bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
BPIFB3 facilitates flavivirus infection by controlling RETREG1-dependent reticulophagy
Authors: Evans Azia S. , Lennemann Nicholas J. , Fan Ka man , Coyne Carolyn B. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe flavivirus genus, which includes dengue virus (DENV) and Zika virus (ZIKV), are significant human pathogens and the prevalence of infected vectors continues to geographically expand. Both DENV and ZIKV rely on expansion of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the induction of autophagy to establish a productive viral infection. However, little is known regarding the interplay between the requirements for autophagy initiation during infection and the mechanisms used by these viruses to avoid clearance through the autophagic pathway. We recently showed that DENV and ZIKV inhibit reticulophagy (specific degradation of the ER through autophagy) by cleaving reticulophagy regulator 1 (RETREG1), an autophagy receptor responsible for targeted ER sheet degradation. These data suggest that DENV and ZIKV require specific autophagic pathways for their replication, while other autophagic pathways are antiviral. We previously identified BPI Fold Containing Family B Member 3 (BPIFB3) as a regulator of autophagy that negatively controls enterovirus replication. Here, we show that in contrast to enteroviruses, BPIFB3 functions as a positive regulator of DENV and ZIKV infection and that its RNAi-mediated silencing drastically inhibits the formation of viral replication organelles. We show that BPIFB3 depletion enhances ER fragmentation, while its overexpression protects against autophagy-induced ER degradation, demonstrating that BPIFB3 serves as a specific regulator of ER turnover. We further show that the antiviral effects of BPIFB3 depletion on flavivirus infection are reversed in RETREG1-depleted cells, and that BPIFB3 associates with RETREG1 within the ER, suggesting that BPIFB3 regulates a RETREG1-specific reticulophagy pathway. Collectively, these studies identify BPIFB3 as a regulator of the reticulophagy pathway and define the requirements for a novel host regulator of flavivirus infection.Author SummaryFlaviviruses and other arthropod transmitted viruses represent a widespread global health problem with limited treatment options currently available. Thus, greater knowledge of the host factors required for replication and transmission is needed to provide a better understanding of the cellular requirements for infection. Here, we show that the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) localized protein, BPIFB3 is required to facilitate flavivirus infection. Depletion of BPIFB3 in cells inhibits dengue virus and Zika virus infection prior to replication of the viral genome. Mechanistically, we show that BPIFB3 inhibits ER degradation in an autophagy-specific manner and that loss of BPIFB3 decreases the availability of ER membranes needed for flavivirus replication. We further show that BPIFB3 specifically regulates the RETREG1 pathway, but not other pathways of ER turnover. Together, our data define a previously uncharacterized method of regulating ER degradation and show that BPIFB3 is an essential host factor for a productive flavivirus infection.
Scrutinization of Soil Seed Bank from Arid to Mesic Habitats of Dera Ghazi Khan
Authors: Gulshan Allah Bakhsh , Bakhsh Ali , Irfan Syed Mazhar , Hussain Sabir , Hayat Khazir , Atta Muhammad Imran 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe research was conducted to investigate the persistent soil seed bank composition and its relation to the above-ground vegetation of upland area (piedmont) to low land area (alluvial) landscape from arid to mesic region of Dera Ghazi Khan. A transact of 40 kilometers was laid down from arid to mesic habitat. At each 2 km a quadrate of 1 m−2sizes was thrown in the field to collect a soil sample of 2kg from soil cores ranging 0-15 cm deep for the analysis of soil seed bank. Twenty different sites were sampled by throwing 6 quadrates at each site making a total of 120 samples. Three thousand seeds were obtained of 50 different species from all the collected samples. Soil seed bank density m−2was higher in the alluvial plains of Dera Ghazi Khan. Most of the perennial species, which were xerophytic in nature such asAerua persica, Calotropis procera, Fagonia indica, Leptadaenia pyrotechnica, Peganum hermala, Rhazya strictaandSuaeda fructicosawere found in the piedmont (arid) soil habitat and the soil seed bank relatively less than the species found in the alluvial (Mesic) soil habitat, which were mostly of annual life span such asChenopodium murale, Euphorbia prostrata, Medicago denticulata, Fumaria indica, andWithania somnifera. From this study it is concluded that the similarity found between soil seed bank and above ground vegetation of both historic types of habitats piedmont (arid) and alluvial (mesic) of Dera Ghazi Khan
An exploratory study on the impact of mobile ICT on productivity in construction projects
Authors: Hasan Abid , Elmualim Abbas , Rameezdeen Raufdeen , Baroudi Bassam , Marshall Andrew 
Published: May 2018

PurposeThe issue of low productivity has remained a very stern and chronic problem in construction projects. Previous studies have found poor communication as one of the leading causes of low-construction productivity. Recent advances in the field of information and communication technologies (ICT) have the potential to enhance communication and access to information in construction projects. However, the implications of the use of mobile ICT on construction productivity have not been investigated in sufficient depth, especially from the perspectives of its users, i.e. construction management (CM) professionals. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approachA focus group session involving ten experienced CM professionals from different organisations of the South Australian construction industry was moderated by a group of four researchers to gather data on mobile ICT usage and its implications for construction productivity.FindingsLack of training and guidelines on effective applications of these technologies to construction projects is a major bottleneck. Results indicate that despite noticeable advances in mobile ICT, differences in usage style and user attitude have limited their overall impact on productivity.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper is based on data gathered from CM professionals working in the South Australian construction industry.Practical implicationsThe study highlights the importance of strategising the use of mobile ICT to achieve the desired productivity rates through policy, training, work-life balance, and deeper and wider understanding of these technologies.Originality/valueThe study examines the perceptions of CM professionals on the usefulness of mobile ICT in construction projects and its implications for construction productivity.
Low-dose, high-frequency CPR training with feedback for firefighters
Authors: Abelsson Anna , Appelgren Jari , Axelsson Christer 
Published: May 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of the intervention of low-dose, high-frequency cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training with feedback for firefighters for one month.

Design/methodology/approach
The study had a quantitative approach. Data were collected through an intervention by means of simulation. The data collection consisted of a pre- and post-assessment of 38 firefighter’s CPR performance.

Findings
There was a statistically significant improvement from pre- to post-assessment regarding participants’ compression rates. Compression depth increased statistically significantly to average 2 mm too deep in the group. Recoil decreased in the group with an average of 1 mm for the better. There was a statistically significant improvement in participants’ ventilation volume from pre- to post-assessment.

Originality/value
Prehospital staff such as firefighters, police, and ambulance perform CPR under less than optimal circumstances. It is therefore of the utmost importance that these professionals are trained in the best possible way. The result of this study shows that low-dose, high-frequency CPR training with an average of six training sessions per month improves ventilation volume, compression depth, rate, and recoil. This study concludes that objective feedback during training enhances the firefighters’ CPR skills which in turn also could be applied to police and ambulance CPR training.
Barriers to accessing mortgages in Nigeria’s housing markets
Authors: Nwuba Chukwuma C. , Chukwuma-Nwuba Eunice Oluwakemi 
Published: May 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate barriers to accessing mortgages in Nigeria’s urban housing markets with the main focus on Kaduna State. The objective was to establish the diverse factors that constitute barriers to urban households’ access to mortgages for homeownership from the perceptions of households, mortgage lenders and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach
The study used cross-sectional survey with triangulation of results. To enable the triangulation, three new samples were developed from 450 surveys with households and 10 completed by lenders, both in Kaduna State and one survey undertaken by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria. Data were collected with questionnaires designed on five-point Likert model. Data analysis utilized descriptive statistics and one-sample t-test. Triangulation enabled cross-validation of the results.

Findings
The barriers include low incomes and savings which constrain households’ ability to pay mortgage instalments and deposits, respectively, high interest rates, poor access to land, inability of potential borrowers to provide certificates of occupancy on their land, inadequate loanable funds and inadequate number of mortgage lending institutions.

Practical implications
The study has the potential to provide a basis for mortgage market reforms. Mortgage market reforms should be encompassing because it requires action in some other sectors.

Social implications
The social implication of the study is the possibility of motivating actions to deal with the diverse barriers to accessing mortgages which have constituted deterrents to households from realizing their homeownership aspirations and enjoying the benefits of homeownership and consequently contributing to inadequate housing and poor living conditions.

Originality/value
The study provides distinctive insight into Nigeria’s mortgage market by integrating the views of various stakeholders on a subject of social and economic significance. It contributes to the evidence-base around mortgage market reforms in Nigeria.
Absorptive capacity and cooperation evidence in innovation from public policies for innovation
Authors: Moura Dulcineia Catarina , Madeira Maria José , Duarte Filipe A.P. , Carvalho João , Kahilana Orlando 
Published: May 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to better understand whether firm cooperation and absorptive capacity foster success in seeking public financial support for innovation activities and, by doing so, how they contribute to innovation output.Design/methodology/approachThe authors therefore extend the existing literature focusing on the effects of cooperation and absorptive capacity on specific public financial support for innovation activities in Portuguese firms from local or regional government, central administration and the European Union by using available data from the Community Innovation Survey CIS 2010 and the application of logistic regression models. The empirical analysis enabled a better understanding of the positive relationship of the variables that determine the form of public financial support in the integration of incentives within firms to stimulate innovation.FindingsTherefore, as the level of absorptive capacity in Portuguese firms increases, so does the demand for benefits from public financial support to stimulate innovation from the European Union also increases. The same analysis, now considering the determinant cooperation, notes the positive effects of institutional sources of information and cooperation, in the propensity for seeking public financial incentives from the Central Administration and the European Union. As for internal information and cooperation sources, they are positively related to the integration of incentive measures from the local or Regional Administration and Central Administration.Originality/valueThe paper presents results that allow us to propose some suggestions that both the firms and those responsible for the implementation of public policies can undertake to increment innovation performance.
Case study of home care for isolated and frail elderly patients by general practice nurses
Authors: Longstaff Sarah , Rees Jeni , Good Elizabeth , Kirby Elizabeth 
Published: May 2018

Purpose
In a novel approach, two part-time “Link Nurses” within an NE Hampshire practice of 16,500 patients were funded by a local charity, to assess and manage unmet needs of isolated frail elderly patients at home. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach
Patients in this vulnerable group with no recorded healthcare contact for a prolonged period were identified from practice computer records. One group was to be assessed at home, and appropriate interventions effected. Follow-up visits or telephone contacts also offered support to carers as well as isolated individuals. A matching quasi control group was identified but not visited, to assess the overall impact on the patients, GP and other healthcare contacts. Difficulties with the control group were encountered and addressed.

Findings
Important unmet healthcare needs were found amongst the visited patients, which the nurses were able to address themselves, or refer to the GPs or appropriate agencies. The control group demonstrated greater demand for out-of-hours, GP and district nurse contacts, and more unplanned hospital admissions.

Practical implications
Besides dealing with unmet needs at home, ongoing support by local GP nurses may reduce bed-blocking by moving away from “crisis management” of patients in this vulnerable group.

Originality/value
Few other trials have employed practice nurses to see and manage frail elderly patients in their homes.
Looking into some of the risk factors of mental health: the mediating role of maladaptive schemas in mothers’ parenting style and child anxiety disorders
Authors: Adibsereshki Narges , Abdollahzadeh Rafi Mahdi , Hassanzadeh Aval Maryam , Tahan Hassan 
Published: May 2018

PurposeAnxiety disorders have a high prevalence in children. Those children with anxious symptoms are more likely to experience significant disruption in their lives. This disruption can interrupt or even stop a child from participating in a variety of typical childhood experiences. It is understood that genetic and environmental factors may cause this disorder. The purpose of this paper is to focus on environmental factors, namely, the mediating role of maladaptive schemas in mothers’ child-rearing and childhood anxiety disorders.Design/methodology/approachThis study used correlation-modeling to assess the analysis. The sample included 326 students (aged 9-12 years old) and their mothers. The parenting style (Baumrind, 1973), Early Maladaptive Schema (Rijkeboer and de Boo, 2010), and anxiety disorders (Muriset al., 2006) questionnaires were used in this study.FindingsThe results showed a relationship between parenting styles of mothers and childhood anxiety disorders, a significant correlation between childhood maladaptive schemas and childhood anxiety disorders, a relation between child-rearing styles and childhood maladaptive schemas, and finally a mediating role on childhood anxiety disorders and mothers’ child-rearing styles for some childhood maladaptive schemas.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the knowledge base of the importance of children’s mental health. The paper analyzes the relationship of mothers’ parenting styles and children’s anxiety. It also focuses on maladaptive schemas as a mediator and its relationship with childhood anxiety disorders.
H syndrome: Clinical, histological and genetic investigation in Tunisian patients
Authors: Jaouadi Hager , Zaouak Anissa , Sellami Khadija , Messaoud Olfa , Chargui Mariem , Hammami Houda , Jones Meriem , Jouini Raja , Chadli Debbiche Achraf , Chraiet Karima , Fenniche Sami , Mrad Ridha , Mokni Mourad , Turki Hamida , Benkhalifa Rym , Abdelhak Sonia 
Published: May 2018

AbstractH syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder with characteristic dermatological findings consisting of hyperpigmentation and hypertrichosis patches mainly located on the inner thighs and multisystemic involvement including hepatosplenomegaly, hearing loss, heart abnormalities and hypogonadism. The aim of this study was to conduct a clinical and genetic investigation in five unrelated Tunisian patients with suspected H syndrome. Hence, genetic analysis of the SLC29A3 gene was performed for four patients with a clinical diagnosis of H syndrome. We identified a novel frame‐shift mutation in the SLC29A3 gene in a female patient with a severe clinical presentation. Furthermore, we report two mutations previously described, the p.R363Q mutation in a male patient and the p.P324L mutation in two patients of different age and sex. This paper extends the mutation spectrum of H syndrome by reporting a novel frame‐shift mutation, the p.S15Pfs*86 in exon 2 of SLC29A3 gene and emphasizes the relevance of genetic testing for its considerable implications in early diagnosis and clinical management.
Identification and functional characterization of doublesex gene in the testis of Spodoptera litura
Authors: Du Qian , Wen Liang , Zheng Si‐Chun , Bi Hong‐Lun , Huang Yong‐Ping , Feng Qi‐Li , Liu Lin 
Published: May 2018

AbstractFusion of the testis occurs in most Lepidoptera insects, including Spodoptera litura, an important polyphagous pest. Testicular fusion in S. litura is advantageous for male reproduction, and the molecular mechanism of fusion remains unknown. Doublesex influences the formation of genitalia, the behavior of courtship, and sexually dimorphic traits in fruit‐fly and silkworm, and is essential for sexual differentiation. However, its purpose in the testis of S. litura remains unknown. The doublesex gene of S. litura (Sldsx) has male‐specific SldsxM and female‐specific SldsxF isoforms, and exhibits a higher expression level in the male testis. At the testicular fusion stage (L6D6), Sldsx attained the highest expression compared to the pre‐fusion and post‐fusion periods. Moreover, Sldsx had a higher expression in the peritoneal sheaths of testis than that of germ cells in the follicle. CRISPR/Cas9 (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/Cas9) was applied to S. litura to determine the role of Sldsx. A mixture of single guide RNA messenger RNA and Cas9 protein (300 ng/μL each) was injected into eggs within 2 h following oviposition. CRISPR/Cas9 successfully induced genomic mutagenesis of Sldsx at G0 generation. The mutant males had smaller testis surrounded by less tracheae. Moreover, the mutant males had abnormal external genitalia and could not finish mating with wild‐type females. Additionally, testes were fused for almost all mutant males. The results showed that Sldsx was not related to testicular fusion, and is required for both testis development and the formation and function of external genitalia in S. litura. The main roles of doublesex on the male are similar to other insects.
Pathologic study of tumour extension for clinically localized unilateral nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Should the contralateral side be included in the clinical target volume?
Authors: Li An‐chuan , Zhang Ying‐ying , Zhang Chi , Wang De‐sheng , Xu Ben‐hua 
Published: May 2018

AbstractIntroductionThe clinical target volume (CTV) delineation is crucial for tumour control and normal tissue protection. This study investigated the contralateral extension of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in patients with a clinically diagnosed unilateral tumour to pursue the possibility of CTV reduction.MethodsTwenty NPC patients with localized tumours confined to only one side of the nasopharynx as shown by magnetic resonance imaging and fibreoptic endoscopy were selected for biopsy. The tissues of the contralateral pharyngeal recess (CPR) and the contralateral posterosuperior wall (CPSW) of the nasopharynx were obtained in each case and prepared for pathological examination. The factors associated with contralateral tumour infiltration were analysed.ResultsFive of 20 (25.0%) patients were pathologically confirmed to have carcinoma cell infiltration in the CPSW, including 2 (10.0%) that had carcinoma cell infiltration in the CPR. The T classification (P = 0.014) and primary tumour volume (P = 0.033) were positively associated with the infiltration of the CPSW, but none of the primary tumour factors affected the involvement of the CPR. The contralateral retropharyngeal lymph node (LN) metastasis (P = 0.016), but not the contralateral cervical LN, was significantly associated with the infiltration of the CPR. Positive Epstein–Barr virus DNA (EBV‐DNA) was another factor that increased the probability of CPR invasion (P = 0.044).ConclusionsContralateral pharyngeal recess infiltration is rare in patients with clinically diagnosed unilateral primary NPC. Reduced CTV coverage, including the CPSW but not CRP, is feasible for patients with unilateral cancer of the nasopharynx without contralateral LN metastasis or positive EBV‐DNA. Further large‐sample studies are needed.
Cigarette brand diversity and price changes during the implementation of plain packaging in the United Kingdom
Authors: Breton Magdalena Opazo , Britton John , Huang Yue , Bogdanovica Ilze 
Published: May 2018

AbstractBackground and aimPlain packaging of cigarettes appeared in the United Kingdom in July 2016 and was ubiquitous by May 2017. The change coincided with another legislative change, raising the minimum pack size from 10 to 20 cigarettes. Laws imposing plain packaging on cigarette packs remove another promotional route from tobacco companies, but the effect of such laws on brand diversity, pricing and sales volume is unknown. This study aimed to (1) describe and quantify changes in brand diversity, price segmentation and sales volumes and (2) estimate the association between the introduction of plain cigarette packaging and cigarette pricing in the United Kingdom.DesignWe used a natural experiment design to assess the impact of plain packaging legislation on brand diversity and cigarette prices. The data comprised a sample of 76% of sales of cigarettes in the UK between March 2013 and June 2017.SettingUnited Kingdom.MeasurementsCigarette prices, number of brands and products and volumes of sales.FindingsDuring the period analysed, there was a slight decrease in the number of cigarette brands. There was also an initial increase observed in the number of cigarette products, due mainly to an increase in the number of products in packs of fewer than 20 cigarettes sold before July 2016, which was then followed by a rapid decrease in the number of products that coincided with the implementation of the new legislation. Cigarette sales volumes during this period did not deviate from the preceding secular trend, but prices rose substantially. Regression results showed that price per cigarette, regardless of pack size, was 5.0 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 4.8–5.3] pence higher in plain than in fully branded packs. For packs of 20 cigarettes, price increases were greater in the lower price quintiles, ranging from 2.6 (95% CI = 2.4–2.7) GBP in the lowest to 0.3 (95% CI = 0.3–0.4) GBP per pack in the highest quintile.ConclusionsThe implementation of standardized packaging legislation in the United Kingdom, which included minimum pack sizes of 20, was associated with significant increases overall in the price of manufactured cigarettes, but no clear deviation in the ongoing downward trend in total volume of cigarette sales.