bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fishing out collective memory of migratory schools
Authors: De Luca Giancarlo , Mariani Patrizio , MacKenzie Brian R. , Marsili Matteo
Published: March 2014

Animals form groups for many reasons, but there are costs and benefits associated with group formation. One of the benefits is collective memory. In groups on the move, social interactions play a crucial role in the cohesion and the ability to make consensus decisions. When migrating from spawning to feeding areas, fish schools need to retain a collective memory of the destination site over thousands of kilometres, and changes in group formation or individual preference can produce sudden changes in migration pathways. We propose a modelling framework, based on stochastic adaptive networks, that can reproduce this collective behaviour. We assume that three factors control group formation and school migration behaviour: the intensity of social interaction, the relative number of informed individuals and the strength of preference that informed individuals have for a particular migration area. We treat these factors independently and relate the individuals’ preferences to the experience and memory for certain migration sites. We demonstrate that removal of knowledgeable individuals or alteration of individual preference can produce rapid changes in group formation and collective behaviour. For example, intensive fishing targeting the migratory species and also their preferred prey can reduce both terms to a point at which migration to the destination sites is suddenly stopped. The conceptual approaches represented by our modelling framework may therefore be able to explain large-scale changes in fish migration and spatial distribution.
Population dynamics of the modified theta model: macroscopic phase reduction and bifurcation analysis link microscopic neuronal interactions to macroscopic gamma oscillation
Authors: Kotani Kiyoshi , Yamaguchi Ikuhiro , Yoshida Lui , Jimbo Yasuhiko , Ermentrout G. Bard
Published: March 2014

Gamma oscillations of the local field potential are organized by collective dynamics of numerous neurons and have many functional roles in cognition and/or attention. To mathematically and physiologically analyse relationships between individual inhibitory neurons and macroscopic oscillations, we derive a modification of the theta model, which possesses voltage-dependent dynamics with appropriate synaptic interactions. Bifurcation analysis of the corresponding Fokker–Planck equation (FPE) enables us to consider how synaptic interactions organize collective oscillations. We also develop the adjoint method (infinitesimal phase resetting curve) for simultaneous equations consisting of ordinary differential equations representing synaptic dynamics and a partial differential equation for determining the probability distribution of the membrane potential. This method provides a macroscopic phase response function (PRF), which gives insights into how it is modulated by external perturbation or internal changes of parameters. We investigate the effects of synaptic time constants and shunting inhibition on these gamma oscillations. The sensitivity of rising and decaying time constants is analysed in the oscillatory parameter regions; we find that these sensitivities are not largely dependent on rate of synaptic coupling but, rather, on current and noise intensity. Analyses of shunting inhibition reveal that it can affect both promotion and elimination of gamma oscillations. When the macroscopic oscillation is far from the bifurcation, shunting promotes the gamma oscillations and the PRF becomes flatter as the reversal potential of the synapse increases, indicating the insensitivity of gamma oscillations to perturbations. By contrast, when the macroscopic oscillation is near the bifurcation, shunting eliminates gamma oscillations and a stable firing state appears. More interestingly, under appropriate balance of parameters, two branches of bifurcation are found in our analysis of the FPE. In this case, shunting inhibition can effect both promotion and elimination of the gamma oscillation depending only on the reversal potential.
Localization of trehalose in partially hydrated DOPC bilayers: insights into cryoprotective mechanisms
Authors: Kent Ben , Hunt Taavi , Darwish Tamim A. , Hauß Thomas , Garvey Christopher J. , Bryant Gary
Published: March 2014

Trehalose, a natural disaccharide with bioprotective properties, is widely recognized for its ability to preserve biological membranes during freezing and dehydration events. Despite debate over the molecular mechanisms by which this is achieved, and that different mechanisms imply quite different distributions of trehalose molecules with respect to the bilayer, there are no direct experimental data describing the location of trehalose within lipid bilayer membrane systems during dehydration. Here, we use neutron membrane diffraction to conclusively show that the trehalose distribution in a dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) system follows a Gaussian profile centred in the water layer between bilayers. The absence of any preference for localizing near the lipid headgroups of the bilayers indicates that the bioprotective effects of trehalose at physiologically relevant concentrations are the result of non-specific mechanisms that do not rely on direct interactions with the lipid headgroups.
Antibiotic-decorated titanium with enhanced antibacterial activity through adhesive polydopamine for dental/bone implant
Authors: He Shu , Zhou Ping , Wang Linxin , Xiong Xiaoling , Zhang Yifei , Deng Yi , Wei Shicheng
Published: March 2014

Implant-associated infections, which are normally induced by microbial adhesion and subsequent biofilm formation, are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Therefore, practical approaches to prevent implant-associated infections are in great demand. Inspired by adhesive proteins in mussels, here we have developed a novel antibiotic-decorated titanium (Ti) material with enhanced antibacterial activity. In this study, Ti substrate was coated by one-step pH-induced polymerization of dopamine followed by immobilization of the antibiotic cefotaxime sodium (CS) onto the polydopamine-coated Ti through catechol chemistry. Contact angle measurement and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the presence of CS grafted on the Ti surface. Our results demonstrated that the antibiotic-grafted Ti substrate showed good biocompatibility and well-behaved haemocompatibility. In addition, the antibiotic-grafted Ti could effectively prevent adhesion and proliferation of
Escherichia coli
(Gram-negative) and
Streptococcus mutans
(Gram-positive). Moreover, the inhibition of biofilm formation on the antibiotic-decorated Ti indicated that the grafted CS could maintain its long-term antibacterial activity. This modified Ti substrate with enhanced antibacterial activity holds great potential as implant material for applications in dental and bone graft substitutes.
Neural signatures of betrayal aversion: an fMRI study of trust
Authors: Aimone Jason A. , Houser Daniel , Weber Bernd
Published: March 2014

Decisions are said to be ‘risky’ when they are made in environments with uncertainty caused by nature. By contrast, a decision is said to be ‘trusting’ when its outcome depends on the uncertain decisions of another person. A rapidly expanding literature reveals economically important differences between risky and trusting decisions, and further suggests these differences are due to ‘betrayal aversion’. While its neural foundations have not been previously illuminated, the prevailing hypothesis is that betrayal aversion stems from a desire to avoid negative emotions that arise from learning one's trust was betrayed. Here, we provide evidence from an fMRI study that supports this hypothesis. In particular, our data indicate that the anterior insula modulates trusting decisions that involve the possibility of betrayal.
Cultural transmission of tool use combined with habitat specializations leads to fine-scale genetic structure in bottlenose dolphins
Authors: Kopps Anna M. , Ackermann Corinne Y. , Sherwin William B. , Allen Simon J. , Bejder Lars , Krützen Michael
Published: March 2014

Socially learned behaviours leading to genetic population structure have rarely been described outside humans. Here, we provide evidence of fine-scale genetic structure that has probably arisen based on socially transmitted behaviours in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiopssp.) in western Shark Bay, Western Australia. We argue that vertical social transmission in different habitats has led to significant geographical genetic structure of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotypes. Dolphins with mtDNA haplotypes E or F are found predominantly in deep (more than 10 m) channel habitat, while dolphins with a third haplotype (H) are found predominantly in shallow habitat (less than 10 m), indicating a strong haplotype–habitat correlation. Some dolphins in the deep habitat engage in a foraging strategy using tools. These ‘sponging’ dolphins are members of one matriline, carrying haplotype E. This pattern is consistent with what had been demonstrated previously at another research site in Shark Bay, where vertical social transmission of sponging had been shown using multiple lines of evidence. Using an individual-based model, we found support that in western Shark Bay, socially transmitted specializations may have led to the observed genetic structure. The reported genetic structure appears to present an example of cultural hitchhiking of mtDNA haplotypes on socially transmitted foraging strategies, suggesting that, as in humans, genetic structure can be shaped through cultural transmission.
Light intensity controls anti-predator defences inDaphnia: the suppression of life-history changes
Authors: Effertz Christoph , von Elert Eric
Published: March 2014

A huge variety of organisms respond to the presence of predators with inducible defences, each of which is associated with costs. Many genotypes have the potential to respond with more than one defence, and it has been argued that it would be maladaptive to exhibit all possible responses at the same time. Here, we test how a well-known anti-fish defence inDaphnia, life-history changes (LHC), is controlled by light. We show that the kairomone-mediated reduction in size at first reproduction is inversely coupled to the light intensity. A similar effect was found for the kairomone-mediated expression of candidate genes inDaphnia. We argue that the light intensity an individual is exposed to determines the degree of LHC, which allows for plastic adjustment to fluctuating environments and simultaneously minimizes the associated costs of multiple alternately deployable defences. It is hypothesized that this allows for a coupling of multiple defences, i.e. LHC and diel vertical migration.
Pelagic sea snakes dehydrate at sea
Authors: Lillywhite Harvey B. , Sheehy Coleman M. , Brischoux François , Grech Alana
Published: March 2014

Secondarily marine vertebrates are thought to live independently of fresh water. Here, we demonstrate a paradigm shift for the widely distributed pelagic sea snake,Hydrophis(Pelamis)platurus, which dehydrates at sea and spends a significant part of its life in a dehydrated state corresponding to seasonal drought. Snakes that are captured following prolonged periods without rainfall have lower body water content, lower body condition and increased tendencies to drink fresh water than do snakes that are captured following seasonal periods of high rainfall. These animals do not drink seawater and must rehydrate by drinking from a freshwater lens that forms on the ocean surface during heavy precipitation. The new data based on field studies indicate unequivocally that this marine vertebrate dehydrates at sea where individuals may live in a dehydrated state for possibly six to seven months at a time. This information provides new insights for understanding water requirements of sea snakes, reasons for recent declines and extinctions of sea snakes and more accurate prediction for how changing patterns of precipitation might affect these and other secondarily marine vertebrates living in tropical oceans.
Evidence of size-selective evolution in the fighting conch from prehistoric subsistence harvesting
Authors: O'Dea Aaron , Shaffer Marian Lynne , Doughty Douglas R. , Wake Thomas A. , Rodriguez Felix A.
Published: March 2014

Intensive size-selective harvesting can drive evolution of sexual maturity at smaller body size. Conversely, prehistoric, low-intensity subsistence harvesting is not considered an effective agent of size-selective evolution. Uniting archaeological, palaeontological and contemporary material, we show that size at sexual maturity in the edible conch
Strombus pugilis
declined significantly from pre-human (approx. 7 ka) to prehistoric times (approx. 1 ka) and again to the present day. Size at maturity also fell from early- to late-prehistoric periods, synchronous with an increase in harvesting intensity as other resources became depleted. A consequence of declining size at maturity is that early prehistoric harvesters would have received two-thirds more meat per conch than contemporary harvesters. After exploring the potential effects of selection biases, demographic shifts, environmental change and habitat alteration, these observations collectively implicate prehistoric subsistence harvesting as an agent of size-selective evolution with long-term detrimental consequences. We observe that contemporary populations that are protected from harvesting are slightly larger at maturity, suggesting that halting or even reversing thousands of years of size-selective evolution may be possible.
Correlates of genetic monogamy in socially monogamous mammals: insights from Azara's owl monkeys
Authors: Huck Maren , Fernandez-Duque Eduardo , Babb Paul , Schurr Theodore
Published: March 2014

Understanding the evolution of mating systems, a central topic in evolutionary biology for more than 50 years, requires examining the genetic consequences of mating and the relationships between social systems and mating systems. Among pair-living mammals, where genetic monogamy is extremely rare, the extent of extra-group paternity rates has been associated with male participation in infant care, strength of the pair bond and length of the breeding season. This study evaluated the relationship between two of those factors and the genetic mating system of socially monogamous mammals, testing predictions that male care and strength of pair bond would be negatively correlated with rates of extra-pair paternity (EPP). Autosomal microsatellite analyses provide evidence for genetic monogamy in a pair-living primate with bi-parental care, the Azara's owl monkey (Aotus azarae).A phylogenetically corrected generalized least square analysis was used to relate male care and strength of the pair bond to their genetic mating system (i.e. proportions of EPP) in 15 socially monogamous mammalian species. The intensity of male care was correlated with EPP rates in mammals, while strength of pair bond failed to reach statistical significance. Our analyses show that, once social monogamy has evolved, paternal care, and potentially also close bonds, may facilitate the evolution of genetic monogamy.
Cyclo(valine–valine) inhibits Vibrio cholerae virulence gene expression
Authors: Vikram Amit , Ante Vanessa M. , Bina X. Renee , Zhu Qin , Liu Xinyu , Bina James E.
Published: March 2014

Vibrio cholerae has been shown to produce a cyclic dipeptide, cyclo(phenylalanine–proline) (cFP), that functions to repress virulence factor production. The objective of this study was to determine if heterologous cyclic dipeptides could repress V. cholerae virulence factor production. To that end, three synthetic cyclic dipeptides that differed in their side chains from cFP were assayed for virulence inhibitory activity in V. cholerae. The results revealed that cyclo(valine–valine) (cVV) inhibited virulence factor production by a ToxR-dependent process that resulted in the repression of the virulence regulator aphA. cVV-dependent repression of aphA was found to be independent of known aphA regulatory genes. The results demonstrated that V. cholerae was able to respond to exogenous cyclic dipeptides and implicated the hydrophobic amino acid side chains on both arms of the cyclo dipeptide scaffold as structural requirements for inhibitory activity. The results further suggest that cyclic dipeptides have potential as therapeutics for cholera treatment.
An improved method for specificity annotation shows a distinct evolutionary divergence among the microbial enzymes of the cholylglycine hydrolase family
Authors: Panigrahi Priyabrata , Sule Manas , Sharma Ranu , Ramasamy Sureshkumar , Suresh C. G.
Published: March 2014

Bile salt hydrolases (BSHs) are gut microbial enzymes that play a significant role in the bile acid modification pathway. Penicillin V acylases (PVAs) are enzymes produced by environmental microbes, having a possible role in pathogenesis or scavenging of phenolic compounds in their microbial habitats. The correct annotation of such physiologically and industrially important enzymes is thus vital. The current methods relying solely on sequence homology do not always provide accurate annotations for these two members of the cholylglycine hydrolase (CGH) family as BSH/PVA enzymes. Here, we present an improved method [binding site similarity (BSS)-based scoring system] for the correct annotation of the CGH family members as BSH/PVA enzymes, which along with the phylogenetic information incorporates the substrate specificity as well as the binding site information. The BSS scoring system was developed through the analysis of the binding sites and binding modes of the available BSH/PVA structures with substrates glycocholic acid and penicillin V. The 198 sequences in the dataset were then annotated accurately using BSS scores as BSH/PVA enzymes. The dataset presented contained sequences from Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria and archaea. The clustering obtained for the dataset using the method described above showed a clear distinction in annotation of Gram-positive bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria. Based on this clustering and a detailed analysis of the sequences of the CGH family in the dataset, we could infer that the CGH genes might have evolved in accordance with the hypothesis stating the evolution of diderms and archaea from the monoderms.
HMG-CoA reductase is negatively associated with PCV2 infection and PCV2-induced apoptotic cell death
Authors: Yang Xin , Ouyang Hongsheng , Chen Fuwang , Pang Daxing , Dong Meichen , Yang Susu , Liu Xiaoyun , Peng Zhiyuan , Wang Fei , Zhang Xiao , Ren Linzhu
Published: March 2014

We examined the role of HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR) during porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) infection. The results demonstrated that levels of endogenous HMGCR were not significantly different in PCV2-infected cells and mock-infected cells. However, the level of phosphorylated HMGCR, an inactivated form of HMGCR, was increased in PCV2-infected cells. Furthermore, HMGCR was upregulated by overexpression, silenced by siRNA or inactivated using its dominant-negative form in PK-15 cells. The results showed that PCV2 infection was inhibited by HMGCR overexpression, whereas it was significantly increased in HMGCR-silenced cells and HMGCR inhibitor-treated cells. Moreover, there was a robust apoptotic response at 48 h post-infection (p.i.) in HMGCR-inactivated cells, and this response was significantly greater than that observed in PK-15 cells. A modest apoptotic response was also observed in HMGCR-silenced cells. Caspase-3 activity was also analysed in PCV2-infected cells at 48 h p.i. As expected, caspase-3 activity was significantly increased in HMGCR-inactivated and -silenced cells compared with PK-15 cells. PCV2 replication was dose-dependently increased in HMGCR-inactivated cells when treated with increasing amounts of caspase-3 inhibitor. Altogether, HMGCR was negatively associated with PCV2 infection and PCV2-induced apoptotic cell death. These data demonstrated that HMGCR can be used as a candidate target for PCV2 disease control and antivirus research. Furthermore, the cells generated in this study can be used to evaluate the potential effects of HMGCR on PCV2 replication.
Evolutionary conservation of the eumetazoan gene regulatory landscape
Authors: Schwaiger Michaela , Schönauer Anna , Rendeiro André F. , Pribitzer Carina , Schauer Alexandra , Gilles Anna F. , Schinko Johannes B. , Renfer Eduard , Fredman David , Technau Ulrich
Published: March 2014

Despite considerable differences in morphology and complexity of body plans among animals, a great part of the gene set is shared among Bilateria and their basally branching sister group, the Cnidaria. This suggests that the common ancestor of eumetazoans already had a highly complex gene repertoire. At present it is therefore unclear how morphological diversification is encoded in the genome. Here we address the possibility that differences in gene regulation could contribute to the large morphological divergence between cnidarians and bilaterians. To this end, we generated the first genome-wide map of gene regulatory elements in a nonbilaterian animal, the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by deep sequencing of five chromatin modifications and a transcriptional cofactor, we identified over 5000 enhancers in the Nematostella genome and could validate 75% of the tested enhancers in vivo. We found that in Nematostella, but not in yeast, enhancers are characterized by the same combination of histone modifications as in bilaterians, and these enhancers preferentially target developmental regulatory genes. Surprisingly, the distribution and abundance of gene regulatory elements relative to these genes are shared between Nematostella and bilaterian model organisms. Our results suggest that complex gene regulation originated at least 600 million yr ago, predating the common ancestor of eumetazoans.
Restless Legs Syndrome-associated intronic common variant in Meis1 alters enhancer function in the developing telencephalon
Authors: Spieler Derek , Kaffe Maria , Knauf Franziska , Bessa José , Tena Juan J. , Giesert Florian , Schormair Barbara , Tilch Erik , Lee Heekyoung , Horsch Marion , Czamara Darina , Karbalai Nazanin , von Toerne Christine , Waldenberger Melanie , Gieger Christian , Lichtner Peter , Claussnitzer Melina , Naumann Ronald , Müller-Myhsok Bertram , Torres Miguel , Garrett Lillian , Rozman Jan , Klingenspor Martin , Gailus-Durner Valérie , Fuchs Helmut , Hrabě de Angelis Martin , Beckers Johannes , Hölter Sabine M. , Meitinger Thomas , Hauck Stefanie M. , Laumen Helmut , Wurst Wolfgang , Casares Fernando , Gómez-Skarmeta Jose Luis , Winkelmann Juliane
Published: March 2014

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified the MEIS1 locus for Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), but causal single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and their functional relevance remain unknown. This locus contains a large number of highly conserved noncoding regions (HCNRs) potentially functioning as cis-regulatory modules. We analyzed these HCNRs for allele-dependent enhancer activity in zebrafish and mice and found that the risk allele of the lead SNP rs12469063 reduces enhancer activity in the Meis1 expression domain of the murine embryonic ganglionic eminences (GE). CREB1 binds this enhancer and rs12469063 affects its binding in vitro. In addition, MEIS1 target genes suggest a role in the specification of neuronal progenitors in the GE, and heterozygous Meis1-deficient mice exhibit hyperactivity, resembling the RLS phenotype. Thus, in vivo and in vitro analysis of a common SNP with small effect size showed allele-dependent function in the prospective basal ganglia representing the first neurodevelopmental region implicated in RLS.
Linking Gene Expression and Membrane Lipid Composition ofArabidopsis
Authors: Szymanski Jedrzej , Brotman Yariv , Willmitzer Lothar , Cuadros-Inostroza Álvaro
Published: March 2014

Glycerolipid metabolism of plants responds dynamically to changes in light intensity and temperature, leading to the modification of membrane lipid composition to ensure optimal biochemical and physical properties in the new environment. Although multiple posttranscriptional regulatory mechanisms have been reported to be involved in the process, the contribution of transcriptional regulation remains largely unknown. Here, we present an integrative analysis of transcriptomic and lipidomic data, revealing large-scale coordination between gene expression and changes in glycerolipid levels during the Arabidopsis thaliana response to light and temperature stimuli. Using a multivariate regression technique called O2PLS, we show that the gene expression response is strictly coordinated at the biochemical pathway level and occurs in parallel with changes of specific glycerolipid pools. Five interesting candidate genes were chosen for further analysis from a larger set of candidates identified based on their close association with various groups of glycerolipids. Lipidomic analysis of knockout mutant lines of these five genes showed a significant relationship between the coordination of transcripts and glycerolipid levels in a changing environment and the effects of single gene perturbations.
Golgi-Dependent Transport of Vacuolar Sorting Receptors Is Regulated by COPII, AP1, and AP4 Protein Complexes in Tobacco
Authors: Gershlick David C. , Lousa Carine de Marcos , Foresti Ombretta , Lee Andrew J. , Pereira Estela A. , daSilva Luis L.P. , Bottanelli Francesca , Denecke Jurgen
Published: March 2014

The cycling of vacuolar sorting receptors (VSRs) between early and late secretory pathway compartments is regulated by signals in the cytosolic tail, but the exact pathway is controversial. Here, we show that receptor targeting in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) initially involves a canonical coat protein complex II–dependent endoplasmic reticulum-to-Golgi bulk flow route and that VSR–ligand interactions in the cis-Golgi play an important role in vacuolar sorting. We also show that a conserved Glu is required but not sufficient for rate-limiting YXXɸ-mediated receptor trafficking. Protein–protein interaction studies show that the VSR tail interacts with the μ-subunits of plant or mammalian clathrin adaptor complex AP1 and plant AP4 but not that of plant and mammalian AP2. Mutants causing a detour of full-length receptors via the cell surface invariantly cause the secretion of VSR ligands. Therefore, we propose that cycling via the plasma membrane is unlikely to play a role in biosynthetic vacuolar sorting under normal physiological conditions and that the conserved Ile-Met motif is mainly used to recover mistargeted receptors. This occurs via a fundamentally different pathway from the prevacuolar compartment that does not mediate recycling. The role of clathrin and clathrin-independent pathways in vacuolar targeting is discussed.
N-Glycosylation of Effector Proteins by an α-1,3-Mannosyltransferase Is Required for the Rice Blast Fungus to Evade Host Innate Immunity
Authors: Chen Xiao-Lin , Shi Tao , Yang Jun , Shi Wei , Gao Xusheng , Chen Deng , Xu Xiaowen , Xu Jin-Rong , Talbot Nicholas J. , Peng You-Liang
Published: March 2014

Plant pathogenic fungi deploy secreted effectors to suppress plant immunity responses. These effectors operate either in the apoplast or within host cells, so they are putatively glycosylated, but the posttranslational regulation of their activities has not been explored. In this study, the ASPARAGINE-LINKED GLYCOSYLATION3 (ALG3)-mediated N-glycosylation of the effector, Secreted LysM Protein1 (Slp1), was found to be essential for its activity in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. ALG3 encodes an α-1,3-mannosyltransferase for protein N-glycosylation. Deletion of ALG3 resulted in the arrest of secondary infection hyphae and a significant reduction in virulence. We observed that Δalg3 mutants induced massive production of reactive oxygen species in host cells, in a similar manner to Δslp1 mutants, which is a key factor responsible for arresting infection hyphae of the mutants. Slp1 sequesters chitin oligosaccharides to avoid their recognition by the rice (Oryza sativa) chitin elicitor binding protein CEBiP and the induction of innate immune responses, including reactive oxygen species production. We demonstrate that Slp1 has three N-glycosylation sites and that simultaneous Alg3-mediated N-glycosylation of each site is required to maintain protein stability and the chitin binding activity of Slp1, which are essential for its effector function. These results indicate that Alg3-mediated N-glycosylation of Slp1 is required to evade host innate immunity.
Structural snapshots along the reaction pathway ofYersinia pestisRipA, a putative butyryl-CoA transferase
Authors: Torres Rodrigo , Lan Benson , Latif Yama , Chim Nicholas , Goulding Celia W.
Published: March 2014

Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of bubonic plague, is able to survive in both extracellular and intracellular environments within the human host, although its intracellular survival within macrophages is poorly understood. A novelY. pestisthree-generip(required for intracellular proliferation) operon, and in particularripA, has been shown to be essential for survival and replication in interferon γ-induced macrophages. RipA was previously characterized as a putative butyryl-CoA transferase proposed to yield butyrate, a known anti-inflammatory shown to lower macrophage-produced NO levels. RipA belongs to the family I CoA transferases, which share structural homology, a conserved catalytic glutamate which forms a covalent CoA-thioester intermediate and a flexible loop adjacent to the active site known as the G(V/I)G loop. Here, functional and structural analyses of several RipA mutants are presented in an effort to dissect the CoA transferase mechanism of RipA. In particular, E61V, M31G and F60M RipA mutants show increased butyryl-CoA transferase activities when compared with wild-type RipA. Furthermore, the X-ray crystal structures of E61V, M31G and F60M RipA mutants, when compared with the wild-type RipA structure, reveal important conformational changes orchestrated by a conserved acyl-group binding-pocket phenylalanine, Phe85, and the G(V/I)G loop. Binary structures of M31G RipA and F60M RipA with two distinct CoA substrate conformations are also presented. Taken together, these data provide CoA transferase reaction snapshots of an open apo RipA, a closed glutamyl-anhydride intermediate and an open CoA-thioester intermediate. Furthermore, biochemical analyses support essential roles for both the catalytic glutamate and the flexible G(V/I)G loop along the reaction pathway, although further research is required to fully understand the function of the acyl-group binding pocket in substrate specificity.
Market orientation, innovation capability and business performance
Authors: Huhtala Juho-Petteri , Sihvonen Antti , Frösén Johanna , Jaakkola Matti , Tikkanen Henrikki
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The paper aims to examine the role of market orientation (MO) and innovation capability in determining business performance during an economic upturn and downturn.

Design/methodology/approach

– The data comprise two national-level surveys conducted in Finland in 2008, representing an economic boom, and in 2010 when the global economic crisis had hit the Finnish market. Partial least square path analysis is used to test the potential mediating effect of innovation capability on the relationship between MO and business performance during economic boom and bust.

Findings

– The results show that innovation capability fully mediates the performance effects of a MO during an economic upturn, whereas the mediation is only partial during a downturn. Innovation capability also mediates the relationship between a customer orientation and business performance during an upturn, whereas the mediating effect culminates in a competitor orientation during a downturn. Thus, the role of innovation capability as a mediator between the individual market-orientation components varies along the business cycle.

Originality/value

– This paper is one of the first studies that empirically examine the impact of the economic cycle on the relationship between strategic marketing concepts, such as MO or innovation capability, and the firm's business performance.
Comparing CSR communication on corporate web sites in Sweden and Spain
Authors: Castelo Branco Manuel , Delgado Catarina , Sá Manuel , Sousa Cristina
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– This study investigates the use of the internet by the largest companies based in Sweden and Spain to communicate their engagement in corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities. Its purpose is to analyse to what extent, if any, are there differences in the CSR communication on the web sites companies from these two countries.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper examines CSR communication on the internet by companies based in Sweden and Spain. Non-parametric statistics are used to analyse some factors that influence disclosure, namely country, industry affiliation, profitability, and size.

Findings

– Findings suggest that in spite of the existence of a high degree of similarity between CSR communication practices, companies from Spain place social responsibility information in more prominent sections and devote more space to said information. Swedish companies are found to disclose more their codes of conduct/ethics and CSR-related press clips and published articles.

Research limitations/implications

– The sample is small. There may be content analysis issues associated with subjectivity in the coding process.

Originality/value

– It adds to the scarce research on CSR communication by companies in these countries by providing new empirical data and extends prior research comparing such practices in different international models of CSR.
A model for sharing knowledge in architectural firms
Authors: Bashouri Joseph , William Duncan Glen
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– This theoretical paper aims to develop a model of how best to facilitate projects knowledge sharing within architectural firms to learn from lessons and improve the firm innovation capabilities, knowledge and skills.

Design/methodology/approach

– A conceptual framework is developed by reviewing the literature in the fields of knowledge management (KM), the project-based organisation and communities of practice (CoPs) and linking these to the literature on the architectural firm.

Findings

– In the architectural firm, KM strategy needs to be linked to the overall business strategy determining the balance of codification/personalisation. The firm needs to be structured as a double-knit organisation connecting projects with CoPs. This structure creates a social network that allows sharing the useful and innovative knowledge created through the design process. Success depends on building a knowledge environment, providing organisational support and building a learning architecture within projects. A balanced combination of information and communication technologies, lessons-learned, storytelling, conversational learning and dialogue are needed as knowledge sharing methods.

Originality/value

– This paper's originality is in constructing a conceptual framework or model for knowledge sharing within the architectural firm with CoPs at the heart of that model. This paper is valuable to any architectural practice that aims to protect its reputation, improve its performance and increase its innovative knowledge base. It is also valuable to the construction industry by helping to minimise design mistakes and the consequent cost of construction rework.
A measurement model of building information modelling maturity
Authors: Chen Yunfeng , Dib Hazar , F. Cox Robert
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– There is a growing requirement for a rating system of building information modelling maturity (BIMM) to compare the effectiveness of modelling processes in construction projects. The literature related to BIMM contains theoretical proposals and description of their maturity models. However, the research efforts are limited and lacking substantial theoretical and empirical justifications. This paper is a unique attempt to integrate previous models by performing empirical investigations of key factors for measuring BIMM in construction projects. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– A national survey was designed to extract the perception of 124 BIM-related practitioners and academicians about the conceptual model. Then, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were employed to identify and test the key factors underlying the 27 areas.

Findings

– A principal component factor analysis of the collected data had suggested a five-factor model, which explained 69.839 per cent of the variance. The construct validity of the model was further tested by confirmatory factor analysis. The results indicated that all factors were important in measuring BIMM; however, compared with the factors of technology and people, more emphasis was put on the factors of process and information.

Originality/value

– The key value of the paper is to increase the understanding of multi-dimension nature of BIMM through empirical evidence and to provide practitioners and researchers with the insight regarding particular emphasis on the factors related to modelling process and information.
Transnational corporations and global capitalism: reflections on the last 40 years
Authors: Radice Hugo
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to reflect on the author's research and teaching on transnational corporations and global capitalism over the last 40 years.

Design/methodology/approach

– A chronological account of the changing nature of TNCs and their impacts, and the evolution of critical studies within the field.

Findings

– Within the literature on TNCs, critical scholarship has played an important role in developing alternative perspectives.

Research limitations/implications

– The paper reports the author's personal reflections on his field of study, which are intentionally subjective.

Practical implications

– Appreciation of the scope and effectiveness of critical scholarship in international business.

Originality/value

– The paper's value lies in offering a broad-brush picture of the evolution of TNCs and their critical study over four decades.
Who is to blame?
Authors: M. Taplin Ian
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– This paper seeks to examine the various actors responsible for the recent tragedy at a clothing factory in Bangladesh. Rather than focusing on the actual factory owner, it evaluates the broader structural and institutional factors, plus a particular Western retailer strategy of fast fashion, that together explain the practical inevitability of such tragedies.

Design/methodology/approach

– As a case study of a particular incident, it presents data from newspaper accounts and descriptive statistics to evaluate the broader context of an industrial accident.

Findings

– By examining the full context of the incident, it becomes apparent that there were systemic issues that effectively encouraged many parties to engage in workplace policies that almost inevitably can lead to accidents or at least labor abuses. Finally, blame is apportioned to Western consumers whose insatiable appetite for “fashionable” goods merely feeds a retail system that was set up to resolve earlier supply chain problems and ended up taking advantage of changing international trade regimes.

Originality/value

– The paper takes a much broader examination and analysis of institutional factors that shape work conditions than studies that focus merely on labor-management issues.
Pushing the frontiers of critical international business studies
Authors: Boussebaa Mehdi , Morgan Glenn
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to discuss the context- and power-sensitive approach to the study of multinationals that has emerged in the last decade, argues for the need to supplement it by a clearer focus on the wider geopolitical context in which multinationals operate and outlines the implications for the development of IB research in this area.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper provides a summary overview of context- and power-sensitive studies of multinationals before proposing a research agenda for the next decade. In particular, it argues for the need to combine the institutionalist angle taken by context/power analyses with post-colonial theory as a means of bringing geopolitics into the study of multinationals, a task thatCPoIBis well positioned to accomplish.

Findings

– The paper identifies a lack of “criticality” in context/power research and, in particular, a lack of attention to the neo-imperial character of multinationals with specific regards to their management and organisation.

Research limitations/implications

– The implications of this paper are that the nature of contemporary multinationals is further illuminated, especially their role in (re-)producing (neo-)imperial relations in a supposedly post-colonial world. Further, the paper suggests an agenda for future research on the relationship between imperialism and multinationals.

Originality/value

– The value of the paper is in drawing together more closely the study of multinationals as organizational structures and political systems with the history of imperialism and contemporary post-colonial theorising.
Fighting Latin American marginality in “international” business
Authors: Alcadipani Rafael , Faria Alex
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– Latin America has been neglected in management and international business (IB) knowledge for a long time. Such a picture reflects the enduring power of the dark side of the geopolitics of knowledge that “international” sub-fields in management knowledge have to tackle as a key condition of possibility for the co-creation of a truly “international” field of “international business”. In this position paper, the authors aim to analyze the extent to which CPoIB has been a key instrument to tackle Anglo-Saxon hegemony in IB knowledge over the last ten years.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors follow a decolonizing perspective to analyse the impact of CPoIB for Latin America international business knowledge production.

Findings

– The paper argues that CPoIB has given voice to authors who are from Latin America and, most important, work in the region. By doing that, CPoIB has triggered the mobilization of mechanisms of recognition and redistribution that are necessary to offset the neo-imperial side of “international business” and management knowledge. The journal has also helped to foster the co-creation of “pluriversal international business”.

Originality/value

– The paper uses a decolonial perspective from Latin America in order to open new questions and challenges to the field of IB.
Context, framing, and influence
Authors: Kim Barnes B.
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to help readers consider the value of identifying the values, beliefs, and vested interests of someone they wish to influence and to frame their idea, request, or call to action in a way that will make sense in the other person's internal model of the world and be interesting and attractive to him or her.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper defines several key terms and presents a rationale for exploring the point of view of individuals one wishes to influence and framing an idea in a way that will be most meaningful to the other.

Findings

– There is no one way to view any idea. People have a set of mental filters that any influence attempt must pass through. These filters shape the impact and meaning of the other person's idea or request. The skillful influencer takes this into account in framing his or her influence approach.

Research limitations/implications

– This paper is the result of many years of observation and pattern recognition in situations where people are asked to influence one another. It is also consistent with current behavioral economics research, but is not itself based on laboratory research.

Practical implications

– Applying this approach should enable readers to have better results in influencing a variety of people.

Originality/value

– Influence is a key skill set for leaders and key contributors.
Customer relationship management and service quality, a survey within the banking sector
Authors: Valmohammadi Changiz , Beladpas Mohammad
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– In the centre of marketing activities today is the service quality. For the banks to be successful in the intensively competitive environment, they are bound to attach importance to service quality. The purpose of the present study is to reveal the relationship between the customer relationship management (CRM) and the service quality of bank Sepah of Maku in Iran.

Design/methodology/approach

– A structured questionnaire survey was used to collect data for this research, and this process was administered by conducting personal interviews. The questionnaire included self-developed items, as well as items from questionnaires used in previous researches.

Findings

– The findings of this study suggest that managers, who aim to build and sustain a service quality base, should concentrate on the issue of communication. And also, this bank should implement strategies aimed at improving the communication with customers and obtaining information concerning the customers' needs, and resolving conflicts between the customer and the bank during a service failure.

Research limitations/implications

– The sample is restricted to only one bank, so it is strongly recommended that data be gathered from various parts of Iran including both manufacturing and service industries. As in this study the data gathered were cross-sectional, it is recommended in order to gain deeper understanding of the cause-and-effect relationship among the variables data to be gathered longitudinally.

Originality/value

– To the best knowledge of the authors this study is the first attempt to survey the relationship and the effects of CRM processes on the service quality of banking industry in the context of Iran.
Crime, corruption and the role of institutions
Authors: Chatterjee Ishita , Ray Ranjan
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– There have been very few attempts in the economics literature to empirically study the link between criminal and corrupt behaviour due to lack of data sets on simultaneous information on both types of illegitimate activities. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– The present study uses a large cross-country data set containing individual responses to questions on crime and corruption along with information on the respondents' characteristics. These micro-level data are supplemented by country-level macro and institutional indicators. A methodological contribution of this study is the estimation of an ordered probit model based on outcomes defined as combinations of crime and bribe victimisation.

Findings

– The authors find that: a crime victim is more likely to face bribe demands, males are more likely victims of corruption while females are of serious crime, older individuals and those living in the smaller towns are less exposed to crime and corruption, increasing levels of income and education increase the likelihood of crime and bribe victimisation to be reported and a stronger legal system and a happier society reduce both crime and corruption. However, the authors find no evidence of a strong and uniformly negative impact of either crime or corruption on a country's growth rate.

Originality/value

– This paper is, to the authors' knowledge, the first in the literature to explore the nexus between crime and corruption, their magnitudes, determinants and their effects on growth rates.