bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Decoding the architecture of the varicella-zoster virus transcriptome
Authors: Braspenning Shirley E. , Sadaoka Tomohiko , Breuer Judith , Verjans Georges M.G.M , Ouwendijk Werner J.D. , Depledge Daniel P.
Published: May 2020

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV), a double-stranded DNA virus, causes varicella, establishes lifelong latency in ganglionic neurons, and reactivates later in life to cause herpes zoster, commonly associated with chronic pain. The VZV genome is densely packed and produces multitudes of overlapping transcripts deriving from both strands. While 71 distinct open reading frames (ORFs) have thus far been experimentally defined, the full coding potential of VZV remains unknown. Here, we integrated multiple short-read RNA sequencing approaches with long-read direct RNA sequencing on RNA isolated from VZV-infected cells to provide a comprehensive reannotation of the lytic VZV transcriptome architecture. Through precise mapping of transcription start sites, splice junctions, and polyadenylation sites, we identified 136 distinct polyadenylated VZV RNAs that encode canonical ORFs, non-canonical ORFs, and ORF fusions, as well as putative non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). Furthermore, we determined the kinetic class of all VZV transcripts and observed, unexpectedly, that transcripts encoding the ORF62 protein, previously designated asimmediate-early,were expressed withlatekinetics. Our work showcases the complexity of the VZV transcriptome and provides a comprehensive resource that will facilitate future functional studies of coding RNAs, ncRNAs, and the biological mechanisms underlying the regulation of viral transcription and translation during lytic VZV infection.
Features Of Hippocampal Astrocytic Domains And Their Spatial Relation To Excitatory And Inhibitory Neurons
Authors: Refaeli Ron , Doron Adi , Benmelech-Chovav Aviya , Groysman Maya , Kreisel Tirzah , Loewenstein Yonatan , Goshen Inbal
Published: May 2020

The mounting evidence for the involvement of astrocytes in neuronal circuits function and behavior stands in stark contrast to the lack of detailed anatomical description of these cells and the neurons in their domains. To fill this void, we imaged >30,000 astrocytes in cleared hippocampi, and employed converging genetic, histological and computational tools to determine the elaborate structure, distribution and neuronal content of astrocytic domains. First, we characterized the spatial distribution of >19,000 astrocytes across CA1 lamina, and analyzed the detailed morphology of thousands of reconstructed domains. We then determined the excitatory content of CA1 astrocytes, averaging above 13 pyramidal neurons per domain and increasing towards CA1 midline. Finally, we discovered that somatostatin neurons are found in close proximity to astrocytes, compared to parvalbumin and VIP inhibitory neurons. This resource expands our understanding of fundamental hippocampal design principles, and provides the first quantitative foundation for neuron-astrocyte interactions in this region.
Predicting Individual Variability in Task-Evoked Brain Activity in Schizophrenia
Authors: Tik Niv , Livny Abigail , Gal Shachar , Gigi Karny , Tsarfaty Galia , Weiser Mark , Tavor Ido
Published: May 2020

BACKGROUND

Patients suffering from schizophrenia demonstrate abnormal brain activity, as well as alterations in patterns of functional connectivity assessed by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Previous studies in healthy participants suggest a strong association between resting-state functional connectivity and task-evoked brain activity that could be detected at an individual level, and show that brain activation in various tasks could be predicted from task-free fMRI scans. In the current study we aimed to predict brain activity in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, using a prediction model based on healthy individuals exclusively. This offers novel insights regarding the interrelations between brain connectivity and activity in schizophrenia.

METHODS

We generated a prediction model using a group of 80 healthy controls that performed the well-validated N-back task, and used it to predict individual variability in task-evoked brain activation in 20 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia.

RESULTS

We demonstrated a successful prediction of individual variability in the task-evoked brain activation based on resting-state functional connectivity. The predictions were highly sensitive, reflected by high correlations between predicted and actual activation maps (Median= 0.589,SD= 0.193) and specific, evaluated by a Kolomogrov-Smirnov test (D= 0.25,p< 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

A Successful prediction of brain activity from resting-state functional connectivity highlights the strong coupling between the two. Moreover, our results support the notion that even though resting-state functional connectivity and task-evoked brain activity are frequently reported to be altered in schizophrenia, the relations between them remains unaffected. This may allow to generate task activity maps for clinical populations without the need the actually perform the task.
Characterising the Behaviour of the CtenophorePleurobrachia pileusin a Laboratory Aquaculture System
Authors: Courtney Amy , Merces George O.T. , Pickering Mark
Published: May 2020

Neurobiological research focuses on a small number of model organisms, broadening the pool of animals used in research may lead to important insights into the evolution of nervous systems. The ctenophore is emerging as a promising model, but we are currently lacking an understanding into the relationship between behaviour and environment which is in part due to a lack of a standardised long-term laboratory husbandry system. We established a collection and husbandry system for wild caughtPleurobrachia pileus. We examined the behavioural profile of the animals over time in this controlled environment. We could reliably catch them on a seasonal basis, and we could keep the animals alive in our specialised aquarium system for months at a time.P. pileusspends most of the time in an inactive ‘drifting’ state which is interspersed with periods of one of 5 active behaviours. The most common active behaviours are tentacle resetting and feeding. The longest duration behaviours include swimming up or down. Time of day does not appear to alter their behavioural profile. Gaining a better understanding of the behaviour of these animals has important implications for systems and evolutionary neuroscience.
4-hydroxy-2-nonenal antimicrobial toxicity is neutralized by an intracellular pathogen
Authors: Tabakh Hannah , McFarland Adelle P. , Pollock Alex J. , Glover Rochelle C. , Woodward Joshua J.
Published: May 2020

Pathogens encounter numerous antimicrobial responses, including the reactive oxygen species (ROS) burst. ROS-mediated oxidation of host membrane poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) generates the toxic alpha-beta carbonyl 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE). Though studied extensively in the context of sterile inflammation, 4-HNE’s role during infection remains limited. Here we found that 4-HNE is generated during bacterial infection and that the intracellular pathogenListeria monocytogenesinduces a specific set of genes in response to 4-HNE exposure. A component of theL. monocytogenes4-HNE response is the expression of the genesrha1andrha2which code for two NADPH-dependent oxidoreductases that collectively counter 4-HNE toxicity. Heterologous expression ofrha1/2inBacillus subtilissignificantly increased bacterial resistance to 4-HNE bothin vitroand following phagocytosis by murine macrophages. Our work demonstrates that 4-HNE is a previously unappreciated component of ROS-mediated toxicity and thatL. monocytogeneshas evolved specific countermeasures to survive within its presence.
Evaluating the burden of COVID-19 on hospital resources in Bahia, Brazil: A modelling-based analysis of 14.8 million individuals
Authors: Oliveira Juliane Fonseca , Jorge Daniel C. P. , Veiga Rafael V. , Rodrigues Moreno S. , Torquato Matheus F. , da Silva Nivea B. , Fiaconne Rosemeire L. , Castro Caio P. , Paiva Aureliano S. S. , Cardim Luciana L. , Amad Alan A. S. , Lima Ernesto A. B. F. , Souza Diego S. , Pinho Suani T. R. , Ramos Pablo I. P. , Andrade Roberto F. S. ,   Rede CoVida Modelling Task-force
Published: May 2020

Here we present a general compartment model with a time-varying transmission rate to describe the dynamics of the COVID-19 epidemic, parameterized with the demographics of Bahia, a state in northeast Brazil. The dynamics of the model are influenced by the number of asymptomatic cases, hospitalization requirements and mortality due to the disease. A locally-informed model was determined using actual hospitalization records. Together with cases and casualty data, optimized estimates for model parameters were obtained within a metaheuristic framework based on Particle Swarm Optimization. Our strategy is supported by a statistical sensitivity analysis on the model parameters, adequate to properly account for the simulated scenarios. First, we evaluated the effect of previously enforced interventions on the transmission rate. Then, we studied its effects on the number of deaths as well as hospitalization requirements, considering the state as a whole. Special attention is given to the impact of asymptomatic individuals on the dynamic of COVID-19 transmission, as these were estimated to contribute to a 68% increase in the basic reproductive number. Finally, we delineated scenarios that can set guides to protect the health care system, particularly by keeping demand below total bed occupancy. Our results underscore the challenges related to maintaining a fully capable health infrastructure during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, specially in a low-resource setting such as the one focused in this work. The evidences produced by our modelling-based analysis show that decreasing the transmission rate is paramount to success in maintaining health resources availability, but that current local efforts, leading to a 38% decrease in the transmission rate, are still insufficient to prevent its collapse at peak demand. Carefully planned and timely applied interventions, that result in stark decreases in transmission rate, were found to be the most effective in preventing hospital bed shortages for the longest periods.
Ischemic Stroke in COVID-19: An Urgent Need for Early Identification and Management
Authors: Jillella Dinesh V. , Janocko Nicholas J. , Nahab Fadi , Benameur Karima , Greene James G. , Wright Wendy L. , Obideen Mahmoud , Rangaraju Srikant
Published: May 2020

Objective

In the setting of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, a potential association of this disease with stroke has been suggested. We aimed to describe the characteristics of patients who were admitted with COVID-19 and had an acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

Methods

This is a case series of PCR-confirmed COVID-19 patients with ischemic stroke admitted to an academic health system in metropolitan Atlanta (USA) between March 24th,2020, and May 5th, 2020. Demographic, clinical, and radiographic characteristics were described.

Results

Of 124 ischemic stroke patients admitted during this study period, 8 (6.5%) were also diagnosed with COVID-19. The mean age of patients was 64.3 ± 6.5 years, 5 (62.5%) male, mean time from last-normal was 4.8 days [SD 4.8], and none received acute reperfusion therapy. All 8 patients had at least one stroke-associated co-morbidity. The predominant pattern of ischemic stroke was embolic; 3 were explained by atrial fibrillation while 5 (62.5%) were cryptogenic. In contrast, cryptogenic strokes were seen in 20 (16.1%) of 124 total stroke admissions during this time.

Conclusions

In our case series, ischemic stroke affected COVID-19 patients with traditional stroke risk factors with an age of stroke presentation typically seen in non-COVID populations. We observed a predominantly embolic pattern of stroke with a higher than expected rate of cryptogenic strokes and with a prolonged median time to presentation and symptom recognition limiting the use of acute reperfusion treatments. These results highlight the need for increased community awareness, early identification, and management of AIS in COVID-19 patients.
Oxymetazoline for the treatment of rosacea-associated persistent facial erythema. Systematic review and meta-analysis protocol
Authors: Cárdenas Geovanna , Novillo Francisco , Lai Shuheng , Fuenzalida Héctor , Verdugo Francisca , Rada Gabriel
Published: May 2020

Objective

The objective of this systematic review is to assess the impact of oxymetazoline in patients with moderate to severe rosacea.

Data Sources

We will conduct a comprehensive search in PubMed/Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Lilacs, the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP), ClinicalTrials.gov, US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and grey literature, to identify all relevant randomized controlled trials regardless of language or publication status (published, unpublished, in press and in progress).

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies and methods

We will include randomized trials evaluating the effect of oxymetazoline in patients with moderate to severe rosacea. Two reviewers will independently screen each study for eligibility, data extraction, and assess the risk of bias. We will pool the results using meta-analysis and will apply the GRADE [1] system to assess the certainty of the evidence for each outcome.

Ethics and Dissemination

No ethics approval is considered necessary. The results of this review will be widely disseminated via peer-reviewed publications, social networks and traditional media.

Protocol and Registration

This protocol was adapted to the specificities of the question assessed in this review and registered to PROSPERO with the ID CRD42020150262.
Excess mortality in England and Wales during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Kontopantelis Evangelos , Mamas Mamas A , Deanfield John , Asaria Miqdad , Doran Tim
Published: May 2020

Background

Deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic result directly from infection and exacerbation of other diseases and indirectly from deferment of care for other conditions, and are socially and geographically patterned. We quantified excess mortality in regions of England and Wales during the pandemic, for all causes and for non-COVID-19 associated deaths.

Methods

Weekly mortality data for 1 Jan 2010 to 1 May 2020 for England and Wales were obtained from the Office of National Statistics. Mean-dispersion negative binomial regressions were used to model death counts based on pre-pandemic trends and exponentiated linear predictions were subtracted from: i) all-cause deaths; and ii) all-cause deaths minus COVID-19 related deaths for the pandemic period (07-13 March to 25 April to 8 May).

Findings

Between 7 March and 8 May 2020, there were 47,243 (95%CI: 46,671 to 47,815) excess deaths in England and Wales, of which 9,948 (95%CI: 9,376 to 10,520) were not associated with COVID-19. Overall excess mortality rates varied from 49 per 100,000 (95%CI: 49 to 50) in the South West to 102 per 100,000 (95%CI: 102 to 103) in London. Non-COVID-19 associated excess mortality rates ranged from −1 per 100,000 (95%CI: −1 to 0) in Wales (i.e. mortality rates were no higher than expected) to 26 per 100,000 (95%CI: 25 to 26) in the West Midlands.

Interpretation

The COVID-19 pandemic has had markedly different impacts on the regions of England and Wales, both for deaths directly attributable to COVID-19 infection and for deaths resulting from the national public health response.

Funding

None
The concept of competence: a thematic review and discussion
Authors: Salman Mohammad , Ganie Showkat Ahmad , Saleem Imran
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This paper follows three objectives. The paper aims to demonstrate a synoptic view of the historical evolution of competence, significant growth and changes in conversation. The second objective is to investigate the meaning and definitional usage of competence and competency. The third objective is to present a synoptic view of different dimensions of competence.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reviews the selected literature spanning from 1959 to date from various databases using the following keywords: competence, competency, employee competence, employee competency, competency management and competency-based management. A total of 170 studies were selected in the first wave. In the second wave, a detailed assessment was made, as suggested by Tranfield Denyer and Smart, to ascertain the relevance of the articles. In this way, only 63 studies were selected for the review. This study also considers other relevant literature.

Findings

The historical evolution demonstrates that competence scholarship has focused on use of the concept in different fields and contexts, theoretical frameworks for competence development and strategic relevance of competence-based (demand-based) human resource management. Results also suggest that the term competency and competence are interchangeably usable. Finally, the review summarizes a total of 16 dimensions of competence, studied in various contexts and classifies them into hard and soft competence and further dividing them into knowledge, skill and self-actualization-related competence.

Research limitations/implications

This paper discusses various research implications for human resource development scholars and professionals.

Originality/value

This paper is a unique attempt to review the literature on three themes of employee competence.
Study on mechanism and filter efficacy of AGO/IAGO in the frequency domain
Authors: Lin Changhai , Song Zhengyu , Liu Sifeng , Yang Yingjie , Forrest Jeffrey
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the mechanism and filter efficacy of accumulation generation operator (AGO)/inverse accumulation generation operator (IAGO) in the frequency domain.

Design/methodology/approach

The AGO/IAGO in time domain will be transferred to the frequency domain by the Fourier transform. Based on the consistency of the mathematical expressions of the AGO/IAGO in the gray system and the digital filter in digital signal processing, the equivalent filter model of the AGO/IAGO is established. The unique methods in digital signal processing systems “spectrum analysis” of AGO/IAGO are carried out in the frequency domain.

Findings

Through the theoretical study and practical example, benefit of spectrum analysis is explained, and the mechanism and filter efficacy of AGO/IAGO are quantitatively analyzed. The study indicated that the AGO is particularly suitable to act on the system's behavior time series in which the long period parts is the main factor. The acted sequence has good effect of noise immunity.

Practical implications

The AGO/IAGO has a wonderful effect on the processing of some statistical data, e.g. most of the statistical data related to economic growth, crop production, climate and atmospheric changes are mainly affected by long period factors (i.e. low-frequency data), and most of the disturbances are short-period factors (high-frequency data). After processing by the 1-AGO, its high frequency content is suppressed, and its low frequency content is amplified. In terms of information theory, this two-way effect improves the signal-to-noise ratio greatly and reduces the proportion of noise/interference in the new sequence. Based on 1-AGO acting, the information mining and extrapolation prediction will have a good effect.

Originality/value

The authors find that 1-AGO has a wonderful effect on the processing of data sequence. When the 1-AGO acts on a data sequence X, its low-pass filtering effect will benefit the information fluctuations removing and high-frequency noise/interference reduction, so the data shows a clear exponential change trends. However, it is not suitable for excessive use because its equivalent filter has poles at the non-periodic content. But, because of pol effect at zero frequency, the 1-AGO will greatly amplify the low-frequency information parts and suppress the high-frequency parts in the information at the same time.
Examining customer willingness to pay more for banking services: the role of employee commitment, customer involvement and customer value
Authors: Izogo Ernest Emeka , Elom Mathias Egede , Mpinganjira Mercy
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Although scholars highlighted the need to close the interactive marketing gap and enhanced understanding of willingness to pay more in settings where customer participation in the service delivery process is paramount, research addressing this issue is scare. This study investigates the effect of perceived employee commitment to service delivery and customer involvement on customer value and willingness to pay more. The study also examines the extent to which customer value mediates the effect of employee commitment and customer involvement on willingness to pay more for banking services.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis was based on a sample of 211 Nigerian bank customers procured through a mall-intercept survey technique. The partial least squares structural equation modelling procedure and the Preacher–Hayes Bootstrapping technique aided hypotheses testing.

Findings

This study demonstrates that elements of employee commitment to service delivery and customer involvement have significant positive effect on the components of customer value. It also shows that customer value components have significant effect on customers' willingness to pay more. Additionally, the study shows that components of customer value mediate the effect of employee commitment to service delivery and customer involvement on willingness to pay more.

Research limitations/implications

The study contributes to closing gaps in interactive marketing literature by uncovering how willingness to pay more for services is influenced by customer perceptions of employee commitment (affective and calculative) service delivery, customer involvement and customer value (hedonic and utilitarian).

Practical implications

It is important for managers to put in place measures that will help them know the kind of commitment cues their employees are emitting to customers as well as levels of customer involvement during service encounters.

Originality/value

This study breaks new ground in three unique ways. First, the study represents the first attempt to examine the combined effect of employee commitment to service delivery and customer involvement on consumer value perceptions. Second, the study also demonstrates that hedonic value has a more pronounced effect on willingness to pay more for banking services than utilitarian value. Finally, the study shows the extent to which customer value (hedonic vs utilitarian) mediates the effect of employee commitment to service delivery and customer involvement on willingness to pay more.
Safeguarding adult reviews: informing and enriching policy and practice on self-neglect
Authors: Preston-Shoot Michael
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to update the core data set of self-neglect safeguarding adult reviews (SARs) and accompanying thematic analysis and explore the degree to which SARs draw upon available research and learning from other completed reviews.

Design/methodology/approach

Further published reviews are added to the core data set, mainly drawn from the websites of Safeguarding Adults Boards (SABs). Thematic analysis is updated using the four domains used previously. The four domains and the thematic analysis are rounded in the evidence-based model of good practice, reported in this journal previously. Multiple exclusion homelessness and alcohol misuse are prominent in this sample of reviews.

Findings

Familiar findings emerge from the thematic analysis and reinforce the evidence-base of good practice with individuals who self-neglect and for policies and procedures with which to support those practitioners working with such cases. Multiple exclusion homelessness emerges as a subset within this sample, demonstrating that SABs are engaging in reviews of people who die on the streets or in temporary accommodation.

Research limitations/implications

The national database of reviews commissioned by SABs remains incomplete and does not contain many of the SARs reported in this evolving data set. The Care Act 2014 does not require publication of reports but only a summary of findings and recommendations in SAB annual reports. NHS Digital annual data sets do not enable identification of reviews by types of abuse and neglect. It is possible, therefore, that this data set is also incomplete. Drawing together the findings from the reviews nonetheless builds on what is known about the components of effective practice, and effective policy and organisational arrangements for practice.

Practical implications

Answering the question “why” remains a significant challenge for safeguarding adult reviews. The findings confirm the relevance of the evidence-base for effective practice but SARs are limited in their analysis of what enables and what obstructs the components of best practice. Greater explicit use of research and other published SARs might assist with answering the “why” question, drawing attention where appropriate to policies being pursued by the central government that undermine any initiative to end rough sleeping.

Originality/value

This paper extends the thematic analysis of available reviews that focus on work with adults who self-neglect, further reinforcing the evidence-base for practice. The evidence-base also supports practice with individuals who experience multiple exclusion homelessness. Policymakers and practitioners have an approach to follow in this complex, challenging and demanding area of practice.
Supply-side drivers of residential price in Malaysia: a qualitative analysis from developers' perspectives
Authors: Mohd Thas Thaker Hassanudin , Ariff Mohamed
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This study aims to explore the issue of residential price in Malaysia from a supply-side perspective. The views are directly obtained from medium and small-scale developers in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

We used the semi-structured interview for analysis purpose. The samples are from property developers (medium and small-scale developers) and a single respondent from the Malaysian National House Buyers Association. We used the judgmental sampling method to choose respondents for this study. The interview results went through content analysis in order to derive common themes, resulting in the identification of four main themes.

Findings

First, developers view that the residential market is growing at a good pace, albeit slowly. However, the issue of unaffordability and construction costs remains to haunt the progress of property development in Malaysia. Second, from supply-side perspectives, there are several main reasons why the residential prices in Malaysia are uncontrollable: (1) costs of construction, (2) taxes, (3) existing units, (4) location and (5) urbanization. The third theme is the government support in catering to the needs and wants of middle- and lower-income earners. Most respondents agreed that the government has been providing low-cost houses supported by various incentives. Finally, on price control strategies for residential units, recommended suggestions are as follow: embracing different methods of construction styles, promote the uses of local materials instead of relying on imported materials, continuously review rules and regulations, provide more incentives and to build partnerships between the government and private companies on affordable housing projects.

Practical implications

The research is expected to present solid findings and claimsseveral significant contributions, especially policy-wise. We believe this contribution will enrich the existing literature on residential market. The present study is also predicted to produce noteworthy findings to all stakeholders in the real-estate industry, such as potential home buyers and existing house owners to housing developers, marketers and government policy regulators, as well as academic institutions.

Originality/value

This study is expected to enrich the existing literature available in the context of real-estate finance such as property price and property policy in emerging economies like Malaysia. One distinguishing factor which differentiates this study from others in the literature is the feedbacks obtained from medium and small-scale developers, therefore deemed to be more solid and reliable. The current research in real-estate finance is mainly focused on empirical analysis and we believe this study will offer a breakthrough view on the matter of residential market in Malaysia.
Does employee volunteerism contribute to financial performance? Effect of third-party assurance and financial performance of listed firms in emerging economies
Authors: Oware Kofi Mintah , Mallikarjunappa T.
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Studies on employee volunteerism have inconsistency in results. This study aims to examine whether employee volunteerism contributes to financial performance, and if employee volunteerism creates community benefit for firm legitimacy.

Design/methodology/approach

The data covers 80 companies (640 firm-year observations) and uses the Indian stock market for the period 2010-2017 as a testing ground. Canonical correlation analysis, panel regression and panel probit regression are used in this study.

Findings

The first findings of the study show employee volunteerism through employee skill contribution, number of hours spent on volunteerism, employee cash contribution and employee material contribution provide the substantive contributions to community benefit and financial performance and also contribute a possible positive reflection on employee commitment. The second findings show that return on asset and return on equity do not improve the practice of employee volunteerism. However, the stock price return (SPR) improves the practice of employee volunteerism. The third findings show that the engagement of third-party assurance (TPA) improves the practice of employee volunteerism. Finally, TPA and SPR are more likely to cause a firm to undertake employee volunteerism.

Research limitations/implications

The research study is limited to large firms on the Indian stock market that submit sustainability reports.

Practical implications

An implication from the study suggests that the critical driver of employee volunteerism is employee skill contribution, and firms stand to benefit if well managed.

Originality/value

TPA and financial performance contribute an increase in employee volunteerism, and therefore deepens the scholarly debate on employee volunteerism. Employee volunteerism–community benefit nexus creates a new dimension to the theory of legitimacy for firms in an emerging economy.
Effect of source habitat spatial heterogeneity and species diversity on the temporal stability of aquatic‐to‐terrestrial subsidy by emerging aquatic insects
Authors: Uno Hiromi , Pneh Shelley
Published: May 2020

Duration and temporal stability of resource subsidy largely affect the response of recipient communities. Factors that influence the temporal dynamics of resource subsidy from aquatic‐to‐terrestrial habitats by emerging aquatic insects were examined in this study. By measuring the flux of aquatic insect emergence from six habitats in a river over summer, we found that the timing of emergence varied by habitats for each dominant taxa, and that different species emerged at different times of the summer sequentially. We found that spatial variation in the emergence timing caused by the spatial heterogeneity of the water temperature, and so on in the source habitat can temporally stabilize the subsidy of each species from the whole river. Similarly, we found that the variation in emergence timing between species contributed to the temporal stability of subsidies from each habitat. The contribution of spatial heterogeneity to the temporal stability varied by the focal species and the contribution of species diversity varied by habitats. This study demonstrates how the ecological function of spatial heterogeneity and species diversity crosses the boundary of ecosystems by temporally stabilizing resource subsidies.
Failures for Consideration: Re‐Analysing Jurisdiction in Unjust Enrichment Claims
Authors: Hoyle Matthew
Published: May 2020

There has been little attempt to provide a full and coherent analysis of the rules governing service of a claim form out of the jurisdiction in claims concerning unjust enrichment. This lacuna has grown more noticeable since the rules were reformed in 2015, with the continuation of an excessively wide approach that had overrun the older, overly restrictive rules. This article attempts not only to provide such an analysis but also one which is able to reconcile the wording of the rules with their underlying principles and the substantive law of unjust enrichment claims – significant constraints that have received insufficient consideration in both the case law and the literature.
Comparison of safety, efficacy and cost between oral pulse cyclophosphamide versus intravenous cyclophosphamide pulse therapy in severe systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Padiyar Shivraj , Arya Suvrat , Surin Ajit , Viswanath Vishad , Danda Debashish
Published: May 2020

Objectives

The aim of this study is to compare efficacy, toxicity and cost between oral and intravenous cyclophosphamide (CYC) pulse therapy in inducing remission (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index [SLEDAI] <3) in severe SLE.

Methods

We retrospectively checked the hospital records of patients between the years 2000 and 2018, who had been administered oral cyclophosphamide pulse and intravenous (IV) cyclophosphamide pulse. SLEDAI at baseline and after 6 months of therapy were noted. The statistical analysis was done using Mann‐Whitney U test. The cost was also calculated.

Results

We included 45 patients in this study, 21 in the oral pulse group and 24 in the IV group. The median age of patients in the oral and IV groups were 29 (interquartile range [IQR] 22‐37) and 26 (IQR 19.25‐0.75) years respectively. Median SLEDAI at baseline was comparable between the 2 groups (oral 18.0 [IQR 15.0‐26.0]; IV 14.5 [IQR 11.0‐20.0] P = .151). At the end of 6 months of treatment, it was 0.0 (IQR 0.0‐4.0) in the oral group, as against 2.0 (IQR 0.0‐5.5) in IV group (P = .676). There was no major adverse event in either group. Oral cyclophosphamide pulse therapy was more economical as compared to IV cyclophosphamide [630 Indian National rupees( INR)/ 8.85 US dollars(USD) in the IV arm and 50 INR/0.7 USD in the oral arm] (P < .001).

Conclusion

This study concludes that oral cyclophosphamide pulse therapy is an economical option and there was no difference in efficacy and safety between oral cyclophosphamide pulse therapy and IV pulse cyclophosphamide therapy.
Histological characterization of the maturation stages of the ovarian follicles of the goldfish Carassius auratus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Authors: Ferrão Maria Leonor , Rocha Maria João , Rocha Eduardo
Published: May 2020

The goldfish is a model organism showing great potential for research, particularly in comparative endocrinology concerning the neuroendocrine signalling and regulation of vertebrate reproduction. Furthermore, this teleost is increasingly stressed as a relevant alternative to more common fish model organisms, namely zebrafish. However, quality descriptions and illustrations of the complete goldfish gonadal histology are surprisingly scarce, but needed, to support research using this fish. Therefore, the main aim of this work is to describe in detail and adequately illustrate the goldfish oogenesis, from oogonia to late maturation, by applying routine stains (haematoxylin–eosin) and special procedures (periodic acid–Schiff and Goldner's trichrome). We hypothesized that the combined strategies would enable not only to observe the most general features but also to perceive some poorly described details of oocytes better. We describe the details of the following maturation stages: oogonia proliferation, chromatin–nucleolus, primary growth (one nucleolus step, multiple nucleoli step, perinucleolar step, cortical alveoli step) and secondary growth (early secondary growth step, late secondary growth step). Additionally, we report aspects of early and late follicular atresia. The study allowed comparisons with other species and showed that the Goldner's trichrome has the best discriminative power and should be the preferred stain, despite more time‐consuming.
Ethnographic Theater Making: Multimodal Alchemy, Knowledge, and Invention
Authors: Vidali Debra
Published: May 2020

Ethnographic theater making is not just a modality for staged representation or reenactment. It is a modality of radical anthropological knowledge coproduction, one that disrupts authorship, self, linearity, and proposition‐based knowledge through multimodal, multisensorial, collaborative, and embodied processes. In both incubation and performance, multimodal and multisensorial elements such as voice, body, memory, sound, movement, text, rhythm, velocities, and dialogic relations to other media combine, collide, and fuse to invent ways of knowing, expressing, and documenting. I argue that this multimodal alchemy works not just through the fusion of novel elements but through well‐known theater‐creation processes designed to rewire relations to self, other, language, body, and creativity. Through a discussion of the alchemy of ensemble‐building processes and physical theater tableau creation, and drawing from ten years of work in this arena with twenty different projects, I offer a window into the potential of collective theater making as a mode of anthropological practice that strikes to the core of what we do and what we hold at stake. [theater, ethnography, embodiment, ways of knowing, multimodality]
SARS‐CoV‐2 presence in seminal fluid: Myth or reality
Authors: Paoli Donatella , Pallotti Francesco , Turriziani Ombretta , Mazzuti Laura , Antonelli Guido , Lenzi Andrea , Lombardo Francesco
Published: May 2020

Great concerns have been raised on SARS‐CoV‐2 impact on men's andrological well‐being, and one of the critically unanswered questions is whether it is present or not in the seminal fluid of infected subjects. The expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in the testis and in the male genital tract allows speculations about a possible testicular involvement during the infection, possibly mediated by local and/or systemic inflammation that might allow a high viral load to overcome the hemato‐testicular barrier. To date, few investigations have been carried out to ascertain the presence of SARS‐CoV‐2 in the seminal fluid with contrasting results. Furthermore, the cumulative number of subjects is far too low to answer the question unambiguously. Therefore, great caution is still needed when evaluating this data; otherwise, we risk unleashing unmotivated concerns in the scientific world with troublesome consequences in reproductive medicine.
National Referral Prioritization tool for first specialist assessment: results of a pilot study in orthopaedic surgery
Authors: Gwynne‐Jones David P. , Wilson Ross , McEwan Chris
Published: May 2020

Background

Most public hospitals are receiving more referrals for first specialist assessment than they have capacity to see. Traditional priority categories are too broad for effective discrimination. In New Zealand (NZ) explicit prioritization is required by legislation and supported by the Medical Council of NZ. A new generic National Referral Prioritization tool (NRPT) has been developed which includes a patient impact on life score. This study reports its trial implementation in orthopaedic surgery in a single centre.

Methods

Four months of referrals to the orthopaedic department were prioritized using the new NRPT and traditional clinical priority categories. Scores and acceptances were compared across conditions, surgeons and against the traditional categories.

Results

The mean NRPT was 60.1 (range 23–99). The correlation with impact on life was 0.59. There was good consistency of scores between surgeons. The NRPT score was significantly different across clinical priority categories (urgent, semi‐urgent, routine). A total of 305 referrals (49%) were accepted using the NRPT compared with 493 (79%) if the traditional tool had been used. Patients with foot and ankle, carpal tunnel syndrome and upper limb conditions had the lowest scores and were more likely to be declined.

Conclusions

The NRPT is the first tool designed to prioritize referral letters. It is more discriminating than the clinical priority categories used previously. It allows fine‐tuning of a threshold score to balance acceptances and capacity.
Optical coherence tomography neurodegenerative findings in patients with bipolar disorder
Authors: Gokcinar Nesrin Buyuktortop , Buturak Sadiye Visal , Ozkal Fatma , Ozcicek Gamze , Yumusak Mehmet Erhan , Turgal Ebru
Published: May 2020

Introduction

Neuroimaging studies of patients with bipolar disorder (BD) have recently revealed neurodegenerative changes in the central nervous system. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging of the retina, as an extension of brain, may be a biomarker in understanding the neurobiology of the disease. To assess OCT as a tool to detect neurodegeneration in BD we compared the retinal changes between patients with BD and healthy individuals.

Methods

We performed complete ophthalmological examinations and took OCT images for 70 eyes of 70 patients with BD, and for age and sex‐matched individual controls. We compared retinal nerve fiber layers (RNFLs) and total retinal (TR) thickness in the peripapillary areas; and ganglion cell complexes (GCCs) and TR thickness in the maculas between the groups.

Results

The mean age of the patients was 40.41 ± 13.22 years and that of the controls 40.20 ± 13.03 years. The men/women ratios were 37/33 in both groups. BD was significantly associated with a decrease in the average peripapillary RNFL, with the average peripapillary TR, and with the average GCC thickness (P = .033, P = .008, and P = .009, respectively). The peripapillary RNFL and TR thinnings were prominent in the superior (P = .039, P = .033, respectively) and inferior quadrants (P = .031, P = .018, respectively). The BD effects on GCC thinning was prominent in the superior half (P = .001) and in the nasal sectors (except in the inner superonasal sector; all P < .05). BD was associated with a decrease in macular TR thickness only at the inner superior sector (P = .014). Disease duration was inversely correlated with the peripapillary RNFL, TR, and macular GCC thicknesses (P < .05).

Discussion

Our findings support the neurodegeneration hypothesis in the etiopathogenesis of BD. OCT, a non‐invasive neuro‐imaging method, may be useful for BD diagnosis and follow‐ups.
‘Barbed wire wrapped around my feet’: Metaphor use in chronic pain
Authors: Munday Imogene , Newton‐John Toby , Kneebone Ian
Published: May 2020

Objectives

As there is no objective test for pain, sufferers rely on language to communicate their pain experience. Pain description frequently takes the form of metaphor; however, there has been limited research in this area. This study thus sought to extend previous findings on metaphor use in specific pain subgroups to a larger, heterogeneous chronic pain sample, utilizing a systematic method of metaphor analysis.

Design

Conceptual metaphor theory was utilized to explore the metaphors used by those with chronic pain via qualitative methodology.

Methods

An anonymous online survey was conducted which asked for the descriptions and metaphors people use to describe their pain. Systematic metaphor analysis was used to classify and analyse the metaphors used into specific metaphor source domains.

Results

Participants who reported chronic pain completed the survey (N = 247, age 19–78, M = 43.69). Seven overarching metaphor source domains were found. These were coded as Causes of Physical Damage, Common Pain Experiences, Electricity, Insects, Rigidity, Bodily Misperception, and Death and Mortality.

Conclusions

Participants utilized a wide variety of metaphors to describe their pain. The most common descriptions couched chronic pain in terms of physical damage. A better understanding of pain metaphors may have implications for improved health care communication and provide targets for clinical interventions.
Febuxostat, But Not Allopurinol, Markedly Raises the Plasma Concentrations of the Breast Cancer Resistance Protein Substrate Rosuvastatin
Authors: Lehtisalo Minna , Keskitalo Jenni E. , Tornio Aleksi , Lapatto‐Reiniluoto Outi , Deng Feng , Jaatinen Taina , Viinamäki Jenni , Neuvonen Mikko , Backman Janne T. , Niemi Mikko
Published: May 2020

Xanthine oxidase inhibitors febuxostat and allopurinol are commonly used in the treatment of gout. Febuxostat inhibits the breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) in vitro. Rosuvastatin is a BCRP substrate and genetic variability in BCRP markedly affects rosuvastatin pharmacokinetics. In this study, we investigated possible effects of febuxostat and allopurinol on rosuvastatin pharmacokinetics. In a randomized crossover study with 3 phases, 10 healthy volunteers ingested once daily placebo for 7 days, 300 mg allopurinol for 7 days, or placebo for 3 days, followed by 120 mg febuxostat for 4 days, and a single 10 mg dose of rosuvastatin on day 6. Febuxostat increased the peak plasma concentration and area under the plasma concentration‐time curve of rosuvastatin 2.1‐fold (90% confidence interval 1.8–2.6; P = 5 × 10−5) and 1.9‐fold (1.5–2.5; P = 0.001), but had no effect on rosuvastatin half‐life or renal clearance. Allopurinol, on the other hand, did not affect rosuvastatin pharmacokinetics. In vitro, febuxostat inhibited the ATP‐dependent uptake of rosuvastatin into BCRP‐overexpressing membrane vesicles with a half‐maximal inhibitory concentration of 0.35 µM, whereas allopurinol showed no inhibition with concentrations up to 200 µM. Taken together, the results suggest that febuxostat increases rosuvastatin exposure by inhibiting its BCRP‐mediated efflux in the small intestine. Febuxostat may, therefore, serve as a useful index inhibitor of BCRP in drug‐drug interaction studies in humans. Moreover, concomitant use of febuxostat may increase the exposure to BCRP substrate drugs and, thus, the risk of dose‐dependent adverse effects.
Donor insulin use predicts beta‐cell function after islet transplantation
Authors: Shapey Iestyn M. , Summers Angela , Yiannoullou Petros , Khambalia Hussein , Fullwood Catherine , Hanley Neil A. , Casey John , Forbes Shareen , Rosenthal Miranda , Johnson Paul RV , Choudhary Pratik , Bushnell James , Shaw James A. M. , Augustine Titus , Rutter Martin K. , van Dellen David
Published: May 2020

Insulin is routinely used to manage hyperglycaemia in organ donors and during the peri‐transplant period in islet transplant recipients. However, it is unknown whether donor insulin use (DIU) predicts beta‐cell dysfunction after islet transplantation. We reviewed data from the UK Transplant Registry and the UK Islet Transplant Consortium; all first‐time transplants during 2008‐2016 were included. Linear regression models determined associations between DIU, median and coefficient of variation (CV) peri‐transplant glucose levels and 3‐month islet graft function. In 91 islet cell transplant recipients, DIU was associated with lower islet function assessed by BETA‐2 scores (β [SE] ‐3.5 [1.5], P = .02), higher 3‐month post‐transplant HbA1c levels (5.4 [2.6] mmol/mol, P = .04) and lower fasting C‐peptide levels (−107.9 [46.1] pmol/l, P = .02). Glucose at 10 512 time points was recorded during the first 5 days peri‐transplant: the median (IQR) daily glucose level was 7.9 (7.0‐8.9) mmol/L and glucose CV was 28% (21%‐35%). Neither median glucose levels nor glucose CV predicted outcomes post‐transplantation. Data on DIU predicts beta‐cell dysfunction 3 months after islet transplantation and could help improve donor selection and transplant outcomes.