bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cwp84, aClostridium difficilecysteine protease, exhibits conformational flexibility in the absence of its propeptide
Authors: Bradshaw William J. , Roberts April K. , Shone Clifford C. , Acharya K. Ravi
Published: February 2015

In recent decades, the global healthcare problems caused byClostridium difficilehave increased at an alarming rate. A greater understanding of this antibiotic-resistant bacterium, particularly with respect to how it interacts with the host, is required for the development of novel strategies for fightingC. difficileinfections. The surface layer (S-layer) ofC. difficileis likely to be of significant importance to host–pathogen interactions. The mature S-layer is formed by a proteinaceous array consisting of multiple copies of a high-molecular-weight and a low-molecular-weight S-layer protein. These components result from the cleavage of SlpA by Cwp84, a cysteine protease. The structure of a truncated Cwp84 active-site mutant has recently been reported and the key features have been identified, providing the first structural insights into the role of Cwp84 in the formation of the S-layer. Here, two structures of Cwp84 after propeptide cleavage are presented and the three conformational changes that are observed are discussed. These changes result in a reconfiguration of the active site and exposure of the hydrophobic pocket.
Cloning, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray studies of a carbohydrate-binding module from family 64 (StX)
Authors: Campos Bruna Medeia , Liberato Marcelo Vizona , Polikarpov Igor , Zeri Ana Carolina de Mattos , Squina Fabio Marcio
Published: February 2015

In recent years, biofuels have attracted great interest as a source of renewable energy owing to the growing global demand for energy, the dependence on fossil fuels, limited natural resources and environmental pollution. However, the cost-effective production of biofuels from plant biomass is still a challenge. In this context, the study of carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs), which are involved in guiding the catalytic domains of glycoside hydrolases to polysaccharides, is crucial for enzyme development. Aiming at the structural and functional characterization of novel CBMs involved in plant polysaccharide deconstruction, an analysis of the CAZy database was performed and CBM family 64 was chosen owing to its capacity to bind with high specificity to microcrystalline cellulose and to the fact that is found in thermophilic microorganisms. In this communication, the CBM-encoding module named StX was expressed, purified and crystallized, and X-ray diffraction data were collected from native and derivatized crystals to 1.8 and 2.0 Å resolution, respectively. The crystals, which were obtained by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method, belonged to space groupP3121, with unit-cell parametersa=b= 43.42,c= 100.96 Å for the native form. The phases were found using the single-wavelength anomalous diffraction method.
Bacterial expression and preliminary crystallographic studies of a 149-residue fragment of human Caprin-1
Authors: Wu Yuhong , Zhu Jiang , Huang Xiaolan , Du Zhihua
Published: February 2015

Caprin-1 is an RNA-binding protein which plays critical roles in several important biological processes, including cellular proliferation, the interferon-mediated antiviral innate immune response, the maintenance of synaptic plasticity and the formation of RNA stress granules. Caprin-1 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several human diseases, including osteosarcoma, breast cancer, viral infections, hearing loss and neurodegenerative disorders. Despite the emerging biological and physiopathological significance of Caprin-1, no structural information is available for this protein. Moreover, Caprin-1 does not have sequence similarity to any other protein with a known structure. It is therefore expected that structural studies will play a particularly crucial role in revealing the functional mechanisms of Caprin-1. Here, a protein fragment of human Caprin-1 consisting of residues 112–260 was expressed, purified and crystallized. Native and Se-SAD data sets were collected to resolutions to 2.05 and 2.65 Å, respectively, in different space groups.
A preliminary study on the usage of search assisting features when searching for a personal health task
Authors: Inthiran Anushia , Alhashmi Saadat M , Ahmed Pervaiz  K
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– Current research topics in relation to health information searching focus on challenges faced by health consumers and domains used to perform the health search. Health consumers may not be capable of successfully searching for a health task due to limited medical knowledge. As such search assisting features provided on health domains are important in assisting health consumers during a search session. The purpose of this paper is to perform a preliminary exploratory research study to understand if search assisting features are visible to searchers and the usage of search assisting features when searching on a personal health task.

Design/methodology/approach

– A convenience sampling method in a university setting and an observational type study was used. MedlinePlus is used as the search domain for this research study. While participants of this research study were first time users of MedlinePlus, they were not first time medical searchers.

Findings

– Results of this research study indicate health consumers do not utilize search assisting features when searching for a personal health task. This is because health consumers are comfortable with their search skills. In other cases health consumers found the search assisting features irrelevant or had no confidence in the search assisting features presented. Key contributions of this research study indicate health consumers do not utilize search assisting features when searching for a personal health task. This is because health consumers are comfortable with their search skills. In other cases health consumers found the search assisting features irrelevant or had no confidence in the search assisting features presented.

Research limitations/implications

– Results of this research study has implications for health domain and human computer designers in relation to the development of specialized search assisting features and the placement of these features. Theoretical contributions indicate health searchers use search assisting features minimally when searching on a personal health task.

Originality/value

– Results of this research study indicate health consumers do not utilize search assisting features when searching for a personal health task. This is because health consumers are comfortable with their search skills. In other cases health consumers found the search assisting features irrelevant or had no confidence in the search assisting features presented.
Why do students use What’s App? – an exploratory study
Authors: Aharony Noa
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– This study focusses on What’s App, a mobile messaging service for smartphones, that was founded in 2009. The purpose of this study is to explore which factors may influence students’ satisfaction and duration of time, spent on What’s App.

Design/methodology/approach

– In order to answer this question it uses the Uses and Gratifications (U&G) approach (Katz, 1959), as well as the Big Five model (Costa and McCrae, 1992), and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) (Davis, 1989). The research was conducted in Israel and encompassed 111 information science (IS) students. Researchers used six questionnaires to gather data.

Findings

– The findings of this study shed light on a new technological platform: What’s App that has rarely been examined to date, and expands the U&G perspectives to new media. Findings confirm that the U&G paradigm, as well as personality characteristics and perceived enjoyment, effect What’s App satisfaction and duration, and highlight the importance of both the U&G approach and individual differences when exploring motivations underlying What’s App use.

Originality/value

– This study proposes a theoretical framework by combining the U&G approach, constructs from the “Big Five” model, and one variable from the TAM, to investigate the attitudes of What’s App users, and propose possible factors that may explain why certain individuals use What’s App.
Assessing the status of entrepreneurship education courses in higher learning institutions
Authors: Fulgence Katherine
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to assess the status of entrepreneurship courses offered in education schools. It provides recommendations for how to address the existing challenges by developing entrepreneurship initiatives in education schools.

Design/methodology/approach

– A survey was circulated to the management of all education schools in Tanzania, respective entrepreneurship educators and graduates from these schools. Random sampling was used to select teachers who had graduated from education schools.

Findings

– The findings show that all education schools have an entrepreneurship module in the development studies course, which is mandatory for all students in first year. From 2008 to date, six education schools (31.6 per cent) have introduced stand-alone courses at undergraduate level reflecting entrepreneurship in their title and 68.4 per cent are planning to introduce entrepreneurship courses both at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Although entrepreneurship educators demonstrate subject specialty, they use traditional teaching and assessment techniques. The lack of books on entrepreneurship and the large number of students were cited as the main challenges affecting their role as subject facilitators.

Research limitations/implications

– The study was limited to education schools in higher education institutions. Similar studies in non-business disciplines need to be conducted to establish how entrepreneurship is developed among graduates of higher education institutions.

Practical implications

– The study recommends that the management of all education schools should be made aware of the need to provide courses in entrepreneurship, to integrate experiential learning and innovative techniques in the teaching and assessment processes and to involve students in extra-curriculum activities.

Originality/value

– This is the first study to be conducted in Tanzanian higher education institutions that focuses on the teaching of entrepreneurship to education school students.
Still focusing on the “essential 2:1”: exploring student attitudes to extra-curricular activities
Authors: Greenbank Paul
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– In order to compete for positional advantage in the graduate labour market students need more than a good degree classification. The evidence suggests that participation in extra-curricular activities (ECAs) can have a significant influence on labour market outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which undergraduates engage in ECAs during their studies and analyses the factors influencing their participation in such activities.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study is based on a sample of 21 undergraduates in the Business School at a “new” university. These students completed two questionnaires in their first year of study. These were followed-up by in-depth interviews which were carried out in their first and final year of study.

Findings

– The study found that many of these students were not participating in ECAs because they lacked an appreciation of the value of ECAs to graduate employers. The students were also influenced by social and peer norms, especially the fact that their peers were not engaging in ECAs. Finally, the students often exhibited an extrinsic locus of control and dependency which was not conducive to engagement in ECAs.

Research limitations/implications

– The generalisability of the findings may be seen as limited by the fact that the study is based on a relatively small sample of students from one university. This research, however, provides detailed insights into the factors influencing student participation in ECAs and adds new perspectives to this under-researched area.

Practical implications

– The paper concludes by suggesting a range of inter-related approaches that higher education institutions could adopt in order to improve student participation in ECAs. These include careers education at all stages of the students’ studies; the use of unfreezing techniques in conjunction with case studies; a more substantial role for personal tutors; and the development of an institutional habitus that encourages autonomy and agency.

Originality/value

– Despite the importance of ECAs to graduate employers there have been relatively few studies into the factors influencing undergraduate participation in such activities.
Becoming a graduate: the warranting of an emergent identity
Authors: Holmes Leonard M.
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– With expansion of higher education in most developed and developing economies, graduates constitute a large section of the workforce. However, even prior to the economic problems of the past few years, the transition from higher education into graduate employment has not been and is not straightforward. The purpose of this paper is to draw upon relational, social constructionist perspectives to examine such transition and early careers in terms of “emergent identity” trajectories. The “graduate identity” is considered in terms of the interaction between identity claim by the individual and the identity ascriptions by others.

Design/methodology/approach

– A model is presented, providing for five “modalities” of such emergent identity, whereby any particular individual may pass in varied trajectories. This is illustrated by three case examples of graduates, based on biographical interview data. The exploration is continued in terms of discussion of the discursive warranting of identity claims and ascriptions, enabling a reconsideration of the discourse of skills and attributes. Implications for research and practice are considered.

Findings

– The paper argues that the approach presented provides a cogent approach for conceptualising and for engaging in empirical investigation of the early career trajectories of individuals entering post-graduation employment. Such individuals may “formally” be graduates, but face the task of “becoming” graduates, i.e. gaining acceptance by significant others that they are “worthy” of being employed in “graduate jobs”. That task involves identity claim making, warranting their claim on the identity of a graduate.

Research limitations/implications

– The model and approach presented provide a framework for analysis of early-career trajectories of graduates, in a way that the dominant skills and attributes approach cannot. It contributes to other empirical studies based on qualitative, biographical research, by providing conceptual tools for the analysis of such studies.

Practical implications

– The paper provides a practical approach to help undergraduates and new graduates to enhance their prospects for gaining employment they consider desirable and appropriate. It enables staff who seek to support students to gain appropriate employment to develop practical strategies, unencumbered by flawed notion of “skills” and “attributes”.

Social implications

– Post-graduation employment continues to be a major policy issue for government, and a matter of considerable concern for students themselves and for their families. The approach presented promises considerable opportunity for addressing the critical issues faced.

Originality/value

– The paper elaborates the graduate identity approach, and provides empirical support for the claims made.
Towards an integrated academic assessment: closing employers’ expectations?
Authors: Lim Ngat-Chin
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to showcase that the integration of academic assessment with workplace performance appraisal practices can help to address the gap between graduate employability skills and employers’ requirements. Employability refers to learning of transferable skills.

Design/methodology/approach

– The integrated assessment criteria grid by which the quality of the assignments may be judged was developed and discussed with the students. Grades achieved by each assessment criterion are analysed and inferred as to whether students have learned the desired transferable skills.

Findings

– Such integration strengthens the theoretical argument on the importance of formative assessment as a way to nurture students’ learning. The transferable skills that students appeared to have learnt include “use of relevant data, meticulous, attention to details, structure & systems thinking, critical thinking and writing skill”.

Research limitations/implications

– Only one cohort of students is involved and their participation in the discussion is on a voluntary basis. The paper was not able to address students who did not appear to have learnt the transferable skills.

Practical implications

– Employers are more cognisant of the quality of the management students graduating from this university. The learning of transferable skills reflects creativity development, and this contributes to the theory of knowledge which emphasises the importance of developing creativity through education.

Originality/value

– This paper introduces a new form of formative assessment as a way to nurture students’ learning of transferable skills within a coursework assignment setting.
Service performance quality evaluation and satisfaction in a USA wine festivalscape
Authors: Bruwer Johan , Kelley Kathleen
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the links between perceived festival service performance quality, satisfaction, buying wine at the event, and the first-time/repeat tourist dynamic.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research was conducted on 368 attendees at a major wine festival in the northeast USA using intercept face-to-face interviews.

Findings

– The facility-related quality aspects are a stronger predictor of buying behaviour than activity-related aspects and amenities. A relationship between performance quality perception and satisfaction could not be found. 35-year and older repeat visitors are the highest yielding festival visitor group from a financial viewpoint. First-timers are far more short-term oriented than repeat visitors when making the final decision to attend the festival event.

Research limitations/implications

– It is very important to achieve a high degree of repeat festival attendance as this directly influenced the financial gains in selling more wine. The nature and types of activities offered at a festival must be cohesive with the theme of the event. The festival activities offered should be continually evaluated for signs of wear out, and renewed, or replaced if necessary.

Originality/value

– The research provides a new perspective to festivalscape knowledge in that it identifies the first-time and repeat visitor dynamic as a strong predictor of actual buying behaviour at a festival. The higher the proportion of repeat visitors, the higher the likelihood of (wine) buying.
Developing a high quality intercultural relationship: expatriates and their local host
Authors: van Bakel Marian , van Oudenhoven Jan Pieter , Gerritsen Marinel
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The qualitative study examines the development of purposely created interpersonal relationships in an intercultural context. Contact with a local host is a way of helping expatriates deal with the challenges of an international assignment. Since the quality of contact with the host is pivotal to benefit most from this experience, the purpose of this paper is to examine which factors influence contact quality.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors conducted a case study analysis of 33 expatriates and ten accompanying partners who were put in touch with a local host, with whom they undertook a broad range of activities during a period of nine months.

Findings

– Nine factors influenced the development of the contact (similarities, motivation, benefits, anxiety, expectations, busy schedules, suboptimal timing, communication breakdown, and cultural differences). Key factors were similarities, motivation, and benefits.

Research limitations/implications

– While some of the factors (e.g. similarities) are predictable according to the Social Penetration Theory, four factors were uniquely applicable to purposely created relationships such as contact with a local host: motivation, expectations, anxiety, and suboptimal timing.

Practical implications

– The study provides suggestions that could stimulate the contact with a local host, making the intervention more valuable for organisations who wish to support their expatriates in this way.

Originality/value

– This longitudinal study is one of the first to examine in detail the process of development of purposely created interpersonal relationships in an intercultural context. Furthermore, the study is new because it also examines unsuccessful relationships.
The global financial crisis and migration: the experience of Irish graduates
Authors: Stephens Simon
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify a group of Irish graduates who decided to emigrate following the global financial crash of 2008. The paper explores how the economic crisis in Ireland (2008-2014) framed the experience of this group of migrants. Specifically, the paper examines the push/pull factors leading to migration; the experience of the graduate migrants in the host country; and decisions regarding repatriation.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper adopts a qualitative approach to study the experiences of graduates. The paper utilises narrative structuring to provide an enhanced understanding of the migration experience of the graduates.

Findings

– The data collected during depth interviews indicates a mixed experience. There are a wide range of push/pull factors that result in migration. However, the range of push/pull factors that might result in repatriation are blurred by: personal experiences in the host country, changing family circumstances and the performance of the economy in Ireland.

Practical implications

– This research highlights complex patterns of graduate mobility which reflect the multifaceted push/pull factors shaping graduate movements. Economic conditions drive migration but they also frame the migrant experience in the host country and repatriation decisions.

Originality/value

– A review of the literature indicates that most of the empirical studies on the experience of graduates are quantitative. This paper argues other softer outcomes must also be studied to help fully understand the experiences of graduates.
Motivational mechanisms influencing error reporting among nurses
Authors: Russo Marcello , Buonocore Filomena , Ferrara Maria
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore antecedents, namely reasons for/against error reporting, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived control, of nurses’ intentions to report their errors at work.

Design/methodology/approach

– A structured equation model with cross-sectional data were estimated to test the hypotheses on a sample of 188 Italian nurses.

Findings

– Reasons for/against error reporting were associated with attitudes, subjective norms and perceived control. Further, reasons against were related to nurses’ intentions to report errors whereas reasons for error reporting were not. Lastly, perceived control was found to partially mediate the effects of reasons against error reporting on nurses’ intentions to act.

Research limitations/implications

– Self-report data were collected at one point in time.

Practical implications

– This study offers recommendations to healthcare managers on what factors may encourage nurses to report their errors.

Social implications

– Lack of error reporting prevents timely interventions. The study contributes to documenting motivations that can persuade or dissuade nurses in this important decision.

Originality/value

– This study extends prior research on error reporting that lacks a strong theoretical foundation by drawing on behavioral reasoning theory.
Job- and organization-based psychological ownership: relationship and outcomes
Authors: Peng He , Pierce Jon
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between job- and organization-based psychological ownership. In addition, the authors explored the emergence and outcomes of psychological ownership in Chinese context.

Design/methodology/approach

– Time-lagged survey data from 158 Chinese participants were used to test several hypothesized relationships employing partial least square techniques.

Findings

– Job-based psychological ownership appeared to mediate the relationship between experienced job control and organization-based psychological ownership. In addition, a statistically significant relationship between job-based psychological ownership and job satisfaction, organizational citizenship behaviors and turnover intentions, and a statistically significant relationship between organization-based psychological ownership and job satisfaction were observed. A negative relationship between organization-based psychological ownership and knowledge withholding was also observed.

Practical implications

– Managers who want to enhance employees’ job- and ultimately organization-based psychological ownership should empower their employees by enabling them to exert control over their work.

Originality/value

– This paper examined how organization-based psychological ownership emerges from control over work via job-based psychological ownership. The authors also investigated the impact of psychological ownership in Chinese context.
Differential predictors of post-retirement life and work satisfaction
Authors: Pundt Leena Maren , Wöhrmann Anne Marit , Deller Jürgen , Shultz Kenneth S.
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship of personal motivational goals and the corresponding occupational characteristics of volunteer, work-related activities in retirement with life and work satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

– Fully retired individuals working for a non-profit organization in their former professional career field on a non-paid basis were surveyed using an online survey (n=661) to assess their motivational goals, the occupational characteristics of their projects, and satisfaction with life and work.

Findings

– Results suggested that post-retirement volunteer workers differentiated between perceived life and work satisfaction. The motives of achievement, appreciation, autonomy, contact, and generativity significantly directly affected life satisfaction and indirectly affected work satisfaction. Occupational characteristics assessing achievement, appreciation, autonomy, contact, and generativity had direct effects on work satisfaction but not on life satisfaction except for occupational autonomy.

Research limitations/implications

– The study was cross-sectional and based on self-report data of highly educated German retirees working in volunteer professional positions, thus potentially limiting the generalizability of findings.

Practical implications

– Organizations should enable post-retirement volunteer workers to meet their motivation goals by designing work opportunities to fulfill the motivational goals of achievement, appreciation, autonomy, contact, and generativity.

Social implications

– Post-retirement activities possess the potential to help solve societal problems by countering the shortage of specialists and managers at the same time that the burden on social security systems is reduced.

Originality/value

– The paper presents evidence that different personal motivational goals and occupational characteristics are important in post-retirement activities. The findings imply that work designs created for post-retirement activities should provide a variety of occupational characteristics, such as occupational achievement and appreciation.
The adaptive potential of maternal stress exposure in regulating population dynamics
Authors: Sheriff Michael J.
Published: February 2015

Adult root vole, Microtus oeconomus. Photo credit: Alice Kenney.

image

Adult root vole, Microtus oeconomus. Photo credit: Alice Kenney.

Bian, J.‐H., Du, S.‐Y., Wu, Y., Cao, Y.‐F., Nie, X.‐H., He, H. & You, Z.‐B. (2015) . Journal of Animal Ecology, 84, 326–336.

Ecologists, evolutionary biologists and biomedical researchers are investing great effort in understanding the impact maternal stress may have on offspring phenotypes. Bian et al. advance this field by providing evidence that density‐induced maternal stress programs offspring phenotypes, resulting in direct consequences on their fitness and population dynamics, but doing so in a context‐dependent manner. They suggest that intrinsic state alterations induced by maternal stress may be one ecological factor generating delayed density‐dependent effects. This research highlights the connection between maternal stress and population dynamics, and the importance of understanding the adaptive potential of such effects in a context‐dependent manner.
Population size‐structure‐dependent fitness and ecosystem consequences in Trinidadian guppies
Authors: Bassar Ronald D. , Heatherly Thomas , Marshall Michael C. , Thomas Steven A. , Flecker Alexander S. , Reznick David N.
Published: February 2015

Decades of theory and recent empirical results have shown that evolutionary, population, community and ecosystem properties are the result of feedbacks between ecological and evolutionary processes. The vast majority of theory and empirical research on these eco‐evolutionary feedbacks has focused on interactions among population size and mean traits of populations.

However, numbers and mean traits represent only a fraction of the possible feedback dimensions. Populations of many organisms consist of different size classes that differ in their impact on the environment and each other. Moreover, rarely do we know the map of ecological pathways through which changes in numbers or size structure cause evolutionary change. The goal of this study was to test the role of size structure in eco‐evolutionary feedbacks of Trinidadian guppies and to begin to build an eco‐evolutionary map along this unexplored dimension.

We used a factorial experiment in mesocosms wherein we crossed high‐ and low‐predation guppy phenotypes with population size structure. We tested the ability of changes in size structure to generate selection on the demographic rates of guppies using an integral projection model (IPM). To understand how fitness differences among high‐ and low‐predation phenotypes may be generated, we measured the response of the biomass of lower trophic levels and nutrient cycling to the different phenotype and size structure treatments.

We found a significant interaction between guppy phenotype and the size structure treatments for absolute fitness. Size structure had a very large effect on invertebrate biomass in the mesocosms, but there was little or no effect of the phenotype. The effect of size structure on algal biomass depended on guppy phenotype, with no difference in algal biomass in populations with more, smaller guppies, but a large decrease in algal biomass in mesocosms with phenotypes adapted to low‐predation risk.

These results indicate an important role for size structure partially driving eco‐evolutionary feedbacks in guppies. The changes in the ecosystem suggest that the absence of a steep decline in guppy fitness of the low‐predation risk populations is likely due to higher consumption of algae when invertebrates are comparatively rare. Overall, these results demonstrate size structure as a possible dimension through which eco‐evolutionary feedbacks may occur in natural populations.
Biological Flora of the British Isles:Crambe maritima
Authors: Sanyal Anushree , Decocq Guillaume
Published: February 2015

This account presents information on all aspects of the biology ofCrambe maritimaL. (Sea‐kale;Crambe ponticaStev. ex Rupr) that are relevant to understand its ecological characteristics and behaviour. The main topics are presented within the standard framework of the Biological Flora of the British Isles: distribution, habitat, communities, responses to biotic factors, responses to environment, structure and physiology, phenology, floral and seed characters, herbivores and disease, history and conservation.

Crambe maritimais found predominantly on southern and western coasts of Britain but also in Scotland, Ireland and elsewhere. It occurs primarily on neutral or slightly alkaline soils on shingle and sand beaches above the drift line, out of reach of average high tides. Equinoctial tides or storms can increase soil salinity, requiring it to be salt tolerant.

Crambe maritimais a rosette plant with a fleshy taproot, which is the main perennating organ with a capacity for vegetative propagation. Flowering can take 5–8 years when grown from seeds. Reproduction is predominantly by seeds. Root and stem cuttings can be used for vegetative propagation. In winter, each branch ends at ground level in a leafless crimson bud, and in spring, it produces a succession of cabbage‐like leaves just above ground level, the first being purple and successive leaves becoming greener.

Crambe maritimaproduces weakly protogynous hermaphrodite flowers. Self‐ and cross‐pollination occurs. Pollination is by insects, flies and bees. The plants usually produce 1000–10 000 seeds per year.

In Britain,Crambe maritimahas been reported to have declined in certain areas but increased in other areas and currently does not have rare or scarce status. There has been an expansion in range in Ireland since the 1960s as it has been recorded at new sites, and while the species has disappeared from some sites in France, it has also been identified in several new sites.
Unusual Suicide in Italy: Criminological and Medico‐Legal Observations—A Proposed Definition of “Atypical Suicide” Suitable for International Application
Authors: Massaro Luca
Published: February 2015

This work is the result of a kind ofcategorizationof suicidal conduct based on an empirical–phenomenological approach, with integrated assessment of certain criteria, such as the dynamics, correlation of types of injury and how they were produced, evidence gathered during official inspectionsin loco, and case history findings about “suicide.” Thiscategorizationis an attempt to provide a nosographic definition ofatypical suicide, that is, cases in which the parameters of “typical” suicide are missing. Case studies are described, taken from a systematic exploration mainly of the Italian specialized literature of the 20th century, supplemented by earlier references when deemed significant. In‐depth analysis ofatypical suicidecan supply additional interpretations of the problem of differential diagnosis of suicide, homicide, and accidental death, that is, the realpunctum dolensin overall medico‐legal determination of the cause of death in scenarios in which death cannot be definitely traced to a deliberate act.
Facial Approximation—From Facial Reconstruction Synonym to Face Prediction Paradigm
Authors: Stephan Carl N.
Published: February 2015

Facial approximation was first proposed as a synonym for facial reconstruction in 1987 due to dissatisfaction with the connotations the latter label held. Since its debut, facial approximation's identity has morphed as anomalies in face prediction have accumulated. Now underpinned by differences in what problems are thought to count as legitimate, facial approximation can no longer be considered a synonym for, or subclass of, facial reconstruction. Instead, two competing paradigms of face prediction have emerged, namely: facial approximation and facial reconstruction. This paper shines a Kuhnian lens across the discipline of face prediction to comprehensively review these developments and outlines the distinguishing features between the two paradigms.
Colliding Worlds: Issues Relating to Language Translation in Accounting and Some Lessons from Other Disciplines
Authors: Evans Lisa , Baskerville Rachel , Nara Katariina
Published: February 2015

This paper explores the implications of language translation in accounting. It draws on research on translation in other disciplines, and on insights from applied linguistics. It examines practical problems and solutions explored in other disciplines that we deem relevant to accounting. The paper also examines the ideological, cultural, legal, and political consequences of translation. We find that the ambiguity inherent in translation is, on the one hand, relevant for the translation of accounting principles and can contribute to accounting convergence. We show, on the other hand, that it has the potential to be exploited in ideologically or pragmatically motivated distortions in the implementation of accounting regulation. We further argue that the importance of translation in accounting is underestimated or disregarded, inter alia because it has limited effect on the culturally and economically most dominant stakeholders. We finally examine the implications of translation problems for less powerful stakeholders and smaller language communities.
Courting the President: How Circuit Court Judges Alter Their Behavior for Promotion to the Supreme Court
Authors: Black Ryan C. , Owens Ryan J.
Published: February 2015

We examine whether circuit court judges sacrifice policy purity for career goals. We compare the behavior of contender judges–those most likely to be elevated to the Supreme Court–during vacancy periods with their behavior outside vacancy periods. We also examine the behavior of noncontender judges during those same times. The data show that during vacancy periods, contender judges are more likely to vote consistently with the president's preferences, to rule in favor of the United States, and to write dissenting opinions. Noncontender judges fail to evidence such behavior. These findings provide empirical support for the argument that federal judges adapt their behavior to specific audiences, and provide new avenues for research into judges' goals and the role of audiences in judicial decision making.
Systematic review: Whipple's disease (Tropheryma whipplei infection) and its unmasking by tumour necrosis factor inhibitors
Authors: Marth T.
Published: February 2015

Background

The classical form of Whipple's disease (WD), clinically characterised by arthropathy, diarrhoea and weight loss, is rare. Recently, other more frequent forms of Tropheryma whipplei infection have been recognised. The clinical spectrum includes an acute, self‐limiting disease in children, localised forms affecting cardiac valves or the central nervous system without intestinal symptoms, and asymptomatic carriage of T. whipplei which is found in around 4% of Europeans. Genomic analysis has shown that T. whipplei represents a host‐dependent or opportunistic bacterium. It has been reported that the clinical course of T. whipplei infection may be influenced by medical immunosuppression.

Aim

To identify associations between immunomodulatory treatment and the clinical course of T. whipplei infection.

Methods

A PubMed literature search was performed and 19 studies reporting on immunosuppression, particularly therapy with tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFI) prior to the diagnosis in 41 patients with Whipple?s disease, were evaluated.

Results

As arthritis may precede the diagnosis of WD by many years, a relevant percentage (up to 50% in some reports) of patients are treated with immunomodulatory drugs or with TNFI. Many publications report on a complicated Whipple?s disease course or T. whipplei endocarditis following medical immunosuppression, particularly after TNFI. Standard diagnostic tests such as periodic acid–Schiff stain used to diagnose Whipple?s disease often fail in patients who are pre‐treated by TNFI.

Conclusions

In cases of doubt, Whipple?s disease should be excluded before therapy with TNFI. The fact that immunosuppressive therapy contributes to the progression of T. whipplei infection expands our pathogenetic view of this clinical entity.
The shift from “e‐learning” to “learning”: Invisible technology and the dropping of the “e”
Authors: Paiva João , Morais Carla , Costa Luiza , Pinheiro Ana
Published: February 2015

Due to the generalization of electronically supported activities, we anticipate that, in the near future, the letter “e” in “e‐learning,” indicating the use of electronic media and information and communication technologies in education, will be dropped and that “e‐learning” will be referred to as simply “learning.” This paper presents an attempt at understanding the causes of the name shift and at predicting its consequences. We offer a constructive reflection on how e‐learning has been looked upon and on what we foresee will happen in the future, drawing briefly on several areas of knowledge and on the experience of the authors as educators at university, teacher training and high school levels. Our effort has also resulted in greater awareness of the importance of social tools and of the relevance of the human factor in the learning process.
Like parent, like child? Development of prejudice and tolerance towards immigrants
Authors: Miklikowska Marta
Published: February 2015

Although intergroup attitudes are assumed to develop due to the influence of parents, there is no longitudinal evidence supporting this claim. In addition, research on socialization of intergroup attitudes has omitted possible effects of adolescents on their parents. We also know little about the conditions under which intergroup attitudes are transmitted. This two‐wave, 2 years apart, study of adolescents (N = 507) and their parents examined the relations between parents and adolescents' prejudice and tolerance from a longitudinal perspective. The study tested whether parental prejudice and tolerance would predict over‐time changes in adolescents' attitudes and whether adolescents' prejudice and tolerance would elicit changes in parental attitudes. Additionally, it explored whether some of the effects would depend on perceived parental support. Results showed significant bidirectional influences between parents and adolescents' attitudes. In addition, adolescents who perceived their parents as supportive showed higher parent–adolescent correspondence in prejudice than youth with low parental support. These findings show that intergroup attitudes develop as a result of mutual influences between parents and adolescents. Hence, the unidirectional transmission model and previous research findings should be revisited. The results also suggest that parents' prejudice influence adolescents' attitudes to the extent that youth perceive their parents as supportive.
Knockdown of Myosin VI Inhibits Proliferation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells In Vitro
Authors: Ma Xiaoming , Yan Jiqi , Chen Wei , Du Peng , Xie Jiaming , Yu Hongpei , Wu Haorong
Published: February 2015

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the primary malignancy of the liver and is the third leading cause of cancer‐related death worldwide. Despite its severity, the treatment methods for hepatocellular carcinoma are limited due to poor prognosis. This study identified the short hairpin RNA‐mediated silencing of myosin VI as a potential approach for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Firstly, the expression of myosin VI was analyzed in 57 hepatocellular carcinoma samples and 10 non‐neoplastic samples by immunohistochemistry. The results demonstrated that myosin VI expression was much stronger in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues than in adjacent normal tissues. Myosin VI short hairpin RNA was then transduced into HepG2 and SMMC‐7721 hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines, respectively, using a lentivirus delivery system. Knockdown of myosin VI led to a significant reduction in cell proliferation and colony‐forming capacity, as well as a blockade of cell cycle progression. Moreover, an obvious decrease in PRAS40 phosphorylation and a concomitant increase in p38 phosphorylation were observed in myosin VI knockdown cells, which suggest that myosin VI silencing inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth in vitro probably via inactivation of PRAS40 and activation of p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase‐dependent signaling pathway. This study highlights the potential of myosin VI to be developed as a target for hepatocellular carcinoma therapy.
IgE responses to Ascaris and mite tropomyosins are risk factors for asthma
Authors: Ahumada V. , García E. , Dennis R. , Rojas M. X. , Rondón M. A. , Pérez A. , Peñaranda A. , Barragán A. M. , Jimenez S. , Kennedy M. W. , Caraballo L.
Published: February 2015

Background

The relationship between helminthiases and allergy is a matter of considerable interest and research. In the tropics, house dust mite exposure, a known risk factor for asthma, is frequently concurrent with helminth infections. It remains to be defined whether infection with the common roundworm Ascaris or its bystander immunological effects influence the prevalence and pathogenesis of asthma independently of mite sensitization.

Objective

To investigate the relationship between the IgE responses to Ascaris and its purified allergens and the risk of asthma in a tropical country.

Methods

A nested case–control study was performed in 356 subjects who reported current and past asthma symptoms (asthmatics) and 435 controls that had never experienced such symptoms. They were tested for serum levels of total IgE and specific IgE to Ascaris extract, Asc s 1 (ABA‐1), Asc l 3 (tropomyosin) and GST (glutathione transferase). In addition, specific IgE to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Blomia tropicalis and their tropomyosins Der p 10 and Blo t 10 was measured. Sensitization was defined as a positive specific IgE result to any extract or recombinant allergen.

Results

Sensitization to Ascaris and D. pteronyssinus was independently associated with asthma after adjustment for age, gender, socio‐economic stratum, city and other IgE levels (adjusted ORs: 2.17; 95% CI 1.37–3.42 and 2.46; 95% CI 1.54–3.92), respectively. There was also a significant association with sensitization to the highly allergenic and cross‐reactive tropomyosins Asc l 3, Blo t 10 and Der p10 (aORs: 1.76; 95% CI 1.21–2.57, 1.64; 95% CI 1.14–2.35 and 1.51; 95% CI 1.02–2.24), respectively.

Conclusion and Clinical Relevance

IgE responses to Ascaris are associated with asthma symptoms in a population living in the tropics. Sensitization to the cross‐reactive Ascaris and mite tropomyosins partially underlies this finding. These results have potential relevance in asthma diagnosis and management.