bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DeepCSO: a deep-learning network approach to predicting Cysteine S-sulphenylation sites
Authors: Lyu Xiaru , He Ningning , Chen Zhen , Zou Yang , Li Lei
Published: August 2020

Cysteine S-sulphenylation (CSO), as a novel post-translational modification (PTM), has emerged as a potential mechanism to regulate protein functions and affect signal networks. Because of its functional significance, several prediction approaches have been developed. Nevertheless, they are based on a limited dataset fromHomo sapiensand there is a lack of prediction tools for the CSO sites of other species. Recently, this modification has been investigated at the proteomics scale for a few species and the number of identified CSO sites has significantly increased. Thus, it is essential to explore the characteristics of this modification across different species and construct prediction models with better performances based on the enlarged dataset. In this study, we constructed a few classifiers and fond that the long short-term memory model with the word-embedding encoding approach, dubbed LSTMWE, performs favorably to the traditional machine-learning models and other deep-learning models across different species, in terms of cross-validation and independent test. The area under the ROC curve values for LSTMWEranged from 0.82 to 0.85 for different organisms, which is superior to the reposted CSO predictors. Moreover, we developed the general model based on the integrated data from different species and it showed great universality and effectiveness. We provided the on-line prediction service called DeepCSO that included both species-specific and general models, which is accessible throughhttp://www.bioinfogo.org/DeepCSO.
MSImpute: Imputation of label-free mass spectrometry peptides by low-rank approximation
Authors: Hediyeh-zadeh Soroor , Webb Andrew I. , Davis Melissa J.
Published: August 2020

Recent developments in mass spectrometry (MS) instruments and data acquisition modes have aided multiplexed, fast, reproducible and quantitative analysis of proteome profiles, yet missing values remain a formidable challenge for proteomics data analysis. The stochastic nature of sampling in Data Dependent Acquisition (DDA), suboptimal preprocessing of Data Independent Acquisition (DIA) runs and dynamic range limitation of MS instruments impedes the reproducibility and accuracy of peptide quantification and can introduce systematic patterns of missingness that impact downstream analyses. Thus, imputation of missing values becomes an important element of data analysis. We introducemsImpute, an imputation method based on low-rank approximation, and compare it to six alternative imputation methods using public DDA and DIA datasets. We evaluate the performance of methods by determining the error of imputed values and accuracy of detection of differential expression. We also measure the post-imputation preservation of structures in the data at different levels of granularity. We develop a visual diagnostic to determine the nature of missingness in datasets based on peptides with high biological dropout rate and introduce a method to identify such peptides. Our findings demonstrate thatmsImputeperforms well when data are missing at random and highlights the importance of prior knowledge about nature of missing values in a dataset when selecting an imputation technique.
Integrative Spatial Single-cell Analysis with Graph-based Feature Learning
Authors: Zhu Junjie , Sabatti Chiara
Published: August 2020

We proposeGLISS, a strategy to discover spatially-varying genes by integrating two data sources: (1) spatial gene expression data such as image-based fluorescencein situhybridization techniques, and (2) dissociated whole-transcriptome single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data.GLISSutilizes a graph-based association measure to select and link genes that are spatially-dependent in both data sources.GLISScan discover new spatial genes and recover cell locations in scRNA-seq data from landmark genes determined from SGE data.GLISSalso offers a new dimension reduction technique to cluster the genes, while accounting for the inferred spatial structure of the cells. We demonstrate the utility ofGLISSon simulated and real datasets, including datasets on the mouse olfactory bulb and breast cancer biopsies, and two spatial studies of the mammalian liver and intestine.
Pleiotropy inFOXC1-attributable phenotypes involves altered ciliation and cilia-dependent signaling
Authors: Havrylov Serhiy , Chrystal Paul , van Baarle Suey , French Curtis R , MacDonald Ian M , Avasarala Jagannadha R , Rogers R Curtis , Berry Fred B , Kume Tsutomu , Waskiewicz Andrew J , Lehmann Ordan J
Published: August 2020

Alterations to cilia are responsible for a wide range of severe disease; however, understanding of the transcriptional control of ciliogenesis remains incomplete. We evaluated whether ciliary dysfunction contributed to the pleiotropic phenotypes caused by theForkheadtranscription factorFOXC1. Here, we show that patients withFOXC1-attributable Axenfeld-Rieger Syndrome (ARS) have a prevalence of ciliopathy-associated phenotypes comparable to syndromic ciliopathies. We demonstrate that altering the level of Foxc1, via shRNA mediated inhibition and mRNA overexpression, modifies cilia lengthin vitro. These structural changes were associated with substantially perturbed cilia-dependent signaling [Hedgehog (Hh) and PDGFRα] and the altered ciliary compartmentalization of a major Hh pathway transcription factor, Gli2. Analyses of twoFoxc1murine mutant strains demonstrated altered axonemal length in the choroid plexus with the increased expression of an essential regulator of multi-ciliation,Foxj1. The novel complexity revealed in ciliation of the choroid plexus indicates a partitioning of function between theseForkheadtranscription factors. Collectively, these results support a contribution from ciliary dysfunction to someFOXC1-induced phenotypes.
The Daam2–VHL–Nedd4 axis governs developmental and regenerative oligodendrocyte differentiation
Authors: Ding Xiaoyun , Jo Juyeon , Wang Chih-Yen , Cristobal Carlo D. , Zuo Zhongyuan , Ye Qi , Wirianto Marvin , Lindeke-Myers Aaron , Choi Jong Min , Mohila Carrie A. , Kawabe Hiroshi , Jung Sung Yun , Bellen Hugo J. , Yoo Seung-Hee , Lee Hyun Kyoung
Published: August 2020

Dysregulation of the ubiquitin–proteasomal system (UPS) enables pathogenic accumulation of disease-driving proteins in neurons across a host of neurological disorders. However, whether and how the UPS contributes to oligodendrocyte dysfunction and repair after white matter injury (WMI) remains undefined. Here we show that the E3 ligase VHL interacts with Daam2 and their mutual antagonism regulates oligodendrocyte differentiation during development. Using proteomic analysis of the Daam2–VHL complex coupled with conditional genetic knockout mouse models, we further discovered that the E3 ubiquitin ligase Nedd4 is required for developmental myelination through stabilization of VHL via K63-linked ubiquitination. Furthermore, studies in mouse demyelination models and white matter lesions from patients with multiple sclerosis corroborate the function of this pathway during remyelination after WMI. Overall, these studies provide evidence that a signaling axis involving key UPS components contributes to oligodendrocyte development and repair and reveal a new role for Nedd4 in glial biology.
Managing consumer privacy concerns and defensive behaviours in the digital marketplace
Authors: Bandara Ruwan , Fernando Mario , Akter Shahriar
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine privacy issues in the e-commerce context from a power-responsibility equilibrium theory (PRE) perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

The data was collected using an online survey (n= 335) from online shopping consumers. This study used partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) techniques to empirically examine the proposed relationships.

Findings

A lack of corporate privacy responsibility and regulatory protection can deprive consumers of privacy empowerment and damage consumer trust to trigger privacy concerns and subsequent defensive responses. Also, the fsQCA revealed five causal configurations to explain high consumer defensive behaviours.

Research limitations/implications

This study identifies the importance of PRE theory in the privacy context. Consumer privacy concerns, privacy empowerment and trust are established as strong mediators between corporate/regulatory privacy protection efforts and consumer backlash. The application of fsQCA verified that consumer privacy behaviour can be better explained by different configurations of the same causal antecedents.

Practical implications

The findings highlight the importance of increasing trust and privacy empowerment as mechanisms to manage privacy concerns and consumer backlash through responsible organisational and regulatory privacy protections. The importance of balancing power and responsibility dynamics for maintaining a healthy information exchange environment is identified.

Originality/value

This study extends the PRE framework of privacy to include corporate privacy responsibility, privacy empowerment and trust. This is one of the first studies to explore both antecedents and outcomes of privacy empowerment. Also, the application of complexity theory and fsQCA to explain consumers’ defensive responses is novel to the literature.
Grey theory–based BP-NN co-training for dense sequence long-term tendency prediction
Authors: Hong Yuling , Yang Yingjie , Zhang Qishan
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to solve the problems existing in topic popularity prediction in online social networks and advance a fine-grained and long-term prediction model for lack of sufficient data.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on GM(1,1) and neural networks, a co-training model for topic tendency prediction is proposed in this paper. The interpolation based on GM(1,1) is employed to generate fine-grained prediction values of topic popularity time series and two neural network models are considered to achieve convergence by transmitting training parameters via their loss functions.

Findings

The experiment results indicate that the integrated model can effectively predict dense sequence with higher performance than other algorithms, such as NN and RBF_LSSVM. Furthermore, the Markov chain state transition probability matrix model is used to improve the prediction results.

Practical implications

Fine-grained and long-term topic popularity prediction, further improvement could be made by predicting any interpolation in the time interval of popularity data points.

Originality/value

The paper succeeds in constructing a co-training model with GM(1,1) and neural networks. Markov chain state transition probability matrix is deployed for further improvement of popularity tendency prediction.
Public leadership and strategies of Czech municipalities during the COVID-19 pandemic – municipal activism vs municipal passivism
Authors: Plaček Michal , Špaček David , Ochrana František
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This paper discusses the role of public leadership and the strategic response of local governments to the external shock caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors examine the typical Czech response with regard to how the leadership of municipalities in the Czech Republic responded to this extremely negative external stimulus.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use qualitative research methods for this investigation. They have chosen the case study method (see Yin, 2009; Stake, 1995; Klonoski, 2013). The general case is the Czech Republic. Mini-cases consist of municipalities from the Znojmo region, municipalities of the Central Bohemian region and the municipal districts in the capital city of Prague. Furthermore, the method of participant observation was used.

Findings

The authors’ analysis of the problem of local government responses to the pandemic crisis shows that municipal leaders responded with a variety of (non-)adaptation strategies. It appears that certain framework factors influenced the various local governments' behavior.

Originality/value

The article examines the strategic behavior of Czech municipal leaders regarding the pandemic crisis based on the observation of the reactions of local governments in the Czech Republic to the pandemic crisis and strives to define their basic strategies.
The impact of information sharing legislation on cybersecurity industry
Authors: Yang Agnes , Kwon Young Jin , Lee Sang-Yong Tom
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The objective of this paper is to investigate how firms react to cybersecurity information sharing environment where government organizations disseminate cybersecurity threat information gathered by individual firms to the private entities. The overall impact of information sharing on firms' cybersecurity investment decision has only been game-theoretically explored, not giving practical implication. The authors therefore leverage the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 (CISA) to observe firms' attitudinal changes toward investing in cybersecurity.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors design a quasi-experiment where they set US cybersecurity firms as an experimental group (a proxy for total investment in cybersecurity) and nonsecurity firms as a control group to measure the net effect of CISA on overall cybersecurity investment. To enhance the robustness of the authors’ difference-in-difference estimation, the authors employed propensity score matched sample test and reduced sample test as well.

Findings

For the full sample, the authors’ empirical findings suggest that US security firms' overall performance (i.e. Tobin's Q) improved following the legislation, which indicates that more investment in cybersecurity was followed by the formation of information sharing environment. Interestingly, big cybersecurity firms are beneficiaries of the CISA when the full samples are divided into small and large group. Both Tobin's Q and sales growth rate increased for big firms after CISA.

Research limitations/implications

The authors’ findings shed more light on the research stream of cybersecurity and information sharing, a research area only explored by game-theoretical approaches. Given that the US government has tried to enforce cybersecurity defensive measures by building cooperative architecture such as CISA 2015, the policy implication of this study is far-reaching.

Originality/value

The authors’ study contributes to the research on the economic benefits of sharing cybersecurity information by finding the missing link (i.e. empirical evidence) between “sharing” and “economic impact.” This paper confirms that CISA affects the cybersecurity industry unevenly by firm size, a previously unidentified relationship.
Coding vs presenting: a multicultural study on emotions
Authors: Colomo-Palacios Ricardo , Casado-Lumbreras Cristina , Álvarez-Rodríguez José María , Yilmaz Murat
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore and compare emotions perceived while coding and presenting for software students, comparing three different countries and performing also a gender analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical data are gathered by means of the discrete emotions questionnaire, which was distributed to a group of students (n = 174) in three different countries: Norway, Spain and Turkey. All emotions are self-assessed by means of a Likert scale.

Findings

The results show that both tasks are emotionally different for the subjects of all countries: presentation is described as a task that produces mainly fear and anxiety; whereas coding tasks produce anger and rage, but also happiness and satisfaction. With regards to gender differences, men feel less scared in presentation tasks, whereas women report more desire in coding activities. It is concluded that it is important to be aware and take into account the different emotions perceived by students in their activities. Moreover, it is also important to note the different intensities in these emotions present in different cultures and genders.

Originality/value

This study is among the few to study emotions perceived in software work by means of a multicultural approach using quantitative research methods. The research results enrich computing literacy theory in human factors.
Listening to action: community involvement in strategy development
Authors: Oldam Lonan A. , Cruz Giovanna I. , McGhee Sarah M. , Morris Lottie , Watson Judi , Mills Anne
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Palliative care requires integration between services, organisations and the community. A series of community engagement programmes, named “Listening Events”, were conducted across the Isle of Man. The aim was to involve the community in the development of Hospice strategy by sharing their views on the future of palliative and end of life care.

Design/methodology/approach

Three Listening Event programmes were conducted in community settings, secondary schools and the Isle of Man’s University College. The investigators facilitated discussions on current knowledge of Hospice services, what would matter to people should they need to use these, and how Hospice could best serve the community in the future. Participants and investigators noted thoughts and comments. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Findings

In total, 899 people participated from across the community. Main themes surrounded effective care, person-centred care and integrated care. Most themes agreed across the three programmes, despite some nuances.

Originality/value

The results were used as an evidence base from which Hospice Isle of Man’s new strategy was derived in order to ensure that it aligned with the community’s needs. By initiating conversations and discussions in the community, the Listening Events may have also increased understanding about hospice care.
Favorable effects ofGlobularia alypumon cardiometabolic markers in high fructose-fed rats
Authors: Bahlil Yasmina , Krouf Djamil , Mellouk Zoheir , Taleb-Dida Nawal , Guenzet Akila
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This study aims to examine whetherGlobularia alypum(Ga) lyophilized aqueous leaves extract treatment improves cardiometabolic syndromes such as hyperglycemia, lipid profiles and oxidative damage resulting from a high-fructose diet induced in hypertriglyceridemic rats.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 24 male Wistar rats weighing 80 ± 5 g were first randomly divided into 2 groups. A total of 12 control rats (C) were fed a standard-diet (St-D) and 12 high fructose (HF) rats were fed a high-fructose diet (HF-D) containing St-D in which cornstarch was substituted by fructose (61.4%). After 15 weeks of feeding, body weight (BW) was about 320 ± 20 g and hypertriglyceridemia was noted in HF vs C group (2.69 ± 0.49 mmol/L) vs (1.25 ± 0.33 mmol/L). Each group of rats was then divided into two equal groups (n= 6) and fed during four weeks either a St-D or HF-D, treated or not with 1% ofGaextract (C-Ga) and (HF-Ga). After 28 days, fasting rats were anesthetized and blood and tissues were removed to measure biochemical parameters.

Findings

The results showed no significant differences in BW and insulinemia between all groups.Gaextract supplementation reduced glycemia (−36%), glycosylated hemoglobin (−37%), Homeostasis Model of Assessment-Insulin Resistance index (−34%) and triacylglycerol’s contents in plasma (−33%), very low density lipoproteins–low density lipoproteins (VLDL-LDL) (−48%), liver (−52%) and aorta (−39%); total cholesterol concentrations in aorta was 3.7-fold lower in HF-Ga vs HF group.Gatreatment reduced lipid peroxidation in plasma, VLDL-LDL, red blood cells (RBC), liver, muscle and kidney by improving superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in RBC and catalase (CAT) activity in kidney (p< 0.05). Moreover,Gaameliorates glutathione (GSH) production in RBC (+41%) and kidney tissues (+35%).

Originality/value

Gaextract ameliorated cardiometabolic syndrome by its hypotriglyceridemic effect and prevented development of insulin resistance. It reduces lipid peroxidation by enhancing non-enzymatic (GSH) and enzymatic (SOD, GPx and CAT) antioxidant defense systems in high-fructose hypertriglyceridemic rats. Therefore, supplementation ofGaleaves extract as an adjuvant could be used for the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia and the prevention and/or the management of cardio-metabolic adverse effects.
Multigroup analysis of higher-order model of knowledge variables in the context of global ventures through PLS-SEM
Authors: Aggarwal Vijita S. , Kapoor Madhavi
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The study purports at investigating the effect of organizational factors (strategy, culture, information technology and structure) on knowledge transfer and innovation performance in the context of Indian International joint ventures (IJVs) of varied ages and industries. All the variables are woven together in the framework of dynamic capabilities theory.

Design/methodology/approach

PLS-SEM was used to analyze the primary data collected from IJVs. The disjoint two-stage approach was applied to check the mediation in the model. The multigroup technique was deployed to test group-differences in the sample.

Findings

The four organizational factors, combined as a construct, are seen to have a positive impact on knowledge transfer, which facilitates innovation performance. But mediation analysis revealed the insignificant indirect relationship of organizational factors with innovation through knowledge transfer for the total sample. In-depth group analysis revealed that these results differ between young and mature IJVs and knowledge-intensive and non-knowledge intensive industries.

Research limitations/implications

The number of organizational factors is limited to four, which can be further increased. Longitudinal studies for investigating the formation of dynamic capabilities can be the future research direction.

Originality/value

The research has provided hierarchical analysis for organizational factors, knowledge transfer and innovation performance with multigroup industrial and age-wise analysis of Indian IJVs, which is still unplumbed in international business literature.
Lean Six Sigma competitiveness for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME): an action research in the Indian context
Authors: Bhat Shreeranga , Gijo E.V. , Rego Anil Melwyn , Bhat Vinayambika S.
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The aim of the article is to ascertain the challenges, lessons learned and managerial implications in the deployment of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) competitiveness to micro, small and medium Enterprises (MSME) in India and to establish doctrines to strengthen the initiatives of the government.

Design/methodology/approach

The research adopts the Action Research methodology to develop a case study, which is carried out in the printing industry in a Tier III city using the LSS DMAIC (Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control) approach. It utilizes LSS tools to deploy the strategy and to unearth the challenges and success factors in improving the printing process of a specific batch of a product.

Findings

The root cause for the critical to quality (CTQ) characteristic, turn-around-time (TAT) is determined and the solutions are deployed through the scientifically proven data-based approach. As a result of this study, the TAT reduced from an average of 1541.2–1303.36 min, which in turn, improved the sigma level from 0.55 to 2.96, a noteworthy triumph for this MSME. The company realizes an annual savings of USD 12,000 per year due to the success of this project. Top Management Leadership, Data-Based Validation, Technical Know-how and Industrial Engineering Knowledge Base are identified as critical success factors (CSFs), while profitability and on-time delivery are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for the MSME. Eventually, the lessons learned and implications indicate that LSS competitiveness can be treated as quality management standards (QMS) and quality tools and techniques (QTT) to ensure competitive advantage, sustainable green practices and growth.

Research limitations/implications

Even though the findings and recommendations of this research are based on a single case study, it is worth noting that the case study is executed in a Tier III city along with novice users of LSS tools and techniques. This indicates the applicability of LSS in MSME and thus, the modality adopted can be further refined to suit the socio-cultural aspects of India.

Originality/value

This article illustrates the deployment of LSS from the perspective of novice users, to assist MSME and policymakers to reinforce competitiveness through LSS. Moreover, the government can initiate a scheme in line with LSS competitiveness to complement the existing schemes based on the findings of the case study.
Towards an Understanding of Privacy Management Architecture in Big Data: An Experimental Research
Authors: Hajli Nick , Shirazi Farid , Tajvidi Mina , Huda Nurul
Published: August 2020

Big data analytics provide valuable information allowing organizations to gain insights that grant them a competitive advantage in the market. However, it also provides access to data that compromise people's privacy. The development of sophisticated technologies for data analysis has resulted in a growing concern around privacy management in big data. While many sites (e.g. Facebook) require the user to provide personal information to access their services, others (e.g. Google search) can automatically capture or trace user activities and use that data to acquire personal demographic information. Therefore, Internet users are – willingly or unwillingly – constantly disclosing sensitive personal information. In addition, users do not get a complete picture of how their personal information is disseminated online. In this paper, we investigate information privacy through an experiment using large‐scale disclosure of personal web activity data to track fragments of personal information released over a period of time. This experiment gives a clear picture of the potential privacy losses of individual users based on released personal information and activities at different websites. By devising an enterprise architecture using a privacy‐by‐design framework, this study provides a useful guide to addressing the managerial challenges of privacy management.
Mass spectrometry‐based lipidomics in food science and nutritional health: A comprehensive review
Authors: Sun Tong , Wang Xincen , Cong Peixu , Xu Jie , Xue Changhu
Published: August 2020

With the advance in science and technology as well as the improvement of living standards, the function of food is no longer just to meet the needs of survival. Food science and its associated nutritional health issues have been increasingly debated. Lipids, as complex metabolites, play a key role both in food and human health. Taking advantages of mass spectrometry (MS) by combining its high sensitivity and accuracy with extensive selective determination of all lipid classes, MS‐based lipidomics has been employed to resolve the conundrum of addressing both qualitative and quantitative aspects of high‐abundance and low‐abundance lipids in complex food matrices. In this review, we systematically summarize current applications of MS‐based lipidomics in food field. First, common MS‐based lipidomics procedures are described. Second, the applications of MS‐based lipidomics in food science, including lipid composition characterization, adulteration, traceability, and other issues, are discussed. Third, the application of MS‐based lipidomics for nutritional health covering the influence of food on health and disease is introduced. Finally, future research trends and challenges are proposed. MS‐based lipidomics plays an important role in the field of food science, promoting continuous development of food science and integration of food knowledge with other disciplines. New methods of MS‐based lipidomics have been developed to improve accuracy and sensitivity of lipid analysis in food samples. These developments offer the possibility to fully characterize lipids in food samples, identify novel functional lipids, and better understand the role of food in promoting healt.
Nanoemulsions: Using emulsifiers from natural sources replacing synthetic ones—A review
Authors: Dammak Ilyes , Sobral Paulo José do Amaral , Aquino Adriano , Neves Marcos Antônio das , Conte‐Junior Carlos Adam
Published: August 2020

In recent years, substantial consideration within the food industry has been aimed at the development of food‐grade nanoemulsions (NE) as promising systems for encapsulating, stabilizing, and delivering bioactive compounds. Although numerous studies have revealed the critical potential of NE, there are still several challenges to overcome them. These include the extensive amounts of synthetic emulsifiers needed for NE formulation, which can potentially be toxic for human health. The interest in safety, and natural emulsifiers have stimulated food manufacturers to develop "label‐friendly" formulations by replacing synthetic emulsifiers with natural alternatives. This review represents a critical and comprehensive summary of the application of natural emulsifiers as potential substitutes for synthetic emulsifiers in NE production, with particular emphasis on the newly identified natural emulsifiers. Some recent reports showed the excellent emulsifying properties of various natural emulsifier extracted from natural resources, to produce NE, and therefore, might be generalized for further industrial applications. Future trends are encouraged to identify novel natural emulsifiers from industrial food by‐products that may demonstrate highly effective emulsifiers.
Involvement of chemosensory proteins in host plant searching in the bird cherry‐oat aphid
Authors: Peng Xiong , Liu Lang , Huang Yi‐Xiao , Wang Su‐Ji , Li De‐Xian , Chen Shu‐Ting , Simon Jean‐Christophe , Qu Ming‐Jing , Chen Mao‐Hua
Published: August 2020

Chemosensory systems are considered to play an important role in host plant selection in herbivorous insects. However, few studies have focused on chemosensory proteins (CSPs) for aphid host‐location mechanisms. The roles of CSPs in searching for different Poaceae species (wheat, barley, triticale, maize and sorghum) were tested in Rhopalosiphum padi, an important cereal pest. The olfactometer assays showed that R. padi responds to plant odors. Seven R. padi CSP genes were identified. Influence of aphid morph, tissue and starvation state on expression patterns of CSPs was evaluated. Expression levels of CSP1, CSP4, CSP5 and CSP6 in winged aphids were significantly higher than those in wingless ones. Transcription levels of four genes (CSP1, CSP4, CSP5 and CSP6) were relatively higher in the head with antennae, and the four genes tended to be upregulated following starvation. Silencing of three CSPs (CSP4, CSP5 and CSP6) altered aphid host‐location behavior in response to the five different host plants tested. Three volatile compounds of host plants (octanal, [E]‐2‐hexenol and linalool) have significant attraction to winged R. padi according to the four‐arm olfactometer tests. Molecular docking predicted hydrogen bonding sites which played key roles in the binding of CSP4, CSP5 and CSP6 with volatile compounds. Knockdown of CSP4 or CSP5 significantly decreased the staying time of R. padi in the arms with octanal. However, knockdown of CSP6 could not affect the response of R. padi to octanal. These results bring evidence for the involvement of three CSPs in R. padi host‐location behavior.
Multi‐part tariffs and differentiated commodity taxation
Authors: D'Annunzio Anna , Mardan Mohammed , Russo Antonio
Published: August 2020

We study commodity taxation in markets where firms, such as Internet Service Providers, energy suppliers, and payment card platforms, adopt multi‐part tariffs. We show that ad valorem taxes can correct underprovision and hence increase welfare, provided the government applies differentiated tax rates to the usage and access parts of the tariff. We obtain this result in different settings, including vertically interlinked markets, markets where firms adopt menus of tariffs to screen consumers, and where they compete with multi‐part tariffs. Our results suggest that exempting these markets from taxation may be inefficient.
Role of radiation therapy in node‐negative esophageal cancer: A propensity‐matched analysis
Authors: Gao Hui‐Jiang , Wei Yu‐Cheng , Gong Lei , Ge Nan , Han Bin , Shi Guo‐Dong , Yu Zhen‐Tao
Published: August 2020

Background

This study investigated the prognostic impact of (neo‐)adjuvant radiation therapies in early stage esophageal cancer.

Methods

A retrospective analysis using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was conducted from 2004 to 2016. Patients with pathologically staged T1‐4N0M0 esophageal cancer were divided into two treatment groups: (i) neoadjuvant radiotherapy followed by surgery; and (ii) upfront esophagectomy followed by adjuvant radiotherapy. Propensity scored match and Cox proportional hazards model were used to identify covariates associated with overall survival and cancer‐specific survival.

Results

There were 821 patients selected, of whom 588 (71.6%) received neoadjuvant radiotherapy and 233 (28.4%) received adjuvant radiotherapy. For the entire cohort, neoadjuvant radiotherapy was associated with a significantly benefit in five‐year survival outcomes compared with adjuvant radiotherapy (P < 0.01). After matching, the survival outcomes were still better for neoadjuvant radiotherapy than that of adjuvant treatment. Stratifying based on pathologic tumor status, neoadjuvant radiation was associated with improved CSS (five‐year survival 73.7% vs. 42.1%; P = 0.014) for localized (pT3‐4N0) disease. The Cox multivariate regression analysis revealed that the addition of neoadjuvant radiation for pT3‐4N0 diseases with tumor length ≥ 5 cm and squamous cell carcinoma, was a powerful prognostic factor for improved cancer‐specific survival (P < 0.01).

Conclusions

Compared with adjuvant radiotherapy, the addition of neoadjuvant radiation for pT3‐4N0 diseases has been associated with improved cancer‐specific survival in high‐risk patients. Studies on preoperative neoadjuvant therapies would be plausible in high‐risk esophageal cancer patients.
Unusual metachronous lung adenocarcinomas harboring EGFR L858R/T790M mutations: A case report
Authors: Pei Guotian , Cao Shanbo , Huang Yuqing
Published: August 2020

Multiple primary lung cancer (MPLC) is defined as two or more primary lung cancers occurring in the same patient and can be classified as synchronous multiple primary lung cancer (sMPLC) and metachronous multiple primary lung cancer (mMPLC). Due to various clinicopathological characteristics and genetic features, MPLC is increasingly encountered in clinical practice. The distinction between MPLC and intrapulmonary metastasis (IM) is of great importance to clinical treatment and prognosis. However, there are currently no golden diagnostic criteria for MPLC due to tumor heterogeneity. Here, we report the case of a patient with four lung cancers (tumor 1, named T1, in the right middle lobe seven years earlier; tumor 2, named T2, in the left lower lobe; tumor 3 and tumor 4, named T3 and T4, in the left upper lobe) and two tumors (T1 and T2) which shared the mutation in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) L858R/T790M based on targeted multigene sequencing, which indicate that these two tumors might have originated from a common ancestor. However, based on previously published guidelines, these three tumors (T2T4) were diagnosed as mMPLC.
Extracellular adenosine signaling reverses the age‐driven decline in the ability of neutrophils to kill Streptococcus pneumoniae
Authors: Bhalla Manmeet , Simmons Shaunna R. , Abamonte Alexsandra , Herring Sydney E. , Roggensack Sara E. , Bou Ghanem Elsa N.
Published: August 2020

The elderly are susceptible to serious infections by Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), which calls for a better understanding of the pathways driving the decline in host defense in aging. We previously found that extracellular adenosine (EAD) shaped polymorphonuclear cell (PMN) responses, which are crucial for controlling infection. EAD is produced by CD39 and CD73, and signals via A1, A2A, A2B, and A3 receptors. The objective of this study was to explore the age‐driven changes in the EAD pathway and its impact on PMN function. We found in comparison to young mice, PMNs from old mice expressed significantly less CD73, but similar levels of CD39 and adenosine receptors. PMNs from old mice failed to efficiently kill pneumococci ex vivo; however, supplementation with adenosine rescued this defect. Importantly, transfer of PMNs expressing CD73 from young mice reversed the susceptibility of old mice to pneumococcal infection. To identify which adenosine receptor(s) is involved, we used specific agonists and inhibitors. We found that A1 receptor signaling was crucial for PMN function as inhibition or genetic ablation of A1 impaired the ability of PMNs from young mice to kill pneumococci. Importantly, activation of A1 receptors rescued the age‐associated defect in PMN function. In exploring mechanisms, we found that PMNs from old mice failed to efficiently kill engulfed pneumococci and that A1 receptor controlled intracellular killing. In summary, targeting the EAD pathway reverses the age‐driven decline in PMN antimicrobial function, which has serious implications in combating infections.
Clinical practices and outcomes of RhD immunoglobulin prophylaxis following large‐volume fetomaternal haemorrhage in Queensland, Australia
Authors: Tneh Shao Yang , Baidya Shoma , Daly James
Published: August 2020

Background

Guidelines for laboratory assessment of fetomaternal haemorrhage (FMH) was published by the Australian and New Zealand Society of Blood Transfusion (ANZSBT) in 2002. However, data on adherence by practitioners and clinical outcomes are lacking.

Aims

The primary objective is to examine the follow‐up testing and dosing of additional RhD immunoglobulin in RhD negative women who experienced large‐volume FMH for whom additional intravenous RhD immunoglobulin was requested in Queensland, Australia. The secondary objectives are to examine the rate and risk factors of RhD alloimmunisation in these women.

Materials and Methods

RhD negative women with FMH >6 mL for whom additional dose(s) of intravenous RhD immunoglobulin was requested through Australian Red Cross Lifeblood from February 2007 to February 2018 were identified. For each patient, the volume of FMH, methods and timing of FMH quantitation, dose of RhD immunoglobulin, maternal and cord blood groups were analysed against the corresponding antibody screen and identification.

Results

Following FMH >6 mL, only 15% and 11.5% of cases adhered to current ANZSBT guideline on follow‐up testing and supplemental RhD immunoglobulin dosing respectively. Despite the provision of single supplemental RhD immunoglobulin at a ratio of 100 IU to 1 mL fetal red cells, the rate of RhD alloimmunisation in RhD negative women with RhD positive fetus or fetus of unknown RhD status following FMH >6 mL is at least 4%.

Conclusions

Poor compliance with guidelines for follow‐up and management of large‐volume FMH may contribute to increased risk of RhD alloimmunisation. Further analysis of data is warranted.
Laparoscopic repair of traumatic diaphragmatic hernia with colon incarceration: A case report
Authors: Nishikawa Saki , Miguchi Masashi , Nakahara Hideki , Urushihara Takashi , Egi Hiroyuki , Shorin Daiki , Fukuda Hideki , Itamoto Toshiyuki
Published: August 2020

Traumatic diaphragmatic hernia is a serious complication of blunt trauma to the abdomen or thorax. Although traumatic diaphragmatic hernia is treated with surgical repair, a laparoscopic approach is infrequently employed. Here we present the case of a 66‐year‐old man with a bruise on the left side of his back. CT revealed a left pneumothorax and left rib fractures. He was urgently hospitalized and relieved with conservative treatment. However, on day 4 of hospitalization, an incarcerated diaphragmatic hernia containing the transverse colon was observed on CT. The herniated viscera of the abdominal cavity were reduced laparoscopically, and the hernial orifice was repaired with direct closure. One‐lung ventilation was used to limit the movement of the affected diaphragm, enabling effective laparoscopic suturing. The patient had an uneventful recovery period and was discharged 8 days postoperatively. The absence of diaphragmatic herniation recurrence was confirmed 6 months after surgery.
Laparoscopic surgery for sigmoid colon cancer with complicated communication between the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries
Authors: Kobayashi Ryutaro , Ogura Atsushi , Kawai Satoru , Takagi Kenji , Kawai Kiyotaka , Maeda Takashi , Sando Masanori , Yogo Konosuke , Nagano Natsuki , Kamiya Satoaki
Published: August 2020

To perform complete mesocolic excision with central vessel ligation, it is important to recognize the vessel anomaly and the location of the tumor. For left‐sided colon cancer, the variations in the course of the left colic artery and accessary middle colic artery must be recognized preoperatively. Here, we describe our experience with a 57‐year‐old man who was diagnosed with sigmoid colon cancer with complicated inter‐mesenteric connections between the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) and superior mesenteric artery (SMA), possibly due to median arcuate ligament syndrome. We performed laparoscopic sigmoidectomy with low ligation of the IMA to preserve the extremely enlarged left colic artery. The total operative time was 155 minutes, and the estimated total blood loss was 10 mL. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 9 without any postoperative complications. For patients with vascular anomalies in the left‐sided mesocolon, preoperatively ruling out SMA stenosis by using angiography and 3‐D CT might be important.
Total endoscopic thyroidectomy after open neck biopsy of the follicular lymphoma of the thyroid gland
Authors: Nakao Atsushi , Saito Yoshiyuki , Ikeda Yoshifumi , Takami Hiroshi , Hoshino Go , Miyata Ryohei , Tomita Masato , Sato Michio , Ishikura Naoyo , Mitsuya Toshiyuki , Ando Nobutoshi
Published: August 2020

Remote‐access total endoscopic thyroidectomy (TET) is a recently established approach that can avoid producing scars in the neck. There are no clear surgical indications for TET for benign nodules or for malignant tumors at present. We report a successful TET in a 50‐year‐old Japanese woman with follicular lymphoma of the thyroid gland after an open neck biopsy. She had been referred to us with a neck tumor noted 2 months earlier. Because of adhesion, we performed a combined resection of the thyroid and partial right sternohyoid muscle. To the best of our knowledge, there is no other report of a TET performed after open neck surgery. Our patient's case demonstrates that (a) the cosmetic outcome of TET is clearly superior to that of conventional open neck surgery, and (b) a TET can be suitable even for reoperation if carefully selected.
Effect of animal age, postmortem chilling rate, and aging time on meat quality attributes of water buffalo and humped cattle bulls
Authors: Ijaz Muawuz , Jaspal Muhammad H. , Hayat Zafar , Yar Muhammad K. , Badar Iftikhar H. , Ullah Sana , Hussain Zubair , Ali Sher , Farid Muhammad U. , Farooq Muhammad Z. , Sardar Aneeqa
Published: August 2020

The study was aimed to investigate the influence of animal age, post‐slaughter chilling rate, and aging time on meat quality of M. longissimus dorsi (LD) of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and humped cattle (Bos taurus indicus) bulls. After slaughtering, one side of carcasses was subjected to rapid chilling (RC) (0 ± 2°C) and other side was hanged in controlled room temperature (25 ± 2°C) for 3 hr, then allowed to the chiller (0 ± 2°C). The meat quality traits were analyzed at 1, 7, and 14 days of storage. It was noted that rapidly chilled carcasses from the younger animals of both species missed the ideal pH/temperature window, which affects the toughness of the meat. Buffalo meat presented higher shear force, color L* values, and lower b* value as compared to the cattle meat. Moreover, meat shear force values decreased while all color coordinates and cooking loss values increased with lengthening the storage time in both age groups of cattle and buffalo. In conclusion, the tenderness of cattle meat was superior to that of buffalo and RC adversely affect the shear force values of young cattle and both age groups of buffalo bulls.
Comparing incidences of infusion site reactions between brand‐name and generic vinorelbine in patients with non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Ozawa Naoya , Hase Tetsunari , Hatta Takahiro , Sagara Atsunobu , Ichikawa Kazuya , Miyazaki Masayuki , Yogo Naoyuki , Ando Masahiko , Hashimoto Naozumi , Yamada Kiyofumi , Hasegawa Yoshinori
Published: August 2020

Aim

This study aimed to compare the incidence of infusion site reactions (ISRs) induced by intravenous administration of brand‐name and generic vinorelbine (VNR) for treating non‐small cell lung cancer.

Method

This single‐centre retrospective cohort study was conducted by medical chart review of VNR infusions. ISRs were defined as symptoms around the infusion site, including pain, redness and swelling. ISRs requiring treatment were defined as ISRs requiring treatments including steroid ointments, vein repuncture and local steroid injections.

Results

In all, 1973 VNR infusions were administered to 340 patients (brand‐name 141 patients, generic 199 patients). ISRs and ISRs requiring treatment were observed in 161 and 100 patients, respectively. The ISR incidence per patient and per injection was significantly higher in generic VNR‐treated patients than in brand‐name VNR‐treated patients (53.3% vs 39.0%, P = 0.0112 and 15.0% vs 9.9%, P = 0.0008, respectively). The frequency of ISRs requiring treatment was also significantly higher in the generic group (per patient 36.7% vs 19.2%, P = 0.0005; per injection 11.3% vs 5.5%, P < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis revealed that generic VNR was significantly associated with an increased risk of ISRs (per patient adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.775, P = 0.0155; per injection AOR 1.672, P = 0.004) and ISRs requiring treatment (per patient AOR 2.422, P = 0.0012; per injection AOR 2.286, P = 0.001).

Conclusion

Intravenous infusion of generic VNR was associated with an increased risk of ISRs. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanism underlying the increased incidence of ISRs with generic VNR.
A more‐than‐human approach to bioethics: The example of digital health
Authors: Lupton Deborah
Published: August 2020

Digital health technologies are often advocated as a way of helping people monitor, promote and manage their health, care for others and reduce the burden on healthcare systems. Yet these technologies have also been subject to criticism for limiting human flourishing and exacerbating socioeconomic disadvantage. Bioethical appraisals of digital health technologies tend to take a conventional risk‐benefit approach, positioning the human subject as a rational, autonomous agent who is acted on by technologies. In this paper, I present a case for adopting an alternative more‐than‐human perspective on bioethics. A more‐than‐human approach considers human‐technological assemblages and agencies as distributed, relational, situated and emergent. To illustrate the insights that this perspective can offer, I draw on the findings of four empirical projects I have conducted on people’s use of digital devices and platforms used for health‐related purposes, including social media groups and online forums, mobile apps and wearable devices. I conclude with the argument that a more‐than‐human approach to bioethics can begin to incorporate a new ‘zoë ethics’ that can acknowledge and address the deeper affective, multisensory and relational dimensions of humans’ encounters with and enactments of material things and nonhuman creatures.