorzkiewicz Michał , Sałkowska Anna , Dastych Jarosław
Published: June 2016

Th17 cells are involved in the immune response against pathogens, autoimmunity, and tumor progression. The differentiation of human Th17 cells requires the upregulation of RORγT, which in human cells is still not well understood. We identified 2 putative binding motifs for specificity protein transcription factors from the specificity protein/Kruppel-like factor family in the promoter of human RORγT and investigated the involvement of specificity proteins in the transcriptional regulation of this gene. To this end, a human lymphocytic cell line and in vitro-differentiated Th17 cells were used in promoter activity assays, in situ mutagenesis, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and real-time RT-PCR assays. In some experiments, specificity protein expression and activity was inhibited by siRNA and mithramycin A. The results showed that the transcription factor specificity protein 2 recognized binding motifs in the human RORγT promoter, which was critical for maintaining expression. Furthermore, specificity protein 2 was necessary for maximum IL-17 expression in in vitro-differentiated Th17 cells. These observations demonstrate the significant role of specificity protein 2 in the regulation of the Th17 signature transcription factor RORγT and the maintenance of the Th17 phenotype. The findings also suggest that specificity protein 2 plays a role in Th17-dependent physiologic and pathologic immune responses and might serve as a potential novel target for their modulation.
Market Conditions and Performance in the Nursing Home Compare Five-Star Rating
Authors: Kim Ae-Sook
Published: June 2016

Previous studies have documented that market conditions affect nursing home performance; however, the evidence is inconsistent and conflicting. This study introduces three groups of county market conditions and a peer effect variable, and tests their impacts on the Nursing Home Compare (NHC) Five-Star overall rating. Indiana nursing home data and county characteristics are taken mainly from the NHC and Census Bureau websites. The result of the ordered logistic regression analysis indicates that nursing homes in excess demand markets, namely those that are highly concentrated and have fewer nursing homes, tend to perform better than their counterparts in both excess supply and balanced markets. In addition, a peer effect variable, measured as the average overall rating of the competitors, promotes performance improvement. These findings imply that small markets enable consumers to be well informed about a provider's reputation for quality, consequently enhancing performance. Furthermore, not only consumers but also providers seem to seek performance information on the report card to understand their relative position in the market, which thus affects their market strategies and subsequently performance.
Combined cisplatin and aurora inhibitor treatment increase neuroblastoma cell death but surviving cells overproduce BDNF
Authors: Polacchini Alessio , Albani Clara , Baj Gabriele , Colliva Andrea , Carpinelli Patrizia , Tongiorgi Enrico
Published: June 2016

Drug-resistance to chemotherapics in aggressive neuroblastoma (NB) is characterized by enhanced cell survival mediated by TrkB and its ligand, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF); thus reduction in BDNF levels represent a promising strategy to overcome drug-resistance, but how chemotherapics regulate BDNF is unknown. Here, cisplatin treatment in SK-N-BE neuroblastoma upregulated multiple BDNF transcripts, except exons 5 and 8 variants. Cisplatin increased BDNF mRNA and protein, and enhanced translation of a firefly reporter gene flanked by BDNF 5′UTR exons 1, 2c, 4 or 6 and 3′UTR-long. To block BDNF translation we focused on aurora kinases inhibitors which are proposed as new chemotherapeutics. NB cell survival after 24 h treatment was 43% with cisplatin, and 22% by cisplatin+aurora kinase inhibitor PHA-680632, while the aurora kinases inhibitor alone was less effective; however the combined treatment induced a paradoxical increase of BDNF in surviving cells with strong translational activation of exon6-3′UTR-long transcript, while translation of BDNF transcripts 1, 2C and 4 was suppressed. In conclusion, combined cisplatin and aurora kinase inhibitor treatment increases cell death, but induces BDNF overproduction in surviving cells through an aurora kinase-independent mechanism.
IF-combined smRNA FISH reveals interaction of MCPIP1 protein with IER3 mRNA
Authors: Kochan Jakub , Wawro Mateusz , Kasza Aneta
Published: June 2016

MCPIP1 and IER3 are recently described proteins essential for maintenance of immune homeostasis. IER3 is involved in the regulation of apoptosis and differentiation and has been shown lately to protect activated T cells and macrophages from apoptosis. MCPIP1 is an RNase critical for controlling inflammation-related mRNAs. MCPIP1 interacts with and degrades a set of stem-loop-containing mRNAs (including IL-6). Our results demonstrate the involvement of MCPIP1 in the regulation of IER3 mRNA levels. A dual luciferase assay revealed that over-expression of MCPIP1 resulted in a decrease of luciferase activity in the samples co-transfected with constructs containing luciferase CDS attached to IER3 3′UTR. We identified a stem-loop structure similar to that described to be important for destabilization of the IL-6 mRNA by MCPIP1. Examination of IER3 3′UTR sequence, structure and evolutionary conservation revealed that the identified stem-loop is buried within a bigger element. Deletion of this fragment abolished the regulation of IER3 3′UTR-containing transcript by MCPIP1. Finally, using immunofluorescence-combined single-molecule RNA FISH we have shown that the MCPIP1 protein co-localizes with IER3 mRNA. By this method we also proved that the presence of the wild-type NYN/PIN-like domain of MCPIP1 correlated with the decreased level of IER3 mRNA. RNA immunoprecipitation further confirmed the interaction of MCPIP1 with IER3 transcripts in vivo.
An antibody toolkit for the study of membrane traffic inDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Riedel Falko , Gillingham Alison K. , Rosa-Ferreira Cláudia , Galindo Antonio , Munro Sean
Published: June 2016

The use of Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism has been pivotal to understanding the developmental processes of metazoans. However, the use of flies for studying subcellular organization is hampered by a paucity of reliable reagents to label specific organelles. Here, we describe the generation of mouse monoclonal antibodies against a set of markers of the secretory and endocytic pathways, along with goat polyclonal antibodies against two Golgi proteins. We show that the monoclonal antibodies are highly specific and sufficiently sensitive to detect endogenous proteins in crude extracts by immunoblotting with little background staining. By immunofluorescence the major compartments of the membrane traffic system (including the endoplasmic reticulum, the Golgi, and early and late endosomes) are labeled by at least one antibody. Moreover, the antibodies can be used to label organelles in fly tissues including salivary glands and wing imaginal discs. We anticipate that these antibodies will provide a useful tool kit to facilitate the investigation of how the endomembrane system functions and varies in the diverse tissue types of metazoans.
APPL1 gates long-term potentiation through its plekstrin homology domain
Authors: Fernández-Monreal Mónica , Sánchez-Castillo Carla , Esteban José A.
Published: June 2016

Hippocampal synaptic plasticity involves both membrane trafficking events and intracellular signaling, but how these are coordinated is far from clear. The endosomal transport of glutamate receptors in and out of the postsynaptic membrane responds to multiple signaling cascades triggered by synaptic activity. In this work, we have identified adaptor protein containing a plekstrin homology domain, phosphotyrosine-binding domain and leucine zipper motif 1 (APPL1) as a crucial element linking trafficking and signaling during synaptic plasticity. We show that APPL1 knockdown specifically impairs PI3K-dependent forms of synaptic plasticity, such as long-term potentiation (LTP) and metabotropic-glutamate-receptor-dependent long-term depression (mGluR-LTD). Indeed, we demonstrate that APPL1 is required for the activation of the phosphatidylinositol triphosphate (PIP3) pathway in response to LTP induction. This requirement can be bypassed by membrane localization of PI3K and is related to phosphoinositide binding. Interestingly, inhibitors of PDK1 (also known as PDPK1) and Akt have no effect on LTP expression. Therefore, we conclude that APPL1 gates PI3K activation at the plasma membrane upon LTP induction, which is then relayed by downstream PIP3 effectors that are different from PDK1 and Akt.
The Financial Implications of Supply Chain Changes
Authors: Houston Joel F. , Lin Chen , Zhu Zhongyan
Published: June 2016

We examine how a firm’s bankruptcy affects the bank financing costs of its key suppliers. We do so by using an extensive, hand-collected data set that captures the supply chain relationships of bankrupt firms over the time period 1990–2009. Looking at a sample of more than 2,000 loan contracts, we compare the average borrowing cost of suppliers in the two years prior to the bankruptcy of a key customer to the average cost in the two years following the announced bankruptcy. We find the average loan spreads increase by roughly 20% following the customer’s announced bankruptcy. These effects are even stronger if the bankrupt firm is operating within a distressed industry or when there is a strong supplier–customer relationship. We also find that the structure of lending agreements significantly changes in the aftermath of a client bankruptcy. More specifically, we find that the number of covenants increases and the lead banker(s) take an increasingly important role in the period following the client’s bankruptcy. Taken together, the results of this study provide new insights into the financial implications of supply chain changes.

This paper was accepted by Uday Rajan, finance.
Market Information and Bidder Heterogeneity in Secondary Market Online B2B Auctions
Authors: Pilehvar Ali , Elmaghraby Wedad J. , Gopal Anandasivam
Published: June 2016

Online auction environments provide several sources of information that can be used by bidders to form their bids. The impact of this information on bidding is likely to be higher when ambiguously specified products are auctioned. The secondary market represents one such environment, where used and returned items from big-box retailers are auctioned off to other business buyers. Using a proprietary data set of secondary market auctions hosted on an online business-to-business platform, we study how market pricing information from other auctions for comparable products affects the bidding behavior of the first bidder. First bidders are shown to be influenced by two sets of pricing information: prices from their own historical bidding behavior and concurrent prices, formed from other open and just-finished auctions relative to the focal auction. We also study how the impact of this market pricing information is moderated by bidder heterogeneity, captured by bidder experience and cross-bidding activity on the platform across comparable concurrent auctions. Finally, we show that the first bid is significantly associated with the auction’s final price, contingent on the type of first bidder. Auctions are increasingly being used for the sale of ill-defined and idiosyncratic products; our work thus provides managerial implications for how auctioneers may design and manage the flow of relevant information to different classes of bidders on their sites in order to enhance their yields.

This paper was accepted by Lorin Hitt, information systems.
Development of the Purge-type Controlled Atmosphere Storage Container and Analysis of Gas Control Performance
Authors: Park Seok Ho , Park Jong Woo , Choi Dong Soo , Kim Jin Se , Kim Yong Hun , Choi Seung Ryul , Oh Sung Sik , Oh Yu Seok , Lee Jin Su
Published: June 2016

This study was conducted to develop and evaluate an appropriate control device for a purge type controlled atmosphere (CA) storage in Korea. To determine ideal performance, oxygen and carbon dioxide control capability and airtightness were analyzed according to the postharvest management manual of CA storage of Fuji apples. In shortened experiments for CA storage, the condition was delayed CA at 0-0.5°C for three days and stored at 0.1-0.5% carbon dioxide levels for 3 days and then further stored 6 days under 1% carbon dioxide. As a result, the temperature control range of a developed CA container was 0.0-0.5°C, and the relative humidity was more than 90%, except for the defrosting step for the freezer during the storage period. The rate of pressure reduction for the CA container in the negative and positive pressure states was 0.45 and 0.21 mmH2O/min, respectively, and it was twofolds higher than standard airtightness for CA storage. After nitrogen injection, oxygen concentration was achieved at 2%, and carbon dioxide concentration was maintained at 0.1-0.5% for 6 days. Afterwards, carbon dioxide levels were tightly controlled between 0.1-1.0%. These results suggest that a developed purge type CA container could be effective in commercially maintaining the quality of agricultural products.