bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Short interspersed nuclear element (SINE)-mediated post-transcriptional effects on human and mouse gene expression: SINE-UP for active duty
Authors: Maquat Lynne E.
Published: February 2020

Primate-specific Alu short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs) and rodent-specific B and ID (B/ID) SINEs are non-autonomous and generally non-coding retrotransposons that have been copied and pasted into the respective genomes so as to constitute what is estimated to be a remarkable 13% and 8% of those genomes. In the context of messenger RNAs (mRNAs), those residing within 3′-untranslated regions (3′UTRs) can influence mRNA export from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, mRNA translation and/or mRNA decay via proteins with which they associate either individually or base-paired in
cis
or in
trans
with a partially complementary SINE. Each of these influences impinges on the primary function of mRNA, which is to serve as a template for protein synthesis. This review describes how human cells have used 3′UTR Alu elements to mediate post-transcriptional gene regulation and also describes examples of convergent evolution between human and mouse 3′UTR SINEs.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Crossroads between transposons and gene regulation’.
Mobile genomics: tools and techniques for tackling transposons
Authors: O'Neill Kathryn , Brocks David , Hammell Molly Gale
Published: February 2020

Next-generation sequencing approaches have fundamentally changed the types of questions that can be asked about gene function and regulation. With the goal of approaching truly genome-wide quantifications of all the interaction partners and downstream effects of particular genes, these quantitative assays have allowed for an unprecedented level of detail in exploring biological interactions. However, many challenges remain in our ability to accurately describe and quantify the interactions that take place in those hard to reach and extremely repetitive regions of our genome comprised mostly of transposable elements (TEs). Tools dedicated to TE-derived sequences have lagged behind, making the inclusion of these sequences in genome-wide analyses difficult. Recent improvements, both computational and experimental, allow for the better inclusion of TE sequences in genomic assays and a renewed appreciation for the importance of TE biology. This review will discuss the recent improvements that have been made in the computational analysis of TE-derived sequences as well as the areas where such analysis still proves difficult.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Crossroads between transposons and gene regulation’.
Comparing conventional, biochemical and genotypic methods for accurate identification of Klebsiella pneumoniae in Sudan
Authors: Osman Einas A. , El-Amin Nagwa , Adrees Emad A. E. , Al-Hassan Leena , Mukhtar Maowia
Published: February 2020

Klebsiella pneumoniae

is recognized as one of the most important healthcare-associated pathogens worldwide due to its tendency to develop antibiotic resistance and cause fatal outcomes. Bacterial identification methods such as culture and biochemical tests are routinely used with limited accuracy in many low- and middle-income countries, including Sudan. The aim of this study was to test the accuracy of identification of

K. pneumoniae

in Khartoum, Sudan. Two hundred and fifty

K. pneumoniae

isolates were collected and identified using conventional phenotypic methods, biochemically using API 20E and genotypically by amplification of 16S−23S rDNA and sequencing of rpoB, gapA and pgi. Only 139 (55.6 %) of the isolates were confirmed as

K. pneumoniae

genotypically by PCR and 44.4 % were identified as non-

K. pneumoniae

. The results demonstrate that the identification panels used by the hospitals were inaccurately identifying K. pneumonia and led to overestimation of the prevalence of this organism. The current identification methods used in Khartoum hospitals are highly inaccurate, and therefore we recommend the use of a comprehensive biochemical panel or molecular methods, when possible, for accurate identification of

K. pneumoniae

.
DRT111/SFPS splicing factor controls ABA sensitivity in Arabidopsis seed development and germination
Authors: Punzo Paola , Ruggiero Alessandra , Possenti Marco , Perrella Giorgio , Nurcato Roberta , Costa Antonello , Morelli Giorgio , Grillo Stefania , Batelli Giorgia
Published: February 2020

RNA splicing is a fundamental mechanism contributing to the definition of the cellular protein population in any given environmental condition. DRT111/SFPS is a splicing factor previously shown to interact with phytochromeB and characterized for its role in splicing of pre-mRNAs involved in photomorphogenesis. Here, we show that DRT111 interacts with Arabidopsis Splicing Factor 1 (SF1), involved in 3’ splicing site recognition. Double and triple mutant analysis shows that DRT111 controls splicing ofABI3and acts upstream of the splicing factor SUPPRESSOR OF ABI3-5 (SUA).DRT111is highly expressed in seeds and stomata ofArabidopsisand is induced by long-term treatments with polyethylene glycol and ABA.DRT111knock-out mutants are defective in ABA-induced stomatal closure and are hypersensitive to ABA during seed germination. Conversely,DRT111over-expressing plants show ABA hyposensitive seed germination. RNAseq experiments show that in dry seeds,DRT111controls expression and splicing of genes involved in response to osmotic stress and ABA, light signaling and mRNA splicing, including targets of ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE3 (ABI3) and PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTORs (PIFs). Consistently, expression of the germination inhibitorSOMNUS,induced by ABI3 and PIF1 is up-regulated in imbibed seeds ofdrt111-2mutants. Altogether, these results indicate thatDRT111controls sensitivity to abscisic acid (ABA) during seed development, germination and stomatal movements and constitutes a point of integration of the ABA- and light-regulated pathways to control seed germination.

One Sentence Summary

Arabidopsis splicing factorDRT111/SFPSis required for ABA-mediated responses in seeds
Distinct Hierarchical Alterations of Intrinsic Neural Timescales Account for Different Manifestations of Psychosis
Authors: Wengler Kenneth , Goldberg Andrew T. , Chahine George , Horga Guillermo
Published: February 2020

Hierarchical perceptual-inference models of psychosis may provide a holistic framework for understanding psychosis in schizophrenia including heterogeneity in clinical presentations. Particularly, hypothesized alterations at distinct levels of the perceptual-inference hierarchy may explain why hallucinations and delusions tend to cluster together yet sometimes manifest in isolation. To test this, we used a recently developed resting-state fMRI measure of intrinsic neural timescale (INT), which reflects the time window of neural integration and captures hierarchical brain gradients. In analyses examining extended sensory hierarchies that we first validated, we found distinct hierarchical INT alterations for hallucinations versus delusions in the auditory and somatosensory systems, thus providing support for hierarchical perceptual-inference models of psychosis. Simulations using a large-scale biophysical model suggested local elevations of excitation-inhibition ratio at different hierarchical levels as a potential mechanism. More generally, our work highlights the robustness and utility of INT for studying hierarchical processes relevant to basic and clinical neuroscience.
Mathematical Model of Colorectal Cancer Initiation
Authors: Paterson Chay , Clevers Hans , Bozic Ivana
Published: February 2020

Quantifying evolutionary dynamics of cancer initiation and progression can provide insights into more effective strategies of early detection and treatment. Here we develop a mathematical model of colorectal cancer initiation through inactivation of two tumor suppressor genes and activation of one oncogene, accounting for the well-known path to colorectal cancer through loss of tumor suppressorsAPCandTP53, and gain of theKRASoncogene. In the model, we allow mutations to occur in any order, leading to a complex network of incomplete mutational genotypes on the way to colorectal cancer. We parametrize the model using experimentally measured parameter values, many of them only recently available, and compare its predictions to epidemiological data on colorectal cancer incidence. We find that the reported incidence of colorectal cancer can be recovered using a mathematical model of colorectal cancer initiation together with experimentally measured mutation rates in colorectal tissues and proliferation rates of premalignant lesions. We demonstrate that the order of driver events in colorectal cancer is determined by the combined effect of the rates at which driver genes are mutated and the fitness effects they provide. Our results imply that there may not be significant immune suppression of untreated benign and malignant colorectal lesions.
Transcriptome-wide analysis of expressed resistance gene analogs (RGAs) in mango
Authors: Lantican Darlon V. , Cortaga Cris Q. , Manohar Anand Noel C. , dela Cueva Fe M. , Sison Maria Luz J.
Published: February 2020

Mango is an economically important fruit crop largely cultivated in the (sub)tropics and thus, is constantly challenged by a myriad of insect pests and diseases. Here, we identified and characterized the resistance gene analogs (RGAs) of mango fromde novoassembly of transcriptomic sequences. A core RGA database of mango with 747 protein models was established and classified based on conserved domains and motifs: 53 nucleotide binding site proteins (NBS); 27 nucleotide binding site-leucine rich repeat proteins (NBS-LRR); 17 coiled-coil NBS-LRR (CNL); 2 toll/interleukin-1 receptor NBS-LRR (TNL); 29 coiled-coil NBS (CN); 4 toll/interleukin-1 receptor NBS (TN); 17 toll/interleukin-1 receptor with unknown domain (TX); 158 receptor-like proteins (RLP); 362 receptor-like kinases (RLK); 72 transmembrane coiled-coil domain protein (TM-CC), and 6 NBS-encoding proteins with other domains. The various molecular functions, biological processes, and cellular localizations of these RGAs were functionally well-annotated through gene ontology (GO) analysis, and their expression profiles across different mango varieties were also determined. Phylogenetic analysis broadly clustered the core RGAs into 6 major clades based on their domain classification, while TM-CC proteins formed subclades all across the tree. The phylogenetic results suggest highly divergent functions of the RGAs which also provide insights into the mango-pest co-evolutionary arms race. From the mango RGA transcripts, 134 unique EST-SSR loci were identified, and primers were designed targeting these potential markers. To date, this is the most comprehensive analysis of mango RGAs which offer a trove of markers for utilization in resistance breeding of mango.
Beyond range size: drivers of species’ geographic range structure in European plants
Authors: Csergő Anna M. , Broennimann Olivier , Guisan Antoine , Buckley Yvonne M.
Published: February 2020

Aim

To assess if and how species’ range size relates to range structure, if the observed geographic range properties can be retrieved from predicted maps based on species distribution modeling, and whether range properties are predictable from biogeophysical factors.

Location

Europe

Time period

Current

Major taxa studied

813 vascular plant species endemic to Europe

Methods

We quantified the size and spatial structure of species’ geographic ranges and compared ranges currently occupied with those predicted by species distribution models (SDMs). SDMs were constructed using complete occurrence data from the Atlas Florae Europaeae and climatic, soil and topographic predictors. We used landscape metrics to characterize range size, range division and patch shape structure, and analysed the phylogenetic, geographic and ecological drivers of species’ range size and structure using phylogenetic generalized least squares (pGLS).

Results

Range structure metrics were mostly decoupled from species’ range size. We found large differences in range metrics between observed and predicted ranges, in particular for species with intermediate observed range size and occupied area, and species with low and high observed patch size distribution, geographic range filling, patch shape complexity and geographic range fractality. Elevation heterogeneity, proximity to continental coasts, Southerly or Easterly geographic range positions and narrow ecological niche breadth constrained species’ observed range size and range structure to different extents. The strength and direction of the relationships differed between observed and predicted ranges.

Main conclusions

Several range structure metrics, in addition to range size, are needed to adequately describe and understand species’ ranges. Species’ range structure can be well explained by geophysical factors and species niche width, albeit not consistently for observed and predicted ranges. As range structure can have important ecological and evolutionary consequences, we highlight the need to develop better predictive models of range structure than provided by current SDMs, and we identify the kinds of species for which this is most necessary.
Trichinella spiralissecretes abundant unencapsulated small RNAs with potential effects on host gene expression
Authors: Taylor Peter J. , Hagen Jana , Faruqu Farid N. , Al-Jamal Khuloud T. , Quigley Bonnie , Beeby Morgan , Selkirk Murray E. , Sarkies Peter
Published: February 2020

Many organisms, including parasitic nematodes, secrete small RNAs into the extracellular environment largely encapsulated within small vesicles. Parasite secreted material often contains microRNAs (miRNAs), raising the possibility that they might contribute to pathology by regulating host genes in target cells. Here we characterise material from the parasitic nematodeTrichinella spiralisat two different life stages. We show that adultT. spiralis, which inhabit intestinal mucosa, secrete miRNAs within vesicles. Unexpectedly however,T. spiralismuscle stage larvae (MSL), which live intracellularly within skeletal muscle cells, secrete miRNAs that appear not to be encapsulated. Notably, secreted miRNAs include a homologue of mammalian miRNA-31, which has an important role in muscle development. Our work therefore suggests a new potential mechanism of RNA secretion with implications for the pathology ofT. spiralisinfection.
Factors influencing consumers' rejection to smartphone transactions in the lodging industry
Authors: Bae Stephanie , Mo Kwon Jun , Bosley Alyssa
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The main purpose of this study is to investigate what affects a customer's decision to use the hotel smartphone applications when he/she makes a room reservation.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 266 usable data was collected through an online survey. The research model was tested using confirmatory factor analyses and structural equation modeling.

Findings

This study revealed that perceived usefulness, perceived credibility, perceived equipment risk, and perceived change risk affected customers' intention to book a hotel room using hotel smartphone apps. Perceived ease of use did not have a significant effect on behavioral intention.

Originality/value

This study extended TAM and the existing literature of mobile technology in the lodging industry. This article explored both existing variables and new variables in studying customers' intention to use hotel smartphone apps when booking a hotel room.
Measuring hotel employee perceived job risk: dimensions and scale development
Authors: Xie Chaowu , Zhang Jiangchi , Chen Yanying , Morrison Alastair M. , Lin Zhibin
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The main purpose of this study is to identify the dimensions of hotel employees’ job risk perceptions and develop a measurement scale for this construct.

Design/methodology/approach

Four studies using a mixed-method design were conducted to develop and validate the scale of hotel employees’ perceived job risk (HEPJR). Study 1 identified the dimensions and initial items of HEPJR through a literature review and in-depth interviews. In Study 2, an explanatory factor analysis was perform to refine the preliminary items. Study 3 further refined the HEPJR scale through a confirmatory factor analysis. Study 4 confirmed that HEPJR is a 19-item scale through a cross-validation analysis.

Findings

A reliable and valid scale was developed to measure the following five dimensions of HEPJR: perceived human, equipment, internal environment, external environment and management risks. HEPJR and its dimensions significantly predict negative safety consequences and negative job satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

Employees in medium- and high-star-rated hotels in China were surveyed. Future research should test the HEPJR scale in other types of lodging formats (e.g. budget hotels, homestays and cruise ships) and different countries or regions.

Practical implications

Given the increasingly serious job risks faced by hotel employees, the HEPJR scale can become a benchmark for job risk identification, accident prevention and safety management.

Originality/value

This scale provides a clear conceptualization and an appropriate measurement tool of HEPJR from a risk-source perspective.
Ensuring volunteer impacts, legacy and leveraging is not “fake news”
Authors: Dickson Tracey J. , Darcy Simon , Pentifallo Gadd Caitlin
Published: February 2020

Purpose

This study aims to explore the legacy potential of the FIFA Women’s World Cup (FWWC) 2015, for the host communities across Canada.

Design/methodology/approach

The mixed-methods study included a link to an online anonymous survey being sent to all volunteers at the FWWC that explored their prior volunteering experience, motivations for volunteering, perceived skill development and future volunteering intentions. Documents were reviewed, and key stakeholders were interviewed.

Findings

The results support previous research that mega-sport event (MSE) volunteers are typically older females with prior volunteering experience. Those most likely to indicate they wanted to volunteer more are younger volunteers without prior volunteering experience. While legacy was discussed as a desired outcome, this was not operationalised through strategic human resource strategies such as being imbedded in the position descriptions for the volunteer managers.

Research limitations/implications

As this study was conducted in the real-world context of a sport event, the timing of the survey was determined by the organising committee.

Practical implications

Mega sport events typically draw upon existing host-city social and human capital. For future event organising committees planning for and delivering a volunteer legacy may require better strategic planning and leveraging relationships with existing host-city volunteer networks. In the context of a single sport, women’s MSE, multi-venue, multi-province event, greater connection was required to proactively connect younger women for volunteers to their geographic sport and event volunteering infrastructure.

Originality/value

This is the first research of volunteers for the largest women’s mega single-sport event. There are three theoretical contributions of the paper to: the socio-ecological lens, motivational theory of single event MSE and the contribution of social and human capital to understandings of legacy.
Authentic leadership and employees’ emotional labour in the hospitality industry
Authors: Wang Zhenyuan , Xie Yunhui
Published: February 2020

Purpose

This study investigates the effect of authentic leadership on service employees’ emotional labour strategies, surface acting and deep acting, from a human energy perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

A three-wave survey was conducted in a hotel chain in China, and 347 valid responses were obtained. Mplus software was used for structural equation modelling and bootstrapping analysis.

Findings

This study finds the following: authentic leadership predicts service employees’ emotional labour strategies; job insecurity mediates the influence of authentic leadership on surface acting but not on deep acting; relational energy mediates both surface and deep acting; and relational energy has more negative (positive) indirect effects than job insecurity.

Practical implications

The findings provide hospitality managers with insights into how to improve service employees’ capacity for emotional regulation. Hospitality managers should show more authenticity, pay attention to subordinates’ energy level and select and recruit candidates with positive energy traits. Hospitality organisations should encourage, select and train managers to behave as authentic leaders.

Originality/value

This study links authentic leadership with service employees’ emotional management in the hospitality industry. Moreover, it demonstrates the energising function of authentic leadership and introduces the new perspective of human energy to emotional labour research.
Sensory inputs in tourists’ nightlife experiences – a study of Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore
Authors: Nghiêm-Phú Bình
Published: February 2020

Purpose

This study aims to identify the sensory inputs that tourists use to shape their nightlife experiences.

Design/methodology/approach

The situations in three Southeast Asian cities, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore were examined, using tourist reviews posted on tripadvisor.com. A total of 460 data units concerning Bangkok, 373 data units concerning Kuala Lumpur and 453 data units concerning Singapore were compiled and manually analyzed to reveal the frequency of the primary sensory inputs used by the reviewers. Bivariate correlation analysis was additionally performed to reveal the co-occurrences of the sensory inputs that tourists used to form their impressions of each city.

Findings

The findings suggest that gustatory inputs were powerful yet unspecific, while visual inputs were vivid and conspicuous. Audio inputs added certain meaningful contributions to some extent for some tourists. However, the distribution of the sensory inputs differed across the three cities. Moreover, the contributions of the olfactory and tactile inputs are largely missing.

Practical implications

With the management of nightlife businesses (small or micro servicescapes), a thoughtful selection for the drink menu is necessary. When possible, a signature drink should be invented and promoted for each place. With the projection and promotion of tourist destinations as nightlifescapes, a sensory marketing approach should be considered. For example, nightlifescapes could be presented and promoted with unique drinks, good views of the city’s landmarks and interesting local music.

Originality/value

Prior to this study, little research has been carried out to investigate tourists’ nightlife experiences and their impressions of nightlifescapes. In addition, little has been done to identify the sensory inputs that tourists use to explain their experiences and impressions.
Voluntary disclosure of accounting ratios and firm-specific characteristics: the case of GCC
Authors: Haddad Ayman E. , Baalbaki Shibly Fatima , Haddad Ruwaidah
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the voluntary disclosure of accounting ratios in the corporate annual reports of manufacturing firms in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and determines whether an association exists between voluntary disclosure and firm-specific characteristics namely, size, profitability, leverage, liquidity and efficiency.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 53 GCC listed manufacturing firms and 263 firm-year observations were observed over the period 2011 to 2015. A count data regression (Poisson) with incident rate ratios was used to identify the relationship between firms’ voluntary disclosures of accounting ratios and other firm-specific characteristics.

Findings

During the period under review, the voluntary disclosure of accounting ratios provided in annual reports of GCC firms were found to be exceedingly low. On average, a GCC company discloses at most two accounting ratios in its annual reports. The results also show that the profitability ratios are the most popularly reported ones. Controlling for family board domination, the results also reveal that structure-related variables (firm size and leverage) are positively associated with accounting ratio disclosures. However, performance-related variables (profitability, liquidity and efficiency) have no significant effect on disclosures. The authors conclude that signaling theory as implied in the performance-related variables is not strongly supported in the GCC region.

Originality/value

This is the first known study to investigate the disclosure of accounting ratios and its determinants within the context of GCC. The findings of this study could be beneficial to both agents and principals in assessing the associated risks. The study provides regulators and market participants an understanding of the corporate reporting activities of manufacturing firms in the GCC and who accordingly will be able to consider associated policy implementation.
Network activities as critical sources of creating capability and competitive advantage
Authors: Liu Chih-Hsing , Chang Angela Ya-Ping , Fang Yen-Po
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a new integrated model that combines the concepts of network ties (e.g. political ties and business ties), the organization of internal critical attributes (such as social capital, human capital and innovation capability) and analyses of how those critical attributes influence organization performance and competitive advantage.

Design/methodology/approach

A structural equation model and three-way interactions in moderated multiple regressions was used to test the hypotheses on a sample of 621 cultural and creative industry (CCI) managers in Taiwan.

Findings

The results indicate that human capital mediates the relationship between social capital and innovation capability. Furthermore, innovation capability also plays a mediating role in connecting the relationships between human capital, competitive advantage and organizational performance. The findings indicate that business ties strengthen the relationship between social and human capital. The level of human capital is at its peak when social capital, business ties, and political ties considerably interact with one another.

Research limitations/implications

The present study conceptualized the topic and systematized the questionnaire design and data collection, statistical analysis, and report writing. This study performs a systematic analysis to present the research but does not employ in-depth qualitative interviews to analyse the essential attributes of the different entrepreneurial styles. In-depth interviews enable the interviewees to completely depict their feelings, experiences, motivations, emotions and attitudes. Thus, this method can provide an in-depth analysis. Studies can be conducted to analyse the complexity of the processes involved.

Practical implications

This study determines and emphasizes that networking with various factors to create innovation is the key to enhancing competitive advantage and organizational performance. Innovation is a unique characteristic and a basic kinetic energy that affects various strategic organizational behaviours that positively influence competitive advantage and facilitate organizational performance. Hence, CCI firms need to consider market orientation and innovation in this highly competitive environment.

Originality/value

To the best of the knowledge, how CCI firms use networking sources to create competitive advantage and organizational performance, thereby promoting the development of the CCIs of Taiwan, has not been analysed in the tourism-related literature. Thus, the present study provides a significant contribution to the human capital literature, in which empirical research analyses the three-way interaction and demonstrates the empirical insights that may be used to study human capital. The findings reported in this study will encourage future researchers to employ multilevel human capital perspectives.
Directive 2014/95/EU
Authors: Krasodomska Joanna , Michalak Jan , Świetla Katarzyna
Published: February 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to explore accountants’ views on mandatory corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting. It focuses on three main factors underpinning their understanding and attitude towards non-financial disclosures: general understanding of the concept, gender and work experience.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses social identity theory as the theoretical framework. The findings are based on a survey conducted among 73 accountants in 2018. The questionnaire consisted of 86 questions divided into 9 main areas. The Mann–Whitney U test was used to determine if there are any significant differences between the accountants’ attitudes towards non-financial disclosures.

Findings

Study results suggest that the general knowledge of CSR reporting among accounting specialists is insufficient. The attitude towards mandatory CSR disclosures significantly differs between accountants who participated in training related to non-financial reporting and those who did not. Contrary to expectations, there were no significant differences in responses either between female and male accountants or between accountants at the beginning of their career path (with experience shorter than five years) and the more experienced ones. The paper contributes to social theory studies as it refers to the problem of the influence of professional associations, governments and big accounting firms on the transformation of accountants’ social identity. It also discusses the relations between the characteristics influencing personal identity and social identity of accountants in shaping their attitude towards mandatory non-financial disclosures.

Practical implications

The findings could be of interest to the higher education and professional certification institutions which should consider bringing accounting curricula more closely to the realities of the current business environment.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the body of literature mainly because it investigates a diversified sample of accountants in a relatively unexplored institutional setting. It may also serve as a starting point for research that more broadly explores accountants’ engagement in non-financial disclosures on CSR.
Severe depression with Cotard's phenomenon: treatment of a capacitated patient within the United Kingdom's Mental Health Act 2007
Authors: Mughal Faraz , Menezes Simon B.
Published: February 2020

Treatment of Cotard's syndrome with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been seen to be an effective treatment option when pharmacological options are not successful. Recent changes in the Mental Health Act 2007 used within the United Kingdom has resulted in clinicians unable to prescribe treatment for patients who have capacity but are not providing consent for treatment. We report a case of a patient in the UK with Cotard's phenomenon and severe depression, where the only effective treatment of ECT was restricted due to changes in mental health law. The role of maintenance ECT as well as the ethical dilemma faced is discussed.
Mental health functioning among men who use the Internet specifically to find partners for unprotected sex
Authors: Klein Hugh
Published: February 2020

Previous studies have shown a link between mental health functioning and involvement in HIV risk practices. The present research examines how well one specific group of men who have sex with other men (MSM) fare in terms of their mental health functioning, and then focuses on how mental health functioning relates to HIV risk practices in this population. The study was based on a national random sample of 332 MSM who use the Internet to seek men with whom they can engage in unprotected sex. Data collection was conducted via telephone interviews between January 2008 and May 2009. Depression is more common among men in this population than in the adult male population-at-large. All other measures of mental health functioning that were examined (self-esteem, impulsivity, current life satisfaction, optimism about the future) indicated low rates of mental health problem. Contrary to expectations, in nearly all instances, mental health functioning was not related to HIV risk practices.

More work needs to be done to understand the causes of depression among these men, and to assess how, if at all, depression relates to risk practices in this population. These findings suggest that factors other than mental health problems must be considered if one wishes to understand HIV risk taking in this population.
Detection of mental disorders other than depression with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in a sample of pregnant women in northern Mexico
Authors: Alvarado-Esquivel Cosme , Sifuentes-Alvarez Antonio , Salas-Martinez Carlos
Published: February 2020

We sought to evaluate the capacity of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) in discriminating mental disorders other than depression in pregnant women in northern Mexico. Three hundred pregnant women attending prenatal consultations in a public hospital in Durango City, Mexico submitted a validated EPDS and were examined for mental disorders other than depression using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - 4th Ed. (DSM-IV) criteria. Sensitivity and specificity of cut-off points of the EPDS, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated. Of the 300 pregnant women studied, 21 had mental disorders other than depression by the DSM-IV criteria. The best EPDS score for screening mental disorders other than depression was 8/9. This threshold showed a sensitivity of 52.4%, a specificity of 67.0%, a positive predictive value of 11.5%, a negative predictive value of 95.4%, and an area under the curve of 0.643 (95% confidence interval: 0.52-0.76). The EPDS can be considered for screening mental disorders other than depression in Mexican pregnant women whenever a cut-off score of 8/9 is used. However, the tool showed small power to separate pregnant women with and without mental disorders other than depression.
Risks and benefits of rapid clozapine titration
Authors: Lochhead Jeannie D. , Nelson Michele A. , Schneider Alan L.
Published: February 2020

Clozapine is often considered the gold standard for the treatment of schizophrenia. Clinical guidelines suggest a gradual titration over 2 weeks to reduce the risks of adverse events such as seizures, hypotension, agranulocytosis, and myocarditis. The slow titration often delays time to therapeutic response. This raises the question of whether, in some patients, it may be safe to use a more rapid clozapine titration. The following case illustrates the potential risks associated with the use of multiple antipsychotics and rapid cloza-pine titration. We present the case of a young man with schizophrenia who developed life threatening neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) during rapid clozapine titration and treatment with multiple antipsychotics. We were unable to find another case in the literature of NMS associated with rapid clozapine titration. This case is meant to urge clinicians to carefully evaluate the risks and benefits of rapid clozapine titration, and to encourage researchers to further evaluate the safety of rapid clozapine titration. Rapid clozapine titration has implications for decreasing health care costs associated with prolonged hospitalizations, and decreasing the emotional suffering associated with uncontrolled symptoms of psychosis. Clozapine is considered the most effective antipsychotic available thus efforts should focus on developing strategies that would allow for safest and most efficient use of clozapine to encourage its utilization for treatment resistance schizophrenia.
What influences treatment satisfaction in patients with personality disorders? A naturalistic investigation in a hospitalization setting
Authors: Gebhardt Stefan , Huber Martin Tobias
Published: February 2020

Treatment satisfaction of different mental disorders is still poorly understood, but of high clinical interest. Inpatients of a general psychiatric care hospital were asked to fill out questionnaires on satisfaction and clinical variables at admission and discharge. On the basis of an exploratory approach, differences in treatment satisfaction among diagnostic groups were examined by means of one-way analysis of variance. Potential associated clinical and socio-demographic variables were studied using multi/univariate tests. Patients with personality disorders (n=18) showed a significantly lower treatment satisfaction (ZUF-8, Zurich Satisfaction Questionnaire) and a slightly lower improvement of symptoms (CGI, Clinical Global Impression) and global functioning (GAF, Global Assessment of Functioning scale) than that of other diagnostic groups (n=95). Satisfaction in patients with personality disorders correlated much stronger with the symptom improvement and slightly with the functioning level than in patients without personality disorders. Interestingly, in patients with personality disorders psychopharmacological treatment in general (present versus not present) was independent from satisfaction. This exploratory investigation suggests that a lower satisfaction of patients with personality disorders in a general psychiatric hospital is mainly based on a reduced improvement of the symptoms and of the global functioning level.
Beliefs about the cause of schizophrenia among caregivers in Midwestern Nigeria
Authors: Igberase Osayi , Okogbenin Esther
Published: February 2020

Schizophrenia is a devastating illness with a chronic and relapsing course. While Western countries may endorse, biological and psychosocial causes more commonly than supernatural causes, non-western cultures like Nigeria in contrast, tend to endorse supernatural causes. Belief in supernatural causes has been reported to have consequences for treatment seeking behavior. This study aimed to examine the causes of schizophrenia reported by family members of outpatients with schizophrenia in a neuropsychiatric hospital in Midwestern Nigeria. In this study, we recruited a convenient sample of 200 consecutive caregivers of patients visiting the outpatient department of the Psychiatric Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. These primary caregivers were unpaid relatives who provided support to patients. The patients were service users who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of the International Classification of Disease [ICD-10; World Health Organization 1993] for schizophrenia and had been on treatment for at least two years. Majority (72.0%) of caregivers endorsed supernatural causes as most important in the etiology of schizophrenia, while 28.0% endorsed natural causes. Every participant without formal education endorsed supernatural attribution. In our study, it was evident that participants embraced multiple causal attributions for schizophrenia.
Clinical response of clozapine as a treatment for delirious mania
Authors: Wahid Nabeel , Chin Garwin , Turner Andia H. , Seegan Alexis
Published: February 2020

Delirious mania is an understudied psychiatric disorder with a mortality rate as high as 75%. Previous case studies suggest that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be an effective treatment for delirious mania, though this procedure may not always be a viable option. We describe the case of a 20-year old patient, with no previous psychiatric history, who developed delirious mania over the course of four months. ECT was not a viable option for this patient due to his religious beliefs, so alternative treatment modalities were explored. After failing trials of risperidone and olanzapine, significant improvements in symptoms were exhibited with a trial of clozapine. We propose that clozapine may be an effective option in cases of delirious mania, when ECT is not a viable option. Additional research is still necessary to understand the pathology of this condition and potential treatment modalities.
Infant psychomotor development in cases of maternal postpartum depression: Observation of a mother and baby unit
Authors: Treut Laure Le , Poinso François , Grandgeorge Pauline , Jouve Elisabeth , Dugnat Michel , Sparrow Joshua , Guivarch Jokthan
Published: February 2020

Studies of the first year of infant psychomotor development in cases of maternal postpartum depression are lacking. The mother and baby unit (MBU) is a healthcare system available to infants and their mothers during the postpartum period in a psychiatric hospital, which provides support and preserves the parent's role in the child's daily care. The aim of the paper is to describe the developmental profile of babies of mothers with severe postpartum depression treated in an MBU through the developmental quotients. Using the Brunet-Lézine scale, we studied six-month-old infants whose mothers were hospitalized. The study population consisted of 15 infants. The mean global developmental quotient score was 96.7. A developmental quotient lower than 80 was not observed for any of the children. We found no global psychomotor developmental delays. Despite this, the posture subscore was the area in which we observed the most difficulties. It is possible that the tonic dialogue between the mother and infant is disrupted by maternal depression.
Improving neurocognitive functioning in schizophrenia by addition of cognitive remediation therapy to a standard treatment of metacognitive training
Authors: Caponnetto Pasquale , Maglia Marilena , Auditore Roberta , Bocchieri Marta , Caruso Antonio , DiPiazza Jennifer , Polosa Riccardo
Published: February 2020

Cognitive dysfunctions are a common clinical feature of schizophrenia and represent important indicators of outcome among patients who are affected. Therefore, a randomized, controlled, monocentric, single-blind trial was carried out to compare two different rehabilitation strategies adopted for the restoration and recovery of cognitive functioning of residential patients with schizophrenia. A sample of 110 residential patients were selected and, during the experimental period, a group of 55 patients was treated with sets of domain-specific exercises (SRT+CRT), whereas an equal control group was treated with sets of non-domain-specific exercises (SRT+PBO) belonging to the Cogpack® software. The effects on the scores (between T0 and T1) of the variables treatment and time and of the interaction time X treatment were analyzed: for the total BACS, the main effect of the between-factors variable treatment is statistically significant (F=201.562 P=0.000), as well as the effect of the within-factors variable “time” (F=496.68 P=0.000).The interaction of these two factors is also statistically significant (F=299.594 P=0.000). The addition of cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) to a standard treatment of metacognitive training (MCT) resulted in a significant improvement in global neurocognitive functioning and has reported positive effects with regard to the strengthening of verbal and working memory, selective and sustained attention at T1. A relevant result is the statistically significance of “time X treatment” for all the tests administered: we can assume that the domain-specific cognitive training amplifies the effects of SRT, as the primary and secondary goals of the present study were achieved.
Psychological and psychopathological sequelae in cardiovascular acute disease
Authors: Caponnetto Pasquale
Published: February 2020

The burden of mental illness is profound and growing. Each year, almost one in three adults in the non-institutionalized community has a diagnosable mental or addictive disorder, and this figure climbs to approximately 40% among emergency departments patients. We described the principal cardiovascular acute disease and their emotional and behavioral consequences where psychological intervention could improve the care pathway and clinical outcome. Peer-reviewed articles from Medline, Psycinfo, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane library, about psychological and psychopathological sequelae in cardiovascular acute disease were searched. The psychological and psychopathological sequelae associated to stroke include emotional and behavioral changes and cognitive impairment. Fear, symptoms of depression, anxiety or specific post-traumatic symptoms like intrusions, hyper-arousal and/or cognitive avoidance are common in people suffering of cardiovascular acute disease treated at emergency departments. In emergency departments, health personnel must recognize psychological and psychopatho-logical sequelae in cardiovascular acute disease in order to develop effective interventions for these patients. Identify factors that are associated with both psychological distress and physical distress and promote interventions aimed at reducing psychological distress and improving psychological health empowerment is an important element to consider in order to offer the best care to vulnerable population as that suffering of cardiovascular acute disease.
The impact of market orientation on the internationalisation of SMEs
Authors: Fernandes Cristina I.M.A.S. , Ferreira João J.M , Lobo Carla Azevedo , Raposo Mario
Published: February 2020

Purpose

A key point in the internationalisation process of companies comes with the choice of international market. Following this choice, the results companies may thereby obtain help in measuring their level of international performance. This study aims to measure the impact of internationalisation processes in keeping with company market orientations (MOs) through measuring their effect on international performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors obtained the data from a questionnaire sent out by email to a total of 8,103 exporting companies and/or with interests in exporting (the study population) registered in the AICEP-Portugal Global database that provided the email addresses of the company representatives responsible for internationalisation. The authors received a total of 320 valid responses (sample).

Findings

The results display a positive MO effect both on internationalisation processes and on international performance. The authors also note the importance of studying the influence of strategic orientations on internationalization processes, motivated by the particular SME’s characteristics.

Originality/value

The authors aim to contribute to the study of the influence of the MO, both upstream and downstream, thus seeking to verify its impact on internationalization processes.