bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding students' perceptions and attitude toward learning about internships in a business school
Authors: Ho Henry Wai Leong , Squires Scot
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Internships are an integral part of a college curriculum, yet students are sometimes unaware of how to secure this opportunity. This research aims to determine efficient methods to provide information to students within the given majors, identify barriers on what is stopping students from seeking out internships earlier and identify the appropriate time for students to receive internship information.

Design/methodology/approach

This study undertook descriptive research in a preliminary investigation of the undergraduate business students' attitude toward learning about the internship program offered by a business school of a state funded university in Michigan, USA. The data-collection instrument consisted of structured closed-ended questions relevant to undergraduate business students' perceptions and attitude toward learning about the internship program.

Findings

The results of this survey of 631 undergraduate students revealed a relationship between gender and the willingness to gain information about internships. Additional findings revealed that students who received information at the beginning of their schooling were more likely to plan for the internship in advance. Finally, students who preferred to receive information about internships multiple times were most likely to contact their academic advisor or internship director for more resources.

Originality/value

Together, the results of these findings can be used for current institution and other business schools with similar setting to reduce the barriers students face and allow undergraduate business students greater accessibility to internship positions.
Social media and recruitment: examining (counter) productive diversity messages
Authors: Brouer Robyn , Badawy Rebecca , Stefanone Michael
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This study aims to explore the consequences of inconsistent diversity-related signals for job seekers. Information sources include strategically crafted corporate signals and independent sources. The authors seek to understand the effect of inconsistent diversity signals on job seekers attitudes and behavior during recruitment.

Design/methodology/approach

An experiment was conducted wherein two samples from job-seeking populations were first exposed to a fictitious corporate website and then to LinkedIn profiles of that organization’s employees, with systematically varied diversity signals.

Findings

Results demonstrated that conflicting diversity signals had negative effects on perceived organizational attractiveness in the student sample (N = 427) and on organizational agreeableness in the working sample (N = 243). Negative organizational attraction was related to a lower likelihood of participants applying.

Practical implications

This work provides a stark but an important message to practitioners: signaling diversity-related values on corporate websites may backfire for organizations that actually lack diversity.

Originality/value

Few studies have combined communication theories with recruitment to examine the link between diversity signals and inconsistent information gathered via social media.
A perspective on embracing emerging technologies research for organizational behavior
Authors: Philip Jestine
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Emerging technologies are capable of enhancing organizational- and individual-level outcomes. The organizational behavior (OB) field is beginning to pursue opportunities for researching emerging technologies. This study aims to describe a framework consisting of white, black and grey boxes to demonstrate the tight coupling of phenomena and paradigms in the field and discusses deconstructing OB’s white box to encourage data-driven phenomena to coexist in the spatial framework.

Design/methodology/approach

A scoping literature review was conducted to offer a preliminary assessment of technology-oriented research currently occurring in OB.

Findings

The literature search revealed two findings. First, the number of published papers on emerging technologies in top management journals has been increasing at a steady pace. Second, various theoretical perspectives at the micro- and macro- organizational level have been used so far for conducting technology-oriented research.

Originality/value

By conducting a scoping review of emerging technologies research in OB literature, this paper reveals a conceptual black box relating to technology-oriented research. The essay advocates for loosening OB’s tightly coupled white box to incorporate emerging technologies both as a phenomenon and as data analytical techniques.
A PZT-based electromechanical impedance method for monitoring the moisture content of wood
Authors: Zhai Quan , Zhang Jicheng , Du Guofeng , Rao Yulong , Liu Xiaoyu
Published: October 2021

Purpose

At present, piezoelectric impedance technology has been used in the study of wood damage monitoring. However, little effort has been made in the research on the application of piezoelectric impedance system to monitor the change of wood moisture content (MC). The monitoring method of wood MC is used by piezoelectric impedance technique in this study.

Design/methodology/approach

One piezoceramic transducer is bonded to the surface of wood specimens. The MC of the wood specimens increases gradually from 0% to 60% with 10% increments; the mechanical impedance of the wood specimen will change, and the change in the mechanical impedance of the structure is reflected by monitoring the change in the electrical impedance of lead zirconate titanate. Therefore, this paper investigates the relationship between wood MC change and piezoelectric impedance change to verify the feasibility of the piezoelectric impedance method for monitoring wood MC change.

Findings

The experiment verified that the real part of impedance of the wood increased with the increase of wood MC. Besides, the damage index root mean square deviation is introduced to quantify the damage degree of wood under different MC. At the same time, the feasibility and validity of this experiment were verified from the side by finite element simulation. Finally, MC monitoring by piezoelectric impedance technique is feasible.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this work is the first to apply piezoelectric ceramics to the monitoring of wood MC, which provides a theoretical basis for the follow-up study of a wide range of wood components and even wood structure MC changes.
Integrating advances in population and evolutionary ecology with conservation strategy through long‐term studies of red‐billed choughs
Authors: Reid Jane M. , Bignal Eric , Bignal Sue , McCracken Davy I. , Fenn Sarah R. , Trask Amanda E. , Monaghan Pat
Published: October 2021

Conceptual and methodological advances in population and evolutionary ecology are often pursued with the ambition that they will help identify demographic, ecological and genetic constraints on population growth rate (λ), and ultimately facilitate evidence‐based conservation. However, such advances are often decoupled from conservation practice, impeding translation of scientific understanding into effective conservation and of conservation‐motivated research into wider conceptual understanding.

We summarise key outcomes from long‐term studies of a red‐billed chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax population of conservation concern, where we proactively aimed to achieve the dual and interacting objectives of advancing population and evolutionary ecology and advancing effective conservation.

Estimation of means, variances and covariances in key vital rates from individual‐based demographic data identified temporal and spatial variation in subadult survival as key constraints on λ, and simultaneously provided new insights into how vital rates can vary as functions of demographic structure, natal conditions and parental life history.

Targeted analyses showed that first‐year survival increased with prey abundance, implying that food limitation may constrain λ. First‐year survival then decreased dramatically, threatening population viability and prompting emergency supplementary feeding interventions. Detailed evaluations suggested that the interventions successfully increased first‐year survival in some years and additionally increased adult survival and successful reproduction, thereby feeding back to inform intervention refinements and understanding of complex ecological constraints on λ.

Genetic analyses revealed novel evidence of expression of a lethal recessive allele, and demonstrated how critically small effective population size can arise, thereby increasing inbreeding and loss of genetic variation. Population viability analyses parameterised with all available demographic and genetic data showed how ecological and genetic constraints can interact to limit population viability, and identified ecological management as of primacy over genetic management to ensure short‐term persistence of the focal population.

This case study demonstrates a full iteration through the sequence of primary science, evidence‐based intervention, quantitative evaluation and feedback that is advocated in conservation science but still infrequently achieved. It thereby illustrates how pure science advances informed conservation actions to ensure the (short‐term) stability of the target population, and how conservation‐motivated analyses fed back to advance fundamental understanding of population processes.
Functional groups, determinism and the dynamics of a tropical forest
Authors: Rubio Vanessa E. , Swenson Nathan G.
Published: October 2021

Unravelling the drivers of forests dynamics is one of the main challenges in tree community ecology. These drivers include niche differentiation, dispersal limitation and stochasticity. Previous work has demonstrated that these mechanisms likely interact such that no one process is responsible for forest dynamics.

One possibility is that the functional composition in a forest changes in a deterministic fashion, but the abundances of individual species that are functionally similar and have similar life‐history strategies drift in a neutral fashion. This framework aligns with the functional group‐based version of the neutral theory proposed more than 30 years ago, but it has remained poorly understood and is not well‐integrated in tree community ecology.

To investigate the possibility that determinism and neutrality may operate on the functional and species levels, respectively, we studied the long‐term dynamics of trees on Barro Colorado Island, Panama. Specifically, we sorted tree species into functional groups. We defined them as groups of species that cluster together based upon continuous functional trait measurements that are believed to reflect key life‐history trade‐offs. This information was then used to quantify the observed species and functional group dynamics in the forest and to compare them to that expected from neutral simulations.

We found that forest dynamics are likely governed by deterministic processes at the between‐functional group level where species relative abundances change or drift through time within group. Species rank distributions for each functional group remained relatively stable suggesting that these groups may act as broad adaptive zones for both common and rare species that may promote species coexistence. Moreover, we found that these functional groups associate with different habitats in the forest.

Synthesis. The results indicate that deterministic processes control the relative proportion of each functional group in the tropical forest studied and that individual species within groups may have apparently neutral dynamics. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that observed stable functional group relative proportions can be produced by deterministic or neutral dynamics, which underscores the importance of comparing the observed functional dynamics to that expected under neutral dynamics.
Cumulative impact assessments of multiple host species loss from plant diseases show disproportionate reductions in associated biodiversity
Authors: Mitchell Ruth J. , Bellamy Paul E. , Broome Alice , Ellis Chris J. , Hewison Richard L. , Iason Glenn R. , Littlewood Nick A. , Newey Scott , Pozsgai Gabor , Ray Duncan , Stockan Jenni A. , Stokes Victoria , Taylor Andy F. S.
Published: October 2021

Non‐native plant pests and pathogens are increasing exponentially, causing extirpation of foundation species. The impact of large‐scale declines in a single host on associated biodiversity is widely documented. However, the impact of multiple host loss on biodiversity and whether these impacts are multiplicative has not been assessed. Ecological theory suggests that systems with greater functional redundancy (alternative hosts) will be more resilient to the loss of sympatric hosts. We test this theory and show its importance in relation to pest/pathogen impact assessments.

We assessed the potential impact on biodiversity of the loss of two widely occurring sympatric European tree species, Fraxinus excelsior and Quercus petraea/robur, both of which are currently threatened by a range of pests and pathogens.

At the UK scale, the total number of associated species at risk of extirpation from plant diseases affecting these two sympatric hosts is greater than the sum of the associated species at risk from declines in either host alone. F. excelsior hosts 45 obligate species (species only found on that host) and Q. petraea/robur hosts 326. However, a decline in both these trees would impact 512 associated species, across multiple taxon groups, a 38% increase. Assessments at a local scale, 24 mixed F. excelsior–Q. petraea/robur woodlands revealed that these impacts may be even greater due to a lack of functional redundancy. Only 21% of sites were able to provide functional redundancy for F. excelsior and Q. petraea/robur associated species which can use other tree species. In most woodlands, the tree species required to provide functional redundancy were not present, although the site conditions were often suitable for them to grow.

Synthesis. Understanding of functional redundancy should be applied to assessments of pests/pathogens impact on biodiversity. In risk assessments, higher impact scores should be given to pests/pathogens affecting hosts occurring with other host plant species already impacted by pests/pathogens. Current pest/pathogen risk assessment approaches that ignore the cumulative, cascading effects shown in this study may allow an insidious, mostly overlooked, driver of biodiversity loss to continue.
The impact of COVID‐19 lockdown on perceived stress: The role of defence mechanisms and coping strategies
Authors: Gori Alessio , Topino Eleonora , Caretti Vincenzo
Published: October 2021

The COVID‐19 pandemic represents a unique global challenge. To deter its spread, several countries have put lockdown and physical distancing measures in place that could have potentially harmful consequences on people's mental health. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the relationship between anxiety and perceived stress in individuals who were experiencing the COVID‐19 lockdown measures, while also analyzing the impact of coping strategies interacting with defence mechanisms. A sample of 1408 individuals (Mage = 34.69; SD = 11.87) completed the Ten Item Perceived Stress Scale, State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory—Form X3, Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced and Forty‐Item Defense Style Questionnaire, after providing written informed consent. Results highlighted the significant impact of state anxiety levels on perceived stress, both directly and indirectly. The indirect pathways have been explored by performing three mixed serial‐parallel mediation analyses, where significant associations between coping strategies (Social Support, Avoidance Strategies, Positive Attitude, Problem‐solving and Turning to Religion) and mature, neurotic, or immature defences have been found. These findings may contribute to orientate prevention and intervention activity during the several management phases of COVID‐19.
Rapid preparation and antimicrobial activity of polyurea coatings with RE‐Doped nano‐ZnO
Authors: Li Yuanzhe , Liu Yang , Yao Bingqing , Narasimalu Srikanth , Dong ZhiLi
Published: October 2021

The recent COVID‐19 virus has led to a rising interest in antimicrobial and antiviral coatings for frequently touched surfaces in public and healthcare settings. Such coatings may have the ability to kill a variety of microorganisms and bio‐structures and reduce the risk of virus transmission. This paper proposes an extremely rapid method to introduce rare‐earth doping nano‐ZnO in polyamines for the preparation of the anti‐microbial polyurea coatings. The nano‐ZnO is prepared by wet chemical method, and the RE‐doped nano‐ZnO was obtained by mixing nano ZnO and RE‐dopants with an appropriate amount of nitric acid. This rapidly fabricated polyurea coating can effectively reduce bacteria from enriching on the surface. Comparing with pure nano‐ZnO group, all the polyurea coatings with four different rare‐earth elements (La, Ce, Pr and Gd) doped nano‐ZnO. The La‐doped nano‐ZnO formula group indicates the highest bactericidal rate over 85% to Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pseudomonas). Followed by Ce/ZnO, the bactericidal rate may still remain as high as 83% at room temperature after 25‐min UV‐exposure. It is believed that the RE‐doping process may greatly improve the photocatalytic response to UV light as well as environmental temperature due to its thermal catalytic enhancement. Through the surface characterizations and bioassays, the coatings have a durably high bactericidal rate even after repeated usage. As polyurea coating itself has high mechanical strength and adhesive force with most substrate materials without peel‐off found, this rapid preparation method will also provide good prospects in practical applications.
Re‐naming and re‐framing: Evolving the “Higher Education Research Group” to the “Geography & Education Research Group”
Authors: Healey Ruth L. , West Harry
Published: October 2021

At the Higher Education Research Group (HERG) Annual General Meeting on the 29 August 2018, it was proposed that the Research Group might consider broadening its remit to consider a wider context of geography education and formally include the geographies of education. In this editorial, we outline the background to this proposal and the process which was undertaken to evolve from HERG to the Geography and Education Research Group (GeogEd) over the following two years. We take the opportunity to introduce this special section of five papers, each offering a different perspective on the background to and future of the newly re‐framed Research Group. In this way they: (1) explore the history of the Research Group since its inception; (2) provide a critical overview of the geographies of education; (3) explore the reciprocal relationship between geography education and the geographies of education, and the process of (re)forming GeogEd; (4) offer reflections from senior members of the Royal Geographical Society and Geographical Association on the new Research Group; and (5) reflect on the opportunities the bringing together of different communities of practice under GeogEd might offer in the future.
Use of sedative‐hypnotic medications and risk of dementia: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: AlDawsari Asma , Bushell Trevor J. , Abutheraa Nouf , Sakata Shuzo , Al Hussain Sarah , Kurdi Amanj
Published: October 2021

Aims

Growing evidence suggests an association between the use of sedative‐hypnotic medications and risk of dementia. The aim of this study is to examine this association using a meta‐analysis approach.

Methods

MEDLINE (PubMed) and Scopus were systematically searched for studies published in English only. The quality of studies was evaluated using the Newcastle‐Ottawa scale, and an overall odds ratio was pooled using a random‐effects model.

Results

A total of 35 articles were included in the analysis. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) for dementia from all records were (OR; 1.33, 95% CI 1.19–1.49) for benzodiazepine (BZD) combined use (Subgroup‐1), (OR: 1.46, 95% CI 1.23–1.73) for short‐acting BZD use (Subgroup‐2), (OR: 1.72, 95% CI 1.48–1.99) for long‐acting BZD use (Subgroup‐3), (OR: 1.13, 95% CI 0.97–1.32) for BZDs without specification of duration of action (Subgroup‐4), (OR: 1.64, 95% CI 1.13–2.38) for the combined BZDs and Z‐drugs, (OR: 1.43, 95% CI 1.17–1.74) for Z‐drugs only, (OR: 1.14, 95% CI 0.88–1.46) for antidepressant use, (OR: 0.97, 95% CI 0.68–1.39) for antipsychotic use and (OR: 0.98, 95% CI 0.85–1.13) for anticonvulsant use. When sensitivity analysis was performed, association between overall use of BZDs and short‐acting BZDs with the increased risk of dementia disappeared after exclusion of studies that were not adjusted for age covariate (OR: 1.2, 95% CI 1.0–1.44) and (OR: 1.22, 95% CI 0.75–2.01), respectively. Adjustment for protopathic bias by introduction of a lag period showed no evidence of increased risk of dementia with the use of BZDs (Subgroup‐1) (OR: 1.14, 95% CI 0.82–1.58), Z‐drugs (OR: 1.29, 95% CI 0.78–2.13), and combined BZDs and Z‐drugs (OR: 1.51, 95% CI 0.91–2.53). Combined use of BZDs and Z‐drugs showed more positive association when only studies of non‐user design were analysed (OR: 2.75, 95% CI 2.23–3.39).

Conclusions

All the investigated sedative‐hypnotics showed no association with increased risk of dementia except for BZDs. However, the observed association with BZDs did not persist after exclusion of studies with potential reverse causation and confounding by indication. Therefore, this association needs to be assessed carefully in future research.
Can sweet food‐specific inhibitory control training via a mobile application improve eating behavior in children with obesity?
Authors: Memarian Sepideh , Moradi Alireza , Hasani Jafar , Mullan Barbara
Published: October 2021

Objectives

Consumption of excess sugar, a common energy‐dense nutrient‐poor food, is a risk factor for obesity in school‐aged children. Food‐specific inhibition training, where responses to palatable food stimuli, such as sweet foods, are consistently and repeatedly inhibited, reduces sweet food intake in adults. However, no studies have yet examined the effectiveness of inhibitory control training specifically targeting sweet foods among children with high sugar cravings. We examined whether sweet food‐specific inhibitory control training (SF‐ICT), administered via a mobile app, reduced choice and consumption of sweet foods, and weight in a sample of children aged 7–11 with overweight or obesity and who had high sugar cravings (N = 46).

Design

This study was designed as a 2 × 3 between‐within design.

Methods

Participants were randomly allocated to a single‐blind design with two conditions: they either received 7 sessions of active or control go/no‐go training in which either sweet foods or non‐food cues were paired with no‐go signals. Participants' weight, sweet food choice, and consumption were measured pre and post‐training, and at three‐month follow‐up.

Results

The results revealed that participants in the active group showed a significant reduction in sweet food choice and intake from pre to post‐training relative to the control group. The effects of the training on reducing sweet food intake persisted over the 3‐month follow‐up No significant changes in weight loss were observed.

Conclusions

These results provide preliminary evidence that sweet food‐specific inhibitory control training (SF‐ICT) via a mobile app is effective in modifying eating behavior among children with excessive consumption of sugary foods. Further research is required to clarify under what conditions the benefits of training would expand to weight loss.
Subannual phenology and the effect of staggered fruit ripening on dispersal competition
Authors: Schubert Spencer C. , Walters Eric L.
Published: October 2021

Seed dispersal mutualisms evolve in complex communities of plants and frugivorous animals, within which indirect interactions such as competition and facilitation can occur. Many tropical plants reproduce subannually in multiple episodes per year. Yet, the consequences of episodic reproduction on interactions with seed dispersers remain largely unexplored. We studied Guarea guidonia (Meliaceae), a subannually reproducing tree, to examine temporal variation in seed dispersal within a tropical forested landscape in the central Dominican Republic. We hypothesized that foraging by dispersers would (a) increase with daily ripe fruit set on focal trees, (b) decrease with increasing ripe fruit biomass of neighboring plants, and (c) decrease in response to the fruiting periods of other taxa at the landscape scale. Over 18 months, we tracked the phenology of 24 focal trees and quantified foraging during fruiting phases through repeated observations, simultaneously measuring seed dispersal in traps beneath isolated bird perches across the study landscape. Date was the only clear predictor of frugivore visitation, with early and late peaks in activity during the 5‐month fruiting period. The midseason decline in foraging at focal trees matched a decline in Guarea dispersal to seed traps independently of fruit abundance. Declines in Guarea dispersal were inversely related to peak dispersal of higher quality lipid‐rich fruiting species. Our results suggest that multiple flowering episodes and subsequent asynchronous fruit ripening of low‐quality fruits can reduce competitive pressure from other higher quality fruiting species, implying that this potential bet‐hedging strategy may be an overlooked factor in the evolution of subannual reproduction.

Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.
Does alma mater matter? An audit study of labour market outcomes of Canadian Bachelor's Degree recipients
Authors: Mullen Ann L. , Baker Jayne , Menard Gabriel , Walker Brigham
Published: October 2021

In many parts of the world, the rewards attached to a university degree vary significantly according to the name of the institution one attends, particularly in countries with highly stratified postsecondary systems. Because the Canadian higher education system is relatively homogenous and non‐hierarchical, it has been generally accepted that Canadian graduates enter the labour market on equal footing regardless of where they matriculate. We test this assumption through an experimental audit study that compares employers’ responses to fictitious matched job applications from equally qualified bachelor's degree recipients from three Ontario universities: Brock, Queen's, and Waterloo. Not all employers make a distinction between the paired applications; but when they do, Waterloo is favoured. In these cases, even though applicants had the same field of study, academic achievement and work experience, employers singled out Waterloo applicants for a response 84% more often than those from Brock. These findings indicate that institutional affiliation matters in Canada, and suggests that graduates from some institutions fare significantly better in the labour market than their equally accomplished peers from other institutions. We conclude that even in relatively non‐hierarchical systems with comparatively minimal structural or resource variation, status hierarchies emerge that privilege some graduates over others.
Identification of an AXL kinase inhibitor in triple‐negative breast cancer by structure‐based virtual screening and bioactivity test
Authors: Li Pei , Niu Yuzhen , Li Shuyan , Zu Xuyu , Xiao Maoyu , Yin Liyang , Feng Jianbo , He Jun , Shen Yingying
Published: October 2021

Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that occurs in the glandular epithelium of the breast, and more than 15% of the patients are triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC). Therefore, finding new targets and targeted therapeutic drugs for TNBC is urgent. Overexpression of the AXL is associated with motility and invasiveness of the TNBC cells, which is a potential target for breast cancer therapy. A compound Y041‐5921 (IC50 = 6.069 μm for AXL kinase and IC50 = 4.1 μm for MDA‐MB‐231 cell line) was identified through structure‐based virtual screening and bioassay test for the first time. The compound Y041‐5921 could significantly inhibit the proliferation and invasion of the TNBC cells and the toxicity of Y041‐5921 to normal immortalized breast epithelial cells was far lower than that of commonly used clinical chemotherapy drugs. Besides, it also had well inhibitory effect on the proliferation of many other malignant tumor cell lines (the IC50 value are 10.0 m, 7.1 m, 10.3 m, 11.4 m and 5.8 m for U251 cell, COLO cell, PC‐9 cell, CAKI‐1 cell and MG63 cell, respectively). The interaction mechanism between Y041‐5921 and AXL was studied by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and binding free energy calculation, and the key residues whose energy contribution mainly comes from non‐polar solvation interaction (such as Ala565, Lys567, Met598, Leu620, Pro621, Met623, Lys624, Arg676, Asn677 and Met679) were identified. The small molecule inhibitors Y041‐5921 targeting AXL reported in this work will lay a foundation and provide a theoretical basis for the development of the TNBC.
Effect of Ginkgolide in Ischemic Stroke patients with large Artery Atherosclerosis: Results from a randomized trial
Authors: Dong Yi , Zhang Jingyu , Wang Yanxia , Zhao Lihong , Li Runhui , Wei Chunhua , Bai Qingke , Wan Lishu , Sun Liping , Feng Shejun , You Mingyao , Wang Chun , Zhang Hongtian , He Qing , Yu Ming , Dong Qiang ,   GISAA committee
Published: October 2021

Background

Dual antiplatelet therapy is considered beneficial in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients with intracranial artery stenosis (ICAS), with more bleeding events. Ginkgolide is shown to reduce platelet activation after infarction, which might be of benefit in AIS. We aimed to explore the effect of Ginkgolide in AIS patients with ICAS.

Methods

This was a randomized, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled trial conducted at 61 centers in China. Within 72 h after onset, consecutive patients diagnosed as AIS with ICAS were randomized to either Ginkgolide or placebo treatment. The primary outcome was the composite of mortality and recurrent stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic) during first 4 weeks in an intention‐to‐treat analysis. Secondary functional outcome was assessed by modified Rankin Scale and improvement of stroke severity was assessed by National Institution of Health Stroke Scale at day 28. Safety outcome was measured by the rate of severe adverse event (SAE).

Results

There were 936 patients randomized to either Ginkgolide or placebo treatment. Their average age was 64.2 ± 10.4 years old and 36.0% of the patients were female. The composite index event occurred in six patients in placebo group, and none occurred in Ginkgolide group (risk ratio 1.01; 95% CI 1.00–1.02). There were more patients who achieved favorable outcome in Ginkgolide group, compared with that of the placebo group (OR 2.16, 95%CI 1.37–3.41). SAE occurred in five (1.1%) patients in the Ginkgolide group and three (0.6%) in the placebo group (OR0.60, 95CI% 0.14–2.53). Intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 1/473 (0.2%) in the placebo group.

Conclusions

Ginkgolide, working as PAF antagonist, may reduce recurrent stroke in AIS with ICAS patients within 72 hours after onset. It might be an optional treatment in moderate‐to‐severe AIS patients with ICAS. (http://www.chictr.org.cn Number as ChiCTR‐IPR‐17012310).
Peripheral airways involvement in children with asthma exacerbation
Authors: Wawszczak Maria , Kulus Marek , Peradzyńska Joanna
Published: October 2021

Objective

The literature provides some evidence of peripheral airways key role in the pathogenesis of asthma. However, the extent to which lung periphery including acinar zone contribute to asthma activity and control in pediatric population is unclear. Therefore, the aim of the study was to estimate peripheral airways involvement in children with asthma exacerbation and stable asthma simultaneously via different pulmonary function tests.

Methods

Children with asthma exacerbation (n = 20) and stable asthma (n = 22) performed spirometry, body plethysmography, exhaled nitric oxide, impulse oscillometry (IOS), and multiple‐breath washout (MBW).

Results

Peripheral airway's function indexes were increased in children with asthma, particularly in group with asthma exacerbation when compared with stable asthma group. The prevalence of abnormal results was significantly higher in asthma exacerbation. All children with asthma exacerbation had conductive ventilation inhomogeneity; 76% had acinar ventilation inhomogeneity. According to IOS measurements, resistance and reactance were within normal range, but other IOS parameters were significantly higher in children with asthma exacerbation compared with stable asthma group. The 36% of children with acute asthma had air trapping.

Conclusion

Significant involvement of peripheral airways was observed in children with asthma, particularly in asthma exacerbation, which determine lung periphery as important additional target for therapy and provide new insights into pathophysiological process of pediatric asthma.
Neural responses to natural visual motion are spatially selective across the visual field, with selectivity differing across brain areas and task
Authors: Ki Jason J. , Dmochowski Jacek P. , Touryan Jonathan , Parra Lucas C.
Published: October 2021

It is well established that neural responses to visual stimuli are enhanced at select locations in the visual field. Although spatial selectivity and the effects of spatial attention are well understood for discrete tasks (e.g. visual cueing), little is known for naturalistic experience that involves continuous dynamic visual stimuli (e.g. driving). Here, we assess the strength of neural responses across the visual space during a kart‐race game. Given the varying relevance of visual location in this task, we hypothesized that the strength of neural responses to movement will vary across the visual field, and it would differ between active play and passive viewing. To test this, we measure the correlation strength of scalp‐evoked potentials with optical flow magnitude at individual locations on the screen. We find that neural responses are strongly correlated at task‐relevant locations in visual space, extending beyond the focus of overt attention. Although the driver's gaze is directed upon the heading direction at the centre of the screen, neural responses were robust at the peripheral areas (e.g. roads and surrounding buildings). Importantly, neural responses to visual movement are broadly distributed across the scalp, with visual spatial selectivity differing across electrode locations. Moreover, during active gameplay, neural responses are enhanced at select locations in the visual space. Conventionally, spatial selectivity of neural response has been interpreted as an attentional gain mechanism. In the present study, the data suggest that different brain areas focus attention on different portions of the visual field that are task‐relevant, beyond the focus of overt attention.
Genomic landscape of circulating tumour DNA in metastatic extramammary Paget’s disease
Authors: Sawamura Soichiro , Mijiddorj Myangat Tselmeg , Kajihara Ikko , Tanaka Kenichiro , Ide Maho , Sakamoto Ryoko , Otsuka‐Maeda Saki , Kanemaru Hisashi , Nishimura Yuki , Kanazawa‐Yamada Saori , Kashiwada‐Nakamura Kayo , Honda Noritoshi , Makino Katsunari , Aoi Jun , Igata Toshikatsu , Makino Takamitsu , Masuguchi Sinichi , Fukushima Satoshi , Ihn Hironobu
Published: October 2021

Although cancer personalized profiling by deep sequencing (CAPP‐Seq) of cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) has gained attention, the clinical utility of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) in extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) has not been investigated. In this study, genomic alterations in the cfDNA and tumour tissue DNA were investigated in seven patients with metastatic EMPD. CAPP‐Seq revealed mutations in 18 genes, 11 of which have not yet been reported in EMPD. The variant allele frequency of some of the mutated genes reflected the disease course in patients with EMPD. In one patient, the mutation was detected even though imaging findings revealed no metastasis. In another patient with triple EMPD (genital area and both axilla), cfDNA sequencing detected the mutation in a rib metastatic lesion, which was also detected in both axilla lesions but not the genital region. Investigations of the ctDNA may be useful towards the elucidation of clonal evolution in EMPD.
The antimetastatic breast cancer activity of the viral protein‐derived peptide vCPP2319 as revealed by cellular biomechanics
Authors: Oliveira Filipa D. , Cavaco Marco , Figueira Tiago N. , Valle Javier , Neves Vera , Andreu David , Gaspar Diana , Castanho Miguel A. R. B.
Published: October 2021

The incidence of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is increasing and the therapeutic arsenal available to fight it is insufficient. Brain metastases, in particular, represent a major challenge for chemotherapy as the impermeable nature of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) prevents most drugs from targeting cells in the brain. For their ability to transpose biological membranes and transport a broad spectrum of bioactive cargoes, cell‐penetrating peptides (CPPs) have been hailed as ideal candidates to deliver drugs across biological barriers. A more ambitious approach is to have the CPP as a drug itself, capable of both killing cancer cells and interacting with the blood/brain interface, therefore blocking the onset of brain metastases. vCPP2319, a viral protein‐derived CPP, has both properties as it: (a) is selective toward human breast cancer cells (MDA‐MB‐231) and increases cell stiffness compared to breast epithelial cells (MCF 10A) hindering the progression of metastases; and (b) adsorbs at the surface of human brain endothelial cells potentially counteracting metastatic cells from reaching the brain. Overall, the results reveal the selective anticancer activity of the peptide vCPP2319, which is also able to reside at the blood–brain interface, therefore counteracting brain penetration by metastatic cancer cells.
Brand communities: A literature review and future research agendas using TCCM approach
Authors: Roy Bhattacharjee Debashree , Pradhan Debasis , Swani Kunal
Published: October 2021

Academic interest in brand community research has burgeoned in the past two decades. Despite its importance, there has been a paucity of effort in reviewing the growing research. Drawing on the Theory‐Context‐Characteristics‐Methods (TCCM) review framework, this research provides a comprehensive understanding of the dominant theories, contexts (i.e., industries and countries), characteristics (i.e., key variables and their relationships), and methods (i.e., research approaches and analysis techniques) employed in brand community research over last two decades (2001–2020). A systematic analysis of 285 articles reveals a focus on consumer‐specific theories and a scant application of multi‐disciplinary theories. Though the literature covers an array of industries to understand brand communities, there is a need for more research in the B2B context and the service industries. Furthermore, we detect a need for more research on the influence of brand/marketer‐related variables on brand communities, underlying mechanisms and boundary conditions for the key relationships in this area. This research presents four different stages of the evolution of brand community research over the years. Finally, we apply the TCCM framework to suggest fertile areas for future research.
Cloning, sequencing and structural analysis of membrane‐bound polyphenol oxidase from Granny Smith apples (Malus × domestica Borkh)
Authors: Han Qian‐Yun , Liu Fang , Ni Yuan‐Ying
Published: October 2021

The gene sequence coding for the membrane‐bound polyphenol oxidase (mPPO) with a length of 1761 bp was cloned by PCR method and shown to contain one highly conserved sequence encoding a di‐copper‐binding region. The predicted three‐dimensional structure of mPPO indicated that the active site was located near two copper ions and composed of a typical bundle of four α‐helices. Each of the two catalytic copper ions was coordinated with three histidine residues in the hydrophobic pocket, yielding His 180, His 201, His 210, His 332, His 336 and His 366. Docking studies showed that 4‐methylcatechol and chlorogenic acid have different binding models due to different ligand sizes and binding sites in the active centre, and it was found that the smaller compound exhibited a higher affinity for mPPO. Molecular dynamic simulation results indicated that Phe 353 is important in controlling enzymatic activity through influencing substrate coordination in the active site.
Introduction: Social protection for digital platform workers in Europe
Authors: Daugareilh Isabelle
Published: October 2021

This special issue of the International Social Security Review addresses the important topic of social protection for digital platform workers in Europe. The special issue highlights the risk that social protection systems may be largely undermined by a decline in social solidarity in favour of individualism, the partial or full privatization of social security, and a reduction in protection levels, all as a result of the emergence of digital platforms and the support they receive from legislators in most countries.
A new two‐phase heuristic for a problem of food distribution with compartmentalized trucks and trailers
Authors: Davila‐Pena Laura , R. Penas David , Casas‐Méndez Balbina
Published: October 2021

This paper presents a new formulation for the routing problem in which the available fleet consists of trucks and trailers divided into compartments. Solving the model for large instances is computationally expensive. Therefore, we introduce and implemented a two‐phase heuristic algorithm. In the first phase, an initial solution is generated through a constructive heuristic algorithm based on concepts from the classic Clarke–Wright algorithm. In the second phase, the initial solution is improved by an iterated tabu search metaheuristic. Our algorithm was tested on 21 instances that were converted from the classic truck and trailer routing problem. The results of our computational study prove the effectiveness of our proposal; the algorithm always finds a feasible solution, which in small‐sized problems it is proven to be of good quality. In addition, the algorithm outperforms previous approaches for some truck and trailer routing problem instances. Furthermore, an application of the proposed model and heuristic is demonstrated in the field of agricultural logistics by comparing the obtained results.
LncRNA PTPRG‐AS1 facilitates glycolysis and stemness properties of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells through miR‐599/PDK1 axis
Authors: Wu Kaiming , Wang Ziao , Huang Yunlong , Yao Long , Kang Ningning , Ge Wei , Zhang Renquan , He Wei
Published: October 2021

Background and Aim

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the most significant subtype of esophageal cancer featured with high occurrence. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been proved to modulate the biological properties of cancer cells, including cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and apoptosis. LncRNA protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type G‐antisense RNA 1 (PTPRG‐AS1) has been reported to play as an oncogene in diverse cancers. However, the detailed function PTPRG‐AS1 may exert in ESCC is unclear.

Methods

PTPRG‐AS1 expression in ESCC cells was investigated via quantitative reverse transcription real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR). The effects of PTPRG‐AS1 on ESCC cell proliferation, migration, glycolysis, and stemness were verified through functional assays. Mechanism assays including RIP assay, RNA pull down assay, and luciferase reporter assays were performed to verify the molecular mechanism of PTPRG‐AS1.

Results

PTPRG‐AS1 silencing hindered the proliferation, migration, glycolysis and stemness of ESCC cells. PTPRG‐AS1 regulated pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 (PDK1) expression via sponging miR‐599. The PTPRG‐AS1/miR‐599/PDK1 axis was further verified to aggravate the progression of ESCC cells.

Conclusion

PTPRG‐AS1 sponged miR‐599 to up‐regulate PDK1 expression, thereby promoting the proliferation and migration as well as glycolysis and stemness properties of ESCC cells.
TRAF proteins as key regulators of plant development and stress responses
Authors: Qi Hua , Xia Fan‐Nv , Xiao Shi , Li Juan
Published: October 2021

Tumor necrosis factor receptor‐associated factor (TRAF) proteins are conserved in higher eukaryotes and play key roles in transducing cellular signals across different organelles. They are characterized by their C‐terminal region (TRAF‐C domain) containing seven to eight anti‐parallel β‐sheets, also known as the meprin and TRAF‐C homology (MATH) domain. Over the past few decades, significant progress has been made toward understanding the diverse roles of TRAF proteins in mammals and plants. Compared to other eukaryotic species, the Arabidopsis thaliana and rice (Oryza sativa) genomes encode many more TRAF/MATH domain‐containing proteins; these plant proteins cluster into five classes: TRAF/MATH‐only, MATH‐BPM, MATH‐UBP (ubiquitin protease), Seven in absentia (SINA), and MATH‐Filament and MATH‐PEARLI‐4 proteins, suggesting parallel evolution of TRAF proteins in plants. Increasing evidence now indicates that plant TRAF proteins form central signaling networks essential for multiple biological processes, such as vegetative and reproductive development, autophagosome formation, plant immunity, symbiosis, phytohormone signaling, and abiotic stress responses. Here, we summarize recent advances and highlight future prospects for understanding on the molecular mechanisms by which TRAF proteins act in plant development and stress responses.
Long‐term prognosis of patients with alcohol‐related liver disease or non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease according to metabolic syndrome or alcohol use
Authors: Decraecker Marie , Dutartre Dan , Hiriart Jean‐Baptiste , Irles‐Depé Marie , Marraud des Grottes Hortense , Chermak Faiza , Foucher Juliette , Delamarre Adèle , de Ledinghen Victor
Published: October 2021

Background & Aims

The boundary between non‐alcoholic (NAFLD) and alcohol‐related liver disease (ALD) is based on alcohol consumption. However, metabolic syndrome and alcohol use frequently co‐exist. The aim of this study was to determine prognostic factors of long‐term morbidity and mortality in patients with NAFLD or ALD.

Methods

From 2003 to 2016, all consecutive NAFLD or ALD patients were prospectively included in this cohort study. We evaluated overall survival, specific cause of mortality and occurrence of any complication. The primary endpoint was analysed by the Kaplan Meier method, secondary endpoints were estimated by Gray test method or logistic regressions. Factors independently associated with overall mortality and morbidity were identified by a multivariate Cox model.

Results

A total of 3365 patients (1667 with ALD and 1698 with NAFLD) were included. Median follow‐up was 54 months (range: 30‐86) and 563 subjects died.

In the overall population, overall mortality was higher in patients with ALD (HR: 10.1 [7.57‐13.3]), and with weekly alcohol consumption >7 units (HR:1.66 [1.41‐1.96]). Liver‐related mortality was higher in patients with ALD (HR: 11 [7.27‐16.5]). In the NAFLD group, weekly alcohol consumption >1 unit was associated with higher overall mortality (HR: 1.9 [1.1‐3.4]), and weekly alcohol consumption >7 units was associated with higher overall morbidity (OR: 1.89 [1.61‐2.21]). In the ALD group, the presence of metabolic syndrome was associated with higher overall (HR:1.27 [1.02‐1.57]), and liver (HR: 1.47 [1.1‐1.96]) mortalities, and overall (OR: 1.46 [1.14‐1.88]), liver (OR: 1.46 [1.14‐1.88]) morbidities.

Conclusion

In fatty liver diseases, light alcohol consumption and metabolic syndrome are prognosis cofactors.