Peripheral Role Research Articles

Celebrity endorsements: Investigating the interactive effects of internalization, identification and product type on consumers’ attitudes and intentions

In line with Kang and Herr's work (2006), this research questions the ELM's contention that celebrity credibility serves foremost as a peripheral element in a persuasive communication context. Nevertheless, in a different light to the Kang and Herr's ‘either-central-or-peripheral-role’ of a source characteristic, this research advances that celebrity credibility plays concomitantly central and peripheral roles in a persuasive message context depending on product involvement and brand-purchase motive. Particularly, this research uses the notions of ‘source internalization’ and ‘source identification’ (Kelman, 1961) to theorize that source credibility can have a concomitant dual role (peripheral and central) in a persuasion context. More precisely, this research investigates the interactive effects of source identification and internalization with product involvement as well as brand-purchase motives on consumers' attitudes and intentions. Source internalization is predicted to have persuasive effects in the contexts of high-involvement as well as informational products. Source identification is predicted to have persuasive effects in the context of low-involvement as well as transformational products. The findings of two experiments show that celebrity credibility acts through only a single route (i.e., only internalization has persuasive effects) uniformly across different product involvement levels and brand-purchase motive types. We interpret these results with the lens of the ‘match-up’ hypothesis (Kamins, 1990).

Scientific research and information flow in the small-scale fisheries of the central Mexican Pacific coast

To construct more sustainable ways of using coastal resources, collaboration between society, decision makers, and scientists is highly advocated. Some social sectors consider that scientists do not adequately participate in the problems of society, and that although scientific knowledge continues to grow, socioecological problems are worsening. The generation of scientific knowledge, as well as its dissemination to address societal problems, should go beyond what traditionally has been done. The exchange of information among stakeholders is essential in the management of socioecological systems and the importance of understanding these flows is increasingly recognized. We investigated the role that scientific research has played in small-scale fisheries on the southern coast of Jalisco, Mexico. We used Social Network Analysis to visualize and understand the information flow between three sectors: fishers, academia, and government. Our findings suggest that the geographical distance between the actors plays an important role and defines many of the interactions between the sectors. In addition, distrust, language differences, lack of cooperation and leadership within the fishing organizations, and a lack of empathy between the actors, are all obstacles that actors face when discussing actions plans. The governmental sector has the ability to collect and disseminate information, yet it has not done enough to share the information in an effective way. While academia is a reliable and constant source of information, it has a peripheral role in the social network and there is a lack of communication strategies in place to enable the data generated to be utilized effectively. This study may provide an alternative pathway for research institutions to understand their role when examining issues in the regions where they work.

Gender differences in effects of father/mother parenting on mathematics achievement growth: a bioecological model of human development

This study aims to investigate gender differences in effective parenting strategies for adolescent mathematics achievement growth, taking into account socioeconomic status (SES), based on a bioecological model. Latent growth curve modeling examines longitudinal data (n = 4163) from the Taiwan Education Panel Survey. The analysis reveals that girls’ performance fits to a quadratic development model; boys’ performance better fits to a linear model. At early adolescence, mothers’ monitoring is the only common effective parenting strategy for both genders. At later adolescence, fathers need to monitor boys but to play a peripheral role (e.g., school participation and rescued discussion)for girls; mothers play direct roles (e.g., listening and persuasion) for boys, but a rational or light-minded role (e.g., discussion and letting-conflict-go) for girls. SES matters mostly in early adolescence. The findings generally support the bioecological model in terms of differential model fit and effective parenting strategies between genders.

Interactions among actors in improved rice varieties innovation system in the Eastern Zone of Tanzania

The concept of IS has gained importance in understanding the interactions among actors as determinants of innovation. Determinants of innovation are not viewed individually but within the context of a complex IS involving many actors and interactions. Therefore, this study examined the interactions among actors in the IRVIS in the Eastern Zone of Tanzania. Structured interviews, focus group discussion and documentary review methods were used in data collection. Both content and social network analysis were used to depict the different actors’ interactions in the IRVIS. The findings show that the intensity of actors’ interactions ranged from weak to medium. IRVIS is thus characterized by asymmetric power relationship among actors causing asymmetric knowledge and information flow. TARI, MATI, policymakers and DCs were important and influential over other actors; hence they largely control the knowledge flow of IRVs. The FIs, traders and millers had the least influence with weak interactions, and hence played peripheral roles. Farmers were the most prominent, but had the least influence on other actors. The study recommends that more effort be made to strengthen actors’ interactions in the IRVIS for an increase of knowledge and information sharing among actors, so as to increase the use of IRVs and improve rice productivity.

E-Readiness Of Teachers To Integrate Ict In Teaching And Learning Post Covid 19 Pandemic: Case of Eswatini

The current crisis in Eswatini brought by the Covid 19 pandemic calls for the education sector to move digital education from the peripheral role in leaning delivery to the center of the process of teaching and learning. Digital teaching and learning has become mainstream overnight. All schools were closed and the face-to-face teaching and learning approach was stopped indefinitely. This prompted new direction in research and innovations. The study was therefore conducted to take a snapshot on the E-readiness of Agriculture teachers to integrate ICT in their teaching post the Covid 19 pandemic. A survey research design employing the quantitative approach was conducted with all (N=284) agriculture teachers in Eswatini to (1) describe the E-readiness of Agriculture teachers to integrate ICT in their teaching and learning, (2) identify the support given to teachers towards ICT integration available in schools, and (3) to describe the teachers’ educational level and courses related to ICT integration in teaching. A valid and reliable instrument was designed with a Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient of (r = .80) was used to collect data. Frequencies and percentages statistics were used to analyse data. Findings associated with teachers’ readiness to integrate ICT in their teaching were: (1) teachers had personal laptops and were using them to support teaching of agriculture, (2) teachers perceived themselves as digitally proficient in using ICT tools to facilitate teaching and learning, (3) teachers had free access to computers in schools, (4) more than half of the schools offering agriculture had internet connectivity, (5) ICT was offered as an examinable subject in the majority of schools, and that (5) teachers had taken basic computer course their pre-service teacher preparatory training. It is recommended that all teacher training institutions design and offer courses on instructional technology to equip all teachers in schools to use technology to enhance their teaching skills.

Master of Photography

Italy plays a peripheral role in the global market of ready-made shows, for historical reasons that pertain both to the marginality of the Italian language and to the scarcity of cultural and economic investments in the globalization of the products. This essay focuses on the analysis of Master of Photography, a docu-talent show produced since 2015 by the Italian indie B/Arts for the pan-European production hub that Sky Limited conceived to produce suitable content for the group’s national art channels (UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Italy). Going beyond the analyses concerning the global TV market, this research brings together the perspective of critical political economy and the studies on television’s production routines, with the aim of unveiling both the elaborate adjustments and the necessary compromises required by a cross-cultural creative process that has to meet the expectations and satisfy the tastes of different national audiences. Although the format offers the Italian prodco the opportunity to develop a new production model, with positive effects on the company’s international reputation, its potential influence on the globalization of Italian products and on the growth of ready-made show is still to be demonstrated.

Leadership Emergence in OSS Communities: Evidence from the Linux Kernel Development Project

In open-source software (OSS) communities, core developers—e.g., maintainers for a specific subcomponent—play a crucial role in community governance. Previous research has mainly described the characteristics and functional roles of core developers, but few have examined the drivers of progression from peripheral roles to core roles. Our theoretical model deviates from previous research by emphasizing the moderating role of developers’ span of contributions. Specifically, we suggest that the positive effect of code contributions on developers’ progression is weakened, due to productivity losses and higher marginal costs of learning, when their technical span is broader. By contrast, the positive effect of communication with community members on progression is amplified when developers’ communicative span is broader, given the benefits of cross-functional thinking and community integration. Our theory is supported in a longitudinal study of 29,818 developers in the Linux kernel development project. Our paper introduces a novel mechanism for explaining the emergence of lateral governance mechanisms in OSS communities and contributes to the more general debate on the benefits of specialization in the context of organizational governance.

Peripheral nerve biopsy: a tool still needed in the early diagnosis of neural leprosy?

The early recognition of neural impairment in leprosy, especially in primary neural forms, represents a challenge in clinical practice and a peripheral nerve biopsy may be required for diagnostic confirmation. This study aims to characterize the epidemiological, clinical, electroneuromyographic, laboratory and histopathological aspects of patients undergoing peripheral nerve biopsy during investigation of primary neural cases in leprosy. A total of 104 patients with peripheral neuropathy who were referred to a national reference centre for leprosy were biopsied from 2014 to 2018. All cases underwent clinical, laboratory, histopathological and electroneuromyographic evaluations. Of 104 biopsied patients, leprosy was confirmed in 89.4% (93/104). The biopsied nerves were the ulnar (67.8% [63/93]), superficial fibular (21.5% [20/93]), sural (8.6% [8/93]), radial (1.1% [1/93]) and deep fibular (1.1% [1/93]). Twenty-nine percent (27/93) presented histopathological abnormalities and 4.4% (4/93) presented acid-fast bacilli. Nerve and superjacent skin quantitative polymerase chain reaction were positive in 49.5% (46/93) and 24.8% (23/93) of cases, respectively. Patients with multiple mononeuropathy had a higher frequency of histopathological abnormalities (p=0.0077). This study reinforces peripheral nerve biopsy's role as an important tool in the investigation of primary neural cases, contributing to the early diagnosis and also reducing diagnostic errors and the need for empirical treatment.

Local entrepreneurial ecosystems as configural narratives: A new way of seeing and evaluating antecedents and outcomes

Abstract This paper develops and applies a new evaluative approach to local entrepreneuriale cosystems, as configural narratives. We examine how configurations of local entrepreneurial ecosystem attributes, as evaluated by local experts, support or hinder the emergence of new and innovative firms. Drawing on sociology of place, we present a novel configurational comparative analysis of local experts' evaluation of their ecosystems in Chile. Our proposed approach to entrepreneurial ecosystems helps us uncover two counterintuitive findings and so elaborateon interferences that have not yet been addressed through conventional concepts, methods and data. First, we reveal three distinct ecosystem types explaining different local levels of new firm activity: Active self-propelled, Indulged and Passive self-absorbed. The internal composition of these types change when only innovative and high growth firms are taken into consideration. Second, we show why, when seen as configural narratives, ecosystem attributes that have been assumed necessary play only a peripheral role. Our study demonstrates a split picture against seemingly similar outcomes and homogenous local contexts, contributing to the advancement of entrepreneurial ecosystem theory, observation and assessment.

Lexical Phrases: An Essential Brain-Adaptive Requisite for Second Language Acquisition

In the incessant attempts to overcome second language (L2) acquisition difficulties and to improve second language proficiency, most of the proposed methodological approaches which address this issue place high value on individual vocabulary and grammar of a second language and fall short of integrating lexical phrases/multi-unit expressions into the teaching approaches. This, if does not exacerbate acquisition difficulties, does not by any means improve it. On this view, the ubiquitous interest in lexical phrases gave rise to their investigation in language acquisition. This paper reviews the importance of lexical phrases in language acquisition by providing further insight into their peripheral role in first language and second language acquisition alike. Also, Evidence from neurolinguistic and psycholinguistic studies are provided to account for lexical phrases representation and brain-adaptability. Further, this paper suggests the implementation of lexical phrases, in general, and the Lexical Approach, in particular, in second language acquisition. Finally, further pedagogical implications as well as self-paced ones are proposed.

Interdisciplinarity in medical education research: myth and reality

The medical education (Med Ed) research community characterises itself as drawing on the insights, methods, and knowledge from multiple disciplines and research domains (e.g. Sociology, Anthropology, Education, Humanities, Psychology). This common view of Med Ed research is echoed and reinforced by the narrative used by leading Med Ed departments and research centres to describe their activities as “interdisciplinary.” Bibliometrics offers an effective method of investigating scholarly communication to determine what knowledge is valued, recognized, and utilized. By empirically examining whether knowledge production in Med Ed research draws from multiple disciplines and research areas, or whether it primarily draws on the knowledge generated internally within the field of Med Ed, this article explores whether the characterisation of Med Ed research as interdisciplinary is substantiated. A citation analysis of 1412 references from research articles published in 2017 in the top five Med Ed journals was undertaken. A typology of six knowledge clusters was inductively developed. Findings show that the field of Med Ed research draws predominantly from two knowledge clusters: the Applied Health Research cluster (made of clinical and health services research), which represents 41% of the references, and the Med Ed research cluster, which represents 40% of the references. These two clusters cover 81% of all references in our sample, leaving 19% distributed among the other knowledge clusters (i.e., Education, disciplinary, interdisciplinary and topic centered research). The quasi-hegemonic position held by the Applied Health and Med Ed research clusters confines the other sources of knowledge to a peripheral role within the Med Ed research field. Our findings suggest that the assumption that Med Ed research is an interdisciplinary field is not convincingly supported by empirical data and that the knowledge entering Med Ed comes mostly from the health research domain.

The limited reach of fake news on Twitter during 2019 European elections.

The advent of social media changed the way we consume content, favoring a disintermediated access to, and production of information. This scenario has been matter of critical discussion about its impact on society, magnified in the case of the Arab Springs or heavily criticized during Brexit and the 2016 U.S. elections. In this work we explore information consumption on Twitter during the 2019 European Parliament electoral campaign by analyzing the interaction patterns of official news outlets, disinformation outlets, politicians, people from the showbiz and many others. We extensively explore interactions among different classes of accounts in the months preceding the elections, held between 23rd and 26th of May, 2019. We collected almost 400,000 tweets posted by 863 accounts having different roles in the public society. Through a thorough quantitative analysis we investigate the information flow among them, also exploiting geolocalized information. Accounts show the tendency to confine their interaction within the same class and the debate rarely crosses national borders. Moreover, we do not find evidence of an organized network of accounts aimed at spreading disinformation. Instead, disinformation outlets are largely ignored by the other actors and hence play a peripheral role in online political discussions.

English Language, Globalisation and the Future of the Nigerian Indigenous Languages

In the present globalised world, languages have come to be ranked based on their roles in the world arena, the status assigned to them in the environment inwhich they are spoken as well as the number of their respective speakers. As such, some languages, including English, is considered a world language. English language wields great power in Nigeria, as an official and national language. Its ever-increasing roles have detrimental effects on the survival of the minority languages, with most of them playing just peripheral roles. Most of the minority languages are further threatened by the major ones spoken in different geopolitical zones. As the functional loads of these minority languages continue to reduce gradually and consistently, their level of vitality equally reduces. A minority language whose functional domains are overtaken by a dominant one will eventually disappear as their users shift to the latter and therefore, would no longer use them for any linguistic function. This paper discusses the current precarious situation of the Nigerian indigenous languages, especially the minority ones in the face of globalisation, the domineering effect of English language and what can be done to make these languages withstand the test of time.

The ever-changing roles of serotonin.

Serotonin (5-HT) has traditional roles as a key neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and as a regulatory hormone controlling a broad range of physiological functions. Perhaps the most classically-defined functions of 5-HT are centrally in the control of mood, sleep and anxiety and peripherally in the modulation of gastrointestinal motility. A more recently appreciated role for 5-HT has emerged, however, as an important metabolic hormone contributing to glucose homeostasis and adiposity, with a causal relationship existing between circulating 5-HT levels and metabolic diseases. Almost all peripheral 5-HT is derived from specialised enteroendocrine cells, called enterochromaffin (EC) cells, located throughout the length of the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. EC cells are important luminal sensory cells that can detect and respond to an array of ingested nutrients, as well as luminal gut microbiota and their associated metabolites. Intriguingly, the interaction between gut microbiota and EC cells is dynamic in nature and has strong implications for host physiology. In this review, we discuss the traditional and modern functions of 5-HT and highlight an emerging pathway by which gut microbiota influences host health. Serotonin, also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), is an important neurotransmitter, growth factor and hormone that mediates a range of physiological functions. In mammals, serotonin is synthesized from the essential amino acid tryptophan by the rate-limiting enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH), for which there are two isoforms expressed in distinct cell types throughout the body. Tph1 is mainly expressed by specialized gut endocrine cells known as enterochromaffin (EC) cells and by other non-neuronal cell types such as adipocytes (Walther et al., 2003). Tph2 is primarily expressed in neurons of the raphe nuclei of the brain stem and a subset of neurons in the enteric nervous system (ENS) (Yabut et al., 2019). As 5-HT cannot readily cross the blood-brain barrier, the central and peripheral pools of 5-HT are anatomically separated and as such, act in their own distinct manners (Martin et al., 2017c). In this review we discuss the peripheral roles of serotonin, with particular focus on the interaction of gut-derived serotonin with the gut microbiota, and address emerging evidence linking this relationship with host homeostasis.

Colocalization of Oxtr with Prader-Willi syndrome transcripts in the trigeminal ganglion of neonatal mice.

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is caused by deficient expression of the paternal copy of several contiguous genes on chromosome 15q11-q13 and affects multiple organ systems in the body, including the nervous system. Feeding and suckling deficits in infants with PWS are replaced with excessive feeding and obesity in childhood through adulthood. Clinical trials using intranasal oxytocin (OXT) show promise to improve feeding deficits in infants with PWS. The mechanism and location of action of exogenous OXT are unknown. We have recently shown in neonatal mice that OXT receptors (OXTR) are present in several regions of the face with direct roles in feeding. Here we show that the trigeminal ganglion, which provides sensory innervation to the face, is a rich source of Oxtr and a site of cellular co-expression with PWS gene transcripts. We also quantified OXTR ligand binding in mice deficient in Magel2, a PWS gene, within the trigeminal ganglion and regions that are anatomically relevant to feeding behavior and innervated by the trigeminal ganglion including the lateral periodontium, rostral periodontium, tongue, olfactory epithelium, whisker pads and brainstem. We found that peripheral OXTR ligand binding in the head is mostly intact in Magel2-deficient mice, although it is reduced in the lateral periodontium (gums) of neonatal Magel2-deficient mice compared to wild-type controls. These data suggest that OXT via orofacial OXTR may play a peripheral role to modulate sensory-motor reflexes necessary for suckling and may be part of the mechanism by which intranasal OXT shows promise for therapeutic benefit in PWS.

Resurrecting ‘Metaphor’ inside the EFL Poetry Classroom: a Nudge towards an Integrated-Model

‘Metaphor’ captures the zeitgeist of the 21st Century for reaching a climactic scene on the stage of cognitive linguistics, literary studies, and Second Language (L2) teaching. Important though, in Algerian English as Foreign Language (EFL) literature classrooms, metaphor plays a peripheral role in education, as it scarcely appears either as part and parcel device in literature analysis or as a means for strengthening the understanding of poetry. However, even in those literary spaces where it visibly manifests itself, learning the metaphoric language does not touch a chord with the learners. The persistent issue is that many Algerian instructors are still employing threadbare, transmissive modes of instruction that fail deceptively to reach satisfying scholarly ends. In this sense, the fulcrum aim of this study is to explore the effectiveness of re-positing metaphor inside the poetry curriculum. Correspondingly, it proposes the integrated-model as a state-of-art teaching framework. The primary question that this study seeks to answer is whether teaching poetry via an integrated approach may act as a stimulus for enhancing students’ Metaphoric Competence (MC). The secondary subsidiary endeavour is to diagnose the different intricacies that the learners confront along that process. Guided by these incentives, the researcher has carried an empirical study (pre/posttest) with forty-first year EFL Algerian students from Tlemcen University using four poems as evaluative materials. To analyze the effectiveness of the experiment using SPSS, the inquirer has opted for the Paired-Samples t-Test to check whether the paradigm shift in the same group of participants’ grades is statistically significant or not. Substantially, this study reveals that the implementation of an integrated framework to instruct poetry provides a springboard for remarkable betterments in the area of MC. This progress is evidenced by its ability to revitalize the learners’ cognitive potentials to comprehend, interpret, and evaluate conceptual metaphors embedded in poetry. In an unfavourable note, this study has also dropped the veil on some language difficulties that the students face in the course of metaphor analysis, that stem mainly from the low exposure to the target language (TL), and the poor engagement with the different literary modes of expression. Finally, for the hope of honing (MC) inside the Algerian EFL classes, it is fervently recommended that the teachers assist their learners actively in well-defined figurative-oriented assignments that focus on raising the awareness of the L2 conceptual mapping. Technological aids are also a solicited constructive teaching material that may make poetry draw a new breath of life inside the classroom and beyond.

MON-012 The Direct Effect of Kisspeptin on Human Ovarian Granulosa Cells to Regulate Steroidogenesis

Kisspeptin has a central role to stimulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. Furthermore, a previous study has suggested that kisspeptin might have a peripheral role in follicular development (1). This study aimed to 1) explore the effect of kisspeptin on CYP19A1 (aromatase) mRNA expression in human granulosa cells and aromatase concentrations in the supernatant; and 2) investigate the effect of kisspeptin on FSHR mRNA expression in human granulosa cells. In this study, human granulosa-like tumor cell line (KGN) (n=3) was incubated for 24 hours with FSH (10-8 M); FSH with IGF-1 (10-8 M); different doses of kisspeptin including 1, 10, 100, 1,000, and 10,000 nM; FSH with different doses of kisspeptin; and FSH with IGF-1 together with different doses of kisspeptin. FSH treatment alone or FSH with IGF-1 did not increase CYP19A1 mRNA expression when compared to control. Interestingly, kisspeptin treatment at the doses of 100 nM (P=0.028), 1,000 nM (P=0.005), and 10,000 nM (P=0.009) in the presence of FSH together with IGF-1 enhanced CYP19A1 mRNA expression when compared with control. Furthermore, FSH or FSH with IGF-1 or FSH with all doses of kisspeptin or FSH with IGF-1 together with all doses of kisspeptin increased aromatase concentrations in the supernatant when compared to control (P<0.01 all). Surprisingly, kisspeptin at the dose of 10,000 nM with FSH or FSH together with IGF-1 statistically increased aromatase concentrations in the supernatant when compared with FSH treatment alone or FSH with IGF-1 treatment (P<0.01 all). FSHR mRNA expression was comparable between control and all treatments. As a result, kisspeptin combined with FSH and IGF-1 could enhance CYP19A1 mRNA expression in human granulosa cells and the high dose of kisspeptin (10,000 nM) might be able to augment aromatase secretion in the supernatant. These results suggest that kisspeptin might enhance aromatase expression and secretion, which probably leads to enhance estrogen synthesis. Further studies regarding kisspeptin treatment on estrogen synthesis or secretion in human granulosa cells should be confirmed. Reference: (1) Fernandois D, et al. J Endocrinol. 2016;228(3):161-70.

Mutualism and the dynamics of new platform creation: A study of Cisco and fog computing

AbstractResearch summaryHow firms respond to the emergence of dominant platforms that undermine their competitiveness remains a strategic puzzle. Our longitudinal study shows how one incumbent, Cisco, responded to such a challenge by creating a new platform, Fog, without undermining the dominant platform, Cloud, where it played a complementor role. By developing a process model we reveal how a firm in a peripheral role in a platform ecosystem can reposition itself through a dynamic mix of material, symbolic and institutional actions to develop and legitimize an alternative platform. This can be done first through symbiosis with the dominant platform, then partial competition with it. We theorize the value of a mutualistic “rising tide lifts all boats” strategy in contrast to hostile “winner takes all” approaches.Managerial summaryThe increasing pervasiveness of digital platforms are driving established firms to reboot their strategy to embrace emergent forms of competition, collaboration, and mutual coexistence. Fearing disruption in their traditional business models, firms may decide to jump into the platform game. However, this is not straightforward since they do not want to go head‐to‐head with existing platforms and alienate their partners and customers by being perceived as encroaching on their turf. We describe one way that established technology firms are overcoming this dilemma through a “rising‐tide‐lifts‐all‐boats” strategy to cultivate new platforms. We show the value of seemingly inconsistent and dynamic approaches toward strategic communication and investments firm can use to lead new platforms without facing backlash from others.

Cerebrovascular amyloid Angiopathy in bioengineered vessels is reduced by high-density lipoprotein particles enriched in Apolipoprotein E

BackgroundSeveral lines of evidence suggest that high-density lipoprotein (HDL) reduces Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk by decreasing vascular beta-amyloid (Aβ) deposition and inflammation, however, the mechanisms by which HDL improve cerebrovascular functions relevant to AD remain poorly understood.MethodsHere we use a human bioengineered model of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) to define several mechanisms by which HDL reduces Aβ deposition within the vasculature and attenuates endothelial inflammation as measured by monocyte binding.ResultsWe demonstrate that HDL reduces vascular Aβ accumulation independently of its principal binding protein, scavenger receptor (SR)-BI, in contrast to the SR-BI-dependent mechanism by which HDL prevents Aβ-induced vascular inflammation. We describe multiple novel mechanisms by which HDL acts to reduce CAA, namely: i) altering Aβ binding to collagen-I, ii) forming a complex with Aβ that maintains its solubility, iii) lowering collagen-I protein levels produced by smooth-muscle cells (SMC), and iv) attenuating Aβ uptake into SMC that associates with reduced low density lipoprotein related protein 1 (LRP1) levels. Furthermore, we show that HDL particles enriched in apolipoprotein (apo)E appear to be the major drivers of these effects, providing new insights into the peripheral role of apoE in AD, in particular, the fraction of HDL that contains apoE.ConclusionThe findings in this study identify new mechanisms by which circulating HDL, particularly HDL particles enriched in apoE, may provide vascular resilience to Aβ and shed new light on a potential role of peripherally-acting apoE in AD.

Gendering research on online illegal drug markets

This paper reviews and critiques research on online illegal drug markets, arguing that existing conceptualizations and methodological approaches have resulted in a very limited discussion of women and questions of gender. The first part lays out the stereotypes and unarticulated assumptions that enable questions about women and gender to be side-lined, as follows: (i) that online anonymity rules out knowing about gender in online drug markets; (ii) that online drug markets are male-dominated spaces; and iii) that women are limited to minor or peripheral roles in those markets. Our aim is to make apparent and challenge the marginalization of enquiry about women and gender in existing scholarship about online illegal drug markets. In the second part, we draw on scholarship on women and gender in the drug trade more generally to consider what studying online illegal drug markets might add to our understanding of both women’s participation in these markets and the way in which gender is more widely performed. We consider whether online markets may facilitate women’s participation (due to anonymity, for example), or whether online drug markets replicate gendered stratifications characteristic of offline markets. We also explore the potential significance of women’s participation in online illegal drug markets for harm reduction services. In conclusion, we suggest that future research should challenge the assumption that we can understand online markets without thinking about gender and outline the steps toward building a gendered perspective in this area.