Janus Face Research Articles

The Janus Face of Ideal Self-Congruence: Benefits for the Brand versus Emotional Distress for the Consumer

Branding strategies that target the consumer’s ideal self may not always be effective, as they elicit both positive and negative consumer reactions and emotions. In a series of studies, we demonstrate that congruence between the brand’s personality and the consumer’s ideal self improves the consumer’s attitude toward the brand through anticipated self-enhancement but also increases his or her negative self-conscious emotions through envy. These consumer reactions depend on the type of ideals represented by the brand (agentic vs. communal ideals) and on consumers’ self-discrepancy. Our research emphasizes the importance of examining both the risks and the rewards of branding strategies that target consumers’ ideal self-congruence and highlights the need to take a contingency perspective when doing so.

Intracellular communication between lipid droplets and peroxisomes: the Janus face of PEX19.

In order to adapt to environmental changes, such as nutrient availability, cells have to orchestrate multiple metabolic pathways, which are catalyzed in distinct specialized organelles. Lipid droplets (LDs) and peroxisomes are both endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-derived organelles that fulfill complementary functions in lipid metabolism: Upon nutrient supply, LDs store metabolic energy in the form of neutral lipids and, when energy is needed, supply fatty acids for oxidation in peroxisomes and mitochondria. How these organelles communicate with each other for a concerted metabolic output remains a central question. Here, we summarize recent insights into the biogenesis and function of LDs and peroxisomes with emphasis on the role of PEX19 in these processes.

Moving beyond dichotomies? The Collaborative Economy scene in Andalusia and the role of public actors in shaping it

Despite a lack of consensus around its meaning, the concept of Collaborative Economy has become popular over the last few years. At the same time, its controversial nature has triggered many debates. The concept is used to name a wide variety of very diverse experiences, from time banks and urban gardens, to global digital platforms or co-working spaces. Some authors have stated that Collaborative Economy opens the possibility for a more just and equitable society based on the logic of peer-to-peer (P2P) collaboration, while others, with a much more critical view, argue that it should be understood as capitalism’s last stand. In order to understand how these debates are transferred to a particular regional reality, this article analyses almost 140 Collaborative Economy experiences in the region of Andalusia (southern Spain) and the role of public actors as potential drivers of those initiatives. The experiences include both university-related and entrepreneurial initiatives in the region. The research is based on a mixed-method approach combining interviews, focus groups and questionnaires. The results reflect the state of Collaborative Economy in the region (geographical distribution, classification by sectors, age). They confirm the Janus face of Collaborative Economy activities, but they also reveal how some of them resist and overcome such dichotomies. The article’s final section discusses the specific characteristics of these initiatives and assesses the role of public engagement in the promotion of the regional scene.

Carceral moderation and the Janus face of international pressure: A long view of Greece’s engagement with the European Convention of Human Rights

Carceral moderation and the Janus face of international pressure: A long view of Greece’s engagement with the European Convention of Human Rights

The Janus Face of NKT Cell Function in Autoimmunity and Infectious Diseases.

Natural killer T cells (NKT) are a subset of T lymphocytes bridging innate and adaptive immunity. These cells recognize self and microbial glycolipids bound to non-polymorphic and highly conserved CD1d molecules. Three NKT cell subsets, type I, II, and NKT-like expressing different antigen receptors (TCR) were described and TCR activation promotes intracellular events leading to specific functional activities. NKT can exhibit different functions depending on the secretion of soluble molecules and the interaction with other cell types. NKT cells act as regulatory cells in the defense against infections but, on the other hand, their effector functions can be involved in the pathogenesis of several inflammatory disorders due to their exposure to different microbial or self-antigens, respectively. A deep understanding of the biology and functions of type I, II, and NKT-like cells as well as their interplay with cell types acting in innate (neuthrophils, innate lymphoid cells, machrophages, and dendritic cells) and adaptive immunity (CD4+,CD8+, and double negative T cells) should be important to design potential immunotherapies for infectious and autoimmune diseases.

The Janus face of participatory governance: How inclusive governance benefits and limits the social innovativeness of social enterprises

According to Schumpeter, the creativity and motivational ability of distinguished entrepreneurs drive innovation in enterprises. It is the individual entrepreneur who comes up with new ideas and paves the way for their realization. Conversely, social enterprises are regarded as making decisions in a collaborative manner and in close participation with stakeholders. Accordingly, the question arises as to how participative governance and the loss of the individual business leader’s importance is reflected in the innovativeness of social enterprises. Does collaborative decision-making hamper the development of innovative solutions or do social enterprises benefit from their capacity to innovate? This question guided a cross-case analysis of four social enterprises, and the results are presented in this paper. The investigation revealed that participatory governance can have different consequences for the innovative strength of social enterprises. While the involvement of internal stakeholders (members, employees) appears to be beneficial for developing novel solutions but generates limited social impact, close collaboration with external stakeholders, such as local communities or regional authorities, is less advantageous with respect to identifying new trends, ideas, and opportunities. However, the involvement of external stakeholders in decision-making is beneficial concerning the safeguard of community interests and the legitimization of social enterprise activities. The results suggest that a balanced involvement of both internal and external stakeholders would be beneficial for enhancing the social innovativeness of social enterprises.

“Shadow emperor” or “loyal paladin”? – The Janus face of previous owner involvement in family firm successions

Early research on succession in owner-led family firms described succession as a process of mutual role adjustment. This means the parallel lessening of the previous owner’s involvement (POI) while a new generation family member gradually takes office as new CEO and owner. In this article, we analyze the performance impact of the frequent phenomenon of POI in the post-succession phase in owner-led family firms. Drawing on upper echelon theory and agency theory, we argue that POI is a two-sided strategy. We posit and test a comprehensive framework that integrates both positive and negative aspects of POI. Moreover, we show that whether POI radiates more salubrious than noxious effects to the family firm is highly context specific. Using 2SLS-IV regressions with multiple instruments to address a potential endogeneity of POI, we find that POI is positively related to performance when the successor’s CEO-related human capital (i.e. CEO-related experience and education) is still limited, but turns negative with increased CEO-related human capital of the successor. Furthermore, we show that the performance effect of POI is linked to corporate age: it is positively associated with performance in younger firms, while this positive relation vanishes with increasing corporate age. We observe that both effects are amplified by the previous owner’s discretion (i.e. the latitude of actions to shape organizational results) post-succession.

On the Bright Side (of the eu’s Janus Face)The eu Commission’s Notice on Access to Justice in Environmental Matters

In April 2017, the eu Commission published a “Notice on Access to Justice in Environmental Matters”, laying down the views of Brussels on this hot topic. The Notice takes stock of the dynamic development of the cjeu’s case law on the matter and draws cautious conclusions from this jurisprudence. This article is both an introductory and a short comment on the Notice. The main reasoning and conclusions drawn in the document are described, and then a couple of key issues are highlighted and discussed. All in all, evaluation of the Notice is positive, as it represents a rather big step forward compared with previous standpoints from Brussels. In this way, the Notice consolidates the impression that the eu is furnished with a Janus face concerning access to justice in environmental matters. It is very positive and affirming concerning legal challenges to administrative decision-making in national courts on the one hand, but very strict and of a rejecting nature when dealing with direct action to the cjeu on the other.

The “Janus face” of the thrombin binding aptamer: Investigating the anticoagulant and antiproliferative properties through straightforward chemical modifications

BackgroundThe thrombin binding aptamer (TBA) is endowed with both anticoagulant and antiproliferative activities. Its chemico-physical and/or biological properties can be tuned by the site-specific replacement of selected residues. MethodsFour oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) based on the TBA sequence (5′-GGTTGGTGTGGTTGG-3′) and containing 2′-deoxyuridine (U) or 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (B) residues at positions 4 or 13 have been investigated by NMR and CD techniques. Furthermore, their anticoagulant (PT assay) and antiproliferative properties (MTT assay) have been tested and compared with two further ODNs containing 5-hydroxymethyl-2′-deoxyuridine (H) residues in the same positions, previously investigated. ResultsThe CD and NMR data suggest that all the investigated ODNs are able to form G-quadruplexes strictly resembling that of TBA. The introduction of B residues in positions 4 or 13 increases the melting temperature of the modified aptamers by 7 °C. The replacement of thymidines with U in the same positions results in an enhanced anticoagulant activity compared to TBA, also at low ODN concentration. Although all ODNs show antiproliferative properties, only TBA derivatives containing H in the positions 4 and 13 lose the anticoagulant activity and remarkably preserve the antiproliferative one. ConclusionsAll ODNs have shown antiproliferative activities against two cancer cell lines but only those with U and B are endowed with anticoagulant activities similar or improved compared to TBA.General significance:The appropriate site-specific replacement of the residues in the TT loops of TBA with commercially available thymine analogues is a useful strategy either to improve the anticoagulant activity or to preserve the antiproliferative properties by quenching the anticoagulant ones.

B Cell Intrinsic Mechanisms Constraining IgE Memory.

Memory B cells and long-lived plasma cells are key elements of adaptive humoral immunity. Regardless of the immunoglobulin class produced, these cells can ensure long-lasting protection but also long-lasting immunopathology, thus requiring tight regulation of their generation and survival. Among all antibody classes, this is especially true for IgE, which stands as the most potent, and can trigger dramatic inflammatory reactions even when present in minute amounts. IgE responses and memory crucially protect against parasites and toxic components of venoms, conferring selective advantages and explaining their conservation in all mammalian species despite a parallel broad spectrum of IgE-mediated immunopathology. Long-term memory of sensitization and anaphylactic responses to allergens constitute the dark side of IgE responses, which can trigger multiple acute or chronic pathologic manifestations, some punctuated with life-threatening events. This Janus face of the IgE response and memory, both necessary and potentially dangerous, thus obviously deserves the most elaborated self-control schemes.

The Janus Face of the Dual Anti-Platelet Therapy (DAPT) after Myocardial Infarction. What can be done to overcome the Risk by the Beneficial Potential of its use?

The Janus Face of the Dual Anti-Platelet Therapy (DAPT) after Myocardial Infarction. What can be done to overcome the Risk by the Beneficial Potential of its use?

Being together in the locker room is great, but showering together – just forget it! The Janus Face of the Wardrobe Practice in Physical Education

The aim of this study is to examine the wardrobe context among students in physical education (PE) in lower secondary school and describe their various experiences of the atmosphere in the locker room and their showering habits. 16 semi structured in-depth interviews with eight boys and eight girls, all aged 15, in the 10th grade (third and final year of lower secondary school) were conducted to grasp some of the ongoing interactions between students and the context of the wardrobe practice before and after PE lessons. The planning of the interviews is grounded in a variety of topics such as the class environment, the influence of teacher behavior, self-evaluation, and the role of social media. Four main categories emerged when describing the students’ various experiences of the wardrobe practice in PE; 1) Friendship, 2) Physical Facilities, 3) Digital Life and 4) Shyness . Overall, the students feel comfortable as well as motivated for participation in the PE lessons and the atmosphere in the wardrobe seems to play a vital part. However, students may be exposed to an unhealthy body image through their fellow students, the role of social media, and the society’s view of what is an ideal body. The results may suggest that in general puberty and the major bodily changes occurring in this age create unpleasantness and shyness of being exposed to other students previously unknown to them. Habitually, most of the girls choose not to shower while exposed to fellow female students after ended PE session while the boys who are showering do it in their underwear.  https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.16.10.4

“Being together in the locker room is great, but showering together – just forget it!” The Janus Face of the Wardrobe Practice in Physical Education

The aim of this study is to examine the wardrobe context among students in physical education (PE) in lower secondary school and describe their various experiences of the atmosphere in the locker room and their showering habits. 16 semi structured in-depth interviews with eight boys and eight girls, all aged 15, in the 10th grade (third and final year of lower secondary school) were conducted to grasp some of the ongoing interactions between students and the context of the wardrobe practice before and after PE lessons. The planning of the interviews is grounded in a variety of topics such as the class environment, the influence of teacher behavior, self-evaluation, and the role of social media. Four main categories emerged when describing the students’ various experiences of the wardrobe practice in PE; 1) Friendship, 2) Physical Facilities, 3) Digital Life and 4) Shyness . Overall, the students feel comfortable as well as motivated for participation in the PE lessons and the atmosphere in the wardrobe seems to play a vital part. However, students may be exposed to an unhealthy body image through their fellow students, the role of social media, and the society’s view of what is an ideal body. The results may suggest that in general puberty and the major bodily changes occurring in this age create unpleasantness and shyness of being exposed to other students previously unknown to them. Habitually, most of the girls choose not to shower while exposed to fellow female students after ended PE session while the boys who are showering do it in their underwear. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.16.10.4

Photocatalyzing CO2 to CO for Enhanced Cancer Therapy.

Continuous exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) can sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapy while protect normal cells from apoptosis. The Janus face of CO thus provides an ideal strategy for cancer therapy. Here, a photocatalytic nanomaterial (HisAgCCN) is introduced to transform endogenous CO2 to CO for improving cancer therapy in vivo. The CO production rate of HisAgCCN reaches to 65 µmol h-1 gmat-1 , which can significantly increase the cytotoxicity of anticancer drug (doxorubicin, DOX) by 70%. Interestingly, this study finds that HisAgCCN can enhance mitochondria biogenesis and aggravate oxidative stress in cancer cells, whereas protect normal cells from chemotherapy-induced apoptosis as well. Proteomics and metabolomics studies reveal that HisAgCCN can enhance mitochondria biogenesis and aggravate oxidative stress in cancer cells specifically. In vivo studies indicate that HisAgCCN/DOX combination therapy presents a synergetic tumor inhibition, which might provide a new direction for clinical cancer therapy.

O36 Endothelium-dependent contractions depending on biased sGC activation: The Janus face of thymoquinone

Thymoquinone, a major component of black seed oil, has beneficial (vasodilator, antioxidative and anti-inflammatory) effects in the cardiovascular system. Previous experiments in isolated arteries indicate that thymoquinone causes augmentations of contraction. The present study aims to identify the mechanisms underlying the counterintuitive augmentations caused by thymoquinone. Isometric tension was measured in rings of porcine coronary arteries, and rat aortae and mesenteric arteries. Precontracted preparations were exposed to increasing concentrations of thymoquinone, in the absence/presence of endothelium and of pharmacological inhibitors/activators. Cyclic nucleotide levels in rings were measured with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS). Thymoquinone-induced augmentations in the three arteries were not observed in rings without endothelium, and were abolished by inhibitors of nitric oxide (NO) synthase and soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC), L-NAME and ODQ respectively. Rho-kinase inhibitor and L-type voltage-dependent calcium channel (VDCC) blockers inhibited the augmentations in porcine, but not in rat arteries, while T-type VDCC blockers did so only in the latter. In L-NAME-treated rings, the NO donor detaNONOate and sGC activator YC-1 restored the augmentations; by contrast, in ODQ-treated rings, cell-permeable cyclic GMP did not. UPLC–MS/MS measurements showed that thymoquinone increased intracellular levels of cyclic IMP. Thymoquinone causes endothelium-dependent augmentations that depend on a biased sGC activation by NO to produce cyclic IMP instead of cyclic GMP. Cyclic IMP causes contraction of the vascular smooth muscle through alteration of calcium handling. Hence, thymoquinone is the first pharmacological agent reported to cause endothelium-dependent contractions with similar characteristics as hypoxic vasoconstrictions.

Microfluidic fabrication of photonic encoding magnetized silica microspheres for aptamer-based enrichment of Ochratoxin A

Photonic encoding magnetized silica microspheres were synthesized from a polydisperse system containing silica and Fe3O4 nanoparticles by using a microfluidic self-assembly device. The optical and structural properties of the magnetized microspheres were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and reflection spectra. The concentration of Fe3O4 nanoparticles in polydisperse system was found to strongly affect the characteristics of magnetized microspheres. They possess a Janus face, are porous, and possess structural color (red). The magnetic characteristic of the synthesized microspheres is not lost after they are immersed in piranha solution for 12 h. The magnetized microspheres were applied to aptamer-based enrichment of the food toxin Ochratoxin A (OTA). Methods for immobilization of OTA aptamer on the microsphere surfaces were investigated. The modified microspheres can extract up to 80% of OTA if the surface of the microspheres is loaded with 275 ng·cm−2 of aptamer and the number of microspheres is 200. The work provides a new pathway for aptamer-based enrichment of small molecules from complex matrixes.

Abstract 4795: Nrf2 protects against chemotherapy-induced steatohepatitis and peripheral neurotoxicity

Abstract The indiscriminating protection of either normal or cancerous cells against electrophilic stresses by nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) has evoked continuous controversy over its Janus face in cancer. However, both normal and cancerous cells co-exist in cancer patients, and the outcome of therapy is determined by responses of both. Here we systemically analyzed the correlation between Nrf2 expression in normal cells and chemotherapy-associated myelosuppression, steatohepatitis and peripheral neurotoxicity, and explored the possibility to predict and prevent these adverse effects by targeting Nrf2 signaling. Firstly, the toxicities of 22 clinically-used chemotherapeutic drugs were tested in bone marrow cells, liver cells and embryonic fibroblasts derived from either Nrf2 (-/-) or wild type mice, and the toxicities of drugs with IC50 in wild type cells > 2 folds higher than their Nrf2(-/-) counterparts are considered as significantly dependent on Nrf2. The dependency of taxol-induced myelosuppression on Nrf2 was confirmed in vivo, and the mRNA level of Nrf2 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from cancer patients was reversely correlated to taxol-associated myelosuppression. Then steatohepatitis induced by irinotecan (CPT-11) and peripheral neurotoxicity induced by oxaliplatin were further investigated. CPT-11 induced intestinal toxicity in wild type mice but no significant steatohepatitis/liver toxicity was observed; however, CPT-11 treatment in Nrf2 (-/-) mice caused severer intestinal toxicity and pronounced steatohepatitis, associated with dramatically elevated serum biomarkers, accumulation of fat in liver cells, and altered liver histology. Similar results were observed for oxaliplatin-induced hepatotoxicity. Furthermore, Nrf2 deficiency significantly exaggerated oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neurotoxicity, as indicated by Von Frey test and cold plate assay. Interestingly, CDDO-Me was found to activate Nrf2 signaling in both normal tissues and xenograft tumors, while sulforaphane selectively activated Nrf2 in liver, bone marrow and peripheral nerves but not in tumors. As expected, sulforaphane significantly alleviated CPT-11-induced intestinal toxicity and oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neurotoxicity, while did not impact the therapeutic efficacy of drugs. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the toxicities of some of chemotherapeutic drugs currently in clinic usage are significantly affected by Nrf2, therefore it is possible to personalize therapeutic regimens according to Nrf2 expression in tumors and normal tissues. Specifically, CPT-11-induced steatohepatitis and intestinal toxicity and oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neurotoxicity are significantly determined by Nrf2, and Nrf2 could be selectively targeted to prevent or treat chemotherapy-induced toxicities. The present works were supported by the NSFC (No. 81272468, 91429305 and 81372266). Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Liu He, Linling Que, Wenchen Yin, Baoshan Cao, Siwang Yu. Nrf2 protects against chemotherapy-induced steatohepatitis and peripheral neurotoxicity [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4795. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-4795

The Janus face of iron on anoxic worlds: iron oxides are both protective and destructive to life on the early Earth and present-day Mars.

The surface of the early Earth was probably subjected to a higher flux of ultraviolet (UV) radiation than today. UV radiation is known to severely damage DNA and other key molecules of life. Using a liquid culture and a rock analogue system, we investigated the interplay of protective and deleterious effects of iron oxides under UV radiation on the viability of the model organism, Bacillus subtilis. In the presence of hydrogen peroxide, there exists a fine balance between iron oxide's protective effects against this radiation and its deleterious effects caused by Photo-Fenton reactions. The maximum damage was caused by a concentration of hematite of ∼1 mg/mL. Concentrations above this confer increasing protection by physical blockage of the UV radiation, concentrations below this cause less effective UV radiation blockage, but also a correspondingly less effective Photo-Fenton reaction, providing an overall advantage. These results show that on anoxic worlds, surface habitability under a high UV flux leaves life precariously poised between the beneficial and deleterious effects of iron oxides. These results have relevance to the Archean Earth, but also the habitability of the Martian surface, where high levels of UV radiation in combination with iron oxides and hydrogen peroxide can be found.

The Janus-Faced Role of Gambling Flow in Addiction Issues.

Flow experience has been widely investigated in experiential activities such as sports, the performing arts, gaming, and Internet usage. Most studies focus on the positive aspects of flow experience and its effect on performance. In stark contrast, gambling research focusing on the negative side of addiction lacks an in-depth investigation of gamblers' (positive) flow encounters. This separation of research lines seems out of place given that recent research indicates connections between flow and addiction. Joining both constructs in a causal-effects model helps one gain a better understanding of their relationship and its contingencies. This article empirically investigates whether and how it is possible to observe a "Janus face" of flow with its various sub-dimensions in online gambling. Empirical data were collected from 500 online gamblers by applying a structured questionnaire with established scales. The data were analyzed with a confirmatory factor analysis and a double-hurdle model to separate casual gamblers who are unsusceptible to any addiction issues from gamblers affected by initiatory addiction issues. The findings indicate that online gambling addiction is negatively influenced by two sub-dimensions of flow experience, namely a sense of control and concentration on the task at hand, whereas it is enhanced by a transformation of time and autotelic experience.

Aquaporins in peripheral nociception

Aquaporins in peripheral nociception