bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Veterans Health Administration Registered Nurse Transition-to-Practice Program
Authors: Robinson Claire H. , Yankey Nicholas R. , Couig Mary Pat , Duffy Sonia A. , Sales Anne E.
Published: November 2018

This qualitative evaluation was conducted to assess factors affecting implementation of the Veterans Health Administration Registered Nurse Transition-to-Practice program. Factors commonly mentioned in semistructured telephone interviews with Chief Nurse Executives, Program Coordinators, and their teams as affecting implementation fell into four primary domains: materials and support from the Office of Nursing Services, facility-level dynamics and resources, program-specific requirements, and program outcomes. Initiatives to provide support for program implementation are proceeding.
Evaluation of 4 Algorithms to Identify Incident Syphilis Among HIV-Positive Men Who Have Sex With Men Engaged in Primary Care
Authors: Menza Timothy William , Levine Kenneth , Grasso Chris , Mayer Kenneth
Published: November 2018

We developed 4 algorithms for syphilis among HIV-positive men who have sex with men who engaged in primary care in 2016 to 2017. Clinician-based diagnosis from chart reviews was the gold standard. Sensitivities ranged from 74.2% to 93.9%. Specificities were greater than 99% with positive and negative predictive values of greater than 95%. Algorithms that incorporated treatment data performed best.
Advancing Patient Safety Through the Clinical Application of a Framework Focused on Communication
Authors: Manojlovich Milisa , Hofer Timothy P. , Krein Sarah L.
Published: November 2018

Objectives

The study of communication has evolved from diverse academic disciplines, yet those diverse fields are not well represented in theoretical frameworks that describe communication in health care, narrowing our ability to explain how communication affects patient safety. The purpose of this review article is to describe a conceptual framework of communication drawn from multiple academic disciplines and apply it to health care, specifically for examining communication between providers about the clinical care of their patients.

Methods

A seminal article in the field of communication that attempted to map the entire field of communication theory inspired our conceptual framework. We adapted these concepts, largely from the social science literature, to find alternative ways of conceptualizing communication and ways to enhance communication in health care.

Results

There are 8 theoretical traditions that informed our conceptual framework: rhetorical, phenomenological, semiotic, cybernetic, sociopsychological, sociocultural, critical, and pragmatic. We provide practical, clinical applications of our conceptual framework, encompassing the interpersonal nature of communication, relationship building and trust, hierarchical differences, and the role of technology in communication. In adopting our conceptual framework, we suggest that researchers and clinicians can choose from any combination of these 8 theoretical traditions to more fully describe and ultimately enhance communication-related phenomena.

Conclusions

Poor communication remains a stubborn problem in health care in part because of a narrow theoretical and definitional approach to resolving it. Our conceptual framework suggests ways to build relationships and trust, addresses hierarchical differences between communicators, and illuminates the role of technology in communication. It also importantly expands the definition of the value of communication beyond simple information exchange to include creation of new knowledge during communication through the development of shared understanding.
Effect of TB/HIV Integration on TB and HIV Indicators in Rural Ugandan Health Facilities
Authors: Burnett Sarah M. , Zawedde-Muyanja Stella , Hermans Sabine M. , Weaver Marcia R. , Colebunders Robert , Manabe Yukari C.
Published: November 2018

Background:

The World Health Organization recommends integrating services for patients coinfected with tuberculosis (TB) and HIV. We assessed the effect of TB/HIV integration on antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation and TB treatment outcomes among TB/HIV-coinfected patients using data collected from 14 rural health facilities during 2 previous TB and HIV quality of care studies.

Methods:

A facility was considered to have integrated TB/HIV services if patients with TB/HIV had combined treatment for both illnesses by 1 provider or care team at 1 treatment location. We analyzed the effect of integration by conducting a cross-sectional analysis of integrated and nonintegrated facility periods comparing performance on ART initiation and TB treatment outcomes. We conducted logistic regression, with the patient as the unit of analysis, controlling for other intervention effects, adjusting for age and sex, and clustering by health facility.

Results:

From January 2012 to June 2014, 996 patients with TB were registered, 97% were tested for HIV, and 404 (42%) were HIV-positive. Excluding transfers, 296 patients were eligible for analysis with 117 and 179 from nonintegrated and integrated periods, respectively. Being treated in a facility with TB/HIV integration was associated with lower mortality [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.38, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.18 to 0.77], but there was no difference in the proportion initiating ART (aOR = 1.34, 95% CI: 0.40 to 4.47), with TB treatment success (aOR = 1.43, 95% CI: 0.73 to 2.82), lost to follow-up (aOR = 1.64, 95% CI: 0.53 to 5.04), or failure (aOR = 1.21, 95% CI: 0.34 to 4.32).

Conclusions:

TB/HIV service integration was associated with lower mortality during TB treatment even in settings with suboptimal proportions of patients completing TB treatment and starting on ART.
HIV-Related Stigma, Motivation to Adhere to Antiretroviral Therapy, and Medication Adherence Among HIV-Positive Methadone-Maintained Patients
Authors: Shrestha Roman , Altice Frederick L. , Copenhaver Michael M.
Published: November 2018

Background:

Opioid agonist therapies with methadone are associated with higher levels of adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART); yet, no studies have explored factors associated with optimal ART levels in HIV-positive patients on methadone maintenance treatment, including explanatory pathways using mediation analysis.

Setting:

Participants included 121 HIV-positive, methadone-maintained patients who reported HIV-risk behaviors and were taking ART.

Methods:

Participants were assessed using an audio computer-assisted self-interview. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify significant correlates and PROCESS macro to test the explanatory pathway (ie, mediational effect) for optimal ART adherence.

Results:

Among 121 participants, almost 40% reported suboptimal adherence to ART. Optimal ART adherence was significantly associated with being virally suppressed [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 6.470, P = 0.038], higher motivation to adhere to ART (aOR = 1.171, P = 0.011), and lower anticipated HIV-related stigma (aOR = 0.384, P = 0.015). Furthermore, results revealed an indirect effect of motivation on the relationship between HIV stigma and ART adherence (effect = −0.121, P = 0.043), thus supporting the mediation effect.

Conclusions:

Our findings underscore the complexities surrounding ART adherence, even in patients on methadone maintenance treatment. These findings provide insights on how to more effectively intervene to optimize HIV treatment outcomes, including HIV treatment-as-prevention initiatives, in methadone-maintained patients.
Treatment of Vaginal Shortening and Narrowing With Autologous Buccal Mucosa Graft Augmentation Without Vaginal Mold
Authors: Berger Alexander A. , Echols Karolynn T.
Published: November 2018

Vaginal foreshortening can occur after hysterectomy leading to inability to engage successfully in vaginal intercourse resulting in decreased quality of life. Vaginal elongation using autologous buccal mucosal graft with mold and postoperative bed rest has been reported extensively for vaginal stenosis and foreshortening, but graft without mold has never been described. A 61-year-old woman 5 years after robotic-assisted hysterectomy with foreshortened vagina and vaginal stricture sought care secondary to the inability to have sexual intercourse. Her vagina was successfully repaired with autologous buccal mucosal grafting without the use of a vaginal mold facilitating a next-day discharge and ultimately ability to resume intercourse. Vaginal shortening and narrowing after hysterectomy can be repaired using autologous buccal mucosal grafting without the need for a vaginal mold or 5 to 7 days of bed rest.
Spelling of Pseudowords and Real Words in Dutch-Speaking Children With and Without Dyslexia
Authors: Van Vreckem Christel , Desoete Annemie
Published: November 2018

The purpose of this study was to explore the spelling knowledge and skills of elementary school children with and without dyslexia who speak Dutch, a language with a relatively transparent orthography. Children in Grades 2–6 completed real and pseudoword spelling dictation tasks. Spelling performance was compared in 218 children with (n = 55) and without (n = 163) dyslexia. There was a medium effect size for morphological, phonological, combined, and etymological spelling skills for differences between students with and without dyslexia. In addition, spelling real words resulted in medium effect sizes, whereas spelling pseudowords resulted in small effect sizes. Children without dyslexia performed above the mean for the entire sample in Grade 4, whereas same-age peers with dyslexia did so 2 years later. Even so, Dutch-speaking children with dyslexia continued to have difficulty spelling words requiring phonological skills and spelling pseudowords even up to Grade 6. Clinicians are encouraged to be aware of the importance of the choice of spelling items in the assessment of dyslexia. The use of pseudowords appears to be helpful in older children to identify spelling problems.
The ability of ddRAD-Seq to estimate genetic diversity and genetic introgression in endangered native livestock
Authors: Tezuka Ayumi , Takasu Masaki , Tozaki Teruaki , Nagano Atsushi J.
Published: November 2018

Unplanned crossbreeding between a native livestock and a specific productive breed was one of the main reasons that caused the loss of valuable genetic resources in native livestock. To avoid further loss and damage of genetic resources in the native livestock, introgressed individuals should be distinguished to eliminate them by preventing any further employment in future mating plans. In general, the genetic diversity of native livestock had already decreased and mass elimination of introgressed individuals from the population endangers their existence. To solve this problem, high-resolution markers are required to discriminate between introgressed variation and native variation. Here, we applied ddRAD-Seq markers for native Japanese horse “Taishu” that has undergone recent genetic introgression. Genome-wide ddRAD-Seq markers can distinguish five breeds of native Japanese horses and Anglo-Arabian introgressed breeds. We found the signatures of genetic introgression of Anglo-Arabian at only two chromosomes; however, the signatures were separated in their genome suggesting that it might not be the cause of recent introgression. The genetic diversity of Taishu was less than other Japanese breeds and the decreasing genetic diversity is an urgent issue compared to genetic introgression. Although few signatures of recent introgression were detected, a lot of shared SNPs (10% of all SNPs in Taishu) were detected between Taishu and Anglo-Arabian. To avoid misestimation of the presence and degree of introgression in native livestock, information regarding shared SNPs and population genetic approaches need to be assessed by using the large number of genome-wide markers such as ddRAD-Seq.
Temporal evolution from retinal image size to perceived size in human visual cortex
Authors: Chen Juan , Sperandio Irene , Henry Molly J. , Goodale Melvyn A
Published: November 2018

Our visual system affords a distance-invariant percept of object size by integrating retinal image size with viewing distance (size constancy). Single-unit studies with animals have shown that real changes in distance can modulate the firing rate of neurons in primary visual cortex and even subcortical structures, which raises an intriguing possibility that the required integration for size constancy may occur in the initial visual processing in V1 or even earlier. In humans, however, EEG and brain imaging studies have typically manipulated the apparent (not real) distance of stimuli using pictorial illusions, in which the cues to distance are sparse and not congruent. Here, we physically moved the monitor to different distances from the observer, a more ecologically valid paradigm that emulates what happens in everyday life. Using this paradigm in combination with electroencephalography (EEG), we were able for the first time to examine how the computation of size constancy unfolds in real time under real-world viewing conditions. We showed that even when all distance cues were available and congruent, size constancy took about 150 ms to emerge in the activity of visual cortex. The 150-ms interval exceeds the time required for the visual signals to reach V1, but is consistent with the time typically associated with later processing within V1 or recurrent processing from higher-level visual areas. Therefore, this finding provides unequivocal evidence that size constancy does not occur during the initial signal processing in V1 or earlier, but requires subsequent processing, just like any other feature binding mechanisms.
Collective Excitations in α-helical Protein Structures Interacting with the Water Environment
Authors: Kadantsev Vasiliy N. , Goltsov Alexey
Published: November 2018

Low-frequency vibrational excitations of protein macromolecules in the terahertz frequency region are suggested to contribute to many biological processes such as enzymatic catalysis, intra-protein energy/charge transport, recognition, and allostery. To explain high effectiveness of these processes, two possible mechanisms of the long-lived excitation were proposed by H. Fröhlich and A.S. Davydov which relate to either vibrational modes or solitary waves, respectively. In this paper, we developed a quantum dynamic model of vibrational excitation in α-helical proteins interacting with the aqueous environment. In the model, we distinguished three coupled subsystems, i.e. (i) a chain of hydrogen-bonded peptide groups (PGs), interacting with (ii) the subsystem of the side-chain residuals which in turn interacts with (iii) the environment, surrounding water responsible for dissipation and fluctuation in the system. It was shown that the equation of motion for phonon variables of the PG chain can be transformed to nonlinear Schrodinger equation which admits bifurcation into the solution corresponding to the weak damped vibrational modes (Fröhlich-type regime) and Davydov solitons. A bifurcation parameter is derived through the strength of phonon-phonon interaction between the side-chains and hydration-shell water molecules. As shown, the energy of these excited states is pumped through the interaction of the side-chains with fluctuating water environment of the proteins. The suggested mechanism of the collective vibrational mode excitation is discussed in connection with the recent experiments on the long-lived collective protein excitations in the terahertz frequency region and vibrational energy transport pathways in proteins.
Inter-slice leakage and intra-slice aliasing in simultaneous multi-slice echo-planar images
Authors: McNabb Carolyn Beth , Lindner Michael , Shen Shan , Burgess Laura Grace , Murayama Kou , Johnstone Tom
Published: November 2018

Simultaneous multi-slice (SMS) imaging is a popular technique for increasing acquisition speed in echo-planar imaging (EPI) fMRI. However, SMS data are prone to motion sensitivity and slice leakage artefacts, which spread signal between simultaneously acquired slices. Relevant to motion sensitivity, artefacts from moving anatomic structures propagate along the phase-encoding (PE) direction. This is particularly relevant for eye movement. As signal from the eye is acquired along with signal from simultaneously excited slices during SMS, there is potential for signal to spread in-plane and between spatially remote slices. After identifying an artefact temporally coinciding with signal fluctuations in the eye and spatially distributed in correspondence with multiband slice acceleration and parallel imaging factors, we conducted a series of small experiments to investigate eye movement artefacts in SMS data and the contribution of PE direction to the invasiveness of these artefacts. Five healthy adult volunteers were scanned during a blinking task using a standard SMS-EPI protocol with posterior-to-anterior (P≫A), anterior-to-posterior (A≫P) or right-to-left (R≫L) PE direction. The intensity of signal fluctuations (artefact severity) was measured at expected artefact positions and control positions. We demonstrated a direct relationship between eye movements and artefact severity across expected artefact regions. Within-brain artefacts were apparent in P≫A- and A≫P-acquired data but not in R≫L data due to the shift in artefact positions. Further research into eye motion artefacts in SMS data is warranted but researchers should exercise caution with SMS protocols. We recommend rigorous piloting of SMS protocols and switching to R≫L/L≫R PE where feasible.
Many options, few solutions: over 60 million years snakes converged on a few optimal venom formulations
Authors: Barua Agneesh , Mikheyev Alexander S.
Published: November 2018

Gene expression changes contribute to complex trait variations in both individuals and populations. However, how gene expression influences changes of complex traits over macroevolutionary timescales remains poorly understood. Being comprised of proteinaceous cocktails, snake venoms are unique in that the expression of each toxin can be quantified and mapped to a distinct genomic locus and traced for millions of years. Using a phylogenetic generalized linear mixed model, we analysed expression data of toxin genes from 52 snake species spanning the three venomous snake families, and estimated phylogenetic covariance, which acts as a measure of evolutionary constraint. We find that evolution of toxin combinations is not constrained. However, while all combinations are in principle possible, the actual dimensionality of phylomorphic space is low, with envenomation strategies focused around only four major toxins: metalloproteases, three-finger toxins, serine proteases, and phospholipases A2. While most extant snakes prioritize either a single or a combination of major toxins, they are repeatedly recruited and lost. We find that over macroevolutionary timescales the venom phenotypes were not shaped by phylogenetic constraints, which include important microevolutionary constraints such as epistasis and pleiotropy, but more likely by ecological filtering that permits a few optimal solutions. As a result, phenotypic optima were repeatedly attained by distantly related species. These results indicate that venoms evolve by selection on biochemistry of prey envenomation, which permit diversity though parallelism and impose strong limits, since only a few of the theoretically possible strategies seem to work well and are observed in extant snakes.
A multi-year survey of helminths from the gastrointestinal tract of wild saddleback (Leontocebus weddelli) and emperor (Saguinus imperator) tamarins
Authors: Erkenswick Gideon A. , Watsa Mrinalini , Gozalo Alfonso S. , Dudaie Shay , Bailey Lindsey , Muranda Kudakwashe S. , Kuziez Alaa , Parker Patricia G.
Published: November 2018

Noninvasive monitoring of gastrointestinal parasites from wild primates demonstrates that parasite-host relationships are altered during habitat or climatic disturbances. Interpreting changes in parasite measures for population health monitoring is problematic, since wild primates are infected with multiple parasites that fluctuate temporally and seasonally. Individual parasite infection data from two wild populations of New World primates, the saddleback (Leontocebus weddelli) and emperor (Saguinus imperator) tamarin, were collected over three years to: 1) establish baseline levels of parasite species richness (PSR) and variation across demography; 2) test for non-random associations of parasite co-occurrence; and 3) test hypothesized relationships between group size and PSR. Ten distinguishable parasite taxa were identified from 288 fecal samples by light microscopy following centrifugation and ethyl-acetate sedimentation. These samples represented 105 unique individuals (71 saddleback and 34 emperor tamarins), across 13 saddleback and seven emperor groups. Of the parasites identified in this study, none were confirmed as host specific, and only two parasites had statistically different prevalence between the host species. With few exceptions, individual infection status remained relatively unchanged over the study period. Considering yearly pair-wise parasite associations, we detected no marked differences between expected and observed levels of co-infection, nor did we detect statistically significant associations between group size and parasite species richness over 30 group-years. Logistic models of individual infection status did not identify a sex bias; however, age or species predicted the presence of four and three parasite taxa, respectively. Our model found higher PSR for saddleback tamarins. Considering the two most common parasites, one is typically pathogenic and the other is not, reinforcing caution when translating clinical findings of pathology to real-world systems. We now have reliable baseline data for future monitoring of these populations. Next steps should involve the molecular characterization of these parasites, and the exploration of linkages with health parameters.
Enhancer redundancy predicts gene pathogenicity and informs complex disease gene discovery
Authors: Wang Xinchen , Goldstein David B.
Published: November 2018

Non-coding transcriptional regulatory elements are critical for controlling the spatiotemporal expression of genes. Here, we demonstrate that the number of bases in enhancers linked to a gene reflects its disease pathogenicity. Moreover, genes with redundant enhancer domains are depleted of cis-acting genetic variants that disrupt gene expression, and are buffered against the effects of disruptive non-coding mutations. Our results demonstrate that dosage-sensitive genes have evolved robustness to the disruptive effects of genetic variation by expanding their regulatory domains. This resolves a puzzle in the genetic literature about why disease genes are depleted of cis-eQTLs, suggesting that eQTL information may implicate the wrong genes at genome-wide association study loci, and establishes a framework for identifying non-coding regulatory variation with phenotypic consequences.
CasLocusAnno: a web-based server for annotating Cas loci and their corresponding (sub)types
Authors: Dong Chuan , Zeng Zhi , Wen Qing-Feng , Liu Shuo , Du Meng-Ze , Gao Yi-Zhou , Liao Zhen , Saber Nicholas , Huang Jian , Guo Feng-Biao
Published: November 2018

CRISPR-Cas systems are prevalent in bacterial and archaeal genomes, and these systems provide a powerful adaptive immune system against predation by phages and other mobile genetic elements (MGEs). They also contribute to other functions, such as gene regulation in prokaryotic organisms. Determining Cas proteins and Cas loci can help mine Cas proteins and facilitate the identification of Cas-associated accessory proteins. Therefore, the purpose of this work is to develop a web-based server, CasLocusAnno, to annotate Cas proteins and Cas loci and to classify them according to (sub)type based on a previous study. CasLocusAnno can annotate Cas proteins and Cas loci and assign their (sub)types within ∽28 seconds for whole protein sequence submissions, with protein sequence numbers ranging from ∽30 to ∽10500. Comparison with Makarova et al.’s benchmark data demonstrates that CasLocusAnno can accurately identify Cas loci and (sub)types. In addition, CasLocusAnno can identify Cas proteins with higher accuracy and a lower additional prediction rate (APR) than two excellent software programs, CRISPRCasFinder and MacSyFinder. The domain alignment of a Cas protein can be easily browsed in the annotation results. Our server can be freely accessed at http://cefg.uestc.edu.cn/CasLocusAnno/.
Torsional turning motion of chromosomes as an accelerating force to align homolog ous chromosomes during meiosis
Authors: Takao Kazutaka , Takamiya Kazunori , Ding Da-Qiao , Haraguchi Tokuko , Hiraoka Yasushi , Nishimori Hiraku , Awazu Akinori
Published: November 2018

Homologous sets of parental chromosomes must pair during meiosis to produce recombined sets of chromosomes for their progeny. This is accompanied by nuclear oscillatory movements. This study aimed to elucidate the significance of these movements with a model, wherein external force was applied to the oscillating nucleus and via hydrodynamic interactions within the nucleus. Simulations revealed that a major force for aligning homologous chromosomes is length-dependent sorting during chromosomal torsional turning, which occur when the nucleus reverses the direction of its movement.
Global biochemical and structural analysis of the type IV pilus from the Gram-positive bacteriumStreptococcus sanguinis
Authors: Berry Jamie-Lee , Gurung Ishwori , Anonsen Jan Haug , Spielman Ingrid , Harper Elliot , Hall Alexander M. J. , Goosens Vivianne J. , Raynaud Claire , Koomey Michael , Biais Nicolas , Matthews Steve , Pelicic Vladimir
Published: November 2018

Type IV pili (Tfp) are functionally versatile filaments, widespread in prokaryotes, that belong to a large class of filamentous nanomachines known as type IV filaments (Tff). Although Tfp have been extensively studied in several Gram-negative pathogens where they function as key virulence factors, many aspects of their biology remain poorly understood. Here, we performed a global biochemical and structural analysis of Tfp in a recently emerged Gram-positive model,Streptococcus sanguinis. In particular, we focused on the five pilins and pilin-like proteins involved in Tfp biology inS. sanguinis. We found that the two major pilins, PilE1 and PilE2, (i) follow widely conserved principles for processing by the prepilin peptidase PilD and for assembly into filaments; (ii) display only one of the post-translational modifications frequently found in pilins,i.e. a methylated N-terminus; (iii) are found in the same hetero-polymeric filaments; and (iv) are not functionally equivalent. The 3D structure of PilE1, solved by NMR, revealed a classical pilin fold with a highly unusual flexible C-terminus. Intriguingly, PilE1 more closely resembles pseudopilins forming shorter Tff thanbona fideTfp-forming major pilins, underlining the evolutionary relatedness among different Tff. Finally, we show thatS. sanguinisTfp contain a low abundance of three additional proteins processed by PilD, the minor pilins PilA, PilB, and PilC. These findings provide the first global biochemical and structural picture of a Gram-positive Tfp and have fundamental implications for our understanding of a widespread class of filamentous nanomachines.
Homeostatic Inhibitory Control of Cortical Hyperexcitability in Fragile X Syndrome
Authors: Cea-Del Rio C.A. , Nunez-Parra A. , Freedman S. , Restrepo D. , Huntsman M.M.
Published: November 2018

In mouse models of Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), cellular and circuit hyperexcitability are a consequence of altered brain development [reviewed in (Contractor et al., 2015)]. Mechanisms that favor or hinder plasticity of synapses could affect neuronal excitability. This includes inhibitory long term depression (I-LTD) – a heterosynaptic form of plasticity that requires the activation of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs). Differential circuit maturation leads to shifted time points for critical periods of synaptic plasticity across multiple brain regions (Harlow et al., 2010; He et al., 2014), and disruptions of the development of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic function are also observed both during development and into adulthood (Vislay et al., 2013). However, little is known about how this hyperexcitable environment affects inhibitory synaptic plasticity. Our results demonstrate that the somatosensory cortex of the Fmr1 KO mouse model of FXS exhibits increased GABAergic spontaneous activity, a faulty mGluR-mediated inhibitory input and impaired plasticity processes. We find the overall diminished mGluR activation in the Fmr1 KO mice leads to both a decreased spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic input to principal cells and also to a disrupted form of inhibitory long term depression (I-LTD). In cortical synapses, this I-LTD is dependent on mGluR activation and the mobilization endocannabinoids (eCBs). Notably, these data suggest enhanced hyperexcitable phenotypes in FXS may be homeostatically counterbalanced by the inhibitory drive of the network and its altered response to mGluR modulation.

Significance Statement

Fragile X Syndrome is a pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by intellectual disability, autism, epilepsy, anxiety and altered sensory sensitivity. In both in vitro and in vivo recordings in the somatosensory cortex of the Fmr1 knockout mouse model of Fragile X Syndrome we show that hyperexcitable network activity contributes to ineffective synaptic plasticity at inhibitory synapses. This increased excitability prevents cortical circuits from adapting to sensory information via ineffective plasticity mechanisms.
Analysing Patterns in Population Dynamics using Repeated Population Surveys with Three Types of Detection Data
Authors: Péron Guillaume , Garel Mathieu
Published: November 2018

We generalize the distance sampling protocol to accommodate three types of detection data in population surveys (population counts): distance to the observer, multiple observers, and time-to-detection. We also account for the effect of a partially-observed individual covariate, with the aim to account for the non-independence of individuals in groups and the effect of group size on detection probability. Finally, we separate the probability of availability to detection and the probability of detection when available.

We compute the statistical power of our new model using simulations and illustrate some of the biases in the simpler alternative analytical procedures that oue new formulation allows to avoid. We discuss issues of weak identifiability (an issue shared with other state-space models) and the bias-precision tradeoff in population survey analyses.

We recommend maintaining both simple analyses of population survey data and more complex analyses of the detection process, maybe in a dashboard of indicators. Discrepancies between results from simple and complex analyses can help identify sources of biases and loss of precision.
Minimization of a harmful cross-talk between mitotic checkpoint silencing and error correction
Authors: Roy Babhrubahan , Verma Vikash , Sim Janice , Fontan Adrienne , Joglekar Ajit P.
Published: November 2018

Accurate chromosome segregation during cell division requires that the pair of sister kinetochores on each chromosome attach to microtubules originating from opposite spindle poles. This is ensured by the combined action of the Spindle Assembly Checkpoint (SAC), which detects unattached kinetochores, and an error correction mechanism that destabilizes incorrect attachment of both sister kinetochores to the same spindle pole. These processes are downregulated by Protein Phosphatase 1 (PP1), which both silences the SAC and stabilizes kinetochore-microtubule attachments. We find that this dual PP1 role can be problematic: if PP1 is recruited to the kinetochore for SAC silencing prior to chromosome biorientation, it interferes with error correction. We show that to mitigate this cross-talk, the yeast kinetochore uses independent PP1 sources to stabilize correct attachments and to silence the SAC, and also delays the recruitment of PP1 for SAC silencing. Consequently, chromosome biorientation precedes SAC silencing ensuring accurate chromosome segregation.
Drosophila anion exchanger 2 is required for proper ovary development and oogenesis
Authors: Benitez Marimar , Tatapudy Sumitra , Barber Diane L. , Nystul Todd
Published: November 2018

Understanding how cell fate decisions are regulated is a central question in stem cell biology. Recent studies have demonstrated that intracellular pH (pHi) dynamics contribute to this process. Indeed, the pHi of cells within a tissue is not simply a consequence of chemical reactions in the cytoplasm and other cellular activity, but is actively maintained at a specific setpoint in each cell type. We found previously that the pHi of cells in the follicle stem cell (FSC) lineage in theDrosophilaovary increases progressively during differentiation from an average of 6.8 in the FSCs, to 7.0 in newly produced daughter cells, to 7.3 in more differentiated cells. Two major regulators of pHi in this lineage areDrosophilasodium-proton exchanger 2 (dNhe2) and a previously uncharacterized gene,CG8177, that is homologous to mammalian anion exchanger 2 (AE2). Based on this homology, we named the geneae2. Here, we generated null alleles ofae2and found that homozygous mutant flies are viable but have severe defects in ovary development and adult oogenesis. Specifically, we find thatae2null flies have smaller ovaries, reduced fertility, and impaired follicle formation. In addition, we find that the follicle formation defect can be suppressed by a decrease indNhe2copy number and enhanced by the overexpression ofdNhe2, suggesting that this phenotype is due to the dysregulation of pHi. These findings support the emerging idea that pHi dynamics regulate cell fate decisions and our studies provide new genetic tools to investigate the mechanisms by which this occurs.
Differences in effective ploidy as drivers of genome-wide endosperm expression asymmetries and seed failure in wild tomato hybrids
Authors: Roth Morgane , Florez-Rueda Ana M. , Städler Thomas
Published: November 2018

Endosperm misdevelopment leading to hybrid seed failure is a common cause of postzygotic isolation in angiosperms and is observed in both interploidy and homoploid crosses between closely related lineages. Moreover, parental dosage is critical for successful endosperm and seed development, typically requiring a ratio of two maternal to one paternal genome(s) in within-species crosses. The recently revived concept of ‘effective ploidy’ can largely explain the outcome of experimental crosses that (partly) ameliorate hybrid seed failure by manipulating the actual ploidy in one of the parents. However, genome-wide expression perturbations concomitant with levels of hybrid seed failure have yet to be reported. The tomato clade (SolanumsectionLycopersicon), encompassing closely related diploids with partial-to-complete hybrid seed failure and diverse mating systems, provides outstanding opportunities to study these issues. Here we compared replicated endosperm transcriptomes from six crosses within and among three wild tomato lineages. Strikingly, both strongly inviable hybrid crosses displayed conspicuous, asymmetric expression perturbations with strong signatures of cross direction. In particular,Solanum peruvianum, the species inferred to have evolved higher effective ploidy than the other two, drove hybrid expression landscapes in both maternal and paternal roles. This global expression divergence was mirrored in functionally important gene families such as transcription factors and E3 ubiquitin ligases, and revealed differences in cell-cycle tuning between lineages that match phenotypic differences in developing endosperm and mature seed size between reciprocal crosses. Our work initiates the exploration of links between parental conflict, genomic imprinting, expression dosage and hybrid seed failure in flowering plants.
Challenging times: building a health, housing and social care local workforce strategy
Authors: Dearnaley Patricia , Smith Joanne E.
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to stimulate a wider debate around the coordination of workforce planning in non-statutory services (in this case, specialist housing for older people or those with long-term health and social care needs, such as learning disabilities). The authors argue that current NHS reforms do not go far enough in that they fail to include specialist housing and its workforce in integration, and by doing so, will be unable to optimise the potential efficiencies and streamlining of service delivery to this group.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper used exploratory study using existing research and data, enhanced by documentary analysis from industry bodies, regulators and policy think tanks.

Findings

That to achieve the greatest operational and fiscal impact upon the health care services, priority must be given to improving the efficiency and coordination of services to older people and those requiring nursing homes or registered care across the public and third sectors through the integration of service delivery and workforce planning.

Research limitations/implications

Whilst generalisable and achievable, the model proposed within the paper cannot be fully tested theoretically and requires further testing the in real health and social care market to evidence its practicality, improved quality of care and financial benefits.

Originality/value

The paper highlights some potential limitations to the current NHS reforms: by integrating non-statutory services, planned efficiency savings may be optimised and service delivery improved.
How face consciousness reverse pro-self-behavior? A study on ecological consumption from the perspective of social value orientation
Authors: Shi Zhuomin , Wu Lufang , Kuang Zaoying
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on ecological consumption and test the effect of social value orientation on ecological consumption. What is more, this paper explores how Chinese consumers choose between prosocial and non-prosocial products under the influence of Chinese face culture.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors assume that social value orientation will change individual’s ecological consumption through the in-group identification, and simultaneously predict that the influence in pro-self and pro-social consumer groups will vary. Furthermore, Chinese face consciousness will moderate the relationship between ecological consumption and social value orientation. Online research and intercept survey are employed to collect data. In total, 600 questionnaires were distributed.

Findings

The results indicate that pro-social individuals prefer sustainable consumption than pro-self-individuals, and in-group identification mediates the effect of social value orientation on ecological consumption. Interestingly, pro-self-individuals’ behaviors have changed dramatically by the influence of face consciousness.

Originality/value

The authors discovered that social value orientation has a deep impact on ecological consumption through in-group identification. The authors tested and verified the dominance of Chinese face culture. Besides, four key elements of China’s “face” construct are proposed, namely, holism, synergy, synchronicity and dynamics, which enlarge the horizon of the theory of face.
Discounts or gifts? Not just to save money
Authors: Gong Yanping , Hou Wei , Zhang Qin , Tian Shuang
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Decision theory holds that the ambiguity of decision information affects the choices of decision makers, who have the emotion of “ambiguity aversion” when making fuzzy decisions. The purpose of this paper is to explore the neural mechanism how the information ambiguity of different sales promotion strategies influences consumers’ purchasing decision.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses the event-related potential (ERP) technique and experiment.

Findings

Results indicate that the information ambiguity of sales promotion strategies did influence the purchasing decision of consumers, and there were significant differences in the amplitudes of brain wave P2, N2 and P3 when consumers encountered the sales promotions of different types (discounts and gift-giving). This reflects the difference in perceived risk, decision-making conflict and decision-making attitude. It means that compared with discounts, the perceived risk and difficulty increased while the decision-making confidence plunged when consumers were faced with gift-giving promotions. This finding gives an explanation on the neural level why consumers prefer discounts, rather gift-giving sales promotions.

Practical implications

For the merchants to promote commodities online, it is suggested that the actual benefit from the sales promotion should be specified to reduce the ambiguity of sales promotion information. As the neuromarketing develops, merchants have obtained more effective approaches to study marketing strategies.

Originality/value

One of the theoretical contributions this paper made is that the authors innovatively explored the consumer’s preference to online sales promotion strategies from the perspective of fuzzy decision. Second, the authors adopted the ERP technique to study the influence of the ambiguity of sales promotion information on the consumer’s purchasing behaviors. Third, this study provides an explanation for why consumers prefer the sales promotion type of discounts according to the neural mechanism of decision making.
Integration of point cloud data and hyperspectral imaging as a data gathering methodology for refurbishment projects using building information modelling (BIM)
Authors: Amano Kinjiro , Lou Eric C.W. , Edwards Rodger
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Building information modelling (BIM) is a digital representation of the physical and functional characteristics of a building. Its use offers a range of benefits in terms of achieving the efficient design, construction, operation and maintenance of buildings. Applying BIM at the outset of a new build project should be relatively easy. However, it is often problematic to apply BIM techniques to an existing building, for example, as part of a refurbishment project or as a tool supporting the facilities management strategy, because of inadequacies in the previous management of the dataset that characterises the facility in question. These inadequacies may include information on as built geometry and materials of construction. By the application of automated retrospective data gathering for use in BIM, such problems should be largely overcome and significant benefits in terms of efficiency gains and cost savings should be achieved.

Design/methodology/approach

Laser scanning can be used to collect geometrical and spatial information in the form of a 3D point cloud, and this technique is already used. However, as a point cloud representation does not contain any semantic information or geometrical context, such point cloud data must refer to external sources of data, such as building specification and construction materials, to be in used in BIM.

Findings

Hyperspectral imaging techniques can be applied to provide both spectral and spatial information of scenes as a set of high-resolution images. Integrating of a 3D point cloud into hyperspectral images would enable accurate identification and classification of surface materials and would also convert the 3D representation to BIM.

Originality/value

This integrated approach has been applied in other areas, for example, in crop management. The transfer of this approach to facilities management and construction would improve the efficiency and automation of the data transition from building pathology to BIM. In this study, the technological feasibility and advantages of the integration of laser scanning and hyperspectral imaging (the latter not having previously been used in the construction context in its own right) is discussed, and an example of the use of a new integration technique is presented, applied for the first time in the context of buildings.
Now they’re listening: involvement in clinical psychology training
Authors: Lea Laura , Holttum Sue , Butters Victoria , Byrne Diana , Cable Helen , Morris Di , Richardson John , Riley Linda , Warren Hannah
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The 2014/2015 UK requirement for involvement of service users and carers in training mental health professionals has prompted the authors to review the work of involvement in clinical psychology training in the university programme. Have the voices of service users and carers been heard? The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors update the paper of 2011 in which the authors described the challenges of inclusion and the specific approaches the authors take to involvement. The authors do this in the context of the recent change to UK standards for service user and carer involvement, and recent developments in relation to partnership working and co-production in mental healthcare. The authors describe the work carried out by the authors – members of a service user involvement group at a UK university – to ensure the voices of people affected by mental health difficulties are included in all aspects of training.

Findings

Careful work and the need for dedicated time is required to enable inclusive, effective and comprehensive participation in a mental health training programme. It is apparent that there is a group of service users whose voice is less heard: those who are training to be mental health workers.

Social implications

For some people, involvement has increased. Trainee mental health professionals’ own experience of distress may need more recognition and valuing.

Originality/value

The authors are in a unique position to review a service-user-led project, which has run for 12 years, whose aim has been to embed involvement in training. The authors can identify both achievements and challenges.
Achieving leadership behavior change at scale
Authors: Rose Tom
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The growing force of disruptive change is creating whitewater work environments across the profit and not-for-profit world. To help leaders overcome the challenge of achieving improvements in leadership performance, this study aims to outline research and case examples that illustrate a four-point roadmap for improving this performance at scale.

Design/methodology/approach

The study summarizes new research on leadership and organizational high performance and practices that drive high performance today. It relates these finding to trends evidenced in the work being done by HR organizations and the consulting firms that serve them. It then outlines an evidence-based roadmap for achieving improvements in leadership performance that HR organizations can adopt to achieve improvements in leadership performance.

Findings

Successful organizations intervene at four leverage points to meet the challenge achieving the shifts in leadership behavior needed for success in today’s permanent whitewater environments. These organizations are focusing on two types of leadership, leveraging two approaches to its development and are leveraging critical enablers that benefit from strong alignments within HR and between HR and their business leader colleagues.

Originality/value

The study highlights new research finding and research-based models of leadership performance that meet the demands of today’s workplace. It synthesizes a new four-point roadmap to success from trends discovered in recent research on leadership, technology-assisted behavior change and organizational effectiveness, as well as in the example of in high-performing organizations.