bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Treatment of terrible triad injuries at a mean follow-up of nine years
Authors: Zaidenberg Ezequiel E , Abrego Mariano O , Donndorff Agustin G , Boretto Jorge G , De Carli Pablo , Gallucci Gerardo L
Published: November 2018

Background

To evaluate the sustainability of the early clinical and radiological outcomes of terrible triad injuries at long-term follow-up.

Methods

Twelve consecutive patients who underwent fixation of terrible triad injuries with minimum of seven years of follow-up. Functional and radiological outcomes at one year and final follow-up were compared. We assessed Mayo Elbow Performance Score, Quick-Disability of the Arm Shoulder and Hand, and modified-American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Scores. Radiological evaluation included Broberg and Morrey classification and Hastings classification for heterotopic ossification.

Results

The mean age of patients was 55 years, with a median follow-up of 9.3 years. At final evaluation, mean flexion, extension, supination, and pronation were 145°, 6°, 82°, and 80°, respectively; mean Mayo Elbow Performance Score, modified-American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Scores, and Quick-Disability of the Arm Shoulder and Hand scores were, respectively, 97, 92, and 4.9 points. There was no statistical difference between early and final follow-up range of motion, Mayo Elbow Performance Score, and Quick-Disability of the Arm Shoulder and Hand. However, radiological changes were observed in 66% of the patients at final follow-up. Two patients underwent reoperation, with final satisfactory results.

Conclusion

Our results suggested that using a standardized protocol, satisfactory clinical outcomes at early follow-up could be maintained over time. However, early complications and osteoarthritic changes at long-term follow-up can be expected.

Level of evidence

Therapeutic IV Cases series.
What Drives Media Use in Authoritarian Regimes? Extending Selective Exposure Theory to Iran
Authors: Wojcieszak Magdalena , Nisbet Erik C. , Kremer Lea , Behrouzian Golnoosh , Glynn Carroll
Published: November 2018

Most work on selective exposure comes from the United States or other western democracies and typically examines partisan attitudes as the cognitive or motivational drivers of selectivity. This study extends the boundary conditions of existing literature by studying the factors affecting media choice in the Islamic Republic of Iran, a drastically understudied context. Within the overarching framework of motivated reasoning, we propose two theoretically relevant factors that should drive selective exposure into regime media or non-regime alternatives in authoritarian contexts: (1) system-justifying attitudes and (2) regime-sanctioned identities, here religiosity. Relying on two different surveys conducted within Iran in 2012 and 2016, we find that religiosity strongly predicts the reliance on non-regime media in both studies, whereas system-justifying attitudes predict selectivity in Study 2. Theoretical implications for the selectivity literature are discussed.
Cardiovascular profile of pharmacological agents used for the management of polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Alalami Huda , Sathyapalan Thozhukat , Atkin Stephen L.
Published: November 2018

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have an adverse metabolic profile with an increased risk of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes (T2DM); however, it is unclear if PCOS is associated with increased cardiovascular events in later years independent of the presence of T2DM. Many therapies have been used to treat the differing facets of PCOS, including those for menstrual irregularity, hirsutism, acne and anovulatory infertility. The aim of this review was to evaluate the cardiovascular profiles associated with the medications used in the management of PCOS and evaluate whether they have cardiovascular benefit, detriment or are neutral. The medications reviewed include oral contraceptive pills, antiandrogens, clomiphene and drugs specifically used in diabetes therapy; metformin, glitazones, dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. This review concludes that therapies that are used to treat these patients appear not to add to the cardiovascular risk and that there is no evidence that any interventional medical therapy may prevent the onset of diabetes in patients with PCOS, though in the case of metformin, this agent may be beneficial in preventing development of gestational diabetes.
Nonarthroplasty Surgical Treatment Options for Massive, Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears
Authors: Carver Trevor J. , Kraeutler Matthew J. , Smith John R. , Bravman Jonathan T. , McCarty Eric C.
Published: November 2018

Massive, irreparable rotator cuff tears (MIRCTs) provide a significant dilemma for orthopaedic surgeons. One treatment option for MIRCTs is reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. However, other methods of treating these massive tears have been developed. A search of the current literature on nonoperative management, arthroscopic debridement, partial repair, superior capsular reconstruction (SCR), graft interposition, balloon spacer arthroplasty, trapezius transfer, and latissimus dorsi transfer for MIRCTs was performed. Studies that described each surgical technique and reported on clinical outcomes were included in this review. Arthroscopic debridement may provide pain relief by removing damaged rotator cuff tissue, but no functional repair is performed. Partial repair has been suggested as a technique to restore shoulder functionality by repairing as much of the rotator cuff tendon as possible. This technique has demonstrated improved clinical outcomes but also fails at a significantly high rate. SCR has recently gained interest as a method to prohibit superior humeral head translation and has been met with encouraging early clinical outcomes. Graft interposition bridges the gap between the retracted tendon and humerus. Balloon spacer arthroplasty has also been recently proposed and acts to prohibit humeral head migration by placing a biodegradable saline-filled spacer between the humeral head and acromion; it has been shown to provide good clinical outcomes. Both trapezius and latissimus dorsi transfer techniques involve transferring the tendon of these respective muscles to the greater tuberosity of the humerus; these 2 techniques have shown promising restoration in shoulder function, especially in a younger, active population. Arthroscopic debridement, partial repair, SCR, graft interposition, balloon spacer arthroplasty, trapezius transfer, and latissimus dorsi transfer have all been shown to improve clinical outcomes for patients presenting with MIRCTs. Randomized controlled trials are necessary for confirming the efficacy of these procedures and to determine when each is indicated based on specific patient and anatomic factors.
Answering the Bell: High School Start Times and Student Academic Outcomes
Authors: Bastian Kevin C. , Fuller Sarah C.
Published: November 2018

We contribute to the school start time literature by using statewide student-level data from North Carolina to estimate start time effects for all students and for traditionally disadvantaged students. Descriptively, we found that urban high schools were likely to start very early or late. Later start times were associated with positive student engagement outcomes (reduced suspensions, higher course grades), especially for disadvantaged students. Achievement results were mixed, with positive and negative associations between start times and high school students’ test scores. Continued research is necessary to evaluate the efficacy of later start times as a scalable and cost-effective approach for boosting engagement and achievement.
Patient safety situational analysis in Ghana
Authors: Otchi EH , Bannerman C , Lartey S , Amoo KP , Odame E
Published: November 2018

Objectives

The objective of the study was to assess the patient safety situation in Ghana. Specifically, the study aimed at assessing the WHO’s 12 action areas of patient safety.

Design

This was a descriptive cross-sectional survey. Data collection methods included interviews and observation using WHO adapted questionnaire.

Setting

The setting was mainly 16 selected hospitals, including two teaching hospitals selected from the northern and southern parts of the Ghana.

Participants

Respondents were purposively selected based on their position in the health facilities and the type of information required. Main Outcome Measure(s): The main outcome measures were the WHO’s 12 action areas of patient safety.

Results

The median bed capacity of the hospitals assessed was 93 (min = 60, max = 1812). The country’s highest score (94%) was in the action area of knowledge and learning in patient safety where all (16, 100%) sampled facilities had systems in place for recording adverse events, specific protocols for patient care, etc. Five (5) of the 12 action areas (i.e. national patient policy, hospital acquired infections, surgical safety, patient safety partnerships and patient safety funding) had scores lower than the mean score (66%).

Conclusion

The key strength identified in the patient safety situational analysis of Ghana was knowledge and learning in patient safety while patient safety surveillance was the weakest action area identified. There were also weaknesses in areas such as national patient policy, healthcare associated infections, surgical safety, patient safety partnerships and patient safety funding, respectively.
Monitoring and evaluation of immune status of female Kunming mice maintained in different biosafety level laboratories
Authors: Guo Lei , He Yuan , Li Heng , Chen Yong , Zhu Fanli , Yang Mengli , Yang Chengyun , Dai Qing , Shi Haijing , Liu Longding
Published: November 2018

High-level biosafety laboratories (BSL), such as BSL-3 and BSL-4, which deal with high infectivity and virulence pathogens, have become indispensable. Mice are frequently used in animal BSL (ABSL) to establish animal models for infection and to evaluate in vivo immune responses. A project of monitoring and evaluation on physiology and immune status of mice housed in different ABSL labs was performed in the ABSL-2/3/4 labs of Kunming National High-level Biosafety Research Center, China. Female Kunming mice were housed in the ABSL-2/3/4 labs for one month, and mouse behaviors, body physiology/immune status, pulmonary immune status and respiratory bacteria composition were evaluated and compared among mice from the different labs. Mice settled in their new housing environment of the different labs after transfer and gained weight steadily. Blood hematology testing, serum cytokine/chemokine profiles, and blood/spleen lymphocyte constitutions were comparable between the ABSL-2/3/4 labs. The numbers of different pulmonary leukocytes in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were at baseline levels in mice from the ABSL-2/3/4 labs. Diversity and dominance of mice respiratory bacteria were semblable among the ABSL-2/3/4 labs. Our results confirm the stability of physiology and immune status of Kunming mice maintained in different ABSL-2/3/4 labs for at least one month.
Effect of temperature change on synaptic transmission at crayfish neuromuscular junctions
Authors: Zhu Yuechen , de Castro Leo , Cooper Robin Lewis
Published: November 2018

Ectothermic animals in areas characterised by seasonal changes are susceptible to extreme fluctuations in temperature. To survive through varied temperatures, ectotherms have developed unique strategies. This study focuses on synaptic transmission function at cold temperatures, as it is a vital component of ectothermic animals’ survival. For determining how synaptic transmission is influenced by an acute change in temperature (20°C to 10°C within a minute) and chronic cold (10°C), the crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) neuromuscular junction (NMJ) was used as a model. To simulate chronic cold conditions, crayfish were acclimated to 15°C for 1 week and then to 10°C for 1 week. They were then used to examine the synaptic properties associated with the low output nerve terminals on the opener muscle in the walking legs and high output innervation on the abdominal deep extensor muscle. The excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) of the opener NMJs increased in amplitude with acute warming (20°C) after being acclimated to cold; however, the deep extensor muscles showed varied changes in EPSP amplitude. Synaptic transmission at both NMJs was enhanced with exposure to the modulators serotonin or octopamine. The membrane resistance of the muscles decreased 33% and the resting membrane potential hyperpolarised upon warm exposure. Analysis of haemolymph indicated that octopamine increases during cold exposure. These results suggest bioamine modulation as a possible mechanism for ensuring that synaptic transmission remains functional at low temperatures.
Neural activation following offensive aggression in Japanese quail
Authors: Voigt Cornelia , Hirschenhauser Katharina , Leitner Stefan
Published: November 2018

Aggression is a fundamental part of animal social behaviour. In avian species, little is known about its neural representation. In particular, neural activity following offensive aggression has not been studied in detail. Here, we investigated the patterns of brain activation using immediate-early gene (IEG) expression in male Japanese quail that showed pronounced aggressive behaviours during a 30 min male-male interaction and compared them to those of males that did not interact with a conspecific. In aggressive males, we found a massive induction of the IEG zenk in pallial brain structures such as the intermediate medial mesopallium, the caudomedial mesopallium and the intermediate medial nidopallium. To a lesser extent, activation was observed in subpallial areas such as the nucleus taeniae of the amygdala and in the medial portion of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. Our data suggest that the modulation of aggressive behaviour involves the integration of multisensory information.
Seasonal variations in cellular and humoral immunity in male striped hamsters (Cricetulus barabensis)
Authors: Xu De-Li , Hu Xiao-Kai , Tian Yufen
Published: November 2018

Animals in the non-tropical zone usually demonstrate seasonal variations in immune function, which is important for their survival. In the present study, seasonal changes in immunity in striped hamsters (Cricetulus barabensis) were investigated to test the winter immunoenhancement hypothesis. Male hamsters were wild captured in the fall and winter in 2014 and in the spring and summer in 2015. Body mass, body fat mass and blood glucose levels were all the highest in the summer in hamsters, whereas body fatness and thymus mass had no seasonal changes. Spleen mass was the highest in the fall and white blood cells and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) response indicative of cellular immunity were the lowest in the summer among the four seasons, which supported the winter immunoenhancement hypothesis. IgG and IgM titres were the lowest in the fall, which was against this hypothesis. Body fat mass had no correlations with cellular and humoral immunity, suggesting it was not the reason of seasonal changes in cellular and humoral immunity in males. Leptin titres were higher in the spring and summer than in the fall and winter. No correlation between leptin and cellular and humoral immunity suggested that leptin did not mediate their seasonal changes. Similarly corticosterone levels were also higher in the spring and summer than in the fall and winter, which were correlated negatively with cellular immunity but positively with Ig G levels. This result implied that corticosterone has a suppressive effect on cellular immunity and enhancing effect on humoral immunity. In summary, distinct components of immune systems exhibited different seasonal patterns.
An in vivo translation-reporter system for the study of protein synthesis in zebrafish embryos
Authors: Palha Inês Garcez , Anselme Isabelle , Schneider-Maunoury Sylvie , Giudicelli François
Published: November 2018

Control of gene expression at the translation level is increasingly regarded as a key feature in many biological processes. Simple, inexpensive, and reliable procedures to visualise sites of protein production are required to allow observation of the spatiotemporal patterns of mRNA translation at subcellular resolution. We present a method, named SPoT (for Subcellular Patterns of Translation), developed upon the original TimeStamp technique (Lin et al., 2008), consisting in the expression of a fluorescent protein fused to a tagged, self-cleavable protease domain. Addition of a cell-permeable protease inhibitor instantly stabilizes newly produced, tagged protein allowing to distinguish recently synthesized protein from preexisting one. After a brief protease inhibitor treatment, the ratio of tagged vs non-tagged forms is highest at sites where proteins are the most recent, i.e. sites of synthesis. Therefore, by comparing tagged and non-tagged protein it is possible to spotlight sites of translation. By specifically expressing the SPoT cassette in neurons of transgenic zebrafish embryos, we reveal sites of neuronal protein synthesis in diverse cellular compartments during early development.
Independent yet overlapping pathways ensure the robustness and responsiveness of trans-Golgi network functions in Arabidopsis
Authors: Ravikumar Raksha , Kalbfuß Nils , Gendre Delphine , Steiner Alexander , Altmann Melina , Altmann Stefan , Rybak Katarzyna , Edelmann Holger , Stephan Friederike , Lampe Marko , Facher Eva , Wanner Gerhard , Falter-Braun Pascal , Bhalerao Rishikesh P. , Assaad Farhah F.
Published: November 2018

The trans-Golgi-network (TGN) has essential housekeeping functions in secretion, endocytosis and protein sorting, but also more specialized functions in plant development. How the robustness of basal TGN function is ensured while specialized functions are differentially regulated is poorly understood. Here, we investigate two key regulators of TGN structure and function, ECHIDNA and the Transport Protein Particle II (TRAPPII) tethering complex. An analysis of physical, network and genetic interactions suggests that two network communities are implicated in TGN function and that ECHIDNA and TRAPPII belong to distinct yet overlapping pathways. Whereas ECHIDNA and TRAPPII colocalized at the TGN in interphase cells, their localization diverged in dividing cells. Moreover, ECHIDNA and TRAPPII localization patterns were mutually independent. TGN structure, endocytosis and sorting decisions were differentially impacted in echidna and trappii mutants. Our analyses point to a partitioning of specialized TGN functions, with ECHIDNA being required for cell elongation and TRAPPII for cytokinesis. Two independent pathways able to compensate for each other might contribute to the robustness of TGN housekeeping functions and to the responsiveness and fine tuning of its specialized functions.
Soluble α-synuclein facilitates priming and fusion by releasing Ca2+ from the thapsigargin-sensitive Ca2+ pool in PC12 cells
Authors: Huang Chien-Chang , Chiu Tai-Yu , Lee Tzu-Ying , Hsieh Hsin-Jui , Lin Chung-Chih , Kao Lung-Sen
Published: November 2018

α-Synuclein is associated with Parkinson's disease, and is mainly localized in presynaptic terminals and regulates exocytosis, but its physiological roles remain controversial. Here, we studied the effects of soluble and aggregated α-synuclein on exocytosis, and explored the molecular mechanism by which α-synuclein interacts with regulatory proteins, including Rab3A, Munc13-1 (also known as Unc13a) and Munc18-1 (also known as STXBP1), in order to regulate exocytosis. Through fluorescence recovery after photobleaching experiments, overexpressed α-synuclein in PC12 cells was found to be in a monomeric form, which promotes exocytosis. In contrast, aggregated α-synuclein induced by lactacystin treatment inhibits exocytosis. Our results show that α-synuclein is involved in vesicle priming and fusion. α-Synuclein and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), which is known to enhance vesicle priming mediated by Rab3A, Munc13-1 and Munc18-1, act on the same population of vesicles, but regulate priming independently. Furthermore, the results show a novel effects of α-synuclein on mobilizing Ca2+ release from thapsigargin-sensitive Ca2+ pools to enhance the ATP-induced [Ca2+]i increase, which enhances vesicle fusion. Our results provide a detailed understanding of the action of α-synuclein during the final steps of exocytosis.
Role of G-proteins and phosphorylation in the distribution of AGS3 to cell puncta
Authors: Vural Ali , Fadillioglu Ersin , Kelesoglu Fatih , Ma Dzwokai , Lanier Stephen M.
Published: November 2018

Activator of G-protein signaling 3 (AGS3, also known as GPSM1) exhibits broad functional diversity and oscillates among different subcellular compartments in a regulated manner. AGS3 consists of a tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) domain and a G-protein regulatory (GPR) domain. Here, we tested the hypothesis that phosphorylation of the AGS3 GPR domain regulates its subcellular distribution and functionality. In contrast to the cortical and/or diffuse non-homogeneous distribution of wild-type (WT) AGS3, an AGS3 construct lacking all 24 potential phosphorylation sites in the GPR domain localized to cytosolic puncta. This change in localization was revealed to be dependent upon phosphorylation of a single threonine amino acid (T602). The punctate distribution of AGS3-T602A was rescued by co-expression of Gαi and Gαo but not Gαs or Gαq. Following treatment with alkaline phosphatase, both AGS3-T602A and WT AGS3 exhibited a gel shift in SDS-PAGE as compared to untreated WT AGS3, consistent with a loss of protein phosphorylation. The punctate distribution of AGS3-T602A was lost in an AGS3-A602T conversion mutant, but was still present upon T602 mutation to glutamate or aspartate. These results implicate dynamic phosphorylation as a discrete mechanism to regulate the subcellular distribution of AGS3 and associated functionality.
Fibronectin regulates growth factor signaling and cell differentiation in primary lens cells
Authors: VanSlyke Judy K. , Boswell Bruce A. , Musil Linda S.
Published: November 2018

Lens epithelial cells are bound to the lens extracellular matrix capsule, of which laminin is a major component. After cataract surgery, surviving lens epithelial cells are exposed to increased levels of fibronectin, and so we addressed whether fibronectin influences lens cell fate, using DCDML cells as a serum-free primary lens epithelial cell culture system. We found that culturing DCDMLs with plasma-derived fibronectin upregulated canonical TGFβ signaling relative to cells plated on laminin. Fibronectin-exposed cultures also showed increased TGFβ signaling-dependent differentiation into the two cell types responsible for posterior capsule opacification after cataract surgery, namely myofibroblasts and lens fiber cells. Increased TGFβ activity could be identified in the conditioned medium recovered from cells grown on fibronectin. Other experiments showed that plating DCDMLs on fibronectin overcomes the need for BMP in fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-induced lens fiber cell differentiation, a requirement that is restored when endogenous TGFβ signaling is inhibited. These results demonstrate how the TGFβ–fibronectin axis can profoundly affect lens cell fate. This axis represents a novel target for prevention of late-onset posterior capsule opacification, a common but currently intractable complication of cataract surgery.
Cytokine exocytosis and JAK/STAT activation in the Drosophila ovary requires the vesicle trafficking regulator α-Snap
Authors: Saadin Afsoon , Starz-Gaiano Michelle
Published: November 2018

How vesicle trafficking components actively contribute to regulation of paracrine signaling is unclear. We genetically uncovered a requirement for α-soluble NSF attachment protein (α-Snap) in the activation of the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway during Drosophila egg development. α-Snap, a well-conserved vesicle trafficking regulator, mediates association of N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF) and SNAREs to promote vesicle fusion. Depletion of α-Snap or the SNARE family member Syntaxin1A in epithelia blocks polar cells maintenance and prevents specification of motile border cells. Blocking apoptosis rescues polar cell maintenance in α-Snap-depleted egg chambers, indicating that the lack of border cells in mutants is due to impaired signaling. Genetic experiments implicate α-Snap and NSF in secretion of a STAT-activating cytokine. Live imaging suggests that changes in intracellular Ca2+ are linked to this event. Our data suggest a cell-type specific requirement for particular vesicle trafficking components in regulated exocytosis during development. Given the central role for STAT signaling in immunity, this work may shed light on regulation of cytokine release in humans.
Biphasic recruitment of TRF2 to DNA damage sites promotes non-sister chromatid homologous recombination repair
Authors: Kong Xiangduo , Cruz Gladys Mae Saquilabon , Trinh Sally Loyal , Zhu Xu-Dong , Berns Michael W. , Yokomori Kyoko
Published: November 2018

TRF2 (TERF2) binds to telomeric repeats and is critical for telomere integrity. Evidence suggests that it also localizes to non-telomeric DNA damage sites. However, this recruitment appears to be precarious and functionally controversial. We find that TRF2 recruitment to damage sites occurs by a two-step mechanism: the initial rapid recruitment (phase I), and stable and prolonged association with damage sites (phase II). Phase I is poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)-dependent and requires the N-terminal basic domain. The phase II recruitment requires the C-terminal MYB/SANT domain and the iDDR region in the hinge domain, which is mediated by the MRE11 complex and is stimulated by TERT. PARP-dependent recruitment of intrinsically disordered proteins contributes to transient displacement of TRF2 that separates two phases. TRF2 binds to I-PpoI-induced DNA double-strand break sites, which is enhanced by the presence of complex damage and is dependent on PARP and the MRE11 complex. TRF2 depletion affects non-sister chromatid homologous recombination repair, but not homologous recombination between sister chromatids or non-homologous end-joining pathways. Our results demonstrate a unique recruitment mechanism and function of TRF2 at non-telomeric DNA damage sites.
The use of decellularised animal tissue to study disseminating cancer cells
Authors: Grey James F. E. , Campbell-Ritchie Alastair , Everitt Nicola M. , Fezovich Alexander J. , Wheatley Sally P.
Published: November 2018

Since the establishment of cell culture, common practice has been to grow adherent cells in 2D monolayers. Although cells behave completely differently when grown in these artificial conditions, the ease of 2D culturing has meant that this practice still prevails today, and adopting conditions that more closely reflect the natural microenvironment has been met with substantial inertia. The alternative, animal models that mimic natural human physiology, are less accessible, strictly regulated and require licences and expensive facilities. Although transition from 2D to 3D cell culturing is gathering momentum, there is a clear need for alternative culturing methods that more closely resemble in vivo conditions. Here we show that decellularised organs gleaned from discarded animal carcasses are ideal biomimetic scaffolds to support secondary tumour initiation in vitro. This article describes how to decellularise tissue, perform basic histochemistry and immunofluorescence procedures for cell and matrix detection; and follows cancer cell behaviour on this matrix by way of an example. As integration into the traditional work flow is easy and inexpensive we hope this article will encourage other researchers to adopt this approach.
Enigma proteins regulate YAP mechanotransduction
Authors: Elbediwy Ahmed , Vanyai Hannah , Diaz-de-la-Loza Maria-del-Carmen , Frith David , Snijders Ambrosius P. , Thompson Barry J.
Published: November 2018

Human cells can sense mechanical stress acting upon integrin adhesions and respond by sending the YAP (also known as YAP1) and TAZ (also known as WWTR1) transcriptional co-activators to the nucleus to drive TEAD-dependent transcription of target genes. How integrin signaling activates YAP remains unclear. Here, we show that integrin-mediated mechanotransduction requires the Enigma and Enigma-like proteins (PDLIM7 and PDLIM5, respectively; denoted for the family of PDZ and LIM domain-containing proteins). YAP binds to PDLIM5 and PDLIM7 (hereafter PDLIM5/7) via its C-terminal PDZ-binding motif (PBM), which is essential for full nuclear localization and activity of YAP. Accordingly, silencing of PDLIM5/7 expression reduces YAP nuclear localization, tyrosine phosphorylation and transcriptional activity. The PDLIM5/7 proteins are recruited from the cytoplasm to integrin adhesions and F-actin stress fibers in response to force by binding directly to the key stress fiber component α-actinin. Thus, forces acting on integrins recruit Enigma family proteins to trigger YAP activation during mechanotransduction.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
An interaction network between the SNARE VAMP7 and Rab GTPases within a ciliary membrane-targeting complex
Authors: Kandachar Vasundhara , Tam Beatrice M. , Moritz Orson L. , Deretic Dusanka
Published: November 2018

The Arf4–rhodopsin complex (mediated by the VxPx motif in rhodopsin) initiates expansion of vertebrate rod photoreceptor cilia-derived light-sensing organelles through stepwise assembly of a conserved trafficking network. Here, we examine its role in the sorting of VAMP7 (also known as TI-VAMP) – an R-SNARE possessing a regulatory longin domain (LD) – into rhodopsin transport carriers (RTCs). During RTC formation and trafficking, VAMP7 colocalizes with the ciliary cargo rhodopsin and interacts with the Rab11–Rabin8–Rab8 trafficking module. Rab11 and Rab8 bind the VAMP7 LD, whereas Rabin8 (also known as RAB3IP) interacts with the SNARE domain. The Arf/Rab11 effector FIP3 (also known as RAB11FIP3) regulates VAMP7 access to Rab11. At the ciliary base, VAMP7 forms a complex with the cognate SNAREs syntaxin 3 and SNAP-25. When expressed in transgenic animals, a GFP–VAMP7ΔLD fusion protein and a Y45E phosphomimetic mutant colocalize with endogenous VAMP7. The GFP–VAMP7-R150E mutant displays considerable localization defects that imply an important role of the R-SNARE motif in intracellular trafficking, rather than cognate SNARE pairing. Our study defines the link between VAMP7 and the ciliary targeting nexus that is conserved across diverse cell types, and contributes to general understanding of how functional Arf and Rab networks assemble SNAREs in membrane trafficking.
Alpha-synuclein fibrils recruit TBK1 and OPTN to lysosomal damage sites and induce autophagy in microglial cells
Authors: Bussi Claudio , Peralta Ramos Javier M. , Arroyo Daniela S. , Gallea Jose I. , Ronchi Paolo , Kolovou Androniki , Wang Ji M. , Florey Oliver , Celej Maria S. , Schwab Yannick , Ktistakis Nicholas T. , Iribarren Pablo
Published: November 2018

Autophagic dysfunction and protein aggregation have been linked to several neurodegenerative disorders, but the exact mechanisms and causal connections are not clear and most previous work was done in neurons and not in microglial cells. Here, we report that exogenous fibrillary, but not monomeric, alpha-synuclein (AS, also known as SNCA) induces autophagy in microglial cells. We extensively studied the dynamics of this response using both live-cell imaging and correlative light-electron microscopy (CLEM), and found that it correlates with lysosomal damage and is characterised by the recruitment of the selective autophagy-associated proteins TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) and optineurin (OPTN) to ubiquitylated lysosomes. In addition, we observed that LC3 (MAP1LC3B) recruitment to damaged lysosomes was dependent on TBK1 activity. In these fibrillar AS-treated cells, autophagy inhibition impairs mitochondrial function and leads to microglial cell death. Our results suggest that microglial autophagy is induced in response to lysosomal damage caused by persistent accumulation of AS fibrils. Importantly, triggering of the autophagic response appears to be an attempt at lysosomal quality control and not for engulfment of fibrillar AS.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Promoção da saúde: um convite à releitura de imprecisões teóricas na área de Atividade Física e Saúde
Authors: Knuth Alan Goularte , Silva Inacio Crochemore Mohnsam da , Mielke Gregore Iven
Published: November 2018

A noção de “Promoção da Saúde” recebe enorme atenção por parte do núcleo profissional de Educação Física. Entretanto, ela tem sido utilizada de forma indiscriminada. O ensaio pretende visibilizar a relevância de maior demarcação conceitual em torno da Promoção da Saúde e apontar as diferenças teóricas existentes. Dois aspectos são analisados: a simbiose prevenção/promoção da saúde e a abordagem dura em direção aos indivíduos e pouco crítica aos contextos e às condições de vida. À medida que os estudos se situarem teoricamente, caminhos poderão se abrir para embates e amadurecimento teórico-prático da Promoção da Saúde com repercussões nas intervenções, na formação pro ssional e na pesquisa na área. Estranhar o que temos feito é uma premissa nem sempre simpática, contudo é justamente este desprendimento que sinalizará amadurecimento, posicionamento, e, com divergências possíveis, proporcionará densidade conceitual e evolução ao tema Promoção da Saúde na Atividade Física e Saúde.
ACTIVITIES AIMED AT FACILITATION OF COMPETITIVENESS IN THE LATVIAN AQUACULTURE SECTOR
Authors: Biukšāne Inese
Published: November 2018

Aquaculture belongs to the fisheries sector, which is evaluated as a highly productive, competitive and eco-friendly sector. The EU’s and Latvia’s economic breakthrough is related to the aquaculture sector. Participating in the establishment of the Common Fisheries Policy of the EU and using the support provided by the EU’s financial instruments, have given the Latvian aquaculture sector wide opportunities in the facilitation of competitiveness. This paper will aim to evaluate the competitiveness of the Latvian aquaculture sector, providing suggestions for its further development. On the grounds of the Model of the Factors Influencing Competitiveness of the Fisheries Sector Cluster, Aquaculture Competitiveness Index and the offered types of strategies developed by the author, was evaluated and analyzed the competitiveness of Latvian aquaculture sector and provided suggestions for further development of the sector. Significance of the factors and their influence upon competitiveness was checked through Principal component and regression analysis. In the framework of the research was evaluated and analyzed the level of competitiveness in Latvian aquaculture sector, identified ensuring spheres influencing competitiveness and provided suggestions for further development of the sector. The methodology developed within this paper can be used for evaluation of competitiveness of fisheries and its sectors in different countries. The results of the research can be used in elaboration, planning and improvement of the common policy of the sector.
EUROPEAN PUBLIC POLICIES IN THE AREA OF THE DIGITAL ECONOMY AND SOCIETY: COUNTRY PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS
Authors: Folea Victoria
Published: November 2018

The concept of the digital economy and society is quickly changing the reality of how citizens live and work. Originally anchored under the discipline of the information society, the new model of a digital technologies economy and society announces a shift from the knowledge-based to the data-based paradigm. This change was recognized in Europe in 2007, with the European Commission’s Communication “E-skills for the 21st Century: Fostering Competitiveness, Growth and Jobs”. In the following years, many European Union and national public policies and programmes were designed and introduced in Europe in order to keep abreast of the profound changes the model of digital economy and society brings into our world.This paper analyses European public policies’ and programmes’ scope and objectives, evaluating their impact in terms of country-wide digital competitiveness over the period of 2014–2017. The paper provides insights at a European- as well as country-specific levels (via case studies) and covers the following areas: (1) scope and objectives of European public policies for the digital economy and society in Europe; (2) key actors involved in the public policies of the digital economy and society in Europe; (3) evaluation of the European public policies for the digital economy and society in Europe. Quantitative and qualitative research methods were employed for data collection and analysis: database research and analysis, statistical analysis, content and thematic research, and analysis from policy papers and reports.The implementation of digital public policies in the EU from 2014–2017 led to an increase in the number of people with basic and advanced digital skills. However, the number of countries below the EU-28 average in 2017 in terms of human capital preparation for a digital society and economy was high. The digital public policies on the human capital dimension in the EU need to improve in national action and lead with urgency to a significant increase in the number of people with basic and advanced digital skills.
DIGITAL MARKETING PERFORMANCE EVALUATION METHODS
Authors: Gaitniece Elina
Published: November 2018

The share of digital marketing from total marketing spending is increasing fast year by year. Still the majority of companies admit that they are missing clear methods on how to evaluate (positive/negative) effects obtained using digital marketing. As this field of digital marketing is relatively new, there are no firm and widely recognized measurement methods resulting in marketing specialists being confused by an overwhelming amount and variety of different digital marketing metrics and large amounts of data. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to list the existing methods which could help marketers to evaluate their digital marketing campaign effectiveness and to discuss these methods’ effectiveness with experts.  To achieve this aim, the author defined the following objectives for the paper: 1) to explore which digital marketing campaign effectiveness evaluation methods can be found in realized scientific research so far; 2) to assess the strengths and weaknesses of each method by conducting expert interviews; 3) to determine the practical application opportunities for each identified method; and 4) to draw conclusions and make recommendations for the practical usage of the studied methods. Research methods used were secondary data analysis and expert interviews. The secondary data analysis contained reviews of scientific research results in the field mentioned above. The expert interviews covered in-depth interviews with the main stakeholders – leading online retailers in the Baltics and digital marketing experts. The results show that the conversion evaluation method is most frequently used in theory and in practice as it can be best connected with direct business goals to increase sales. It also highlights that each method has some benefits to be used in specific situations, with specific aims.
THE IMPACT OF INSTITUTIONAL EFFICIENCY ON THE FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT INFLOWS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Authors: Galenkova Alena D. , Drapkin Igor M. , Mariev Oleg S.
Published: November 2018

The aim of this paper is assessing the impact of the effectiveness of the country's institutions on the foreign direct investment inflows in developing countries with the use of econometric modeling. We put forward a hypothesis about the positive impact of institutional factors on the foreign direct investment inflow. The overall influence of institutions is evaluated using the multiplication of the index of economic freedom and the state fragility index, as two indices, most fully characterizing the disjoint groups of the institutions. To achieve the main goal of the study, we accomplish the econometric modeling based on data from the World Bank, the Heritage Foundation and the Fund for Peace from 1995 to 2015. As the main tool of econometric analysis, a panel regression with fixed effects is used and the technique of a two-step least-squares regression analysis method with instrumental variables is used to solve a possible endogeneity problem in the model. As a result of the study, an assessment of the overall impact of institutional factors through the composition of indices was carried out and a hypothesis about the positive impact of institutional factors on the inflow of foreign direct investment in developing countries was confirmed.
EMPLOYER BRANDING ON THE WEB: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF THE SELECTED POLISH COMPANIES
Authors: Grzesiuk Kalina , Wawer Monika
Published: November 2018

This article concerns employer branding strategies implemented by the selected Polish companies. The main purpose of this paper is to present the current state of network tools utilization among the largest Polish private firms listed in 2017 by the Forbes Magazine. The media taken into consideration included the company’s website career page and the firm’s presence on the job related network sites such as: LinkedIn, GoldenLine, GoWork.pl and Pracuj.pl. The research described in this paper was based on a case study method. The results show that the company’s website and the social network sites are effective tools for building a firm’s profile as a part of employer branding strategies. However, with such a wide choice of the job related services available, a company must choose the services that allow the company to address the right target audience for active and passive job seekers.
ANALYSIS OF BITCOIN MARKET EFFICIENCY BY USING MACHINE LEARNING
Authors: Hirano Yuki , Pichl Lukáš , Eom Cheoljun , Kaizoji Taisei
Published: November 2018

The issue of market efficiency for cryptocurrency exchanges has been largely unexplored. Here we put Bitcoin, the leading cryptocurrency, on a test by studying the applicability of the Efficient Market Hypothesis by Fama from two viewpoints: (1) the existence of profitable arbitrage spread among Bitcoin exchanges, and (2) the possibility to predict Bitcoin prices in EUR (time period 2013-2017) and the direction of price movement (up or down) on the daily trading scale.  Our results show that the Bitcoin market in the time period studied is partially inefficient. Thus the market process is predictable to a degree, hence not a pure martingale. In particular, the F-measure for XBTEUR time series obtained by three major recurrent neural network based machine learning methods was about 67%, i.e. a way above the unbiased coin tossing odds of 50% equal chance.
DETERMINANTS OF EFFECTIVE PRODUCT PLACEMENT IN COMPUTER GAMES – LITERATURE REVIEW
Authors: Hofman-Kohlmeyer Magdalena Hofman-Kohlmeyer
Published: November 2018

Product placement is a common tool in promotional campaign. Marketers feature products in the plot of movies or TV programs to improve brand image and influence purchase decisions. Companies more often decide to embed products or brand identifiers inside computer games. Product placement attracts attention of managers as well as scholars. Vast parts of research focused on determinants of effective product placement in a game environment. The present paper aims to represent the main determinants that influence the effectiveness of product placement and is based on literature review.INTRODUCTION: Recently, we have witnessed the evolution of product placement in computer games. This new medium attracted many well-known companies such as IBM, Adidas or Coca-Cola. According to the growing popularity of placing product in games, an increase in scientists' interest in the effectiveness of this phenomenon can be observed. Research focuses on evaluating players' brand memory, attitudes toward to the game, product or brand, and purchasing intentions. It is important to note that brands placed in games affect the audience in different degrees because the brand can be featured in various ways. Some of the scholars investigated the factors that can exert influence on the effectiveness of product placement in computer games.OBJECTIVES: The present paper is aimed to investigate the main determinants of effective product placement in computer games.METHODS: The article is based on polish and foreign literature review.RESULTS: The growing ranks of scholars has been observed to have interest in the effectiveness of product placement in computer games. According to the literature, it can be said that an effectiveness of product (or brand) placement in a game environment is determined by: the degree of product/brand visibility in the game (prominence as well as proximity), game-product congruity, customer engagement in a game, persuasive knowledge, and strategy of product or brand integration with the game. There is also research that explores how these determinants influence product placement effectiveness in a game environment.CONCLUSION: Despite the progress made, there are still important limitations of the conducted research, e.g. results can be moderate by various circumstances such as using fictitious or real brands. In addition, the same factor can have positive as well as negative effects. For instance, product placement proximity on the one hand enhances brand recall, but on the other can cause negative attitudes toward the brand. There are also determinants with limited research such as influence of product or brand integration with the game on product (or brand) effectiveness.
AN ANALYTICAL STUDY OF INFORMATION SECURITY MANAGEMENT IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR OF ALBANIA
Authors: Kuka Elda
Published: November 2018

Public sector organizations are in the early stages of adopting information security management in Albania. Organizations who have adopted these processes have underestimated information security within the governance framework. This study specifically investigates the information security management within public sector organizations. Its objective is to align local organizations with international standards and frameworks in terms of integrating information security management and information technology audits, risks, and control measures. A survey of selected organizations is completed and results are presented in this paper identifying the maturity level of information security management in Albanian organizations.
STRATEGY OF INCLUSIVE ECONOMY PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Authors: Lokota Oleg V. , Burov Andrey V. , Medyakova Ekaterina M.
Published: November 2018

The potential of the concept of inclusive sustainable growth and the opportunity of the effective implementation of this concept by means of the application of a project management framework are investigated in this article on the basis of the analysis of world practice and peculiarities of the current state of the national economy. The article presents some historical highlights on inclusive economy development both in Russia and abroad as well as peculiarities and benefits of project management as a key approach in achieving of inclusive growth. As a result, authors presented the 4-layer model of indicators to evaluate and adjust the inclusive development.