bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Resting shear elastic modulus as a marker of peripheral fatigue during maximal isometric contractions in humans
Authors: Siracusa Julien , Charlot Keyne , Malgoyre Alexandra , Conort Sébastien , Tardo-Dino Pierre-Emmanuel , Bourrilhon Cyprien , Garcia-Vicencio Sebastian 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate whether the resting Vastus Lateralis (VL) muscle shear elastic modulus (µ), evaluated by shear wave elastography, represents peripheral fatigue during repetition of isometric maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) of the knee extensor (KE) muscles.Eight healthy well-trained males repeated 60 isometric MVCs of the KE muscles (6 × 10 MVCs; 5 s on/5 s off). Single and double electrical stimulations were delivered to the femoral nerve every ten MVCs during contraction and at rest. The amplitude and properties of the potentiated torque following single (Twpot) double electrostimulation and the amplitude of the concomitant VL compound action potential were considered to be indicators of peripheral fatigue. The resting VLµ was measured during a 5-s rest period after each MVC and electrical stimulation series.The resting VLµ significantly decreased (-21.8 ± 3.9%; P < 0.001) by the end of the fatigue protocol, decreasing from the 10th MVC to the end of the exercise (60th MVC) for all participants, with the loss ranging from 18 to 29%. The potentiated doublet and single twitch torque (Twpot) decreased by 42.5 ± 10.8% and 55.7 ± 8.8%, respectively, by the end of exercise (P < 0.001 for both). The relative mechanical properties of Twpot, i.e. electromechanical delay (P <0 .001), contraction time (P = 0.004), and maximal rate of torque development/relaxation (P < 0.001) also changed significantly during exercise.This study shows that the kinetics of the resting VLµ is associated with changes in both voluntary and electrostimulated torque amplitudes and electromechanical properties of the single twitch during the repetition of maximal voluntary fatiguing exercise. Changes in the resting VLµ may reflect a decline in muscle function, e.g. impairment of excitation-contraction coupling, contractile processes, and/or elastic properties, throughout the increase in muscle compliance, directly affecting force transmission.
Stable changing fluid shear stress promotes osteogenesis
Authors: Wang Linyuan , Xiao Fang , Yu Lei , Su Hang , Yang Yueqin , Wang Song 
Published: August 2018

AbstractObjectiveBone marrow cells encounter various chemical and mechanical stimuli from the internal environment. In vivo, fluid shear stress (FSS) is one of the primary mechanical stimuli that affect bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMCs) activity. Since various cases of FSS influence BMCs activity differently, the purpose of this study is to determine how BMC activity in osteogenesis and osteoclastgenesis is affected by stable and unstable changing FSS.MethodBMCs samples from the femur of the mouse, divided in to three groups: stimulate by stable changing FSS, unstable changing FSS, and no FSS. RT-PCR would be applied to detect OPG, RANKL, ALP, OCN, RUNX2, and RANK of all the samples at the 3rdday. Alizarin red staining and TRAP staining would be applied to test all the samples at the 6thday.ResultsThe S group samples showed the lowest level in RANKL mRNA and showed the highest level in OPG mRNA. RANKL/OPG mRNA in the S group was the smallest during three groups. Comparing with the C group samples, RUNX2 mRNA in the S group was increased significantly. RANK mRNA in the C group was three times more than S group. S group had the largest area of mineralized nodules, and largest number of area ≥100µm, ≥500µm2or ≥1000µm2. The area of positive TRAP stain in S group was the smallest among three groups.ConclusionStable changing FSS significantly increases osteogenesis relating to OPG-RANKL-RANK pathway. Compared with unstable changing FSS, stable changing FSS afford a more appropriate stimulation to osteogenesis.AbbreviationsALPAlkaline phosphataseBMCsBone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cellsCx43Connexin 43C3aComplement Component 3aJNKc-Jun N-terminal kinaseERKExtracellular regulated protein kinasesERK5Extracellular-signal-regulated kinaseFSSFluid shear stressFasLFirst apoptosis signal LigandGSK3βGlycogen synthase kinase 3βLPALysophosphatidic acidMSCsMesenchymal stem cellsM-CSFMacrophage colony-stimulating factorMCP-1Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1RANKReceptor Activator of Nuclear Factor κ BRANKLReceptor activator of nuclear factor κ B ligandRUNX2Runt-related transcription factor 2P2Y2RReceptor of P2Y2LGR4Repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 4SemaSemaphorinsTRAPTartrate-Resistant Acid AhosphataseTRPM7Transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 7TRAFsTumornecrosisfactorreceptor associatedfactorsOPGOsteoprotegerinOCNOsteocalcinOPNOsteopontin
Extracellular Adenine Nucleotide and Adenosine Metabolism in Calcific Aortic Valve Disease
Authors: Kutryb-Zajac Barbara , Jablonska Patrycja , Serocki Marcin , Bulinska Alicja , Mierzejewska Paulina , Friebe Daniela , Alter Christina , Jasztal Agnieszka , Lango Romuald , Rogowski Jan , Bartoszewski Rafal , Slominska Ewa M. , Chlopicki Stefan , Schrader Jürgen , Yacoub Magdi H. , Smolenski Ryszard T. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractExtracellular nucleotide catabolism contributes to immunomodulation, cell differentiation and tissue mineralization by controlling nucleotide and adenosine concentrations and its purinergic effects. Disturbances of purinergic signaling in valves may lead to its calcification. This study aimed to investigate the side-specific changes in extracellular nucleotide and adenosine metabolism in the aortic valve during calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) and to identify the individual enzymes that are involved in these pathways as well as their cellular origin.Stenotic aortic valves were characterized by reduced levels of extracellular ATP removal and impaired production of adenosine. Respectively, already reduced levels of extracellular adenosine were immediately degraded further due to the elevated rate of adenosine deamination. For the first time, we revealed that this metabolic pattern was observed only on the fibrosa surface of stenotic valve that is consistent with the mineral deposition on the aortic side of the valve. Furthermore, we demonstrated that non-stenotic valves expressed mostly ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase 1 (eNTPD1) and ecto-5’nucleotidase (e5NT), while stenotic valves ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatase/ phosphodiesterase 1, alkaline phosphatase and ecto-adenosine deaminase (eADA). On the surface of endothelial cells, isolated from non-stenotic valves, high activities of eNTPD1 and e5NT were found. Whereas, in valvular interstitial cells, eNPP1 activity was also detected. Stenotic valve immune infiltrate was an additional source of eADA. We demonstrated the presence of A1, A2a and A2b adenosine receptors in both, non-stenotic and stenotic valves with diminished expression of A2a and A2b in the former.Extracellular nucleotide and adenosine metabolism that involves complex ecto-enzyme pathways and adenosine receptor signaling were adversely modified in CAVD. In particular, diminished activities of eNTPD1 and e5NT with the increase in eADA that originated from valvular endothelial and interstitial cells as well as from immune inflitrate may affect aortic valve extracellular nucleotide concentrations to favor a proinflammatory milieu, highlighting a potential mechanism and target for CAVD therapy.
Finite element computation of the effective thermal conductivity of two-dimensional multi-scale heterogeneous media
Authors: Mattos Lucas Prado , Cruz Manuel Ernani , Bravo-Castillero Julián 
Published: August 2018

Purpose
The simulation of heat conduction inside a heterogeneous material with multiple spatial scales would require extremely fine and ill-conditioned meshes and, therefore, the success of such a numerical implementation would be very unlikely. This is the main reason why this paper aims to calculate an effective thermal conductivity for a multi-scale heterogeneous medium.

Design/methodology/approach
The methodology integrates the theory of reiterated homogenization with the finite element method, leading to a renewed calculation algorithm.

Findings
The effective thermal conductivity gain of the considered three-scale array relative to the two-scale array has been evaluated for several different values of the global volume fraction. For gains strictly above unity, the results indicate that there is an optimal local volume fraction for a maximum heat conduction gain.

Research limitations/implications
The present approach is formally applicable within the asymptotic limits required by the theory of reiterated homogenization.

Practical implications
It is expected that the present analytical-numerical methodology will be a useful tool to aid interpretation of the gain in effective thermal conductivity experimentally observed with some classes of heterogeneous multi-scale media.

Originality/value
The novel aspect of this paper is the application of the integrated algorithm to calculate numerical bulk effective thermal conductivity values for multi-scale heterogeneous media.
Reimagining leadership – and its relationship with management – for the public sector
Authors: Dunoon Don 
Published: August 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to review and critique three conventional assumptions about leadership and put forward an alternative framing, with leadership presented as a distinct form of intervention in particular moments to management. The paper also presents a structure for supporting leadership action by individuals and groups as an alternate to management action, which is seen as the dominant form.Design/methodology/approachReflects an elaboration and distillation of concepts developed by the author since an earlier paper on essentially the same topic, drawing on his 20-plus years’ experience as a leadership developer.FindingsAlthough not an empirical account, the paper seeks to demonstrate how, when conventional but infrequently challenged assumptions about leadership are “peeled back”, a new way of understanding leadership, especially in connection with management, is revealed.Research limitations/implicationsSuggestions are offered as to how the concepts and tools presented here could be evaluated, including in comparison with established leadership frameworks.Practical implicationsOutlines three practices for supporting leadership action in public sector organisations. These practices are working from observation, attributing reasonableness (allowing that others are reasonable) and speaking with authenticity. Collectively, these are known as the OBREAU Tripod (with “OBREAU” comprised of the first two letters in each of the pivotal words, observation, reasonableness and authenticity).Originality/valueConceiving of leadership as a different form of in-the-moment action to management in a public sector context is a distinctive contribution to the literature.
Unethical 20th century business leaders
Authors: Boddy Clive R. 
Published: August 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present evidence to examine the possible psychopathy of Robert Maxwell, a notorious figure in UK business history.Design/methodology/approachThis paper presents research which retrospectively applied a tool to measure whether leading figures in twentieth century business history could be classified as being corporate psychopaths. As background to this idea, psychopaths and corporate psychopaths are defined. A measure of corporate psychopathy is explored as an aid to identifying corporate psychopaths in business history. This measure is then used in relation to senior corporate executives who have been nominated as potential corporate psychopaths and to Robert Maxwell in particular.FindingsThe paper concludes that at least some ethical scandals and failures such as those atThe Daily Mirrorhave been characterized by the presence of CEOs who scored highly on a measure of corporate psychopathy. Maxwell’s fraudulent raiding of corporate pension funds crossed ethical and legal borders. Furthermore, Maxwell’s fraudulent looting of those pension funds crossed generational boundaries; stealing from older people’s pension funds and thereby leaving younger people/investors with less to inherit. Maxwell also had an international business empire and so his fraud had effects which crossed geographic borders. The paper concludes that using an historical approach to the study of potential corporate psychopaths illuminates what types of organizational outcomes corporate psychopaths may eventuate.Originality/valueThe paper is the first to use an historical approach to the study of potential corporate psychopaths.
The social media adoption of public sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain
Authors: Hidayat Sutan Emir , Rafiki Ahmad , Al Khalifa Maryam Humood 
Published: August 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify the contemporary implementation of social media within the public sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain by reviewing each of the ministry’s presence in the social media especially on specific social media websites (Twitter, Facebook and YouTube). This study also attempts to identify the types of information that the public is interested to receive from various government social media accounts.

Design/methodology/approach
A descriptive analysis with frequency distribution and weighted mean was used to analyze the demographic profile of the respondents, internet preferences and government information sources. The study has employed two types of survey methods in collecting data, namely, checklist and questionnaire surveys. A snowball sampling technique was employed for the sampling selection. Among the selected respondents of 500, 384 (76.8 percent) respondents completely responded to the questionnaires.

Findings
The study has confirmed the fact that most of the Bahrain Government’s ministries have social media platforms with a minimum of at least one official account to reach out to the various segments of the society. It also reveals that the respondents are active internet users who are looking for information in different platforms, i.e. search engines, social media, and have interests in different media forms like blogs, forums, official websites as well as multimedia images and videos. Meanwhile, the respondents are found to be interested in various types of information from the government that ranges from serious topics like emergency alerts, citizens’ rights and healthcare, to lighter topics like ways to protect the environment, science and technology and job seeking advice.

Originality/value
This clearly declares the inevitability of an increase in the dissemination of information by the Government of Bahrain through social media. The recommendations in this research could be highly beneficial for the Government of Bahrain if implemented as it could improve the cyber relationship between the government and the public.
Abundance of an economically important nematode parasite increased in Puget Sound between 1930 and 2016: Evidence from museum specimens confirms historical data
Authors: Howard Ingrid , Davis Ellie , Lippert Gregory , Quinn Thomas P. , Wood Chelsea L. 
Published: August 2018

Abstract

Does disturbance increase or decrease parasite transmission among wildlife hosts? Ecologists cannot answer this controversial question, in part because few historical datasets rigorously document parasite abundance. Without such a baseline, it is difficult to determine whether contemporary ecosystems are experiencing elevated parasite burdens.

Here, we investigate change over time in the abundance of a parasite that affects the economic value of a fish species. Clavinema mariae is a nematode parasite of benthic fishes that is common in English sole (Parophrys vetulus) of Puget Sound, WA. We obtained historical records of its abundance from the literature and from unpublished government agency data, and resampled the same locations using the same methods in 2017. We also used a new approach by estimating the C. mariae burden for museum specimens of English sole collected between 1930 and 2016.

Both the historical data and museum specimen data suggested increases over time in C. mariae abundance, with robust agreement between the two approaches.

In addition to documenting a previously unrecognised ~eightfold increase in the burden of an economically important parasite, our work demonstrates—for the first time—that parasitological examination of liquid‐preserved museum specimens can produce reliable data on long‐term trends in parasite abundance, at a much greater temporal resolution than is possible to obtain from historical records.

Synthesis and applications. Defining a baseline state of infection is vital for natural resource management and policy, which must respond to the threat of disease; without such a baseline, managers attempting to maintain or recover the health of ecosystems under their stewardship are shooting in the dark. The method we present here—using museum specimens to reconstruct detailed chronologies of parasite abundance change—offers a solution. Our approach would allow managers to accurately characterise past disease states, informing the development of appropriate disease management targets. Given the broad representation and availability of liquid‐preserved specimens across ecosystems, geographic regions and host taxa, this solution may be feasible for the management of biological resources not only in marine ecosystems, but in freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems as well.
Mycorrhizal feedbacks generate positive frequency dependence accelerating grassland succession
Authors: Koziol Liz , Bever James D. 
Published: August 2018

Abstract

Plant mutualists including arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi have been postulated as being important drivers of plant community diversity and succession. Late successional plants have been shown to be more responsive to AM fungi and more sensitive to AM fungal species identity, which could generate positive feedback and potentially accelerate succession.

We test the effect of AM fungi on plant diversity and on frequency dependence predicted by positive plant–AM fungi feedback across a successional gradient. We created prairie mesocosms comprised of a majority of early successional, equal abundance, and a majority of late successional plant species. We inoculated these mesocosms and a field restoration experiment with 14 different communities of AM fungi from late successional prairies that varied in levels of species richness.

Overall, we found that AM fungi increased plant diversity and this was driven by the response of late successional plant species to mycorrhizae. Our results indicate that AM fungal composition is more important than AM fungal diversity per se. We found that the effect of inoculation with a single species or groups of AM fungi depended on whether those fungi benefited late successional plant species. Early successional plants consistently exhibited negative frequency‐dependent growth regardless of fungal composition, while late successional plants demonstrated positive frequency‐dependent growth in our mesocosms—but only in the presence of beneficial AM fungal species. These results are consistent with positive plant–mycorrhizal feedbacks accelerating plant community successional trajectories once late successional plants establish. Mesocosm results were mirrored with field inoculation assays where we found that beneficial AM fungi facilitated late successional plant establishment.

Synthesis. Our results provide support for beneficial arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi being a primary mechanism for positive plant–soil feedback driving plant community succession, as late successional seedlings grew faster and larger when their neighbours were also late successional plant species when they were associated with beneficial arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. We found that this positive feedback thereby accelerated succession in mesocosms and in the field.
Equality, efficiency and effectiveness: going beyond RCTs in A. L. Cochrane's vision of health care
Authors: Trnka Susanna , Stöckelová Tereza 
Published: August 2018

AbstractA. L. Cochrane's Effectiveness and Efficiency frequently appears as a key reference in debates over, and a justification for, contemporary evidence‐based medicine. Cochrane's concern in this text with the equality of care as the ultimate rationale for why effectiveness and efficiency of cure are needed has, however, largely disappeared from debate. In this article, we reconsider Cochrane's approach through the use of case studies of plural forms of medicine in the Czech Republic, namely traditional Chinese medicine, homeopathy and spa care. In addition to bringing equality back into the picture, we also identify four expansions to Cochrane's original vision arising from the difficulties of separating cure from care; the overlap between prevention and cure; the complex actions of some multi‐faceted therapies; and recent reconceptualisations of the placebo effect. In conclusion, we suggest that instead of the widely used strictly vertical “evidence pyramid”, a descriptor of the horizontal and additive ordering of evidence might be more appropriate. We also argue that in healthcare systems characterised by a multiplicity of approaches, if we want to truly benefit from this heterogeneity, we must take seriously each medical tradition's approaches to prevention, cure, care, as well as efficiency, efficacy and equality.
Identification of unique proteins in vitreous fluid of patients with noninfectious uveitis
Authors: Kasudhan Kripa Shanker , Sarkar Subendu , Gupta Vishali , Gupta Amod , Chakraborti Anuradha 
Published: August 2018

AbstractPurposeUveitis is a cause for concern in the developing countries like India. Its poor diagnosis and lack of proper therapeutics often cause blindness in children and young adults. Moreover, the exact mechanism of pathogenesis of different types of uveitis is still elusive. Modern proteomic techniques are found to be advantageous for an in‐depth understanding of the ocular physiology using proteomic diversity. Our aim was to identify unique proteins involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune or noninfectious uveitis.MethodsVitreous fluid samples (n = 90) were obtained from infectious (N = 34) and noninfectious (N = 56) uveitis patients, and their protein profiles were compared by analysing sodium dodecyl sulphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) and 2D electrophoresis. Unique proteins were identified through matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization–time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF MS) and further studied for pathway analysis.ResultsProtein spots having different molecular weights were observed in noninfectious vitreous fluid samples. Enzymatic digestion of these spots after MALDI‐TOF MS analysis revealed different proteins. We identified 25 different proteins through SDS‐PAGE and 22 through 2D electrophoresis. 50% of the proteins from SDS‐PAGE were associated with heterotrimeric G‐protein signalling pathway–rod outer segment phototransduction. 50% proteins from SDS‐PAGE and 20% from 2D electrophoresis revealed association with de novo purine biosynthesis. Carbonic anhydrase 1 and serpin B3 were found to be common in both analyses.ConclusionHigh‐throughput proteomic and pathway analyses have exposed the potential association of these proteins with autoimmune pathogenesis in uveitis. The exact role of most of the proteins in autoimmune uveitis is yet to be unfurled.