bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Natural selection promotes the evolution of recombination 2: during the process of natural selection*
Authors: Gerrish Philip J , Cordero Fernando , Galeota-Sprung Benjamin , Colato Alexandre , Vejalla Varun , Hengartner Nick , Sniegowski Paul
Published: June 2021

The ubiquity of sex and recombination in nature has eluded unified explanation since the time of Darwin. Conditions that promote the evolution of recombination, broadly defined as any form of genetic mixing, are fairly well understood: it is favored when genomes tend to contain more selectively mismatched combinations of alleles than can be explained by chance alone. Yet, while a variety of theoretical approaches have been put forth to explain why such conditions would prevail in natural populations, each has turned out to be of limited scope and applicability. Here, we show, simply and surprisingly, that natural selection acting on standing heritable variation always creates conditions favoring the evolution of recombination, in expectation. Specifically, we find that, in expectation: 1) the mean selective advantage of recombinants is non-negative, 2) the mean selective advantage of a recombination-competent modifier is non-negative, and 3) the asymptotic frequency of a recombination-competent modifier is close to one and is independent of the strength of selection. Remarkably, these findings are independent of the distribution of genic fitnesses in the standing heritable variation upon which natural selection acts, implying that the source of this variation is immaterial. Taken together, our findings indicate that: 1) the evolution of recombination should be promoted in expectation wherever natural selection is operating, and 2) sex and recombination may have evolved more as a byproduct than as a catalyst of natural selection.
Molecular classification reveals the diverse genetic features and prognosis of gastric cancer: a multi-omics consensus ensemble clustering
Authors: Hu Xianyu , Wang Zhenglin , Wang Qing , Chen Ke , Han Qijun , Bai Suwen , Du Juan , Chen Wei
Published: June 2021

Background

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most common tumor around the world, it is necessary to reveal novel molecular subtypes to guide the selection of patients who may benefit from specific target therapy.

Methods

Multi-omics data, including RNA-sequence of transcriptomics (mRNA, LncRNA, miRNA), DNA methylation and gene mutation of TCGA-STAD cohort was used for the clustering. Ten classical clustering algorithms were applied to recognize patients with different molecular features via the R package “MOVICS”. The activated signaling pathways were evaluated using the single-sample gene set enrichment analysis. The difference distribution of gene mutations, copy number alterations and tumor mutation burden was compared, and potential response to immunotherapy and chemotherapy was assessed as well.

Results

Two molecular subtypes (CS1 and CS2) were recognized by ten clustering algorithms with further consensus ensembles. Patients in the CS1 group were found to contain a shorter average overall survival time (28.5 vs. 68.9 months,P= 0.016), and progression-free survival (19.0 vs. 63.9 months, P = 0.008) compared to the CS2 group. CS1 group contained more activation of extracellular associated biological process, while CS2 group displayed the activation of cell cycle associated pathways. The significantly higher total mutation numbers and neo antigens were observed in CS2 group, along with the specific mutation of TTN, MUC16 and ARID1A. Higher infiltration of immunocytes were also observed in CS2 group, reflected to the potential benefit from immunotherapy. Moreover, CS2 group also can response to 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin, and paclitaxel. The similar diverse of clinical outcome of CS1 and CS2 groups were successfully validation in external cohorts of GSE62254, GSE26253, GSE15459, and GSE84437.

Conclusion

Novel insight into the GC subtypes was obtained via integrative analysis of five omics data by ten clustering algorithms, which can provide the idea to the clinical target therapy based on the specific molecular features.
An investigation of euro diesel-hydrogen dual-fuel combustion at different speeds in a small turbojet engine
Authors: Akçay Ismail Hakki Hakkı , Gürbüz Habib , Akçay Hüsameddin , Aldemir Mustafa
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study seeks the effect on static thrust, thrust specific energy consumption (TSEC) and exhaust emissions of euro diesel-hydrogen dual-fuel combustion in a small turbojet engine.

Design/methodology/approach

Experimental studies are performed in a JetCat P80-SE type small turbojet engine. Euro diesel and hydrogen is fed through two different inlets in a common rail distributing fuel to the nozzles. Euro diesel fuel is fed by a liquid fuel pump to the engine, while hydrogen is fed by a fuel-line with a pressure of 5 bars from a gas cylinder with a pressure of approximately 200 bars.

Findings

At different engine speeds, it is found that there is a decrease at the TSEC between a range of 1% and 4.8% by different hydrogen energy fractions (HEF).

Research limitations/implications

The amount of hydrogen is adjusted corresponding to a range of 0–20% of the total heat energy of the euro diesel and hydrogen fuels. The small turbojet engine is operated between a range of 35,000 and 95,000 rpm engine speeds.

Practical implications

On the other hand, remarkable improvements in exhaust emissions (i.e. CO, CO2, HC and NOx) are observed with HEFs.

Originality/value

This is through providing improvements in performance and exhaust emissions using hydrogen as an alternative to conventional jet fuel in gas turbine engines.
Momentum investing: evidence from the US tourism and hospitality
Authors: Shaker Ahmed Mohamed
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The present research aims to examine a range of momentum trading strategies for the tourism and hospitality sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper followed the methodology of Jegadeesh and Titman (1993) to construct the portfolios. In this methodology, all portfolios were formed and evaluated by their cumulative stock returns over the past J periods and holding the position for the next K periods. In total, nine formation and holding periods were used, represented by 3, 6 and 12. For example, strategy 3–3 (that is, strategy with J = 3 and K = 3) refers to the strategy that stocks are ranked based on their previous three months and then held for the next three months.

Findings

The findings demonstrated that none of these momentum investing strategies was profitable. Most of the results, however, show positive, but insignificant momentum returns. This finding can be interpreted as price reversal over a horizon of three to twelve months in the US hospitality and tourism sector. These results are robust to size, different formation and holding combinations, beta and turnover.

Research limitations/implications

Regarding the research limitations, this paper only considers the US tourism and hospitality sector. Therefore, the extension of results to other developed and developing markets should be taken carefully. Also, this paper relies only on the methodology of Jegadeesh and Titman (1993). Other methodologies could be suitable avenues for future research.

Practical implications

Investors and portfolio managers who seek for earning abnormal returns by investing in the US HT stocks can attain their hopes by constructing portfolios based on existing guidelines in the literature and adopting a short-term reversal trading strategy or by buying past losers and selling past winners of the US tourism and hospitality stocks.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the hospitality finance literature by offering the investors who are interested in the US hospitality and tourism sector an uncomplicated trading rule that uses real return data and is expected to generate actual returns. Moreover, the momentum strategy of Jegadeesh and Titman (1993) is never used in the hospitality finance literature.
Linear stability analysis of non-Newtonian blood flow with magnetic nanoparticles: application to controlled drug delivery
Authors: Tiam Kapen Pascalin , Njingang Ketchate Cédric Gervais , Fokwa Didier , Tchuen Ghislain
Published: June 2021

Purpose

For this purpose, a linear stability analysis based on the Navier–Stokes and Maxwell equations is made leading to an eigenvalue differential equation of the modified Orr–Sommerfeld type which is solved numerically by the spectral collocation method based on Chebyshev polynomials. Unlike previous studies, blood is considered as a non-Newtonian fluid. The effects of various parameters such as volume fraction of nanoparticles, Casson parameter, Darcy number, Hartmann number on flow stability were examined and presented. This paper aims to investigate a linear stability analysis of non-Newtonian blood flow with magnetic nanoparticles with an application to controlled drug delivery.

Design/methodology/approach

Targeted delivery of therapeutic agents such as stem cells and drugs using magnetic nanoparticles with the help of external magnetic fields is an emerging treatment modality for many diseases. To this end, controlling the movement of nanoparticles in the human body is of great importance. This study investigates controlled drug delivery by using magnetic nanoparticles in a porous artery under the influence of a magnetic field.

Findings

It was found the following: the Casson parameter affects the stability of the flow by amplifying the amplitude of the disturbance which reflects its destabilizing effect. It emerges from this study that the taking into account of the non-Newtonian character is essential in the modeling of such a system, and that the results can be very different from those obtained by supposing that the blood is a Newtonian fluid. The presence of iron oxide nanoparticles in the blood increases the inertia of the fluid, which dampens the disturbances. The Strouhal number has a stabilizing effect on the flow which makes it possible to say that the oscillating circulation mechanisms dampen the disturbances. The Darcy number affects the stability of the flow and has a stabilizing effect, which makes it possible to increase the contact surface between the nanoparticles and the fluid allowing very high heat transfer rates to be obtained. It also emerges from this study that the presence of the porosity prevents the sedimentation of the nanoparticles. By studying the effect of the magnetic field on the stability of the flow, it is observed that the Hartmann number keeps the flow completely stable. This allows saying that the magnetic field makes the dissipations very important because the kinetic energy of the electrically conductive ferrofluid is absorbed by the Lorentz force.

Originality/value

The originality of this paper resides on the application of the linear stability analysis for controlled drug delivery.
Human rights violations during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Elshobake Mohammed R.M.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the most prominent human rights violations during the COVID-19 pandemic in accordance with international human rights law.

Design/methodology/approach

Through doctrinal and legal study and content analysis, this paper analyses the important relevant legal provisions under International human rights law and applies these provisions to the reality of managing the COVID-19 crisis to identify the most prominent human rights violations during the COVID-19 outbreak. This research paper considered as a review paper in that it provides a review of the most prominent measures taken during the COVID-19 crisis, which constitutes violations of international human rights law.

Findings

It is concluded that some measures that have been taken by countries to confront the COVID-19 pandemic have constituted violations of human rights and did not comply with the legal conditions to restrict human rights. Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown the ugly fractures in health-care systems, health inequities, racism and discrimination, Undermining the right to freedom of expression and the right to access information, gross negligence in protecting detainees from COVID-19 infection, all of these constitute clear violations of the principles of international human rights law.

Research limitations/implications

The spread of COVID-19 has not stopped, and its effects still continue, including human rights violations. Therefore, this paper cannot enumerate all human rights violations that occur during the spread of COVID-19.

Practical implications

Based on the results in this paper, governments need to be more prepared to face any health crisis at all levels including health care, which would reduce human rights violations.

Social implications

This research paper reflects positively on the social reality, as the adoption of its recommendations leads to the provision of adequate health care to all members of society in accordance with the principles of human rights, granting them the right to access information, protecting their right to freedom of expression, reducing the phenomenon of racism and discrimination and providing adequate health care to all detainees.

Originality/value

This paper studies an up-to-date topic that we are still living and seeing its effects. The benefit of this paper is to provide recommendations that protect human rights during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Impact of proactive personality and leader member exchange on innovative work behavior: a job design perspective
Authors: Zuberi Marium Arslan , Khattak Arif
Published: June 2021

Purpose

It has been established that innovation is determined by leadership and personality characteristics. Further inquiry in this line of research is encouraged. Accordingly, the authors propose inter-correlations between personality, leadership, innovation and job design characteristics. The purpose of this paper is to understand how proactive personality and leader member exchange can derive innovative work behavior, in employees of telecommunication industry, by increasing task feedback and task significance.

Design/methodology/approach

A deductive approach was used to propose hypotheses. Objective data were collected through a cross sectional survey of 292 samples from three large multinational telecommunication companies located in Islamabad (Pakistan). The survey instrument was a 25-item questionnaire adopted from previously developed and well-validated scales used by prior researches. The survey yielded findings in support of proposed hypotheses of the study.

Findings

Hierarchical regression analysis yielded findings, which suggested that proactive personality and leader member exchange (LMX) both have a strong positive relationship with innovative work behavior (IWB). Furthermore, task significance and task feedback were found to moderate the aforementioned relationships such that strong leader member exchange and proactive personalities resulted in increased innovative work behavior at higher levels of task feedback and task significance.

Practical implications

The managers can raise their innovation enhancing strategies one step higher by integrating it with enhanced task feedback and significance. This can be done while working on the relationship of their employees with the leaders/managers and by encouraging proactive personalities at work. Infusing the proposed integrated and holistic framework, of innovative behavior, into their organizations will lead to better retention of key employees, higher job satisfaction and increased loyalty.

Originality/value

This paper adds significance to the extant literature by examining proactive personality and LMX as determinants of innovative work behavior and the moderating impact of job design characteristics in the context of telecommunication companies, particularly from developing countries, such as Pakistan. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that has tested the interplay between a relational concept of leadership (LMX), proactive personality, task significance and task feedback and the outcome variable innovative work behavior.
Determining the tribological behavior of 316L stainless steel with lubricating micro-channels produced by the selective laser melting (SLM) method
Authors: Turalıoğlu Kerem , Taftalı Merve , Yetim Fatih
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study aims to produce lubricating surfaces with micro-channels by the selective laser melting (SLM) method, and to investigate their tribological behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, three kinds of samples with different geometries were designed, impregnated with oil and then subjected to flow analysis in a virtual environment using Ansys Fluent software. According to the results of these analyses, the best-lubricated surface geometry sample was identified, and a number of geometries were produced by SLM, which is one of the additive manufacturing methods. Tribological tests were performed using a pin-on-disk tribometer with a stainless steel ball as the contact surface. The structural and morphological features were investigated by a three-dimensional profilometer and scanning electron microscopy.

Findings

The results obtained showed that the impregnated oil reached the surface of the sample compared to untreated samples, and it was seen that the wear rates were reduced, and that the impregnated oil samples exhibited the highest wear resistance.

Originality/value

In this study, solid geometries that are difficult to be produced by other methods are produced with additive manufacturing method, and the surfaces have been given lubricating properties.
Portfolio performance under tracking error and benchmark volatility constraints
Authors: Hausner Jan Frederick , van Vuuren Gary
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Using a portfolio comprising liquid global stocks and bonds, this study aims to limit absolute risk to that of a standardised benchmark and determine whether this has a significant impact on expected return in both high volatility period (HV) and low volatility period (LV).

Design/methodology/approach

Using a traditional benchmark comprising 40% equity and 60% bonds, a constant tracking error (TE) frontier was constructed and implemented. Portfolio performance for different TE constraints and different economic periods (expansion and contraction) was explored.

Findings

Results indicate that during HV, replicating benchmark portfolio risk produces portfolios that outperform both the maximum return (MR) portfolio and the benchmark. MR portfolios outperform those with the same risk as that of the benchmark in LV. The MR portfolio weights assets to obtain the highest return on the TE frontier. During HV, the benchmark replicated risk portfolio obtained a higher absolute risk value than that of the MR portfolio because of an inefficient benchmark. In HV, the benchmark replicated risk portfolio favoured intermediate maturity treasury bills.

Originality/value

There is a dearth of literature exploring the performance of active portfolios subject to TE constraints. This work addresses this gap and demonstrates, for the first time, the relative portfolio performance of several standard portfolio choices on the frontier.
Why firms stop introducing innovations in the great recession: aggregate demand, financial constraints and risk
Authors: Ortiz Javier , Salas-Fumás Vicente
Published: June 2021

Purpose

With Spanish Community Innovation Survey data, this paper tests two main hypotheses as explanation of the fall in business innovation output in the Great Recession: the aggregate demand effect (firms have lower propensity to initiate innovation projects in recession than in contraction from demand-pull and profit expectations effects) and the risk effect (a greater proportion of the initiated projects fail in recessions than in expansions).

Design/methodology/approach

The research methodology consists on first modelling the decision by firms to initiate innovation projects in t or not (probit model), and, second, modelling the outcomes, success or failure in t + 1 of firms that decide to initiate (Heckman model).

Findings

The empirical results support the two hypotheses. They also indicate that the sensitivity of the decision to initiate innovation projects to the aggregate demand is more pronounced among financially constrained firms than among unconstrained ones, while the risk effect appears to be independent of the financial situation of firms.

Research limitations/implications

The results of the research are limited by not being able to follow up individual innovation projects, and by not having available a more representative sample of firms where non-innovators and potential innovators are represented (now is biased toward potential innovators).

Practical implications

The results highlight the importance of macroeconomic stability for sustained business innovation output over time and calls managers’ attention in better management of innovation risk.

Social implications

The results of the paper recommend macroeconomic polies aimed at the stabilization of aggregate demand and smoothing the business cycle, as a way to contribute to the stabilization of the growth of innovation output over time. Monetary and fiscal policies that smooth the business cycle will then have significant effects in the stabilization of innovation output and, in turn, in the reduction of volatility of economic growth over time. Increasing the direct public financial aid to undertake innovation projects in recession periods will not have the same innovation output stabilization effect than the stabilization of the aggregate demand. The reason is that, as the paper points out, the innovation output of financially unconstrained firms is also affected negatively by the contraction of aggregate demand in recession periods.

Originality/value

This paper is the first one to investigate the differences in business innovation outputs in expansions and recessions, separating the aggregate demand and the risk effect that the organisation for economic co-operation and development identifies as main determinants of the fall in innovation output during the Great Recession. The decomposition of firms’ innovation output in the decision to initiate innovation projects and the likelihood that those initiated succeed is also new in the literature.
Determinants of choosing a foreign brand in emerging economy: lessons and implication for the local entrepreneurs
Authors: Momen Md. Abdul , Sultana Seyama , Ferdousi Farhana , Shahriar Shamsul Huq Bin
Published: June 2021

Purpose

It is evident that the local small and medium enterprises of Bangladesh suffered in the competition because of the strong presence of foreign brands in the market. The purpose of this study is to figure out the factors influencing consumers to purchase a foreign brand predominantly among young consumers.

Design/methodology/approach

It is a quantitative study considering 257 young demographics as respondents. They are drawn randomly. Confirmatory factor analysis, regression analysis and a path model of structural equation model using AMOS graphics software are used in this study to analyze the data.

Findings

This study finds two out of three identified variables are influencing the foreign product purchase for the young Bangladeshi consumers. Brand value and product features of the given foreign product are the most dominant factors behind this adoption. However, a significant relationship between product quality and brand choice is not evident in this study.

Research limitations/implications

It will give a clue to the small or medium startup of the country that normally target the young customer but face challenges to understand their mind and sometimes lagging because of the strong presence of the international brands.

Originality/value

A comprehensive review of the literature suggests that not so many studies took place that determines the respective factors behind the purchase of foreign brands particularly among young demographics of a lower middle income developing nation.
Changes in species, functional, and phylogenetic diversity of Aculeata communities along elevational gradients in the Kyushu Central Mountains of the Japanese archipelago
Authors: Uemori Kazushige , Mita Toshiharu , Hishi Takuo
Published: June 2021

Climate change can degrade a community of Aculeata bees and wasps with important ecosystem roles, such as pollination and predation. In this study, we evaluated patterns in the species, functional, and phylogenetic diversity (PD) of Aculeata communities along elevational gradients in Miyazaki Prefecture, south of the Japanese archipelago. We used yellow pan traps to collect Aculeata at 200–1600 m above sea level for three seasons. We tested five functional traits (body size, trophic level, feeding guild, flight duration, and elevational range) and horizontal distribution of the species. The species diversity (SD) increased with increasing elevation. Body size, trophic level, and distribution diversity increased with increasing elevation. The community‐weighted mean trophic level and flight duration decreased with increasing elevation. PD increased with increasing elevation. The number of northern species increased with increasing elevation. Trophic structure and high seasonal segregation by shortening flight duration should promote high SD at high elevation. The results of PD suggest that geographical barriers preventing the southern species migration decreased SD at low elevations. Community degradation in the lowlands can occur with geographical barriers that limit north–south migration. We show that evaluations of functional traits and phylogeny can reveal the mechanisms underlying community assembly at our sites, where both environmental and geographical conditions affect community assembly.
Macroalgal detrital systems: an overlooked ecological niche for heterotrophic nitrogen fixation
Authors: Raut Yubin , Capone Douglas G.
Published: June 2021

Diazotrophic macroalgal associations (DMAs) can contribute fixed nitrogen (N) to the host macroalgae. Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) rates investigated using acetylene reduction assays with living macroalgae surrounding Santa Catalina Island were low (maximum: 36 nmol N × g−1 (dw) × h−1) and probably insufficient towards helping meet macroalgal N demand. However, DMAs were observed during periods of low nitrate availability in Southern California coastal waters, highlighting the potential importance of diazotrophs during N depleted conditions. Eleven long‐term (16–32 days) litter bag decomposition experiments with various macroalgae, especially those with high (> 10) C:N ratios, resulted in much higher BNF rates (maximum: 693 nmol N × g−1 (dw) × h−1) than observed with living macroalgae. BNF rates were lower at the beginning of macroalgal decomposition but rapidly increased during the second phase before declining towards the end of decomposition. Labile carbon availability is likely influencing BNF rates throughout macroalgal degradation and limits BNF in the final decomposition stage. Comparable dark and light BNF rates with most macroalgae surveyed suggest macroalgal detrital systems are an overlooked, potentially global, niche for heterotrophic N2 fixation. Lastly, suppressed BNF rates with sodium molybdate additions highlight the prevalence of sulfate reducing diazotrophs.
Ras subfamily GTPases regulate development, aflatoxin biosynthesis and pathogenicity in the fungus Aspergillus flavus
Authors: Zhu Zhuo , Ma Gengli , Yang Mingkun , Tan Can , Yang Guang , Wang Sen , Li Na , Ge Feng , Wang Shihua
Published: June 2021

Ras subfamily proteins are molecular switches in signal transduction pathways of many eukaryotes that regulate a variety of cellular processes. Here, the Ras subfamily, encoded by six genes, was identified in Aspergillus flavus: rasA, rasB, rasC, rab‐33, rheb and rsr1. The rsr1 deletion mutant (∆rsr1), rheb deletion mutant (∆rheb) and double deletion mutant (∆rheb/rsr1) displayed significantly decreased growth and sporulation. Sclerotia formation was significantly decreased for ∆rheb or ∆rheb/rsr1 but increased for ∆rsr1. Aflatoxin production was significantly increased in ∆rheb but decreased in ∆rsr1 and ∆rheb/rsr1. We found that rsr1 and rheb are crucial for the pathogenicity of A. flavus. Quantitative proteomics identified 520 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) for the ∆rsr1 mutant and 133 DEPs for the ∆rheb mutant. These DEPs were annotated in multiple biological processes and KEGG pathways in A. flavus. Importantly, we identified the cytokinesis protein SepA in the protein–protein interaction network of rsr1, and deletion mutants showed that SepA has pleiotropic effects on growth and AF biosynthesis, which may depend on Rsr1 for regulation in A. flavus. Our results indicated that these Ras subfamily proteins exhibited functional redundancy with each other but there were also differences in A. flavus.
Decolonising Oral History: A Conversation
Authors: FRANCIS HILARY , BOUDEWIJN INGE , CARCELÉN‐ESTRADA ANTONIA , FRANCIS BONE JUANA , JENKINS KATY , ZARAGOCIN SOFIA
Published: June 2021

In late 2019, a team of researchers and activists from Ecuador and the UK began a new oral history project, accompanying Afro‐Ecuadorian women living in the province of Esmeraldas, as they interrogated and articulated their history and heritage. The impact of coronavirus, which has hit Ecuador particularly hard, delayed the workshops and oral history interviews we had planned, but also created the space for an extended exploration of the ethics of the project. Over email and video calls, the research team debated how to ensure that our work was truly led by its Afro‐Ecuadorian participants. How would we secure recognition for their creative and intellectual work and avoid appropriation of their ideas? And how would we facilitate a collective, community‐based methodology when most eurocentric oral history is so rooted in individualist approaches? The result of this process is a collectively authored document, which stands as our ethical agreement and baseline, and a record of our joint commitment to decolonise the research process. This wide‐ranging conversation between community activists and scholars explores the complex, painstaking negotiations required to create a truly decolonial and feminist practice in transnational oral history work.
Preservation of non‐Saccharomyces yeasts: Current technologies and challenges
Authors: Casas‐Godoy Leticia , Arellano‐Plaza Melchor , Kirchmayr Manuel , Barrera‐Martínez Iliana , Gschaedler‐Mathis Anne
Published: June 2021

There is a recent and growing interest in the study and application of non‐Saccharomyces yeasts, mainly in fermented foods. Numerous publications and patents show the importance of these yeasts. However, a fundamental issue in studying and applying them is to ensure an appropriate preservation scheme that allows to the non‐Saccharomyces yeasts conserve their characteristics and fermentative capabilities by long periods of time. The main objective of this review is to present and analyze the techniques available to preserve these yeasts (by conventional and non‐conventional methods), in small or large quantities for laboratory or industrial applications, respectively. Wine fermentation is one of the few industrial applications of non‐Saccharomyces yeasts, but the preservation stage has been a major obstacle to achieve a wider application of these yeasts. This review considers the preservation techniques, and clearly defines parameters such as culturability, viability, vitality and robustness. Several conservation strategies published in research articles as well as patents are analyzed, and the advantages and disadvantages of each technique used are discussed. Another important issue during conservation processes is the stress to which yeasts are subjected at the time of preservation (mainly oxidative stress). There is little published information on the subject for non‐Saccharomyces yeast, but it is a fundamental point to consider when designing a preservation strategy.
Bronchial carcinoid tumor managed with bronchial artery embolization before endobronchial resection: A case report
Authors: Kajikawa Shigehisa , Suzuki Kojiro , Matsunaga Nozomu , Taniguchi Natsuki , Tsuzuki Toyonori , Fujishiro Eisuke , Yonezawa Toshiyuki , Tanaka Hiroyuki , Kato Toshio , Kubo Akihito , Ito Satoru
Published: June 2021

Endobronchial resection using a bronchoscope is often selected as treatment for carcinoid tumors located in the central airways. However, massive bleeding is one of the most serious complications during bronchoscopic surgery. Here, we report the case of a 77‐year‐old female with a typical carcinoid tumor located in the right truncus intermedius who underwent bronchial artery embolization (BAE) one day before endobronchial intervention using a flexible bronchoscope. The tumor was successfully resected without bleeding. BAE prior to endobronchial resection of carcinoid tumors may be useful for reducing the risk of bleeding.
Retreatment in endodontics with plastic core obturators. A new technique
Authors: Ruíz‐Piñón Manuel , Gancedo‐Gancedo Tania , Castelo‐Baz Pablo , Lorenzo‐Pouso Alejandro Ismael , Martín‐Cruces José , Martín‐Biedma Benjamín
Published: June 2021

The aim of this study was to present a new technique for plastic carrier removal in retreatment situations. The gutta‐percha technique that uses plastic carrier obturators is one of the most commonly used; however, removing this core is tedious and time‐consuming. Two clinical cases were performed by an expert in the field of endodontics, to expose this technique, in which a conical ultrasonic tip with an active point and a Hëdstrom hand file allowed the removal of the plastic carrier quickly and effectively. The use of magnification is indispensable for a predictable success with this method.
Growth rates of mayflies (Ephemeroptera) reared in the field differed under contrasting temperatures
Authors: Hankel Guillermo E , Molineri Carlos
Published: June 2021

Aquatic insect growth is tightly linked to environmental temperature. Growth rate tends to increase with rising temperatures. Growth rate integrates different factors related to population fitness, being partly responsible for species distribution. We aim to estimate daily growth rates from mayfly nymphs reared under different thermal regimes in the field, during five different periods from 2016 to 2018. Twelve species of mayflies were reared in mesocosms in six streams (from three altitudinal levels with a mean elevation 725, 1069, and 1509 m.a.s.l.). Additionally, we transplanted nymphs between lowest and highest pairs of streams, thus rearing them under a different thermal regime. Temperature and other ambient variables were recorded at regular intervals. Daily growth rate (dgr) of most species resulted lower in the higher pair of streams (colder sites) than in the medium and lower streams (warmer sites). Transplant experiment also clearly showed this tendency: (1) nymphs transplanted to colder thermal regimes grew slower than those reared under their natural (warmer) regime and (2) nymphs transplanted to hotter thermal regimes grew faster than those reared under their original (colder) regime. Nymphs of three species (Americabaetis alphus, Leptohyphes eximius, and Cloeodes penai) did not show differences in growth among treatments. Our findings relating sensitiveness of Ephemeroptera nymphs to small temperature changes suggest that the distribution of some species will modify by increases in temperature derived from climatic change.
Antenatal and intrapartum consent: Implications of the NSW Consent Manual 2020
Authors: Dietz Hans Peter , Caudwell Hall Jessica , Weeg Natalie
Published: June 2021

The provision of informed consent for antenatal and intrapartum care remains a contentious issue among healthcare professionals and has been the topic of controversies in the pages of this journal. Recently, the New South Wales (NSW) Department of Health has fundamentally changed the ground rules for the provision of maternity care within the state. In this opinion piece, we try to provide guidance to clinicians to help them deal with the medicolegal environment created by this document which is likely to affect practitioners not just in NSW.
A genomic‐based vision on the genetic diversity and key performance traits in selectively bred Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus)
Authors: Palaiokostas Christos , Anjum Anam , Jeuthe Henrik , Kurta Khrystyna , Lopes Pinto Fernando , de Koning Dirk Jan
Published: June 2021

Routine implementation of genomic information for guiding selection decisions is not yet common in the majority of aquaculture species. Reduced representation sequencing approaches offer a cost‐effective solution for obtaining genome‐wide information in species with a limited availability of genomic resources. In the current study, we implemented double‐digest restriction site‐associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD‐seq) on an Arctic charr strain with the longest known history of selection (approximately 40 years) aiming to improve selection decisions. In total, 1730 animals reared at four different farms in Sweden and spanning from year classes 2013–2017 were genotyped using ddRAD‐seq. Approximately 5000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified, genetic diversity‐related metrics were estimated, and genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) for body length at different time points and age of sexual maturation were conducted. Low genetic differentiation amongst animals from the different farms was observed based on both the results from pairwise Fst values and principal component analysis (PCA). The existence of associations was investigated between the mean genome‐wide heterozygosity of each full‐sib family (year class 2017) and the corresponding inbreeding coefficient or survival to the eyed stage. A moderate correlation (−0.33) was estimated between the mean observed heterozygosity of each full‐sib family and the corresponding inbreeding coefficient, while no linear association was obtained with the survival to the eyed stage. GWAS did not detect loci with major effect for any of the studied traits. However, genomic regions explaining more than 1% of the additive genetic variance for either studied traits were suggested across 14 different chromosomes. Overall, key insights valuable for future selection decisions of Arctic charr have been obtained, suggesting ddRAD as an attractive genotyping platform for obtaining genome‐wide information in a cost‐effective manner.
Quantifying trade‐offs between butterfly abundance and movement in the management of agricultural set‐aside strips
Authors: Threadgill Katie R. D. , Hodgson Jenny A. , Jones Naomi , McClean Colin J. , Hill Jane K.
Published: June 2021

Agri‐environment schemes (AES) create small areas of habitat within agricultural landscapes to support biodiversity. Here, we study butterfly flight behaviour within linear AES features and examine whether differences in resource availability affect the speed, linearity, or directionality of local movements, thereby affecting their contribution to landscape connectivity.

We surveyed butterflies within three basic (naturally regenerating) and three wildflower‐sown linear field margin strips (0.09–0.15 ha) on a farm in North Yorkshire, UK, and mapped butterfly flight paths to quantify local displacement (movement speed), efficiency (linearity, turning angles), directionality (step orientation), and behaviour (time spent flying, nectaring).

Butterfly species richness was similar between margin types {estimated asymptotic species richness of 21.9 [confidence interval (CI): 15.0–77.7] for basic margins and 14.2 (CI: 14.0–18.7) for wildflower‐sown margins}, but abundance was 78% higher in wildflower‐sown margins. For the three most common species [meadow brown, Maniola jurtina (L.); ringlet, Aphantopus hyperantus (L.); and small white, Pieris rapae (L.); n = 233 paths], movements within both margin types were highly linear (median turning angle 45°) and generally oriented along the length of the margin strip (median step orientation 27°). Movements in basic margins were slightly more orientated along the length of the margin but we found no differences between margin types in speed, path linearity, turning angles or the proportion of time spent flying or nectaring.

We found strong channelling of movements along field margin strips regardless of management type, potentially aiding landscape connectivity. Providing field margin strips with additional foraging resources through wildflower‐sowing increases butterfly abundance without impeding local movement rates or efficiency.
Even worse than the undocumented? Assessing the refugees’ integration in the labour market of Lombardy (Italy) in 2001–2014
Authors: Ortensi Livia Elisa , Ambrosetti Elena
Published: June 2021

The paper aimed to assess possible gaps in labour market integration or refugees compared with other migrants, including irregular migrants in the Italian region of Lombardy in 2001–2014. Despite the Italian labour market's remarkable capacity to integrate foreign workers, our findings support the results of studies carried out in other contexts on a ‘refugee gap’ in labour market integration. Our research shows that refugees have more considerable difficulties integrating into the labour market than other migrants and notably compared with their co‐nationals, including those undocumented that may be in refugee‐like situations. Refugees show higher unemployment levels, irregular employment and a higher incidence of very low monthly work‐related incomes compared with other regular migrants. At the same time, they show higher levels of unemployment compared with irregular migrants.
Are emotionally intelligent people less prejudiced? The importance of emotion management skills for outgroup attitudes
Authors: Makwana Arti Purshottam , Dhont Kristof , García‐Sancho Esperanza , Fernández‐Berrocal Pablo
Published: June 2021

People vary in their ability to understand, process, and manage information about one's own and others’ emotions, a construct known as Emotional Intelligence (EI). Past research highlighted the importance of EI in interpersonal relations as well as the key role of emotions underlying outgroup prejudice. Remarkably, hardly any research has investigated the associations between EI and outgroup prejudice. In three studies (total N = 922) conducted in Spain and the United Kingdom, we measured emotional intelligence using self‐report and performance tests and prejudice toward a variety of outgroups. Results showed that those with stronger performance‐based emotion management skills expressed lower generalized ethnic prejudice (Studies 1–3), more positive attitudes toward immigrants (Study 2a) and refugees (Study 2b), and less homophobic attitudes (Study 3). This negative association between emotion management and prejudice was found with different performance‐based EI measures and held after controlling for self‐perceived EI (Study 1) and self‐reported abilities to regulate emotions (Study 3). Study 3 further demonstrated that higher empathy partly accounted for the association between emotion management and prejudice. The findings suggest that emotion management abilities play an important, but so far largely neglected role in generalized prejudice.
Association between dyslipidemia and antihypertensive and antidiabetic treatments in a China multicenter study
Authors: Miao Chao‐Ying , Ye Xiao‐Fei , Zhang Wei , Ji Li‐Nong , Wang Ji‐Guang ,   for the ATTEND investigators
Published: June 2021

Dyslipidemia is an emerging disease in China, especially in the presence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus. We investigated the association of dyslipidemia with the use of antihypertensive and antidiabetic agents. The study participants (n = 2423) were hypertensive and diabetic patients enrolled in a China nationwide registry. Serum mean ± (SD, except for serum triglycerides, median [interquatile range]) concentrations were 1.38 (0.97‐2.02) mmol/L, 4.85 ± 1.12 mmol/L, 1.30 ± 0.36 mmol/L, and 2.89 ± 0.92 mmol/L for triglycerides and total, high‐density lipoprotein (HDL), and low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, respectively. The prevalence of dyslipidemia was 18.9%, 13.5%, 16.6%, and 37.7% for hypertriglyceridemia (serum triglycerides ≥2.3 mmol/L), hypercholesterolemia (total cholesterol ≥6.2 mmol/L or LDL cholesterol ≥4.1 mmol/L), low HDL cholesterol (HDL cholesterol <1.0 mmol/L), and any of the three lipid disorders, respectively. Treated (n = 1647), compared with untreated hypertensive patients (n = 303), had a significantly (P ≤ .0006) lower serum total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol, but similar serum triglycerides (P = .20). Treated (n = 1325), compared with untreated diabetic patients (n = 238), had a significantly (P ≤ .004) lower serum triglycerides, and total and LDL cholesterol, but similar serum HDL cholesterol (P = .81). After adjustment, the odds ratios (OR) were significant for hypercholesterolemia (OR 0.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.58‐0.997, P = .048) and low HDL cholesterol (OR 1.56, CI 1.19‐2.03, P = .001) in treated versus untreated hypertension, and for low HDL cholesterol (OR 1.50, CI 1.18‐1.89, P = .0008) in treated versus untreated diabetes. In conclusion, the prevalence of dyslipidemia differed between treated and untreated hypertension and diabetes.
Up‐regulation of KISS1 as a novel target of Let‐7i in melanoma serves as a potential suppressor of migration and proliferation in vitro
Authors: Alkafaji Haider A. , Raji Ahmed , Rahman Heshu S. , Zekiy Angelina O. , Adili Ali , Jalili Mohammadmahdi , Hojjatipour Tahereh , Cid‐Arregui Angel , Shomali Navid , Tarzi Saeed , Tamjidifar Rozita , Heshmati Ramin , Marofi Faroogh , Akbari Morteza , Hasanzadeh Ali , Deljavanghodrati Mina , Jarahian Mostafa , Sandoghchian Shotorbani Siamak
Published: June 2021

Melanoma is a kind of skin cancer that is begun by the alteration of melanocytes. miRNAs are small non‐coding RNA molecules that regulate a variety of biological processes. KISS1, the metastasis‐suppressor gene, encodes kisspeptins which inhibits migration and proliferation of cancers. This study was aimed to determine the role of Let‐7i and KISS1 in melanoma cell migration and proliferation. At first, the expression of Let‐7i and KISS1 was determined in patients with melanoma. In the in vitro part of the study, Let‐7i mimics were transfected and the impact of its restoration on target gene expression, proliferation, migration and apoptosis of SK‐MEL‐3 melanoma cell line was assessed by real‐time PCR and Western blotting, MTT assay, wound‐healing assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Besides, KISS1 inhibitor siRNA alone and along with Let‐7i was transfected to determine their probable correlation. The results revealed that either Let‐7i or KISS1 were down‐regulated in patients with melanoma. The results obtained from the in vitro part of the study revealed that restoration of Let‐7i reduced the expression of metastasis‐ and proliferation‐related target genes. Moreover, it was revealed that up‐regulation of Let‐7i attenuated migration and proliferation capability of SK‐MEL‐3 cells. Besides, it was demonstrated that Let‐7i restoration induced apoptosis in melanoma cells. More importantly, the KISS1 inhibitor caused a prominent cell migration and proliferation, attenuated by Let‐7i re‐expression. To sum up, the present study revealed the impressive role of Let‐7i restoration along with its correlation with KISS1 on melanoma carcinogenicity which may be applicable in future in vivo studies.