bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Feelings of Loneliness and Living Alone as Predictors of Mortality in the Elderly: The PAQUID Study
Authors: Tabue Teguo Maturin , Simo-Tabue Nadine , Stoykova Ralitsa , Meillon Céline , Cogne Mélanie , Amiéva Hélène , Dartigues Jean-François
Published: August 2016

Objective

The aim of this work was to determine the predictive value of 2 indicators of psychosocial isolation (living alone and feelings of loneliness) in elderly people.

Methods

Twenty-two-year follow-up cohort study of 3,620 community-dwelling elderly people enrolled in the PAQUID study, a French prospective population-based study. Participants completed a battery of tests including the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale and a question regarding living conditions (living alone or living with another person). Feelings of loneliness were measured using the Item 14 (“I felt lonely”) of the French version of the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale. Mortality rate was measured over a 22-year follow-up period after the baseline assessment visit. The risk of death was estimated using Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for age, sex, and educational level.

Results

At baseline, 1,535 participants (42.4%) were living alone, and a total of 498 persons (13.8%) reported frequent feelings of loneliness (FoL). The participants reporting FoL were more frequently women (82.7%), and the mean (SD) age was 76.5 (7.1) years. At the end of the follow-up, 3,116 deaths (86.6%) occurred. Living alone and FoL were both independent predictors of death after 22 years of follow-up (hazard ratio, 1.14; 95% confidence of interval, 1.05–1.23; p = .001) and (hazard ratio, 1.20; 95% confidence of interval, 1.08–1.33; p = .001), respectively. No significant interaction was found between feelings of loneliness and living alone, suggesting that a joint exposure has only an additive effect (β = 0.08; relative risk = (0.85; 1.40); p = .48). The associations of both measures persisted after adjusting for health status. Adjusting for depression attenuated the predictive value of FoL.

Conclusions

Living alone and FoL were independently associated with higher risk of mortality. These factors may be useful as readily available psychosocial measures to identify vulnerability in community-dwelling older adults.
Assessing reliable human mobility patterns from higher order memory in mobile communications
Authors: Matamalas Joan T. , De Domenico Manlio , Arenas Alex
Published: August 2016

Understanding how people move within a geographical area, e.g. a city, a country or the whole world, is fundamental in several applications, from predicting the spatio-temporal evolution of an epidemic to inferring migration patterns. Mobile phone records provide an excellent proxy of human mobility, showing that movements exhibit a high level of memory. However, the precise role of memory in widely adopted proxies of mobility, as mobile phone records, is unknown. Here we use 560 million call detail records from Senegal to show that standard Markovian approaches, including higher order ones, fail in capturing real mobility patterns and introduce spurious movements never observed in reality. We introduce an adaptive memory-driven approach to overcome such issues. At variance with Markovian models, it is able to realistically model conditional waiting times, i.e. the probability to stay in a specific area depending on individuals' historical movements. Our results demonstrate that in standard mobility models the individuals tend to diffuse faster than observed in reality, whereas the predictions of the adaptive memory approach significantly agree with observations. We show that, as a consequence, the incidence and the geographical spread of a disease could be inadequately estimated when standard approaches are used, with crucial implications on resources deployment and policy-making during an epidemic outbreak.
Human ankle plantar flexor muscle–tendon mechanics and energetics during maximum acceleration sprinting
Authors: Lai Adrian , Schache Anthony G. , Brown Nicholas A. T. , Pandy Marcus G.
Published: August 2016

Tendon elastic strain energy is the dominant contributor to muscle–tendon work during steady-state running. Does this behaviour also occur for sprint accelerations? We used experimental data and computational modelling to quantify muscle fascicle work and tendon elastic strain energy for the human ankle plantar flexors (specifically soleus and medial gastrocnemius) for multiple foot contacts of a maximal sprint as well as for running at a steady-state speed. Positive work done by the soleus and medial gastrocnemius muscle fascicles decreased incrementally throughout the maximal sprint and both muscles performed more work for the first foot contact of the maximal sprint (FC1) compared with steady-state running at 5 m s−1(SS5). However, the differences in tendon strain energy for both muscles were negligible throughout the maximal sprint and when comparing FC1 to SS5. Consequently, the contribution of muscle fascicle work to stored tendon elastic strain energy was greater for FC1 compared with subsequent foot contacts of the maximal sprint and compared with SS5. We conclude that tendon elastic strain energy in the ankle plantar flexors is just as vital at the start of a maximal sprint as it is at the end, and as it is for running at a constant speed.
Transient absolute robustness in stochastic biochemical networks
Authors: Enciso German A.
Published: August 2016

Absolute robustness allows biochemical networks to sustain a consistent steady-state output in the face of protein concentration variability from cell to cell. This property is structural and can be determined from the topology of the network alone regardless of rate parameters. An important question regarding these systems is the effect of discrete biochemical noise in the dynamical behaviour. In this paper, a variable freezing technique is developed to show that under mild hypotheses the corresponding stochastic system has a transiently robust behaviour. Specifically, after finite time the distribution of the output approximates a Poisson distribution, centred around the deterministic mean. The approximation becomes increasingly accurate, and it holds for increasingly long finite times, as the total protein concentrations grow to infinity. In particular, the stochastic system retains a transient, absolutely robust behaviour corresponding to the deterministic case. This result contrasts with the long-term dynamics of the stochastic system, which eventually must undergo an extinction event that eliminates robustness and is completely different from the deterministic dynamics. The transiently robust behaviour may be sufficient to carry out many forms of robust signal transduction and cellular decision-making in cellular organisms.
Fossil skulls reveal that blood flow rate to the brain increased faster than brain volume during human evolution
Authors: Seymour Roger S. , Bosiocic Vanya , Snelling Edward P.
Published: August 2016

The evolution of human cognition has been inferred from anthropological discoveries and estimates of brain size from fossil skulls. A more direct measure of cognition would be cerebral metabolic rate, which is proportional to cerebral blood flow rate (perfusion). The hominin cerebrum is supplied almost exclusively by the internal carotid arteries. The sizes of the foramina that transmitted these vessels in life can be measured in hominin fossil skulls and used to calculate cerebral perfusion rate. Perfusion in 11 species of hominin ancestors, from
Australopithecus
to archaic
Homo sapiens
, increases disproportionately when scaled against brain volume (the allometric exponent is 1.41). The high exponent indicates an increase in the metabolic intensity of cerebral tissue in later
Homo
species, rather than remaining constant (1.0) as expected by a linear increase in neuron number, or decreasing according to Kleiber's Law (0.75). During 3 Myr of hominin evolution, cerebral tissue perfusion increased 1.7-fold, which, when multiplied by a 3.5-fold increase in brain size, indicates a 6.0-fold increase in total cerebral blood flow rate. This is probably associated with increased interneuron connectivity, synaptic activity and cognitive function, which all ultimately depend on cerebral metabolic rate.
Occipital white matter tracts in human and macaque
Authors: Takemura Hiromasa , Pestilli Franco , Weiner Kevin S. , Keliris Georgios A. , Landi Sofia M. , Sliwa Julia , Ye Frank Q. , Barnett Michael A. , Leopold David A. , Freiwald Winrich A. , Logothetis Nikos K. , Wandell Brian A.
Published: August 2016

We compare the major white matter tracts in human and macaque occipital lobe using diffusion MRI. The comparison suggests similarities but also significant differences in spatial arrangement and relative sizes of the tracts. There are several apparently homologous tracts in the two species, including the vertical occipital fasciculus (VOF), optic radiation, forceps major, and inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF). There is one large human tract, the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, with no corresponding fasciculus in macaque. The macaque VOF is compact and its fibers intertwine with the dorsal segment of the ILF, but the human VOF is much more elongated in the anterior-posterior direction and may be lateral to the ILF. These similarities and differences will be useful in establishing which circuitry in the macaque can serve as an accurate model for human visual cortex.

Contact information

Hiromasa Takemura, Center for Information and Neural Networks (CiNet), National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, and Osaka University, Japanhtakemur@nict.go.jp

Author contribution

Designed the study: HT FP BAW. Performed the experiments. HT FP GAK SML JS FQY DAL WAF NKL. Analyzed the data. HT FP KSW MAB BAW. Contributed analysis tools. FP KSW MAB. Wrote the paper. HT FP KSW BAW.
Paleochronic reversion inPsophocarpus, the decompression function in floral anatomic fields
Authors: Benya Edward. G.F.
Published: August 2016

Paleochronic reversion (an atavism) inPsophocarpuspresents a basic floral phylloid ground state. That ground state can quickly change as permutation transformation (Tx) begins. The form of permutation can vary as phyllotactic phylloid (TPhyld) and/or floral axial decompression (TAxl) presenting linear elongation (TLong), rotational (TRtn) and/or lateral (TLat) components. Research with 70 reverted floral specimens documented varying degrees of phyllotactic permutation at the bracts (Bt) region and inter-bracts (IBS) sub-region of the pre-whorls pedicel-bracts anatomic zone. Permutation further yielded an inter-zonal pericladial stalk (PCL). It continued at the floral whorls zone: the calyx (Cl), corolla (Crla), androecium (Andr), and gynoecium (Gynec) with components therein. These organ regions present a continuum as an axial dynamic vector space £Taxi of floral permutation dominated by axial expansion (AE) so that an anatomic sequence of permutation activity runs from the bracts (Bt) region to the carpel (Crpl) inclusive with components therein, summarized by the formula:

stamen fltnAndr spiralCrpl ±(Crpl web ± VASCARP ± Crpl diadn ± Crpl fltn ± [fltn no] ± Crpl Rtn)= Tx. The flower reverts from a system of determinate growth to one of indeterminate growth.
Actin retrograde flow actively aligns and orients ligand-engaged integrins in focal adhesions
Authors: Swaminathan Vinay , Kalappurakkal Joseph Mathew , Mehta Shalin B. , Nordenfelt Pontus , Moore Travis I. , Nobuyasu Koga , Baker David , Oldenbourg Rudolf , Tani Tomomi , Mayor Satyajit , Springer Timothy A. , Waterman Clare M.
Published: August 2016

Integrins are transmembrane receptors that, upon activation, bind extracellular matrix (ECM) or cell surface ligands and link them to the actin cytoskeleton to mediate cell adhesion and migration1,2. One model for the structural transitions mediating integrin activation termed “the cytoskeletal force hypothesis” posits that force transmitted from the cytoskeleton to ligand-bound integrins acts as an allosteric stabilizer of the extended-open, high-affinity state3. Since cytoskeletal forces in migrating cells are generated by centripetal “retrograde flow” of F-actin from the cell leading edge, where integrin-based adhesions are initiated4,5, this model predicts that F-actin flow should align and orient activated, ligand-bound integrins in integrin-based adhesions. Here, polarization-sensitive fluorescence microscopy of GFP-αVβ3 integrin chimeras in migrating fibroblasts shows that integrins are aligned with respect to the axis of FAs and the direction of F-actin flow, and this alignment requires binding immobilized ligand and talin-mediated linkage to a flowing cytoskeleton. Polarization imaging and Rosetta modelling of chimeras engineered to orient GFP differentially with respect to the integrin headpiece suggest that ligand-bound αVβ3 integrin may be markedly tilted by the force of F-actin flow. These results show that actin cytoskeletal forces actively sculpt an anisotropic molecular scaffold in FAs that may underlie the ability of cells to sense directional ECM and physical cues.
Lost dollars threaten research in public academic health centers
Authors: Bourne Henry R. , Vermillion Eric
Published: August 2016

Decreasing federal and state support threaten long-term sustainability of research in publicly supported academic health centers. In weathering these financial threats, research at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) has undergone three substantial changes: (i) institutional salary support goes preferentially to senior faculty, while the young increasingly depend on grants; (ii) private and government support for research grows apace in clinical departments, but slowly declines in basic science departments; and (iii) research is judged more on its quantity (numbers of investigators and federal and private dollars) than on its goals, achievements, or scientific quality. We propose measures to alleviate these problems. Other large public academic health centers probably confront similar issues, but—except for UCSF—such centers have not been subjected to detailed public analysis.
Architecture of a minimal signalling pathway explains the T cell response to a 1,000,000-fold variation in antigen affinity and dose
Authors: Lever Melissa , Lim Hong-Sheng , Kruger Philipp , Nguyen John , Trendel Nicola , Abu-Shah Enas , Maini Philip K. , van der Merwe P. Anton , Dushek Omer
Published: August 2016

T cells must respond differently to antigens of varying affinity presented at different doses. Previous attempts to map pMHC affinity onto T cell responses have produced inconsistent patterns of responses preventing formulations of canonical models of T cell signalling. Here, a systematic analysis of T cell responses to 1,000,000-fold variations in both pMHC affinity and dose produced bell-shaped dose-response curves and different optimal pMHC affinities at different pMHC doses. Using sequential model rejection/identification algorithms, we identified a unique, minimal model of cellular signalling incorporating kinetic proofreading with limited signalling coupled to an incoherent feed forward loop (KPL-IFF), that reproduces these observations. We show that the KPL-IFF model correctly predicts the T cell response to antigen co-presentation. Our work offers a general approach for studying cellular signalling that does not require full details of biochemical pathways.

Significance statement

T cells initiate and regulate adaptive immune responses when their T cell antigen receptors recognise antigens. The T cell response is known to depend on the antigen affinity/dose but the precise relationship, and the mechanisms underlying it, are debated. To resolve the debate, we stimulated T cells with antigens spanning a 1,000,000-fold range in affinity/dose. We found that a different antigen (and hence different affinity) produced the largest T cell response at different doses. Using model identification algorithms, we report a simple mechanistic model that can predict the T cell response from the physiological low affinity regime into the high affinity regime applicable to therapeutic receptors.
Conspecific sperm precedence is reinforced but sexual selection weakened in sympatric populations ofDrosophila
Authors: Castillo Dean M. , Moyle Leonie C.
Published: August 2016

Sexual selection is well recognized as a driver of reproductive isolation between lineages. However, selection for increased reproductive isolation could reciprocally change the outcomes of sexual selection, when these processes share a genetic basis. Direct selection for reproductive isolation occurs in the context of ‘reinforcement’, where selection acts to increase prezygotic barriers to reduce the cost of heterospecific matings. Many studies of reinforcement focus on premating reproductive barriers, however postmating traits-such as conspecific sperm precedence (CSP)-can also respond to reinforcing selection. We tested whether i) CSP responded to reinforcing selection, and ii) this response in sympatric populations altered intraspecific sperm competition (ISC) and the strength of sexual selection, with the sister speciesDrosophila pseudoobscuraandD. persimilis. We used sperm competition experiments to evaluate differences in CSP and ISC between two sympatric and two allopatric populations ofD. pseudoobscura. Using multiple genotypes for each population allowed us to estimate not only patterns of phenotype divergence, but also the opportunity for sexual selection within each population. Consistent with a pattern of reinforcement, the sympatric populations had higher mean CSP. Moreover, ISC was altered in sympatric populations, where we observed decreased average offensive sperm competitive ability against conspecific males, allowing less opportunity for sexual selection to operate within these populations. These data demonstrate that strong reinforcing selection for reproductive isolation can have consequences for sexual selection and sexual interactions within species, in these important postmating sperm competition traits.
Evolution of Drift Robustness in Small Populations
Authors: LaBar Thomas , Adami Christoph
Published: August 2016

Most mutations are deleterious and cause a reduction in population fitness known as the mutational load. In small populations, weakened selection against slightly-deleterious mutations results in an additional fitness reduction. Many studies have established that populations can evolve a reduced mutational load by evolving mutational robustness, but it is uncertain whether small populations can evolve a reduced susceptibility to drift-related fitness declines. Here, using mathematical modeling and digital experimental evolution, we show that small populations do evolve a reduced vulnerability to drift, or “drift robustness”. We find that, compared to genotypes from large populations, genotypes from small populations have a decreased likelihood of small-effect deleterious mutations, thus causing small-population genotypes to be drift-robust. We further show that drift robustness is not adaptive, but instead arises because small populations preferentially adapt to drift-robust fitness peaks. These results have implications for genome evolution in organisms with small population sizes.
Rules and mechanisms for efficient two-stage learning in neural circuits
Authors: Teşileanu Tiberiu , Ölveczky Bence , Balasubramanian Vijay
Published: August 2016

Trial-and-error learning requires evaluating variable actions and reinforcing successful variants. In songbirds, vocal exploration is induced by LMAN, the output of a basal ganglia-circuit that also contributes a corrective bias to the vocal output. This bias is gradually consolidated in RA, a motor cortex analogue downstream of LMAN. We develop a new model of such two-stage learning. Using stochastic gradient descent, we derive how the activity in ‘tutor’ circuits (e.g., LMAN) should match plasticity mechanisms in ‘student’ circuits(e.g.,RA) to achieve efficient learning. We further describe a reinforcement learning framework through which the tutor can build its teaching signal. We show that mismatches between the tutor signal and the plasticity mechanism can impair learning. Applied to birdsong, our results predict the temporal structure of the corrective bias from LMAN given a plasticity rule in RA. Our framework can be applied predictively to other paired brain areas showing two-stage learning.
Direction of actin flow dictates integrin LFA-1 orientation during leukocyte migration
Authors: Nordenfelt Pontus , Moore Travis I. , Mehta Shalin B. , Kalappurakkal Joseph Mathew , Swaminathan Vinay , Koga Nobuyasu , Lambert Talley J. , Baker David , Waters Jennifer C. , Oldenbourg Rudolf , Tani Tomomi , Mayor Satyajit , Waterman Clare M. , Springer Timothy A.
Published: August 2016

Integrin αβ heterodimer cell surface receptors mediate adhesive interactions that provide traction for cell migration. Here, we test whether the integrin head, known from crystal structures, adopts a specific orientation dictated by the direction of actin flow on the surface of migrating cells. We insert GFP into the rigid head of the full integrin, model with Rosetta the orientation of GFP and its transition dipole relative to the integrin, and measure orientation with fluorescence polarization microscopy. Dependent on coupling to the cytoskeleton, integrins orient in the same direction as retrograde actin flow with their cytoskeleton-binding β-subunits tilted by applied force. The measurements demonstrate that intracellular forces can orient cell surface integrins and support a molecular model of integrin activation by cytoskeletal force. We have developed a method that places atomic, ~Å structures of cell surface receptors in the context of functional, cellular length-scale, ~μm measurements and shows that rotation and tilt of cell surface receptors relative to the membrane plane can be restrained by interactions with other cellular components.
The dynamic models of consumers’ symbolic needs: in the context of restaurant brands
Authors: Han Sung Ho , Nguyen Bang , Simkin Lyndon
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the dynamic process and the meaning of symbolic consumption according to the three symbolic needs (i.e. status needs, social needs, status and social needs) to understand how symbolic messages are conveyed when consumers choose a brand.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper develops three dynamic models, categorized according to the consumers’ needs. The conceptual framework consists of the six constructs: collectivism/individualism, brand reputation, self-congruence, brand affect, brand identification and brand loyalty. Twelve hypotheses were developed and tested. Data were collected from consumers who had experienced well-known global chain restaurant brands. The three models were tested using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling.

Findings

Findings highlight the important mediating role of brand affect in symbolic consumption, which previously has not been revealed empirically. Moreover, it is found that self-congruence does not mediate the relationship between brand reputation, collectivism/individualism and brand affect, despite its prominence in previous symbolic consumption studies. In the status and social needs models, brand reputation mediates between collectivism/individualism and self-congruence, brand identification, brand affect and brand loyalty.

Originality/value

This is the first empirical paper to investigate symbolic consumption in the context of three types of models, according to symbolic needs, in the context of restaurant consumption. The study also identifies the major components of the consumer’s symbolic needs based on the attributes of symbolic consumption. Moreover, this study reveals that when both social needs and status needs are mixed, a hierarchy exists between consumers’ symbolic needs. Finally, the study makes an important contribution to the literature by applying the concept of brand affect to symbolic consumption research and exploring the relationships between the external motivational factors and the internal elements of symbolic consumption.
Sociocultural brand revitalization
Authors: Närvänen Elina , Goulding Christina
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to build a sociocultural perspective of brand revitalization. Maintaining brands and bringing them back to life in the market has received much less interest than their creation. Moreover, the existing literature is dominated by the marketing management paradigm where the company’s role is emphasized. This paper addresses the phenomenon of brand revitalization from a sociocultural perspective and examines the role of consumer collectives in the process.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a data-driven approach, the study builds on the case of a consumer brand of footwear that has risen to unprecedented popularity without traditional marketing campaigns. Data were generated using an inductive theory building approach utilizing multiple methods, including interviews, participant observation and cultural materials.

Findings

The paper presents a conceptual model of cultural brand revitalization that has four stages: sleeping brand, spontaneous appropriation, diffusion and convergence.

Practical implications

Implications for companies in consumer markets are discussed, suggesting ways to facilitate the process of sociocultural brand revitalization.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the literature first by offering a sociocultural brand revitalization scenario that highlights the interplay between the actions of consumers and the company, second, by examining the interaction between the symbolic meanings associated with the brand and the practices used by consumers and, third, by offering insights into the relevance of national identity in creating brand meaning.
Adoption and correlates of Western concepts of high performance work system in the IT industry in India
Authors: Singh Ajay , Singh Gangaram , Beatty James R.
Published: August 2016

Purpose

An interesting conundrum exists in India with its rise as an economic powerhouse. On one front, there is tremendous pride in asserting its Indian identity. On another front, it seeks to embrace Western practices to announce its entry into the world economy. This paper aims to examine the extent to which Indian information technology (IT) firms adopt Western concepts of a high performance work system (HPWS) and the correlates of such a system (pro-social organizational behavior and employee attitude). Data from 211 IT employees in India show widespread adoption of a HPWS, and more importantly several approaches to assessment indicate that a HPWS positively correlates to pro-social organizational behavior and employee attitude.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample consisted of IT professionals in India having a minimum of three years of work experience. The study has used a snowball strategy to generate the sample. Eight HPWS practices were included in the survey questionnaire to assess three dimensions of HPWS. Analysis was conducted to examine differences between the highest (i.e. top 10 per cent) and the lowest (i.e. bottom 10 per cent) and bivariate correlations of the surveyed employees regarding pro-social organizational behaviors related to altruism, job involvement and work involvement, and regarding employees attitudes related to job satisfaction, intention to stay in organization, level of morale and optimism.

Findings

HPWS is positively associated with employee attitudes and pro-social organizational behavior. It reflects the reality that HPWSs, at least as conceived by researchers from the West, have penetrated organizations in India. Moreover, they seem to complement each other and together they seem to have a positive association with employee attitudes and pro-social organizational behavior. As organizations in India continue with the march toward servicing the world in the IT sector, the present study suggests that they have a potent tool in a HPWS to keep employee attitudes and pro-social organizational behaviors high.

Research limitations/implications

The criticism of survey methodology approach adopted in the present study is that it has common method bias. That is, in the survey, respondents tend to score along a path with a common response. As a validation, the study has performed a treatment-by-subjects analysis of variance with matched participant scores on the three pro-social behaviors to determine whether the means of altruism, job involvement and work involvement were significantly different. As to convergence, much more causal data would be needed to make a definitive conclusion on the findings of the present study.

Originality/value

This is the first study of its kind to examine the adoption of Western concepts of a HPWS in Indian IT Industry.
The random walk in the stock prices of 18 OECD countries
Authors: Shirvani Hassan , Delcoure Natalya V.
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the presence of unit roots in the stock prices of 16 OECD countries.

Design/methodology/approach

Heterogeneous panel unit root tests developed by Imet al.(1997/2003) and Pesaran (2007).

Findings

Under the assumption of cross-sectional independence across the panel, the authors find no evidence of unit roots, thus failing to reject mean reversion in the stock prices for all the countries in the sample. However, under the assumption of cross-sectional dependence, an assumption borne out by the diagnostic test results, the authors find support for the presence of unit roots in the stock prices.

Practical implications

Thus, the use of more robust panel unit root tests seems to raise questions about the long-run predictability of the stock market, at least in the context of the OECD countries.

Originality/value

Thus, it seems that in the long run, an investment policy of buy and hold has still much to offer.
Intellectual capital and firm performance in emerging economies: the case of India
Authors: Maji Santi Gopal , Goswami Mitra
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of intellectual capital (IC) on Indian traditional sector and compare the relative importance of IC on corporate performance of Indian knowledge-based sector (engineering sector) and traditional sector (steel sector).

Design/methodology/approach

Secondary data on 100 listed Indian firms, comprising of 44 firms from the engineering sector and 56 from the steel sector, are collected from “Capitaline Plus” Corporate database for a period of 14 years from 1999-2000 to 2012-2013. IC and its components are computed using Pulic’s value-added intellectual coefficient model and firm performance is measured by return on asset. Fixed effect regression model is used to investigate the hypothetical relationship between IC and firm performance. Further, quantile regression is used to check the robustness of the results.

Findings

The results indicate that IC efficiency and physical capital efficiency are positively and significantly associated with the firm performance for both the sectors. Regarding the components of IC, the coefficient of human capital efficiency is positive and significant, but the present effort fails to disentangle any significant influence of structural capital efficiency on firm performance. However, the results indicate that the influence of IC efficiency on firm performance is significantly greater in case of knowledge-based sector than that of traditional sector.

Practical implications

The findings of the study are useful for the decision makers, as the results indicate that the IC plays crucial role in value creation not only for knowledge-based firms but also for the firms belonging to the traditional manufacturing sector.

Originality/value

In the Indian context, this is the first study to examine the relative importance of IC in a knowledge-based sector and a traditional sector using appropriate methodology.
Disability hate crime: persecuted for difference
Authors: Ralph Sue , Capewell Carmel , Bonnett Elizabeth
Published: August 2016

This article briefly discusses the long history of violence towards disabled people which sets the context for an analysis of the modern‐day form of violence known as disability hate crime (DHC). People who look or behave differently to others often find themselves victims of violent crimes. The language used to describe disabled people contributes to their diminished position in society. A brief review of definitions of DHC and exploration of news media coverage of the Pilkington and Askew DHC cases are undertaken. Cultural scapegoating of disabled people is discussed. Disabled people are perceived as contributing to their own victimisation, the lack of support afforded to them by society and the failure of systems meant to protect them. As long as disabled people remain outside mainstream society, they are unlikely to achieve the same levels of respect and protection from crime that other groups in society are afforded.
Care in place: A case study of assembling a carescape
Authors: Ivanova Dara , Wallenburg Iris , Bal Roland
Published: August 2016

In this article we analyse the process of the multiple ways place and care shape each other and are co‐produced and co‐functioning. The resulting emerging assemblage of this co‐constituent process we call a carescape. Focusing on a case study of a nursing home on a Dutch island, we use place as a theoretical construct for analysing how current changes in healthcare governance interact with mundane practices of care. In order to make the patterns of care in our case explicit, we use actor‐network theory (ANT) sensibilities and especially the concept of assemblage. Our goal is to show – by zooming in on a particular case – how to study the co‐constituent processes of place‐ and care‐shaping, revealing the ontological diversity of place and care. Through this, we contribute a perspective of the heterogeneity and multiplicity of care in its dynamic relationship of co‐production with place.
Between stigma and pink positivity: women's perceptions of social interactions during and after breast cancer treatment
Authors: Trusson Diane , Pilnick Alison
Published: August 2016

This study explores women's perceptions of social interaction during and after their treatment for early stage breast cancer. An analysis of interviews with 24 women between 6 months and 29 years post‐diagnosis reveals that interactions can be influenced by conflicting public discourses surrounding breast cancer. For example, there is the continuing association of cancer with death and the resulting potential for a stigmatised identity. In contrast is the ultra‐positive discourse around cancer survivorship, with breast cancer in particular being associated with pink campaigning and a push towards positive thinking. Participants described managing conversations during treatment; sometimes playing down their private suffering and presenting a positive (public) image rather than risk alienating support. After treatment they were encouraged to move on and get back to ‘normal’. While other breast cancer patients and survivors were often good sources of support, there was also a danger of assuming that all experiences would be the same. We present data to illustrate that women often present public accounts that are driven by an expectation of positivity and fear of stigmatisation at all stages of breast cancer treatment and beyond.
Reproductive strategies in males of the world's southernmost lizards
Authors: FERNÁNDEZ Jimena B. , MEDINA Marlin , KUBISCH Erika L. , SCOLARO José A. , IBARGÜENGOYTÍA Nora R.
Published: August 2016

Reproductive and life history patterns in reptiles are tightly related to the environmental conditions, so male reproductive cycles have been historically characterized as continuous, for tropical lizards, or seasonal, for temperate lizards. However, males of Liolaemus and Phymaturus lizards (Liolaemidae), from cold temperate climates of high altitudes or latitudes in Argentina and Chile, have developed a variety of reproductive cycles to coordinate with the short female reproductive season and to deal with the low frequency of reproductive females in the population. Using gonadal histology and morphological analysis, we describe the male reproductive biology, fat storage and sexual dimorphism of the viviparous lizards Liolaemus sarmientoi and Liolaemus magellanicus that inhabit an austral grass steppe at 51°S, in the southern limit of the American continent. Males of L. sarmientoi and L. magellanicus are reproductively available during the entire activity season of approximately 5 months. In addition, males of both species exhibit greater body sizes than females in morphological variables relevant in sexual selection. Meanwhile, females of both species exhibit larger inter‐limb length than conspecific males, which suggests fecundity selection to increase space for a larger litter size. The continuous sperm production throughout the activity season allows these liolaemids to mate at any time when females ovulate, representing a selective advantage to deal with the short activity season and the adversities of the cold environment they inhabit.
Quantification of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation may be a predictor of EGFR‐tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment response
Authors: Park Ha Young , Oh Hyung Joo , Kim Ki‐Hyun , Kim Tae‐Ok , Park Cheol‐Kyu , Shin Hong‐Jun , Lim Jung‐Hwan , Kwon Yong‐Soo , Oh In‐Jae , Kim Yu‐Il , Lim Sung‐Chul , Kim Young‐Chul , Choi Yoo‐Duk
Published: September 2016

Background

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutation is a reliable predictive factor for response to EGFR‐tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). The quantified EGFR value may also predict response and survival within an EGFR mutated group.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study of 836 lung cancer patients. The patient sample was divided into two groups based on the mean delta cycle threshold (∆Ct) value. EGFR mutation tests using peptide nucleic acid (PNA)‐mediated clamping polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were performed. The efficiency of PCR clamping was determined by measuring the Ct value and EGFR quantification was determined by the corrected ∆Ct value.

Results

EGFR mutation positivity was 30.1% and there were 235 single activating mutations. In this mutation group, the higher corrected ∆Ct value (≥ mean value) group showed better objective response (70.9% vs. 54.9%, P = 0.022) and clinical benefit rates (86.4% vs. 68.3%, P = 0.003) than the lower group. In addition, corrected ∆Ct values were significantly and inversely correlated with disease response (r = −0.184, P = 0.017). In multivariate analysis, both female gender (P = 0.014) and higher corrected ΔCt value (P = 0.012) were independent predictive factors for better clinical benefit rate. The higher corrected ΔCt value group had a tendency for longer progression‐free survival than the lower group (P = 0.050).

Conclusion

The corrected ∆Ct value, which refers to EGFR quantification by PNA‐mediated PCR clamping, can predict better clinical response to EGFR‐TKI therapy. However, further study is warranted to determine its value as a biomarker to reflect survival.
α5β1‐Integrin inhibitor (CLT‐28643) effective in rabbit trabeculectomy model
Authors: Schultheiss Maximilian , Schnichels Sven , Konrad Eva‐Maria , Bartz‐Schmidt Karl U. , Zahn Grit , Caldirola Patrizia , Fsadni Mario G. , Caram‐Lelham Ninus , Spitzer Martin S.
Published: August 2016

Purpose

Glaucoma filtration surgery (GFS) fails due to fibrosis. The α5β1‐integrin plays a pivotal role in fibrosis, angiogenesis and inflammation. This is the first experiment evaluating the prevention of fibrosis after GFS by a specific small molecule α5β1‐integrin inhibitor (CLT‐28643).

Methods

Twenty‐four rabbits received trabeculectomy on their right eyes. The rabbits were randomized into three groups of eight eyes each. CLT‐28643 was given as a single subconjunctival injection intraoperatively to two of the right eye groups followed by postoperative vehicle eye drops (CLT+ group) or CLT‐28643 eye drops 4 times daily (CLT++ group). A third group received mitomycin‐C (MMC) intraoperatively (sponge application, 0.04%, 2 min) followed by vehicle eye drops postoperatively. The control‐surgery group consisted of 12 left eyes having trabeculectomy with no adjunctive therapy. The remaining 12 left eyes formed the untreated group. Clinical assessment included intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement, slit‐lamp examination (including bleb survival and morphology) and bleb photography. The rabbits were killed after four weeks for histology.

Results

Both CLT‐28643‐treated groups showed significantly prolonged bleb survival, and better bleb score compared to the control‐surgery group. At end of the study, most functioning blebs were found in the MMC group (MMC group 75%; CLT+ group 12.5%, CLT++ group 25%; CLT+ group 12.5%, control‐surgery group 0%). CLT‐28643 was non‐toxic and well tolerated.

Conclusions

This rabbit GFS study indicates that inhibition of α5β1‐integrin by the novel α5β1‐integrin antagonist CLT‐28643 significantly improved the outcome. The effect of a single intro‐operative application of CLT‐28643 seems to be inferior to 0.04% MMC.
CHD7, Oct3/4, Sox2, and Nanog control FoxD3 expression during mouse neural crest‐derived stem cell formation
Authors: Fujita Kyohei , Ogawa Ryuhei , Ito Kazuo
Published: August 2016

Neural crest‐derived stem cells (NCSCs) are tissue‐specific stem cells derived from multipotent neural crest cells. NCSCs are present in some adult tissues such as dorsal root ganglia, sciatic nerve, and bone marrow. However, little is known about the formation mechanisms of these cells. We have shown that BMP2/Wnt3a signaling and a chromatin remodeler, CHD7, in mice help to maintain the multipotency of neural crest cells and lead to the formation of NCSCs. In the present study, we analyzed a regulatory gene cascade in the formation of mouse NCSCs. The inhibition of FoxD3 expression significantly suppressed the expression of Sox10, which is an indispensable transcription factor for mouse NCSC formation, in the presence of BMP2/Wnt3a. CHD7, Oct3/4, Sox2, and Nanog occupied multiple conserved regions of mouse FoxD3, mE1, mE2, and mE3, in a BMP2/Wnt3a‐dependent manner. Furthermore, siRNA of CHD7, Oct3/4, Sox2, and Nanog significantly suppressed FoxD3 expression. The inhibition of histone H3K4 mono‐ or trimethylation also repressed FoxD3 expression. The present data suggest that CHD7, Oct3/4, Sox2, and Nanog directly induce FoxD3 expression when stimulated by BMP2/Wnt3a signaling, that FoxD3 promotes Sox10 expression, and that histone H3K4 methylation plays important roles in this process of mouse NCSC formation.
Landscape dynamics in Mediterranean oak forests under global change: understanding the role of anthropogenic and environmental drivers across forest types
Authors: Acácio Vanda , Dias Filipe S. , Catry Filipe X. , Rocha Marta , Moreira Francisco
Published: September 2016

The Mediterranean region is projected to be extremely vulnerable to global change, which will affect the distribution of typical forest types such as native oak forests. However, our understanding of Mediterranean oak forest responses to future conditions is still very limited by the lack of knowledge on oak forest dynamics and species‐specific responses to multiple drivers. We compared the long‐term (1966–2006) forest persistence and land cover change among evergreen (cork oak and holm oak) and deciduous oak forests and evaluated the importance of anthropogenic and environmental drivers on observed changes for Portugal. We used National Forest Inventories to quantify the changes in oak forests and explored the drivers of change using multinomial logistic regression analysis and an information theoretical approach. We found distinct trends among oak forest types, reflecting the differences in oak economic value, protection status and management schemes: cork oak forests were the most persistent (62%), changing mostly to pines and eucalypt; holm oak forests were less persistent (53.2%), changing mostly to agriculture; and deciduous oak forests were the least persistent (45.7%), changing mostly to shrublands. Drivers of change had distinct importance across oak forest types, but drivers from anthropogenic origin (wildfires, population density, and land accessibility) were always among the most important. Climatic extremes were also important predictors of oak forest changes, namely extreme temperatures for evergreen oak forests and deficit of precipitation for deciduous oak forests. Our results indicate that under increasing human pressure and forecasted climate change, evergreen oak forests will continue declining and deciduous oak forests will be replaced by forests dominated by more xeric species. In the long run, multiple disturbances may change competitive dominance from oak forests to pyrophytic shrublands. A better understanding of forest dynamics and the inclusion of anthropogenic drivers on models of vegetation change will improve predicting the future of Mediterranean oak forests.
Prevalence of frailty and its association with sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, and resource utilization in a population of Singaporean older adults
Authors: Vaingankar Janhavi Ajit , Chong Siow Ann , Abdin Edimansyah , Picco Louisa , Chua Boon Yiang , Shafie Saleha , Ong Hui Lin , Chang Sherilyn , Seow Esmond , Heng Derrick , Chiam Peak Chiang , Subramaniam Mythily
Published: August 2016

Aim

The present study examined the prevalence of frailty and its association with sociodemographic, clinical and social characteristics, and service utilization in a representative general population sample of Singaporean older adults.

Methods

A single‐phase, cross‐sectional survey was carried out in a nationally representative sample of 2102 Singapore residents aged 60 years and older. Five frailty parameters (weakness, slowness, exhaustion, low physical activity and/or unintentional weight loss) were measured to assess Fried's frailty phenotype to identify frail (meeting 3/5 criteria), prefrail (meeting 1 or 2 criteria) and non‐frail (absence of all 5) older adults. On testing independent associations, multiple backward stepwise logistic regression analyses were carried out to identify the strongest correlates of frail states.

Results

The prevalence of frailty among the older adult population was found to be 5.7%. Sociodemographic, clinical and social characteristics differed significantly at an independent level by frailty status. A higher proportion of frail older adults had care needs (54.5%) compared to pre‐frail (13.5%) and non‐frail (2.2%), and poor social networks (58.8% vs prefrail [36.6%] and non‐frail [28.6%]). Frail older adults also had significantly higher service utilization. Significant correlates of frail state were older age, poor social networks, having any care need, and a history of dementia, diabetes, cancer, respiratory problems or paralysis.

Conclusions

Frailty is common among older adults in Singapore, and it correlates with many components at the person, health and societal levels, thus highlighting the importance of individual‐ and population‐level frailty detection and interventions in this population. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 1444–1454.