bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Threshold regulation and stochasticity from the MecA/ClpCP proteolytic system inStreptococcus mutanscompetence
Authors: Son M. , Kaspar J. , Ahn S.J. , Burne R.A. , Hagen S.J. 
Published: February 2018

SummaryMany bacterial species use the MecA/ClpCP proteolytic system to block entry into genetic competence. InStreptococcus mutans, MecA/ClpCP degrades ComX (also called SigX), an alternative sigma factor for thecomYoperon and other late competence genes. Although the mechanism of MecA/ClpCP has been studied in multipleStreptococcusspecies, its role within noisy competence pathways is poorly understood.S. mutanscompetence can be triggered by two different peptides, CSP and XIP, but it is not known whether MecA/ClpCP acts similarly for both stimuli, how it affects competence heterogeneity, and how its regulation is overcome. We have studied the effect of MecA/ClpCP on the activation ofcomYin individualS. mutanscells. Our data show that MecA/ClpCP is active under both XIP and CSP stimulation, that it provides threshold control ofcomY, and that it adds noise incomYexpression. Our data agree quantitatively with a model in which MecA/ClpCP prevents adventitious entry into competence by sequestering or intercepting low levels of ComX. Competence is permitted when ComX levels exceed a threshold, but cell-to-cell heterogeneity in MecA levels creates variability in that threshold. Therefore MecA/ClpCP provides a stochastic switch, located downstream of the already noisycomX, that enhances phenotypic diversity.
Inflation versus filling-in: why we feel we see more than we actually do in peripheral vision
Authors: Odegaard Brian , Chang Min Yu , Lau Hakwan , Cheung Sing-Hang 
Published: February 2018

AbstractDo we perceive fine details in the visual periphery? Here, we propose that phenomenology in the visual periphery can be characterized by an inflated sense of perceptual capacity, as observers overestimate the quality of their perceptual inputs. Distinct from the well-known perceptual phenomenon of “filling-in” where perceptual content is generated or completed endogenously, inflation can be characterized by incorrect introspection at the subjective level. The perceptual content itself may be absent or weak (i.e., not necessarily filled-in), and yet such content is mistakenly regarded by the system as rich. Behaviorally, this can be reflected by metacognitive deficits in the degree to which confidence judgments track task accuracy, and decisional biases for observers to think particular items are present, even when they are not. In two experiments using paradigms which exploit unique attributes of peripheral vision (crowding and summary statistics), we provide evidence that both types of deficits are present in peripheral vision, as observers’ reports are marked by overconfidence in discrimination judgments and high numbers of false alarms in detection judgments. We discuss potential mechanisms which may be the cause of inflation and propose future experiments to further explore this unique sensory phenomenon.
High-Speed Imaging of Paw Withdrawal Reflex to Objectively Assess Pain State in Mice
Authors: Abdus-Saboor Ishmail , Fried Nathan T. , Lay Mark , Dong Peter , Burdge Justin , Lu Ming , Ma Minghong , Dong Xinzhong , Ding Long , Luo Wenqin 
Published: February 2018

AbstractRodents are often used for studying chronic pain mechanisms and developing new pain therapeutics, but objectively determining the animal’s pain state is a major challenge. To improve the precision of using reflexive withdrawal behaviors for interpreting the mouse pain state, we adopted high-speed videography to capture sub-second movement features of mice upon hind paw stimulation. We identified several parameters that are significantly different between behaviors evoked by innocuous and noxious stimuli, and combined them to map the mouse pain state through statistical modeling and machine learning. To test the utility of this approach, we determined the pain state triggered by von Frey hairs (VFHs) and optogenetic activation of two nociceptor populations. Our method reliably assesses the “pain-like” probability for each mouse paw withdrawal reflex under all scenarios, highlighting the improved precision of using this high resolution behavior-centered composite methodology to determine the mouse pain state from reflexive withdrawal assays.
Tumour purity as a prognostic factor in colon cancer
Authors: Mao Yihao , Feng Qingyang , Zheng Peng , Yang Liangliang , Liu Tianyu , Xu Yuqiu , Zhu Dexiang , Chang Wenju , Ji Meiling , Tu Yongjiu , Ren Li , Wei Ye , He Guodong , Xu Jianmin 
Published: February 2018

AbstractTumour purity is defined as the proportion of cancer cells in the tumour tissue. The impact of tumour purity on colon cancer (CC) prognosis, genetic profile and microenvironment has not been thoroughly accessed. Therefore, clinical and transcriptomic data from three public datasets, GSE17536/17537, GSE39582, and TCGA were retrospectively collected (n = 1248). Tumour purity of each sample was inferred by a computational method based on transcriptomic data. Stage III and MMR-deficient (dMMR) CC patients showed a significantly lower tumour purity. Low purity CC conferred worse survival and tumour purity was identified as an independent prognostic factor. Moreover, high tumour purity CC patients benefited more from adjuvant chemotherapy. Subsequent genomic analysis found that the mutation burden was negatively associated with tumour purity with only APC and KRAS significantly more mutated in high purity CC. However, no somatic copy number alteration event was correlated with tumour purity. Furthermore, immune-related pathways and immunotherapy-associated markers (PD-1, PD-L1, CTLA-4, LAG-3, and TIM-3) were highly enriched in low purity samples. Notably, the relative proportion of M2 macrophages and neutrophils, which indicated worse survival in CC, was negatively associated with tumour purity. Therefore, tumour purity exhibited potential value for CC prognostic stratification as well as adjuvant chemotherapy benefit prediction. The relative worse survival in low purity CC may attribute to higher mutation frequency in key pathways and purity related microenvironmental changing.SummaryLow purity colon cancer patients conferred worse survival and benefited less from adjuvant chemotherapy. The mutation burden was negatively associated with tumour purity. Low purity samples exhibited intense immune phenotype with more M2 macrophages and neutrophils infiltration.
Genome-wide Association Study of Anxiety and Stress-related Disorders in the iPSYCH Cohort
Authors: Meier Sandra M. , Trontti Kalevi , Als Thomas Damm , Laine Mikaela , Pedersen Marianne Giørtz , Bybjerg-Grauholm Jonas , Bækved-Hansen Marie , Sokolowska Ewa , Mortensen Preben B. , Hougaard David M. , Werge Thomas , Nordentoft Merete , Børglum Anders D. , Hovatta Iiris , Mattheisen Manuel , Mors Ole 
Published: February 2018

AbstractAnxiety and stress-related disorders (ASRD) are among the most common mental disorders with the majority of patients suffering from additional disorders. Family and twin studies indicate that genetic and environmental factors are underlying their etiology. As ASRD are likely to configure various expressions of abnormalities in the basic stress-response system, we conducted a genome-wide association study including 12,655 cases with various anxiety and stress-related diagnoses and 19,225 controls. Standard association analyses were performed supplemented by a framework of sensitivity analyses. Variants inPDE4Bshowed consistent association with ASRD across a wide range of our analyses. In mice models, alternations inPDE4Bexpression were observed in those mice displaying anxious behavior after exposure to chronic stress. We also showed that 28% of the variance in ASRD was accounted for by common variants and that the genetic signature of ASRD overlapped with psychiatric traits, educational outcomes, obesity-related phenotypes, smoking, and reproductive success.
Heat shock induces the depletion of Oct4 in mouse blastocysts and stem cells
Authors: Cheng Mo-bin , Wang Xue , Huang Yue , Zhang Ye 
Published: February 2018

AbstractTemperature is an important microenvironmental factor that functions epigenetically in normal embryonic development. However, the effect of heat shock in the stem cells is not fully understood. Oct4 is a tightly regulated master regulator of pluripotency maintenance in stem cells and during early embryonic development. We report here that Oct4 protein level was significantly reduced under heat shock in mouse blastocysts and embryonic stem cells. The reduction in Oct4 in the mouse embryonic stem cells under heat shock was mediated by a ubiquitin-proteasome pathway that was dependent on the activity of death- associated protein kinase 1 (Dapk1) to phosphorylate its substrate, Pin1. Our results imply that the depletion of Oct4 via brief heat shock, such as a high fever, during early pregnancy might severely impair the growth of the mammalian embryo or even cause its death.
Nonpolar Residues in the Presumptive Pore-Lining Helix of Mechanosensitive Channel MSL10 Influence Channel Behavior and Confirm a Non-Conducting Function
Authors: Maksaev Grigory , Shoots Jennette M. , Ohri Simran , Haswell Elizabeth S. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractMechanosensitive (MS) ion channels provide a universal mechanism for sensing and responding to increased membrane tension. MscS-Like(MSL)10 is a relatively well-studied MS ion channel from Arabidopsis thaliana that is implicated in cell death signaling. The relationship between the amino acid sequence of MSL10 and its conductance, gating tension, and opening and closing kinetics remain unstudied. Here we identify several nonpolar residues in the presumptive pore-lining transmembrane helix of MSL10 (TM6) that contribute to these basic channel properties. F553 and I554 are essential for wild type channel conductance and the stability of the open state. G556, a glycine residue located at a predicted kink in TM6, is essential for channel conductance. The increased tension sensitivity of MSL10 compared to close homolog MSL8 may be attributed to F563, but other channel characteristics appear to be dictated by more global differences in structure. Finally, MSL10 F553V and MSL10 G556V provided the necessary tools to establish that MSL10’s ability to trigger cell death is independent of its ion channel function.
Crisis history tellers matter
Authors: Eaddy LaShonda Louallen , Jin Yan 
Published: February 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore crisis history further. The paper also examines the possible impact of information source on publics’ perceptions. The study seeks to expound on the tenets of the situational crisis communication theory (SCCT), particularly the underutilized crisis history component.

Design/methodology/approach
The study used a 3 × 3 between-subjects experiment design to examine the effects of crisis history and information source on publics’ crisis emotions, perception of crisis responsibility, control, and organizational reputation. Participants were 174 undergraduate students from a large Southeastern university.

Findings
The study’s findings suggest that an organization’s crisis history by the media can increase publics’ perceived organizational control (referred to as personal control) in a crisis situation. However, negative crisis history told by the media can evoke more severe public anger in a crisis. A positive crisis history still could lead to negative perceptions.

Research limitations/implications
The study uses a fictional crisis scenario that may not evoke the same emotions or perceptions as an actual crisis.

Practical implications
Crisis communicators concerned with angry publics should focus less on traditional media relations and more on new media to reach other gatekeepers; or focus more heavily on media strategy since the media is more likely to elicit more anger among publics. Furthermore, a positive crisis history does not give organizations a pass in current crises.

Originality/value
Although the SCCT identifies crisis history as an intensifier of attribution of responsibility, few studies have examined crisis history.
Communicative management of tensions by MSIs for water resilience
Authors: Mitra Rahul 
Published: February 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to undertake a comparative case study (Stake, 2006) of two multi-stakeholder initiatives (MSIs) building resilient water systems to address how they communicatively frame and manage key tensions. “Glacier” is the North American convener of an MSI focused on developing reliable and measurable standards of water stewardship in catchment areas around the world. “Delta” convenes a MSI centered on the water economy, with the goal to connect and help diverse organizations around “the business of water.”Design/methodology/approachQualitative data were analyzed using Tracy’s (2013) pragmatic-iterative method, which envisions ongoing cycles of theme generation and refinement, and draws on both induction and deduction to identity and sort themes. The “reflexive circular process” it involves helped trace how tensional poles were framed and managed.FindingsFor Glacier, the key tensions were: creating new and distinct standards while reiterating extant measures; collective decision making although privileging corporate interests; and fixed impact performance that is nevertheless fluid. Delta also displayed three tensions: focus on the ecological issue connecting the MSI or partner benefits; broader ethics of water stewardshipvis-à-vislocal considerations; and avowing a bipartisan agenda although politics remained central to its everyday work.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper underlines how communicative framing and management of tensions are key to developing resilience for socioecological systems. It highlights how traditional organizational boundaries and collectives are disrupted in seeking resource system resilience, and suggests that texts and conversations might emphasize tensions differently.Practical implicationsFirst, MSI conveners and members working for resource system resilience should use visioning exercises to see how tensional poles might be dialectical, rather than focus on stark differences. Second, ongoing dialogue and evaluation can help trace alternative tension frames. Third, since context and MSI purpose matter in framing tensions, practitioners should be careful while transferring lessons learned across MSIs.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to resilience scholarship by underlining how the communicative management of tensions is vital to developing adaptive complexity and learning capabilities within broader socioecological systems – especially with MSIs working on complex wicked problems.
Why are you watching? Video surveillance in organizations
Authors: Hagen Christina S. , Bighash Leila , Hollingshead Andrea B. , Shaikh Sonia Jawaid , Alexander Kristen S. 
Published: February 2018

Purpose
Organizations and their actors are increasingly using video surveillance to monitor organizational members, employees, clients, and customers. The use of such technologies in workplaces creates a virtual panopticon and increases uncertainty for those under surveillance. Video surveillance in organizations poses several concerns for the privacy of individuals and creates a security-privacy dilemma for organizations to address. The purpose of this paper is to offer a decision-making model that ties in ethical considerations of access, equality, and transparency at four stages of video surveillance use in organizations: deployment of cameras and equipment, capturing footage, processing and storing data, and editing and sharing video footage. At each stage, organizational actors should clearly identify the purpose for video surveillance, adopt a minimum capability necessary to achieve their goals, and communicate decisions made and actions taken that involve video surveillance in order to reduce uncertainty and address privacy concerns of those being surveilled.

Design/methodology/approach
The paper proposes a normative model for ethical video surveillance organizational decision making based on a review of relevant literature and recent events.

Findings
The paper provides several implications for the future of dealing with security-privacy dilemmas in organizations and offers structured considerations for corporation leaders and decision makers.

Practical implications
The paper includes implications for organizations to approach video surveillance with ethical considerations for stakeholder privacy while balancing security demands.

Originality/value
This paper offers a framework for decision-makers that also offers opportunities for further research around the concept of ethics in organizational video surveillance.
Trends and effects of pharmaceutical DTCA
Authors: Preechavuthinant Sathorn , Willis William , Coustasse Alberto 
Published: February 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the current trend of pharmaceutical direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) in the USA and its effect to patients, physicians and drug utilization. The DTCA of pharmaceutical firms is defined as an attempt of pharmaceutical companies to advertise product directly to patients.

Design/methodology/approach
The methodology used is literature review complemented with a semi-structured interview.

Findings
Pharmaceutical DTCA showed a reduction in total spending, whereas the online channel experienced growth. DTCA affected the physician–patient relationship and patient satisfaction. Patients who received medication associated with DTCA showed higher satisfaction. DTCA of second-line drugs resulted in an increase of first-line drug utilization. Benefits of pharmaceutical DTCA include enhancing appropriate drug utilization and increasing awareness. DTCA might cause harm by interfering with physician’s decisions regarding drug choice.

Research limitations/implications
Limitations include limited available information of DTCA spending from pharmaceutical companies and lack of quantitative data on the effect of pharmaceutical DTCA. In addition, DTCA is sometimes affected by research bias.

Practical implications
Improvement in the physician–patient relationship and patient satisfaction, as well as in the quality of care provided may be demonstrated.

Social implications
Pharmaceutical firms using DTCA marketing advertisement methodologies can increase awareness of underdiagnosed conditions and affect medication costs and the utilization of appropriate drug utilization.

Originality/value
Review highlights current relationships between DTCA, patients, physicians and drug utilization to explore the effects DTCA on consumers.
Smart phone addiction and mindfulness: an intergenerational comparison
Authors: Kim Kaeun , Milne George R. , Bahl Shalini 
Published: February 2018

Purpose
Young consumers are particularly vulnerable to the addictive nature of smart phone technology. This paper aims to investigate the smart phone addiction cycle and health outcomes of young and old consumers from the lens of consumers’ mindfulness traits.

Design/methodology/approach
Qualitative and quantitative studies reveal that the lack of mindfulness, measured as a mindless trait, is strongly associated with smart phone addictions and health and quality of life outcomes.

Findings
Differences in mindlessness and smart phone-generated health outcomes are found between younger and older consumers. The negative impact of mindlessness on quality of life was greater for younger adults than older adults.

Research limitations/implications
This research establishes baseline effects between the mindless trait and smart phone addiction levels.

Practical implications
Paper suggests the marketing of mindfulness programs and the use of marketplace apps to combat addiction issues.

Social implications
Smart phone addiction is a growing problem, and this paper contributes to the understanding of the problem and offers societal solutions for its resolution.

Originality/value
This is the first empirical paper to investigate the connection between a mindless trait and smart phone tendencies and resulting health outcomes.
Brand equity and the role of emergency medical care service quality of private cardiac institutes
Authors: Altaf Mohsin , Tabassum Nageena , Mokhtar Sany Sanuri Mohd 
Published: February 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of health-care quality of emergency medical services on brand equity of cardiac institutes by using industry-specific measure, 5Qs model of health-care service quality (HCSQ).

Design/methodology/approach
Survey method technique has been used to collect data from the patients availing emergency medical services from 12 cardiac institutes. Effective responses have been received from 393 patients from four localities. Systematic sampling technique has been used to collect data from the respondents. Partial least square structural equation modeling using smartPLS 2.0 has been used to analyze the results.

Findings
Findings of the study reveal that HCSQ has weak relationship with hospital brand loyalty but strong relationship with brand image and brand awareness. Furthermore, brand awareness and brand image have strong relationship with brand loyalty. Furthermore, brand image and brand loyalty have strong relationship with overall hospital brand equity but found nonsignificant relationship of brad awareness with overall hospital brand equity.

Originality/value
The principal contribution of the paper is to provide the insight on the impact of emergency HCSQ on brand equity of the private cardiac hospitals. Second, this study is first in branding literature that has used industry-specific scale 5Qs model to measure the service quality of emergency medical care and its impact on private sector cardiac hospital’s brand equity. Previously researchers used generic scales that were insufficient to measure the service quality of specialized industries (Babakus and Mangold, 1992; Carman, 1990; Caro and Garcia, 2007).