bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Stability and welfare effects of profit taxes within an evolutionary market interaction model
Authors: Schmitt Noemi , Tuinstra Jan , Westerhoff Frank 
Published: September 2017

AbstractWe develop a partial equilibrium model in which firms can locate in two separate regions. A firm's decision where to locate in a given period depends on the regions' relative profitability. If firms react strongly to the regions' relative profitability, their market switching behavior generates unstable dynamics. If the goal of policy makers is to stabilize these dynamics they can do so by introducing profit taxes that reduce the regions' relative profitability. While stability can already be obtained by imposing profit taxes in one of the two regions, total welfare is maximized if policy makers coordinate their tax setting behavior across regions. However, policy makers only interested in welfare in their own region may have the incentive to decrease their profit tax below this level, thereby attracting more firms and increasing tax revenues, at the cost of instability in both regions.
Corporate governance drivers of firm innovation capacity
Authors: Bobillo Alfredo M. , Rodríguez‐Sanz J.A. , Tejerina‐Gaite F. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractWe investigate the predictive factors of firm innovation capacity (FIC), proxied by intangible assets, as a means towards sustainable competitive advantage in a world of global change and innovation. The primary aim of this paper is to identify the key factors shaping a firm's innovation capacity management style. We use panel data for 1,942 firms (20,171 observations) in Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, United States, and Spain, over the period 1999 to 2014. Our results show that capabilities driven by corporate governance mechanisms currently constitute the pivotal support for firms' innovation capacity (FIC). Our main findings are that corporate governance drivers such as executive incentives (E‐P) and the presence of independent nonexecutive directors (INEDs) have a bearing on FIC. Meanwhile, managerial performance (MP) and institutional shareholder activism (AI) emerge as basic motivational instruments and mechanisms of alignment between firm ownership and control. The influence of incentives and INEDs is found to be negative and that of institutional shareholder activism and MP to be positive. With respect to the business context, we find evidence of higher efficiency in firm disciplinary mechanisms in the Anglo‐American than in the Continental corporate governance model.
Self‐sufficiency in plasma supply – achievable and desirable?
Authors: Flanagan P. 
Published: September 2017

Debate concerning the principle of self‐sufficiency in plasma based on voluntary non‐remunerated donation has been going on for over 40 years. During this period the dependency on the commercial plasma industry has increased considerably. The debate has two main themes. The first focusses on the ethical principles underpinning World Health Assembly resolutions on voluntary non‐remunerated donation and questions relating to donor compensation and the use of incentives in the voluntary sector. The second theme concerns barriers to achieving the goal of self‐sufficiency. The needs of patients and the most effective way to ensure equitable access to sufficient plasma derived medicinal products and issues around security of supply lie at the centre of the debate. Ultimately health authorities will need to carefully balance ethical principles and practical reality in assuring that this is achieved.
Effects of Self-Myofascial Release on Shoulder Function and Perception in Adolescent Tennis Players
Authors: Le Gal Julien , Begon Mickael , Gillet Benoit , Rogowski Isabelle 
Published: September 2017

Context: Tennis induces a decreased internal rotation range of motion at the dominant glenohumeral joint. The effects of self-myofascial release have not yet been investigated to restore glenohumeral range of motion. Objective: This study aimed at investigating the effects of self-myofascial release on shoulder function and perception in adolescent tennis players. Design: Test–retest design. Setting: Tennis training sport facilities. Participants: Eleven male players participated in this study (age: 15 [3] y; height: 173.1 [11.1] cm; mass: 56.0 [15.1] kg; International Tennis Number: 3). Intervention: During 5 weeks, the players performed their regular tennis training. During 5 additional weeks, self-myofascial release of the infraspinatus and pectoralis muscles was implemented 3 times per week after the warm-up of the regular training session. Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome was glenohumeral internal rotation range of motion. The secondary outcomes were perceived shoulder instability and tennis serve accuracy and velocity. Results: Adding self-myofascial release allowed an increase of 11° (2°) of internal rotation range of motion at the dominant glenohumeral joint (P < .001) and a decreased perception of shoulder instability (P = .03), while maintaining tennis serve velocity and accuracy. Conclusions: Implementing self-myofascial release on infraspinatus and pectoralis muscles 3 times per week during 5 weeks improved dominant glenohumeral internal rotation range of motion in tennis players. It can be used as a strategy to preserve the mobility of this joint.
Ebola Virus Binding to Tim-1 on T Lymphocytes Induces a Cytokine Storm
Authors: Younan Patrick , Iampietro Mathieu , Nishida Andrew , Ramanathan Palaniappan , Santos Rodrigo I. , Dutta Mukta , Lubaki Ndongala Michel , Koup Richard A. , Katze Michael G. , Bukreyev Alexander 
Published: September 2017

ABSTRACTEbola virus (EBOV) disease (EVD) results from an exacerbated immunological response that is highlighted by a burst in the production of inflammatory mediators known as a “cytokine storm.” Previous reports have suggested that nonspecific activation of T lymphocytes may play a central role in this phenomenon. T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 1 (Tim-1) has recently been shown to interact with virion-associated phosphatidylserine to promote infection. Here, we demonstrate the central role of Tim-1 in EBOV pathogenesis, as Tim-1−/−mice exhibited increased survival rates and reduced disease severity; surprisingly, only a limited decrease in viremia was detected. Tim-1−/−mice exhibited a modified inflammatory response as evidenced by changes in serum cytokines and activation of T helper subsets. A series ofin vitroassays based on the Tim-1 expression profile on T cells demonstrated that despite the apparent absence of detectable viral replication in T lymphocytes, EBOV directly binds to isolated T lymphocytes in a phosphatidylserine–Tim-1-dependent manner. Exposure to EBOV resulted in the rapid development of a CD4HiCD3Lowpopulation, non-antigen-specific activation, and cytokine production. Transcriptome and Western blot analysis of EBOV-stimulated CD4+T cells confirmed the induction of the Tim-1 signaling pathway. Furthermore, comparative analysis of transcriptome data and cytokine/chemokine analysis of supernatants highlight the similarities associated with EBOV-stimulated T cells and the onset of a cytokine storm. Flow cytometry revealed virtually exclusive binding and activation of central memory CD4+T cells. These findings provide evidence for the role of Tim-1 in the induction of a cytokine storm phenomenon and the pathogenesis of EVD.IMPORTANCEEbola virus infection is characterized by a massive release of inflammatory mediators, which has come to be known as a cytokine storm. The severity of the cytokine storm is consistently linked with fatal disease outcome. Previous findings have demonstrated that specific T-cell subsets are key contributors to the onset of a cytokine storm. In this study, we investigated the role of Tim-1, a T-cell-receptor-independent trigger of T-cell activation. We first demonstrated that Tim-1-knockout (KO) mice survive lethal Ebola virus challenge. We then used a series ofin vitroassays to demonstrate that Ebola virus directly binds primary T cells in a Tim-1–phosphatidylserine-dependent manner. We noted that binding induces a cytokine storm-like phenomenon and that blocking Tim-1–phosphatidylserine interactions reduces viral binding, T-cell activation, and cytokine production. These findings highlight a previously unknown role of Tim-1 in the development of a cytokine storm and “immune paralysis.”
Mutations Located outside the Integrase Gene Can Confer Resistance to HIV-1 Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitors
Authors: Malet Isabelle , Subra Frédéric , Charpentier Charlotte , Collin Gilles , Descamps Diane , Calvez Vincent , Marcelin Anne-Geneviève , Delelis Olivier 
Published: September 2017

ABSTRACTResistance to the integrase strand transfer inhibitors raltegravir and elvitegravir is often due to well-identified mutations in the integrase gene. However, the situation is less clear for patients who fail dolutegravir treatment. Furthermore, mostin vitroexperiments to select resistance to dolutegravir have resulted in few mutations of the integrase gene. We performed anin vitrodolutegravir resistance selection experiment by using a breakthrough method. First, MT4 cells were infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Lai. After integration into the host cell genome, cells were washed to remove unbound virus and 500 nM dolutegravir was added to the cell medium. This high concentration of the drug was maintained throughout selection. At day 80, we detected a virus highly resistant to dolutegravir, raltegravir, and elvitegravir that remained susceptible to zidovudine. Sequencing of the virus showed no mutations in the integrase gene but highlighted the emergence of five mutations, all located in thenefregion, of which four were clustered in the 3′ polypurine tract (PPT). Mutations selectedin vitroby dolutegravir, located outside the integrase gene, can confer a high level of resistance to all integrase inhibitors. Thus, HIV-1 can use an alternative mechanism to develop resistance to integrase inhibitors by selecting mutations in the 3′ PPT region. Further studies are required to determine to what extent these mutations may explain virological failure during integrase inhibitor therapy.IMPORTANCEIntegrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) are increasingly used both as first-line drugs and in rescue therapy because of their low toxicity and high efficacy in both treatment-naive and treatment-experienced patients. Until now, resistance mutations selected by INSTI exposure have either been described in patients or selectedin vitroand involve the integrase gene. Most mutations selected by raltegravir, elvitegravir, or dolutegravir exposure are located inside the catalytic site of the integrase gene, but mutations outside the catalytic site of the integrase gene have also been selected with dolutegravir. Followingin vitroselection with dolutegravir, we report, for the first time, a virus with selected mutations outside the HIV-1 integrase gene that confer resistance to all integrase inhibitors currently used to treat patients, such as raltegravir, elvitegravir, and dolutegravir. Our observation may explain why some viruses responsible for virological failure in patients treated with dolutegravir did not show mutations in the integrase gene.
A Novel, Extremely Elongated, and Endocellular Bacterial Symbiont Supports Cuticle Formation of a Grain Pest Beetle
Authors: Hirota Bin , Okude Genta , Anbutsu Hisashi , Futahashi Ryo , Moriyama Minoru , Meng Xian-Ying , Nikoh Naruo , Koga Ryuichi , Fukatsu Takema 
Published: September 2017

ABSTRACT

The saw-toothed grain beetle,
Oryzaephilus surinamensis
(Silvanidae), is a cosmopolitan stored-product pest. Early studies on
O. surinamensis
in the 1930s described the presence of peculiar bacteriomes harboring endosymbiotic bacteria in the abdomen. Since then, however, the microbiological nature of the symbiont has been elusive. Here we investigated the endosymbiotic system of
O. surinamensis
in detail. In the abdomen of adults, pupae, and larvae, four oval bacteriomes were consistently identified, whose cytoplasm was full of extremely elongated tubular bacterial cells several micrometers wide and several hundred micrometers long. Molecular phylogenetic analysis identified the symbiont as a member of the
Bacteroidetes
, in which the symbiont was the most closely related to the endosymbiont of a grain pest beetle,
Rhyzopertha dominica
(Bostrichidae). The symbiont was detected in developing embryos, corroborating vertical symbiont transmission through host generations. The symbiont gene showed AT-biased nucleotide composition and accelerated molecular evolution, plausibly reflecting degenerative evolution of the symbiont genome. When the symbiont infection was experimentally removed, the aposymbiotic insects grew and reproduced normally, but exhibited a slightly but significantly more reddish cuticle and lighter body mass. These results indicate that the symbiont of
O. surinamensis
is not essential for the host’s growth and reproduction but contributes to the host’s cuticle formation. Symbiont genome sequencing and detailed comparison of fitness parameters between symbiotic and aposymbiotic insects under various environmental conditions will provide further insights into the symbiont’s biological roles for the stored-product pest.

IMPORTANCE
Some beetles notorious as stored-product pests possess well-developed symbiotic organs called bacteriomes for harboring specific symbiotic bacteria, although their biological roles have been poorly understood. Here we report a peculiar endosymbiotic system of a grain pest beetle,
Oryzaephilus surinamensis
, in which four oval bacteriomes in the abdomen are full of extremely elongated tubular bacterial cells. Experimental symbiont elimination did not hinder the host’s growth and reproduction, but resulted in emergence of reddish beetles, uncovering the symbiont’s involvement in host’s cuticle formation. We speculate that the extremely elongated symbiont cell morphology might be due to the degenerative symbiont genome deficient in bacterial cell division and/or cell wall formation, which highlights an evolutionary consequence of intimate host-symbiont coevolution.
Support Science by Publishing in Scientific Society Journals
Authors: Schloss Patrick D. , Johnston Mark , Casadevall Arturo 
Published: September 2017

ABSTRACT
Scientific societies provide numerous services to the scientific enterprise, including convening meetings, publishing journals, developing scientific programs, advocating for science, promoting education, providing cohesion and direction for the discipline, and more. For most scientific societies, publishing provides revenues that support these important activities. In recent decades, the proportion of papers on microbiology published in scientific society journals has declined. This is largely due to two competing pressures: authors’ drive to publish in “glam journals”—those with high journal impact factors—and the availability of “mega journals,” which offer speedy publication of articles regardless of their potential impact. The decline in submissions to scientific society journals and the lack of enthusiasm on the part of many scientists to publish in them should be matters of serious concern to all scientists because they impact the service that scientific societies can provide to their members and to science.
Results from a retrospective analysis of colonoscopies for Inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer in a Lebanese tertiary care centre
Authors: Saber Toufic , Bedran Khalil , Ghandour Fatima , El Khoury Mansour , Bou Khalil Roula , Farhat Said 
Published: September 2017

Background and aimsInflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) and colorectal cancer have an increased impact on the Lebanese population’s morbidity and mortality. This study evaluated the situation of IBD and colorectal cancer at a tertiary hospital centre in Lebanon.Methods1007 patients underwent colonoscopy over a period of 12 months by qualified physicians. 91 patients were excluded from the study. Biopsy results were divided into normal versus abnormal colonic tissue. The abnormal section was further subdivided into number of polyps, IBD, dysplasia and cancer.ResultsOut of 916 individuals included, 61 cases of Crohn’s colitis (CC) (6.7%) and 24 cases of ulcerative colitis (UC) (2.7%) were identified. A total of 92 cases of colorectal cancer (10.04%) were also identified. There was a slight male predominance in both groups of IBD without any statistical significance. One statistical significance was reported in favour to age<50 years in both IBD groups with a mean age of 37.9±9.7 years and 34.4±6.4 years for CC and UC, respectively. The incidence of granuloma in the CC group was 8.9% without any correlation compared with age or gender. No correlation was made between colorectal cancer and the existence of any IBD type. The data showed that age >50 years and male gender significantly correlate with an increased incidence of precancerous and cancerous polyps in the colon. They significantly correlate with adenocarcinoma. The estimated incidence of colorectal cancer, CC and UC was 54.1, 35.8 and 14.1 per 100 000, respectively, with a denominator of 169 959 patients per year.ConclusionWithin the limitations of this study, the incidence of colorectal cancer and IBD falls in the high range compared with similar European and American studies. Our data are biased because of the tertiary centre setting but they can be considered as base for further investigations.
Affordability of comprehensive community health worker programmes in rural sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Taylor Celia , Griffiths Frances , Lilford Richard 
Published: September 2017

IntroductionCommunity health worker (CHW) programmes have low costs per person served and are central to achieving universal healthcare. However, their total cost is high and the target of one million CHWs for sub-Saharan Africa by 2015 was not met. We consider the affordability of rural CHW programmes by estimating total programme costs relative to national healthcare expenditure at different CHW salaries and resources available for healthcare.MethodsWe combine an existing source of rural CHW programme costs with World Bank data to estimate relative CHW programme costs in 37 countries. We consider three ‘salaries’ (CHWs as volunteers, paid the local equivalent of US$80 per month and paid the national minimum wage) and four potential healthcare budgets (both actual and Abuja declaration allocations alone and increased by external funding received and potential foreign aid, respectively). Costs are shown in 2012 nominal US$.ResultsWith CHWs paid the local equivalent of US$80 per month and financed from existing central government healthcare budgets, the median relative cost of a CHW programme would be 27% of the healthcare budget. While less than 2.5% in five countries (Botswana, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Namibia and South Africa), this relative cost would exceed 100% in three (Chad, Eritrea and Niger). There is a strong negative linear relationship (R2=0.83, p<0.001) between the natural logs of gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and affordability. In 23 countries with GDP per capita under US$1200, the cost of a CHW programme would exceed 12% of actual healthcare spending if CHWs were paid US$80 per month.ConclusionCHWs may be a stepping stone to universal access to professional healthcare, but there is high variability in the affordability of CHW programmes across sub-Saharan Africa. In many countries, such programmes are not yet affordable unless significant foreign aid is received.
Prevalence and risk factors of epiretinal membranes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of population-based studies
Authors: Xiao Wei , Chen Xiaoyun , Yan William , Zhu Zhuoting , He Mingguang 
Published: September 2017

ObjectiveThis study was to aggregate the prevalence and risks of epiretinal membranes (ERMs) and determine the possible causes of the varied estimates.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.Data sourcesThe search strategy was designed prospectively. We searched PubMed, Embase and Web of Science databases from inception to July 2016. Reference lists of the included literatures were reviewed as well.Study selectionSurveys published in English language from any population were included if they had a population-based design and reported the prevalence of ERM from retinal photography with or without optical coherence tomography. Eligibility and quality evaluation was conducted independently by two investigators.Data extractionThe literature search generated 2144 records, and 13 population-based studies comprising 49 697 subjects were finally included. The prevalence of ERM and the ORs of potential risk factors (age, sex, myopia, hypertension and so on) were extracted.ResultsThe pooled age-standardised prevalence estimates of earlier ERM (cellophane macular reflex (CMR)), advanced ERM (preretinal macular fibrosis (PMF)) and any ERM were 6.5% (95% CI 4.2% to 8.9%), 2.6% (95% CI 1.8% to 3.4%) and 9.1% (95% CI 6.0% to 12.2%), respectively. In the subgroup analysis, race and photography modality contributed to the variation in the prevalence estimates of PMF, while the WHO regions and image reading methods were associated with the varied prevalence of CMR and any ERM. Meta-analysis showed that only greater age and female significantly conferred a higher risk of ERMs.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that ERMs are relatively common among aged population. Race, image taking and reading methodology may play important roles in influencing the large variability of ERM prevalence estimates.
Effects of a workplace prevention programme for problem gambling: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial
Authors: Rafi Jonas , Ivanova Ekaterina , Rozental Alexander , Carlbring Per 
Published: September 2017

IntroductionDespite being considered a public health problem, no prevention programme for problem gambling in workplace settings has been scientifically evaluated. This study aims to fill a critical gap in the field of problem gambling by implementing and evaluating a large-scale prevention programme in organisations.Methods and analysisTen organisations, with a total of n=549 managers and n=8572 employees, will be randomised to either receiving a prevention programme or to a waitlist control condition. Measurements will be collected at the baseline and 3, 12 and 24 months after intervention. The primary outcome of interest is the managers’ inclination to act when worried or suspicious about an employee’s problem gambling or other harmful use. Additional outcomes of interest include the Problem Gambling Severity Index and gambling habits in both managers and employees. Furthermore, qualitative analyses of the responses from semistructured interviews with managers will be performed.Ethics and disseminationThis study has been approved by the regional ethics board of Stockholm, Sweden, and it will contribute to the body of knowledge concerning prevention of problem gambling. The findings will be published in peer-reviewed, open-access journals.Trial registration numberNCT02925286; Pre-results.