bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reasons for Prescription Opioid Use While Playing in the National Football League as Risk Factors for Current Use and Misuse Among Former Players
Authors: Dunne Eugene M. , Striley Catherine W. , Mannes Zachary L. , Asken Breton M. , Ennis Nicole , Cottler Linda B.
Published: June 2018

Objective:

Prescription opioid misuse has become a significant public health issue. Previous research has examined predictors of prescription opioid use and misuse among former National Football League (NFL) players. The present study aimed to describe how reasons for prescription opioid use while in the NFL corresponds to use and misuse in retirement.

Design:

Former NFL players reporting prescription opioid use during their playing careers (N = 336) were included in this secondary data analysis. Participants reported reasons for prescription opioid use, including pain management, use “to function,” to improve mood, to reduce stress, and to aid sleep.

Results:

Among retired NFL players with exposure to prescribed pain medication during their playing career, 26.2% reported recent use of prescription opioids (past 30 days) and 73.8% reported no use. Specifically, 14.3% of retired players reported opioid use only as prescribed, whereas 11.9% reported misuse (not prescribed or use other than as prescribed). Using prescription opioids to function while in the NFL was associated with any opioid use in the past 30 days [odds ratios (OR) = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.12-1.50, P < 0.001]. Further, opioid use in the NFL to reduce stress and anxiety was associated with increased odds of past 30-day misuse of prescription opioids (OR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.01-2.11; P = 0.048).

Conclusions:

The present study adds to the literature on elite athletes at high risk for pain and prescription opioid use and misuse. The findings may help to identify and provide early intervention for professional athletes most at risk for misuse of prescription opioids.
Which Readmissions May Be Preventable? Lessons Learned From a Posthospitalization Care Transitions Program for High-risk Elders
Authors: McCoy Rozalina G. , Peterson Stephanie M. , Borkenhagen Lynn S. , Takahashi Paul Y. , Thorsteinsdottir Bjorg , Chandra Anupam , Naessens James M.
Published: June 2018

Background:

Care transitions programs have been shown to reduce hospital readmissions.

Objectives:

The main objective of this study was to evaluate effects of the Mayo Clinic Care Transitions (MCCTs) Program on potentially preventable and nonpreventable 30-day unplanned readmissions among high-risk elders.

Research Design:

This was a retrospective cohort study of patients enrolled in MCCT following hospitalization and propensity score-matched controls receiving usual primary care.

Subjects:

The subjects were primary care patients, who were 60 years or older, at high-risk for readmission, and hospitalized for any cause between January 1, 2011 and June 30, 2013.

Measures:

Hospital readmission within 30 days. The 3M algorithm was used to identify potentially preventable readmissions. Readmissions for ambulatory care sensitive conditions, a subset of preventable readmissions identified by the 3M algorithm, were also assessed.

Results:

The study cohort included 365 pairs of MCCT enrollees and propensity score-matched controls. Patients were similar in age (mean 83 y) and other baseline demographic and clinical characteristics, including reason for index hospitalization. MCCT enrollees had a significantly lower all-cause readmission rate [12.4% (95% confidence interval: CI, 8.9–15.7) vs. 20.1% (15.8–24.1); P=0.004] resulting from a decrease in potentially preventable readmissions [8.4% (95% CI, 5.5–11.3) vs. 14.3% (95% CI, 10.5–17.9); P=0.01]. Few potentially preventable readmissions were for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (6.7% vs. 12.0%). The rates of nonpotentially preventable readmissions were similar [4.3% (95% CI, 2.2–6.5) vs. 6.7% (95% CI, 4.0–9.4); P=0.16]. Potentially preventable readmissions were reduced by 44% (hazard ratio, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.36–0.88; P=0.01) with no change in other readmissions.

Conclusions:

The MCCT significantly reduces preventable readmissions, suggesting that access to multidisciplinary care can reduce readmissions and improve outcomes for high-risk elders.
Novel IL2RG Mutation Causes Leaky TLOWB+NK+ SCID With Nodular Regenerative Hyperplasia and Normal IL-15 STAT5 Phosphorylation
Authors: Neves João F. , Martins Catarina , Cordeiro Ana I. , Neves Conceição , Plagnol Vicent , Curtis James , Fabre Monique , Bibi Shahnaz , Borrego Luis M. , Moshous Despina , Nejentsev Sergey , Gilmour Kimberly
Published: June 2018

X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID) is caused by mutations in the interleukin (IL)-2 receptor γ (IL2RG) gene and patients usually present with a T−B+NK− SCID phenotype. Nevertheless, a minority of these patients present with a T−B+NK+ phenotype, similar to the IL-7R-deficient patients. We report a patient with a novel missense p.Glu297Gly mutation in the IL2RG gene presenting with a leaky TlowB+NK+ SCID with delayed onset, moderate susceptibility to infections, and nodular regenerative hyperplasia. He presents with preserved STAT5 tyrosine phosphorylation in response to IL-15 stimulation but not in response to IL-2 and IL-7, resulting in the NK+ phenotype.
The Effectiveness of the Sport “Dragon Boat Racing” in Reducing the Risk of Lymphedema Incidence
Authors: Iacorossi Laura , Gambalunga Francesca , Molinaro Simona , De Domenico Rosaria , Giannarelli Diana , Fabi Alessandra
Published: June 2018

Background

Upper extremity lymphedema is a complication that often occurs in women with breast cancer as a result of surgery and/or radiotherapy. Some studies report that a boating activity known as the “dragon boat” sport can benefit these women.

Aim

The aim of this study was to assess whether this type of sport prevents or reduces lymphedema, its impact on quality of life (QoL), and the possible predictors of this condition.

Methods

This was an observational study of 2 groups: group A (women who participated in dragon boat racing for at least 6 months) and group B (women who participated in other forms of physical exercise biweekly). Data were collected at the National Cancer Institute of Rome and the lake of Castel Gandolfo from June to October 2016. The instruments used were a questionnaire created for sociodemographic and clinical data, the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Questionnaire for evaluating QoL, and a tape measure applied to estimate the local lymphedema.

Results

One hundred women participated in the study. Lymphedema incidence in group A was 4.0% (2 of 50), whereas in group B it was 26.0% (13 of 50). Women who participated in dragon boat racing also reported a healthier lifestyle, lower body mass index, and a better QoL (set point: 61.8 group B vs 80.0 group A).

Conclusions

The dragon boat sport participants had more positive clinical and QoL outcomes than did the women who did not participate in that sporting activity.

Implications for Clinical Practice

It would be important to make women with breast cancer aware of the practice of dragon boat racing.
Presurgery and Postsurgery Quality of Life and Associated Factors in Patients With Malignant Neoplasms of the Head and Neck
Authors: Hu Zhiping , Zhou Xiaoling , Duan Weiwei , Lei Wenge , Zhang Min , Zeng Lingxia
Published: June 2018

Background

Maintenance of good functional status and improvement of quality of life (QOL) in patients with head and neck cancer help to determine the efficacy of anticancer therapies.

Objective

The aims of this study were to describe the profile of QOL changing over time and evaluate the correlation between anxiety, pain severity, and shoulder and neck function with QOL in patients.

Methods

A prospective cohort study was conducted. Quality of life, neck and shoulder function, anxiety, and pain were assessed at the time of presurgery, 1 week, and 3 and 6 months postsurgery. The measurement tools included University of Washington-Quality of Life, Constant-Murley score, Zung Self-rating Anxiety Scale, and WHO Pain Grading Standards.

Results

The mean (SD) scores of QOL in 69 patients were 91.8 (6.1) presurgery, 71.6 (9.0) 1 week after surgery, and 78.1 (8.3) and 85.2 (7.0) at 3 and 6 months postsurgery, respectively. Quality of life scores were positively correlated with shoulder and neck function and negatively correlated with anxiety and pain. The improvement of postsurgery QOL was significantly associated with sex and incision healing grade.

Conclusion

Improvement of QOL of patients with head and neck cancer is a long process, which is associated with the clinical and demographic characteristics of patients.

Implications for Practice

Focusing nursing practice on shoulder and neck function rehabilitation, incision care, and pain management could positively affect QOL among patients with head and neck cancer treated by surgery.
Sudden Death as a Sequel of Ruptured Giant Coronary Artery Aneurysm in Kawasaki Disease
Authors: Zhang Jixiu , Tuokan Talafu , Shi Yonghua
Published: June 2018

This article reports a case of Kawasaki disease (KD) and its rapid fatal course in a 5-year-old boy, who 3 days before hospitalization demonstrated fever and diffuse erythema in the face, neck, and torso, as well as swelling and pain below the right earlobe. During the admission, he was diagnosed with mumps and suspected scarlet fever. Abnormal laboratory findings included elevated values of procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, and interleukin 6. Sudden death occurred 8 days after admission. Autopsy confirmed the cause of death to be pericardial tamponade due to a ruptured, inflamed aneurysm of the left anterior descending coronary artery. We believe that any typical clinical sign of KD whenever associated with elevated indices of inflammation should set off suspicion of KD and further permit cardiovascular examination. This would contribute to distinguishing KD from other diseases with similar clinical signs in order to accelerate appropriate treatment.
Climate Change Influences the Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) Pollen Count and Sensitization Rate in South Korea
Authors: Song Jung-Kook , Kang Ju wan , Hong Sung-Chul , Hong Kim Jeong , Park Dahee , Lee Hye-Sook , Jeong Jinho , Seo Kyu Bum , Lee Keun Hwa
Published: June 2018

Background

Japanese cedar pollen (JCP) is the major outdoor allergen for spring pollinosis and seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) caused by JCP is the most common disease in Jeju Island, South Korea and in Japan. Prior to our research, JCP counts were strongly temperature dependent and were significantly associated with the JCP sensitization rate and JC pollinosis. This event may still be ongoing due to the effects of global climate change, such as increasing temperature.

Methods and Finding

For these reasons, we are studying the correlation among increasing temperatures, the JCP counts in the atmosphere and the JCP sensitization rate.

Conclusions

In this study, our data show that increasing temperatures in January and April might lead to earlier and longer JCP seasons and that earlier and longer JCP seasons lead to an increase in the JCP sensitization rate, which influences the prevalence of JC pollinosis.
Luigi: Large-scale histopathological image retrieval system using deep texture representations
Authors: Komura Daisuke , Fukuta Keisuke , Tominaga Ken , Kawabe Akihiro , Koda Hirotomo , Suzuki Ryohei , Konishi Hiroki , Umezaki Toshikazu , Harada Tatsuya , Ishikawa Shumpei
Published: June 2018

Background

As a large number of digital histopathological images have been accumulated, there is a growing demand of content-based image retrieval (CBIR) in pathology for educational, diagnostic, or research purposes. However, no CBIR systems in digital pathology are publicly available.

Results

We developed a web application, the Luigi system, which retrieves similar histopathological images from various cancer cases. Using deep texture representations computed with a pre-trained convolutional neural network as an image feature in conjunction with an approximate nearest neighbor search method, the Luigi system provides fast and accurate results for any type of tissue or cell without the need for further training. In addition, users can easily submit query images of an appropriate scale into the Luigi system and view the retrieved results using our smartphone application. The cases stored in the Luigi database are obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas with rich clinical, pathological, and molecular information. We tested the Luigi system by querying typical cancerous regions from four cancer types, and confirmed successful retrieval of relevant images.

Conclusions

The Luigi system will help students, pathologists, and researchers easily retrieve histopathological images of various cancers similar to those of the query image.
SNP Selection and Concordance in Consumer Genetics Testing
Authors: Thompson John F.
Published: June 2018

The use of Direct To Consumer (DTC) genetic testing for predicting health risks and a variety of other phenotypes has been extensively discussed. Additionally, there have been wide ranging discourses on privacy and ethical concerns. Much less attention has been paid to what most people actually use DTC testing for: ancestry determination. Furthermore, comparison of the platforms used by different companies and how they have chosen SNPs to address the questions of health and ancestry have not been broadly reported. When SNPs across three genotyping platforms are compared, only 16-18% of SNPs with reported genotypes are shared across all platforms. Only 110,051 of the more than 600,000 SNPs are called on all three panels examined (Ancestry, 23andMe and MyHeritage). SNPs genotyped on all platforms are highly concordant with only two SNPs having discordant calls. When the SNPs unique to a single panel are examined, it is apparent that each company has its own strategy for choosing SNPs. When each platform is examined, the unique SNPs have different frequencies, ethnic selectivities, and chromosomal locations. Because each company separates the world into different, overlapping geographical regions, it is impossible to do an exact comparison of ancestry results. Factoring in the ways the regions overlap, congruent results are generated for the major contributors to ancestry.
Isolation, Development, and Genomic Analysis ofBacillus megateriumSR7 for Growth and Metabolite Production Under Supercritical Carbon Dioxide
Authors: Freedman Adam J.E. , Peet Kyle C. , Boock Jason T. , Penn Kevin , Prather Kristala L. J. , Thompson Janelle R.
Published: June 2018

Supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) is an attractive substitute for conventional organic solvents due to its unique transport and thermodynamic properties, its renewability and labile nature, and its high solubility for compounds such as alcohols, ketones and aldehydes. However, biological systems that use scCO2are mainly limited toin vitroprocesses due to its strong inhibition of cell viability and growth. To solve this problem, we used a bioprospecting approach to isolate a microbial strain with the natural ability to grow while exposed to scCO2. Enrichment culture and serial passaging of deep subsurface fluids from the McElmo Dome scCO2reservoir in aqueous media under scCO2headspace enabled the isolation of spore-forming strainBacillus megateriumSR7. Sequencing and analysis of the complete 5.51 Mbp genome and physiological characterization revealed the capacity for facultative anaerobic metabolism, including fermentative growth on a diverse range of organic substrates. Supplementation of growth medium withL-alanine for chemical induction of spore germination significantly improved growth frequencies and biomass accumulation under scCO2headspace. Detection of endogenous fermentative compounds in cultures grown under scCO2represents the first observation of bioproduct generation and accumulation under this condition. Culturing development and metabolic characterization ofB. megateriumSR7 represent initial advancements in the effort towards enabling exploitation of scCO2as a sustainable solvent forin vivobioprocessing.
MaGIC: a machine learning tool set and web application for monoallelic gene inference from chromatin
Authors: Vinogradova Svetlana , Saksena Sachit D. , Ward Henry N. , Vigneau Sébastien , Gimelbrant Alexander A.
Published: June 2018

A large fraction of human and mouse autosomal genes are subject to random monoallelic expression (MAE), an epigenetic mechanism characterized by allele-specific gene expression that varies between clonal cell lineages. MAE is highly cell-type specific, and mapping it in a large number of cell and tissue types can provide insight into its biological function. Its detection, however, remains challenging. We previously reported that a sequence-independent chromatin signature identifies, with high sensitivity and specificity, genes subject to MAE in multiple tissue types using readily available ChIP-seq data. Here we present an implementation of this method as a user-friendly, open-source software pipeline for monoallelic gene inference from chromatin (MaGIC).

Availability and implementation

The source code for the MaGIC pipeline and the Shiny app is available at https://github.com/gimelbrantlab/magic.

Contact

sebastien_vigneau@dfci.harvard.edu, gimelbrant@mail.dfci.harvard.edu
A novel mechanism of gland formation in zebrafish involving transdifferentiation of renal epithelial cells and live cell extrusion
Authors: Naylor Richard W. , Davidson Alan J.
Published: June 2018

Transdifferentiation is the poorly understood phenomenon whereby a terminally differentiated cell acquires a completely new identity. Here, we describe a rare example of a naturally occurring transdifferentiation in zebrafish in which kidney distal tubule epithelial cells are converted into an endocrine gland known as the Corpuscles of Stannius (CS). We find that this process requires Notch signalling and is associated with the cytoplasmic sequestration of the Hnf1b transcription factor, a master-regulator of renal tubule fate. A deficiency in the Irx3b transcription factor results in ectopic transdifferentiation of distal tubule cells to a CS identity but in a Notch-dependent fashion. Using live-cell imaging we show that CS cells undergo apical constrictionen masseand are then extruded from the tubule to form a distinct organ. This system provides a valuable new model to understand the molecular and morphological basis of transdifferentiation and will advance efforts to exploit this rare phenomenon therapeutically.
Compendiums of Cancer Transcriptome for Machine Learning Applications
Authors: Lim Su Bin , Tan Swee Jin , Lim Wan-Teck , Lim Chwee Teck
Published: June 2018

Background

There exist massive transcriptome profiles in the form of microarray, enabling reuse. The challenge is that they are processed with diverse platforms and preprocessing tools, requiring considerable time and informatics expertise for cross-dataset or cross-cancer analyses. If there exists a single, integrated data source consisting of thousands of samples, similar to TCGA, data-reuse will be facilitated for discovery, analysis, and validation of biomarker-based clinical strategy.

Findings

We present 11 merged microarray-acquired datasets (MMDs) of major cancer types, curating 8,386 patient-derived tumor and tumor-free samples from 95 GEO datasets. Highly concordant MMD-derived patterns of genome-wide differential gene expression were observed with matching TCGA cohorts. Using machine learning algorithms, we show that clinical models trained from all MMDs, except breast MMD, can be directly applied to RNA-seq-acquired TCGA data with an average accuracy of 0.96 in classifying cancer. Machine learning optimized MMD further aids to reveal immune landscape of human cancers critically needed in disease management and clinical interventions.

Conclusions

To facilitate large-scale meta-analysis, we generated a newly curated, unified, large-scale MMD across 11 cancer types. Besides TCGA, this single data source may serve as an excellent training or test set to apply, develop, and refine machine learning algorithms that can be tapped to better define genomic landscape of human cancers.
Evaluating Cost-Effective Methods for Rapid and Repeatable National Scale Detection and Mapping of Invasive Species Spread
Authors: Kost Ruth A. , Brook Ryan K.
Published: June 2018

Invasive species can spread rapidly at local and national scales, creating significant environmental and economic impacts. A central problem in mitigation efforts is identifying methods that can rapidly detect invasive species in a cost-effective and repeatable manner. This challenge is particularly acute for species that can spread over large areas (>1 million km2). Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are one of the most prolific invasive mammals on Earth and cause extensive damage to agricultural crops, native ecosystems, and livestock, and are reservoirs of disease. They have spread from their native range in Eurasia and North Africa into large areas of Australia, Africa, South America, and North America. We show that the range of invasive wild pigs has increased exponentially in Canada over the last 30 years following initial and ongoing releases and escapes from domestic wild boar farms. We evaluate eight different methods for mapping invasive species over large areas and assess their benefits and limitations. Our findings effectively map the spread of a highly invasive large mammal and demonstrate that management efforts should ideally rely on a set of complementary independent monitoring methods. Mapping and evaluating resulting species occurrences provide baseline maps against which future changes can be rapidly evaluated.
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor and interferon gamma generate antiviral states via transcriptional repression
Authors: Kueck Tonya , Cassella Elena , Holler Jessica , Kim Baek , Bieniasz Paul D.
Published: June 2018

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor whose activation induces the expression of numerous genes, with many effects on cells. However, AhR activation is not known to affect the replication of viruses. We show that AhR activation in macrophages causes a block to HIV-1 and HSV-1 replication. We find that AhR activation transcriptionally represses cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)1/2 and their associated cyclins, thereby reducing SAMHD1 phosphorylation, cellular dNTP levels and both HIV-1 and HSV-1 replication. Remarkably, a different antiviral stimulus, interferon gamma (IFN-γ), that induces a largely non-overlapping set of genes, also transcriptionally represses CDK1, CDK2 and their associated cyclins, resulting in similar dNTP depletion and antiviral effects. Concordantly, the SIV Vpx protein provides complete and partial resistance to the antiviral effects of AhR and IFN-γ, respectively. Thus, distinct antiviral signaling pathways converge on CDK/cyclin repression, causing inhibition of viral DNA synthesis and replication.
Optimal growth conditions and nutrient degradation characteristics of an aerobic denitrifying bacterium
Authors: Ling Sun , Juanjuan Shi
Published: June 2018

An efficient aerobic denitrifying bacterium, QX1, identified as Arthrobacter sp. by morphological observations, physiological-biochemical tests, and 16s rDNA sequence analysis, was isolated from burdock fields. A phylogenetic tree for this strain was built based on the 16s rDNA sequence, and the effects of nitrogen source, carbon source, pH value, and temperature on the growth of the strain, in addition to its denitrification characteristics, were evaluated. The results showed that under conditions of a gas bath with shaking at 160 rpm, suitable growth conditions for this strain were LB medium plus 1% acetic acid sodium, 30°C, and pH 8. With these conditions, the strain grew to the logarithmic phase after about 4 h, the logarithmic phase was maintained for 16 h, steady growth was observed for 24 h, and growth began to decline thereafter. QX1 exhibited alkali resistance and could tolerate low (15°C) and high temperatures (40°C). At 30°C, pH 8, and shaking at 160 rpm, strains could degrade nitrate, with a removal rate of 89.92% within 48 h in synthetic sewage. Thus, strain QX1 could have applications as an alkaline-tolerant, broad-spectrum temperature-tolerant, efficient denitrifying bacterium in the field of denitrification repair.
Innovative method for reducing uninformative calls in non-invasive prenatal testing
Authors: Budis Jaroslav , Gazdarica Juraj , Radvanszky Jan , Szucs Gabor , Kucharik Marcel , Strieskova Lucia , Gazdaricova Iveta , Harsanyova Maria , Duris Frantisek , Minarik Gabriel , Sekelska Martina , Nagy Balint , Turna Jan , Szemes Tomas
Published: June 2018

Motivation

Non-invasive prenatal testing or NIPT is currently among the top researched topic in obstetric care. While the performance of the current state-of-the-art NIPT solutions achieve high sensitivity and specificity, they still struggle with a considerable number of samples that cannot be concluded with certainty. Such uninformative results are often subject to repeated blood sampling and re-analysis, usually after two weeks, and this period may cause a stress to the future mothers as well as increase the overall cost of the test.

Results

We propose a supplementary method to traditional z-scores to reduce the number of such uninformative calls. The method is based on a novel analysis of the length profile of circulating cell free DNA which compares the change in such profiles when random-based and length-based elimination of some fragments is performed. The proposed method is not as accurate as the standard z-score; however, our results suggest that combination of these two independent methods correctly resolves a substantial portion of healthy samples with an uninformative result. Additionally, we discuss how the proposed method can be used to identify maternal aberrations, thus reducing the risk of false positive and false negative calls.

Availability and Implementation

A particular implementation of the proposed methods is not provided with the manuscript.

Contact

Correspondence regarding the manuscript should be directed at Frantisek Duris (fduris@dcs.fmph.uniba.sk).

Supplementary Information

No additional supplementary information is available.
Food web networks shift across a precipitation gradient due to changes in community composition and species interactions
Authors: Guzman Laura Melissa , Vanschoenwinkel Bram , Farjalla Vinicius F. , Poon Anita , Srivastava Diane
Published: June 2018

Ecological networks change across spatial and environmental gradients due to (i) changes in species composition or (ii) changes in the frequency or strength of interactions. Here we use the communities of aquatic invertebrates inhabiting clusters of bromeliad phytotelms along the Brazilian coast as a model system for examining turnover in the properties of ecological networks. We first document the variation in the species pools of sites across a geographical climate gradient. Using the same sites, we also explored the geographic variation in species interaction strength using a newly developed Markov network approach. We found that community composition differed along a gradient of water volume within bromeliads due to the turnover of some species. From the Markov network analysis, we found that the top-down effects of certain predators differed geographically, which could also be explained by geographic differences in bromeliad water volumes. Overall, this study illustrates how a network can change across an environmental gradient through both changes in both species and their interactions.
Trans-splicing of mRNAs links gene transcription to translational control regulated by mTOR
Authors: Danks Gemma , Galbiati Heloisa , Raasholm Martina , Torres Cleuren Yamila N. , Valen Eivind , Navratilova Pavla , Thompson Eric M.
Published: June 2018

In phylogenetically diverse organisms, the 5’ ends of a subset of mRNAs are trans-spliced with a spliced leader (SL) RNA. The functions of SL trans-splicing, however, remain largely enigmatic. Here, we quantified translation genome-wide in the marine chordate, Oikopleura dioica, under inhibition of mTOR, a central growth regulator. Translation of trans-spliced TOP mRNAs was suppressed, showing that the SL sequence permits nutrient-dependent translational control of growth-related mRNAs. Under crowded, nutrient-limiting conditions, O. dioica continues to filter-feed, but arrests growth until favorable conditions return. Upon release from such conditions, initial recovery was independent of nutrient-responsive, trans-spliced genes, suggesting animal density sensing as a first trigger for resumption of development. Our results demonstrate a role for trans-splicing in the coordinated translational down-regulation of nutrient-responsive genes under limiting conditions.
Mammalian CST averts replication failure by preventing G-quadruplex accumulation
Authors: Liu Yang , Zhang Miaomiao , Wang Bing , Xiao Yingnan , Li Tingfang , Geng X , Li Guang , Liu Qiang , Price Carolyn M. , Wang Feng
Published: June 2018

Human CST (CTC1-STN1-TEN1) is an RPA-like complex that associates with G-rich single-strand DNA and helps resolve replication problems both at telomeres and genome-wide. We previously showed that CST binds and disrupts G-quadruplex (G4) DNAin vitro, suggesting that CST may preventin vivoblocks to replication by resolving G4 structures. Here, we demonstrate that CST binds and unfolds G4 with similar efficiency to RPA. In cells, CST is recruited to telomeric and non-telomeric chromatin upon G4 stabilization. STN1 depletion increases G4 accumulation and slows bulk genomic DNA replication. At telomeres, combined STN1 depletion and G4 stabilization causes multi-telomere FISH signals and telomere loss, hallmarks of deficient telomere duplex replication. Strand-specific telomere FISH indicates preferential loss of C-strand DNA while analysis of BrdU uptake during leading and lagging-strand telomere replication shows preferential under-replication of lagging telomeres. Together these results indicate a block to Okazaki fragment synthesis. Overall, our findings indicate a novel role for CST in maintaining genome integrity through resolution of G4 structures both ahead of the replication fork and on the lagging strand template.
A novel co-segregatingDCTN1splice site variant in a family with Bipolar Disorder may hold the key to understanding the etiology
Authors: Hallen André , Cooper Arthur J.L.
Published: June 2018

A novel co-segregating splice site variant in theDynactin-1(DCTN1) gene was discovered by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) in a family with a history of bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive diagnosis (MDD). Psychiatric illness in this family follows an autosomal dominant pattern.DCTN1codes for the largest dynactin subunit, namely p150Glued, which plays an essential role in retrograde axonal transport and in neuronal autophagy. A GT→TT transversion in theDCTN1gene, uncovered in the present work, is predicted to disrupt the invariant canonical splice donor site IVS22+1G>T and result in intron retention and a premature termination codon (PTC). Thus, this splice site variant is predicted to trigger RNA nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) and/or result in a C-terminal truncated p150Gluedprotein (ct-p150Glued), thereby negatively impacting retrograde axonal transport and neuronal autophagy. BD prophylactic medications, and most antipsychotics and antidepressants, are known to enhance neuronal autophagy. This variant is analogous to the dominant-negativeGLUED Gl1mutation inDrosophilawhich is responsible for a neurodegenerative phenotype. The newly identified variant may reflect an autosomal dominant cause of psychiatric pathology in this affected family. Factors that affect alternative splicing of theDCTN1gene, leading to NMD and/or ct-p150Glued, may be of fundamental importance in contributing to our understanding of the etiology of BD as well as MDD.
A rapid visuomotor response on the human upper limb is selectively influenced by implicit, but not explicit, motor learning
Authors: Gu(顾超) Chao , Pruszynski J. Andrew , Gribble Paul L. , Corneil Brian D.
Published: June 2018

How do humans learn to adapt their motor actions to achieve task success? Recent behavioral and patient studies have challenged the classic notion that motor learning arises solely from the errors produced during a task, suggesting instead that explicit cognitive strategies can act in concert with the implicit, error“based, motor learning component. Here, we show that the earliest wave of directionally-tuned neuromuscular activity that occurs within ~100 ms of peripheral visual stimulus onset is selectively influenced by the implicit component of motor learning. In contrast, the voluntary neuromuscular activity associated with reach initiation, which evolves ~100 to 200 ms later is influenced by both the implicit and explicit components of motor learning. The selective influence of the implicit, but not explicit, component of motor learning on the earliest cascade of neuromuscular activity supports the notion that these components of motor learning can differentially influence descending motor pathways.
An essential mycolate remodeling program for mycobacterial adaptation in host cells
Authors: Peterson Eliza J.R. , Bailo Rebeca , Rothchild Alissa C. , Arrieta-Ortiz Mario , Kaur Amardeep , Pan Min , Mai Dat , Cooper Charlotte , Aderem Alan , Bhatt Apoorva , Baliga Nitin S.
Published: June 2018

The success ofMycobacterium tuberculosis(MTB) stems from its ability to remain hidden from the immune system within macrophages. Here, we report a new technology (Path-seq) to sequence miniscule amounts of MTB transcripts within up to million-fold excess host RNA. Using Path-seq we have discovered a novel transcriptional program forin vivomycobacterial cell wall remodeling when the pathogen infects alveolar macrophages in mice. We have discovered that MadR transcriptionally modulates two mycolic acid desaturasesdesA1/A2to initially promote cell wall remodeling uponin vitromacrophage infection and, subsequently, reduces mycolate biosynthesis upon entering dormancy. We demonstrate that disrupting MadR program is lethal to diverse mycobacteria making this evolutionarily conserved regulator a prime antitubercular target for both early and late stages of infection.

One Sentence Summary

Novel technology (Path-seq) discovers cell wall remodeling program duringMycobacterium tuberculosisinfection of macrophages
An open trial of psychodynamic psychotherapy for people with mild-moderate intellectual disabilities with waiting list and follow up control
Authors: Skelly Allan , McGeehan Caoimhe , Usher Robert
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the outcome of psychodynamic psychotherapy for people with intellectual disabilities (ID), which has a limited but supportive evidence base.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is a systematic open trial of flexible-length psychodynamic therapy offered in an urban community to 30 people with mild and moderate ID, presenting with significant emotional distress on the Psychological Therapies Outcome Scale for people with intellectual disabilities (PTOS-ID). Allocation to therapy was made according to an established stepped care approach according to need, and the mean number of sessions was 22.03 (range 7–47). Treatment fidelity was checked via notes review and cases excluded from analysis where there were other significant psychological interventions.

Findings

On both self-report (PTOS-ID) and independent ratings (Health of the Nation Outcome Scales-Learning Disability (HoNOS-LD)) recipients of therapy: did not improve while waiting for therapy; improved significantly during therapy, with large pre–post effect sizes; and retained improvements at six-month follow-up.

Research limitations/implications

While it is important to conduct further controlled trials, the findings provide support for previous studies. High rates of abuse and neglect were found in the sample, suggesting that more trauma-informed and relational approaches should be explored for this client group.

Originality/value

No other study of this size has been completed which used dedicated standardised outcome measures, with this therapy type, with both waiting list and follow-up control and with account of model fidelity.
Gender mainstreaming as a strategy to achieve sustainable post-disaster reconstruction
Authors: Yumarni Tri , Amaratunga Dilanthi
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss policy-relevant findings regarding strategies for mainstreaming gender in achieving sustainable post-disaster reconstruction (PDR).

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory case study was used to explore the implementation of gender mainstreaming strategies and the link to sustainable PDR. The Bantul and Sleman regencies of Yogyakarta province provide a unique site for researching PDR as they are located in a region that is more strongly affected by earthquakes than nearly any other in Indonesia. Data were collected through interviews with 17 key stakeholders and 26 beneficiaries who were involved during and after the earthquake. To support the interview findings, surveys involving 50 policy makers and 150 beneficiaries were conducted. Content analysis and t-statistics were used in analyzing the data.

Findings

Gender mainstreaming strategies within sustainable reconstruction should incorporate strategies for protecting against gender vulnerabilities and for promoting gender capacities. Both are fundamental to the achievement of sustainable PDR.

Originality/value

The paper establishes comprehensive strategies for mainstreaming gender under three pillars (i.e. economic, social and environmental) of sustainable development. The findings benefit relevant policy makers by improving the policy performance of gender mainstreaming in the affected communities in enhancing sustainable PDR.
Reactions to men’s and women’s counterproductive work behavior
Authors: Botsford Morgan Whitney , Nelson Johnathan , King Eden B. , Mancini Victor S.
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the nature of counterproductive work behavior (CWB) gender stereotypicality, and to consider whether despite efforts to systematically evaluate employees through formalized performance appraisal processes, gender-stereotypic bias is likely to enter into performance management systems.

Design/methodology/approach

Study 1 used archival data from 197 federal employees to explore actual punishment recommendations allocated to men and women who engaged in a variety of CWBs. Study 2 tested the causal effect of gender stereotypicality on punishment recommendations with 47 EMBA students who participated in a laboratory study.

Findings

Study 1 revealed an interaction between appellant gender and CWB stereotypicality with regard to termination decisions suggesting that women who engage in stereotypical (i.e. feminine) CWBs and men who engage in stereotypical (i.e. masculine) CWBs are more likely to be terminated than women and men who engage in gender counter-stereotypic CWB. Study 2 revealed that women (not men) tended to receive harsher punishment recommendations for stereotypical (i.e. feminine) CWB than for counter-stereotypical (i.e. masculine) CWB.

Practical implications

Findings illustrate that punishments are not universally extreme, as men and women are denigrated differentially depending on the stereotypicality of their behavior. The current research affirms that there are social constructions for evaluating performance that may continue to confound evaluations of performance.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies to explore the gendered nature of CWB and supports the argument that prescriptive gender stereotypes shape reactions to CWBs.
Institutional regimes and profitability transitions: the case of Indian manufacturing firms
Authors: Majumdar Sumit K. , Bhattacharjee Arnab
Published: June 2018

Purpose

Literature, spanning industrial organization and strategic management disciplines, uses variance decomposition to understand the relative importance of firm, industry and business group effects in shaping profitability variations. Some literature analyzes firm profitability under transition to liberalization. Previous research has taken a static before-and-after view on institutional change. This paper aims to focus on the dynamic process of liberalization in India, analyzing how different institutional regime changes alter firm behavior leading to changes in profitability patterns.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a panel data set of several thousand Indian firms, spanning the 26-year period between 1980-1981 and 2005-2006, the authors determine the relative importance of firm, industry and business group effects in explaining manufacturing firms’ profitability variances across different institutional phases. The authors evaluate three propositions that help assess transition dynamics between phases. They determine the quantum of catch-up or falling behind by firms.

Findings

Different industries emerge as profitability leaders, as the economy progresses through different liberalization phases. Business groups that have been more effective in resource appropriation, rent-seeking, politician management and non-market activities in a controlled regime are replaced as profit leaders by those that, in a free-market economy, can be capable of intra-business resource allocation tasks and leveraging corporate capabilities.

Originality/value

The approach demonstrates how to analyze the underlying detailed structure of firm-level data, and performance outcomes, to derive nuanced interpretation of factors giving rise to the effects that explain profitability variances, and how to assess the way these effects behave over time. The dynamic evidence-based approach highlights what factors matter, where, when and why, in influencing profitability variances, which are a key dimension of industrial and economic performance.
Accounting quality and media attention around seasoned equity offerings
Authors: Comiran Fernando , Fedyk Tatiana , Ha Joohyung
Published: June 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate how media coverage affects the quality of accounting information for seasoned equity offering (SEO) firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample includes SEOs completed between January 1993 and December 2014 in the USA that are available from Thomson Financial’s Securities Data Company. The FactSet database was used to measure the amount of media coverage. The paper considers two types of earnings management: accrual-based earnings management and real earnings management.

Findings

This study finds that the media serves as a watchdog for real earnings management but does not affect accrual manipulations. These findings hold when endogenous factors affecting firms’ earnings management choices are controlled for and also when alternative time windows for media coverage are examined.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to demonstrate that media attention affects the quality of accounting information during equity offerings, as it successfully reduces real earnings management.
A model of mobile payment usage among Arab consumers
Authors: Ramadan Reem , Aita Jawdat
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of perceived satisfaction with mobile payment applications based on use experience, and subsequent stated expectations on brand loyalty and future use behavior using a theory-based research integrative model of factors that influence Arabs’ intentions to use mobile payment application(s).

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual model was developed using the mixed research method approach. The focus group approach was used for the qualitative study and structural equation modeling for the quantitative study. Primary data were collected online. Participants were 305 Arab consumers from nine countries in the Middle East.

Findings

Satisfaction with the quality of mobile payment application(s) increased use experience and enhanced consumers’ expectations, which in turn positively affected loyalty and purchase intentions.

Research limitations/implications

The study encompassed mobile payment application(s) in nine countries rather than focusing on one market, or on one product type and business. The paper did not perform a comparative study between sampled Arab countries, but rather it sees all countries and respondents just as Arabs.

Practical implications

Service providers should build mobile application(s) based on the features of usability, availability, reliability, adaptability, accessibility, responsiveness and security.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first studies that empirically examines mobile payment consumer’s usage behavior from nine countries of the Arab world where there is scarce research on the topic in the region.
The illusion of technique: sustained enterprise innovation as an aspirational problem
Authors: Duening Thomas
Published: June 2018

Purpose

This paper is based on insights from philosophy of science, centered in Gilbert Ryle’s notion of “category mistakes”. A category mistake occurs in a science when scholars have been thinking of a phenomenon as of a certain sort, when it is really nothing of the kind. This paper aims to claim that regarding sustained enterprise innovation (SEI) as a strictly operational problem commits such a category mistake. Instead, SEI is an aspirational problem and thus requires scholars to examine it from that perspective as well.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper begins by explicating Ryle’s notion of a category mistake. It develops the suggestion that innovation scholars have made such a mistake by thinking of innovation as a strictly operational problem. In reality, it is as much an aspirational problem. The paper then builds on the metaphor made famous by Isaiah Berlin, distinguishing between hedgehogs and foxes. A hedgehog is a leader who copes with the non-predictive nature of innovation. The paper builds on the findings from positive psychology and virtue epistemology to highlight how humans can act rationally in the face of non-predictive outcomes. Four virtues of hedgehog leadership are proposed and defined.

Findings

The paper concludes that hedgehog leadership is necessary for sustained enterprise innovation. It also concludes that hedgehogs can act rationally in pursuit of non-predictive outcomes by practicing a set of governing virtues.

Research limitations/implications

Further research needs to be conducted to validate the proposed governing virtues, to illuminate the optimal hedgehog/fox balance within the enterprise, and to validate through longitudinal work the impact of hedgehogs on sustained enterprise innovation.

Practical implications

Based on the continuing interest in innovation expressed by enterprise leaders around the world, hedgehogs are in increasing demand. Fortunately, hedgehogs can be made (and self-made) via deliberate practice of the governing virtues. Aspiring and current hedgehogs can be confident that practicing these virtues and becoming increasingly adept at their application will promote and effect enterprise innovation.

Originality/value

Very little research has been conducted on the aspirational aspect of SEI. This is an insidious gap in the literature, as it affects scholars and practitioners alike. Scholars are trapped in the “normal science” paradigm that treats the innovation problem as if it can be solved through operational techniques. This paper contends that this ubiquitous category mistake has led scholars down a blind alley. Instead, it is important for scholars and practitioners alike to view SEI as an aspirational problem that requires vastly different research frameworks and practitioner prescriptions.