bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Performance Implications of IJV Boards: A Contingency Perspective
Authors: Klijn Elko , Reuer Jeffrey J. , Van den Bosch Frans A. J. , Volberda Henk W. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractThis study draws from the corporate governance literature to investigate the implications of board involvement for international joint ventures (IJVs). We extend recent corporate governance research on the value of board involvement by investigating unique sources of complexity related to the nature of the IJV. We argue and find that board involvement can enhance the performance of IJVs, particularly for collaborations that are complex in nature due to their broad functional scope as well the level of market overlap between IJV parents. We complement recent research on joint venture control that has focused on the antecedents and types of control, as well as studies on formal (e.g. contractual safeguards and monitoring) and informal governance mechanisms (e.g. trust) by providing empirical evidence that IJV board involvement is valuable when directors undertake their control and coordination responsibilities. We advance corporate governance research by providing evidence that joint ventures possess several unique characteristics that shape the value of board involvement, thereby showing that applications of corporate governance theory to joint ventures are useful, but should be made with care.
Indocyanine green plasma disappearance rate: a new tool for the classification of paediatric patients with acute liver failure
Authors: Quintero Jesús , Miserachs Mar , Ortega Juan , Bueno Javier , Dopazo Cristina , Bilbao Itxarone , Castells Lluis , Charco Ramon 
Published: August 2013

AbstractBackground & AimsPediatric acute liver failure is a rare disorder which results in death or the need for liver transplantation in 25–50% of cases. The adults scores are unable to predict survival without liver transplantation of pediatric patients. The present study assessed the use the of indocyanine green plasma disappearance rate as a tool to predict the evolution of pediatric patients with acute liver failure.Patients and MethodsAll patients met the criteria of acute liver failure according to the Pediatric Acute Liver Failure Study Group. King's College, Clichy's criteria and ICG‐PDR were obtained on admission or when acute liver failure was diagnosed and repeated every 12–24 hours, respectively.ResultsThirteen out of 48 patients suffered an irreversible liver damage. Seven of them underwent a liver transplantation and 6 died on the waiting. A total of 154 ICG‐PDR measurements were taken during the study (Median 12.4 %/min, r:6.2 – 26.3). The ICG‐PDR was significantly lower in patients who suffered irreversible liver damage compared with those who survived without liver transplantation (median ICG‐PDR 4.1 %/min; r:4.0 – 5.7 vs median ICG‐PDR 20.3 %/min; r: 9.1 ‐ 30.1; respectively. P < 0.001). Using a ROC curve the cutoff of ICG‐PDR for assessing the need for liver transplantation was set at 5.9 %/min (sensitivity 92.3%, specificity 97.1%). Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and DA for ICG‐PDR were higher than the King's College and Clichy's criteria.ConclusionsICG‐PDR is a powerful tool that would improve the categorization of patients with pediatric acute liver failure.
A comparison of pedigree‐ and DNA‐based measures for identifying inbreeding depression in the critically endangered Attwater's Prairie‐chicken
Authors: Hammerly Susan C. , Morrow Michael E. , Johnson Jeff A. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractThe primary goal of captive breeding programmes for endangered species is to prevent extinction, a component of which includes the preservation of genetic diversity and avoidance of inbreeding. This is typically accomplished by minimizing mean kinship in the population, thereby maintaining equal representation of the genetic founders used to initiate the captive population. If errors in the pedigree do exist, such an approach becomes less effective for minimizing inbreeding depression. In this study, both pedigree‐ and DNA‐based methods were used to assess whether inbreeding depression existed in the captive population of the critically endangered Attwater's Prairie‐chicken (Tympanuchus cupido attwateri), a subspecies of prairie grouse that has experienced a significant decline in abundance and concurrent reduction in neutral genetic diversity. When examining the captive population for signs of inbreeding, variation in pedigree‐based inbreeding coefficients (fpedigree) was less than that obtained from DNA‐based methods (fDNA). Mortality of chicks and adults in captivity were also positively correlated with parental relatedness (rDNA) and fDNA, respectively, while no correlation was observed with pedigree‐based measures when controlling for additional variables such as age, breeding facility, gender and captive/release status. Further, individual homozygosity by loci (HL) and parental rDNA values were positively correlated with adult mortality in captivity and the occurrence of a lethal congenital defect in chicks, respectively, suggesting that inbreeding may be a contributing factor increasing the frequency of this condition among Attwater's Prairie‐chickens. This study highlights the importance of using DNA‐based methods to better inform management decisions when pedigrees are incomplete or errors may exist due to uncertainty in pairings.
Triggering sporulation in Bacillus subtilis with artificial two‐component systems reveals the importance of proper Spo0A activation dynamics
Authors: Vishnoi Monika , Narula Jatin , Devi Seram Nganbiton , Dao Hoang‐Anh , Igoshin Oleg A. , Fujita Masaya 
Published: August 2013

SummarySporulation initiation in Bacillus subtilis is controlled by the phosphorylated form of the master regulator Spo0A which controls transcription of a multitude of sporulation genes. In this study, we investigated the importance of temporal dynamics of phosphorylated Spo0A (Spo0A∼P) accumulation by rewiring the network controlling its phosphorylation. We showed that simultaneous induction of KinC, a kinase that can directly phosphorylate Spo0A, and Spo0A itself from separately controlled inducible promoters can efficiently trigger sporulation even under nutrient rich conditions. However, the sporulation efficiency in this artificial two‐component system was significantly impaired when KinC and/or Spo0A induction was too high. Using mathematical modelling, we showed that gradual accumulation of Spo0A∼P is essential for the proper temporal order of the Spo0A regulon expression, and that reduction in sporulation efficiency results from the reversal of that order. These insights led us to identify premature repression of DivIVA as one possible explanation for the adverse effects of accelerated accumulation of Spo0A∼P on sporulation. Moreover, we found that positive feedback resulting from autoregulation of the native spo0A promoter leads to robust control of Spo0A∼P accumulation kinetics. Thus we propose that a major function of the conserved architecture of the sporulation network is controlling Spo0A activation dynamics.
Induced ectopic expression of HigB toxin in Mycobacterium tuberculosis results in growth inhibition, reduced abundance of a subset of mRNAs and cleavage of tmRNA
Authors: Schuessler Dorothée L. , Cortes Teresa , Fivian‐Hughes Amanda S. , Lougheed Kathryn E. A. , Harvey Evelyn , Buxton Roger S. , Davis Elaine O. , Young Douglas B. 
Published: August 2013

SummaryIn Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the genes Rv1954A–Rv1957 form an operon that includes Rv1955 and Rv1956 which encode the HigB toxin and the HigA antitoxin respectively. We are interested in the role and regulation of this operon, since toxin–antitoxin systems have been suggested to play a part in the formation of persister cells in mycobacteria. To investigate the function of the higBA locus, effects of toxin expression on mycobacterial growth and transcript levels were assessed in M. tuberculosis H37Rv wild type and in an operon deletion background. We show that expression of HigB toxin in the absence of HigA antitoxin arrests growth and causes cell death in M. tuberculosis. We demonstrate HigB expression to reduce the abundance of IdeR and Zur regulated mRNAs and to cleave tmRNA in M. tuberculosis, Escherichia coli and Mycobacterium smegmatis. This study provides the first identification of possible target transcripts of HigB in M. tuberculosis.
Carbohydrate‐binding agents act as potent trypanocidals that elicit modifications in VSG glycosylation and reduced virulence in Trypanosoma brucei
Authors: Castillo‐Acosta Víctor M. , Vidal Antonio E. , Ruiz‐Pérez Luis M. , Van Damme Els J. M. , Igarashi Yasuhiro , Balzarini Jan , González‐Pacanowska Dolores 
Published: August 2013

SummaryThe surface of Trypanosoma brucei is covered by a dense coat of glycosylphosphatidylinositol‐anchored glycoproteins. The major component is the variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) which is glycosylated by both paucimannose and oligomannose N‐glycans. Surface glycans are poorly accessible and killing mediated by peptide lectin–VSG complexes is hindered by active endocytosis. However, contrary to previous observations, here we show that high‐affinity carbohydrate binding agents bind to surface glycoproteins and abrogate growth of T. brucei bloodstream forms. Specifically, binding of the mannose‐specific Hippeastrum hybrid agglutinin (HHA) resulted in profound perturbations in endocytosis and parasite lysis. Prolonged exposure to HHA led to the loss of triantennary oligomannose structures in surface glycoproteins as a result of genetic rearrangements that abolished expression of the oligosaccharyltransferase TbSTT3B gene and yielded novel chimeric enzymes. Mutant parasites exhibited markedly reduced infectivity thus demonstrating the importance of specific glycosylation patterns in parasite virulence.
Oligomerization of the chitin synthase Chs3 is monitored at the Golgi and affects its endocytic recycling
Authors: Sacristan Carlos , Manzano‐Lopez Javier , Reyes Abigail , Spang Anne , Muñiz Manuel , Roncero Cesar 
Published: August 2013

SummaryChs3, the catalytic subunit of chitin synthase III in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is a complex polytopic membrane protein whose plasma membrane expression is tightly controlled: export from the ER requires interaction with Chs7; exit from the Golgi is dependent on the exomer complex, and precise bud neck localization relies on endocytosis. Moreover, Chs3 is efficiently recycled from endosomes to the TGN in an AP‐1‐dependent manner. Here we show that the export of Chs3 requires the cargo receptor Erv14, in a step that is independent of Chs7. Chs3 oligomerized in the ER through its N‐terminal cytosolic region. However, the truncated Δ126Chs3 was still exported by Erv14, but was sent back from the Golgi to the ER in a COPI‐ and Rer1‐dependent manner. A subset of the oligomerization‐deficient Chs3 proteins evaded Golgi quality control and reached the plasma membrane, where they were enzymatically active but poorly endocytosed. This resulted in high CSIII levels, but calcofluor white resistance, explained by the reduced intercalation of calcofluor white between nascent chitin fibres. Our data show that the oligomerization of Chs3 through its N‐terminus is essential for proper protein trafficking and chitin synthesis and is therefore monitored intracellularly.
The crystal structure of the cell division amidase AmiC reveals the fold of the AMIN domain, a new peptidoglycan binding domain
Authors: Rocaboy Mathieu , Herman Raphael , Sauvage Eric , Remaut Han , Moonens Kristof , Terrak Mohammed , Charlier Paulette , Kerff Frederic 
Published: August 2013

SummaryBinary fission is the ultimate step of the prokaryotic cell cycle. In Gram‐negative bacteria like Escherichia coli, this step implies the invagination of three biological layers (cytoplasmic membrane, peptidoglycan and outer membrane), biosynthesis of the new poles and eventually, daughter cells separation. The latter requires the coordinated action of the N‐acetylmuramyl‐L‐alanine amidases AmiA/B/C and their LytM activators EnvC and NlpD to cleave the septal peptidoglycan. We present here the 2.5 Å crystal structure of AmiC which includes the first report of an AMIN domain structure, a β‐sandwich of two symmetrical four‐stranded β‐sheets exposing highly conserved motifs on the two outer faces. We show that this N‐terminal domain, involved in the localization of AmiC at the division site, is a new peptidoglycan‐binding domain. The C‐terminal catalytic domain shows an auto‐inhibitory alpha helix obstructing the active site. AmiC lacking this helix exhibits by itself an activity comparable to that of the wild type AmiC activated by NlpD. We also demonstrate the interaction between AmiC and NlpD by microscale thermophoresis and confirm the importance of the active site blocking alpha helix in the regulation of the amidase activity.
Cytomegalovirus & Epstein Barr Virus serostatus as a predictor of the long‐term outcome of kidney transplantation
Authors: Le Page Amelia K , Mackie Fiona E , McTaggart Steven J , Kennedy Sean E 
Published: August 2013

AbstractAimCytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) disease and asymptomatic infection have been associated with poor outcomes in kidney transplantation. Recipients who acquire primary infection through transplantation from a seropositive donor may be at particular risk of complications. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between donor/recipient (D/R) CMV and EBV serostatus pretransplant and allograft and patient survival in a large cohort of kidney transplant recipients.MethodsData were obtained from the Australian and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry and the Australian and New Zealand Organ Donation Registry on 4516 first deceased donor kidney transplants performed between 1998 and 2010. Graft and patient survival were analysed using the Kaplan–Meier method.ResultsPretransplant CMV D/R serostatus was available for the whole cohort, with EBV D/R serostatus available for 2566 transplants (56.8%). Serostatus for both viruses was significantly associated with donor and recipient age and recipient smoking status. For both viruses the majority of transplants were in a D+/R+ serostatus setting: 45.3% for CMV and 77.9% for EBV. D/R serostatus for either virus did not have a significant effect on graft or patient survival.ConclusionWe conclude that in the current era of viral prophylaxis and surveillance, long‐term outcome for the kidney transplant population is unaffected by D/R CMV and EBV serostatus.
Assessing the Applicability of Singlet Oxygen Photosensitizers in Leaf Studies
Authors: Kovács László , Ayaydin Ferhan , Kálai Tamás , Tandori Júlia , Kós Péter B. , Hideg Éva 
Published: August 2013

AbstractSinglet oxygen (1O2) is of special interest in plant stress physiology. Studies focused on internal, chlorophyll‐mediated production are often complemented with the use of artificial 1O2 photosensitizers. Here, we report a comparative study on the effects of Rose Bengal (RB), Methylene Violet (MVI), Neutral Red (NR) and Indigo Carmine (IC). These were infiltrated into tobacco leaves at concentrations generating the same fluxes of 1O2 in solution. Following green light‐induced 1O2 production from these dyes, leaf photosynthesis was characterized by Photosystem (PS) II and PSI electron transport and oxidative damage was monitored as degradation of D1, a PSII core protein. Cellular localizations were identified on the basis of the dyes’ fluorescence using confocal laser scanning microscopy. We found that RB and NR were both localized in chloroplasts but the latter had very little effect, probably due to its pH‐dependent photosensitizing. Both RB and intracellular, nonplastid MVI decreased PSII electron transport, but the effect of RB was stronger than that of MVI and only RB was capable of damaging the D1 protein. Intercellularly localized IC had no significant effect. Our results also suggest caution when using RB as photosensitizer because it affects PSII electron transport.
Increased symplasmic permeability in barley root epidermal cells correlates with defects in root hair development
Authors: Marzec M. , Muszynska A. , Melzer M. , Sas‐Nowosielska H. , Kurczynska E. U. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractIt is well known that the process of plant cell differentiation depends on the symplasmic isolation of cells. Before starting the differentiation programme, the individual cell or group of cells should restrict symplasmic communication with neighbouring cells. We tested the symplasmic communication between epidermal cells in the different root zones of parental barley plants Hordeum vulgare L., cv. ‘Karat’ with normal root hair development, and two root hairless mutants (rhl1.a and rhl1.b). The results clearly show that symplasmic communication was limited during root hair differentiation in the parental variety, whereas in both root hairless mutants epidermal cells were still symplasmically connected in the corresponding root zone. This paper is the first report on the role of symplasmic isolation in barley root cell differentiation, and additionally shows that a disturbance in the restriction of symplasmic communication is present in root hairless mutants.
The Transgenerational Consequences of Discrimination on African‐American Health Outcomes
Authors: Goosby Bridget J. , Heidbrink Chelsea 
Published: August 2013

AbstractDisparities in African American health remain pervasive and persist ransgenerationally. There is a growing consensus that both structural and interpersonal racial discrimination are key mechanisms affecting African American health. The Biopsychosocial Model of Racism as a Stressor posits that the persistent stress of experiencing discrimination take a physical toll on the health of African Americans and is ultimately manifested in the onset of illness. However, the degree to which the health consequences of racism and discrimination can be passed down from one generation to the next is an important avenue of exploration. In this review, we discuss and link literature across disciplines demonstrating the harmful impact of racism on African American physical health and the health of their offspring.
Gender and Multigenerational Global Human Development
Authors: Reid Julie A. , Shams Tahseen 
Published: August 2013

AbstractIn the context of a growing campaign to focus more international development efforts on women and girls, this article presents a pathways model of multigenerational global human development through an examination of gender and women as agents of development in the context of motherhood. As the vast majority of the world's women are mothers, issues related to motherhood are fundamental to addressing gender and development. Based on the United Nations' concept of human development and a review of the literature, we explore how women are uniquely effective development agents in that increases in women's access to income, education, and health often have higher potential payoffs compared with men in terms of the next generation and beyond. A human development paradigm that does not fully include women is both an injustice to half of the world's population and a missed opportunity for maximizing human development for both men and women in generations to come. Gender and development policies must consider the enhancement of human capacities for long‐term improved quality of life, and they must address structural barriers to equality to not only allow women more opportunities in the public sphere but also to transform gender relations in the domestic sphere.
‘Universal’ spray droplet adhesion model – accounting for hairy leaves
Authors: Nairn J J , Forster W A , van Leeuwen R M 
Published: August 2013

SummaryThe adhesion of a spray droplet upon initial contact with a leaf surface is extremely important to spray efficacy and is dependent on dynamic interactions between droplets (formulation, size, velocity) and leaf (micro‐topography, surface chemistry, veininess, hairiness and orientation). A ‘universal’ spray droplet adhesion model has previously been developed, using 50% aqueous acetone contact angles as a measure of leaf surface properties; this model satisfactorily predicts initial adhesion over a range of formulation surface tensions, droplet sizes and velocities. However, it failed to fit data from hairier leaves. This study investigates initial spray droplet adhesion on hairy leaves. Two categories of hairy leaves were identified by how the droplets penetrate the leaf hairs, Wenzel (hairy) and Cassie–Baxter (super hairy). For the Wenzel‐type, a simple constant accounted for the increased droplet shatter caused by the hairs. For the Cassie–Baxter‐type, a cushioning factor was introduced to account for the absorption of kinetic energy at impact by the hair mat. The cushioning factor was estimated by measuring the relative height of the hair mat. By including these two parameters, the new model successfully predicted the mean adhesion of non‐hairy, hairy and super‐hairy plants (R2 = 0.96). This model and the underlying principles determining hairy leaf adhesion developed in this article will help develop spray formulations effective at targeting hairy‐leaved weed and crop species.
Detrimental dermal wound healing: What can we learn from the oral mucosa?
Authors: Glim Judith E. , van Egmond Marjolein , Niessen Frank B. , Everts Vincent , Beelen Robert H. J. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractWounds in adults are frequently accompanied by scar formation. This scar can become fibrotic due to an imbalance between extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis and ECM degradation. Oral mucosal wounds, however, heal in an accelerated fashion, displaying minimal scar formation. The exact mechanisms of scarless oral healing are yet to be revealed. This review highlights possible mechanisms involved in the difference between scar‐forming dermal vs. scarless oral mucosal wound healing. Differences were found in expression of ECM components, such as procollagen I and tenascin‐C. Oral wounds contained fewer immune mediators, blood vessels, and profibrotic mediators but had more bone marrow–derived cells, a higher reepithelialization rate, and faster proliferation of fibroblasts compared with dermal wounds. These results form a basis for further research that should be focused on the relations among ECM, immune cells, growth factors, and fibroblast phenotypes, as understanding scarless oral mucosal healing may ultimately lead to novel therapeutic strategies to prevent fibrotic scars.
Development of a novel ex vivo porcine skin explant model for the assessment of mature bacterial biofilms
Authors: Yang Qingping , Phillips Priscilla L. , Sampson Edith M. , Progulske‐Fox Ann , Jin Shouguang , Antonelli Patrick , Schultz Gregory S. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractBacterial biofilms have been proposed to be a major factor contributing to the failure of chronic wounds to heal because of their increased tolerance to antimicrobial agents and the prolonged inflammation they cause. Phenotypic characteristics of bacterial biofilms vary depending on the substratum to which they attach, the nutritional environment, and the microorganisms within the biofilm community. To develop an ex vivo biofilm model that more closely mimics biofilms in chronic skin wounds, we developed an optimal procedure to grow mature biofilms on a central partial‐thickness wound in 12‐mm porcine skin explants. Chlorine gas produced optimal sterilization of explants while preserving histological properties of the epidermis and dermis. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus developed mature biofilms after 3 days that had dramatically increased tolerance to gentamicin and oxacillin (∼100× and 8,000× minimal inhibitory concentration, respectively) and to sodium hypochlorite (0.6% active chlorine). Scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy verified extensive exopolymeric biofilm structures on the explants. Despite a significant delay, a ΔlasI quorum‐sensing mutant of P. aeruginosa developed biofilm as antibiotic‐tolerant as wild‐type after 3 days. This ex vivo model simulates growth of biofilms on skin wounds and provides an accurate model to assess effects of antimicrobial agents on mature biofilms.