bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Making Sense of Social Change: Observing Collective Action in Networked Cultures
Authors: Rodriguez Sandra 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThis article presents an overview of rising trends in the study of networked interactions conveyed by social media technologies and the emergence of new meanings associated with social change. In recent years, a healthy amount of studies has focused on ICT uses within collective action, considering social media tools to have become crucial components of many transnational movements and social change projects. Crossing boundaries between social movements theories, political science, and communication studies, literature suggests that ‘online activism’ and increasingly networked interactions may have transformed the meanings and definitions associated with ‘collective action’ and ‘social change’. To make sense of these meanings, we identify three approaches used by scholars, which focus on (i) the actual networking of actors, (ii) the diffusion of new repertoires and frames through networks, and (iii) making sense of new meanings conveyed within networkedcultures. We conclude by suggesting the need for more comprehensive research to better observe and make sense of how's actors define collective action and how they use social media tools when striving to convey social change.
Gender and Organizational Justice Preferences
Authors: Clay‐Warner Jody , Culatta Elizabeth , James Katie R. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractDespite evidence that women and men possess similar workplace values, debate continues regarding gendered preferences for justice in the workplace. In particular, some have argued that women and men have fundamentally different justice orientations, which lead men to value fair outcomes and women to value fair procedures. Recent research finds that such beliefs may influence managers to reward men with greater monetary rewards than those provided to women. Here, we review this literature and argue that men and women do not have fundamentally different justice orientations. Instead, the few findings of gender difference in preferences for procedural vs. distributive justice in the workplace are a function of status differences between men and women.
Social Networks and Employment: Outcomes (Part 2)
Authors: Castilla Emilio J. , Lan George J. , Rissing Ben A. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractIn this second article, we continue to survey research that addresses work and employment from a social network perspective. Building on a companion article in this volume, which explores in‐depth the main network mechanisms presented in the literature, this article reviews studies addressing how social networks may shape key employment outcomes for both individuals and organizations. Network access and activation may shape individuals' selection into employment opportunities in addition to a variety of post‐hire outcomes including employee performance, promotion, rewards, job satisfaction, and termination. Organizations too may be influenced by their network position and by the activation of certain ties, ultimately affecting key outcomes such as firm performance, innovation, and learning measures. We conclude by discussing promising areas for future research on how social networks interact with employment.
Seeking the Soul of Democracy: A Review of Recent Research into Citizens' Political Talk Culture
Authors: Schmitt‐Beck Rüdiger , Lup Oana 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThis article provides a review of extant empirical research on ordinary citizens' everyday political communication, its phenomenology, determinants, consequences, and relevance for democratic politics. It highlights the recent upsurge in interest in the study of political conversations against the background of both classic and more recent developments in democratic theory and empirical research that served as intellectual inspirations. The article discusses conceptual and methodological issues of research into interpersonal political communication and presents key findings with regard to the background and consequences of political talk, tapping into fundamental aspects of democratic citizenship such as political preferences, participation, cognitive involvement with politics as well as orientations towards fellow citizens and towards the democratic political system. It concludes with an assessment of the state of the art in this field of study, highlighting desirable avenues for future empirical research.
Building on Solid Ground: Robust Case Selection in Multi‐Method Research
Authors: Rohlfing Ingo , Starke Peter 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThe social sciences are currently witnessing a trend toward multi‐method research (MMR). However, many important issues have not been sufficiently addressed so far. The focus of this paper is case selection for process tracing on the basis of regression results, which is the main point of intersection between the two methods. Based on a review, we first show that the current empirical and methodological literature does not fully appreciate the implications of modeling uncertainty and non‐robust quantitative results. The major problem is that non‐robust regression results may lead to invalid choices and faulty inferences. We develop a novel selection procedure that takes these issues into account and improves causal inference inMMR.
HLA‐DRB1, ‐DRB3, ‐DRB4 and ‐DRB5 genotyping at a super‐high resolution level by long range PCR and high‐throughput sequencing
Authors: Ozaki Y. , Suzuki S. , Shigenari A. , Okudaira Y. , Kikkawa E. , Oka A. , Ota M. , Mitsunaga S. , Kulski J. K. , Inoko H. , Shiina T. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractSuper high‐resolution single molecule sequence‐based typing (SS‐SBT) is a human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DNA typing method to the field 4 level of allelic resolution (formerly known as eight‐digit typing) to efficiently detect new and null alleles without phase ambiguity by combination of long ranged polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and next‐generation sequencing (NGS) technologies. We previously reported the development and application of the SS‐SBT method for the eight classical HLA loci, A, B, C, DRB1, DQA1, DQB1, DPA1 and DPB1. In this article, we describe the development of the SS‐SBT method for three DRB1 linked loci, DRB3, DRB4 and DRB5 (DRB3/4/5) and characterization of DRB1‐DRB3/4/5 haplotype structures to the field 4 level. Locus specific PCR primers for DRB3/4/5 were designed to amplify the gene regions from intron 1 to exon 6 [3′ untranslated region (3′UTR)]. In total 20 DRB1 and 13 DRB3/4/5 allele sequences were determined by the SS‐SBT to the field 4 level without phase ambiguity using 19 DR51, DR52 and DR53 positive genomic DNA samples obtained from Japanese. Moreover, 18 DRB1‐DRB3/4/5 haplotypes were estimated to the field 4 level by the SS‐SBT method in contrast to 10 haplotypes estimated by conventional methods to the field 1 level (formerly known as two digit typing). Therefore, DRB1‐DRB3/4/5 haplotyping by SS‐SBT is expected to provide informative data for improved HLA matching in medical research, transplantation procedures, HLA‐related disease studies and human population diversity studies.
rs3827440, a nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphism within GPR174 gene in X chromosome, is associated with Graves' disease in Polish Caucasian population
Authors: Szymański K. , Miśkiewicz P. , Pirko K. , Jurecka‐Lubieniecka B. , Kula D. , Hasse‐Lazar K. , Krajewski P. , Bednarczuk T. , Płoski R. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractRecently Chu et al. conducted a two‐stage genome wide association study in Chinese that identified a novel X‐linked Graves' disease (GD) susceptibility marker at rs3827440 – a nonsynonymous (P162S) nucleotide transition (519C<T) within G protein‐coupled receptor 174 (GPR174) gene. We aimed to replicate this finding in Caucasians. Using the TaqMan approach we typed rs3827440 in 560 GD patients from Warsaw and 196 patients from Gliwice as well as ethically matched controls (N = 748, N = 198, respectively). We found an association of the rs3827440 T allele with GD using both an allelic and genotype comparison [odds ratio (OR) = 1.19, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03–1.38, P = 0.021; OR=1.32, 95% CI: 1.03–1.69, P = 0.03, respectively]. There was no difference in distribution of rs3827440 alleles/genotypes vs gender, tobacco smoking, ophthalmopathy or age at disease onset. Also, no statistically significant differences were observed after stratifying patients for DRB1*03‐ or GD‐associated variants in CTLA4 or TSHR genes. Our study provides the first replication in a Caucasian population of the association between GD and rs3827440 originally reported among Chinese. Our results also validate statistical methodology used by Chu et al. to detect associations with X‐linked markers.
Prolonged respiratory viral shedding in transplant patients
Authors: de Lima C.R.A. , Mirandolli T.B. , Carneiro L.C. , Tusset C. , Romer C.M. , Andreolla H.F. , Baethgen L.F. , Pasqualotto A.C. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractRespiratory viral infections are frequent causes of morbidity in transplant patients. We screened symptomatic adult transplant recipients for respiratory viruses in a cohort of patients attending a referral medical center in Brazil. The duration of viral shedding and the prevalence of viral codetections were also determined. During a 1‐year period (2011–2012), swabs were obtained from 50 patients. An in‐house polymerase chain reaction panel designed to detect 10 viruses was used. Viruses were identified in 19 (38%) patients, particularly parainfluenza III (32%) and the respiratory syncytial virus (20%); multiple viruses were identified in 26% of patients. Prolonged viral shedding was observed with 60% of individuals excreting viruses for >10 days. The clinical and epidemiologic relevance of prolonged viral shedding remains to be determined.
Direct visualization of Agrobacterium‐delivered VirE2 in recipient cells
Authors: Li Xiaoyang , Yang Qinghua , Tu Haitao , Lim Zijie , Pan Shen Q. 
Published: December 2013

SummaryAgrobacterium tumefaciens is a natural genetic engineer widely used to deliver DNA into various recipients, including plant, yeast and fungal cells. The bacterium can transfer single‐stranded DNA molecules (T–DNAs) and bacterial virulence proteins, including VirE2. However, neither the DNA nor the protein molecules have ever been directly visualized after the delivery. In this report, we adopted a split‐GFP approach: the small GFP fragment (GFP11) was inserted into VirE2 at a permissive site to create the VirE2‐GFP11 fusion, which was expressed in A. tumefaciens; and the large fragment (GFP1–10) was expressed in recipient cells. Upon delivery of VirE2‐GFP11 into the recipient cells, GFP fluorescence signals were visualized. VirE2‐GFP11 was functional like VirE2; the GFP fusion movement could indicate the trafficking of Agrobacterium‐delivered VirE2. As the natural host, all plant cells seen under a microscope received the VirE2 protein in a leaf‐infiltration assay; most of VirE2 moved at a speed of 1.3–3.1 μm sec−1 in a nearly linear direction, suggesting an active trafficking process. Inside plant cells, VirE2‐GFP formed filamentous structures of different lengths, even in the absence of T‐DNA. As a non‐natural host recipient, 51% of yeast cells received VirE2, which did not move inside yeast. All plant cells seen under a microscope transiently expressed the Agrobacterium‐delivered transgene, but only 0.2% yeast cells expressed the transgene. This indicates that Agrobacterium is a more efficient vector for protein delivery than T‐DNA transformation for a non‐natural host recipient: VirE2 trafficking is a limiting factor for the genetic transformation of a non‐natural host recipient. The split‐GFP approach could enable the real‐time visualization of VirE2 trafficking inside recipient cells.
Multiple host‐cell recombination pathways act in Agrobacterium‐mediated transformation of plant cells
Authors: Mestiri Imen , Norre Frédéric , Gallego Maria E. , White Charles I. 
Published: December 2013

SummaryUsing floral‐dip, tumorigenesis and root callus transformation assays of both germline and somatic cells, we present here results implicating the four major non‐homologous and homologous recombination pathways in Agrobacterium‐mediated transformation of Arabidopsis thaliana. All four single mutant lines showed similar mild reductions in transformability, but knocking out three of four pathways severely compromised Agrobacterium‐mediated transformation. Although integration of T–DNA into the plant genome is severely compromised in the absence of known DNA double‐strand break repair pathways, it does still occur, suggesting the existence of other pathways involved in T–DNA integration. Our results highlight the functional redundancy of the four major plant recombination pathways in transformation, and provide an explanation for the lack of strong effects observed in previous studies on the roles of plant recombination functions in transformation.
PCR detects bands consistent with the expression of receptors associated with pruritus in canine dorsal root ganglia
Authors: Rossbach Kristine , Bäumer Wolfgang 
Published: December 2013

BackgroundVarious mediators are involved in the induction of itch, i.e. pruritus; however, the in vivo pharmacology of pruritus seems to be different in distinct species, and little is known about receptors that are involved in the induction of itch in dogs. The species differences in the mediation of pruritus might be explained by species differences in receptor expression in the sensory nerves, including the dorsal root ganglia (DRG).Hypothesis/ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to analyse the expression of receptors for various mediators of pruritus in canine DRG.MethodsDorsal root ganglia of 14 dogs, which were euthanized for reasons not related to this study, were analysed. Multiple DRG per dog were dissected and, after homogenization of the DRG tissues, total RNA was isolated, reverse transcribed to complementary DNA and amplified with custom‐synthesized primers.ResultsThe following receptors were found in canine DRG: transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1, tachykinin receptor 1, Toll‐like receptor 7, endothelin receptor type A, opioid receptors μ1 and κ1, histamine H1–H4 receptors and the interleukin‐31 receptor complex.Conclusions and clinical importancePCR analysis detected bands consistent with the expression of receptors associated with pruritus in canine DRG.
Insertion Sequence Element Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Typing Provides Insights into the Population Structure and Evolution of Mycobacterium ulcerans across Africa
Authors: Vandelannoote Koen , Jordaens Kurt , Bomans Pieter , Leirs Herwig , Durnez Lies , Affolabi Dissou , Sopoh Ghislain , Aguiar Julia , Phanzu Delphin Mavinga , Kibadi Kapay , Eyangoh Sara , Manou Louis Bayonne , Phillips Richard Odame , Adjei Ohene , Ablordey Anthony , Rigouts Leen , Portaels Françoise , Eddyani Miriam , de Jong Bouke C. 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACT

Buruli ulcer is an indolent, slowly progressing necrotizing disease of the skin caused by infection with
Mycobacterium ulcerans
. In the present study, we applied a redesigned technique to a vast panel of
M. ulcerans
disease isolates and clinical samples originating from multiple African disease foci in order to (i) gain fundamental insights into the population structure and evolutionary history of the pathogen and (ii) disentangle the phylogeographic relationships within the genetically conserved cluster of African
M. ulcerans
. Our analyses identified 23 different African insertion sequence element single nucleotide polymorphism (ISE-SNP) types that dominate in different areas where Buruli ulcer is endemic. These ISE-SNP types appear to be the initial stages of clonal diversification from a common, possibly ancestral ISE-SNP type. ISE-SNP types were found unevenly distributed over the greater West African hydrological drainage basins. Our findings suggest that geographical barriers bordering the basins to some extent prevented bacterial gene flow between basins and that this resulted in independent focal transmission clusters associated with the hydrological drainage areas. Different phylogenetic methods yielded two well-supported sister clades within the African ISE-SNP types. The ISE-SNP types from the “pan-African clade” were found to be widespread throughout Africa, while the ISE-SNP types of the “Gabonese/Cameroonian clade” were much rarer and found in a more restricted area, which suggested that the latter clade evolved more recently. Additionally, the Gabonese/Cameroonian clade was found to form a strongly supported monophyletic group with Papua New Guinean ISE-SNP type 8, which is unrelated to other Southeast Asian ISE-SNP types.
Variations in Virulence and Molecular Biology among Emerging Strains of Clostridium difficile
Authors: Hunt Jonathan J. , Ballard Jimmy D. 
Published: December 2013

SUMMARY

Clostridium difficile
is a Gram-positive, spore-forming organism which infects and colonizes the large intestine, produces potent toxins, triggers inflammation, and causes significant systemic complications. Treating
C. difficile
infection (CDI) has always been difficult, because the disease is both caused and resolved by antibiotic treatment. For three and a half decades,
C. difficile
has presented a treatment challenge to clinicians, and the situation took a turn for the worse about 10 years ago. An increase in epidemic outbreaks related to CDI was first noticed around 2003, and these outbreaks correlated with a sudden increase in the mortality rate of this illness. Further studies discovered that these changes in CDI epidemiology were associated with the rapid emergence of hypervirulent strains of
C. difficile
, now collectively referred to as NAP1/BI/027 strains. The discovery of new epidemic strains of
C. difficile
has provided a unique opportunity for retrospective and prospective studies that have sought to understand how these strains have essentially replaced more historical strains as a major cause of CDI. Moreover, detailed studies on the pathogenesis of NAP1/BI/027 strains are leading to new hypotheses on how this emerging strain causes severe disease and is more commonly associated with epidemics. In this review, we provide an overview of CDI, discuss critical mechanisms of
C. difficile
virulence, and explain how differences in virulence-associated factors between historical and newly emerging strains might explain the hypervirulence exhibited by this pathogen during the past decade.
Mx Proteins: Antiviral Gatekeepers That Restrain the Uninvited
Authors: Verhelst Judith , Hulpiau Paco , Saelens Xavier 
Published: December 2013

SUMMARYFifty years after the discovery of the mouseMx1gene, researchers are still trying to understand the molecular details of the antiviral mechanisms mediated by Mx proteins. Mx proteins are evolutionarily conserved dynamin-like large GTPases, and GTPase activity is required for their antiviral activity. The expression ofMxgenes is controlled by type I and type III interferons. A phylogenetic analysis revealed thatMxgenes are present in almost all vertebrates, usually in one to three copies. Mx proteins are best known for inhibiting negative-stranded RNA viruses, but they also inhibit other virus families. Recent structural analyses provide hints about the antiviral mechanisms of Mx proteins, but it is not known how they can suppress such a wide variety of viruses lacking an obvious common molecular pattern. Perhaps they interact with a (partially) symmetrical invading oligomeric structure, such as a viral ribonucleoprotein complex. Such an interaction may be of a fairly low affinity, in line with the broad target specificity of Mx proteins, yet it would be strong enough to instigate Mx oligomerization and ring assembly. Such a model is compatible with the broad “substrate” specificity of Mx proteins: depending on the size of the invading viral ribonucleoprotein complexes that need to be wrapped, the assembly process would consume the necessary amount of Mx precursor molecules. These Mx ring structures might then act as energy-consuming wrenches to disassemble the viral target structure.
Herbal medicines for the treatment of acute otitis media: protocol for a systematic review
Authors: Son Mi Ju , Kim Yun Hee , Kim Young-Eun , Lee Hye Won , Lee Myeong Soo 
Published: November 2013

IntroductionThe aim of this systematic review is to analyse the trial data on the efficacy of herbal medicines for acute otitis media.Methods and analysisThe following 11 databases will be searched from their inception: MEDLINE, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), EMBASE, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), China Network Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and five Korean databases (Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS), DBPIA, KoreaMed, Research Information Service System (RISS) and the Korean Studies Information Service System (KISS)). The selection of the studies, the data abstraction and the validations will be performed independently by two researchers.DisseminationThe systematic review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. The review will also be disseminated electronically and in print. Updates of the review will be conducted to inform and guide the healthcare practice and policy.Trial registration numberPROSPERO 2013:CRD42013005100.
Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding infant feeding among HIV-infected pregnant women in Gaborone, Botswana: a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Ndubuka Justina , Ndubuka Nnamdi , Li Ying , Marshall Caitlin M , Ehiri John 
Published: November 2013

ObjectivesTo assess knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding infant feeding among HIV-positive pregnant women in Gaborone, Botswana, and factors that influence their infant feeding choices.DesignA cross-sectional study.Methods and study settingA questionnaire survey of 96 HIV-positive pregnant women attending four public infectious disease control clinics in Gaborone, Botswana.ResultsOnly about half of the study participants had knowledge about prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services related to breastfeeding, and very few (19.8%) chose to breastfeed their infants exclusively. Results of multiple logistic regression analysis showed that receiving infant feeding counselling as part of the PMTCT programme was significantly associated with a decision to exclusively breastfeed (OR (95% CI) 5.38 (1.83 to 15.81)). Similarly, HIV-positive pregnant women who received breastfeeding counselling through the PMTCT programme had higher knowledge of PMTCT practices related to appropriate infant feeding (OR (95% CI) 5.91 (1.06 to 34.31)). Women who did not express concern about HIV stigma had significantly higher knowledge of PMTCT practices related to infant feeding (OR (95% CI) 5.91 (1.69 to 15.56)). Knowledge of PMTCT practices related to breastfeeding was negatively associated with the belief that breastfeeding could transmit HIV to the baby (OR (95% CI) 9.73 (3.37 to 28.08)).ConclusionsKnowledge, attitudes and practices related to breastfeeding among HIV-positive pregnant women need further improvement, and the PMTCT programme should strengthen infant feeding counselling services to assist HIV-positive mothers in making informed and appropriate decisions regarding infant feeding.