bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sepsis in Children: Global Implications of the World Health Assembly Resolution on Sepsis
Authors: Kissoon Niranjan , Reinhart Konrad , Daniels Ron , Machado Machado Flavia R. , Schachter Raymond D. , Finfer Simon
Published: September 2017

Background:

Sepsis, worldwide the leading cause of death in children, has now been recognized as the global health emergency it is. On May 26, 2017, the World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the World Health Organization, adopted a resolution proposed by the Global Sepsis Alliance to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and management of sepsis.

Objective:

To discuss the implications of this resolution for children worldwide.

Conclusions:

The resolution highlights sepsis as a global threat and urges the 194 United Nations member states to take specific actions and implement appropriate measures to reduce its human and health economic burden. The resolution is a major step toward achieving the targets outlined by the Sustainable Developmental Goals for decreasing mortality in infants and children, but implementing it will require a concerted global effort.
Effect of Full-Length Carbon Fiber Insoles on Lower Limb Kinetics in Patients With Midfoot Osteoarthritis
Authors: Yi Taeim , Kim Jung Hyun , Oh-Park Mooyeon , Hwang Ji Hye
Published: September 2017

Objectives

We investigated the effects of full-length carbon fiber (FCF) insoles on gait, muscle activity, kinetics, and pain in patients with midfoot osteoarthritis (OA).

Design

We enrolled 13 patients with unilateral midfoot OA (mild: Visual Analog Scale [VAS] range, 1–3; moderate, VAS range, 4–7) and healthy controls. All participants were asked to walk under two conditions: with and without FCF insole. The outcome measures were ground reaction force, quantitative gait parameters, electromyography activities and pain severity (VAS).

Results

In the patients with moderate midfoot OA, significantly longer gait cycle and higher muscle activity of lower limb during loading-response phase were observed while walking without FCF insoles. In the mild midfoot OA group, there was no significant difference in VAS score (without, 2.0 ± 1.0 vs. with, 2.0 ± 0.5) with FCF insole use. However, significantly reduced VAS score (without, 5.5 ± 1.4 vs. with, 2.0 ± 0.5) and muscle activity of the tibialis anterior and increased muscle activity of gastrocnemius were observed in the moderate midfoot OA group by using an FCF insole (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Full-length carbon fiber insoles can improve pain in individuals with moderate midfoot OA, which might be associated with changes in the kinetics and muscle activities of the lower limb. Taken together, the results of the present study suggest that FCF insoles may be used as a helpful option for midfoot OA.
Minimally Invasive Laparoscopically Dissected Deep Inferior Epigastric Artery Perforator Flap: An Anatomical Feasibility Study and a First Clinical Case
Authors: Hivelin Mikael , Soprani Antoine , Schaffer Nathaniel , Hans Stéphane , Lantieri Laurent
Published: September 2017

The deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap is a workhorse of breast reconstruction. Risks of herniation derive from violation of the rectus abdominis muscle anterior rectus sheath and might be reduced by minimally invasive laparoscopic dissection (“MILD”) of the deep inferior epigastric vessels. The authors performed a feasibility study on five anatomical subjects and performed a secondary right breast reconstruction on a 67-year-old woman. A 30-degree laparoscope was used with laparoscopy ports inset to preserve the flap. Blunt preperitoneal dissection followed by carbon dioxide insufflation allowed the deep inferior epigastric pedicle to be dissected and clip-sectioned. The anterior rectus sheath was opened around the perforating vessels, and the flap was anastomosed on the internal mammary vessels. The length of incision in the anterior rectus sheath was compared between laparoscopic and conventional approaches. The mean incision length in the anterior rectus sheath was 3 cm versus 12 cm in the classic approach. Average duration of laparoscopic flap harvest was 50 minutes, including a mean of 30 minutes for deep inferior epigastric dissection. Adhesions led to a 1-cm peritoneal laceration in our first anatomical subject. There were no preoperative or postoperative complications in the clinical case. The clinical procedure duration was 8 hours 15 minutes, with the anterior rectus sheath incision reduced from the conventional 12 cm to 5 cm. Flap ischemia lasted 50 minutes. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 5. This anatomical study and first successful laparoscope-assisted DIEP flap harvest prove that reduced trauma to the anterior rectus sheath is feasible and promising.
Role of Brain Structure in Predicting Adherence to a Physical Activity Regimen
Authors: Gujral Swathi , McAuley Edward , Oberlin Lauren E. , Kramer Arthur F. , Erickson Kirk I.
Published: September 2017

Objective

Physical activity (PA) is important for maintaining health throughout the lifespan. However, adherence to PA regimens is poor with approximately 50% of older adults terminating activity intervention programs within 6 months. In this study, we tested whether gray matter volume and white matter microstructural integrity before the initiation of a PA intervention predicts PA adherence.

Methods

One hundred fifty-nine adults aged 60 to 80 years were randomly assigned to a moderate-intensity aerobic walking condition or a nonaerobic stretching and toning condition. Participants engaged in supervised exercise 3 times per week for 12 months. Data were collected for a period of 1 year. Voxel-based morphometry and tract-based spatial statistics protocols were used to process neuroimaging data, and ordinary least squares regression models with bootstrapping were used to analyze voxelwise neural predictors of PA adherence.

Results

Greater volume in several regions predicted greater PA adherence, including prefrontal, motor, somatosensory, temporal, and parietal regions (p < .01). We also found that higher fractional anisotropy in several white matter tracts predicted greater PA adherence (p
FDR-corrected < .05), including the superior longitudinal fasciculus, anterior thalamic radiation, forceps minor, and body of the corpus callosum.

Conclusions

These findings provide preliminary support for macro- and microstructural neural predictors of PA adherence and may translate to other health behaviors and behavioral goal pursuit more broadly.
Risk Factors and Oncologic Outcomes of Anastomosis Leakage After Laparoscopic Right Colectomy
Authors: Kwak Han Deok , Kim Seon-Hahn , Kang Dong Woo , Baek Se-Jin , Kwak Jung Myun , Kim Jin
Published: September 2017

Purpose:

We estimated the incidence of anastomosis leakage and explore possible risk factors and oncologic outcomes following laparoscopic right-side colon resection among colon cancer patients.

Materials and Methods:

We retrospectively analyzed 423 patients who were diagnosed with appendiceal, cecal, ascending, or hepatic flexure colon cancer who underwent laparoscopic colonic resection and anastomosis between September 2006 and July 2014. We compared short-term and long-term outcomes between no-leakage and leakage groups.

Results:

There were 16 cases of right-side anastomosis leakage in a total 423 colon cancer cases (3.78%). The risk of leakage was increased in smokers (odds ratio=6.592, P=0.007) and with a longer operating time (odds ratio=1.024, P<0.001). There were no significant differences between the groups in local recurrence (P=0.106), overall survival (P=0.055), or cancer-specific survival (P=0.235).

Conclusions:

Smoking and long operating time are risk factors for right-side colon anastomosis. There were no significant differences in oncologic outcomes.
Laparoscopic Mesh-Less Cervicosacropexy for Uterovaginal Prolapse
Authors: Seracchioli Renato , Raimondo Diego , Arena Alessandro , Gava Giulia , Parmeggiani Clara , Martelli Valentina , Moro Elisa , Zanello Margherita , Paradisi Roberto , Mabrouk Mohamed
Published: September 2017

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate surgical and clinical outcomes of laparoscopic mesh-less cervicosacropexy for the treatment of uterovaginal prolapse.

Methods

This single institutional review board–approved prospective cohort study enrolled 46 consecutive, sexually active symptomatic women requiring surgical correction of uterovaginal prolapse, from July 2013 to March 2016. After supracervical laparoscopic hysterectomy, the cervix was suspended to the anterior longitudinal ligament of the sacral promontory through a continuous suture with plication and shortening of the right uterosacral ligament. Pelvic organs' function was evaluated through validated questionnaires during preoperative and postoperative follow-up evaluations. The anatomical recurrences of genital prolapse with a Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantitative stage 2 or higher, in particular of central compartment (Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantitative score C ≥−1), were recorded.

Results

Mean ± SD age was 55.5 ± 10.9 years. Mean ± SD operating time was 97.4 ± 25.6 (range, 60–180) minutes. Mean ± SD hospitalization length was 3.6 ± 0.9 (range, 2–6) days. No intraoperative complications were recorded. Median length of follow-up was 24 (range, 12–38) months. During the follow-up period, the objective success rates for central compartment prolapse and for all compartments were 93.5% and 89.1%, respectively. No woman presented dyspareunia at follow-up. Thirty-nine women (84.8%) reported very high satisfaction related to surgery and 6 (13%) a moderate satisfaction. Overall Female Sexual Function Index, Knowles-Eccersley-Scott Symptom, and Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract scores improved significantly after surgery, except for incontinence score domain.

Conclusions

Laparoscopic mesh-less cervicosacropexy represents an effective and feasible option for the surgical treatment of uterovaginal prolapse in sexually active women, avoiding postoperative complications due to the mesh use.
The FRS nomination of Sir Prafulla C. Ray and the correspondence of N. R. Dhar
Authors: Choudhuri Arnab Rai , Singh Rajinder
Published: September 2017

Sir Prafulla Chandra Ray (1861–1944) was the first Indian chemist to achieve high international reputation. Originally trained at the University of Edinburgh, he worked for many years at Presidency College in Calcutta and then at Calcutta University. He built up a remarkable school of chemical research by attracting many outstanding students to work with him and published about 150 papers—many of them in leading British and German journals. Ray was highly respected by his British peers and was the first Indian of that era to be nominated for FRS, in 1913. At the time when his nomination was being considered by the Royal Society, Ray's favourite student, Nil Ratan Dhar (1892–1986), who was to become the second Indian chemist to achieve high international reputation, worked in London and Paris for a few years. Even when Dhar was merely a 24-year-old student, he lobbied with several leading British chemists for the election of Ray and kept Ray informed in a series of fascinating letters—giving us a rare glimpse of what election to the Royal Society meant for Indian scientists of that era. During this time, Ray received a knighthood for his contributions to chemistry, and
Nature
published a front-page article on Ray's ‘life-work’. Many British chemists felt strongly that Ray should be elected FRS and were willing to discuss Ray's case with the young Dhar quite openly. But, rather mysteriously, Ray never got elected.
Completing bacterial genome assemblies with multiplex MinION sequencing
Authors: Wick Ryan R. , Judd Louise M. , Gorrie Claire L. , Holt Kathryn E.
Published: September 2017

Illumina sequencing platforms have enabled widespread bacterial whole genome sequencing. While Illumina data is appropriate for many analyses, its short read length limits its ability to resolve genomic structure. This has major implications for tracking the spread of mobile genetic elements, including those which carry antimicrobial resistance determinants. Fully resolving a bacterial genome requires long-read sequencing such as those generated by Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) platforms. Here we describe our use of the ONT MinION to sequence 12 isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae on a single flow cell. We assembled each genome using a combination of ONT reads and previously available Illumina reads, and little to no manual intervention was needed to achieve fully resolved assemblies using the Unicycler hybrid assembler. Assembling only ONT reads with Canu was less effective, resulting in fewer resolved genomes and higher error rates even following error correction with Nanopolish. We demonstrate that multiplexed ONT sequencing is a valuable tool for high-throughput bacterial genome finishing. Specifically, we advocate the use of Illumina sequencing as a first analysis step, followed by ONT reads as needed to resolve genomic structure.
Sensitive and specific post-call filtering of genetic variants in xenograft and primary tumors
Authors: Mannakee Brian K , Balaji Uthra , Witkiewicz Agnieszka K. , Gutenkunst Ryan N. , Knudsen Erik S.
Published: September 2017

Motivation

Tumor genome sequencing offers great promise for guiding research and therapy, but spurious variant calls can arise from multiple sources. Mouse contamination can generate many spurious calls when sequencing patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). Paralogous genome sequences can also generate spurious calls when sequencing any tumor. We developed a BLAST-based algorithm, MAPEX, to identify and filter out spurious calls from both these sources.

Results

When calling variants from xenografts, MAPEX has similar sensitivity and specificity to more complex algorithms. When applied to any tumor, MAPEX also automatically flags calls that potentially arise from paralogous sequences. Our implementation, mapexr, runs quickly and easily on a desktocomputer. MAPEX is thus a useful addition to almost any pipeline for calling genetic variants in tumors.
Parallel natural selection in the cold-adapted crop-wild relative Tripsacum dactyloides and artificial selection in temperate adapted maize
Authors: Yan Lang , Kenchanmane Raju Sunil Kumar , Lai Xianjun , Zhang Yang , Dai Xiuru , Rodriguez Oscar , Mahboub Samira , Roston Rebecca L. , Schnable James C.
Published: September 2017

Artificial selection has produced varieties of domesticated maize which thrive in temperate climates around the world. However, the direct progenitor of maize, teosinte, is indigenous only to a relatively small range of tropical and sub-tropical latitudes and grows poorly or not at all outside of this region. Tripsacum, a sister genus to maize and teosinte, is naturally endemic to the majority of areas in the western hemisphere where maize is cultivated. A full-length reference transcriptome for Tripsacum dactyloides generated using long-read isoseq data was used to characterize independent adaptation to temperate climates in this clade. Genes related to phospholipid biosynthesis, a critical component of cold acclimation on other cold adapted plant lineages, were enriched among those genes experiencing more rapid rates of protein sequence evolution in T. dactyloides. In contrast with previous studies of parallel selection, we find that there is a significant overlap between the genes which were targets of artificial selection during the adaptation of maize to temperate climates and those which were targets of natural selection in temperate adapted T. dactyloides. This overlap between the targets of natural and artificial selection suggests genetic changes in crop-wild relatives associated with adaptation to new environments may be useful guides for identifying genetic targets for breeding efforts aimed at adapting crops to a changing climate.
dBBQs : dataBase of Bacterial Quality scores
Authors: Wanchai Visanu , Patumcharoenpol Preecha , Nookaew Intawat , Ussery David
Published: September 2017

Background

It is well-known that genome sequencing technologies are becoming significantly cheaper and faster. As a result of this, the exponential growth in sequencing data in public databases allows us to explore ever growing large collections of genome sequences. However, it is less known that the majority of available sequenced genome sequences in public databases are not complete, drafts of varying qualities. We have calculated quality scores for around 100,000 bacterial genomes from all major genome repositories and put them in a fast and easy-to-use database.

Results

Prokaryotic genomic data from all sources were collected and combined to make a non-redundant set of bacterial genomes. The genome quality score for each was calculated by four different measurements: assembly quality, number of rRNA and tRNA genes, and the occurrence of conserved functional domains. The dataBase of Bacterial Quality scores (dBBQs) was designed to store and retrieve quality scores. It offers fast searching and download features which the result can be used for further analysis. In addition, the search results are shown in interactive JavaScript chart framework using DC.js. The analysis of quality scores across major public genome databases find that around 68% of the genomes are of acceptable quality for many uses.

Conclusions

dBBQs (available athttp://arc-gem.uams.edu/dbbqs) provides genome quality scores for all available prokaryotic genome sequences with a user-friendly Web-interface. These scores can be used as cut-offs to get a high-quality set of genomes for testing bioinformatics tools or improving the analysis. Moreover, all data of the four measurements that were combined to make the quality score for each genome, which can potentially be used for further analysis. dBBQs will be updated regularly and is freely use for non-commercial purpose.
Application of Polymersomes Engineered to Target P32 Protein for Detection of Small Breast Tumors in Mice
Authors: Simón-Gracia Lorena , Scodeller Pablo , Salazar Fuentes Sergio , Gómez Vallejo Vanessa , Ríos Xabier , San Sebastián Eneko , Sidorenko Valeria , Di Silvio Desirè , Suck Meina , De Lorenzi Federica , Yokota Rizzo Larissa , von Stillfried Saskia , Kilk Kalle , Lammers Twan , Moya Sergio E , Teesalu Tambet
Published: September 2017

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the deadliest form of breast cancer and its successful treatment critically depends on early diagnosis and therapy. The multi-compartment protein p32 is overexpressed and present at cell surfaces in a variety of tumors, including TNBC, specifically in the malignant cells and endothelial cells, and in macrophages localized in hypoxic areas of the tumor. Herein we used polyethylene glycol-polycaprolactone polymersomes that were affinity targeted with the p32-binding tumor penetrating peptide LinTT1 (AKRGARSTA) for imaging of TNBC lesions. A tyrosine residue was added to the peptide to allow for124I labeling and PET imaging. In a TNBC model in mice, systemic LinTT1-targeted polymersomes accumulated in early tumor lesions more than twice as efficiently as untargeted polymersomes with up to 20% ID/cc at 24 h after administration. The PET-imaging was very sensitive, allowing detection of tumors as small as ∼20mm3. Confocal imaging of tumor tissue sections revealed a high degree of vascular exit and stromal penetration of LinTT1-targeted polymersomes and co-localization with tumor-associated macrophages. Our studies show that systemic LinTT1-targeted polymersomes can be potentially used for precision-guided tumor imaging and treatment of TNBC.
Age, sex, and puberty related development of the corpus callosum: a multi-technique diffusion MRI study
Authors: Genc Sila , Malpas Charles B , Ball Gareth , Silk Timothy J , Seal Marc L
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The corpus callosum is integral to the central nervous system, and continually develops with age by virtue of increasing axon diameter and ongoing myelination. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques offer a means to disentangle these two aspects of white matter development. We investigate the profile of microstructural metrics across the corpus callosum, and assess the impact of age, sex and pubertal development on these processes.

Methods

This study made use of two independent paediatric populations. Multi-shell diffusion MRI data were analysed to produce a suite of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), neurite orientation density and dispersion imaging (NODDI), and apparent fibre density (AFD) metrics. A multivariate profile analysis was performed for each diffusion metric across 10 subdivisions of the corpus callosum.

Results

All diffusion metrics significantly varied across the length of the corpus callosum. AFD exhibited a strong relationship with age across the corpus callosum (partialη2= .65), particularly in the posterior body of the corpus callosum (partialη2= .72). In addition, females had significantly higher AFD compared with males, most markedly in the anterior splenium (partialη2= .14) and posterior genu (partialη2= .13). Age-matched pubertal group differences were localised to the splenium.

Conclusion

We present evidence of a strong relationship between apparent fibre density and age, sex, and puberty during development. These results are consistent withex vivostudies of fibre morphology, providing insights into the dynamics of axonal development in childhood and adolescence using diffusion MRI.

Target journals

Brain Structure & Function; HBM; NeuroImage; Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience
Inferring critical points of ecosystem transitions from spatial data
Authors: Majumder Sabiha , Tamma Krishnapriya , Ramaswamy Sriram , Guttal Vishwesha
Published: September 2017

Ecosystems can undergo abrupt transitions from one state to an alternative stable state when the driver crosses a threshold or a critical point. Dynamical systems theory suggests that systems take long to recover from perturbations near such transitions. This leads to characteristic changes in the dynamics of the system, which can be used as early warning signals of imminent transitions. However, these signals are qualitative and cannot quantify the critical points. Here, we propose a method to estimate critical points quantitatively from spatial data. We employ a spatial model of vegetation that shows a transition from vegetated to bare state. We show that the critical point can be estimated as the ecosystem state and the driver values at which spatial variance and autocorrelation are maximum. We demonstrate the validity of this method by analysing spatial data from regions of Africa and Australia that exhibit alternative vegetation biomes.
Zerumbone From Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Smith: A Potential Prophylactic and Therapeutic Agent Against The Cariogenic Bacterium Streptococcus mutans
Authors: Moreira da Silva Thiago , Pinheiro Carlos Danniel , Puccinelli Orlandi Patricia , Pinheiro Carlos Cleomir , Soares Pontes Gemilson
Published: September 2017

Background: Essential oil obtained from rhizomes of the Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Smith (popularly known in Brazil as bitter ginger) is mainly constituted by the biomolecule zerumbone, which exhibit untapped antimicrobial potential. The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of the zerumbone from bitter ginger rhizomes against the cariogenic agent Streptococcus mutans.
Methods: Firstly, the essential oil from rhizomes of Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Smith extracted by hydrodistillation was submitted to purification and recrystallization process to obtain the zerumbone compound. The purity of zerumbone was determined through high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. Different concentrations of zerumbone were tested against the standard strain S. mutans (ATCC 35668) by using microdilution method. The speed of cidal activity was determined through a time kill-curve assay. The biological cytotoxicity activity of zerumbone was assessed using Vero Cell line through MTT assay.
Results: The zerumbone showed a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 250μg/ mL and a minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 500μg/mL against S. mutans. After six hours of bacteria-zerumbone interaction, all concentrations tested starts to kill the bacteria and all bacteria were killed between 48 and 72 hours period at the concentration of 500μg/ mL (99,99% of bacteria were killed in comparison with original inoculum). In addition, zerumbone showed no cytotoxicity activity on mammalian continuous cells line.
Conclusions: These results draw attention to the great potential of zerumbone as antimicrobial agent against S. mutans infection, indicating its possible use in the phyto-pharmaceutical formulations as new approach to prevent and treat tooth decay disease.
Pleiotropy in enhancer function is encoded through diverse genetic architectures
Authors: Preger-Ben Noon Ella , Sabarís Gonzalo , Ortiz Daniela , Sager Jonathan , Liebowitz Anna , Stern David L. , Frankel Nicolas
Published: September 2017

Developmental genes can have complex c/s-regulatory regions, with multiple enhancers scattered across stretches of DNA spanning tens or hundreds of kilobases. Early work revealed remarkable modularity of enhancers, where distinct regions of DNA, bound by combinations of transcription factors, drive gene expression in defined spatio-temporal domains. Nevertheless, a few reports have shown that enhancer function may be required in multiple developmental stages, implying that regulatory elements can be pleiotropic. In these cases, it is not clear whether the pleiotropic enhancers employ the same transcription factor binding sites to drive expression at multiple developmental stages or whether enhancers function as chromatin scaffolds, where independent sets of transcription factor binding sites act at different stages. In this work we have studied the activity of the enhancers of theshavenbabygene throughout D.melanogasterdevelopment. We found that all sevenshavenbabyenhancers drive gene expression in multiple tissues and developmental stages at varying levels of redundancy. We have explored how this pleiotropy is encoded in two of these enhancers. In one enhancer, the same transcription factor binding sites contribute to embryonic and pupal expression, whereas for a second enhancer, these roles are largely encoded by distinct transcription factor binding sites. Our data suggest that enhancer pleiotropy might be a common feature of c/s-regulatory regions of developmental genes and that this pleiotropy can be encoded through multiple genetic architectures.
A whole genome analysis of the red-crowned crane provides insight into avian longevity
Authors: Lee HyeJin , Chung Oksung , Cho Yun Sung , Jho Sungwoong , Jun JeHoon , Weber Jessica A. , Kim Jungeun , Lim Jeongheui , Edwards Jeremy S. , Paek Woon Kee , Bhak Jong
Published: September 2017

The red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis) is an endangered and large-bodied crane native to East Asia. It is a traditional symbol of longevity and its long lifespan has been confirmed both in captivity and in the wild. Lifespan in birds is positively correlated with body size and negatively correlated with metabolic rate; although the genetic mechanisms for the red-crowned crane’s long lifespan have not previously been investigated. Using whole genome sequencing and comparative evolutionary analyses against the grey-crowned crane and other avian genomes, we identified candidate genes that are correlated with longevity. Included among these are positively selected genes with known associations with longevity in metabolism and immunity pathways (NDUFA5, NDUFA8, NUDT12 IL9R, SOD3, NUDT12, PNLIP, CTH, andRPA1). Our analyses provide genetic evidence for low metabolic rate and longevity, accompanied by possible convergent adaptation signatures among distantly related large and long-lived birds. Finally, we identified low genetic diversity in the red-crowned crane, consistent with its listing as an endangered species, and we hope this genome will provide a useful genetic resource for future conservation studies of this rare and iconic species.
Systematic Mendelian randomization framework elucidates hundreds of genetic loci which may influence disease through changes in DNA methylation levels
Authors: Richardson Tom G. , Haycock Philip C. , Zheng Jie , Timpson Nicholas J. , Gaunt Tom R. , Davey Smith George , Relton Caroline L. , Hemani Gibran
Published: September 2017

We have undertaken an extensive Mendelian randomization (MR) study using methylation quantitative trait loci (mQTL) as genetic instruments to assess the potential causal relationship between genetic variation, DNA methylation and 139 complex traits. Using two-sample MR, we observed 1,191 effects across 62 traits where genetic variants were associated with both proximal DNA methylation (i.e. cis-mQTL) and complex trait variation (P<1.39x10−08). Joint likelihood mapping provided evidence that the causal mQTL for 364 of these effects across 58 traits was also likely the causal variant for trait variation. These effects showed a high rate of replication in the UK Biobank dataset for 14 selected traits, as 121 of the attempted 129 effects replicated. Integrating expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) data suggested that genetic variants responsible for 319 of the 364 mQTL effects also influence gene expression, which indicates a coordinated system of effects that are consistent with causality. CpG sites were enriched for histone mark peaks in tissue types relevant to their associated trait and implicated genes were enriched across relevant biological pathways. Though we are unable to distinguish mediation from horizontal pleiotropy in these analyses, our findings should prove valuable in identifying candidate loci for further evaluation and help develop mechanistic insight into the aetiology of complex disease.
Exploring the impacts of relationship on employees’ communicative behaviors during issue periods based on employee position
Authors: Lee Yeunjae
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine different communicative behaviors employees engage in according to their position level and the impacts of relationship they perceive. By comparing the behaviors and perceptions of low-, middle-, and high-level employees, the study investigates when and why employees become active in communicative behaviors about an organizational issue.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative online survey was conducted with 412 full-time employees in medium- and large-sized corporations with more than 300 employees in the USA.

Findings

Results show that those who are the most likely to be active not only in expressing ideas (i.e. voice) to solve an issue but also in forwarding positive information about their organization (i.e. megaphoning) are high-level employees. The findings also reveal distinct impacts of two types of relationship – communal and exchange relationship – on behaviors of employees in different positions.

Research limitations/implications

The study extended the understanding of relational approach by exploring the consequences of two types of relationship in the context of employee relations, and filled the research gap on relationships and issue management studies in public relations from an internal perspective.

Practical implications

To encourage employees to engage actively in positive megaphoning and voice during issue periods and to minimize the threats by reducing employees’ negative megaphoning behavior, the study suggested different relationship-building strategies based on employees’ position levels.

Originality/value

The current work examined the distinct impacts of organization-employee relationships on employees’ internal and external communicative behaviors based on their position level within an organization, especially focusing on employees’ role as potential advocates or adversaries for an organization during periods of an organizational crisis.
Using Facebook efficiently
Authors: Ye Lan , Cheong Yunjae
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the role of Facebook in organizational reputation management by analyzing how efficiently the most reputable companies in the USA use Facebook.

Design/methodology/approach

This study analyzed 22 companies’ efficiency in using Facebook in reputation management, using data envelopment analysis.

Findings

Results reveal that, on average, the efficient companies (n=8) posted less frequently than did the inefficient companies (n=14); companies receiving more engagements were more efficient than those receiving fewer engagements; and companies adopting one main Facebook page were more efficient than those adopting multiple Facebook pages. The size and length of history of an organization were not found to affect efficiency outcomes significantly.

Originality/value

The findings of this study will contribute to the optimization of Facebook use in organizational reputation management.
Top secret from the bottom up
Authors: Scott Craig R. , Choi SoeYoon
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The emerging area of message classification is one of growing relevance to a wide range of organizational communicators as a variety of non-state organizations and their members increasingly use and misuse various terms to restrict their communication. This includes formal classifications for data security, financial/knowledge management, human resources, and other functions as well as those used informally by organizational members. Especially in a data-rich environment where our word-processing programs, e-mail tools, and other technologies afford us opportunities to engage in classification, a wide range of people at all organizational levels may serve as custodians of their own data and thus have the ability (as well as perhaps the need) to classify messages in various ways. The purpose of this paper is to describe key classification terms ranging from those found in government (e.g. top secret, confidential) to those in the private sector (e.g. business use only, trademarked) to an even wider set of terms used informally by organizational members (e.g. personal, preliminary). The growing use of message classifications will likely create various challenges and opportunities for organizations, their members, and the broader public/society. A set of future research questions is offered for corporate communication researchers and practitioners, who are well positioned to examine this emerging phenomenon.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws on existing literature related to the growing use of message classifications to offer a list of classification terms and an agenda for future research.

Findings

This work describes key classification terms ranging from those found in government (e.g. top secret, confidential) to those in the private sector (e.g. business use only, trademarked) to an even wider set of terms used informally by organizational members (e.g. personal, preliminary). This expanded notion of classification will likely create various challenges and opportunities for organizations, their members, and the broader public/society.

Originality/value

The emerging area of message classification is one of growing relevance to a wide range of organizational communicators as a variety of non-state organizations and their members increasingly use and misuse various terms to restrict their communication. A set of future research questions is offered for corporate communication researchers and practitioners, who are well positioned to examine this emerging phenomenon.
8-node and 12-node plane elements based on assumed stress quasi-conforming method immune to distorted mesh
Authors: Wang Changsheng , Wang Yang , Yang Caixia , Zhang Xiangkui , Hu Ping
Published: September 2017

Purpose

Severe accuracy loss may occur when finite element comes to the distorted mesh model, and the calculation may fail when element mesh degenerates into concave quadrangle or the element boundary is curved. This is a valuable research topic, and many efforts have been made to develop new finite element models. This paper aims to propose two quasi-conforming membrane elements based on the assumed stress quasi-conforming method and fundamental analytical solutions to overcome the difficulties.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the fundamental analytical solutions which satisfied both the equilibrium and the compatibility relations of plane stress problem are used as the initial assumed stress of both elements. Then, the stress-function matrices are used as the weighted functions to weaken the strain-displacement equations, which makes only string-net functions on the boundary of the elements are needed in the process of strain integration. Finally, boundary interpolation functions expressed by unknown nodal displacement parameters are adopted to the process of strain integration.

Findings

The formulations of both elements are simple and concise, and the elements are immune to the distorted mesh, which can be used to the mesh shape degenerates into a triangle or concave quadrangle and curved-side element. The results of the numerical tests have proven that the new models possess high accuracy.

Originality/value

New formulations of quasi-conforming method are described is detail, and the new strategy exhibits advantages of both analytical and discrete methods.
Quality in bank service encounters
Authors: Alexiadou Chrysi , Stylos Nikolaos , Andronikidis Andreas , Bellou Victoria , Vassiliadis Chris A.
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the need to evaluate perception-based quality in service encounters. It sets out to diagnose potential mismatches in how customers and front-line employees perceive quality in high-involvement service settings, based on the premise that any initiative toward quality enhancement in service encounters is advisable only when employees and customers evaluate quality utilizing common perceptual structures.

Design/methodology/approach

The study utilizes invariance analysis. The survey involved 165 bank branches and 1,522 respondents (463 front-line employees and 1,059 customers) and operationalized the same set of questions for both groups of participants. Multisample confirmatory factor analysis tested a series of measurement models.

Findings

Results revealed equivalence for tangibles, responsiveness and assurance but also mismatches between customers and front-line employees perceptions of reliability and empathy.

Practical implications

Findings add to current knowledge of how both groups of participants evaluate quality in service encounters and are discussed with reference to managerial consequences for perception-based quality mismatches.

Originality/value

So far only a few studies have simultaneously examined front-line employees’ and customers’ perceptions of service quality in service encounters. Unlike previous research designs, this study addresses the critical aspect of potential mismatches in how customers and employees perceive service quality, and presents a methodological procedure to detect them.
Mental health, vulnerability and risk in police custody
Authors: Leese Maggie , Russell Sean
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The issue of mental health and policing is a subject that has been debated from a number of different perspectives. The purpose of this paper is to report on the findings of a case study that explored mental health difficulties and vulnerability within police custody.

Design/methodology/approach

The design of the study was qualitative, and it utilised telephone, semi-structured interviews with all levels of the custody staff. This approach was taken because the aim of the study was to explore how people in different roles within the organisation worked to safeguard vulnerable people in custody.

Findings

The findings from this study identified a number of interesting themes that could be explored further in later studies. Overall, the respondents expressed frustration that vulnerable people find themselves in police custody for low-level crime, when it could have been avoided with improved mental health services in the community. Additionally, the findings demonstrated that despite the processes that are designed to safeguard the detainee, tensions still exist including, timely access to mental health assessments, appropriate training and support for staff and the use of appropriate adults.

Research limitations/implications

Although the study was small in scale, the custody facility delivered detainee facilities for about 5,000 individuals per year. The research and information obtained supported the police lead for mental health to identify opportunities for improving the customer journey, as well as recognising the need for further research to identify how officers and staff relate to vulnerable individuals in contact with the police service.

Originality/value

Despite the limitations of the study, the findings have captured interesting data from a range of professionals working in one police custody suite, and therefore it presents a holistic overview of some key issues around mental health, vulnerability and safeguarding within the context of police custody.
Connecting influence tactics with full-range leadership styles
Authors: Curtis Guy J.
Published: September 2017

Purpose

Full-range leadership theory and power-and-influence approaches to leadership emerge from different theoretical traditions, but may overlap conceptually and practically. Previous research has found connections between full-range leadership styles and leaders’ influencing behaviors. However, this research has been conceptually and methodologically limited, neither examining all full-range leadership styles nor all common influence tactics, and measuring only employees’ perceptions. The purpose of this paper is to address these limitations.

Design/methodology/approach

Follower-rated leadership styles and influence tactics, and leader-rated leadership styles were surveyed for 160 pairs of leaders and followers (n=320).

Findings

Core influence tactics and apprising were correlated with, and predicted, follower-rated transformational and transactional leadership, but confirmatory factor analysis provided a more nuanced view of these relationships. Rational persuasion (negatively) predicted passive-avoidant leadership. There were few significant correlations between leader-self-rated leadership styles and followers’ ratings of leaders’ influence tactics.

Originality/value

This study extends upon previous studies by more comprehensively connecting full-range leadership styles and influence tactics, and doing so with both leader-rated and follower-rated leadership styles. The results help to provide a clearer picture of the overlap between full-range and power-and-influence theories of leadership. The mismatches between results from leader-rated and follower-rated leadership styles raise conceptual, practical, and methodological questions for future research.
Comparing consumer evaluations of services-to-services brand extensions with services-to-goods
Authors: Ramanathan Jayasankar , Velayudhan Sanal Kumar
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the influences of parent brand characteristics and brand-extension fit on attitude towards the extension in the context of services-to-goods (SG) brand extension compared with services-to-services (SS) brand extension.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey design was used to collect data from 626 individual respondents. The respondents were selected using probability sampling from two cities in India. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM).

Findings

The study indicated that context (SS or SG) moderated the influence of factors on attitude toward brand extension. A favorable attitude towards the parent brand had a greater positive influence on SS brand extension compared with SG brand extension. Quality variance among service types under the parent brand had a higher negative impact on attitude towards SG brand extension than on attitude towards SS brand extension.

Practical implications

Managers may prefer extending a service brand to another service rather than a good when consumers have a favorable attitude towards the brand. Furthermore, when the perceived quality of service types under a service brand varies substantially, extension of the brand to a good requires greater concern than extension to a service.

Originality/value

The unique contribution of this study is the examination of the moderating influence of the characteristics of an offering (SS vis-à-vis SG) on the link between brand extension attitude and its influencing factors.
Teradyne: hitting the great wall
Authors: Levesque Laurie L. , Hung Kuo-Ting , Arslan Hasan
Published: September 2017

Synopsis

This case presents a problem with competing in the Chinese market faced by Jeff Hotchkiss in early 2000s, then President of the Assembly Test Division (ATD) at Teradyne. Teradyne is the world’s largest producer of automatic test equipment for electronic assembly on production lines. Hotchkiss needed to find a solution to prevent ATD from continued loss of market share in equipment sales and loss of service revenue in China. Various factors to be considered include customer differentiation and service supply chain configuration.

Research methodology

This case is a field researched case. The research team met with Teradyne’s division president and top management team, and was given access to the documents including customer feedback.

Relevant courses and levels

Graduate or undergraduate: operations management, supply chain management.
Governance and Well‐being in Academia: Negative Consequences of Applying an Agency Theory Logic in Higher Education
Authors: Franco‐Santos Monica , Nalick Michael , Rivera‐Torres Pilar , Gomez‐Mejia Luis
Published: September 2017

This study examines the relationship between alternative university governance practices and staff well‐being. Specifically, it investigates how people in academic and professional services roles are managed and how various governance mechanisms such as the use of performance measures and targets influence their sense of vitality and stress. Drawing from agency theory and stewardship theory research, the authors expected universities to align their governance practices to the nature of their employment roles to enhance well‐being. Based on data collected in the UK, the authors find that, for some academic roles, there is a misalignment between the responsibilities and job demands and the way institutions govern people in such roles, which is shown to affect their well‐being. These results suggest that well‐being responses to governance mechanisms change, depending on the role an employee performs and the position he or she occupies. Interestingly, these data suggest that the governance and well‐being experiences of academic leaders are more closely aligned with those of professional service leaders than with those of academics without leadership positions. Taking these data together, this investigation notes several shortcomings in the internal governance practices of higher‐education institutions that can have unexpected consequences and require close attention and further research.
Globalisation, soft power, and the rise of football in China
Authors: Connell John
Published: September 2017

Sport, especially football, has rapidly acquired global cultural, commercial, and also political prominence. China recently and belatedly has sought to acquire international recognition in sport and participate in global development by linking soft power, national status, and football. Market principles have been adopted, football clubs are owned by wealthy corporations, partly directed by government, and expensive coaches and players have been transferred from Europe. Conversely, Chinese corporations have invested in European football clubs. State plans are oriented to success in the World Cup and the adoption of the ‘world game’ throughout the nation, but cannot easily be implemented from above in a team sport with weak ‘grassroots’. Successfully developing the ‘people's game’ in the People's Republic has proved difficult. In this sporting arena, soft power has been limited because of domestic and international failings.