bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pink Cedar (Acrocarpus fraxinifolius): its prophylactic role against APAP–induced organs toxicity in rats and its antiviral activity against Herpes simplex virus type 1
Authors: Abdelghffar Eman A. , Barakat Alaa , Torky Zenab A. , Mohamed Ihab K. , Ali Kamela 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe possible protective effects of methanolic extractAcrocarpus fraxinifoliusleaves (MEAFL) were assessed against the APAP–induced organ toxicity in male rats. Also, the content of polyphenols extracted from AFL was studied, and their relationship with antioxidant activity was investigated. MEAFL was tested for cytotoxicity on Vero cell line, with reference to IC50, and other non-toxic concentrations of all the extracts. The antiviral activity against HSV1 for all non-toxic concentrations of the extract was determined using plaque reduction assay. It was found that MEAFL showed a reduction of serum hepatic and renal cellular toxicity and cellular lipid peroxidation, as well as enhanced cellular antioxidant. Also, our results revealed that the inhibitory activity of the virus was dose dependent on the polyphenol content of the examined extract. The MIC for the MEAFL extract was determined as well as the EC50and SI. Calculated SI showed promising value for the MEAFL, and hence can be used as therapeutic medication for HSV1. To study other possible mode of action, Vero cells were treated with the examined extracts before, during, and after virus infection to give an insight on the interference of the extract in each step in the virus life cycle. In conclusion, MEAFL showed a remarkable antioxidant effect against APAP induced organs toxicity. Also, examined extracts exhibited the antiviral activity against HSV1.
Adherence to the iDSI reference case among published cost-per-DALY averted studies
Authors: Emerson Joanna , Panzer Ari , Cohen Joshua T. , Chalkidou Kalipso , Teerawattananon Yot , Sculpher Mark , Wilkinson Thomas , Walker Damian , Neumann Peter J. , Kim David D. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractBackgroundThe iDSI reference case, originally published in 2014, aims to improve the quality and comparability of cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs). This study assesses whether the development of the guideline has improved the reporting and methodology for CEAs using disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs).MethodsWe analyzed the Tufts Medical Center Global Health CEA Registry to identify cost-per-DALY averted studies published from 2011 to 2017. Among each of 11 principles in the iDSI reference case, we translated all reporting standards and methodological specifications into quantifiable yes/no questions and awarded articles one point for each item satisfied. We then separately calculated reporting and methods scores, measured as percent adherence (0%=no adherence, 100%=full adherence). Using the year 2014 as the dissemination period, we conducted a pre-post analysis. Additionally, we conducted an analysis stratified by the 11 principles and examined different scoring strategies and dissemination periods in sensitivity analyses.ResultsArticles averaged 74% adherence to reporting standards and 60% adherence to methodological specifications. Adherence to reporting standards increased slightly over time (72% pre-2014 vs. 75% post-2014, p<0.01), but methodological adherence did not significantly improve (59% pre-2014 vs. 60% post-2014, p=0.53). Overall, reporting adherence scores exceeded methodology adherence scores (74% vs. 60%, p<0.001). Articles seldom addressed budget impact (9% reporting, 10% methodology) or equity (7% reporting, 7% methodology).ConclusionsThe iDSI reference case has substantial potential to serve as a useful resource for researchers and policy-makers in global health settings, but greater effort to promote adherence and awareness is needed to achieve its potential.
Strength of T cell signaling regulates HIV-1 replication and establishment of latency
Authors: Gagne M , Michaels D , Schiralli Lester GM , Wong WW , Gummuluru S , Henderson AJ 
Published: October 2018

AbstractA major barrier to curing HIV is the long-lived latent reservoir that supports re-emergence of HIV upon treatment interruption. Targeting this reservoir will require mechanistic insights into the establishment and maintenance of HIV latency. Whether T cell signaling at the time of HIV-1 infection influences productive replication or latency is not fully understood. We used a panel of chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) with different ligand binding affinities to induce a range of signaling strengths to model differential T cell receptor signaling at the time of HIV-1 infection. Stimulation of T cell lines or primary CD4+ T cells expressing chimeric antigen receptors supported HIV-1 infection regardless of affinity for ligand; however, only signaling by the highest affinity receptor facilitated HIV-1 expression. Activation of chimeric antigen receptors that had intermediate and low binding affinities did not support provirus transcription, suggesting that a minimal signal is required for optimal HIV-1 expression. In addition, strong signaling at the time of infection produced a latent population that was readily inducible, whereas latent cells generated in response to weaker signals were not easily reversed. Chromatin immunoprecipitation showed HIV-1 transcription was limited by transcriptional elongation and that robust signaling decreased the presence of negative elongation factor, a pausing factor, by more than 80%. These studies demonstrate that T cell signaling influences HIV-1 infection and the establishment of different subsets of latently infected cells, which may have implications for targeting the HIV reservoir.Author SummaryActivation of CD4+ T cells facilitates HIV-1 infection; however, whether there are minimal signals required for the establishment of infection, replication, and latency has not been explored. To determine how T cell signaling influences HIV-1 infection and the generation of latently infected cells, we used chimeric antigen receptors to create a tunable model. Stronger signals result in robust HIV-1 expression and an inducible latent population. Minimal signals predispose cells towards latent infections that are refractory to reversal. We discovered that repression of HIV-1 transcription immediately after infection is due to RNA polymerase II pausing and inefficient transcription elongation. These studies demonstrate that signaling events influence the course of HIV-1 infection and have implications for cure strategies. They also provide a mechanistic explanation for why a significant portion of the HIV latent reservoir is not responsive to latency reversing agents which function by modifiying chromatin.
Venlafaxine stimulates PNN proteolysis and MMP-9 dependent enhancement of gamma power; relevance to antidepressant efficacy
Authors: S. Alaiyed , P. L. Bozzelli , A. Caccavano , J.Y. Wu , K. Conant 
Published: October 2018

AbstractDrugs that target monoaminergic transmission represent a first-line treatment for major depression. Though a full understanding of the mechanisms that underlie antidepressant efficacy is lacking, evidence supports a role for enhanced excitatory transmission. This can occur through two non-mutually exclusive mechanisms. The first involves increased function of excitatory neurons through relatively direct mechanisms such as enhanced dendritic arborization. Another mechanism involves reduced inhibitory function, which occurs with the rapid antidepressant ketamine. Consistent with this, GABAergic interneuron-mediated cortical inhibition is linked to reduced gamma oscillatory power, a rhythm also diminished in depression. Remission of depressive symptoms correlates with restoration of gamma power.Due to strong excitatory input, reliable GABA release and fast firing, PV neurons represent critical pacemakers for synchronous oscillations. PV neurons also represent the predominant GABAergic population enveloped by perineuronal nets (PNNs), lattice-like structures that localize glutamatergic input. Disruption of PNNs enhances lateral diffusion of glutamate receptors, reduces PV excitability, and enhances gamma activity.Studies suggest that monoamine reuptake inhibitors reduce integrity of the PNN. Mechanisms by which these inhibitors reduce PNN integrity, however, remain largely unexplored. A better understanding of these issues might encourage development of therapeutics that best upregulate PNN modulating proteases.We observe that the serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor venlafaxine reduces PNN integrity in murine brain. Moreover, venlafaxine treated mice (30 mg/kg/day) show an increase in carbachol-induced gamma power in hippocampal slices. Studies with mice deficient in matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), a protease linked to PNN disruption in other settings, suggest that MMP-9 contributes to venlafaxine-enhanced gamma activity.
Relationship between MEG global dynamic functional network connectivity measures and symptoms in schizophrenia
Authors: Sanfratello L. , Houck J.M. , Calhoun V.D. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractAn investigation of differences in dynamic functional network connectivity (dFNC) of healthy controls (HC) versus that of schizophrenia patients (SP) was completed, using eyes-open resting state MEG data. The MEG analysis utilized a source-space activity estimate (MNE/dSPM) whose result was the input to a group spatial independent component analysis (ICA), on which the networks of our MEG dFNC analysis were based. We have previously reported that our MEG dFNC revealed that SP change between cognitive meta-states (repeating patterns of network correlations which are allowed to overlap in time) significantly more often and to states which are more different, relative to HC. Here, we extend our previous work to investigate the relationship between symptomology in SP and four meta-state metrics. We found a significant correlation between positive symptoms and the two meta-state statistics which showed significant differences between HC and SP. These two statistics quantified 1) how often individuals change state and 2) the total distance traveled within the state-space. We additionally found that a clustering of the meta-state metrics divides SP into groups which vary in symptomology. These results indicate specific relationships between symptomology and brain function for SP.
Social networking from a social capital perspective: a cross-cultural analysis
Authors: Krishen Anjala S. , Leenders Mark A.A.M. , Muthaly Siva , Ziółkowska Marta , LaTour Michael S. 
Published: October 2018

PurposeUsing social capital theory (SCT), the purpose of this research is to determine the success of social networking in societies that may be lower in social capital, for example in Poland, versus those which are higher in social capital, such as the USA.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses a partial least squares approach with a cross-cultural sample. The complete sample consists of 556 participants for this study across the USA (n= 258) and Poland (n= 298).FindingsResults indicate that social media success is lower in Poland and that this result is related to lower social networking capital in Polish society. However, the proposed model shows that social media functionality can overcome some of the barriers.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations include a very specific set of countries rather than a larger set of countries and sample, survey methodology which could be augmented with a mixed methods approach and convenience sampling which ensured homogeneity and matching.Practical implicationsBased on this research, media designers should attempt to keep information quality high but even more importantly, they should increase interactivity. For Poland in particular, well-designed interactivity can mitigate societal barriers to success of social media, as it can enhance trust in such platforms.Social implicationsBecause of Poland’s history of more than 40 years of communism, the newer generations may eventually become more adaptive to social networking tools and such acceptance could lead to greater social capital, which is important for Polish society from a business perspective as well.Originality/valueThe most important contribution of this research is that it theoretically and empirically establishes the importance of SCT in relation to social networking across two different countries.
Impact of cyberattacks on stock performance: a comparative study
Authors: Tweneboah-Kodua Samuel , Atsu Francis , Buchanan William 
Published: October 2018

PurposeThe study uses cyberattacks announcements on 96 firms that are listed on S&P 500 over the period from January 03, 2013, to December 29, 2017.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical analysis was performed in two ways: cross-section and industry level. The authors use statistical tests that account for the effects of cross-section correlation in returns, returns series correlation, volatility changes and skewness in the returns.FindingsThese imply that studying the cumulative effects of cyberattacks on prices of listed firms without grouping them into the various sectors may be non-informative; financial sector firms tend to react cumulatively to cyberattacks over a three-day period than other sectors; and technology firms tend to be less reactive to the announcement of a data breach. Such firms may possibly have the necessary tools and techniques to address large-scale cyberattacks.Research limitations/implicationsFor cross-section analysis, the outcome shows that the market does not significantly react to cyberattacks for all the event windows, except [−30, 30], while for the sector-level analysis, the analysis offers two main results.Practical implicationsFirst, while there is a firm reaction to cyberattacks for long event window for retail sector, there is no evidence of a cumulative firm reaction to cyberattacks for both short and long event windows for the industrial, information technology and health sectors. Second, the firms in the financial sector, there is a strong evidence of cumulative reaction to cyberattacks for [−1, 1] for the financial industry, and the reactions disappear for relatively longer event windows.Social implicationsThese imply that studying the cumulative effects of cyberattacks on prices of listed firms without grouping them into the various sectors may be non-informative, the financial sector firms tend to react cumulatively to cyberattacks over a three-day period than other sectors, technology firms tend to be less reactive to the announcement of a data breach, possibly such firms may have the necessary tools and techniques to address large-scale cyberattacks.Originality/valueThe work provides new insights into the effect of cyber security on stock prices.
An approach to information security culture change combining ADKAR and the ISCA questionnaire to aid transition to the desired culture
Authors: Da Veiga Adéle 
Published: October 2018

PurposeEmployee behaviour is a continuous concern owing to the number of information security incidents resulting from employee behaviour. The purpose of this paper is to propose an approach to information security culture change management (ISCCM) that integrates existing change management approaches, such as the ADKAR model of Prosci, and the Information Security Culture Assessment (ISCA) diagnostic instrument (questionnaire), to aid in addressing the risk of employee behaviour that could compromise information security.Design/methodology/approachThe ISCCM approach is constructed based on literature and the inclusion of the ISCA diagnostic instrument. The ISCA diagnostic instrument statements are also presented in this paper. The ISCCM approach using ISCA is illustrated using data from an empirical study.FindingsThe ISCCM approach was found to be useful in defining change management interventions for organisations using the data of the ISCA survey. Employees’ perception and acceptance of change to ensure information security and the effectiveness of the information security training initiatives improved significantly from the as-is survey to the follow-up survey.Research limitations/implicationsThe research illustrates the ISCCM approach and shows how it should be combined with the ISCA diagnostic instrument. Future research will focus on including a qualitative assessment of information security culture to complement the empirical data.Practical implicationsOrganisations do not have to rely on or adapt organisational development approaches to change their information security culture – they can use the proposed ISCCM approach, which has been customised from information security and change management approaches, together with the presented ISCA questionnaire, to address information security culture change purposefully.Originality/valueThe proposed ISCCM approach can be applied to complement existing information security management approaches through a holistic and structured approach that combines the ADKAR model, Prosci’s approach of change management and the ISCA diagnostic instrument. It will enable organisations to focus on transitioning to a positive or desired information security culture that mitigates the risk of the human element in the protection of information.
Nigerian immigrant women’s entrepreneurial embeddedness in Ghana, West Africa
Authors: Antwi Bosiakoh Thomas , Williams Tetteh Vera 
Published: October 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to highlight the role of female immigrant entrepreneurs generally and more specifically Nigerian women entrepreneurs in Ghana, West Africa.

Design/methodology/approach
This is a qualitative research that draws on a broad-based research on Nigerian men and women immigrants’ entrepreneurship in Ghana. Face-to-face interviews with six women in the study are analysed here to provide insights into their motivations for and embeddedness of their entrepreneurship activities in Ghana.

Findings
The women’s entrepreneurship activities lend themselves to the mixed embeddedness argument in two ways: first is their ethnic embeddedness, and second their embeddedness in informality and policy framework. Also, all the women work in very trying circumstances and thus display what can be described as a “daring entrepreneurship” drive.

Practical implications
This paper is positioned at the intersection of ethnic embeddedness, informality and daring entrepreneurial drive by migrant women.

Originality/value
The paper provides an unprecedented and a refreshing account on the entrepreneurship and operational pathways of women in the margin of the global economy.
Learning to fall forward
Authors: Baker-Doyle Kira J. , Hunt Michiko , Whitfield Latricia C. 
Published: October 2018

PurposeConnected learning is a framework of learning principles that centers on fostering educational equity through leveraging social technologies and networking practices to connect students with opportunities, people and resources in communities within and beyond their classroom walls (Itoet al., 2013). The framework has been adopted and developed in K-12 education by teachers in professional development networks and introduced to some teacher education programs through these networks. Practitioners of connected learning frequently refer to the need for “courage” to develop and introduce connected learning-based practices in their classrooms. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, the authors investigate “courage” through a sociocultural lens in the case studies of six educators in a teacher education course on connected learning. The study examines the social contexts and activities that fostered acts of courage during their 14-week course.FindingsThe authors found that personal reflection on freedom and equity, two ethical concepts raised by the connected learning framework, seeded acts of courage. The acts of courage appeared as small acts that built upon themselves toward a larger goal that related to the participants’ ethical ideals. Three types of social activity contexts helped to nurture these acts: seeking models of possibility, mediated reinvention and “wobbling.”Research limitations/implicationsThis study helps to uncover some of the questions that connected learning scholars and practitioners have about why courage is so central, and how to cultivate courageous acts of pedagogical change.Practical implicationsThe theoretical framework used in this study, courage from a sociocultural perspective, may serve to help scholars and teacher educators to shape their research and program designs.Social implicationsThis study offers insights into patterns of networked teacher-led educational change and the social contexts that support school-level impacts of out-of-school professional networking.Originality/valueUsing a sociocultural conception of courage to investigate connected learning in teacher education, this study demonstrates how equity and freedom, central values in the connected learning framework, serve as key concepts driving teachers’ risk-taking, innovation and change.
Managing the challenges of piggybacking into international markets
Authors: Rosenbaum Stephen Mark , Madsen Tage Koed , Johanning Henrik 
Published: October 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to understand the process by which piggybacking partners attempt to overcome the challenges of interfirm diversity when entering foreign markets.Design/methodology/approachThe authors present a longitudinal case study following the collaboration between a rider (a small software developer) and carrier (a global player in software solution distribution) as a means of co-creating value for global customers in the pharmaceutical industry.FindingsThe authors find that despite differential size and incongruent organizational cultures, top managers were still initially able to facilitate collaboration through various knowledge-sharing initiatives, but that these efforts were subsequently undermined by middle managers (due to misaligned incentives), which prevented both parties from reaping the gains of piggybacking on global markets.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings have a number of implications for academics and practitioners alike. Theoretical implications include treating piggybacking as a special case of indirect exporting with particular challenges for knowledge exchange and trust building.Practical implicationsThe authors offer managerial implications for reconciling divergent organizational cultures, partner selection and incentive alignment.Originality/valueThis appears to be the first paper to empirically assess the viability of piggybacking as a foreign entry mode by examining the crucial processes of knowledge sharing and trust development within piggybacking arrangements.