bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social-media-based risk communication for data co-security on the cloud
Authors: Gashami Jean Pierre Guy , Libaque-Saenz Christian Fernando , Chang Younghoon
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Cloud computing has disrupted the information technology (IT) industry. Associated benefits such as flexibility, payment on an on-demand basis and the lack of no need for IT staff are among the reasons for its adoption. However, these services represent not only benefits to users but also threats, with cybersecurity issues being the biggest roadblock to cloud computing success. Although ensuring data security on the cloud has been the responsibility of providers, these threats seem to be unavoidable. In such circumstances, both providers and users have to coordinate efforts to minimize negative consequences that might occur from these events. The purpose of this paper is to assess how providers and users can rely on social media to communicate risky events.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the Situational Theory of Publics and trust, the authors developed three research questions to analyze stakeholders’ communication patterns after a security breach. By gathering Twitter data, the authors analyzed the data security breach faced by the Premera Blue Cross’ Web application.

Findings

The results indicate that Premera acted as the main source of information for Twitter users, while trustworthy actors such as IT security firms, specialists and local news media acted as intermediaries, creating small communities around them. Theoretical and practical implications are also discussed.

Originality/value

Social media could be used for diffusing information of potential threats; no research has assessed its usage in a cloud-based security breach context. The study aims to fill this gap and propose a framework to engage cloud users in co-securing their data along with cloud providers when they face similar situations.
A model of entrepreneurship education in franchising – application of outside-in marketing with a behavioural focus
Authors: Quach Sara , Weaven Scott , Thaichon Park , Grace Debra , Frazer Lorelle
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Drawing on an outside-in marketing perspective, this paper aims to outline the development, implementation, evaluation and reflection of a real-world entrepreneurship education (EE) intervention with cognitive, affective and ultimately behavioural objectives.

Design/methodology/approach

A specific and uniform EE program specifically targeted to current “would be” entrepreneurs who were investigating the franchising business model was developed, focusing on the behavioural outcomes. The effectiveness of the EE intervention was evaluated using a quasi-experimental research design, which involved franchisees who had not participated in the EE intervention (control group) and franchisees who had participated in the EE intervention (experimental group). The administration of the national on-line survey yielded a total of 520 responses (194 in the experimental group and 326 in the control group).

Findings

The planning process in the pre-intervention stage included situation analysis, objective setting and decisions in relation to the communication strategy, i.e. content and mode. The effectiveness of the EE intervention was evaluated in the post-intervention stage. The findings indicate that EE intervention resulted in participants’ positive cognitive, affective and behavioural outcomes such as performance and relationship management. Finally, following a reflection process, additional elements covering topics related to work-life balance were incorporated into the module pertaining to an individual’s suitability to become a franchisee.

Originality/value

This paper proposes a conceptual framework that represents an outside-in EE approach whereby problems, audiences, objectives and communication strategies (content and method) are strategically intertwined to produce relevant, measurable and diagnostic behavioural outcomes. The EE intervention can also improve the B2B relationship between actors in a business network.
Volatility of Malaysian conventional and Islamic indices: does financial crisis matter?
Authors: Abduh Muhamad
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the volatility of conventional and Islamic indices and to explore the impact of the global financial crisis toward the volatility of both markets in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

The data consist of financial times stock exchange group (FTSE) Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Composite Index and FTSE Bursa Malaysia Hijrah-Shari‘ah Index covering the period January 2008-October 2014. Generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity is used to find the volatility of the two markets and an ordinary least square model is then used to investigate the impact of the crisis toward the volatility of those markets.

Findings

Interestingly, the result shows that Islamic index is less volatile during the crisis compared to the conventional index. Furthermore, the crisis is proven to significantly affect the volatility of conventional index in the short run and Islamic index in the long run.

Originality/value

This study explores the volatility–financial crisis nexus, especially for the Islamic financial markets, which to the best of the author’s knowledge, is still lacking empirical research which may improve the understanding upon this issue.
The effect of religiosity on trainees’ reaction and motivation to transfer
Authors: Zumrah Abdul Rahim , Khalid Muhammad Yusuf , Ali Kalsom , Mokhtar Ahmad Najaa'
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This study aims to examine the relationship between religiosity, trainees’ reaction and motivation to transfer in the context of public sector organizations in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

Structured equation modeling is conducted on survey data from 306 public sector employees in Malaysia.

Findings

The result of this study highlights the importance of religiosity as a trainee characteristic factor that can influence employee reaction toward the training program, and ultimately demonstrates positive intention to transfer the training outcomes to the workplace. In other words, the findings reveal that reaction has a mediating effect on the relationship between religiosity and motivation to transfer.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides guidance to training practitioners (e.g. training consultant company), who wish to enhance a positive training reaction of public sector employees in Malaysia. A significant relationship between religiosity and reaction indicates that the importance of religious elements to be included in the training program when conducting training to public sector employees in Malaysia.

Originality/value

The findings of this study are very important because the relationship between religiosity, reaction and motivation to transfer has not been examined before. Besides, no study on the relationship between religiosity and reaction has been traced. Furthermore, the role of reaction as a mediator between religiosity and motivation to transfer has not been studied so far.
The effect of managerial ability on product market competition and corporate investment decisions
Authors: Salehi Mahdi , Daemi Ali , Akbari Farzana
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This study aims to examine the effect of managerial ability on product market competition and corporate investment decisions, specifically, on risk-taking and investment efficiency.

Design/methodology/approach

The primary measure of managerial ability is Demerjianet al.model. In this study, Herfindahl–Hirschman Index is used to measure product market competition. Regression analysis is used to examine the association between corporate risk-taking and over-investment of free cash flow and product market competition and managerial ability.

Findings

Using firm-year observations from 2011 to 2015, the paper findings suggest that competition discourages managers to invest in risky investment. The study also found that managerial ability has no effect on the association between product market competition and investment decision.

Originality/value

The current study almost is the first study which is conducted on this subject; the results may give strength to further studies.
Effects of spiritual intelligence from Islamic perspective on emotional intelligence
Authors: Anwar Md. Aftab , Gani AAhad M. Osman , Rahman Muhammad Sabbir
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The aim of this study is to develop a spiritual intelligence scale from an Islamic perspective. In addition, this research explores the relationship of spiritual intelligence from an Islamic perspective with emotional intelligence among the students of higher learning institutions in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 250 students from different higher learning institutions in Malaysia.

Findings

The findings of the study show the relationships of spiritual intelligence from an Islamic perspective and emotional intelligence. Statistically significant relationships were found between four dimensions of spiritual intelligence from an Islamic perspective (e.g. transcendental awareness, meaning of life, patience and forgiveness) and emotional intelligence.

Originality/value

The contribution of human intelligence in the development higher learning institution is remarkable. Most research found on spiritual intelligence is from traditional and Western perspective with very limited studies found from an Islamic perspective. The purpose of the current study is to construct a spiritual intelligence from an Islamic perspective and empirically validate the items. The study also looks for relationships of spiritual intelligence from an Islamic perspective and emotional intelligence among the students of higher learning institutions.
Towards a core Islamic work value
Authors: Ab. Wahab Mastura , Masron Tajul Ariffin
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Throughout the extant studies on Islamic work values, many variations in the concept of Islamic work values were found. This has created some confusions and misunderstandings on what is the core of Islamic work values that is highly emphasized by Islam. The unanimity of Islamic work values is fundamental to Islamic organizations, and businesses in particular, as it indicates ethical, effectiveness and religious reputations of the organizations. This paper aims to identify the core Islamic work values based on Islamic legal texts (the Qur‘an and the Hadith as the two main Islamic sources), the writings of Islamic scholars and then to have experts verify whether or not the identified work values are core Islamic work values.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper used a qualitative approach where Islamic legal texts (the Qur’an and the Hadith) as well as the writing of Islamic scholars were used as a main reference to identify the core Islamic work values. These identified core Islamic work values were later verified by the muftīs. The verification assessment involved six muftīs from Malaysia.

Findings

The final result revealed that 14 core Islamic work values have been verified by the muftīs. These 14 considered core Islamic work values are essential work values of Islam which are important to achieve effective work performance.

Research limitations/implications

The findings presented are useful for managers and employees in Islamic organizations to decide on what Islamic work values that should be given more precedence and to be practised in their organizations.

Originality/value

This is a novel study that combines two approaches, the Islamic legal texts and muftīs verification regarding the work values obtained that can be accepted as the core Islamic work values. Therefore, these findings can be a guide for many future studies in the area of Islamic work values.
Pricing risk and its use in modelling real estate market yields
Authors: McGough Tony , Berry Jim
Published: January 2020

Purpose

In the light of past financial and economic turmoil, there has been a marked increase in the volatility in real estate markets. This has impacted on the pricing of property assets, partly through market sentiment and particularly concerning risk. It also limits modelling accuracy model accuracy. The purpose of this paper is to create a new variable and model to enhance analysis of what drives real estate yields incorporating market sentiment to risk.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper specifically considers the modelling of property pricing within a volatile economic environment. The theoretical context begins by analysing the relationship between property yields and government bonds. The analytical context then moves on to specifically include a measurement of risk which stresses its role and importance in investment markets since the Global Financial Crisis. The model thus incorporates macroeconomic and real estate data, together with an international risk multiplier, which is calculated within the paper.

Findings

The paper finds the use of measurements of market sentiment and risk are more powerful tools for modelling yields than previous techniques alone.

Research limitations/implications

This is an initial paper outlining the creation of sentiment and risk measurements in the financial market and showing an example of its application to a commercial real estate market. The implication is that this could add a major new explanatory variable to modelling of yields.

Practical implications

The paper highlights the importance of risk in the pricing of commercial real estate, over and above normal variables. It highlights how this can help explain over and undershooting of yields within commercial real estate which would be of great importance in the investment world.

Originality/value

This paper attempts to explicitly measure market sentiment, pricing of risk and how this impacts real estate pricing.
Can subordinate voice prevail with abusive supervision?
Authors: Gopakumar K.V. , Singh Sweta
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Drawing from conservation of resources (COR) theory, this study aims to explain why certain voice types prevail while other voice types are inhibited in the presence of abusive supervision.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper surveys extant literature on abusive supervision, employee voice and COR theory and provides propositions linking abusive supervision and types of voice behaviours.

Findings

The paper develops a conceptual model linking abusive supervision and three types of subordinate voice behaviours – prosocial, defensive and acquiescent voices. It identifies psychological distress as a mediator andlocusof control as a moderator to this relationship.

Originality/value

This paper deepens our present understanding of abusive supervision and voice relationship by explaining why only certain voice types prevail with abusive supervision while others do not. While extant literature concluded abusive supervision only as an inhibitor of voice behaviours, the present study identifies how abusive supervision could both inhibit and motivate different voice behaviours. Further, it links abusive supervision to multiple voice types, diverting from extant literature linking abusive supervision to only constructive voice. Lastly, this study contributes to resource acquisition strategies within COR theory.
Hybrid multi-layered scaffolds produced via grain extrusion and electrospinning for 3D cell culture tests
Authors: Ginestra Paola , Pandini Stefano , Ceretti Elisabetta
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on the production of scaffolds with specific morphology and mechanical behavior to satisfy specific requirements regarding their stiffness, biological interactions and surface structure that can promote cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions though proper porosity, pore size and interconnectivity.

Design/methodology/approach

This case study was focused on the production of multi-layered hybrid scaffolds made of polycaprolactone and consisting in supporting grids obtained by Material Extrusion (ME) alternated with electrospun layers. An open source 3D printer was utilized, with a grain extrusion head that allows the production and distribution of strands on the plate according to the designed geometry. Square grid samples were observed under optical microscope showing a good interconnectivity and spatial distribution of the pores, while scanning electron microscope analysis was used to study the electrospun mats morphology.

Findings

A good adhesion between the ME and electrospinning layers was achieved by compression under specific thermomechanical conditions obtaining a hybrid three-dimensional scaffold. The mechanical performances of the scaffolds have been analyzed by compression tests, and the biological characterization was carried out by seeding two different cells phenotypes on each side of the substrates.

Originality/value

The structure of the multi-layered scaffolds demonstrated to play an important role in promoting cell attachment and proliferation in a 3D culture formation. It is expected that this design will improve the performances of osteochondral scaffolds with a strong influence on the required formation of an interface tissue and structure that need to be rebuilt.
Direct fabrication of inclined thin-walled parts by exploiting inherent overhanging capability of CMT process
Authors: Zhao Yun , Li Fang , Chen Shujun , Lu Zhenyang
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a build strategy for inclined thin-walled parts by exploiting the inherent overhanging capability of the cold metal transfer (CMT) process, which release wire-arc additive manufacturing from tedious programming work and restriction of producible size of parts.

Design/methodology/approach

Inclined thin-walled parts were fabricated with vertically placed welding torch free from any auxiliary equipment. The inclined features were defined and analyzed based on the geometrical model of inclined parts. A statistical prediction model was developed to describe the dependence of inclined geometrical features on process variables. Based on these models, a build strategy was proposed to plan tool path and output process parameters. After that, the flow work was illustrated by fabricating a vase part.

Findings

The formation mechanism and regulation of inclined geometrical features were revealed by conducting experimental trials. The inclined angle can be significantly increased along with the travel speed and offset distance, whereas the wall width is mainly dependent on the ratio of wire feed speed to travel speed. In contrast to other welding process, CMT has a stronger overhanging capability, which provides the possibility to fabricate parts with large overhanging features directly with high forming accuracy.

Originality/value

This paper describes a novel build strategy for inclined thin-walled parts free from any auxiliary equipment. With the proposed strategy, a complex structural component can be deposited directly in the rectangular coordinates additive manufacturing system, indicating infinite possibilities on the producible size of the parts. Moreover, equipment requirements and tedious program work can also be significantly reduced.
An investigation of barriers to waste management techniques implemented in Indian manufacturing industries using analytical hierarchy process
Authors: Sodhi Harsimran Singh , Singh Doordarshi , Singh Bikram Jit
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the various barriers in the implementation of waste management techniques in manufacturing organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, 121 SMEs of the manufacturing sector have been extensively surveyed, to assess the relative impact of barriers in the waste management technique in a manufacturing organization. Further, analytical hierarchy process (AHP) has been used to identify the most significant barriers.

Findings

Major barriers in the implementation of a waste management technique in a manufacturing organization have been identified and their weightage has been calculated through the AHP model.

Originality/value

This study will assist the floor managers in manufacturing organizations to identify the major barriers and to plan accordingly for the adequate implementation of waste management technique.
Inflammasome‐associated cell death: Pyroptosis, apoptosis, and physiological implications
Authors: Tsuchiya Kohsuke
Published: January 2020

Inflammasomes are innate immune mechanisms that promote inflammation by activating the protease caspase‐1. Active caspase‐1 induces pyroptosis, a necrotic form of regulated cell death, which facilitates the release of intracellular proinflammatory molecules, including IL‐1 family cytokines. Recent studies identified mediators of inflammasome‐associated cell death and suggested that inflammasomes induce not only pyroptosis, but also apoptosis. Caspase‐1 has the potential to induce pyroptosis and apoptosis in a manner that is dependent on the expression of the pyroptosis mediator gasdermin D. Caspase‐1‐induced apoptosis is mediated by Bid and caspase‐7. Caspase‐8 is also activated following the formation of inflammasomes and may induce apoptosis. Because inflammasomes contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory disorders and host defenses against microbial pathogens, a more detailed understanding of the mechanisms underlying inflammasome‐associated cell death may contribute to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for inflammasome‐related diseases. Pyroptosis has been implicated in inflammasome‐related diseases, and compounds that inhibit this process have been reported. The molecular mechanisms of inflammasome‐associated cell death and its physiological implications are discussed herein.
Habitat variability in an underwater forest: Using a trait‐based approach to predict associated communities
Authors: Stelling‐Wood Talia P. , Gribben Paul E. , Poore Alistair G. B.
Published: January 2020

By providing food, living space and reducing biotic and abiotic stress, habitat‐formers support diverse communities. The characteristics that mediate their value to associated organisms, however, are not always clear. Traditional assessments of habitat‐former and associated community relationships use broad‐scale classifications to group habitat‐formers according to identity or gross morphology. Trait‐based approaches instead measure traits at the level of the individual and in doing so allow for predictions that are not constrained to taxonomic groups. By measuring at the level of the individual, trait‐based approaches have the potential to capture not only interspecific variability, but also the intraspecific variation that is often ignored by traditional approaches. Trait‐based approaches may therefore provide a novel way to link the characteristics of habitat‐formers to ecosystem functioning.

Here we quantified inter‐ and intraspecific variation in six macroalgal species and tested the relative importance of morphological traits and species identity in predicting the abundance of associated fauna.

All species of macroalgae displayed substantial intraspecific morphological variation. Morphological traits were more important than species identity in predicting epifaunal abundances. Total surface area was the most important trait when predicting total abundance per thallus, whilst mean frond length was the most important predictor for abundance per gram algal biomass. This suggests that traits that describe the quantity of available habitat were the most important predictors of community abundance, but the shape or architecture of the habitat also contributes to structuring these communities.

Our results indicate that trait‐based approaches may be more useful than traditional species‐based approaches when predicting the abundances of fauna associated with habitat‐forming species.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Variation in butterfly diapause duration in relation to voltinism suggests adaptation to autumn warmth, not winter cold
Authors: Lindestad Olle , von Schmalensee Loke , Lehmann Philipp , Gotthard Karl
Published: January 2020

The life cycles of animals vary in relation to local climate, as a result of both direct environmental effects and population‐level variation in plastic responses. Insects often respond to the approach of winter by entering diapause, a hormonally programmed resting state where development is suspended and metabolism suppressed. Populations often differ in the duration of diapause, but the adaptive reasons for this are unclear.

We performed a common‐garden overwintering experiment with respirometric measurements in order to investigate the progression of diapause in the butterfly Pararge aegeria. Both the duration of diapause and the depth of metabolic suppression were shown to vary between populations.

In contrast to previous results from various insects, diapause duration did not correspond to the local length of winter. Instead, the observed pattern was consistent with a scenario in which diapause duration is primarily a product of selection for suppressed metabolism during warm autumn conditions. The relationship between optimal diapause duration and the length of the warm season is complicated by variation in the number of yearly generations (voltinism).

These results shed new light on variation in diapause ecophysiology, and highlight voltinism as an integrated product of selection at multiple points in the seasonal cycle.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Freeze tolerance of poleward‐spreading mangrove species weakened by soil properties of resident salt marsh competitor
Authors: Chen Enjian , Blaze Julie A. , Smith Rachel S. , Peng Shaolin , Byers James E.
Published: January 2020

Increasing temperatures associated with climate change are shifting plant species to higher latitudes. Soil communities could aid the plants’ shift into novel areas by harbouring fewer soil‐borne antagonists or more mutualists that influence the fitness and stress tolerance of the shifting species. Alternatively, they could contain novel antagonists or fewer mutualists. Thus, soil communities could positively or negatively affect plant range expansion, particularly if they influence plants’ responses to climate, such as freeze tolerance, that feedback to affect expansion.

We used the northward range expansion of the black mangrove, Avicennia germinans, into a system dominated by marsh cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora, in northern Florida, USA to study how the novel soil environment (i.e. S. alterniflora soil) affects mangrove fitness, susceptibility to cold stress and the colonization of mutualist fungi. We quantified abundance of root mutualistic fungi in mixed marsh‐mangrove habitat and conducted a laboratory experiment to test effects of steam‐sterilized and live soils from A. germinans and S. alterniflora on the growth, condition, fungal colonization and freeze tolerance of A. germinans seedlings.

In the field, we found two times higher dark septate endophyte (DSE) colonization of A. germinans roots and three times higher fungal spore density in A. germinans soil compared to S. alterniflora roots and soil. In the laboratory experiment, seedlings in steamed S. alterniflora soil treatments had 50%–65% survival after freezing, compared to 0% survival in treatments with live S. alterniflora soil. A. germinans live soil mixed with S. alterniflora steamed soil yielded A. germinans roots with the highest DSE colonization and seedlings with greater shoot biomass and lower root:shoot ratios. S. alterniflora live soil lowered the freeze tolerance of A. germinans, decreased mangrove survival and depressed DSE colonization.

Synthesis. S. alterniflora soil could impede A. germinans establishment in salt marsh communities. As climate warming gradually allows A. germinans to displace S. alterniflora, the rhizosphere could become increasingly hospitable to A. germinans. Our work suggests the soil community associated with resident species mediates climatic stressors to affect expansion success.
The impact of commodity price shocks among regional economies of a developing country
Authors: Valdes Rodrigo , Jara‐Rojas Roberto
Published: January 2020

Volatile commodity prices have become commonplace in the world economy. Although is widely accepted that commodity‐rich countries are affected by this phenomenon, information about how commodity price shocks impacts their regional economies is scarce. This work analyses how shocks in copper prices impact the economies of the major copper‐producing regions in a developing country, such as Chile. To achieve this goal, a two‐step method is implemented. First, we estimate long‐term copper prices using the Wets and Rios approach (2015) and these estimates are then contrasted with those forecast by the Chilean public advisory committee. Second, a general equilibrium model is implemented to simulate the effects of both expansive and restrictive copper price cycles within major producing regions in Chile. Our results show that the proposed approach yields more homogeneous price projections than those made by the Chilean Government, which, in turn, are very close to variations in response to negative shocks. The price simulations confirm that price cycles affect the savings of government and business, which directly dampens regional production, mainly via investment, capital mobilisation and diversification of production. Because of this, fiscal revenues generated by copper sales act as a trade cycle term multiplier in regional economies. Overall, within copper‐producing regions, we suggest implementing long‐term policies to improve profit distribution efficiency.
Genome‐wide identification of neuropeptides and their receptor genes in Bemisia tabaci and their transcript accumulation change in response to temperature stresses
Authors: Li Jiang‐Jie , Shi Yan , Lin Gan‐Lin , Yang Chun‐Hong , Liu Tong‐Xian
Published: January 2020

Insect neuropeptides play an important role in regulating physiological functions such as growth, development, behavior and reproduction. We identified temperature‐sensitive neuropeptides and receptor genes of the cotton whitefly, Bemisia tabaci. We identified 38 neuropeptide precursor genes and 35 neuropeptide receptors and constructed a phylogenetic tree using additional data from other insects. As temperature adaptability enables B. tabaci to colonize a diversity of habitats, we performed quantitative polymerase chain reaction with two temperature stresses (low = 4 °C and high = 40 °C) to screen for temperature‐sensitive neuropeptides. We found many neuropeptides and receptors that may be involved in the temperature adaptability of B. tabaci. This study is the first to identify B. tabaci neuropeptides and their receptors, and it will help to reveal the roles of neuropeptides in temperature adaptation of B. tabaci.
Immune challenge of mating effort: steroid hormone profile, dark ventral patch and parasite burden in relation to intrasexual competition in male Iberian red deer
Authors: DE LA PEÑA Eva , MARTÍN José , BARJA Isabel , PÉREZ‐CABALLERO Raúl , ACOSTA Isabel , CARRANZA Juan
Published: January 2020

Testosterone secretion may regulate the reproductive effort and the development of sexual traits, but it may also involve costs at the immunological and metabolic levels. However, the evidence for this trade‐off in wild populations is scarce. Cortisol also plays an important role in mediating the reproductive and immune functions. In this study, we analyzed whether the endoparasite burden relates to hormonal levels (fecal testosterone and cortisol metabolites) and/or morphological sexual traits (size of the dark ventral patch, a trait that indicates reproductive effort in males) in male Iberian red deer. For this purpose, we sampled male red deer harvested during hunting actions in 2 types of populations in south western Spain that differed in structure, affecting the level of male–male competition for mates. We used coprological analyses to estimate the parasite burden mainly of gastrointestinal and bronchopulmonary nematodes and of protozoa, and assessed testosterone and cortisol metabolite levels from fecal pellets. We found a positive relationship of host parasitation with both testosterone levels and the size of the dark ventral patch, but these relationships depended on the intensity of male–male competition in the population, being only found under the high‐competition scenario. These results are discussed under the hypothesis of the testosterone immunocompetence handicap, suggesting a cost at the immunological level, and, therefore, higher susceptibility to parasite infection in males that make a greater reproductive effort. However, this effect seems to be modulated by the social environment (male–male competition) that might lead to different optima in testosterone production and sexual trait development.
Integrating Large Wood Jams into Hydraulic Models: Evaluating a Porous Plate Modeling Method
Authors: Ventres‐Pake Roby , Nahorniak Matt , Kramer Natalie , O’Neal Jennifer , Abbe Tim
Published: January 2020

Large wood (LW) jams are key riverine habitat features that affect hydraulic processes and aquatic habitat. The hydraulic influence of LW jams is poorly understood due to the complexity of fluid dynamics around irregular, porous structures. Here we validated a method for two‐dimensional hydraulic modeling of porous LW jams using the open‐source modeling software Delft3D‐FLOW. We sampled 19 LW jams at three reaches across the Columbia River Basin in the United States. We used computer‐generated porous plates to represent LW jams in the modeling software and calibrated our modeling method by comparing model outputs to measured depths and velocities at validation points. We found that modeling outputs are error‐prone when LW jams are not represented. By representing LW jams as porous plates we reduced average velocity root mean square error (RMSE) values (i.e., improved model accuracy) by 42.8% and reduced average depth RMSE values by 5.2%. These differences impacted habitat suitability index modeling. We found a 15.1% increase in weighted useable area for juvenile steelhead at one test site when LW jams were simulated vs. when they were ignored. We investigated patterns in average RMSE improvements with varying jam size, bankfull obstruction, porosity, and structure type, and river complexity. We also identified research gaps related to field estimation of LW jam porosity and porous structure modeling methods.
A City Wide Assessment of the Financial Benefits of Rainwater Harvesting in Mexico City
Authors: Concha Larrauri Paulina , Campos Gutierrez Juan Pablo , Lall Upmanu , Ennenbach Mounir
Published: January 2020

We assess the potential financial benefits of rooftop rainwater harvesting (RWH) in Mexico City from the perspective of property owners and entrepreneurs. A bottom‐up approach was followed by evaluating RWH at individual buildings and aggregating the results to a borough/city level. We consider sector‐specific water demands, potable and nonpotable uses, and user‐specific water tariffs. We find that RWH is economically most beneficial for nondomestic users rather than for small domestic users, who are often the target of RWH interventions. Based on a net present value analysis, a potable RWH system is not favored for most domestic users under the current subsidized municipal water tariff structure. Our analysis only considers capital and maintenance expenses, and not other benefits related to increased access to water and reliability, or social benefits from a switch to a RWH system. If the initial capital expense for RWH is partly financed by transferring the water subsidy to an entrepreneur, then RWH becomes financially attractive for a wide range of domestic users. To improve water access in Mexico City, RWH is attractive in the most marginalized boroughs where water use is currently lower and precipitation is higher. For domestic users relying on trucked water, RWH can have great financial benefits. Our approach provides quantitative data with high spatial specificity, highlighting the places and types of users that would benefit most from RWH.
A genome‐wide linkage map for the house sparrow (Passer domesticus) provides insights into the evolutionary history of the avian genome
Authors: Hagen Ingerid J. , Lien Sigbjørn , Billing Anna M. , Elgvin Tore O. , Trier Cassandra , Niskanen Alina K. , Tarka Maja , Slate Jon , Sætre Glenn‐Peter , Jensen Henrik
Published: January 2020

The house sparrow is an important model species for studying physiological, ecological and evolutionary processes in wild populations. Here, we present a medium density, genome wide linkage map for house sparrow (Passer domesticus) that has aided the assembly of the house sparrow reference genome, and that will provide an important resource for ongoing mapping of genes controlling important traits in the ecology and evolution of this species. Using a custom house sparrow 10 K iSelect Illumina SNP chip we have assigned 6,498 SNPs to 29 autosomal linkage groups, based on a mean of 430 informative meioses per SNP. The map was constructed by combining the information from linkage with that of the physical position of SNPs within scaffold sequences in an iterative process. Averaged between the sexes; the linkage map had a total length of 2,004 cM, with a longer map for females (2,240 cM) than males (1,801 cM). Additionally, recombination rates also varied along the chromosomes. Comparison of the linkage map to the reference genomes of zebra finch, collared flycatcher and chicken, showed a chromosome fusion of the two avian chromosomes 8 and 4A in house sparrow. Lastly, information from the linkage map was utilized to conduct analysis of linkage disequilibrium (LD) in eight populations with different effective population sizes (Ne) in order to quantify the background level LD. Together, these results aid the design of future association studies, facilitate the development of new genomic tools and support the body of research that describes the evolution of the avian genome.
Impact of clinicopathologic features on leptomeningeal metastasis from lung adenocarcinoma and treatment efficacy with epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor
Authors: Kwon Byoung Soo , Cho Young Hyun , Yoon Shin‐Kyo , Lee Dae Ho , Kim Sang‐We , Kwon Do Hoon , Lee Jae Cheol , Choi Chang‐Min
Published: January 2020

Background

We investigated the risk factors for leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LMC) and compared clinical efficacies of various treatment modalities including intrathecal (IT) chemotherapy in patients with lung adenocarcinoma harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations.

Methods

Using clinical research data from the Asan Medical Center, we retrospectively analyzed data of patients diagnosed with LMC, confirmed via cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis from January 2008 to December 2017.

Results

We identified 1189 patients with lung adenocarcinoma harboring EGFR mutations. Among these, 9.8% had a median duration of 13.5 (interquartile range [IQR] 6.8–23.6) months from the initial lung cancer diagnosis to LMC occurrence. Younger age (hazard ratio [HR] 1.043, P < 0.001), initial metastatic disease (HR 3.768, P < 0.001), and metastasis to the brain (HR 8.682, P < 0.001) or lung (HR 2.317, P = 0.004) were risk factors associated with LMC. Median survival duration from LMC diagnosis was 3.8 (IQR 1.5–8.6) months. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score ≤ 2 (HR 0.505, P = 0.007) and insertion of Ommaya reservoir (HR 0.445, P = 0.005) were associated with longer survival. EGFR‐tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) conferred survival benefits compared to cytotoxic chemotherapy or best supportive care (HR 2.222, P = 0.018; HR 5.638, P < 0.001, respectively). Although IT chemotherapy showed no survival benefit, it was associated with improved neurologic symptoms and signs and CSF negative conversion.

Conclusions

Younger age, initial diagnosis of metastatic disease, and metastasis to the brain or different lobes were associated with LMC in patients with EGFR‐mutant lung adenocarcinoma. Therapeutic interventions including EGFR‐TKIs, cytotoxic chemotherapy, or Ommaya reservoir, and good performance status were related to favorable survival outcomes.

Key points

Age and disease status were associated with LMC in patients with EGFR‐mutant adenocarcinoma, and EGFR‐TKI, Ommaya reservoir, and good performance status were related to survival benefit.
Native tree regeneration in native tree plantations: understanding the contribution of Araucaria angustifolia to biodiversity conservation in the threatened Atlantic Forest in Argentina
Authors: Medina Micaela , Pérez Flores Magali , Goya Juan Francisco , Campanello Paula Ines , Pinazo Martin Alcides , Ritter Luis Javier , Arturi Marcelo Fabian
Published: January 2020

Deforestation is a global process that has strongly affected the Atlantic Forest in South America, which has been recognised as a threatened biodiversity hotspot. An important proportion of deforested areas were converted to forest plantations. Araucaria angustifolia is a native tree to the Atlantic Forest, which has been largely exploited for wood production and is currently cultivated in commercial plantations. An important question is to what extent such native tree plantations can be managed to reduce biodiversity loss in a highly diverse and vulnerable forest region. We evaluated the effect of stand age, stand basal area, as a measure of stand density, and time since last logging on the density and richness of native tree regeneration in planted araucaria stands that were successively logged over 60 years, as well as the differences between successional groups in the response of plant density to stand variables. We also compared native tree species richness in planted araucaria stands to neighbouring native forest. Species richness was 71 in the planted stands (27 ha sampled) and 82 in native forest (18 ha sampled) which approximate the range of variation in species richness found in the native forests of the study area. The total abundance and species richness of native trees increased with stand age and time since last logging, but ecological groups differed in their response to such variables. Early secondary trees increased in abundance with stand age 3–8 times faster than climax or late secondary trees. Thus, the change in species composition is expected to continue for a long term. The difference in species richness between native forest and planted stands might be mainly explained by the difference in plant density. Therefore, species richness in plantations can contribute to local native tree diversity if practices that increase native tree density are implemented.
Investigation of the inherent left‐right flow balancing of rotary total artificial hearts by means of a resistance box
Authors: Nestler Frank , Timms Daniel L. , Stevens Michael , Bradley Andrew P. , Wilson Stephen J. , Kleinheyer Matthias , Lovell Nigel , Frazier O. H. , Cohn William E.
Published: January 2020

With the incidence of end‐stage heart failure steadily increasing, the need for a practical total artificial heart (TAH) has never been greater. Continuous flow TAHs (CFTAH) are being developed using rotary blood pumps (RBPs), leveraging their small size, mechanical simplicity, and excellent durability. To completely replace the heart with currently available RBPs, two are required; one for providing pulmonary flow and one for providing systemic flow. To prevent hazardous states, it is essential to maintain balance between the pulmonary and systemic circulation at a wide variety of physiologic states. In this study, we investigated factors determining a CFTAH’s inherent ability to balance systemic and pulmonary flow passively, without active management of pump rotational speed. Four different RBPs (ReliantHeart HA5, Thoratec HMII, HeartWare HVAD, and Ventracor VentrAssist) were used in various combinations to construct CFTAHs. Each CFTAH’s ability to autonomously maintain pressures and flows within defined ranges was evaluated in a hybrid mock loop as systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) were changed. The resistance box, a method to quantify the range of vascular resistances that can be safely supported by a CFTAH, was used to compare different CFTAH configurations in an efficient and predictive way. To reduce the need for future in vitro tests and to aid in their analysis, a novel analytical evaluation to predict the resistance box of various CFTAH configurations was also performed. None of the investigated CFTAH configurations fully satisfied the predefined benchmarks for inherent flow balancing, with the VentrAssist (left) and HeartAssist 5 (right) offering the best combination. The extent to which each CFTAH was able to autonomously maintain balance was determined by the pressure sensitivity of each RPB: the sensitivity of outflow to changes in the pressure head. The analytical model showed that by matching left and right pressure sensitivity the inherent balancing performance can be improved. These findings may ultimately lead to a reduced need for manual speed changes or active control systems.
Development and evolution of the tetrapod skull–neck boundary
Authors: Maddin Hillary C. , Piekarski Nadine , Reisz Robert R. , Hanken James
Published: January 2020

The origin and evolution of the vertebrate skull have been topics of intense study for more than two centuries. Whereas early theories of skull origin, such as the influential vertebral theory, have been largely refuted with respect to the anterior (pre‐otic) region of the skull, the posterior (post‐otic) region is known to be derived from the anteriormost paraxial segments, i.e. the somites. Here we review the morphology and development of the occiput in both living and extinct tetrapods, taking into account revised knowledge of skull development by augmenting historical accounts with recent data. When occipital composition is evaluated relative to its position along the neural axis, and specifically to the hypoglossal nerve complex, much of the apparent interspecific variation in the location of the skull–neck boundary stabilizes in a phylogenetically informative way. Based on this criterion, three distinct conditions are identified in (i) frogs, (ii) salamanders and caecilians, and (iii) amniotes. The position of the posteriormost occipital segment relative to the hypoglossal nerve is key to understanding the evolution of the posterior limit of the skull. By using cranial foramina as osteological proxies of the hypoglossal nerve, a survey of fossil taxa reveals the amniote condition to be present at the base of Tetrapoda. This result challenges traditional theories of cranial evolution, which posit translocation of the occiput to a more posterior location in amniotes relative to lissamphibians (frogs, salamanders, caecilians), and instead supports the largely overlooked hypothesis that the reduced occiput in lissamphibians is secondarily derived. Recent advances in our understanding of the genetic basis of axial patterning and its regulation in amniotes support the hypothesis that the lissamphibian occipital form may have arisen as the product of a homeotic shift in segment fate from an amniote‐like condition.