bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DARPP-32 and t-DARPP promote lung cancer growth through IKKα-dependent cell migration and Akt/Erk-mediated cell survival
Authors: Alam Sk. Kayum , Astone Matteo , Liu Ping , Hall Stephanie R. , Coyle Abbygail M. , Dankert Erin N. , Hoffman Dane K. , Zhang Wei , Kuang Rui , Roden Anja C. , Mansfield Aaron S. , Hoeppner Luke H.
Published: December 2017

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. In this study, we demonstrate that elevated expression of dopamine and cyclic adenosine monophosphate-regulated phosphoprotein, Mr 32000 (DARPP-32) and its truncated splice variant t-DARPP promotes lung tumor growth, while abrogation of DARPP-32 expression in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells reduces tumor growth in orthotopic mouse models. We observe a novel physical interaction between DARPP-32 and inhibitory kappa B kinase-α (IKKα) that promotes NSCLC cell migration through non-canonical nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells 2 (NF-κB2) signaling. Bioinformatics analysis of 513 lung adenocarcinoma patients reveals elevated t-DARPP isoform expression is associated with poor overall survival. Histopathological investigation of 62 human lung adenocarcinoma tissues also showed that t-DARPP expression is elevated with increasing tumor (T) stage. Our data suggest that DARPP-32 is a negative prognostic marker associated with increasing stages of NSCLC and may represent a novel therapeutic target.
TahcoRoll: An Efficient Approach for Signature Profiling in Genomic Data through Variable-Length k-mers
Authors: Ju Chelsea J.-T. , Jiang Jyun-Yu , Li Ruirui , Li Zeyu , Wang Wei
Published: December 2017

k-mer profiling has been one of the trending approaches to analyze read data generated by high-throughput sequencing technologies. The tasks of k-mer profiling include, but are not limited to, counting the frequencies and determining the occurrences of short sequences in a dataset. The notion of k-mer has been extensively used to build de Bruijn graphs in genome or transcriptome assembly, which requires examining all possible k-mers presented in the dataset. Recently, an alternative way of profiling has been proposed, which constructs a set of representative k-mers as genomic markers and profiles their occurrences in the sequencing data. This technique has been applied in both transcript quantification through RNA-Seq and taxonomic classification of metagenomic reads. Most of these applications use a set of fixed-size k-mers since the majority of existing k-mer counters are inadequate to process genomic sequences with variable-length k-mers. However, choosing the appropriate k is challenging, as it varies for different applications. As a pioneer work to profile a set of variable-length k-mers, we propose TahcoRoll in order to enhance the Aho-Corasick algorithm. More specifically, we use one bit to represent each nucleotide, and integrate the rolling hash technique to construct an efficient in-memory data structure for this task. Using both synthetic and real datasets, results show that TahcoRoll outperforms existing approaches in either or both time and memory efficiency without using any disk space. In addition, compared to the most efficient state-of-the-art k-mer counters, such as KMC and MSBWT, TahcoRoll is the only approach that can process long read data from both PacBio and Oxford Nanopore on a commodity desktop computer. The source code of TahcoRoll is implemented in C++14, and available at https://github.com/chelseaju/TahcoRoll.git.
A CRISPR screening approach for identifying novel autophagy-related factors and cytoplasm-to-lysosome trafficking routes
Authors: Shoemaker Christopher J , Huang Tina Q , Weir Nicholas R , Polyakov Nicole , Denic Vladimir
Published: December 2017

Selective autophagy comprises cytoplasm-to-lysosome trafficking routes that transport cargos using double-membrane vesicles (autophagosomes). Cargos are detected by receptor proteins, which typically also bind to lipid-conjugated LC3 proteins on autophagosome membranes. We dissected lysosomal delivery of four SQSTM1-like receptors by genome-wide CRISPR screening looking for novel autophagy-related (ATG) factors and trafficking routes. We uncovered new mammalian ATG factors including TMEM41B, an endoplasmic reticulum membrane protein required for autophagosome membrane expansion and/or closure. Furthermore, we found that certain receptors remain robustly targeted to the lysosome even in the absence of ATG7 or other LC3 conjugation factors. Lastly, we identified a unique genetic fingerprint behind receptor flux in ATG7KO cells, which includes factors implicated in nucleating autophagosome formation and vesicle trafficking factors. Our work uncovers new ATG factors, reveals a malleable network of autophagy receptor genetic interactions, and provides a valuable resource (http://crispr.deniclab.com) for further mining of novel autophagy mechanisms.
Quantitative mass imaging of single molecules in solution
Authors: Young Gavin , Hundt Nikolas , Cole Daniel , Fineberg Adam , Andrecka Joanna , Tyler Andrew , Olerinyova Anna , Ansari Ayla , Marklund Erik G. , Collier Miranda P. , Chandler Shane A. , Tkachenko Olga , Allen Joel , Crispin Max , Billington Neil , Takagi Yasuharu , Sellers James R. , Eichmann Cedric , Selenko Philip , Frey Lukas , Riek Roland , Galpin Martin R. , Struwe Weston B. , Benesch Justin L.P. , Kukura Philipp
Published: December 2017

The cellular processes underpinning life are orchestrated by proteins and their interactions. Structural and dynamic heterogeneity, despite being key to protein and drug function, continues to pose a fundamental challenge to existing analytical and structural methodologies used to study these associations. Here, we use interferometric scattering microscopy to mass-image single biomolecules in solution with <2% mass error, up to 19-kDa resolution and 1-kDa precision. Thereby, we resolve oligomeric distributions at high dynamic range, detect small-molecule binding, and mass-image biomolecules composed not only of amino acids, but also heterogeneous species, such as lipo- and glycoproteins. These capabilities enable us to characterize the molecular mechanisms of processes as diverse as oligomeric selfassembly, glycoprotein cross-linking, amyloidogenic protein aggregation, and actin polymerization. Interferometric scattering mass spectrometry (iSCAMS) provides spatially resolved access to the dynamics of biomolecular interactions ranging from those involving small molecules to mesoscopic assemblies, one molecule at a time.
A simple mung bean infection model for studying the virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Garge Sneha , Azimi Sheyda , Diggle Stephen P.
Published: December 2017

Here we highlight the development of a simple and high throughput mung bean model to study virulence in the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The model is easy to setup and infection and virulence can be monitored for up to 10 days. In a first test of the model, we found that mung bean seedlings infected with PAO1 showed poor development of roots and high mortality rates compared to un-infected controls. We also found that a quorum sensing (QS) mutant was significantly less virulent when compared with the PAO1 wild type. Our work introduces a new tool for studying virulence in P. aeruginosa, that will allow for high throughput virulence studies of mutants, and for testing the in vivo efficacy of new therapies at a time when new antimicrobial drugs are desperately needed.
Testing hypotheses about the microbiome using the linear decomposition model (LDM)
Authors: Hu Yi-Juan , Satten Glen A.
Published: December 2017

Motivation

Methods for analyzing microbiome data generally fall into one of two groups: tests of the global hypothesis of any microbiome effect, which do not provide any information on the contribution of individual operational taxonomic units (OTUs); and tests for individual OTUs, which do not typically provide a global test of microbiome effect. Without a unified approach, the findings of a global test may be hard to resolve with the findings at the individual OTU level. Further, many tests of individual OTU effects do not preserve the false discovery rate (FDR).

Results

We introduce the linear decomposition model (LDM), that provides a single analysis path that includes global tests of any effect of the microbiome, tests of the effects of individual OTUs while accounting for multiple testing by controlling the FDR, and a connection to distance-based ordination. The LDM accommodates both continuous and discrete variables (e.g., clinical outcomes, environmental factors) as well as interaction terms to be tested either singly or in combination, allows for adjustment of confounding covariates, and uses permutation-based p-values that can control for correlation. The LDM can also be applied to transformed data, and an “omnibus” test can easily combine results from analyses conducted on different transformation scales. We also provide a new implementation of PERMANOVA based on our approach. For global testing, our simulations indicate the LDM provided correct type I error and can have comparable power to existing distance-based methods. For testing individual OTUs, our simulations indicate the LDM controlled the FDR well. In contrast, DESeq2 often had inflated FDR; MetagenomeSeq generally had the lowest sensitivity. The flexibility of the LDM for a variety of microbiome studies is illustrated by the analysis of data from two microbiome studies. We also show that our implementation of PERMANOVA can outperform existing implementations.
The Activation of MEK1 by Enhanced Homodimerization Drives Tumorigenesis
Authors: Yuan Jimin , Ng Wan Hwa , Tian Zizi , Yap Jiajun , Baccarini Manuela , Chen Zhongzhou , Hu Jiancheng
Published: December 2017

Hyperactive RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling has a well-defined role in cancer biology. Aberrant pathway activation occurs mostly upstream of MEK; however, MEK mutations are prevalent in some cancer subsets. Here we show that cancer-related MEK mutants can be classified as those activated by relieving the inhibitory role of helix A, and those with in-frame deletions of β3-αC loop, which exhibit differential resistance to MEK inhibitors in vitro and in vivo. The β3-αC loop deletions activate MEK1 through enhancing homodimerization that can drive intradimer cross-phosphorylation of activation loop. Further, we demonstrate that MEK1 dimerization is required both for its activation by RAF and for its catalytic activity towards ERK. Our study identifies a novel group of MEK mutants, illustrates some key steps in RAF/MEK/ERK activation, and has important implications for the design of therapies targeting hyperactive RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling in cancers.
Quantitative morphological variation in the developing Drosophila wing
Authors: Matamoro-Vidal Alexis , Huang Yunxian , Salazar-Ciudad Isaac , Shimmi Osamu , Houle David
Published: December 2017

Quantitative variation in morphology is pervasive in all species and is the basis for the evolution of differences among species. The developmental causes of such variation are a relatively neglected research topic. Quantitative comparisons of variation arising at different developmental stages with the variation in the final structure enable us to determine when variation arises, and to generate hypotheses about the causes of that variation. We measured shape and size variation in the wing of Drosophila melanogaster at three developmental stages: late third instar, post-pupariation and in the adult fly. Flies of a wild-type and two mutants (shf and ds) with effects on the adult wing shape and size were studied. Despite experimental noise related to the difficulty of comparing developing structures, we found consistent differences in wing shape and size at each developmental stage between genotypes. In addition we provide linear rules allowing to link late disc morphology with early wings. Our approach provides a framework to analyze quantitative morphological variation in the developing fly wing. This framework should help to characterize the natural variation of the larval and pupal wing shape, and to measure the contribution of the processes occurring during these developmental stages to the natural variation in adult wing morphology.
Transfer RNA genes experience exceptionally elevated mutation rates
Authors: Thornlow Bryan P. , Hough Josh , Roger Jacquelyn M. , Gong Henry , Lowe Todd M. , Corbett-Detig Russell B.
Published: December 2017

Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are a central component for the biological synthesis of proteins, and they are among the most highly conserved and frequently transcribed genes in all living things. Despite their clear significance for fundamental cellular processes, the forces governing tRNA evolution are poorly understood. We present evidence that transcription-associated mutagenesis and strong purifying selection are key determinants of patterns of sequence variation within and surrounding tRNA genes in humans and diverse model organisms. Remarkably, the mutation rate at broadly expressed cytosolic tRNA loci is likely between seven and ten times greater than the nuclear genome average. Furthermore, evolutionary analyses provide strong evidence that tRNA genes, but not their flanking sequences, experience strong purifying selection, acting against this elevated mutation rate. We also find a strong correlation between tRNA expression levels and the mutation rates in their immediate flanking regions, suggesting a simple new method for estimating individual tRNA gene activity. Collectively, this study illuminates the extreme competing forces in tRNA gene evolution, and implies that mutations at tRNA loci contribute disproportionately to mutational load and have unexplored fitness consequences in human populations.

Significance Statement

While transcription-associated mutagenesis (TAM) has been demonstrated for protein coding genes, its implications in shaping genome structure at transfer RNA (tRNA) loci in metazoans have not been fully appreciated. We show that cytosolic tRNAs are a striking example of TAM because of their variable rates of transcription, well-defined boundaries and internal promoter sequences. tRNA loci have a mutation rate approximately seven-to tenfold greater than the genome-wide average, and these mutations are consistent with signatures of TAM. These observations indicate that tRNA loci are disproportionately large contributors to mutational load in the human genome. Furthermore, the correlations between tRNA locus variation and transcription implicate that prediction of tRNA gene expression based on sequence variation data is possible.
Folic acid preventsC. elegansfolate deficiency indirectly via bacterial uptake of a breakdown product: a route that can also increase bacterial toxicity and ageing
Authors: Maynard Claire , Cummins Ian , Green Jacalyn , Weinkove David
Published: December 2017

Supplementation with the synthetic oxidised folate, folic acid is used to prevent neural tube defects and other symptoms of folate deficiency. However, several unanswered questions remain over folic acid efficacy, safety and interactions with gut microbes. Prevention of a development defect caused by folate deficiency in the nematode wormCaenorhabditis elegansrequires > 10 fold higher concentrations of folic acid compared to folinic acid, a reduced folate. Here we show that the major route for folic acid to restore normal development is indirect via theEscherichia coliused to feedC. elegans.This route occurs mainly via theE. colitransporter AbgT, which takes up the folic acid breakdown product para-aminobenzoate-glutamate (PABA-glu). We found that folic acid preparations, including a commercial supplement, contain 0.3- 4.0 % of this breakdown product. Previously, we have shown that inhibiting bacterial folate synthesis increasesC. eleganslifespan by removing a life-shortening bacterial activity. Here, we show that folic acid restores bacterial folate synthesis and reverses this lifespan increase. It is still to be determined whether this bacterial route increases host folate levels in humans and if there are situations where increased bacterial folate synthesis has negative health complications.
Efficient high-order suppression system for a metrology beamline
Authors: Sokolov A. , Sertsu M. G. , Gaupp A. , Lüttecke M. , Schäfers F.
Published: December 2017

High-quality metrology with synchrotron radiation requires in particular a very high spectral purity of the incident beam. This is usually achieved by a set of transmission filters with suitable absorption edges to suppress high-order radiation of the monochromator. The at-wavelength metrology station at a BESSY-II bending-magnet collimated plane-grating monochromator (c-PGM) beamline has recently commissioned a high-order suppression system (HiOS) based on four reflections from mirrors which can be inserted into the beam path. Two pairs of mirrors are aligned parallel so as not to disturb the original beam path and are rotated clockwise and counter-clockwise. Three sets of coatings are available for the different energy ranges and the incidence angle is freely tunable to find the optimum figure of merit for maximum suppression at maximum transmission for each photon energy required. Measured performance results of the HiOS for the EUV and XUV range are compared with simulations, and applications are discussed.
Four closely related N-(3-benzoyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophen-2-yl)benzamides: order versus disorder, and similar molecular conformations but different modes of supramolecular aggregation, with a new disordered refinement of 2-amino-3-benzoyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophene
Authors: Sagar Belakavadi K. , Yathirajan Hemmige S. , Rathore Ravindranath S. , Glidewell Christopher
Published: December 2017

Four closely related N-(3-benzoyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophen-2-yl)benzamides, bearing different substituents on the benzamide ring, have been synthesized and structurally characterized. In each of N-(3-benzoyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophen-2-yl)-3-fluorobenzamide, C22H18FNO2S, (I), N-(3-benzoyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophen-2-yl)-4-chlorobenzamide, C22H18ClNO2S, (II), N-(3-benzoyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophen-2-yl)-2,6-difluorobenzamide, C22H17F2NO2S, (III), and N-(3-benzoyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophen-2-yl)-2-methoxybenzamide, C23H21NO3S, (IV), the last of which crystallizes with Z′ = 2 in the space group P\overline{1}, the fused six-membered ring adopts a half-chair conformation. In each of (I)–(III), this ring is disordered over two sets of atomic sites having occupancies of 0.811 (6) and 0.189 (6) in (I), 0.645 (7) and 0.355 (7) in (II), and 0.784 (6) and 0.216 (6) in (III), such that the two disorder components of the ring are almost enantiomeric. Molecules of (I) are linked into chains by π–π stacking interactions, and those of (II) are linked into chains by a C—H...π hydrogen bond. A combination of two C—H...O hydrogen bonds and two C—H...π hydrogen bonds links the molecules of (III) into complex sheets, but the molecules of (IV) are linked by a combination of two hydrogen bonds, one each of the C—H...O and C—H...π types, to form centrosymmetric tetramers. The structures of (I)–(IV) are compared with that of the unsubstituted analogue N-(3-benzoyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophen-2-yl)benzamide and a new refinement of the parent amine 2-amino-3-benzoyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophene, using the original data set, has found that here too the fused six-membered ring exhibits conformational disorder, with occupancies of 0.887 (9) and 0.113 (9). Comparisons are made with some related compounds.
Substituent position effect on the crystal structures of N-phenyl-2-phthalimidoethanesulfonamide derivatives
Authors: Sevinçek Resul , Barut Celepci Duygu , Köktaş Koca Serap , Akgül Özlem , Aygün Muittin
Published: December 2017

In order to determine the impact of different substituents and their positions on intermolecular interactions and ultimately on the crystal packing, unsubstituted N-phenyl-2-phthalimidoethanesulfonamide, C16H14N2O4S, (I), and the N-(4-nitrophenyl)-, C16H13N3O6S, (II), N-(4-methoxyphenyl)-, C16H16N3O6S, (III), and N-(2-ethylphenyl)-, as the monohydrate, C18H18N2O4S·H2O, (IV), derivatives have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Sulfonamides (I) and (II) have triclinic crystal systems, while (III) and (IV) are monoclinic. Although the molecules differ from each other only with respect to small substituents and their positions, they crystallized in different space groups as a result of differing intra- and intermolecular hydrogen-bond interactions. The structures of (I), (II) and (III) are stabilized by intermolecular N—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen bonds, while that of (IV) is stabilized by intermolecular O—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen bonds. All four structures are of interest with respect to their biological activities and have been studied as part of a program to develop anticonvulsant drugs for the treatment of epilepsy.
Quasicrystals: What do we know? What do we want to know? What can we know?
Authors: Steurer Walter
Published: December 2017

More than 35 years and 11 000 publications after the discovery of quasicrystals by Dan Shechtman, quite a bit is known about their occurrence, formation, stability, structures and physical properties. It has also been discovered that quasiperiodic self-assembly is not restricted to intermetallics, but can take place in systems on the meso- and macroscales. However, there are some blank areas, even in the centre of the big picture. For instance, it has still not been fully clarified whether quasicrystals are just entropy-stabilized high-temperature phases or whether they can be thermodynamically stable at 0 K as well. More studies are needed for developing a generally accepted model of quasicrystal growth. The state of the art of quasicrystal research is briefly reviewed and the main as-yet unanswered questions are addressed, as well as the experimental limitations to finding answers to them. The focus of this discussion is on quasicrystal structure analysis as well as on quasicrystal stability and growth mechanisms.
The role of local accounting standard setters in institutional complexity
Authors: Matsubara Saori , Endo Takahiro
Published: December 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to locate the role of local standard setters in institutional complexity, where multiple sources of pressure for change and continuity coexist. The existing research does not fully explore this since it tends to illustrate the way in which a particular interpretation concerning certain accounting standards prevails over time (Archelet al., 2011; Murphy and O’Connell, 2013; Pelger, 2016; Young, 2014).

Design/methodology/approach

It empirically examines and critiques the Japanese experience through the concepts of institutional complexity and translation that specify the relationship between the name and types of practice of accounting standards in the local context (Czarniawska and Sevón, 1996, 2005; Erlingsdóttfr and Lindberg, 2005; Røvik, 2016; Sahlin and Wedlin, 2008). Data sources are texts produced (between 2001 and 2015) by the local accounting standard setter and relevant organisations that represent firms, the certified public accountants and regulatory agency, respectively.

Findings

The local accounting standard setter in Japan was exposed to competing pressures between change and maintenance, which was translated by the standard setter in Japan. Consequently, the translation led to an “explosion” of local accounting standards (“pure” International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), Japanese Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), modified IFRS and US GAAP).

Originality/value

This paper is the first attempt to systematically examine the role of a local standard setter under institutional complexity. It illustrates how institutional complexity is turned into divergent outcomes against the assumption of previous research that indicates multiple interpretations of particular accounting standards finally merging into a specific one.
Trust and control in evolving inter-organisational relationships
Authors: Varoutsa Evangelia , Scapens Robert W.
Published: December 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to debates about the relationship between trust and control in the governance of inter-organisational relationships. In particular, the authors focus on the question of how the relationship between trust and control shifts over time.

Design/methodology/approach

An in-depth case study was conducted in a company operating in the aerospace industry. The authors aim to understand this company’s practices and, at the same time, to use the case study to deepen the knowledge of the complex trust/control nexus. The authors follow the changes in the relationship between trust and control as the company restructured its supply chain, and discuss issues which it had to address in the later phases of the supply chain restructuring.

Findings

The paper illustrates the duality of the trust/control nexus. The authors show how the studied company coped with the complex relationships with its suppliers as collaboration increased. The authors identify particular control mechanisms that the company developed to manage such complexity, such as a supplier strategy and a relationship profile tool.

Research limitations/implications

The paper studies supply chain restructuring and the changing relationship of trust and control over time only from the perspective of the assembler/manufacturer which “owns”/manages the supply chain.

Originality/value

The authors observe a move from inter-personal trust to inter-organisational trust. Furthermore, the authors illustrate how managers can intervene to maintain and stabilise trust and ensure that trust and control do not degrade or escalate beyond desirable levels.
Stigma management and justifications of the self in denazification accounts
Authors: Detzen Dominic , Hoffmann Sebastian
Published: December 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study how two accounting professors at a German university dealt with their denazification, a process carried out by the Allied Forces following the Second World War to free German society from Nazi ideology. It is argued that the professors carried a stigma due to their affiliation with a university that had been aligned with the Nazi state apparatus.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses Goffman’s work on “Stigma” (1963/1986) and “Frame Analysis” (1974/1986) to explore how the professors aimed to dismiss any link with the Nazi regime. Primary sources from the university archives were accessed with a particular focus on the professors’ post-war justification accounts.

Findings

The paper shows how the professors created a particular frame, which they supported by downplaying frame breaks, primarily their Nazi party memberships. Instead, they were preoccupied with what Goffman (1974/1986) terms “the vulnerability of experience,” exploiting that their past behavior requires context and is thus open to interpretation. The professors themselves provide this guidance to readers, which is a strategy that we call “authoring” of past information.

Originality/value

The paper shows how “counter accounts” can be constructed by assigning roles and powers to characters therein and by providing context and interpreting behavior on behalf of the readers. It is suggested that this “authoring” of past information is successful only on the surface. A closer examination unveils ambiguity, making this strategy risky and fragile.
Stakeholder engagement in sustainability accounting and reporting
Authors: Kaur Amanpreet , Lodhia Sumit
Published: December 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how stakeholders are engaged in the sustainability accounting and reporting processes of Australian local councils.

Design/methodology/approach

Managerial stakeholder theory through the use of the notion of stakeholder salience provides a theoretical basis for exploring stakeholder engagement in the sustainability accounting and reporting process. Case study research was used to explore the stakeholder engagement practices of three Australian local councils. Data collection methods included interviews and document analysis.

Findings

The findings of this research identified the importance of stakeholder engagement in the entire sustainability accounting and reporting process, the development of strategic plans and sustainability indicators, the measurement of sustainability performance and the preparation of sustainability reports.

Research limitations/implications

This study, by integrating the sustainability accounting and reporting literature with the stakeholder salience concepts of power, legitimacy, urgency and proximity, illustrates the critical role of stakeholder engagement in the sustainability accounting and reporting process of three local councils.

Practical implications

This study has implications for public sector organisations (PSOs) and their stakeholders in relation to stakeholder engagement in sustainability accounting and reporting. The findings of this study will also be useful to corporations in understanding the importance of stakeholder engagement in sustainability accounting and reporting.

Social implications

The public sector is expected to be a leader in sustainability and this paper provides evidence of three councils who through their stakeholder engagement provide exemplars of useful practices that could be adopted by other entities.

Originality/value

Prior research in PSOs has primarily focused on the sustainability accounting and reporting process but has given limited consideration to the involvement of stakeholders. The focus on stakeholder engagement through the use of managerial stakeholder theory extends the role of stakeholders from merely being an audience for sustainability reports to an influential contributor in the sustainability accounting and reporting process.
Effects of goal orientation, self-efficacy and task complexity on the audit judgement performance of Malaysian auditors
Authors: Mohd Sanusi Zuraidah , Iskandar Takiah Mohd , Monroe Gary S. , Saleh Norman Mohd
Published: December 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of self-efficacy, goal orientation and task complexity on audit judgement performance in correctly linking audit procedures to audit objectives and types of misstatements.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted an experiment audit with 154 auditors from small and medium audit firms in Malaysia as participants. The experimental task required them to link audit procedures to audit objectives and types of misstatements.

Findings

For sample of auditors from small and medium audit firms in Malaysia, the authors found that learning goal orientation has a stronger effect on audit judgement performance than performance-approach and performance-avoidance goal orientations. Self-efficacy mediates the effect of goal orientation when an audit task is less complex compared to when the task is more complex.

Research limitations/implications

These results highlight the importance of social cognitive factors in explaining variations in audit judgement performance for audit judgement tasks with different levels of complexity.

Originality/value

The incorporation of individual psychological differences as explanatory variables in audit judgement studies may lead to a better understanding of auditors’ judgement and decision-making processes in small and medium audit firms located in developing economies.
Bubble flow simulations using the intersection marker (ISM) interface tracking method
Authors: Ho Mark , Yeoh Guan Heng , Reizes John Arthur , Timchenko Victoria
Published: December 2017

Purpose

Interface distinct two-phase computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations require accurate tracking in surface curvature, surface area and volume fraction data to precisely calculate effects such as surface tension, interphase momentum and interphase heat and mass transfer exchanges. To attain a higher level of accuracy in two-phase flow CFD simulations, the intersection marker (ISM) method was developed. The ISM method has cell-by-cell remeshing capability that is volume conservative, maintains surface continuity and is suited for the tracking of interface deformation in transient two-phase flow simulations. Studies of isothermal single bubbles rising in quiescent water were carried out to test the ISM method for two-phase flow simulations.

Design/methodology/approach

The ISM method is a hybrid Lagrangian–Eulerian front tracking algorithm which can model an arbitrary three-dimensional surface within an array of cubic control volumes. Fortran95 was used to implement the ISM method, which resulted in approximately 25,000+ lines of written code and comments. To demonstrate the feasibility of the ISM algorithm for two-phase flow simulations, the ISM algorithm was coupled with an in-house CFD code, which was modified to simulate two-phase flows using a single fluid formulation. The constitutional equations incorporated terms of variable density and viscosity. In addition, body force source terms were included in the momentum equation to account for surface tension and buoyancy effects.

Findings

The performance of two-phase flow simulations was benchmarked against experimental data for four air/water bubbles with 1, 2.5, 5 and 10 mm of diameter rising in quiescent fluid. A variety of bubble sizes were tested to demonstrate the accuracy of the ISM interface tracking method. The results attained were in close agreement with experimental observations.

Practical implications

The results obtained show that the ISM method is a viable means for interface tracking of two-phase flow CFD simulations. Other applications of the ISM method include simulations of solid–fluid interaction and other immersed boundary flow problems.

Originality/value

The ISM method is a novel approach to front tracking, and the results shown are original in content.
A survey on ACO based multipath routing algorithms for ad hoc networks
Authors: Sharma Ishu , Ramkumar K.R.
Published: December 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the existing routing algorithms for wireless ad hoc networks to evaluate the methods according to the current requirements. Wireless ad hoc network can provide communication in emergency situations. Active nodes in ad hoc network work as sender, receiver and router at the same time. Nodes are equipped with limited bandwidth and energy. Optimal routing method can help in “smart use” of available resources. Evolvement of routing method based on need is a continuous process. Numerous applications of ad hoc network motivates researcher for further development to fulfill the need of society.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, routing algorithms for ad hoc network based on ant colony optimization, multipath routing and with multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna support have been discussed.

Findings

Comparative analysis has been drawn among existing algorithms of different categories. Transmitting message packets parallel through multiple paths in the network can save overall resource usage in the network.

Originality/value

The authors have discussed the future area of development for optimal routing in ad hoc networks. Considering signal noise ratio and congestion status while selecting path can provide better energy use in the network. Rather than leaving less prioritized route paths, multiple paths can be used for sending data packets parallel.
Hope, harmony and humanity: creating a positive social climate in a democratic therapeutic community prison and the implications for penal practice
Authors: Bennett Jamie , Shuker Richard
Published: December 2017

Purpose

There has been growing attention given to the concept of social climate as an element of prison practice. Research has indicated that more positive social climates can improve safety, psychological well-being, quality of life and contribute towards reduced reoffending. The purpose of this paper is to consider how the more positive social climates found in democratic therapeutic communities are constructed and how these practices can be replicated in other settings.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper adopts a reflective practice approach. The intention is to look back at the concept of social climate in prisons and in particular within a prison-based democratic therapeutic community (DTC); draw upon research and theory in order to critically evaluate the nature and effectiveness of that social climate, and; draw wider lessons about the nurturing and maintenance of social climates that may have broader relevance in prisons.

Findings

It is concluded that understanding and managing social climate is an essential aspect of improving the safety and effectiveness of prisons. Developing practices that enhance social climate requires looking beyond mainstream prison practices, towards niches such as specialist units and prisons, including DTCs and other therapeutic communities, and psychologically informed environments, as well as looking at practices in other settings including forensic mental health. Taking this wider perspective can be source of ideas and practice that could inform a profound culture change.

Originality/value

The paper offers an attempt to understand the distinct practices that create a more positive social climate in DTCs and consider how elements of this could be exported to other prisons. This has implications for both penal theory and practice.
Generalized pustular psoriasis in a 92‐year‐old man with a homozygous nonsense mutation in IL36RN
Authors: Ueda Yoshitaka , Komine Mayumi , Kamiya Koji , Tsuda Hidetoshi , Maekawa Takeo , Murata Satoru , Ohtsuki Mamitaro
Published: December 2017

A 92‐year‐old man developed an erythematous eruption on the trunk and extremities with numerous pustules accompanied by fever. He had never experienced pustular eruption or been diagnosed with psoriasis previously. Skin biopsy revealed Kogoj's spongiform pustule, and he was diagnosed with generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP). Genomic DNA was extracted from his peripheral blood and the sequence of IL36RN gene was analyzed, which revealed a p.Arg10X homozygous mutation. Several cases of elderly‐onset GPP have been reported, however, this is the oldest case of GPP. The existence of splice variants of IL36RN was suspected, but we could not detect any splice variants of IL36RN in this case or in a healthy control from peripheral blood samples.
Case of thymoma‐associated cutaneous graft‐versus‐host disease‐like disease successfully improved by narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy
Authors: Yatsuzuka Kazuki , Tohyama Mikiko , Oda Fumiko , Hashimoto Takashi , Sayama Koji
Published: December 2017

Thymoma‐associated graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD)‐like disease is a rare paraneoplastic disease seen in patients with thymoma. Here, we describe the first case of thymoma‐associated GVHD‐like disease localized to the skin that was successfully improved by a combination of systemic corticosteroids and whole‐body narrowband ultraviolet (UV)‐B phototherapy. The patient had developed toxic epidermal necrolysis‐like erosive skin lesions over the whole body. Although systemic corticosteroids were effective up to a point, we were unable to begin the steroid taper. The addition of systemic narrowband UV‐B phototherapy improved the skin manifestation of this disease, allowing corticosteroids to be reduced to a third of the original dose. Histopathologically, it was confirmed that the proportion of Foxp3‐positive lymphocytes in the skin increased after narrowband UV‐B irradiation. We propose that whole‐body narrowband UV‐B phototherapy is a good therapeutic option for the skin manifestation of thymoma‐associated GVHD‐like disease.
Uterine caesarean closure techniques affect ultrasound findings and maternal outcomes: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Stegwee SI , Jordans IPM , van der Voet LF , van de Ven PM , Ket JCF , Lambalk CB , de Groot CJM , Hehenkamp WJK , Huirne JAF
Published: December 2017

Background

Caesarean section (CS) rates are rising globally. Long‐term adverse outcomes after CS might be reduced when the optimal uterine closure technique becomes evident.

Objective

To determine the effect of uterine closure techniques after CS on maternal and ultrasound outcomes.

Search strategy

Literature search in electronic databases.

Selection criteria

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or prospective cohort studies that evaluated uterine closure techniques and reported on ultrasound findings, perioperative or long‐term outcomes.

Data collection and analysis

Twenty studies (15 053 women) were included in our meta‐analyses for various outcomes. We calculated pooled risk ratios (RR) and weighted mean differences (WMD) with 95% CI through random‐effect analysis.

Main results

Residual myometrium thickness (RMT), reported in eight studies (508 women), decreased by 1.26 mm after single‐ compared with double‐layer closure (95% CI −1.93 to −0.58), particularly when locked sutures were used. Healing ratio [RMT/adjacent myometrium thickness (AMT)] decreased after single‐layer closure (WMD −7.74%, 95% CI −13.31 to −2.17), particularly in the case of locked sutures. Niche prevalence increased (RR 1.71, 95% CI 1.11–2.62) when the decidua was excluded. Dysmenorrhea occurred more often in the single‐layer group (RR 1.23, 95% CI 1.01–1.48), whereas incidence of uterine rupture was similar (RR 1.91, 95% CI 0.63–5.74).

Conclusion

Double‐layer unlocked sutures are preferable to single‐layer locked sutures regarding RMT, healing ratio and dysmenorrhoea. Excluding the decidua seems to result in higher niche prevalence. As thin residual myometrium or niches may serve as intermediates for gynaecological and reproductive outcomes, future studies should focus on these outcomes.

Tweetable abstract

#Uterineclosuretechniques after #caesarean affect #longtermoutcomes.
Campaigning on behalf of the party? Party constraints on candidate campaign personalisation
Authors: BØGGILD TROELS , PEDERSEN HELENE HELBOE
Published: December 2017

This article analyses what makes political candidates run a party‐focused or personalised election campaign. Prior work shows that candidates face incentives from voters and the media to personalise their campaign rhetoric and promises at the expense of party policy. This has raised concerns about the capacity of parties to govern effectively and voters’ ability to hold individual politicians accountable. This article builds on the literature on party organisation and considers the possible constraints candidates face from their party in personalising their election campaigns. Specifically, it is argued that party control over the candidate nomination process and campaign financing constrains most political candidates in following electoral incentives for campaign personalisation. Using candidate survey data from the 2009 EP election campaign in 27 countries, the article shows how candidates from parties in which party officials exerted greater control over the nomination process and campaign finances were less likely to engage in personalised campaigning at the expense of the party programme. The findings imply that most parties, as central gatekeepers and resource suppliers, hold important control mechanisms for countering the electoral pressure for personalisation and advance our understanding of the incentives and constraints candidates face when communicating with voters. The article discusses how recent democratic reforms, paradoxically, might induce candidate personalisation with potential negative democratic consequences.
Review article: Idle ‘just‐in‐case’ peripheral intravenous cannulas in the emergency department: Is something wrong?
Authors: Gledstone‐Brown Lynne , McHugh Douglas
Published: December 2017

Peripheral intravenous cannula (PIVC) placement is often an essential emergency medicine precursor to lifesaving treatment, but it is not harmless. Patients frequently and without proper consideration of the consequences receive a ‘just‐in‐case’ PIVCs as part of their assessment and admission, which, in a not insignificant number of patients, remains unused or idle in situ. We reviewed the literature and performed a thematic analysis of data collated from 21 articles published in the past 24 years regarding redundant PIVCs. The following five common themes emerged: heterogeneous prevalence data on post‐insertion PIVC usage, preventable intravascular complications, financial burden, loss of time and a culture of over‐investigating. The prevalence of PIVC insertions and idle PIVCs was heterogeneous among these publications; the median ED idle PIVC prevalence value was 32.4%. This practice is associated with compromised patient safety, squandered finances and misdirected practitioner time. Cultures of convenience and shortfalls in PIVC‐related education facilitate the prevalence of idle PIVCs.
Factors associated with patient‐reported procedural memory following emergency department procedural sedation with ketamine and propofol: A prospective cohort of 563 patients
Authors: Greer Andrew , Treston Greg
Published: December 2017

Objectives

To describe the proportion of patients reporting procedural memory following procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA) with ketamine and propofol (KP) administered premixed together (ketofol) or individually (sequential KP) in ED attendees. Identify any clinical or demographic variables associated with procedural memory.

Methods

This was a convenience sample of 563 patients who received KP PSA as per the departmental protocol. A standardised script was used to assess for procedural memory. This was categorised as ‘any’ and ‘unpleasant’ prior to discharge (immediate memory) and at telephone follow up (delayed memory).

Results

A total of 318 patients had sequential KP and 249 premixed 1:1 ketofol. For sequential KP compared to ketofol, the proportion reporting any memory was as follows: 3.5% versus 3.3% immediate, 4.4% versus 5.5% delayed and 5.4% versus 7.4% for the sum of these. For unpleasant memory, the proportion was as follows: 1.6% versus 2.9% immediate, 1.7% versus 4.7% delayed and 2.2% versus 6.9% all unpleasant memory (odds ratio [OR] 3.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4–8.1). Memory was associated with male sex (OR 4, 95% CI 1.5–10.5), opiates (OR 3, 95% CI 1.7–7.5), a Wisconsin Sedation Scale score ≥3 (moderate sedation) (OR 4.3, 95% CI 1.1–18.2) and propofol dose <0.75 mg/kg compared to >0.75 mg/kg (13% versus 3%) (OR 6, 95% CI 1.7–21). The ketofol group had 5% (95% CI 0.1–10) more respiratory events requiring intervention.

Conclusions

Procedural memory was uncommon for both mix types; however, a greater proportion of the premixed ketofol group had unpleasant memory. Associations with sex, opiates, moderate sedation and propofol dose were identified, and respiratory adverse events were more common in the premixed ketofol group.