bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
L-type voltage-gated calcium channel agonists improve hearing loss and modify ribbon synapse morphology in the zebrafish model of Usher Syndrome Type 1
Authors: Koleilat Alaa , Dugdale Joseph A. , Christenson Trace A. , Bellah Jeffrey L. , Lambert Aaron M. , Masino Mark A. , Ekker Stephen C. , Schimmenti Lisa A.
Published: December 2019

Usher Syndrome (USH) is the most common cause of human deaf/blindness. The zebrafishmyo7aa-/-mutant, faithfully models USH1; homozygous zebrafish are deaf and exhibit circular swimming. We hypothesized that hair cell morphology would differ inmyo7aa-/-mutants compared to wild type. We also tested the hypothesis that agonists of L-type voltage-gated calcium channels would alter ribbon synapse morphology and behavior of zebrafishmyo7aa-/-mutants. We discovered thatmyo7aa-/-zebrafish have fewer glutamatergic vesicles tethered to hair cell ribbon synapses, yet maintain a comparable ribbon area. We identified thatmyo7aa-/-mutants have fewer total active hair cells, fewer total CTBP2 expressing puncta, and an altered distribution of CTBP2 puncta compared to wildtype. We also identified thatmyo7aa-/-mutants have fewer active post-synaptic cells and fewer total MAGUK puncta, compared to wildtype. Behaviorally,myo7aa-/-mutant fish have abnormal swimming as measured by larger absolute smooth orientations and have little to no acoustic startle. Treatment with L-type voltage-gated calcium channel agonists altered the abnormal cell and behavioral phenotypes toward wildtype. Our data supports that L-type voltage-gated calcium channel agonists induce morphological changes at the ribbon synapse—in both the number of tethered vesicles and the distribution of CTBP2 puncta, shifts swimming behavior towards wildtype swimming and improves acoustic startle response.

Summary Statement

We identified that the hair cell biology and behavior of themyo7aa-/-mutant differs from wildtype and this difference can be rescued using L-type voltage-gated calcium channel agonists.
Conformational distributions of isolated myosin motor domains encode their mechanochemical properties
Authors: Porter Justin R. , Meller Artur , Zimmerman Maxwell I. , Greenberg Michael J. , Bowman Gregory R.
Published: December 2019

Myosin motor domains perform an extraordinary diversity of biological functions despite sharing a common mechanochemical cycle. Motors are adapted to their function, in part, by tuning the thermodynamics and kinetics of steps in this cycle. However, it remains unclear how sequence encodes these differences, since biochemically distinct motors often have nearly indistinguishable crystal structures. We hypothesized that sequences produce distinct biochemical phenotypes by modulating the relative probabilities of an ensemble of conformations primed for different functional roles. To test this hypothesis, we modeled the distribution of conformations for twelve myosin motor domains by building Markov state models (MSMs) from an unprecedented two milliseconds of all-atom, explicit-solvent molecular dynamics simulations. Comparing motors reveals shifts in the balance between nucleotide-favorable and nucleotide-unfavorable P-loop conformations that predict experimentally-measured duty ratios and ADP release rates better than sequence or individual structures. This result demonstrates the power of an ensemble perspective for interrogating sequence-function relationships.

Subject Areas

Biochemistry and Chemical Biology, Structural Biology and Molecular Physics
Hierarchical Markov Random Field model captures spatial dependency in gene expression, demonstrating regulation via the 3D genome
Authors: Zhou Naihui , Friedberg Iddo , Kaiser Mark S.
Published: December 2019

Abstract

HiC technology has revealed many details about the eukaryotic genome’s complex 3D architecture. It has been shown that the genome is separated into organizational structures which are associated with gene expression. However, to the best of our knowledge, no studies have quantitatively measured the level of gene expression in the context of the 3D genome.

Here we present a novel model that integrates data from RNA-seq and HiC experiments, and determines how much of the variation in gene expression can be accounted for by the genes’ spatial locations. We used Poisson hierarchical Markov Random Field (PhiMRF), to estimate the level of spatial dependency among protein-coding genes in two different human cell lines. The inference of PhiMRF follows a Bayesian framework, and we introduce the Spatial Interaction Estimate (SIE) to measure the strength of spatial dependency in gene expression.

We find that the quantitative expression of genes in some chromosomes show meaningful positive intra-chromosomal spatial dependency. Interestingly, the spatial dependency is much stronger than the dependency based on linear gene neighborhoods, suggesting that 3D chromosome structures such as chromatin loops and Topologically Associating Domains (TADs) are strongly associated with gene expression levels. In some chromosomes the spatial dependency in gene expression is only detectable when the spatial neighborhoods are confined within TADs, suggesting TAD boundaries serve as insulating barriers for spatial gene regulation in the genome. We also report high inter-chromosomal spatial correlations in the majority of chromosome pairs, as well as the whole genome. Some functional groups of genes show strong spatial dependency in gene expression as well, providing new insights into the regulation mechanisms of these molecular functions. This study both confirms and quantifies widespread spatial correlation in gene expression. We propose that, with the growing influx of HiC data complementing gene expression data, the use of spatial dependence should be an integral part of the toolkit in the computational analysis of the relationship between chromosome structure and gene expression.
High fat diet worsens pathology and impairment in an Alzheimer’s mouse model, but not by synergistically decreasing cerebral blood flow
Authors: Bracko Oliver , Vinarcsik Lindsay K. , Cruz Hernández Jean C. , Ruiz-Uribe Nancy E. , Haft-Javaherian Mohammad , Falkenhain Kaja , Ramanauskaite Egle M. , Ali Muhammad , Mohapatra Aditi , Swallow Madisen , Njiru Brendah N. , Muse Victorine ,   Stall Catchers contributors, Michelucci Pietro E. , Nishimura Nozomi , Schaffer Chris B.
Published: December 2019

Obesity is linked to increased risk for and severity of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Cerebral blood flow (CBF) reductions are an early feature of AD and are also linked to obesity. We showed that non-flowing capillaries, caused by adhered neutrophils, underlie the CBF reduction in mouse models of AD. Because obesity could exacerbate the vascular inflammation likely underlying this neutrophil adhesion, we tested links between obesity and AD by feeding APP/PS1 mice a high fat diet (Hfd) and evaluating behavioral, physiological, and pathological changes. We found trends toward poorer memory performance in APP/PS1 mice fed a Hfd, impaired social interactions with either APP/PS1 genotype or a Hfd, and synergistic impairment of sensory-motor function in APP/PS1 mice fed a Hfd. The Hfd led to increases in amyloid-beta monomers and plaques in APP/PS1 mice, as well as increased brain inflammation. These results agree with previous reports showing obesity exacerbates AD-related pathology and symptoms in mice. We used a crowd-sourced, citizen science approach to analyze imaging data to determine the impact of the APP/PS1 genotype and a Hfd capillary stalling and CBF. Surprisingly, we did not see an increase in the number of non-flowing capillaries or a worsening of the CBF deficit in APP/PS1 mice fed a Hfd as compared to controls, suggesting capillary stalling is not a mechanistic link between a Hfd and increased severity of AD in mice. Reducing capillary stalling by blocking neutrophil adhesion improved CBF and short-term memory function in APP/PS1 mice, even when fed a Hfd.

Significance statement

Obesity, especially in mid-life, has been linked to increased risk for and severity of Alzheimer’s disease. Here, we show that blocking adhesion of white blood cells leads to increases in brain blood flow that improve cognitive function, regardless of whether mice are obese or not.
Integration of system phenotypes in microbiome networks to identify candidate synthetic communities: a study of the grafted tomato rhizobiome
Authors: Poudel Ravin , Jumpponen Ari , Kennelly Megan , Rivard Cary , Gomez-Montano Lorena , Garrett Karen A.
Published: December 2019

The paper with the doi 10.1101/2019/874966 has been removed as a result of a technical error. The paper is available on bioRxiv under this doi: 10.1101/2019.12.12.874966.
Cluster-mining: an approach for determining core structures of metallic nanoparticles from atomic pair distribution function data
Authors: Banerjee Soham , Liu Chia-Hao , Jensen Kirsten M. Ø. , Juhás Pavol , Lee Jennifer D. , Tofanelli Marcus , Ackerson Christopher J. , Murray Christopher B. , Billinge Simon J. L.
Published: December 2019

A novel approach for finding and evaluating structural models of small metallic nanoparticles is presented. Rather than fitting a single model with many degrees of freedom, libraries of clusters from multiple structural motifs are built algorithmically and individually refined against experimental pair distribution functions. Each cluster fit is highly constrained. The approach, called cluster-mining, returns all candidate structure models that are consistent with the data as measured by a goodness of fit. It is highly automated, easy to use, and yields models that are more physically realistic and result in better agreement to the data than models based on cubic close-packed crystallographic cores, often reported in the literature for metallic nanoparticles.
Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of 4-{[(anthracen-9-yl)methyl]amino}benzoic acid
Authors: Ahmed Adeeba , Faizi Md. Serajul Haque , Ahmad Aiman , Ahmad Musheer , Fritsky Igor O.
Published: December 2019

In the molecule of the title anthracene derivative, C22H17NO2, the benzene ring is inclined to the mean plane of the anthracene ring system (r.m.s. deviation = 0.024 Å) by 75.21 (9)°. In the crystal, molecules are linked by pairs of O—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming classical carboxylic acid inversion dimers with an R
2
2(8) ring motif. The dimers are linked by C—H...π interactions, forming a supramolecular framework.
Syntheses and crystal structures of three [M(acac)2(TMEDA)] complexes (M = Mn, Fe and Zn)
Authors: Halz Jan Henrik , Heiser Christian , Wagner Christoph , Merzweiler Kurt
Published: December 2019

The complexes bis(acetylacetonato-κ2
O,O′)(N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine-κ2
N,N′)manganese(II), [Mn(C5H7O2)2(C6H16N2)], bis(acetylacetonato-κ2
O,O′)(N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine-κ2
N,N′)iron(II), [Fe(C5H7O2)2(C6H16N2)], and bis(acetylacetonato-κ2
O,O′)(N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine-κ2
N,N′)zinc(II), [Zn(C5H7O2)2(C6H16N2)], were synthesized from the reaction of the corresponding metal acetylacetonates [M(acac)2(H2O)2] with N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) in toluene. Each of the complexes displays a central metal atom which is nearly octahedrally surrounded by two chelating acac and one chelating TMEDA ligand, resulting in an N2O4 coordination set. Despite the chemical similarity of the complex units, the packing patterns for compounds 1–3 are different and thus the crystal structures are not isotypic.
Understanding power-related strategies and initiatives
Authors: Contrafatto Massimo , Ferguson John , Power David , Stevenson Lorna , Collison David
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a theoretically informed analysis of a struggle for power over the regulation of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and social and environmental accounting and reporting (SEAR) within the European Union.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper combines insights from institutional theory (Lawrence and Buchanan, 2017) with Vaaraet al.’s (2006) and Vaara and Tienar’s (2008) discursive strategies approach in order to interrogate the dynamics of the institutional “arena” that emerged in 2001, following the European Commission’s publication of a Green Paper (GP) on CSR policy and reporting. Drawing on multiple sources of data (including newspaper coverage, semi-structured interviews and written submissions by companies and NGOs), the authors analyse the institutional political strategies employed by companies and NGOs – two of the key stakeholder groupings who sought to influence the dynamics and outcome of the European initiative.

Findings

The results show that the 2001 GP was a “triggering event” (Hoffman, 1999) that led to the formation of the institutional arena that centred on whether CSR policy and reporting should be voluntary or mandatory. The findings highlight how two separate, but related forms of power (systemic and episodic power) were exercised much more effectively by companies compared to NGOs. The analysis of the power initiatives and discursive strategies deployed in the arena provides a theoretically informed understanding of the ways in which companies acted in concert to reach their objective of maintaining CSR and SEAR as a voluntary activity.

Originality/value

The theoretical framework outlined in the paper highlights how the analysis of CSR and SEAR regulation can be enriched by examining the deployment of episodic and systemic power by relevant actors.
User willingness to purchase applications on mobile intelligent devices: evidence from app store
Authors: Tang Jie , Zhang Bin , Akram Umair
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the facilitating and inhibitory factors on paid app downloading intentions based on an integrated valence theory, considering two social environmental factors and two intermediate variables: perceived value and perceived trust.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on the integrated valence theory. After collecting users’ data, partial least square analysis is used to examine the main driving and constraining factors for users to download paid apps in Apple mobile devices.

Findings

The empirical results show that mediated through perceived value, perceived usefulness and perceived compatibility are the absolute positive factors that affect user’s willingness to purchase apps, whereas perceived cost is the main barrier for users to do so. Social environment where the users are in also plays an important role in their purchase intentions.

Practical implications

This study hopes to offer guidance to paid app developers and general app markets, and to help expand the consumer group, make the purchase experience more efficient and promote the development of paid app market.

Originality/value

The finding not only enriches the adoption theory of mobile apps from the perspective of valence theory, but also provides pricing and functional suggestions for platform suppliers and software developers of paid apps.
Motivations for prescription drug use in a marginalised open drug scene
Authors: Sultan Aysel , Werse Bernd
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore prevalence, contexts and motives for the use of various benzodiazepines, sedatives and opioids among injection drug users in Frankfurt’s open drug scene.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses quantitative data from ten waves of the bi-annual open drug scene survey carried out within the frames of the Frankfurt local drug monitoring system (MoSyD) and an additional sample of qualitative interviews to highlight the individual user perspectives as well as professional insights.

Findings

The results suggest that the prescription drugs act as “support drugs” when the drugs of choice are not available or affordable. Patterns of use also show that by acting to manage withdrawal symptoms, insomnia and relieving stress, prescription drugs also contribute to maintaining daily functionality.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the discussion on the motives and functions of prescription drug use in an urban open drug scene.
Financing constraints of public–private partnership projects in India
Authors: Sinha Ajit Kumar , Jha Kumar Neeraj
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the problems faced by banks, lenders, financial institutions, public authority, developers and concessionaires in course of financing of public–private partnership (PPP) road projects. Subsequently, the reasons that contribute to these problems were analyzed to come up with recommendations for mitigation of these problems.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology adopted is based on identification of financing problems and the reasons thereof, from a systematic and critical review of literature. Financing details including problems faced and reasons behind were extracted from details of one port, one airport and one road project. Data pertaining to financing of PPP road projects have been collected for completed (five projects) as well as projects under implementation (five projects) during a time interval of four months, starting from December 2018 to March 2019. The chosen three projects for case studies were executed in airport project at Kolkata in four years, offshore container terminal at Mumbai port in six years and Tuni Ankapali road project in three years. This period attains importance, as simultaneous progressive development and innovation in the PPP mode of project execution was taking place rapidly.

Findings

The commercial banks in India dominate in providing debt to the PPP infrastructure projects, especially in the road sector. The non-banking financial companies and other intermediaries were still in their infancy then, and a corporate bond market was growing steadily, though slowly. Financing problems faced by the developers resulted in unwarranted time and cost overruns emanating from delay in land acquisition and grant of approvals, with these being the two major barriers to private sector participation. Even schedule overrun finally resulted in increased construction and financing cost.

Originality/value

Demand for upgradation, building and expansion of transportation infrastructure (roads) exists to keep pace with economic development. Problems like lack of a developed market for financing, inadequate institutional capacity, lack of personnel having domain expertise and absence of exclusive legislation to govern the implementation of PPP road projects are encountered by the sponsors and developers. Delay in land acquisition and environment clearance inhibits any decisive action by the lenders and investors, as these two are integrally linked to the decisions to be taken with respect to the financing of projects. Investors and bankers are generally apprehensive of their investment getting locked in or ending up as non-performing assets. Identification and proposed mitigation of these problems may likely smoothen the rough edges for the financing of projects, resulting in smoother implementation.
The path to sustainability
Authors: Darus Faizah , Mohd Zuki Hidayatul Izati , Yusoff Haslinda
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Climate change has become an increasingly important issue globally, and organisations are being urged to be more carbon friendly by taking initiatives to reduce carbon emissions in their business operations. The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which climate change has been addressed and the influence of financial strength and corporate governance structure on the disclosure of carbon information.

Design/methodology/approach

The research process consists of an investigation via content analysis of the annual and sustainability reports of the top 100 public-listed companies in Malaysia for the year 2017.

Findings

The results of the study revealed that carbon information on carbon emissions accounting had the highest disclosure and that climate change risks and opportunities had the lowest disclosure. The results of the multiple regression analysis revealed that profitability is positively significant with carbon disclosure while leverage is negatively significant. However, the governance structure does not seem to have any influence on the disclosure of carbon information.

Research limitations/implications

The conclusions drawn from the study must be interpreted with caution as the sample companies only comprise of the top 100 public-listed companies in Malaysia to provide an initial insight into the situation in Malaysia. Furthermore, the interpretations and conclusions drawn from this study are based solely on a cross-sectional analysis of the data for only one year.

Practical implications

This finding is a significant contribution to regulatory bodies and policymakers regarding the drivers of climate change initiatives in an emerging economy such as Malaysia. This finding suggests that in the Malaysian setting, financial structure influence decisions on climate change initiatives.

Social implications

The commitment by business leaders of the impact on climate from the production processes would contribute towards a low carbon economy and subsequently improve the quality of life of the community.

Originality/value

The findings of the study provide insight of the business attitude towards climate change in an emerging economy such as Malaysia.
The dark side of social media connectivity
Authors: Tang Guiyao , Ren Shuang , Chadee Doren , Yuan Shuo
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The increasing use of social media after work hours for work purposes, termed social media connectivity (SMC), is an emerging phenomenon in supply chain management. Although SMC can have debilitating effects on supply chain professionals and their organizations, research on its effects on work-related attitudes, especially turnover intentions, remains largely unexplored. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of SMC on voluntary turnover of supply chain professionals and the resulting implications for them and their organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

The study draws from the conservation of resources theory and the concept of information overload to explain how SMC leads to emotional exhaustion and impacts turnover intentions of supply chain professionals, contingent on work–life balance. The model is tested using survey data (n=325) collected at multiple times from a large Chinese pharmaceutical manufacturer and distributor with spatially dispersed workforce and distribution facilities.

Findings

The results confirm that emotional exhaustion mediates the association between SMC and turnover intentions and that SMC exacerbates the intentions of supply chain professionals to quit their jobs. However, work–life balance is found to dampen the exhausting effects of SMC on emotional exhaustion thereby reducing its debilitating effects on turnover intentions of supply chain professionals.

Originality/value

The focus on SMC highlights the need for greater understanding of the dark side of social media on supply chain professionals and their organizations and how SMC can be better managed in an age of social media ubiquity.
Cross-border B2C e-commerce to China
Authors: Giuffrida Maria , Mangiaracina Riccardo , Perego Alessandro , Tumino Angela
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to support companies’ risk-informed selection of a logistics solution to operate in China via cross-border e-commerce (CBEC).

Design/methodology/approach

Decision theory is applied to the recent field of CBEC. This theoretic setup involves a decision maker who must choose among a set of alternatives, whose consequences depend on uncertain factors (Savage, 1954). The study develops an activity-based model to calculate logistics costs in a deterministic setting. Simulations and probabilistic sensitivity analyses are later performed to evaluate the impact of uncertainty.

Findings

There are four main solutions to enter China, determined by the adopted international transport mean and the presence of a local warehouse. The most important risk factors affecting the choice of the logistics solution are change of CBEC regulation, product value, expected service level and demand level.

Originality/value

From a theoretical perspective, this study improves CBEC literature, so far characterised by descriptive papers, often lacking industry focus or empirical exploration. It also provides new application opportunities for decision theory, whereas previous contributions have proposed different theoretical approaches, such as transaction cost or institutional theory. From a practical viewpoint, the paper is the first to compare the costs of the main logistics solutions to sell online to China, by taking uncertainty into account. The results can be used to better understand the differences among solutions and identify the most critical parameters. Finally, this research provides some observations for policy implementation.
Applying quantile regression to determine the effects of household characteristics on household saving rates in Vietnam
Authors: Hua Thanh Xuan , Erreygers Guido
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the determinants of the saving behaviour of Vietnamese households and to explore the possible heterogeneity of household saving propensities.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors estimate the effects of household characteristics on Vietnamese household saving rates by means of a quantile regression approach using the Vietnam Household Living Standard Survey 2010 data set.

Findings

The results suggest that the way household characteristics influence saving rates is different for each quantile of the household saving rate distribution. Household characteristics tend to have stronger effects at lower quantiles. Particularly, the marginal propensity to save of households at low quantiles is higher than those at high quantiles. Analysing rural and urban households separately, the authors find evidence that household and household head characteristics have stronger significant effects for rural than for urban households. Children and elderly members should be treated as part of the household labour force, instead of household dependency, since both of them increase household saving rates.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the literature on Vietnamese household saving behaviours, especially for households living in urban areas.
How good is the marketing method? Measuring the process and the outcomes
Authors: Pimenta da Gama António
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Marketing performance assessment has been a major concern and remains a vital issue for companies and professionals. This paper aims to revisit the theme of marketing audits and propose a methodological approach aimed to evaluate marketing practice at the light of the processes involved.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is structured in three parts. It begins with an overview of marketing audit’s theoretical domain. Then, the rationale, content and implementation of the instrument are presented. Finally, the work’s main motivations and implications are discussed.

Findings

To turn assessment into a useful exercise, it is necessary the existence of a framework allowing a common language for describing marketing practice. The author believes that a structured approach for evaluating marketing processes can decisively influence marketing effectiveness.

Research limitations/implications

This work provided a theoretically anchored methodology for evaluating marketing practice. As such, it lays down the foundations for further research on the relevance of the selected processes and how they translate in future consequences for the business.

Practical implications

The view presented is intended to draw attention to the need for assessing the way marketing is executed, providing an instrument that helps professionals to better develop their activity and improve their contribution to business success.

Originality/value

Most existing marketing performance measures focus on outputs. However, results, per se, say little about the reasons of success or failure. This paper reinforces the importance of marketing audits as a tool to evaluate the way marketing processes are developed within an organization
Perception and expectation of customers in Islamic bank perspective
Authors: Hosen Muhamad Nadratuzzaman , Lathifah Fitriyani , Jie Ferry
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is as follows: to measure the levels of customer satisfaction, to analyze the gap of values between expectations and perceptions of customers for quality of services and to analyze the factors which should be priority of services in reducing the levels of customer satisfaction at branch office of Bank Muamalat Indonesia (BMI).

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses to quantitative and qualitative approach to analyze challenges and problems of quality in banking services at BMI based on Islamic perspective.X

Findings

Overall results show that the levels of customer satisfaction are satisfied. The main items of deduction for customers’ satisfaction are services of access, services of price, interruption of services, sophistication of technology and variety of products. In general findings, Sharia compliance becomes a critical point of services in Islamic banks. The study is only investigation at one Branch of BMI in Depok.

Research limitations/implications

The implication of this study is a basic knowledge for more details of research with more samples of banks regarding with the quality of banking services. Evaluation of the level of customer satisfaction is very important for BMI to improve services and to develop IT services as well as to certified the ISO (International Standard Organization) and to be built Sharia assurance system.

Practical implications

The result of this can be used to make a rank of service satisfaction for all Islamic banks in Indonesia.

Originality/value

This study is to apply combination of CARTER and quality of banking service methods for a Islamic bank. In addition, this study includes Sharia Compliance or Islamic law compliance as a basis for Islamic Contract in operating products of Islamic bank.
The implications of “miniaturism” for urban tourism destination futures – from micropubs to microbars
Authors: Haynes Natalie Claire , Egan David
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how the continued interest in the concept of “miniaturism” has seen the micropub develop into the new format of the microbar and examines the drivers of this trend. It then reflects on the possible implications of the rise of the microbar concept on the future of the urban tourism destination landscape.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper that is built on the natural curiosity of future studies to use an understanding of the present to predict what will happen next and what the implications of those developments will be.

Findings

The paper provides a clear definition of the microbar and identifies four distinctive drivers behind its conception, linked to changes in consumer behaviour. These cover the rise of the micro-break, the need for responsible urban regeneration, consumers desire for immediate and unique experiences and increasingly diverse populations. The paper predicts that these trends will drive an increase in microbars leading to greater tourist mobility in the urban tourism destination, more fragmentation and heterogeneity of products and services as well as an intensification in the need for authentic experiences and opportunity driven development giving rise to a hybrid form of guerrilla hospitality. Ultimately the authors predict that the venue will become more important than the specific location when consumers view the landscape of the urban tourism destination.

Originality/value

The focus of previous academic research has been on the historic development of the micropub and its impact on regeneration and communities, but very little literature has examined the rise of the microbar and the potential implications for the urban tourism destination.
Unsteady magnetohydrodynamic radiative liquid thin film flow of hybrid nanofluid with thermophoresis and Brownian motion
Authors: Sulochana C. , Aparna S.R.
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze heat and mass transport mechanism of unsteady MHD thin film flow of aluminium–copper/water hybrid nanofluid influenced by thermophoresis, Brownian motion and radiation.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors initially altered the time dependent set of mathematical equations into dimensionless form of equations by using apposite transmutations. These equations are further solved numerically by deploying Runge–Kutta method along with shooting technique.

Findings

Plots and tables for skin friction coefficient, Nusselt number, Sherwood number along with velocity, temperature and concentration profiles against pertinent non-dimensional parameters are revealed. The study imparts that aluminium–copper hybrid nanoparticles facilitate higher heat transfer rate compared to mono nanoparticles. It is noteworthy to disclose that an uplift in thermophoresis and Brownian parameter depreciates heat transfer rate, while concentration profiles boost with an increase in thermophoretic parameter.

Research limitations/implications

The current study targets to investigate heat transfer characteristics of an unsteady thin film radiative flow of water-based aluminium and copper hybrid nanofluid. The high thermal and electrical conductivities, low density and corrosion resistant features of aluminium and copper with their wide range of industrial applications like power generation, telecommunication, automobile manufacturing, mordants in leather tanning, etc., have prompted us to instil these particles in the present study.

Practical implications

The present study has many practical implications in the industrial and manufacturing processes working on the phenomena like heat transfer, magnetohydrodynamics, thermal radiation, nanofluids, hybrid nanofluids with special reference to aluminium and copper particles.

Originality/value

To the best extent of the authors’ belief so far no attempt is made to inspect the flow, thermal and mass transfer of water-based hybridized aluminium and copper nanoparticles with Brownian motion and thermophoresis.
The development and feasibility testing of the Distress Recognition Tool
Authors: Crowther George J.E. , Brennan Cathy A. , Hall Katherine L.A. , Flinders Abigail J. , Bennett Michael I.
Published: December 2019

Purpose

People with dementia in hospital are susceptible to delirium, pain and psychological symptoms. These diagnoses are associated with worse patient outcomes, yet are often underdiagnosed and undertreated. Distress is common in people experiencing delirium, pain and psychological symptoms. Screening for distress may therefore be a sensitive way of recognising unmet needs. The purpose of this paper is to describe the development and feasibility testing of the Distress Recognition Tool (DRT). The DRT is a single question screening tool that is incorporated into existing hospital systems. It encourages healthcare professionals to regularly look for distress and signposts them to relevant resources when distress is identified.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors tested the feasibility of using the DRT in people with dementia admitted on two general hospital wards. Mixed methods were used to assess uptake and potential mechanisms of impact, including frequency of use, observation of ward processes and semi-structured interviews with primary stakeholders.

Findings

Over a 52-day period, the DRT was used during routine care of 32 participants; a total of 346 bed days. The DRT was completed 312 times; an average of 0.9 times per participant per day. Where participants had an identified carer, 83 per cent contributed to the assessment at least once during the admission. Thematic analysis of stakeholder interviews, and observational data suggested that the DRT was quick and simple to complete, improved ward awareness of distress and had the potential to improve care for people with dementia admitted to hospital.

Originality/value

This is the first short screening tool for routinely detecting distress in dementia in any setting. Its uptake was positive, and if effective it could improve care and outcomes for people with dementia, however it was beyond the scope of the study test this.
Controls of Sphagnum growth and the role of winter
Authors: Küttim Martin , Küttim Liisa , Ilomets Mati , Laine Anna M.
Published: December 2019

Sphagnum is the major genus in northern peatlands that contributes to peat formation and carbon sequestration. Sphagnum growth in summer has been fairly well studied but the information about growth in autumn and winter is limited. Therefore, we studied how the growth of Sphagnum is seasonally distributed with a particular interest on possible winter growth. The linear increment and biomass production of three Sphagum species was measured in three Northern European bogs over a year. In all sites, our results indicate the highest annual linear increment in S. angustifolium (28 mm), followed by S. magellanicum (20 mm) and S. fuscum (13 mm), but the biomass production was fairly even among the species (189, 192 and 215 g m−2, respectively). Both linear increment and biomass production depended mostly on meteorological parameters rather than ecophysiological or microsite properties. The seasonal measurements revealed a significant linear increment and biomass production during the winter that accounted for ca. 10% and ca. 5% from the annual values, respectively. Moreover, the mean daily rates of linear increment in autumn often exceeded the increment in summer. Our results thus indicate the ability for year‐around growth of Sphagna if the conditions are favorable, including during boreal winter.
Delivery mode for prolonged, obstructed labour resulting in obstetric fistula: a retrospective review of 4396 women in East and Central Africa
Authors: Ngongo CJ , Raassen TJIP , Lombard L , van Roosmalen J , Weyers S , Temmerman M
Published: December 2019

Objective

To evaluate the mode of delivery and stillbirth rates over time among women with obstetric fistula.

Design

Retrospective record review.

Setting

Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Zambia and Ethiopia.

Population

A total of 4396 women presenting with obstetric fistulas for repair who delivered previously in facilities between 1990 and 2014.

Methods

Retrospective review of trends and associations between mode of delivery and stillbirth, focusing on caesarean section (CS), assisted vaginal deliveries and spontaneous vaginal deliveries.

Main outcome measures

Mode of delivery, stillbirth.

Results

Out of 4396 women with fistula, 3695 (84.1%) delivered a stillborn baby. Among mothers with fistula giving birth to a stillborn baby, the CS rate (overall 54.8%, 2027/3695) rose from 45% (162/361) in 1990–94 to 64% (331/514) in 2010–14. This increase occurred at the expense of assisted vaginal delivery (overall 18.3%, 676/3695), which declined from 32% (115/361) to 6% (31/514).

Conclusions

In Eastern and Central Africa, CS is increasingly performed on women with obstructed labour whose babies have already died in utero. Contrary to international recommendations, alternatives such as vacuum extraction, forceps and destructive delivery are decreasingly used. Unless uterine rupture is suspected, CS should be avoided in obstructed labour with intrauterine fetal death to avoid complications related to CS scars in subsequent pregnancies. Increasingly, women with obstetric fistula add a history of unnecessary CS to their already grim experiences of prolonged, obstructed labour and stillbirth.

Tweetable abstract

Caesarean section is increasingly performed in African women with stillbirth treated for obstetric fistula.
Effects of fish protein hydrolysate ingestion on postexercise aminoacidemia compared with whey protein hydrolysate in young individuals
Authors: Cordeiro Elisaldo Mendes , de Oliveira Gustavo Vieira , Volino‐Souza Mônica , Velozo Otávio do Couto , Alvares Thiago Silveira
Published: December 2019

The aminoacidemia resulting from food protein digestion in response to exercise plays an underlying role in the rate of muscle protein synthesis. Whey protein hydrolysate (WPH) has been demonstrated to cause more pronounced postexercise aminoacidemia compared with casein and soy. Although fish protein has been demonstrated to be a great source of amino acids, there is no data available providing information about the postexercise aminoacidemia after fish protein hydrolysate (FPH) intake. The present study investigated the characteristic patterns of postexercise aminoacidemia after WPH and FPH intake in nine physically active subjects (six males and three females). In a crossover, double‐blind, and randomized design, all participants received oral doses of either 0.25 g/kg of FPH or WPH or placebo (PLA) immediately after a resistance exercise bout. Blood samples were taken before and at 30, 60, 90, 120 and 180 min after supplementation. There was a significant increase in plasma total amino acids (TAA), essential amino acids (EAA), branched‐chain amino acids (BCAA), and leucine concentrations at 30 and 60 min after FPH supplementation, and at 30, 60, 90, and 120 min after WPH as compared to PLA. No significant differences were observed in plasma TAA, EAA, BCAA, and leucine concentrations between FPH and WPH at any time point, and there were no significant difference observed in the area under the curve for TAA, EAA, BCAA, and leucine between FPH and WPH. In conclusion, both FPH and WPH showed a rapid and pronounced postexercise aminoacidemia. FPH presented itself to be an alternative food source of rapidly digested proteins to be used after resistance exercise.

Practical Application

Fish protein hydrolysate (FPH) demonstrated a rapid and pronounced postexercise aminoacidemia. Whey protein hydrolysate showed similar effects. FPH is presented as an alternative food source of rapidly digested proteins to be consumed by the population, especially physically active individuals.
Comparison of accuracy and long‐term prognosis between computed tomography‐based and magnetic resonance imaging‐based brachytherapy for cervical cancer: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Wang Xinyu , Fan Liwen , Yan Wenxing , Bao Shunchao , Liu Linlin
Published: December 2019

High‐dose‐rate brachytherapy (HDR‐BT) has been shown to play an important role in the treatment of cervical cancer patients. The aim of this systematic review and meta‐analysis was to compare the dose parameters and long‐term effects of MRI‐based, CT‐based and hybrid imaging (MRI/CT)‐based volumetric planning. A systematic search was conducted to identify the clinical studies of BT treatment on cervical cancer patients. After study selection, a total of 13 clinical studies were enrolled for further analysis. No obvious differences were observed among the treatment parameters and the patients included. In detail, no significant difference was observed among these three techniques of volumetric planning in the parameters of high‐risk clinical target volume (HR‐CTV), total dose of D90 or mean fraction dose of D90. Meanwhile, MRI‐based planning was superior to CT‐based treatment in the total dose D2cc to organs at risk (OAR) for the bladder, rectum and sigmoid. Furthermore, no significant difference was observed among MRI‐, CT‐ or hybrid‐based treatments with the mean fraction dose D2cc to OAR for the bladder, rectum or sigmoid. In conclusion, MRI provides good anatomical delineation of the relevant HR‐CTV and OAR, and performed better in the analyses of dose parameters compared with CT. At least one MR image is required to assess the tumour extension, with clinical findings and MRI information facilitating much more accurate CT‐based contouring.
ResDisMapper: An r package for fine‐scale mapping of resistance to dispersal
Authors: Tang Qian , Fung Tak , Rheindt Frank E.
Published: December 2019

Management of biological invasions and conservation activity in the fight against habitat fragmentation both require information on how ongoing dispersal of organisms is affected by the environment. However, there are few landscape genetic computer programs that map resistance to dispersal at small spatiotemporal scales. To facilitate such analyses, we present an r package named ResDisMapper for the mapping of resistance to dispersal at small spatiotemporal scales, without the need for prior knowledge on environmental features or intensive computation. Based on the concept of isolation by distance (IBD), ResDisMapper calculates resistance using deviations of each pair of samples from the general IBD trend (IBD residuals). The IBD residuals are projected onto the studied area, which allows construction and visualization of a fine‐scale map of resistance based on spatial accumulation of positive or negative IBD residuals. In this study, we tested ResDisMapper with both simulated and empirical data sets and compared its performance with two other popular landscape genetic programs. Overall, we found that ResDisMapper can map resistance with relatively high accuracy. The latest version of the package and associated documentation are available on Github (https://github.com/takfung/ResDisMapper).
Analyses of environmental sequences and two regions of chloroplast genomes revealed the presence of new clades of photosynthetic euglenids in marine environments
Authors: Lukešová Soňa , Karlicki Michał , Tomečková Hadariová Lucia , Szabová Jana , Karnkowska Anna , Hampl Vladimír
Published: December 2019

Euglenophyceae are unicellular algae with the majority of their diversity known from small freshwater reservoirs. Only two dozen species have been described to occur in marine habitats, but their abundance and diversity remain unexplored. Phylogenetic studies revealed marine prasinophyte green alga, Pyramimonas parkeae, as the closest extant relative of the euglenophytes' plastid, but similarly to euglenophytes, our knowledge about the diversity of Pyramimonadales is limited. Here we explored Euglenophyceae and Pyramimonadales phylogenetic diversity in marine environmental samples. We yielded 18S rDNA and plastid 16S rDNA sequences deposited in public repositories and reconstructed Euglenophyceae reference trees. We searched high‐throughput environmental sequences from the TARA Oceans expedition and Ocean Sampling Day initiative for 18S rDNA and 16S rDNA, placed them in the phylogenetic context and estimated their relative abundances. To avoid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) bias, we also exploited metagenomic data from the TARA Oceans expedition for the presence of rRNA sequences from these groups. Finally, we targeted these protists in coastal samples by specific PCR amplification of two parts of the plastid genome uniquely shared between euglenids and Pyramimonadales. All approaches revealed previously undetected, but relatively low‐abundant lineages of marine Euglenophyceae. Surprisingly, some of those lineages are branching within the freshwater or brackish genera.