bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of N-[(Z)-(2-hydroxyphenyl)methylidene]aniline N-oxide
Authors: Mohamed Shaaban K. , Said Awad I. , Mague Joel T. , Aly Moustafa F. , Akkurt Mehmet , Elgarhy Sahar M. I.
Published: May 2021

The conformation of the title compound, C13H11NO2, is partially determined by a strong, intramolecular O—H...O hydrogen bond. The crystal packing consists of strongly corrugated layers parallel to the ac plane and associated through C—H...π(ring) interactions. A Hirshfeld surface analysis of the crystal structure indicates that the most significant contributions to the crystal packing are from H...H (44.1%), C...H/H...C (29.4%) and O...H/H...O (17.3%) contacts.
Leader’s strategy to encourage employee’s innovative work behavior in multicultural workplace: do supportive colleagues matter?
Authors: Usmanova Kamila , Wang Daoping , Younas Amjad
Published: May 2021

Purpose

In recent years, China’s growing global economic influence has attracted more foreign workers, requiring leaders to have effective communication skills to manage diverse personnel to drive innovations. Although previous research studies revealed the effects of a leader’s motivating language (ML) on employee’s innovativeness, the mechanism and the boundary conditions for stimulating the relationship between ML and innovative work behavior (IWB) are scarce. Therefore, this study aims to examine employee’s creative self-efficacy (CSE) as a mechanism and coworker support (CS) as a boundary condition in the relationship between ML’s dimensions and IWB.

Design/methodology/approach

To test the moderated mediation model, this study collected the data from 283 workers and their respective supervisors at a Beijing-based multinational network company. The research applied a quantitative approach. SPSS and AMOS were used to analyze the data.

Findings

ML’s dimensions are positively linked to IWB. CSE was found as a mediator in these relationships. CS did not play its moderation roles on ML – CSE, ML – IWB direct or ML – IWB indirect (via CSE) links. ML’s direction-giving speech is found to be more effective in predicting CSE and IWB.

Originality/value

This is the first paper to examine the impacts of the three dimensions of ML on IWB.
Higher education leadership and context: a study of university vice-chancellors and presidents
Authors: Heffernan Troy , Eacott Scott , Bosetti Lynn
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Universities claim to provide many benefits to their context. What remains less clear is what is meant by context. Whatever it is, context is fundamental to decision-making. Understanding what context means is crucial to understanding leadership in higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

Theoretically informed by Eacott's relational approach, this study is based on interview data from a purposive sample of ten English vice-chancellors and nine Canadian university presidents. Transcripts were analysed for the assumptions participants held regarding the work of universities and how that played out in practice.

Findings

Context is not an external variable engaged with or acted upon. It is not separate to leadership and the work of universities but is constitutive of and emergent from activities. There is no single definition of context, and this has major implications for university activities.

Research limitations/implications

Context(s) is based on assumptions. Making explicit the assumptions of participants, without pre-defining them, is a key task of research on leadership in higher education.

Practical implications

Leaders need to explicitly articulate their assumptions regarding the work of universities. Assessment should be based on the coherence between the espoused position and activities undertaken.

Originality/value

Through the emerging resources of relational scholarship, this paper demonstrates how context is constitutive of and emergent from the activities of universities. More than novel vocabulary, the paper makes a fundamental point about the generative nature of context. De-centring entities (e.g. university, leader, context) and focusing on relations our approach provide a path forward by encouraging the articulation of intended purpose(s) and perspective on the work of universities.
Free flu shots vs herd immunity in flu vaccination advertising: the interaction of attribute type and message sidedness on flu vaccination judgment
Authors: Kim Kenneth Eunhan
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine how the relative importance of a search versus a credence attribute, strategically addressed in a flu vaccination advertisement, varies as a function of message sidedness. A search attribute was designed to highlight the affordability of flu shots, and a credence attribute addressed the potential health benefits of flu vaccination.

Design/methodology/approach

Two experiments were designed to explore how the relative persuasiveness of search versus credence attributes varies as a function of message sidedness in the context of flu vaccination advertising. In Experiment 1, the search–credence attribute type was manipulated by addressing either the affordability (e.g. “Get free flu shots”) or indirect health benefits of flu vaccines (e.g. “Improve herd immunity/community health”). In Experiment 2, an individual-level credence attribute (e.g. “Strengthen your immune system”) was created and compared to the other two attribute conditions used in Experiment 1: a search versus a societal credence versus an individual credence attribute.

Findings

Experiment 1 (N = 114) revealed the relative advantage of a search attribute (free flu shots) in the two-sided persuasion. Experiment 2 (N = 193) indicated that the persuasive impact of a societal credence attribute (herd immunity/community health) was greater in the two-sided message condition (vs one-sided message condition).

Originality/value

Relatively little research has examined how consumers respond to strategic flu prevention and vaccination messages promoting either credence or search attributes. Motivated by the need to investigate the relative effectiveness of stressing “herd immunity” versus “free flu shots” in flu vaccination advertising, this study examines how the effects of these distinct attributes on flu vaccination judgments differ between two-sided (e.g. “No vaccine is 100% effective”) and one-sided persuasion.
Sports event portfolios: an innovative tool and a new management paradigm
Authors: Salgado-Barandela Jesyca , Barajas Angel , Sanchez-Fernandez Patricio
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The organization of several small-scale events throughout the year is called event portfolio and may contribute to the development of the city strategy in the touristic, social and economic fields. The organization of a set of sporting events represents an important innovation in the development of city marketing. This paper analyzing the scarce literature on event portfolio provides the main elements to benefit from this innovative strategy to achieve sustainable sports tourism for host cities. Among the innovative strategies, the inclusion of leverage and cross-leverage approaches in the management of event portfolios is studied in depth.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is divided into two phases. First, the Web of Science (WOS) and SCOPUS databases are searched using keywords. Once the selection of scientific studies that analyze the phenomenon of event portfolios has been obtained, an exhaustive review is carried out, allowing us to obtain novel findings on the field of study.

Findings

The work provides a classification of the portfolios of sports events analyzed in science considering the configuration (formal vs informal) and whether there is an integrated strategy. Second, the delimitation of the deficiencies and the most important aspects to be developed in sports-events portfolio management.

Originality/value

This study contributes with a summary of the main elements to consider when managing sports events portfolios. Moreover, the importance of integrated strategies is underlined, as well as the relevance of leveraging the strategies. The contributions are of interest in being a novel field with room for scientific development and with an eminently practical nature.
Technology intervention for preventing COVID-19 outbreak
Authors: Pandey Prateek , Litoriya Ratnesh
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The purpose for writing this article is derived from the misery and chaos prevalent in the world due to the coronavirus pandemic – since late 2019 and still continuing as of December 2020.

Design/methodology/approach

A blockchain-based solution to verify the country visit trail and disease and treatment history of the passengers who arrive at the immigration counters located at various national borders and entry points is proposed. A fuzzy inference based suspect identifier system is also presented in this article that could be utilized to make further decisions based on the degree of suspicion observed on a particular passenger.

Findings

This paper attempted to put forth a blockchain-based system which consumes the healthcare and visit trail summary of a passenger (appearing for an interview before an immigration officer) and forwards it to a fuzzy inference system to reach to a conclusion that the passenger should be advised to self-quarantine, detained, or should be allowed to enter. Such a system would help to make correct decisions at the immigration counters to check pandemic diseases, like COVID-19, right at the entry points.

Research limitations/implications

The implications of this work are manifold. First, the proposed framework works independent of the type of pandemic and is a readymade tool to check the spread of disease through infected human carriers. Second, the proposed framework will keep the mortality rates under check, which would give ample time for the authorities to save the lives of the people with co-morbidities and age vulnerabilities (Vichitvanichphonget al., 2018). Third, it is a general phenomenon to restrict the flights from the country where the first few cases of infection are discovered; however, the infected person, at the same time, might travel through alternative routes. The blockchain-enabled proposed framework ensures the detection of such cases at no other cost. Finally, the solution may appear costly in the first place, but it has the potential to hold back the revenue of the countries that would otherwise be spent on reactive measures.

Originality/value

As of now no other study or research article provides the solution to the biggest problem persists in the world in this way. The contribution is original and worth applying.
Modeling pervasive platforms and digital services for smart urban transformation using an enterprise architecture framework
Authors: Anthony Jnr Bokolo , Abbas Petersen Sobah , Helfert Markus , Ahlers Dirk , Krogstie John
Published: May 2021

Purpose

In smart cities pervasive systems are deployed by enterprises and stakeholders in municipalities to provide digital services to citizens. But cities are faced with the challenge of achieving system pluggability, mainly service integration due to numerous actors and systems needed for smart urban transformation. Hence, there is need to employ a comprehensive and holistic approach to help achieve service integration of pervasive platforms. Therefore, this study presents an Enterprise Architecture Framework (EAF) to support smart urban transformation.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study the design science research methodology is adopted based on a multi-case studies of two organizations and data is collected using semi-structured interview from an organizations and municipality in Norway to validate how service integration can be achieved by the developed EAF to address pluggability challenges faced in urban environment.

Findings

Findings suggest that the presented EAF provides the structure to manage changes and maintain urban transformation and aims to align the business with the underlying information systems from the perspective of the stakeholders. Additionally, findings from the case studies modelled in ArchiMate language depict how service integration of different pervasive platforms provide digital services for smart urban transformation.

Research limitations/implications

This research only employed semi-structured interviews to validate service integration of digital platforms, other identified dimensions of pluggability were not fully addressed in this study.

Practical implications

Findings from the case studies provides insights on how pervasive platforms can be integrated to achieve a pluggable digital service from different stakeholders and data sources in practice. The developed EAF presented in this study provide a model that supports collection and exchange of data from different data sources in smart urban environment to enable the provision and consumption of digital services.

Social implications

The developed EAF aids system pluggability of actors and systems in providing digital service such as smart urban transformation that contributes to sustainable use of electric mobility in cities.

Originality/value

As cities increasingly deploy pervasive platforms to support urban innovation, researchers are seeking to explore how these platforms shape urban transformation. Presently, prior studies do not offer important insights into pervasive platform management from urban perspective. Against this backdrop, this study employs the information systems perspective of digital platforms literature roots in software development and physical product development to depict how the EAF can be employed to describe specific cases that integrate different pervasive platforms deployed by different stakeholders communicating to co-create collective digital services to citizens.
Challenges of agri-food supply in city region food systems: an emerging economy perspective
Authors: Weerabahu Samanthi Kumari , Samaranayake Premaratne , Dasanayaka S.W. Sarath , Wickramasinghe Chaminda Nalaka
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This paper explores the challenges of food security from source to consumption of agri-food value chain by considering urban–rural linkages in city region food systems (CRFSs) and proposes a strategic framework for CRFS identifying strategies to promote urban–rural linkages among multiple stakeholders.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative case study approach to a fruit and vegetable value chain from rural source to consumption in the Colombo City region identifies the challenges of food security. A snowballing sampling method was used to gather information from retailers, wholesalers, commission agent, farmers and consumers. The data were collected through face-to-face interviews, observations and secondary data sources. The data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Findings

Challenges in food security in the value chain related to five areas: input and production, infrastructure, public institutional support and policy, finance, and food market. Colombo city is heavily dependent on food sourced from other cities due to limited land and lack of locally situated commercially oriented farmers.

Research limitations/implications

This research is limited to a selected number of fruits and vegetables in the Colombo city region and leaves out other food items.

Originality/value

This study contributes to informing policy and decision-making processes to promote a more balanced rural to city food value chain in Colombo City that could benefit all stakeholders from rural small-scale producers to urban consumers.
Investor relations in the era of social media: systematic literature review of social media as a strategic corporate disclosure tool
Authors: Nuseir Mohammed , Qasim Amer
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to systematically review how corporations are increasingly using social media to strategically disseminate information to investors, including different research tracks, then identify the gaps to propose future research opportunities.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors searched for relevant scholarly work on Scopus and Google Scholar databases published during the period 2000–2020 in English. Both quantitative and qualitative papers were reviewed. Articles were filtered based on their relevance to the study's goal, resulting in the selection of 84 articles. A total of 16 articles were selected for inclusion in the systematic review.

Findings

In light of the existing studies’ limitations, this paper derives and summarizes 16 leading future research tracks. Results indicated that corporations could use social media to reduce information asymmetry between managers and investors. Nevertheless, social media for information disclosure purposes is used in a strategic way, whereby only positive news and voluntary information are disseminated.

Research limitations/implications

The implications for investors are that they can make better decisions by engaging in the process of “the wisdom of crowd,” which is facilitated by reciprocal communication. The implications for corporations are that sharing earning information through social networking platforms presents them with an opportunity to effectively manage their investors by reducing negative perceptions and increasing market response.

Originality/value

As far as we know, this is the first paper that uses a systematic literature review over the social media research field.
Optimization algorithms and investment portfolio analytics with machine learning techniques under time-varying liquidity constraints
Authors: Al Janabi Mazin A.M.
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to examine from commodity portfolio managers’ perspective the performance of liquidity adjusted risk modeling in assessing the market risk parameters of a large commodity portfolio and in obtaining efficient and coherent portfolios under different market circumstances.

Design/methodology/approach

The implemented market risk modeling algorithm and investment portfolio analytics using reinforcement machine learning techniques can simultaneously handle risk-return characteristics of commodity investments under regular and crisis market settings besides considering the particular effects of the time-varying liquidity constraints of the multiple-asset commodity portfolios.

Findings

In particular, the paper implements a robust machine learning method to commodity optimal portfolio selection and within a liquidity-adjusted value-at-risk (LVaR) framework. In addition, the paper explains how the adapted LVaR modeling algorithms can be used by a commodity trading unit in a dynamic asset allocation framework for estimating risk exposure, assessing risk reduction alternates and creating efficient and coherent market portfolios.

Originality/value

The optimization parameters subject to meaningful operational and financial constraints, investment portfolio analytics and empirical results can have important practical uses and applications for commodity portfolio managers particularly in the wake of the 2007–2009 global financial crisis. In addition, the recommended reinforcement machine learning optimization algorithms can aid in solving some real-world dilemmas under stressed and adverse market conditions (e.g. illiquidity, switching in correlations factors signs, nonlinear and non-normal distribution of assets’ returns) and can have key applications in machine learning, expert systems, smart financial functions, internet of things (IoT) and financial technology (FinTech) in big data ecosystems.
Biological production of H2, CH4 and CO2 in the deep subsurface of the Iberian Pyrite Belt
Authors: Sanz Jose L. , Rodriguez Nuria , Escudero Cristina , Carrizo Daniel , Amils Ricardo
Published: May 2021

Most of the terrestrial deep subsurfaces are oligotrophic environments in which some gases, mainly H2, CH4 and CO2, play an important role as energy and/or carbon sources. In this work, we assessed their biotic and abiotic origin in samples from subsurface hard‐rock cores of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB) at three different depths (414, 497 and 520 m). One set of samples was sterilized (abiotic control) and all samples were incubated under anaerobic conditions. Our results showed that H2, CH4 and CO2 remained low and constant in the sterilized controls while their levels were 4, 4.1 and 2.5 times higher respectively, in the unsterilized samples compared to the abiotic controls. The δ13CCH4‐values measured in the samples (range −31.2 to −43.0 ‰) reveals carbon isotopic signatures that are within the range for biological methane production. Possible microorganisms responsible for the biotic production of the gases were assessed by CARD‐FISH. The analysis of sequenced genomes of detected microorganisms within the subsurface of the IPB allowed to identify possible metabolic activities involved in H2 (Rhodoplanes, Shewanella and Desulfosporosinus), CH4 (Methanobacteriales) and CO2 production. The obtained results suggest that part of the H2, CH4 and CO2 detected in the deep subsurface has a biological origin.
MAP kinase Hog1 mediates a cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase to promote the Sporisorium scitamineum cell survival under oxidative stress
Authors: Cai Enping , Li Lingyu , Deng Yizhen , Sun Shuquan , Jia Huan , Wu Rongrong , Zhang Lianhui , Jiang Zide , Chang Changqing
Published: May 2021

The MAP kinase high osmolarity glycerol 1 (Hog1) plays a central role in responding to external oxidative stress in budding yeast Saccchromyces cerevisiae. However, the downstream responsive elements regulated by Hog1 remain poorly understood. In this study, we report that a Sporisorium scitamineum orthologue of Hog1, named as SsHog1, induced transcriptional expression of a putative cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase encoding gene SsCPR1, to antagonize oxidative stress. We found that upon exposure to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), SsHog1 underwent strikingly phosphorylation, which was proved to be critical for transcriptional induction of SsCPR1. Loss of SsCPR1 led to hypersensitive to oxidative stress similar as the sshog1Δ mutant did, but was resistant to osmotic stress, which is different from the sshog1Δ mutant. On the other hand, overexpression of SsCPR1 in the sshog1Δ mutant could partially restore its ability of oxidative stress tolerance, which indicated that the Hog1 MAP kinase regulates the oxidative stress response specifically through cytochrome P450 (SsCpr1) pathway. Overall, our findings highlight a novel MAPK signalling pathway mediated by Hog1 in regulation of the oxidative stress response via the cytochrome P450 system, which plays an important role in host‐fungus interaction.
Cost‐effectivenessanalysis of radiobasilic and brachiobasilic arteriovenous fistulas in hemodialysis patients
Authors: Sungur Mehmet Ali , Karaca Okay Güven , Ecevit Ata Niyazi
Published: May 2021

We evaluated the cost and efficacy of radiobasilic and brachiobasilic arteriovenous fistula (AVF) methods in terms of forearm autogenous arteriovenous access in hemodialysis patients. We used a decision tree to compare the cost‐effectiveness of proximal radiobasilic AVF (pRBAVF) and brachiobasilic AVF (BBAVF), considering the mean direct medical costs and patency rates. The overall mean cost of pRBAVF per patient (1767.59 Turkish lira [TL]) was lower than that of BBAVF (1877.99 TL). Also, the mean patency duration per patient was higher for pRBAVF (25.72 months) than BBAVF (20.21 months). The incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio (ICER) showed that pRBAVF was 20.04‐fold more effective than BBAVF. The monthly ICERs also favored pRBAVF, which was less costly and more effective. The pRBAVF provided clinical and economic benefits for hemodialysis patients requiring forearm autogenous arteriovenous access. pRBAVF was more effective in terms of patency than BBAVF, and was also less expensive.
Metatranscriptomic outlook on green and brown food webs in acid mine drainage
Authors: Plewniak Frédéric , Crognale Simona , Bruneel Odile , Sismeiro Odile , Coppée Jean‐Yves , Rossetti Simona , Bertin Philippe
Published: May 2021

Acid mine drainages (AMDs), metal‐rich acidic effluents generated by mining activities, are colonized by prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms widely distributed among different phyla. We compared metatranscriptomic data from two sampling stations in the Carnoulès AMD and from a third station in the nearby Amous River, focussing on processes involved in primary production and litter decomposition. A synergistic relationship between the green and brown food webs was favoured in the AMD sediments by the low carbon content and the availability of mineral nutrients: primary production of organic matter would benefit C‐limited decomposers whose activity of organic matter mineralization would in turn profit primary producers. This balance could be locally disturbed by heterogeneous factors such as an input of plant debris from the riparian vegetation, strongly boosting the growth of Tremellales which would then outcompete primary producers. In the unpolluted Amous River on the contrary, the competition for limited mineral nutrients was dominated by the green food web, fish and bacterivorous protists having a positive effect on phytoplankton. These results suggest that in addition to direct effects of low pH and metal contamination, trophic conditions like carbon or mineral nutrient limitations also have a strong impact on assembly and activities of AMDs' microbial communities.
Extreme climatic events affect populations of Asian chestnut gall wasps, Dryocosmus kuriphilus, but do not stop the spread
Authors: Lombardero Maria J. , Castedo‐Dorado Fernando , Ayres Matthew P.
Published: May 2021

Global climate change affects the frequency of extreme weather events that can influence plant–insect interactions.

We evaluated how the late‐spring frost and severe drought that occurred in Spain in 2017 affected interactions between the invasive gall insect, Dryocosmus kuriphilus, and the native tree, Castanea sativa. We assessed effects on insect survival, fertility, population growth, and effects through changes in tree palatability and in other pests and pathogens.

Late‐spring frost reduced D. kuriphilus to 25–40% of previous abundance. Wasp populations recovered rapidly (>7‐fold in 3 years), consistent with density‐dependence in population dynamics.

Larvae affected by freeze or drought were smaller. Female fecundity was affected by the freeze 1 year later.

Late‐spring frosts and severe drought affected leaf size and physiology. Water content was higher within galls, but nitrogen was higher within galls in non‐freeze plots after weather conditions improved.

Freezing also influenced the secondary chemistry of leaves. Phenol concentrations were lower, and terpenes higher, in frozen plots, while condensed tannins remained the same. Condensed tannins were reduced to half in the drought year.

Freezing had limited effects on damage from other pests and pathogens.

Our work expands understanding of how climate and weather affects forest pests.
Population pharmacokinetics of raxibacumab in healthy adult subjects
Authors: Oosterholt Sean P. , Della Pasqua Oscar
Published: May 2021

Aims

Raxibacumab is a fully humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks the interaction of Bacillus anthracis toxins, thereby protecting target cells from its effects. Raxibacumab is approved in the USA for the treatment of adults and children with inhalational anthrax in combination with antibiotics, and for prophylaxis of inhalational anthrax. The aim of this investigation was to characterise the population pharmacokinetics and assess the effect of baseline demographic covariates on the disposition of raxibacumab.

Methods

The data used for this analysis were obtained from 3 clinical trials and include 2229 blood samples from 322 healthy subjects who were randomised to receive a 40 mg/kg intravenous dose of raxibacumab over a period of 2.25 hours. Population pharmacokinetic modelling was performed using a nonlinear mixed effects approach. Secondary parameters of interest were the area under the curve, maximum concentration and the time of serum raxibacumab concentrations greater than or equimolar to the highest serum protective antigen concentrations observed for at least 28 days in any monkey challenged with B. anthracis that died.

Results

Raxibacumab exposure in healthy subjects was described by a 2‐compartment model. Interindividual variability was estimated for all model parameters, whilst residual variability was described by a proportional and additive error model. Weight was the only influential covariate with significant effect on disposition parameters.

Conclusions

A dose of 40 mg/kg provided comparable exposure across the overall healthy subject population. Interindividual variability in raxibacumab vs. time profiles could partially be accounted for by differences in body weight.
Vesico‐urethral anastomosis sampling: a forgotten tool for guiding salvage radiation after radical prostatectomy
Authors: Timm Brennan , Farag Matthew , Liodakis Peter , Angus David , Lim Joon Daryl , Bolton Damien
Published: May 2021

Objective

To review the utility of vesicourethral anastomosis (VUA)‐directed biopsy in the setting of biochemical recurrence (BCR) after radical prostatectomy (RP) for prostate cancer (PCa) in patients who have undergone evaluation by gallium‐68 prostate‐specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography with computed tomography (68Ga‐PSMA PET/CT).

Methods

We completed a retrospective review of a prospectively maintained dataset from January 2015 to August 2020. Patient demographics were recorded for those who experienced BCR, as defined by a rise in prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) level to above 0.2 ng/mL, who had a 68Ga‐PSMA PET/CT that did not demonstrate recurrence within the prostate bed, and who subsequently underwent a transperineal ultrasonography (TPUS)‐guided biopsy directed at the VUA. Histological reporting of the biopsies was undertaken in order to determine whether the benefits of salvage radiation therapy (SRT) could be justified by the presence of cancer cells.

Results

Eighteen patients who had a 68Ga‐PSMA PET/CT and underwent VUA‐directed biopsy were identified as having BCR. 68Ga‐PSMA PET/CT scans demonstrated avidity at the VUA in none of the patients, although two out of 18 patients showed avidity in the seminal vesicles and two out of 18 patients showed avidity within regional lymph nodes. Histology from the TPUS‐guided, VUA‐directed biopsies demonstrated no prostatic tissue in six out of 18 and presence of prostatic tissue in 12 out of 18 of patients, respectively. In 7 out of 18 cases, there was histological evidence of recurrent PCa at the VUA in the absence of a positive 68Ga‐PSMA PET/CT scan.

Conclusion

This study highlights the potential value of VUA‐directed biopsy. We are reminded that a negative 68Ga‐PSMA PET/CT does not exclude local recurrence and that the addition of a VUA‐directed biopsy may aid in the decision‐making process for patients with BCR following RP, especially when 68Ga‐PSMA PET/CT is locally negative. When the result of both 68Ga‐PSMA PET/CT and VUA‐directed biopsy are negative, it should encourage clinicians to share decision‐making in regard to undertaking SRT vs continuing BCR surveillance. This may delay the possible side effects associated with SRT, despite its excellent PSA failure‐free survival rate.
Uncovering the signalling, structure and function of the 20‐HETE‐GPR75 pairing: Identifying the chemokine CCL5 as a negative regulator of GPR75
Authors: Pascale Jonathan V. , Park Eon Joo , Adebesin Adeniyi Michael , Falck John R. , Schwartzman Michal Laniado , Garcia Victor
Published: May 2021

Background and Purpose

The G‐protein‐coupled receptor GPR75 (Gq) and its ligand, the cytochrome P450‐derived vasoactive eicosanoid 20‐hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20‐HETE), are involved in the activation of pro‐inflammatory and hypertensive signalling cascades contributing to diabetes, obesity, vascular dysfunction/remodelling, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Little is known as to how, where and with what affinity 20‐HETE interacts with GPR75.

Experimental Approach

To better understand the pairing of 20‐HETE and its receptor (GPR75), we used surface plasmon resonance (SPR) to determine binding affinity/kinetics. The PRESTO‐Tango receptor‐ome methodology for GPR75 overexpression was coupled with FLIPR Calcium 6 assays, homogeneous time‐resolved fluorescence (HTRF) IP‐1 and β‐arrestin recruitment assays to determine receptor activation and downstream signalling events.

Key Results

SPR confirmed 20‐HETE binding to GPR75 with an estimated KD of 1.56 × 10−10 M. In GPR75‐transfected HTLA cells, 20‐HETE stimulated intracellular Ca2+ levels, IP‐1 accumulation and β‐arrestin recruitment, all of which were negated by known 20‐HETE functional antagonists. Computational modelling of the putative ligand‐binding pocket and mutation of Thr212 within the putative 20‐HETE binding site abolished 20‐HETE's ability to stimulate GPR75 activation. Knockdown of GPR75 in human endothelial cells nullified 20‐HETE‐stimulated intracellular Ca2+. The chemokine CCL5, a suggested GPR75 ligand, binds to GPR75 (KD of 5.85 × 10−10 M) yet fails to activate GPR75; however, it inhibited 20‐HETE's ability to activate GPR75 signalling.

Conclusions and Implications

We have identified 20‐HETE as a high‐affinity ligand for GPR75 and CCL5 as a low‐affinity negative regulator of GPR75, providing additional evidence for the deorphanization of GPR75 as a 20‐HETE receptor.
The better route to global tax coordination: Gradualism or multilateralism?
Authors: Konrad Kai A. , Thum Marcel
Published: May 2021

We compare the success probability of multilateral negotiations and sequential negotiations over international tax cooperation. To make this difference relevant, we introduce incomplete information as a friction that can lead to bargaining failure. We find plausible conditions for when multilateral negotiations are more likely to achieve full global tax coordination than a gradual/sequential approach. We also compare different routes of sequential bargaining. We ask whether negotiations should start with countries that are the most unpredictable candidates or the most difficult negotiation should be preserved for the final round. We find that sequencing along this dimension matters. Under plausible conditions, full cooperation is least likely to emerge if the negotiations with the most unpredictable country take place last.
Dorsal raphe serotonergic neurons promote arousal from isoflurane anesthesia
Authors: Li Ao , Li Rui , Ouyang Pengrong , Li Huihui , Wang Sa , Zhang Xinxin , Wang Dan , Ran Mingzi , Zhao Guangchao , Yang Qianzi , Zhu Zhenghua , Dong Hailong , Zhang Haopeng
Published: May 2021

Aims

General anesthesia has been widely applied in surgical or nonsurgical medical procedures, but the mechanism behind remains elusive. Because of shared neural circuits of sleep and anesthesia, whether serotonergic system, which is highly implicated in modulation of sleep and wakefulness, regulates general anesthesia as well is worth investigating.

Methods

Immunostaining and fiber photometry were used to assess the neuronal activities. Electroencephalography spectra and burst‐suppression ratio (BSR) were used to measure anesthetic depth and loss or recovery of righting reflex to indicate the induction or emergence time of general anesthesia. Regulation of serotonergic system was achieved through optogenetic, chemogenetic, or pharmacological methods.

Results

We found that both Fos expression and calcium activity were significantly decreased during general anesthesia. Activation of 5‐HT neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) decreased the depth of anesthesia and facilitated the emergence from anesthesia, and inhibition deepened the anesthesia and prolonged the emergence time. Furthermore, agonism or antagonism of 5‐HT 1A or 2C receptors mimicked the effect of manipulating DRN serotonergic neurons.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrate that 5‐HT neurons in the DRN play a regulative role of general anesthesia, and activation of serotonergic neurons could facilitate emergence from general anesthesia partly through 5‐HT 1A and 2C receptors.
Alemtuzumab‐induced Alopecia areata – a case report and systematic literature review of adverse events associated with Alemtuzumab
Authors: Dikeoulia Elsa , Neufeld Matthias , Pawlitzki Marc , Böhm Markus
Published: May 2021

Alemtuzumab is currently approved for the treatment of active relapsing‐remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Despite the efficacy of this therapy several side effects in the skin have been noted during or after infusion including vitiligo, alopecia areata, malignant skin tumors and infections. Awareness of these effects and their treatment is of essential interdisciplinary importance. This minireview provides an overview of the dermatological side effects described in the current literature. We also suggest pathomechanisms underlying these phenomena. To introduce this review, we present the case of a woman with RRMS who developed severe alopecia areata for the first time on alemtuzumab.
Crowd‐sourced plant occurrence data provide a reliable description of macroecological gradients
Authors: Mahecha Miguel D. , Rzanny Michael , Kraemer Guido , Mäder Patrick , Seeland Marco , Wäldchen Jana
Published: May 2021

Deep learning algorithms classify plant species with high accuracy, and smartphone applications leverage this technology to enable users to identify plant species in the field. The question we address here is whether such crowd‐sourced data contain substantial macroecological information. In particular, we aim to understand if we can detect known environmental gradients shaping plant co‐occurrences. In this study we analysed 1 million data points collected through the use of the mobile app Flora Incognita between 2018 and 2019 in Germany and compared them with Florkart, containing plant occurrence data collected by more than 5000 floristic experts over a 70‐year period. The direct comparison of the two data sets reveals that the crowd‐sourced data particularly undersample areas of low population density. However, using nonlinear dimensionality reduction we were able to uncover macroecological patterns in both data sets that correspond well to each other. Mean annual temperature, temperature seasonality and wind dynamics as well as soil water content and soil texture represent the most important gradients shaping species composition in both data collections. Our analysis describes one way of how automated species identification could soon enable near real‐time monitoring of macroecological patterns and their changes, but also discusses biases that must be carefully considered before crowd‐sourced biodiversity data can effectively guide conservation measures.
Inadvertent hypothermia after endovascular therapy is not associated with improved outcome in stroke due to anterior circulation large vessel occlusion
Authors: Hartmann Christian , Winzer Simon , Pallesen Lars‐Peder , Prakapenia Alexandra , Siepmann Timo , Moustafa Haidar , Theilen Hermann , Barlinn Jessica , Gerber Johannes C. , Linn Jennifer , Reichmann Heinz , Barlinn Kristian , Puetz Volker
Published: May 2021

Background and purpose

Hypothermia may be neuroprotective in acute ischemic stroke. Patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion (acLVO) are frequently hypothermic after endovascular therapy (EVT). We sought to determine whether this inadvertent hypothermia is associated with improved outcome.

Methods

We extracted data of consecutive patients (January 2016 to May 2019) who received EVT for acLVO from our prospective EVT register of all patients screened for EVT at our tertiary stroke center. We assessed functional outcome at 3 months and performed multivariate analysis to calculate adjusted risk ratios (aRRs) for favorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale scores = 0–2) and mortality across patients who were hypothermic (<36°C) and patients who were normothermic (≥36°C to <37.6°C) after EVT. Moreover, we compared the frequency of complications between these groups.

Results

Among 837 patients screened, 416 patients received EVT for acLVO and fulfilled inclusion criteria (200 [48.1%] male, mean age = 76 ± 16 years, median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score = 16, interquartile range [IQR] = 12–20). Of these, 209 patients (50.2%) were hypothermic (median temperature = 35.2°C, IQR = 34.7–35.7) and 207 patients were normothermic (median temperature = 36.4°C, IQR = 36.1–36.7) after EVT. In multivariate analysis, hypothermia was not associated with favorable outcome (aRR = 0.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.75–1.31) and mortality (aRR = 1.18, 95% CI = 0.84–1.66). More hypothermic patients suffered from pneumonia (36.4% vs. 25.6%, p = 0.02) and bradyarrhythmia (52.6% vs. 16.4%, p < 0.001), whereas thromboembolic events were distributed evenly (5.7% vs. 6.8%, not significant).

Conclusions

Inadvertent hypothermia after EVT for acLVO is not associated with improved functional outcome or reduced mortality but is associated with an increased rate of pneumonia and bradyarrhythmia in patients with acute ischemic stroke.
Structural transmissions among investor attention, stock market volatility and trading volumes
Authors: Herwartz Helmut , Xu Fang
Published: May 2021

We employ data‐based approaches to identify the transmissions of structural shocks among investor attention measured by Google search queries, realised volatilities and trading volumes in the United States, the United Kingdom and the German stock market. The two identification approaches adopted for the structural vector autoregressive analysis are based on independent component analysis and the informational content of disproportional variance changes. Our results show robust evidence that investors' attention affects both volatilities and trading volumes contemporaneously, whereas the latter two variables lack immediate impacts on investors' attention. Some movements in investors' attention can be traced back to market sentiment.
Pandemic coronavirus disease (Covid‐19): World effects analysis and prediction using machine‐learning techniques
Authors: Tiwari Dimple , Bhati Bhoopesh Singh , Al‐Turjman Fadi , Nagpal Bharti
Published: May 2021

Pandemic novel Coronavirus (Covid‐19) is an infectious disease that primarily spreads by droplets of nose discharge when sneezing and saliva from the mouth when coughing, that had first been reported in Wuhan, China in December 2019. Covid‐19 became a global pandemic, which led to a harmful impact on the world. Many predictive models of Covid‐19 are being proposed by academic researchers around the world to take the foremost decisions and enforce the appropriate control measures. Due to the lack of accurate Covid‐19 records and uncertainty, the standard techniques are being failed to correctly predict the epidemic global effects. To address this issue, we present an Artificial Intelligence (AI)‐based meta‐analysis to predict the trend of epidemic Covid‐19 over the world. The powerful machine learning algorithms namely Naïve Bayes, Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Linear Regression were applied on real time‐series dataset, which holds the global record of confirmed, recovered, deaths and active cases of Covid‐19 outbreak. Statistical analysis has also been conducted to present various facts regarding Covid‐19 observed symptoms, a list of Top‐20 Coronavirus affected countries and a number of coactive cases over the world. Among the three machine learning techniques investigated, Naïve Bayes produced promising results to predict Covid‐19 future trends with less Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and Mean Squared Error (MSE). The less value of MAE and MSE strongly represent the effectiveness of the Naïve Bayes regression technique. Although, the global footprint of this pandemic is still uncertain. This study demonstrates the various trends and future growth of the global pandemic for a proactive response from the citizens and governments of countries. This paper sets the initial benchmark to demonstrate the capability of machine learning for outbreak prediction.
Where is my home?: Gendered precarity and the experience of COVID‐19 among women migrant workers from Delhi and National Capital Region, India
Authors: Arora Shubhda , Majumder Mrinmoy
Published: May 2021

With growing interest in the lives of individuals and communities during the COVID‐19 pandemic, there is consensus among scholars, academicians, and policy makers that the pandemic has had unequal impacts on different sections of the society. The dominant idea that “we are in this together” needs to be critically unpacked to understand the differential impact of the same pandemic on people with varied vulnerabilities. The concept of “intersectional vulnerability” has been key to understanding the unequal distribution of the pandemic risk. Using a gendered intersectional lens, this paper aims to understand the lived experiences of migrant women workers during the pandemic and their narratives of gendered inequality. Through a narrative study in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), India, from May to October 2020, this study brings out stories of precarity faced by five migrant women while battling the social, psychological, and economic effects of the pandemic. Loss of livelihood, home, savings, and prospects of a better future shape the narratives of these women. The pandemic exacerbated the already precarious positions of these women by creating a situation where—(a) patriarchal structures were further reinforced, and (b) losing gender solidarity and companionship through lockdown and social distancing.
A clinical comparison of pure knitted silk and a complex synthetic skin substitute for the treatment of partial thickness burns
Authors: Schiefer Jennifer Lynn , Andreae Janine , Bagheri Mahsa , Fuchs Paul Christian , Lefering Rolf , Heitzmann Wolfram , Schulz Alexandra
Published: May 2021

Currently, many dressings are commercially available for the treatment of burn wounds. Some of these wound dressings remain on the wound, prevent painful dressing changes, and reduce tissue scarring. Nevertheless, still a wound dressing that is cost‐effective, produces good wound healing properties, and has a high patient satisfaction is needed. Standard care of superficial burn wounds differs between burn centres. This study aimed to determine a dressing with easy appliance, accurate pain control, favourable outcome, and cost‐effectiveness. Therefore, we compared the widely used but expensive Suprathel with the rather new but much cheaper Dressilk in the clinical setting. In a prospective clinical study, the healing of partial thickness burn wounds after simultaneous treatment with Suprathel and Dressilk was examined in 20 patients intra‐individually. During wound healing, pain, infection, exudation, and bleeding were evaluated. A subjective scar evaluation was performed using the Patient and Observer Scar Scale. Both dressings were easy to apply, remained on the wound in place, and were gradually cut back as reepithelisation proceeded and showed similar times to wound closure. Dressing changes were not necessary, and neither infections nor bleeding was detected. Overall exudation and pain were highest in the beginning but declined during the wound‐healing phase without significant differences. In the follow‐up scar evaluation after 12 months, patients reported overall high satisfaction. Overall, the modern dressings Suprathel and Dressilk (solely made out of pure silk) led to safe wound healing without infection and rapidly reduced pain. There was no need for dressing changes, and they had similar clinical outcomes in scar evaluation. Therefore, both dressings seem to be ideal for the treatment of superficial burns. Because acquisition costs remain one of the main factors in the treatment of burns, Dressilk, which is ~20 times cheaper than Suprathel, remains a good option for the treatment of partial thickness burns.