bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How organization justice and perceived organizational support facilitate employees’ innovative behavior at work
Authors: Nazir Sajjad , Shafi Amina , Atif Mian Muhammad , Qun Wang , Abdullah Syed Muhammad
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationships among organizational justice, innovative organization culture, perceived organizational support (POS), affective commitment and innovative behavior (IB). The mediating role of POS is tested within the relationship of justice dimensions, affective commitment and IB.

Design/methodology/approach

Data for this research were collected from 367 managerial and executive employees working in manufacturing and IT sector firms in Pakistan. Structural equation modeling was utilized to test hypothesized relationships.

Findings

Results indicate that organizational justice (distributive, procedural and interactional justice), innovative organization culture and POS are significantly related to affective commitment and employees’ IB. The findings also showed that organizational justice stimulates employees’ affective commitment and IB through mediating POS as well as directly.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation of this study is its cross-sectional design and self-reported questionnaire data. This study is also limited to manufacturing and IT sector in Pakistan. Therefore, other sectors and geographical locations could be chosen for future research using a bigger sample size.

Originality/value

This study makes important theoretical contributions using social exchange theory. It also expands the research in the area of organizational justice dimensions, organizational culture and POS as antecedents of affective commitment and IB. This study is an exceptional investigation of justice, organization culture, POS, commitment and IB in the Pakistan cultural context.
How union participation influences union commitment and job involvement
Authors: Li Min , Huang Wenyuan , Zhang Chunyang , Yang Zhengxi
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to draw on triadic reciprocal determinism and social exchange theory to examine how “induced-type” and “compulsory-type” union participation influence union commitment and job involvement, and how union participation in the west differs from that in China. It also examines whether the role of both organizational justice and employee participation climate (EPC) functions in the Chinese context.

Design/methodology/approach

Cross-sectional data are collected from 694 employees in 46 non-publicly owned enterprises, both Chinese and foreign, in the Pearl River Delta region of China. A multi-level moderated mediation test is used to examine the model of this research.

Findings

Union participation is positively related to organizational justice, union commitment and job involvement. In addition, organizational justice acts as the mediator among union participation, union commitment and job involvement. Specifically, the mediating role of organizational justice between union participation and union commitment, and between union participation and job involvement, is stronger in high-EPC contexts than low-EPC contexts.

Originality/value

Instead of examining the impacts of attitudes on union participation, as per most studies in the western context, this research examines the impacts of union participation in the Chinese context on attitudes, including union commitment and job involvement. It also reveals the role of both organizational justice and EPC in the process through which union participation influences union commitment and job involvement.
Determinants of profitability of life and non-life insurance companies: evidence from Ecuador
Authors: Camino-Mogro Segundo , Bermúdez-Barrezueta Natalia
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is is to identify the main determinants of insurance profitability on life and non-life segments to obtain which variables affect in each market of the Ecuadorian insurance sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use a large panel data set with financial information from 2001 to 2017 and estimate the determinants through a panel corrected standard errors regression.

Findings

The authors found that net premiums, technical reserves, capital ratio and score efficiency are micro-determinants in the life insurance sector, whereas in the non-life sector, the micro-determinants include also claim level and liquidity ratio; moreover, the authors found that HHI is a determinant of profitability only in the life insurance. Among the macro determinants set, the authors found that the interest rate has also a significant impact both in the life and non-life insurance.

Originality/value

The authors analyze a dollarized emerging country, which is the first time in this kind of studies. The authors also include the structure-conduct-performance and relative market power paradigm as well as the ES hypothesis, calculated through the data envelopment analysis, as determinants of insurance profitability. Finally, this is the first research to examine the determinants of profitability in Latin American and Caribbean insurers.
Policy compliance and deterrence mechanism in the sharing economy
Authors: Park Soo Kyung , Kwak Kyu Tae , Lee Bong Gyou
Published: August 2019

Purpose

In a sharing economy, economically inactive members can serve as providers owing to the low start-up costs. However, such providers may operate without sufficient knowledge of the market and policies, causing significant problems. To prevent illegal sharing, governments encourage providers to register their businesses after meeting certain requirements, but most providers still operate unregistered businesses. The purpose of this paper is to explore the causes of policy non-compliance and suggest measures that can induce compliance.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the rational choice and deterrence theories, this study combines qualitative and quantitative research. The former is used to investigate the antecedent factors affecting compliance. Using the latter, this study assumes that the existence of platform operators can resolve information asymmetries. The qualitative findings provide the variables that can lead to policy compliance, while the quantitative research verifies the causal relationships.

Findings

Business registration by providers in the sharing economy arises from their subjective cost-benefit calculations of policy compliance. According to the qualitative research, they believe there is a low risk of detection of policy non-compliance by the government. The quantitative research suggests that interventions by platform operators could resolve information asymmetries between the government and providers.

Originality/value

This study designed a mechanism to guide providers toward policy compliance. To reduce friction with the existing market and ensure efficient growth, it is necessary to cooperate with sharing economy participants. The results suggest that the role of platform operators and the government is important.
Does more crowd participation bring more value to crowdfunding projects? The perspective of crowd capital
Authors: Yin Chunxiao , Liu Libo , Mirkovski Kristijian
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on investigating the impact of crowd participation on degree of project success, which is defined as the total amount of funds a project can obtain after it reaches its initial funding goal threshold.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the theory of crowd capital, this study develops six hypotheses about the impact of crowd capability of a fundraiser (i.e. project updates, goal setting, reward levels and social media usage) and crowd participation (i.e. namely, funds pledge and on-site communication) on degree of project success. The hypotheses are tested using data sets of successful projects collected from two popular crowdfunding websites.

Findings

This study finds that funds pledge has an inverse U-shaped relationship with degree of project success. Project updates, reward levels and on-site communication positively influence degree of project success, while funding goal negatively affects degree of project success.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to prior literature by investigating the degree of project success determinants using the perspectives of both fundraisers and crowds, which provides a more comprehensive understanding of what makes a crowdfunded project a success.

Practical implications

The empirical results of this study provide fundraisers with guidelines about how to access more funds after achieving the initial funding goals.

Originality/value

This work is one of the first to investigate the degree of project success and its determinants from the perspectives of both fundraisers and crowds.
Dimensions for improvement of construction management practice in Ethiopian construction industry
Authors: Mengistu Desalegn Girma , Mahesh Gangadhar
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The state of the different practices in construction industry determines its performance level. Hence, improving performance of construction industry needs assessing state of the practices in the industry and devising improvement intervention. The purpose of this paper is to measure improvement requirement level of different construction management practice areas and to identify the underlying improvement dimensions in Ethiopian construction industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Questionnaire survey was developed for data collection based on a thorough literature review which yielded 28 construction management practice areas. Purposive sampling method was used to select respondents for the survey. Mean score was used to identify the required improvement level, and one sample T-test was carried out to identify significance of improvement requirement. Factor analysis was conducted to identify the underlying dimensions of the construction management practice areas.

Findings

Findings indicate 27 areas need significant improvement. This shows the low level of adoption of good construction management practices in Ethiopian construction industry. Factor analysis resulted in the areas being grouped to four broad improvement dimensions, namely, project management, organization management, knowledge and risk management and project development and contract management.

Originality/value

The findings provide information for appropriate action by the stakeholders to raise standards of adopted construction management practices. It also show areas of construction management which require more focused research in the context of Ethiopian construction industry. Considering the similarity of nature of construction industry problems in developing countries, the findings can be extended to similar countries.
Research on comprehensive environmental impact assessment of shale gas development
Authors: Luo Zhenhua , Chen Yixi , Cen Kang , Pan Haize , Zhong Mengfan , He Jian
Published: August 2019

Purpose

In recent years, to solve the contradiction between energy supply and demand, the Chinese Government has vigorously promoted shale gas development. With the rapid development of the shale gas industry, the environmental impact problems have become increasingly serious. Therefore, it is of great significance to carry out a comprehensive environmental impact assessment of shale gas development. This study aims to provide a theoretical basis for enterprises to make development decisions on shale gas projects by constructing a model of comprehensive environmental impact assessment for shale gas development.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the comprehensive environmental impact factors of shale gas development are analyzed from the two aspects of the natural environment and macro environment, and the index system of comprehensive environmental impact assessment for shale gas development including 7 secondary indicators and 24 tertiary indicators is constructed. Owing to the fact that qualitative indicators are difficult to quantify in the evaluation process, the method of intuitionistic fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (IFAHP) is adopted for evaluation. This method (IFAHP) can delicately describe the hesitancy degree of the decision-makers in the process of assigning a weight to the indicators, and make the weight assignment of each index more accurate. Furthermore, this method overcomes the shortcomings of the conventional methods, such as the complexity of calculation and the large amount of calculation.

Findings

The evaluation model is applied to a shale gas platform drilling project in Southwest China. Based on the ratings from 13 experts, the comprehensive environmental impact assessment grade of this project is good, indicating that the shale gas development project is feasible. The result is basically in line with the actual situation.

Originality/value

Based on the consideration of the natural environmental impacts of shale gas development, this paper also has considered the macro environmental impact of shale gas development, and has established the index system of comprehensive environmental impact assessment for shale gas development from the two aspects of the natural environment and macro environment. To overcome such difficulties as incomplete evaluation by decision-makers, cumbersome calculation process and a large amount of calculation, this paper has adopted the method of IFAHP to evaluate and has established a comprehensive environmental impact assessment model for shale gas development based on IFAHP.
Voluntary disclosure and earnings quality: evidence from ownership concentration environment
Authors: Karajeh Ahmad Ibrahim Said
Published: August 2019

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relationship between earnings quality and corporate voluntary disclosure among Malaysian listed companies. Moreover, it examines the moderating effect of the ownership structure on the relationship between earnings quality and corporate voluntary disclosure.

Design/methodology/approach

This study covers 300 companies listed on Bursa Malaysia. It has used strategic, financial and non-financial information to measure voluntary disclosure; earnings management, persistence and smoothness to measure earnings quality; and institutional and managerial shareholders to measure ownership structure. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to investigate if ownership structure moderates the relationship between earnings quality and corporate voluntary disclosure.

Findings

The results in this work imply that companies with high earnings quality are more likely to disclose voluntary information to help stakeholders. Furthermore, this study provides original evidence that institutional ownership and managerial ownership play a main role as moderating variables that influence management motives toward practices of voluntary disclosure and earnings quality.

Originality/value

Because of the limited number of empirical studies on the relationship between voluntary disclosure and earnings quality, this study fills a gap in the literature by investigating the relationship between them. In addition, a lack of research exists on the effects of ownership structure on the relationship between voluntary disclosure and the earnings quality. Therefore, this study makes an original contribution to the literature by using institutional and managerial ownership as moderating variables to investigate the effects of the ownership structure on the relationship between voluntary disclosure and earnings quality in Malaysian companies.
Antecedents and consequences of luxury brand engagement in social media
Authors: Brandão Amélia , Pinho Eva , Rodrigues Paula
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyse the antecedent (Consumer Involvement) and the consequences (Brand Connection and Brand Usage Intent [BUI]) of the three dimensions of Consumer Brand Engagement (CBE) (Cognitive Processing, Affection and Activation) in luxury brand engagement on Facebook.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through an online questionnaire completed by fans/followers of luxury brands’ Facebook pages. The empirical study was conducted using structural equation modelling.

Findings

Consumer Involvement has a positive impact on the three dimensions of CBE (Cognitive Processing, Affection and Activation). This leads to the conclusion that Activation and Affection have an impact both on Self-Brand Connection and on BUI. Moreover, it was found that Cognitive Processing impacts only on BUI.

Practical implications

The results identified the factors which brand managers should focus on to increase CBE on Facebook.

Originality/value

This study is a pioneer, as it extends the consumer engagement model to the social media context in a hedonic and conspicuous consumption category which includes luxury brand products.
Effect of fused deposition modelling process parameters on mechanical properties of 3D printed parts
Authors: Chadha Abhinav , Ul Haq Mir Irfan , Raina Ankush , Singh Rana Ratna , Penumarti Narendra Babu , Bishnoi Manjeet Singh
Published: August 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the effect of bed temperature, primary layer thickness and infill pattern (rectilinear, honeycomb, triangular) on the mechanical properties of tensile strength and bending strength of 3D printed parts.

Design/methodology/approach

Samples in accordance to various ASTM standards were printed by fused deposition modelling (FDM) method by varying the various input paramaters such as bed temperature, primary layer thickness and infill pattern (rectilinear, honeycomb, triangular). Tensile and bending testing was carried out on the printed parts, and post to the testing, fractography has been carried out using scanning electron microscope.

Findings

With increase in bed temperature tensile strength and flexural strength first increases then decreases. With the increase in primary layer thickness, tensile strength and flexural strength increase. With regard to infill patterns, triangular and honeycomb exhibit better tensile strength and better flexural strength.

Practical implications

The 3D printing is increasingly becoming important for manufacturing of engineering parts, determining the process parameters which could result in better mechanical and physical properties shall certainly help designers and manufacturers globally.

Originality/value

This work elucidates the effect of various process parameters of FDM on tensile and flexural properties of the samples.
The new detective
Authors: Eck John E. , Rossmo D. Kim
Published: August 2019

Research Summary

The clearance rates for murder and other serious crimes have declined significantly for almost 60 years despite significant technological improvements in police investigations. The reasons for this are not well understood. We argue here for rethinking why, what, and how police investigators operate so as to repurpose their work for reducing crime. These changes include improved thinking by detectives to reduce investigative errors, increased focus on patterns of crimes, and better use of detective expertise in crime prevention.

Policy Implications

First, police should work to reduce investigative failures by improving investigative thinking. Second, tinkering with the administrative practices of investigative units seems unlikely to produce significant results. Third, police agencies should engage detectives in crime prevention. Finally, police agencies should connect investigations to problem solving.
Why do gun murders have a higher clearance rate than gunshot assaults?
Authors: Cook Philip J. , Braga Anthony A. , Turchan Brandon S. , Barao Lisa M.
Published: August 2019

Research Summary

The prevailing view is that follow‐up investigations are of limited value as crimes are primarily cleared by patrol officers making on‐scene arrests and through the presence of eyewitnesses and forensic evidence at the initial crime scene. We use a quasi‐experimental design to compare investigative resources invested in clearing gun homicide cases relative to nonfatal gun assaults in Boston. We find the large gap in clearances (43% for gun murders vs. 19% for nonfatal gun assaults) is primarily a result of sustained investigative effort in homicide cases made after the first 2 days.

Policy Implications

Police departments should invest additional resources in the investigation of nonfatal gun assaults. When additional investigative effort is expended, law enforcement improves its success in gaining the cooperation of key witnesses and increases the amount of forensic evidence collected and analyzed. In turn, the capacity of the police to hold violent gun offenders accountable, deliver justice to victims, and prevent future gun attacks is enhanced.
Network exposure and excessive use of force
Authors: Ouellet Marie , Hashimi Sadaf , Gravel Jason , Papachristos Andrew V.
Published: August 2019

Research Summary

In this study, we investigate how a police officer's exposure to peers accused of misconduct shapes his or her involvement in excessive use of force. By drawing from 8,642 Chicago police officers named in multiple complaints, we reconstruct police misconduct ego‐networks using complaint records. Our results show that officer involvement in excessive use of force complaints is predicted by having a greater proportion of co‐accused with a history of such behaviors.

Policy Implications

Our findings indicate officers’ peers may serve as social conduits through which misconduct may be learned and transmitted. Isolating officers that engage in improper use of force, at least until problematic behaviors are addressed, seems to be critical to reducing police misconduct and department‐wide citizen complaints. Future studies should be aimed at investigating how social networks shape police misconduct and the ways network analysis might be used to diffuse intervention strategies within departments.
Promotion of Mitochondrial Biogenesis via Activation of AMPK‐PGC1ɑ Signaling Pathway by Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) Extract, and Its Major Active Component 6‐Gingerol
Authors: Deng Xiaohong , Zhang Siwei , Wu Junzhen , Sun Xianjun , Shen Ziyin , Dong Jingcheng , Huang Jianhua
Published: August 2019

Several studies indicated that ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) enhances thermogenesis and/or energy expenditure with which to interpret the beneficial effects of ginger on metabolic disorders. It is well known that mitochondrial activity plays an essential role in these processes. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effect of ginger extract (GE) and its major components, 6‐gingerol and 6‐shogaol, on mitochondrial biogenesis and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Our results showed that GE at dose of 2 g/kg promoted oxygen consumption and intrascapular temperature in mice. The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number in muscle and liver increased. Expression levels of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) related proteins and AMP‐activated protein kinase ɑ/proliferator‐activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 ɑ (AMPK/PGC1ɑ) signaling related proteins in the muscle, liver, and brown adipose tissue (BAT) increased as well. In HepG2 cells, GE at concentration of 2.5 and 5 mg/mL increased mitochondrial mass and mtDNA copy number. GE promoted ATP production, the activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I and IV, and expression levels of OXPHOS complex related proteins and AMPK/PGC1ɑ signaling related proteins. The antagonist of AMPK eliminated partly the effect of GE on mitochondrial biogenesis. 6‐Gingerol increased mitochondrial mass, mtDNA copy number and ATP production, and the activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes in HepG2 cells as well. However, both 6‐gingerol at high concentration of 200 µM and 6‐shogaol at 10 to 200 µM inhibited cell viability. In conclusion, GE promoted mitochondrial biogenesis and improved mitochondrial functions via activation of AMPK‐PGC1ɑ signaling pathway, and 6‐gingerol other than 6‐shogaol, may be the main active component.

Practical Application

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) is a food seasoning and also used as a medical plant in alternative medicine throughout the world. Here, we demonstrated that ginger extract (GE) promoted mitochondrial biogenesis and mitochondrial function via activation of AMPK‐PGC1ɑ signaling pathway both in mice and in HepG2 cells, and 6‐gingerol may be its main active component. Ginger, with anticipated safety, is expected to be a long‐term used dietary supplement and be developed into a new remedy for mitochondrial dysfunctional disorders.
Radiation treatment in early stage triple‐negative breast cancer in New Zealand: A national database study
Authors: Dixit Ashutosh , Frampton Chris , Davey Valerie , Robinson Bridget , James Melissa
Published: August 2019

Introduction

We aimed to investigate the impact of radiation treatment in early‐stage triple negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Methods

Patients with early stage (T1‐3, N0‐2, M0) TNBC were identified using the New Zealand breast cancer register. The outcomes of local recurrence (LRFR), local recurrence free survival (LRFS), loco‐regional recurrence free rate (LRRFR), loco‐regional recurrence free survival (LRRFS), breast cancer specific survival (BCSS), metastasis free (MFS) and overall survival (OS) were determined. Predefined univariate and multivariate cox regression analyses were used to explore associations between known prognostic and treatment factors.

Results

1209 patients were identified with a median follow‐up of 3.88 years. The majority were post‐ menopausal. The mean tumour size was 26mm, the majority had grade III disease and a third were node positive. 625 patients had mastectomy and 584 had breast conservation surgery (BCS). 92% of BCS and 38% of mastectomy patients received radiation. 67% received adjuvant chemotherapy. The 5 year OS was 77.6% (95% CI 74.6–80.2), 5 year BSS was 82.1% (95%CI 79.1–84.7), 5 year LRRFS was 73.9% (95% CI 73.87–73.93), 5 year LRFS was 75.4 (75.37–75.43) and the 5 year LRFR was 92.4% (95% CI 90.6–94.2). The significant prognostic/predictive factors for OS were adjuvant radiation treatment, chemotherapy, T stage, lymph node involvement and lympho‐vascular space invasion. Results were similar for BSS, DMFS, LRFS and LRRFS except that LVSI was not significantly associated with BCSS, LRFS or LRRFS. When analysed by surgical type, in the WLE group, radiation was found to be significantly associated with improvement in all outcomes. In mastectomy group, radiation was not found to be significant for BCSS, LRFS, LRRFS or OS.

Conclusion

Radiation treatment is significantly associated with improved outcomes in early stage TNBC. This argues against the hypothesis that TNBC has inherent radiation resistance.
Characteristics and risk factors for pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with primary Sjögren’s syndrome: 15 new cases from a single center
Authors: Zhang Na , Zhao Yin , Wang Hui , Sun Wenwen , Chen Ming , Fan Qian , Yang ZhenWen , Wei Wei
Published: August 2019

Aim

This study aimed to retrospectively describe 15 new primary Sjögren's syndrome‐pulmonary arterial hypertension (pSS‐PAH) cases confirmed by right heart catheterization (RHC). Demographic and clinical characteristics were analyzed and risk factors for PAH in pSS were explored.

Method

We retrospectively described 15 new pSS‐PAH cases confirmed by RHC referred to our institution between January 2013 and March 2018. We present PAH and pSS characteristics, hemodynamic evaluations, medical management, and outcomes. A matched case control study was carried out to determine the risk factors of PAH in pSS compared with pSS‐non‐PAH patients.

Results

All patients were female with a mean age at PAH diagnosis of 52.9 ± 14.6 years. The delay between the first symptom and PAH diagnosis was 18.7 ± 19.7 months. The most common primary manifestation at PAH onset was exertional dyspnea (13/15). At diagnosis of PAH, PAH was severe with a mean pulmonary artery pressure of 48.8 ± 13.7 mm Hg (range, 27‐72 mm Hg) and a mean cardiac index of 2.3 ± 0.6 L/min/m2 (range, 1.47‐3.41 L/min/m2). Compared with the pSS‐PAH without pericardial effusion, pSS‐PAH with pericardial effusion had larger right arterial (53 [45‐56.75] vs 38 [35.5‐46.5], P = .018) and right ventricular sizes (47 [42.75‐51.25] vs 36 [32.5‐41], P = .007). Compared with the pSS non‐PAH group, we identified 2 risk factors for PAH in pSS: pericardial effusion (odds ratio [OR] [95% CI], 14.29 [1.14‐166.67], P = .039) and liver involvement (OR [95% CI], 14.71 [1.14‐166.67], P = .035).

Conclusion

For pSS patients, PAH can be the first manifestation. We believe that systemic evaluation, especially in patients with pericardial effusion and liver involvement, is important to identify high‐risk patients for PAH, improving their prognosis.
Repetitive enhancement of serum BDNF subsequent to continuation ECT
Authors: Vanicek T. , Kranz G. S. , Vyssoki B. , Komorowski A. , Fugger G. , Höflich A. , Micskei Z. , Milovic S. , Lanzenberger R. , Eckert A. , Kasper S. , Frey R.
Published: August 2019

Introduction

Continuation electroconvulsive therapy (c‐ECT) is highly effective for the prevention of depressive symptom relapse. There is a lack of understanding, about how c‐ECT works in humans, particularly with regard to its effects on brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) concentrations. Here, we aimed to close a gap in the literature by evaluating BDNF levels in patients receiving c‐ECT.

Methods

We included 13 patients with either unipolar or bipolar depression (mean age ± SD: 55.5 ± 17.1; f/m: 10/3; unipolar/bipolar: 10/3) who received between one and four c‐ECT (average per patient: 2.8). Serum BDNF (sBDNF) levels were assessed before and after each c‐ECT sessions. Clinical assessments were also administered both before and after treatment.

Results

Our analysis revealed a significant increase in sBDNF after each treatment (c‐ECT 1‐3: P < 0.001, c‐ECT 4: P = 0.018). The application of multiple c‐ECT treatments was not, however, associated with further sBDNF enhancements. Psychometric scores were not significantly altered following c‐ECT.

Discussion

An increase in sBDNF concentrations subsequent to c‐ECT parallel data from the animal literature, which has linked regularly applied electrical stimulation to neuroplastic processes. This finding suggests a relationship between ECT‐induced sBDNF concentrations and (sustained) remission status, considering a stable clinical condition across c‐ECT.
Delta‐like 3 localizes to neuroendocrine cells and plays a pivotal role in gastrointestinal neuroendocrine malignancy
Authors: Matsuo Kentaro , Taniguchi Kohei , Hamamoto Hiroki , Ito Yuko , Futaki Sugiko , Inomata Yosuke , Shima Takafumi , Asakuma Mitsuhiro , Lee Sang‐Woong , Tanaka Keitaro , Okuda Junji , Kondo Yoichi , Uchiyama Kazuhisa
Published: August 2019

Delta‐like 3 (DLL3) is a member of the Delta/Serrate/Lag2 (DSL) group of Notch receptor ligands. Five DSL ligands are known in mammals, among which DLL3 has a unique structure. In the last few years, DLL3 has attracted attention as a novel molecular targeting gene in neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung due to its high expression. However, the expression pattern and functions of DLL3 in the gastrointestinal tract and gastrointestinal neuroendocrine carcinoma remain unclear. In this study, we examined the expression and role of DLL3 in the gastrointestinal tract, as well as in gastrointestinal neuroendocrine carcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining of the human normal gastrointestinal tract revealed that DLL3 localized in neuroendocrine cells. DLL3 showed intense staining in chromogranin A‐positive gastric cancer specimens. Real‐time quantitative RT‐PCR and western blotting analyses showed considerable upregulation of DLL3 in gastrointestinal neuroendocrine carcinoma cell lines. Immuno‐electron microscopy demonstrated abundant expression of DLL3 in neurosecretory granules in these cells. Furthermore, gene silencing of DLL3 caused significant growth inhibition through the induction of intrinsic apoptosis. Our findings suggest that DLL3 is expressed in neuroendocrine cells of the gastrointestinal tract and that it has a pivotal role in gastrointestinal neuroendocrine carcinoma cells. Based on these findings, further investigations are required to achieve a breakthrough in developing therapeutic strategies for gastrointestinal neuroendocrine carcinoma.
Optimal sequences of same‐visit bidirectional endoscopy: Systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Laoveeravat Passisd , Thavaraputta Subhanudh , Suchartlikitwong Sakolwan , Vutthikraivit Wasawat , Mingbunjerdsuk Thammasak , Motes Arunee , Nugent Kenneth , Perisetti Abhilash , Tharian Benjamin , Islam Sameer , Rakvit Ariwan
Published: August 2019

Background and Aim

Same‐visit colonoscopy and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) have become common. Recent studies showed conflicting results regarding the performance, safety, and efficacy of different sequences. We conducted this meta‐analysis to determine the most favorable performance and discomfort between an EGD followed by colonoscopy (E‐C) and colonoscopy followed by EGD (C‐E).

Methods

The authors searched the databases of MEDLINE and EMBASE. Outcomes of interest were performance (including cecal intubation time, adenoma detection rate, and polyp detection rate), discomfort score (patients and endoscopists; Likert scale), and sedation uses. Pooled mean differences (MD) or odds ratios (OR) were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

Six randomized controlled trials were included in the meta‐analysis. The authors found that there was significantly lower sedative use including fentanyl (14.70; 95% Cl: 8.20–21.20) and propofol (15.58; 95% Cl: 3.27–27.89) in the E‐C group compared with the C‐E group. There was a significantly better discomfort score in patients and endoscopists after both procedures in the E‐C group than in the C‐E group with pooled MD of 0.64 points (95% Cl: 0.09–1.20) and 0.47 (95% Cl: 0.05–0.90), respectively. There were no differences in cecal intubation time, adenoma detection rate, or polyp detection rate between the two groups.

Conclusion

The present study found that the discomfort score was better in the E‐C group. However, there was no difference in polyp and adenoma detection. Therefore, the E‐C group is the optimal sequence.
Cognitive functioning in glioma patients is related to functional connectivity measures of the non‐tumoural hemisphere
Authors: De Baene Wouter , Rutten Geert‐Jan M. , Sitskoorn Margriet M.
Published: August 2019

Previous studies have shown that cognitive functioning in patients with brain tumour is associated with the functional network characteristics of specific resting‐state networks or with whole‐brain network characteristics. These studies, however, did not acknowledge the functional contribution of areas in the contralesional, non‐tumoural hemisphere, even though these healthy remote areas likely play a critical role in compensating for the loss of function in damaged tissue. In the current study, we examined whether there is an association between cognitive performance and functional network features of the contralesional hemisphere of patients with glioma. We found that local efficiency of the contralesional hemisphere was associated with performance on the reaction time domain, whereas contralesional assortativity was associated with complex attention and cognitive flexibility scores. Our results suggest that a less segregated organization of the contralesional hemisphere is associated with better reaction time scores, whereas a better spread of information over the contralesional hemisphere through mutually interconnected contralesional hubs is associated with better cognitive flexibility and better complex attention scores. These findings urge researchers to recognize the functional contribution of remote, undamaged regions and to focus more on the graph metrics of the contralesional hemisphere in the search for predictors of cognitive functioning in patients with brain tumour.
Soil chemical properties under no‐tillage as affected by agricultural trophic complexity
Authors: Deiss Leonardo , Kleina Georgia B. , Moraes Anibal , Franzluebbers Alan J. , Motta Antonio C. V. , Dieckow Jeferson , Sandini Itacir E. , Anghinoni Ibanor , Carvalho Paulo C. F.
Published: August 2019

Soil fertility under no‐tillage farming may be affected by agricultural complexity. By transforming most of the ingested pasture into urine and faeces, ruminants catalyse nutrient cycling by breaking down complex plant molecules, which can help to maintain or even improve soil fertility. We evaluated how integrating annual crops and the ruminant grazing of cover crops in the same land area and at overlapping times affect soil fertility in no‐tillage systems. Soil chemical properties were evaluated at 0–5‐cm and 5–25‐cm depths, in three long‐term cropping experiments (7, 10 and 12 years) with and without ruminant grazing of cover crops. The three sites had contrasting soil and climatic char acteristics, but all sites were managed under no‐tillage, and treatments with livestock were managed with moderate grazing intensity. Ruminant grazing increased soil Na and P concentrations at 0–5‐cm depth, and increased Ca and Mg availability, base saturation and pH in deeper layers (5–25‐cm depth) or across the soil profile (0–25 cm). Land‐use complexity changed the soil exchangeable complex, resulting in soil acidity amelioration and consequently reduced Al toxicity, but it also had a negative impact on K saturation and cationic micronutrient availability (Zn, Mn, Cu and Fe). In general, grazing improved or did not change most soil chemical properties, and any negative effects of animal presence did not limit agroecosystem productivity. Therefore, under appropriate nutrient and grazing management, no‐tillage farming with integrated crop–livestock systems can uphold soil chemical conditions to sustain primary and secondary productivities in agroecosystems.

Highlights

Is the soil fertility in no‐tillage systems affected by ruminant grazing of cover crops?

Land‐use complexity increased P, Na, Ca and Mg availability, and pH, and reduced Al toxicity

Soil acidity amelioration decreased K saturation and cationic micronutrient availability

Agriculture complexity under no‐tillage fosters soil fertility to allow sustainable intensification
Sequential infection can decrease virulence in a fish–bacterium–fluke interaction: Implications for aquaculture disease management
Authors: Karvonen Anssi , Fenton Andy , Sundberg Lotta‐Riina
Published: August 2019

Hosts are typically infected with multiple strains or genotypes of one or several parasite species. These infections can take place simultaneously, but also at different times, i.e. sequentially, when one of the parasites establishes first. Sequential parasite dynamics are common in nature, but also in intensive farming units such as aquaculture. However, knowledge of effects of previous exposures on virulence of current infections in intensive farming is very limited. This is critical as consecutive epidemics and infection history of a host could underlie failures in management practices and medical intervention of diseases. Here, we explored effects of timing of multiple infections on virulence in two common aquaculture parasites, the bacterium Flavobacterium columnare and the fluke Diplostomum pseudospathaceum. We exposed fish hosts first to flukes and then to bacteria in two separate experiments, altering timing between the infections from few hours to several weeks. We found that both short‐term and long‐term differences in timing of the two infections resulted in significant, genotype‐specific decrease in bacterial virulence. Second, we developed a mathematical model, parameterized from our experimental results, to predict the implications of sequential infections for epidemiological progression of the disease, and levels of fish population suppression, in an aquaculture setting. Predictions of the model showed that sequential exposure of hosts can decrease the population‐level impact of the bacterial epidemic, primarily through the increased recovery rate of sequentially infected hosts, thereby substantially protecting the population from the detrimental impact of infection. However, these effects depended on bacterial strain–fluke genotype combinations, suggesting the genetic composition of the parasite populations can greatly influence the degree of host suppression. Overall, these results suggest that host infection history can have significant consequences for the impact of infection at host population level, potentially shaping parasite epidemiology, disease dynamics and evolution of virulence in farming environments.
Factors affecting the decision to undergo abortion in Romania: Experiences at our clinic
Authors: Ples Liana , Popescu Ina , Margarit Iulia , Ionescu Cringu Antoniu , Cazaceanu Anca , Moga Marius Alexandru , Popescu Mihai , Tomescu Dana‐Rodica , Sima Romina‐Marina
Published: August 2019

Rationale, aims, and objectives

It is estimated that 25% of pregnancies worldwide end in induced abortion. In Romania, the abortion situation shows a specific pattern. Following the fall of the communist regime, first‐trimester abortions were legalized, and between 1990 and 1992, the country's abortion rate was the highest in the world, with 182 abortions per 1000 women of reproductive age. However, there are currently no statistically reliable data, as some abortions are not reported. The purpose of this study was to identify the main circumstances that determine the choice to undergo abortion with all related potential risks, rather than using contraception.

Method

We conducted a prospective type 1 cohort study based on a Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) Statement that included women who presented at Bucur Maternity, Saint John Hospital, Bucharest, for abortion during the first trimester, between July and December 2018. The patients were asked to complete a 21‐item questionnaire based on psychosocial data.

Results

The study included 119 patients, with a mean age of 29.57 years. Their educational level was average (ie, 51.3%, 4.2%, and 8.4% had completed high school, elementary school, and college or university, respectively). Most women were married (46.2%), and 47.9% were unemployed. The main reason for deciding to undergo an abortion was poverty (P = .014), and guilt was correlated with this decision (P = .004).

Conclusion

The profiles of the women who chose to undergo an abortion as a family planning method were as follows: in the third decade of life, resident of urban areas, married, unemployed, and with a low family income. The main reasons for abortion were financial status, advanced maternal age, incompatibility of pregnancy with future plans, and the desire to postpone conception.
Chaperone OsmY facilitates the biogenesis of a major family of autotransporters
Authors: Yan Zhen , Hussain Sunyia , Wang Xu , Bernstein Harris D. , Bardwell James C. A.
Published: August 2019

OsmY is a widely conserved but poorly understood 20 kDa periplasmic protein. Using a folding biosensor, we previously obtained evidence that OsmY has molecular chaperone activity. To discover natural OsmY substrates, we screened for proteins that are destabilized and thus present at lower steady‐state levels in an osmY‐null strain. The abundance of an outer membrane protein called antigen 43 was substantially decreased and its β‐barrel domain was undetectable in the outer membrane of an osmY‐null strain. Antigen 43 is a member of the diffuse adherence family of autotransporters. Like strains that are defective in antigen 43 production, osmY‐null mutants failed to undergo cellular autoaggregation. In vitro, OsmY assisted in the refolding of the antigen 43 β‐barrel domain and protected it from added protease. Finally, an osmY‐null strain that expressed two members of the diffuse adherence family of autotransporters that are distantly related to antigen 43, EhaA and TibA, contained reduced levels of the proteins and failed to undergo cellular autoaggregation. Taken together, our results indicate that OsmY is involved in the biogenesis of a major subset of autotransporters, a group of proteins that play key roles in bacterial pathogenesis.
Properties and functions of calcium‐dependent protein kinases and their relatives inArabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Yip Delormel Tiffany , Boudsocq Marie
Published: August 2019

Calcium is a ubiquitous second messenger that mediates plant responses to developmental and environmental cues. Calcium‐dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) are key actors of plant signaling that convey calcium signals into physiological responses by phosphorylating various substrates including ion channels, transcription factors and metabolic enzymes. This large diversity of targets confers pivotal roles ofCDPKs in shoot and root development, pollen tube growth, stomatal movements, hormonal signaling, transcriptional reprogramming and stress tolerance. On the one hand, specificity inCDPKsignaling is achieved by differential calcium sensitivities, expression patterns, subcellular localizations and substrates. On the other hand,CDPKs also target some common substrates to ensure key cellular processes indispensable for plant growth and survival in adverse environmental conditions. In addition, theCDPK‐related protein kinases (CRKs) might be closer to someCDPKs than previously anticipated and could contribute to calcium signaling despite their inability to bind calcium. This review highlights the regulatory properties of ArabidopsisCDPKs andCRKs that coordinate their multifaceted functions in development, immunity and abiotic stress responses.
Simulated heatwave conditions associated with global warming affect development and competition between hyperparasitoids
Authors: Chen Cong , Donner S. Helena , Biere Arjen , Gols Rieta , Harvey Jeffrey A.
Published: August 2019

Anthropogenic global warming and attendant effects like heatwaves affect the biology and ecology of both individuals and species within and across different trophic levels. Here, we examined the effects of a simulated heatwave on development of and competition between two hyperparasitoid wasps, Lysibia nana and Acrolyta nens when attacking the same host, cocoons of the primary parasitoid, Cotesia glomerata. Parasitized hosts were exposed to three different day and night temperature regimes (low, medium and high) that reflect cool, normal and heatwave conditions in the Netherlands. We found that higher temperatures decreased survival to eclosion more strongly in the hyperparasitoids than in their host. Heatwave conditions also shortened development time and led to the production of smaller adult wasps of both hyperparasitoid species in singly parasitized hosts. In multiparasitized hosts, L. nana won most of the contests when it oviposited first, irrespective of the time interval between the first and second parasitism, whereas A. nens only dominated when it had a 24 h head start or longer. Most importantly, our results show that L. nana in particular benefited in competition at higher temperatures, perhaps due to an increase in the metabolic rate and more rapid egg and/or larval development. This may potentially reduce opportunities for coexistence following heat waves. Our results suggest that heatwaves associated with global warming will enhance the rate of development, but negatively affect survival and other fitness‐related traits in (hyper)parasitoids. Moreover, the outcome of larval competition may be determined via physiological responses that are species‐specific and thus influence phenology.