bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The roles of followers: an exploratory study of follower roles in a Swedish context
Authors: Danielsson Erna 
Published: October 2013

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to draw a more nuanced picture of what characterizes followership in an organization.Design/methodology/approach– This exploratory study including seven depth interviews conducted with Swedish armed forces personnel at various levels – both officers and civilians – on what characterizes followers. Additional two group discussions were conducted with employees; one representing followers and one representing middle management.Findings– The paper provides empirical insights about three follower roles – workmate, colleague, and co-worker and how they correspond to individual-related and organization-related categories. The most prominent feature of the role of workmate is work solidarity. The characteristic of the colleague is professional loyalty. Finally, the co-worker is looked upon as exercising leadership by extension.Research limitations/implications– Because of the chosen research approach, the research results may lack generalizability. Researchers are encouraged to test the proposed propositions further, and to further investigate the relationships between other followers’ roles – such as temporary agency worker, flexible worker, and expert.Practical implications– The paper includes implications for the leader-follower relations, first, how management should lead subordinates in an organization. Second, there are ramifications for how followers’ work is best organized. Finally, the paper verifies the importance of individual-related categories, not only between leaders and followers, but also between followers.Originality/value– The paper argues that followers should not only be seen in terms of traits or labels, but as the product of relations within organizations. Followers’ actions are restrained by the frame of their positions. This has an impact on the development of the followers’ roles.
Severity of respiratory signs and symptoms and virus profiles in Japanese children with acute respiratory illness
Authors: Miyaji Yumiko , Kobayashi Miho , Sugai Kazuko , Tsukagoshi Hiroyuki , Niwa Shoichi , Fujitsuka‐Nozawa Asako , Noda Masahiro , Kozawa Kunihisa , Yamazaki Fusae , Mori Masaaki , Yokota Shumpei , Kimura Hirokazu 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACTAssociations between the severity of respiratory signs and symptoms and the respiratory viruses identified in 214 Japanese children with acute respiratory illness (ARI) enrolled between January and December 2012 were studied. Respiratory rate, wheezing, cyanosis, and the use of accessory muscles were used as indices of respiratory severity and phylogenetic analysis of the viruses identified in these children was performed. Respiratory viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human rhinovirus (HRV), human parainfluenza virus (HPIV), and human metapneumovirus (HMPV) were prevalent, being detected in approximately 70% of the patients (151/214 patients). Co‐detection of viruses occurred in about 9% of patients. RSV was identified more frequently in cases scored as moderate/severe than in those scored as mild (P < 0.05). Severity scores of patients with RSV were significantly higher than those of cases with HPIV. Moreover, severity scores in patients with mild disease and co‐detections were higher than in those in whom only HPIV or adenovirus was detected. Phylogenetic analysis showed that many genotypes of HRV‐A and ‐C with wide genetic divergence were associated with acute respiratory illness (ARI). On the other hand, only a limited number of genotypes of RSV were associated with ARI. HPIV and HMPV were associated with ARI at similar frequencies. These results suggest that different respiratory viruses with unique genetic characteristics can be found in patients with mild to severe ARI.
Myricetin suppresses lipoteichoic acid‐induced interleukin‐1β and cyclooxygenase‐2 expression in human gingival fibroblasts
Authors: Gutiérrez‐Venegas Gloria , Luna Oscar Alonso , Ventura‐Arroyo Jairo Agustín , Hernández‐Bermúdez Cristina 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACTPeriodontitis is an inflammatory disease affecting the connective tissue and supporting bone surrounding the teeth. In periodontitis, human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) synthesize IL‐1β, causing a progressive inflammatory response. Flavones demonstrate a variety of biological activity: among others, they possess anti‐inflammatory properties. Myricetin is a flavone with a strong anti‐inflammatory activity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the flavonoid myricetin on HGFs under inflammatory conditions induced by lipoteichoic acid (LTA). the effect of myricetin on HGFs was assessed by measuring cell viability, signaling pathways and IL‐1β expression and synthesis. It was found that, over time, myricetin did not affect cell viability. However, it inhibited activation of p38 and extracellular‐signal‐regulated kinase‐1/2 in LTA‐treated HGFs and also blocked IκB degradation and cyclooxygenase‐2 and prostaglandin E2 synthesis and expression. These findings suggest that myricetin has therapeutic effects in the form of controlling LTA‐induced inflammatory responses.
Temporal patterns in immunity, infection load and disease susceptibility: understanding the drivers of host responses in the amphibian‐chytrid fungus system
Authors: Gervasi Stephanie S. , Hunt Emily G. , Lowry Malcolm , Blaustein Andrew R. 
Published: October 2013

Summary

Many pathogens infect a wide range of host species. However, variation in the outcome of infection often exists amongst hosts and is shaped by intrinsic host traits. For example, contact with pathogens may trigger changes in hosts directed toward preventing, fighting, or tolerating infection. Host responses to infection are dynamic; they change over time and vary depending on health, condition and within the context of the environment.

Immunological defences are an important class of responses that mediate host–pathogen dynamics. Here, we examined temporal patterns of immunity in two amphibian species, Pacific tree frogs (Pseudacris regilla) and Cascades frogs (Rana cascadae), exposed to control conditions or experimental inoculation with the emerging infectious fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). For each species, we compared bacterial killing ability of blood and differential white blood cell counts at four different time‐points after pathogen inoculation. We also quantified infection load over time and monitored survival.

We detected qualitative and quantitative differences in species responses to Bd. Pseudacris regilla exhibited an increase in infection load over time and 16% of Bd‐exposed animals died during the experiment. Tree frogs lacked robust treatment differences in immune responses, but Bd‐exposed P. regilla tended to display weaker bacterial killing responses than unexposed control animals. Neutrophil counts did not vary consistently with treatment and lymphocytes tended to be less abundant in Bd‐exposed animals at the later sampling time‐points.

In contrast, Bd‐exposed R. cascadae exhibited a decrease in infection load over time and no mortality occurred in the Bd treatment. Bd‐exposed Cascades frogs showed stronger bacterial killing responses and an elevated number of neutrophils in blood when compared with control animals, and both responses were upregulated within 48 h of pathogen exposure. Lymphocyte counts did not vary significantly with treatment.

Although only statistically significant in Cascades frogs, neutrophil:lymphocyte ratios showed a trend of being elevated in Bd‐exposed animals of both species and are indicative of pathogen‐induced physiological stress.

Our results suggest that variation in systemic immunological responses of two syntopic amphibian species is associated with and may contribute to differential patterns of survival and infection load during exposure to the chytrid fungus. Species variation in immunological responses as soon as 48 h after pathogen exposure suggests that initial host–pathogen interactions may set the stage for subsequent infection and disease progression. Variation in host responses can drive disease dynamics and comparative studies of host responses to pathogens are critical for making predictions about pathogen emergence, spread and persistence.
Do changes in grazing pressure and the degree of shrub encroachment alter the effects of individual shrubs on understorey plant communities and soil function?
Authors: Soliveres Santiago , Eldridge David J. 
Published: October 2013

Summary

Shrub canopies in semi‐arid environments often produce positive effects on soil fertility, and on the richness and biomass of understorey plant communities. However, both positive and negative effects of shrub encroachment on plant and soil attributes have been reported at the landscape level. The contrasting results between patch‐ and landscape‐level effects in shrublands could be caused by differences in the degree of shrub encroachment or grazing pressure, both of which are likely to reduce the ability of individual shrubs to ameliorate their understorey environment.

We examined how grazing and shrub encroachment (measured as landscape‐level shrub cover) influence patch‐level effects of shrubs on plant density, biomass and similarity in species composition between shrub understories and open areas, and on soil stability, nutrient cycling, and infiltration in two semi‐arid Australian woodlands.

Individual shrubs had consistently positive effects on all plant and soil variables (average increase of 23% for all variables). These positive patch‐level effects persisted with increasing shrub cover up to our maximum of 50% cover. Heavy grazing negatively affected most of the variables studied (average decline of 11%). It also altered, for some variables, how individual shrubs affected their subcanopy environment with increasing shrub cover. Thus, for species density, biomass and soil infiltration, the positive effect of individual shrubs with increasing shrub cover diminished under heavy grazing.

Synthesis: Our study refines predictions of the effects of woody encroachment on ecosystem structure and functioning by showing that heavy grazing, rather than differences in shrub cover, explains the contrasting effects on ecosystem structure and function between individual shrubs and those in dense aggregations. We also discuss how species‐specific traits of the encroaching species, such as their height or its ability to fix N, might influence the relationship between their patch‐level effects and their cover within the landscape.
The performance of standardized patients in portraying clinical scenarios in speech–language therapy
Authors: Hill Anne E. , Davidson Bronwyn J. , Theodoros Deborah G. 
Published: October 2013

AbstractBackgroundStandardized patients (SPs) are frequently included in the clinical preparation of students in the health sciences. An acknowledged benefit of using SPs is the opportunity to provide a standardized method by which students can demonstrate and develop their competency. Relatively little is known, however, about the capacity of SPs to offer an accurate and standardized performance across a speech–language therapy student cohort.AimsTo investigate the accuracy, reproducibility (consistent performance of each SP across student interviews) and replicability (consistent performance of a number of SPs across each scenario) of SPs portraying three scenarios, each as a parent of a child presenting with a speech disorder.Methods & ProceduresForty‐four speech–language therapy students interviewed four SPs to gain a case history. All interviews were videotaped. The accuracy of SP portrayal of key features of each scenario was scored by an expert rater and two other raters. Data were analysed to determine levels of accuracy, reproducibility and replicability, and inter‐rater reliability was evaluated.Outcomes & ResultsSPs were found to have moderate to high levels of accuracy across the three scenarios. There were no significant differences in the performances of each individual SP across interviews or between all SPs on each scenario, indicating that reproducibility and replicability were achieved. Overall inter‐rater reliability between raters across all scenarios was greater than 80%.Conclusions & ImplicationsThe results would seem to indicate that SPs can present in a standardized manner within a speech–language therapy context, confirming the value of their inclusion in clinical education programmes. Suggestions for improving the training of SPs in order to maintain accuracy are highlighted.
‘It really makes good sense’: the role of outcome evaluation in aphasia therapy in Denmark
Authors: Isaksen Jytte Kjærgaard 
Published: October 2013

AbstractBackgroundMeasuring or evaluating outcomes is a common activity for many speech–language therapists (SLTs). A major focus has been on external forces claiming outcome evaluation to optimize quality and the use of resources without integrating the viewpoints of SLTs.AimsTo identify the purpose of outcome evaluation by letting SLTs identify not only the actual demands for outcome evaluation, but also the role of outcome evaluation in aphasia therapy in the clinic.Methods & ProceduresTwelve SLTs participated in semi‐structured interviews to identify the demands they met for outcome evaluation as well as the role the outcome evaluation had in their work with people with aphasia. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed by means of qualitative thematic analysis.Outcomes & ResultsSix themes corresponding with the aims of this study were identified. These show that the SLTs initially evaluated outcomes because of external demands and interests. However, they also describe the process as a necessary activity inherent to therapy and state that they would not want to be without it. The outcome evaluation is seen as an interactive process between SLTs, clients and possibly significant others. Not only it is seen as a product in which outcome and/or client satisfaction is documented, but also it is described as a dynamic process that benefits the clients, significant others, the therapy and the SLTs themselves in various ways. This role of outcome evaluation ranges from enhancement of insight and promotion of acceptance for the clients and significant others to planning the next step in therapy or in life with aphasia after therapy. In all of which the clients play a significant role, since their active participation is sought throughout the sessions.Conclusion & ImplicationsThe results suggest an interesting relationship between treatment policy and treatment practice, where an initial administrative initiative to conduct outcome evaluation is adopted by the SLTs and made into a meaningful part of therapy in which the clients play a significant role.
Control of methionine metabolism by the SahR transcriptional regulator in Proteobacteria
Authors: Novichkov Pavel S. , Li Xiaoqing , Kuehl Jennifer V. , Deutschbauer Adam M. , Arkin Adam P. , Price Morgan N. , Rodionov Dmitry A. 
Published: October 2013

SummarySulphur is an essential element in the metabolism. The sulphur‐containing amino acid methionine is a metabolic precursor for S‐adenosylmethionine (SAM), which serves as a coenzyme for ubiquitous methyltrtansferases. Recycling of organic sulphur compounds, e.g. via the SAM cycle, is an important metabolic process that needs to be tightly regulated. Knowledge about transcriptional regulation of these processes is still limited for many free‐living bacteria. We identified a novel transcription factor SahR from the ArsR family that controls the SAM cycle genes in diverse microorganisms from soil and aquatic ecosystems. By using comparative genomics, we predicted SahR‐binding DNA motifs and reconstructed SahR regulons in the genomes of 62 Proteobacteria. The conserved core of SahR regulons includes all enzymes required for the SAM cycle: the SAH hydrolase AhcY, the methionine biosynthesis enzymes MetE/MetH and MetF, and the SAM synthetase MetK. By using a combination of experimental techniques, we validated the SahR regulon in the sulphate‐reducing Deltaproteobacterium Desulfovibrio alaskensis. SahR functions as a negative regulator that responds to the S‐adenosylhomocysteine (SAH). The elevated SAH level in the cell dissociates SahR from its DNA operators and induces the expression of SAM cycle genes. The effector‐sensing domain in SahR is related to SAM‐dependent methylases that are able to tightly bind SAH. SahR represents a novel type of transcriptional regulators for the control of sulphur amino acid metabolism.
Propagation of MinCDE waves on free‐standing membranes
Authors: Martos Ariadna , Petrasek Zdenek , Schwille Petra 
Published: October 2013

SummaryAs a spatial modulator of cytokinesis in Escherichia coli, the Min system cooperates with the nucleoid occlusion mechanism to target the divisome assembly towards mid‐cell. Based on a reaction–diffusion mechanism powered by ATP (adenosine triphosphate) hydrolysis, the Min proteins propagate in waves on the cell membrane, resulting in oscillations between the cell poles, thus preventing the formation of the division ring everywhere but in the cell centre. The dynamic behaviour of Min proteins has been successfully reconstructed in vitro on supported lipid bilayers (SLBs), reproducing many of the features observed in the cell. However, there has been a marked discrepancy between the speed of propagation of Min protein waves in vitro, compared with the cellular system. A very plausible explanation is the different mobility of proteins on model membranes, compared with the inner membrane of bacteria. To quantitatively demonstrate how membrane diffusion influences Min wave propagation, we compared Min waves on SLBs with free‐standing giant unilamellar vesicles (GUV) membranes which display higher fluidity. Intriguingly, the propagation velocity and wavelength on GUVs are three times higher than those reported on supported bilayers, but the wave period is conserved. This suggests that the shorter spatial period of the patterns in vivo might indeed be primarily explained by lower diffusion coefficients of proteins on the bacterial inner membrane.
Architecture and host interface of environmental chlamydiae revealed by electron cryotomography
Authors: Pilhofer Martin , Aistleitner Karin , Ladinsky Mark S. , König Lena , Horn Matthias , Jensen Grant J. 
Published: October 2013

SummaryChlamydiae comprise important pathogenic and symbiotic bacteria that alternate between morphologically and physiologically different life stages during their developmental cycle. Using electron cryotomography, we characterize the ultrastructure of the developmental stages of three environmental chlamydiae: Parachlamydia acanthamoebae, Protochlamydia amoebophila and Simkania negevensis. We show that chemical fixation and dehydration alter the cell shape of Parachlamydia and that the crescent body is not a developmental stage, but an artefact of conventional electron microscopy. We further reveal type III secretion systems of environmental chlamydiae at macromolecular resolution and find support for a chlamydial needle‐tip protein. Imaging bacteria inside their host cells by cryotomography for the first time, we observe marked differences in inclusion morphology and development as well as host organelle recruitment between the three chlamydial organisms, with Simkania inclusions being tightly enveloped by the host endoplasmic reticulum. The study demonstrates the power of electron cryotomography to reveal structural details of bacteria–host interactions that are not accessible using traditional methods.
Blood flow to the scarred gravid uterus at 22–24 weeks of gestation
Authors: Flo K , Widnes C , Vårtun Å , Acharya G 
Published: October 2013

ObjectiveTo compare uterine artery volume blood flow (Quta), vascular resistance (Ruta), pulsatility index (Uta PI), and the fraction of maternal cardiac output (CO) distributed to the uteroplacental circulation in pregnant women with and without a previous caesarean section.DesignCross‐sectional observational study.SettingUniversity hospital in Norway.PopulationThirty‐two pregnant women with previous caesarean section and 32 matched controls.MethodsUltrasonography was used to measure uterine artery diameter and blood flow velocity between 22+0 and 23+6 weeks of gestation. Impedance cardiography was used to assess maternal haemodynamics.Main outcome measuresQuta, Ruta, Uta PI, and the fraction of maternal CO distributed to the uteroplacental circulation.ResultsThe mean Quta was 356.26 ± 213.72 ml/minute in cases and 456.41 ± 209.70 ml/minute in controls (P = 0.038). Ruta was significantly (P = 0.026) higher among cases compared with controls (0.32 ± 0.20 versus 0.22 ± 0.14 mmHg/ml/minute), but the Uta PI did not differ between the groups (0.93 ± 0.23 versus 0.92 ± 0.47; P = 0.929). The fraction of maternal CO distributed to the uteroplacental circulation was 5.75 ± 3.68% in cases and 8.45 ± 5.02% in controls (P = 0.014).ConclusionsUterine artery volume blood flow and the fraction of maternal cardiac output distributed to the uteroplacental circulation are lower, and uterine vascular resistance (but not Uta PI) is higher, in women with previous caesarean section compared with the control group.
Analyses of Beverage Remains in Drug Rape Cases Revealing Drug Residues ‐ The Possibility of Contamination from Drug Concentrated Oral Fluid or Oral Cavity Contained Tablets
Authors: Øiestad Elisabeth L. , Karinen Ritva , Christophersen Asbjørg S. , Vindenes Vigdis , Bachs Liliana 
Published: October 2013

AbstractIn drug‐facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) cases, drug residues may be detected in beverage remains found in cups or glasses known to have been used by the victims. In this small naturalistic study, the possibility of beverages being contaminated, either by drug concentrated oral fluid or by oral cavity contained tablets, was investigated. Analysis of residues from cups containing soft drinks was performed by immunoassay and ultra‐performance liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry (UPLC‐MS/MS). Beverage with both added tablets and spiked oral fluid was investigated, as well as simulation of swallowing tablets. Only the residues from added tablets were positive with immunoassay, while drugs were detectable in all cups using more sensitive UPLC‐MS/MS. In conclusion, the possibility of detecting drug residues in beverages due to a contamination, from either drug concentrated oral fluid or oral cavity contained tablets at a time of consumption, should be kept in mind when performing sensitive analysis.
Error and its Meaning in Forensic Science
Authors: Christensen Angi M. , Crowder Christian M. , Ousley Stephen D. , Houck Max M. 
Published: October 2013

AbstractThe discussion of “error” has gained momentum in forensic science in the wake of the Daubert guidelines and has intensified with the National Academy of Sciences' Report. Error has many different meanings, and too often, forensic practitioners themselves as well as the courts misunderstand scientific error and statistical error rates, often confusing them with practitioner error (or mistakes). Here, we present an overview of these concepts as they pertain to forensic science applications, discussing the difference between practitioner error (including mistakes), instrument error, statistical error, and method error. We urge forensic practitioners to ensure that potential sources of error and method limitations are understood and clearly communicated and advocate that the legal community be informed regarding the differences between interobserver errors, uncertainty, variation, and mistakes.