bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ProkSeq for complete analysis of RNA-seq data from prokaryotes
Authors: Mahmud A K M Firoj , Nandi Soumyadeep , Fällman Maria
Published: June 2020

Since its introduction, RNA-seq technology has been used extensively in studies of pathogenic bacteria to identify and quantify differences in gene expression across multiple samples from bacteria exposed to different conditions. With some exceptions, the current tools for assessing gene expression have been designed around the structures of eukaryotic genes. There are a few stand-alone tools designed for prokaryotes, and they require improvement. A well-defined pipeline for prokaryotes that includes all the necessary tools for quality control, determination of differential gene expression, downstream pathway analysis, and normalization of data collected in extreme biological conditions is still lacking. Here we describe ProkSeq, a user-friendly, fully automated RNA-seq data analysis pipeline designed for prokaryotes. ProkSeq provides a wide variety of options for analysing differential expression, normalizing expression data, and visualizing data and results, and it produces publication-quality figures.

Availability and implementation

ProkSeq is implemented in Python and is published under the ISC open source license. The tool and a detailed user manual are hosted at Docker:https://hub.docker.com/repository/docker/snandids/prokseq-v2.1, Anaconda:https://anaconda.org/snandiDS/prokseq; Github:https://github.com/snandiDS/prokseq.
Resolving phenotypic and prognostic differences in interstitial lung disease related to systemic sclerosis by computed tomography-based radiomics
Authors: Schniering J. , Maciukiewicz M. , Gabrys H. S. , Brunner M. , Blüthgen C. , Meier C. , Braga-Lagache S. , Uldry A. , Heller M. , Distler O. , Guckenberger M. , Fretheim H. , Hoffmann-Vold A. , Nakas C. T. , Frauenfelder T. , Tanadini-Lang S. , Maurer B.
Published: June 2020

Radiomic features are quantitative data calculated from routine medical images and have shown great potential for disease phenotyping and risk stratification in cancer. Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), a multi-organ autoimmune disorder, have a similarly poor prognosis (10-year survival of 66%), due to interstitial lung disease (ILD) as the primary cause of death. Here, we present the analysis of 1,355 stable radiomic features extracted from computed tomography scans from 156 SSc-ILD patients, which describe distinct disease phenotypes and show prognostic power in two independent cohorts. We derive and externally validate a first quantitative radiomic risk score, qRISSc that accurately predicts progression-free survival in SSc-ILD and outperforms current clinical stratification measures. Correlation analysis with lung proteomics, histology and gene expression data in a cross-species approach demonstrates that qRISSc reverse translates into mice and captures the fibrotic remodeling process in experimental ILD.
Reductive cleavage of N,N′-di-tert-butylcarbodiimide generates tert-butylcyanamide ligands, (Me3CNCN)−, that bind potassium both end-on and side-on in the same single crystal
Authors: Chung Amanda B. , Ziller Joseph W. , Evans William J.
Published: June 2020

N,N′-Di-tert-butylcarbodiimide, Me3CN=C=NCMe3, undergoes reductive cleavage in the presence of the GdII complex, [K(18-crown-6)2][GdII(NR
2)3] (R = SiMe3), to form a new type of ligand, the tert-butylcyanamide anion, (Me3CNCN)−. This new ligand can bind metals with one or two donor atoms as demonstrated by the isolation of a single crystal containing potassium salts of both end-on and side-on bound tert-butylcyanamide anions, (Me3CNCN)−. The crystal contains [K(18-crown-6)(H2O)][NCNCMe3-kN], in which one (
t
BuNCN)− anion is coordinated end-on to potassium ligated by 18-crown-6 and water, as well as [K(18-crown-6)][η2-NCNCMe3], in which an 18-crown-6 potassium is coordinated side-on to the terminal N—C linkage. This single crystal also contains one equivalent of 1,3-di-tert-butyl urea, (C9H20N2O), which is involved in hydrogen bonding that may stabilize the whole assembly, namely, aqua(tert-butylcyanamidato)(1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaoxacyclooctadecane)potassium(I)–(tert-butylcyanamidato)(1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaoxacyclooctadecane)potassium(I)–N,N′-di-tert-butylcarbodiimide (1/1/1) [K(C5H9N2)(C12H24O6)]·[K(C5H9N2)(C12H24O6)(H2O)]·C9H20N2.
Consequences of post-disaster policies and relocation approaches: two communities from rural China
Authors: Chen Yong , He Lulu , Zhou Dan
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Post-disaster population resettlement is a complicated process, during which the restoration of livelihood and lifestyle plays a critical role in achieving a successful resettlement outcome. This paper attempts to examine how recovery policies and relocation approaches influence people's livelihood recovery and perception of wellbeing. It specifically investigates the role of farmland in producing a livelihood and maintaining a rural lifestyle among displaced people.

Design/methodology/approach

Through face-to-face questionnaire surveys and in-depth interviews with rural residents displaced from their villages after the Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan, China, this study presents both quantitative and qualitative evidence to investigate how post-disaster policies and particularly the availability of farmland influence people's recovery and their satisfaction with the post-resettlement life.

Findings

Data suggest that availability of farmland, in spite of the size, makes big differences in post-disaster recovery because farmland provides resettled people with not only a livelihood to secure basic living but also a guarantee to maintain a rural lifestyle.

Research limitations/implications

More samples are needed for analyzing factors that significantly influence disaster-displaced farmers' recovery and wellbeing post resettlement.

Practical implications

This study can be used as an important reference for making plans for post-disaster recovery and population resettlement programs in other disaster-prone countries across the world.

Originality/value

Land-based relocation is proposed as a desirable approach to addressing challenges of livelihood restoration amongst the resettled population in rural areas of developing countries.
Distributed pool mining and digital inequalities, From cryptocurrency to scientific research
Authors: Kreitem Hanna M. , Ragnedda Massimo
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to look at shifts in internet-related content and services economies, from audience labour economies to Web 2.0 user-generated content, and the emerging model of user computing power utilisation, powered by blockchain technologies. The authors look at and test three models of user computing power utilisation based on distributed computing (Coinhive, Cryptotab and Gridcoin) two of which use cryptocurrency mining through distributed pool mining techniques, while the third is based on distributed computing of calculations for scientific research. The three models promise benefits to their users, which the authors discuss throughout the paper, studying how they interplay with the three levels of the digital divide.

Design/methodology/approach

The goal of this article is twofold as follows: first to discuss how using the mining hype may reduce digital inequalities, and secondly to demonstrate how these services offer a new business model based on value rewarding in exchange for computational power, which would allow more online opportunities for people, and thus reduce digital inequalities. Finally, this contribution discusses and proposes a method for a fair revenue model for content and online service providers that uses user device computing resources or computational power, rather than their data and attention. The method is represented by a model that allows for consensual use of user computing resources in exchange for accessing content and using software tools and services, acting essentially as an alternative online business model.

Findings

Allowing users to convert their devices’ computational power into value, whether through access to services or content or receiving cryptocurrency and payments in return for providing services or content or direct computational powers, contributes to bridging digital divides, even at fairly small levels. Secondly, the advent of blockchain technologies is shifting power relations between end-users and content developers and service providers and is a necessity for the decentralisation of internet and internet services.

Originality/value

The article studies the effect of services that rely on distributed computing and mining on digital inequalities, by looking at three different case studies – Coinhive, Gridcoin and Cryptotab – that promise to provide value in return for using computing resources. The article discusses how these services may reduce digital inequalities by affecting the three levels of the digital divide, namely, access to information and communication technologies (ICTs) (first level), skills and motivations in using ICTs (second level) and capacities in using ICTs to get concrete benefits (third level).
Intrapreneurial behavior, big five personality and individual performance
Authors: Mahmoud Mahmoud Ahmad , Ahmad Shuhymee , Poespowidjojo Donny Abdul Latief
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to extend the prevailing literature on the relationship between personality and individual performance (IP) through the mediation of intrapreneurial behavior (IB). This study, therefore, integrated the traits theory and the psychological entrepreneurship theory to improve the IP of medium enterprise (ME) managers by examining the mediating role of IB on the relationship between big five personality traits five factor model (FFM) and IP.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper used the survey method of data collection, through self-administered questionnaire. Partial least square structural equation modeling method was used to analyze the result of the sample of 355 production/operations managers.

Findings

The result study shows that three big five personality traits (conscientiousness, disagreeableness and emotional stability) have a direct relationship with IB. However, IB positively mediates the relationship between conscientiousness, disagreeableness and emotional stability on IP of production/operation managers.

Practical implications

The result implies that positive relationship between personality traits (conscientiousness, disagreeableness and emotional stability) and work performance will manifest better, only when the IB is encouraged among managers.

Originality/value

To the best knowledge of the authors, this paper is the first to examine the mediating effect of individual IB on FFM – IP relationship. Studies on IB were also limited especially in developing countries, Africa and specifically Nigeria. As such, individual IB requires the attention of researchers and managers in MEs against the assumption that entrepreneurial orientation is a firm-level activity only.
The effect of experience quality on customer perceived value and customer satisfaction and its impact on customer loyalty
Authors: Kusumawati Andriani , Rahayu Karisma Sri
Published: June 2020

Purpose

To test the effect of experience quality on customer perceived value and customer satisfaction and its impact on customer loyalty to the visitors of natural nuanced outdoor cafés in the hilly areas of Joyo Agung, Malang.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses four variables, namely experience quality, customer perceived value, customer satisfaction, and customer loyalty. The population used in this research was all customers or visitors who buy and enjoy the products and services provided by the natural outdoor cafés in Malang. This study used structural equation modeling (SEM) as inferential statistical technique.

Findings

1) Quality experience has a significant effect on customer perceived value, customer satisfaction, and customer loyalty; 2) customer perceived value has a significant effect on customer satisfaction and customer loyalty; and 3) customer satisfaction has a significant effect on customer loyalty.

Originality/value

Based on the results of previous research and the phenomenon that has been described previously, the research gaps found in this study are: (1) the relationship between experience quality and customers’ perceived values. (2) There are differences in the relationship between experience quality and customer satisfaction found in the research, which examines the effect of experience quality on customer loyalty. (3) Experience quality and customer loyalty variables still differ in the research concerning the effect of experience quality on customer loyalty. (4) The influence of customer satisfaction and customer loyalty is still different in the research results regarding the effect of customer satisfaction on customer loyalty.
Monkey and the mandate of heaven: rethinking the social construction of nature in ecotourism
Authors: Cui Qingming , Xu Honggang
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Scientific knowledge is usually regarded as the basis for the management of natural environment and wildlife in ecotourism. However, recently, social construction approaches challenge the domination of natural science. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of the social construction paradigm in ecotourism management, through conducting a content analysis of social media comments on an accident caused by a monkey in a Chinese ecotourism area. The results show that people commented on the accident from five aspects. First, the public expressed their compassion and mourning for the deceased. Second, people thought that the death was casual and absurd, yet life is full of uncertainty and people should cherish the present. Third, people commented much on the deceased tourist’s company, which is a famous sugar brand well entrenched in many Chinese people’s childhood memories. Fourth, people constructed the monkey as Monkey King, Golden Monkey (another famous sugar brand in China) and as a criminal. Fifth, people also gave their opinions about possible causes of the accident, namely, it was caused by “the mandate of heaven,” company competition, conspiracies or poor management. This study only seriously considers the comments about the mandate of heaven. This explanation is consistent with the Chinese traditional construction of nature as “heaven,” which is believed to dominate the natural and human worlds. Most people, including the managers, accepted the accident and did not explore further about the reasons for the accident. In this case, such a social construction of nature does not aid effective ecotourism management.
New Parties: Game Changers or ‘Much Ado About Nothing'?
Authors: Bischoff Carina Saxlund
Published: June 2020

This article is about the new parties that competed at the Danish parliamentary election of 2019. It addresses three key questions: why did they emerge, what types of parties were they and what impact did they have on Danish party politics. We can identify the causes for their emergence and participation in interplay of relatively lenient rules for party registration, personal ambition, recent events – particularly the Syrian crisis and arrival of refugees – as well as anti‐establishment sentiments on the political right. The three new parties shared salient characteristics: they had dominant leaders, were genuinely new, had extraparliamentary origins and were independent of societal organizations. In terms of effects on the party system, the main impact was during the campaign where the strongly anti‐immigration agenda proposed by two of the parties dominated the conversation and appeared to cause some movement by established parties in a more immigrant friendly direction. Only one of the far right parties won seats in parliament and its prospects of wielding influence on policy with a Socialdemocratic government are slim.
“Involved in something (involucrado en algo)”: Denial and stigmatization in Mexico’s “war on drugs”
Authors: Moon Claire , Treviño‐Rangel Javier
Published: June 2020

This article responds empirically to the question posed by Stan Cohen about “why, when faced by knowledge of others’ suffering and pain—particularly the suffering and pain resulting from what are called ‘human rights violations’—does ‘reaction’ so often take the form of denial, avoidance, passivity, indifference, rationalisation or collusion?”. Our context is Mexico's “war on drugs.” Since 2006 this “war” has claimed the lives of around 240,000 Mexican citizens and disappeared around 60,000 others. Perpetrators include organized criminal gangs and state security services. Violence is pervasive and widely reported. Most people are at risk. Our study is based on qualitative interviews and focus groups involving 68 “ordinary Mexicans” living in five different Mexican cities which have varying levels of violence. It investigates participant proximity to the victims and the psychological defense mechanisms they deploy to cope with proximity to the violence. We found that 62 of our participants knew, directly or indirectly, one or more people who had been affected. We also found one dominant rationalization (defense mechanism) for the violence: that the victims were “involved in something” (drugs or organized crime) and therefore “deserved their fate.” This echoes prevailing state discourses about the violence. We argue that the discourse of “involved” is a discourse of denial that plays three prominent roles in a highly violent society in which almost no‐one is immune: it masks state violence, stigmatizes the victims, and sanctions bystander passivity. As such, we show how official and individual denial converge, live, and reproduce, and play a powerful role in the perpetuation of violence.
The effects of tannin extract and linseed oil on yield, physicochemical characteristics and fatty acid profile of ewe milk
Authors: Valizadeh Yonjalli Roghayeh , Mirzaei Aghjehgheshlagh Farzad , Mahdavi Ali , Navidshad Bahman , Staji Hamid
Published: June 2020

Dietary intervention is a well‐recognised approach to modifying milk yield and physicochemical characteristics. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of supplementing ewes’ diet with tannin and/or linseed oil on the physicochemical characteristics and fatty acid profile of milk, as well as the antioxidant status of dairy ewes. The study involved 36 3‐year‐old lactating Moghani sheep randomly assigned to six treatment groups. Results demonstrated that tannin extract and linseed oil changed the fatty acid content of milk. In particular, unsaturated fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid were increased by the treatments (P < 0.05). Generally, groups receiving tannin extracts and/or oil showed higher concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids in their milk, especially polyunsaturated fatty acids including C18:3n3, C20:2, C20:3n3, C20:4n6, CLA cis‐9 trans‐11, CLA trans‐10 cis‐12, C22:2 and total unsaturated fatty acids.
Degrees of influence: Educational inequality in policy representation
Authors: SCHAKEL WOUTER , VAN DER PAS DAPHNE
Published: June 2020

Education plays an important role in the political, social and economic divisions that have recently characterised Western Europe. Despite the many analyses of education and its political consequences, however, previous research has not investigated whether government policy caters more to the preferences of the higher educated than to the preferences of the lower educated. We address this question using an original dataset of public opinion and government policy in the Netherlands. This data reveals that policy representation is starkly unequal. The association between support for policy change and actual change is much stronger for highly educated citizens than for low and middle educated citizens, and only the highly educated appear to have any independent influence on policy. This inequality extends to the economic and cultural dimensions of political competition. Our findings have major implications for the educational divide in Western Europe, as they reflect both a consequence and cause of this divide.
Comparison of albumin dialysis devices molecular adsorbent recirculating system and ADVanced Organ Support system in critically ill patients with liver failure—A retrospective analysis
Authors: Falkensteiner Christoph , Kortgen Andreas , Leonhardt Julia , Bauer Michael , Sponholz Christoph
Published: June 2020

Extracorporeal albumin dialysis (ECAD) represents a supplemental therapy for patients with liver failure. Most experience was gained with the molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS). However, the ADVanced Organ Support (ADVOS) system was recently introduced. This study aims to compare effects of MARS and ADVOS on biochemical and clinical parameters in critically ill patients with liver failure using a retrospective analysis of ECAD at Jena University Hospital. Laboratory parameters, health scoring values, and need for transfusion were recorded before and after treatment. Generalized estimating equations were used to account for repeated measurements of multiple ECAD cycles per patient. Between 2012 and 2017, n = 75 MARS and n = 58 ADVOS cycles were evaluated. Although ADVOS runs significantly longer, both devices provided comparable reduction rates of bilirubin (MARS: −48 [−80.5 to −18.5] μmol/L vs ADVOS: −35 [−87.8 to −2.0] μmol/L, P = .194), a surrogate for detoxification capacity, while urea and lactate levels were more significantly lowered by the ADVOS system. In cycles with similar treatment times, both systems provided comparable reduction rates for bilirubin, renal replacement, coagulation, and metabolic parameters. Citrate was the preferred anticoagulant in case of bleeding. Neither bleeding tendency nor fibrinogen levels or platelets were altered by the type of anticoagulation. No adverse events were reported, but two sessions (one MARS and one ADVOS) were terminated early due to filter clotting. Experience is needed in the application of ADVOS and more prospective trials comparing the detoxification capacity of ECAD devices are needed to support and enlarge the findings of the current evaluation.
Upregulation of lncRNA ZFAS1 promotes lung adenocarcinoma progression by sponging miR‐1271‐5p and upregulating FRS2
Authors: Fan Gang , Jiao Jin , Shen Feng , Chu Fulu
Published: June 2020

Background

Nowadays, the important roles of long non‐coding RNAs (LncRNAs) in lung adenocarcinoma (LAD) is being increasingly recognized. The purpose of this study was to explore the regulatory mechanism of lncRNA ZFAS1 in LAD.

Methods

The expression and function of lncRNA ZFAS1 were assessed by RT‐qPCR, CCK‐8, transwell and dual luciferase reporter assays.

Results

Upregulation of lncRNA ZFAS1 was found in LAD tissues and cells. Knockdown of lncRNA ZFAS1 restrained cell proliferation, migration and invasion in LAD cells. In addition, we determined that lncRNA ZFAS1 could directly bind to miR‐1271‐5p. MiR‐1271‐5p functioned as a tumor suppressor in LAD, and lncRNA ZFAS1 promoted LAD development by downregulating miR‐1271‐5p. Furthermore, FRS2 was a direct target of miR‐1271‐5p. FRS2 promoted progression of LAD by mediating lncRNA ZFAS1/miR‐1271‐5p axis.

Conclusions

LncRNA ZFAS1 promotes cell proliferation, migration and invasion in LAD by downregulating miR‐1271‐5p or upregulating FRS2.
The sociocultural movement in psychology, the role of theories in sociocultural inquiries, and the theory of sociocultural models
Authors: Chirkov Valery
Published: June 2020

This special issue presents the theory of sociocultural models (TSCM) and its applications in diverse areas of psychology, including education, health care, clinical practice, gender relations, and general research. As many theories already exist in the social sciences, some readers may ask: “Why do cross‐cultural, cultural, and indigenous psychologists need another theory?” This question is comprised of two aspects:culture/culturalandtheory/theoretical.Therefore, to answer it, it is important to clarify both issues. The first relates toculturaland its relation topsychological.The second,theory,considers its relation toculturalandpsychological.These issues have long‐range implications for all culture and psychology disciplines as they pose many questions: What role does culture play in the mental functioning of people? How is culture constituted? Is cultural related to social? Does people’s mental functioning exert reciprocal influences on their cultural and social functioning? While working toward answering these questions, researchers quickly determine that more questions arise: What role should theories play in answering these questions? What constitutes theory in culture and psychology disciplines? How should such a theory (or such theories) address the triad of cultural, social, and mental? Consequently, in an effort to provide an overview of the TSCM and to begin to answer these questions, this introduction consists of two parts. The first part addresses the sociocultural turn in modern psychology; this part discusses its implications for research in culture and psychology disciplines. The second segment examines the topic of the theoretical backgrounds of cultural and cross‐cultural research and connects the philosophical paradigms of interpretivism and realism with the theory of sociocultural models. This introduction concludes with a brief overview of the articles included in this issue.
Pre‐operative and intra‐operative chemical thromboprophylaxis increases bleeding risk following elective cholecystectomy: a multicentre (PROTECTinG) study
Authors: Liu David S. , Stevens Sean , Wong Enoch , Fong Jonathan , Mori Krinal , Ward Salena , Lee Sharon , Howard Tess , Jain Anshini , Gill Anna S. , Beh Pith S. , Slevin Maeve , Jamel Wael , Fleming Nicola , Bennet Simon , Chung Chi , Crowe Amy , Muralidharan Vijayaragavan ,   the VERITAS Collaborative
Published: June 2020

Background

Cholecystectomy is commonly performed in general surgery. Despite guidelines recommending chemical thromboprophylaxis in the perioperative period, the most appropriate time for its initiation is unknown. Here, we investigated whether timing of chemoprophylaxis affected venous thromboembolism (VTE) and bleeding rates post‐cholecystectomy.

Methods

Retrospective review of all elective cholecystectomies performed between 1 January 2018 and 30 June 2019, across seven Victorian hospitals. Clinical VTE was defined as imaging‐proven symptomatic disease within 30 days of surgery. Major bleeding was defined as the need for blood transfusion, surgical intervention or >20 g/L fall in haemoglobin from baseline.

Results

A total of 1744 cases were reviewed. Chemoprophylaxis was given early (pre‐ or intra‐operatively), post‐operatively or not given in 847 (48.6%), 573 (32.9%) and 324 (18.6%) patients, respectively. This varied significantly between surgeons, fellows, trainees and institutions. Clinical VTE occurred in 5 (0.3%) patients and was not associated with chemoprophylaxis timing. Bleeding occurred in 42 (2.4%) patients. Of this, half were major events, requiring surgical control in 5 (11.9%) patients and blood transfusion in 9 (21.4%) patients. Bleeding also extended length of stay (mean (SD), 3.1 (4.0) versus 1.4 (2.2) days, P < 0.001). One bleeding‐related mortality was recorded. Importantly, when compared with post‐operative (risk ratio 1.46, 95% confidence interval 1.21–1.62) and no (RR 1.23, 95% CI 1.03–1.35) chemoprophylaxis, early usage significantly increased bleeding risk and independently predicted its occurrence.

Conclusions

Perioperative chemoprophylaxis is variable among patients undergoing elective cholecystectomy. The rate of clinical VTE post‐cholecystectomy is low. Early chemoprophylaxis increases bleeding risk without an appreciable additional protection from VTE.
Patterns of social reporting from an Islamic framework and the moral legitimacy factors that influence them
Authors: Che Azmi Anna , Non Normawati , Aziz Norazlin
Published: June 2020

The objective of this study is twofold: to examine the patterns that govern social reporting with reference to an Islamic framework and to identify the moral legitimacy factors that influence them. We select 146 publicly listed Sharia‐compliant companies and classify the disclosures in their annual reports according to an Islamic framework that categorises items as either Required, Expected or Desired to indicate the degree of importance each item carries from an Islamic perspective. Based on this framework, we then analyse moral legitimacy factors, specifically the type of Sharia screening body and the proportion of Muslims in the population, that may influence the prioritisation of the different categories of social reporting. We find that disclosures that fall into the Required category of our framework—especially those that relate to companies’ involvement in “haram” activities (activities not permissible in Islam)—are still few among the companies studied. Our research also reveals that both moral legitimacy factors under investigation influence the three categories of social reporting, although in different ways. This research contributes to the existing literature by empirically examining how organisations prioritise their disclosure of virtues and the moral legitimacy factors that influence that prioritisation.
Complement activation in patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura according to phases of disease course
Authors: Castelli R , Lambertenghi Delilliers G , Gidaro A , Cicardi M , Bergamaschini L
Published: June 2020

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune thrombocytopenia with shortened platelet survival and relative bone marrow failure. The pathogenesis involves antibody production, cytokine release, T cell impairment, complement activation and clearance of platelets. We measured plasma levels of C3, C4, C1q and sC5b-9 in 80 ITP patients in acute phase, 50 ITP patients in complete (CR) or partial (PR) remission and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. Statistical analyses showed that acute ITP patients had higher plasma levels of sC5b-9 and C1q than CR or PR patients (median = sC5b-9: 200 versus 98 mg/dl, P-value < 0·001) (median C1q = 2·11 versus 1·00 mg/dl, P-value < 0·001). CR and PR ITP patients had sC5b-9 and C1q plasma levels comparable to those observed in healthy volunteers. There was a significant correlation between sC5b-9 and C1q plasma levels (Spearman's rho correlation index on 130 ITP patients equal to 0·58, P-value < 0·001). We also found that sC5b-9 plasma level is inversely correlated with the number of platelets. Furthermore, we divided acute ITP patients into subjects with detectable (24 of 80, 30%) or undetectable (56 of 80, 70%) anti-platelet antibodies; patients with detectable anti-platelet antibodies have significantly higher plasma levels of C1q and sC5b-9. This research will potentially offer novel therapeutic strategies in light of new drugs affecting complement activation for monitoring therapy response.
Feature selection inspired by human intelligence for improving classification accuracy of cancer types
Authors: Shukla Alok Kumar
Published: June 2020

Feature selection is an essential task to predict clinical risk and biomarkers from the gene expression data. For practical matters, to choose the significant genes, researchers have been addressed several classical feature selection problems over the past decades for subsequent classification of genomics datasets with large ambient dimensionality but a small number of observations. To overcome high dimensionality and overfitting issues, in this paper, we developed a new gene selection technique by combination of minimum redundancy maximum relevance (mRMR) and teaching learning‐based optimization for accurate cancer prediction. Firstly, in the proposed approach, mRMR is applied to find the most discriminative genes from the original feature sets, and then a precise teaching learning‐based optimization with opposition‐based learning approach further refines the reduced feature set that can contribute to identifying the type of cancers. In addition, a new activation function is also investigated for effective gene selection, which is applied to convert continuous to binary search space. Support vector machine (SVM) is used as a fitness function in the proposed method to select relevant features that can help to estimate the predictive accuracy and classify cancer accurately. Attempts have made to increase the performance of SVM classifier by tuning penalty factor, kernel parameter, and tube size parameter with the help of proposed method. In order to testify computational efficiency of proposed algorithm, we have collected six gene expression datasets. Experimental results demonstrated that proposed method by utilizing SVM with Radial Basis Function kernel function is able to significantly reduce the irrelevant genes and outperform the conventional wrapper methods in terms of accuracy and model interpretation.
Grey wolf optimizer for optimal sizing of hybrid wind and solar renewable energy system
Authors: Geleta Diriba Kajela , Manshahia Mukhdeep Singh , Vasant Pandian , Banik Anirban
Published: June 2020

By taking facts such as oil depletion, increasing number of population and energy demand into account, alternative electric generation scheme called renewable energy has entered into a new phase. These new energy sources are environmentally clean, exhaustible and friendly with affordable cost, and high reliability. Nowadays, energy generators such as photovoltaic (PV), wind turbine (WT), and geothermal energies are among the commonly used renewable sources. In this article, grey wolf optimization (GWO) methodology is proposed for minimizing the total annual cost of hybrid of wind and solar renewable energy system. Here, determining the optimal number of solar panels, WTs, and batteries which can satisfy the desired load is the main objective of this research. The obtained result shows that the proposed methodology finds optimal solution of sizing of the hybrid system with relatively lower total annual cost and fast convergence rate. To check whether the obtained result was feasible, GWO results are compared with the results of PSO, iteration method and by the work of other scholars in literature. Here the superior capabilities of GWO algorithm have been seen. It is hoped that this research would be beneficial and can be benchmark for researchers of the field.
Historical demography and climate driven distributional changes in a widespread Neotropical freshwater species with high economic importance
Authors: Oliveira E. A. , Perez M. F. , Bertollo L. A. C. , Gestich C. C. , Ráb P. , Ezaz T. , Souza F. H. S. , Viana P. , Feldberg E. , Oliveira E. H. C. , Cioffi M. B.
Published: June 2020

The Neotropical region exhibits the greatest worldwide diversity and the diversification history of several clades is related to the puzzling geomorphologic and climatic history of this region. The freshwater Amazon ecoregion contains the main hydrographic basins of the Neotropical region that are highly dendritic and ecologically diverse. It contains a rich and endemic fish fauna, including one of its most iconic and economically important representatives, the bony‐tongue Arapaima gigas (Teleostei, Osteoglossiformes). Here, we evaluated the projected distribution of the genus in different historical periods (Present, Last Glacial Maximum, Last Interglacial Maximum and Near Future) and interpreted these results in light of the genomic diversity and modeled historical demography. For that, we combined species distribution models, population genetic analysis using SNPs and deep learning model selection. We analyzed a representative sample of the genus from the two basins where it naturally occurs, four localities in the Amazon (Am) and three in the Tocantins‐Araguaia (To‐Ar) basin, as well as individuals from three fish farms. We inferred a potentially smaller distribution in the glacial period, with a possible refuge in central Am. Our genetic data agrees with this result, suggesting a higher level of genetic diversity in the Am basin, compared to that observed in To‐Ar. Our deep learning model comparison indicated that the To‐Ar basin was colonized by the population from the Am basin. Considering a global warming scenario in the near future, A. gigas could reach an even larger range, especially if anthropogenic related dispersal occurs, potentially invading new areas and impacting their communities.
Dysphagia, dysarthria and aphasia following a first acute ischaemic stroke: incidence and associated factors
Authors: De Cock E. , Batens K. , Hemelsoet D. , Boon P. , Oostra K. , De Herdt V.
Published: June 2020

Background and purpose

Dysphagia, dysarthria and aphasia are common symptoms following acute stroke; however, limited data are available from recent prospective clinical trials. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and associated factors of dysphagia, dysarthria and aphasia following a first acute ischaemic stroke in patients admitted to a comprehensive stroke center.

Methods

All first ischaemic stroke patients admitted to the Stroke Unit of Ghent University Hospital within 48 h after symptom onset were enrolled in this prospective study between March 2018 and October 2019. Dysphagia and communication screenings were performed within 3 days after admission. When dysphagia, dysarthria and/or aphasia were assumed, standardized assessments were performed. Incidence rates were calculated as point estimates (%) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Associated factors were calculated via multivariate binary logistic regression analyses.

Results

Dysphagia, dysarthria and aphasia were present in 23% (95% CI, 17–31), 44% (95% CI, 37–52) and 23% (95% CI, 17–30), respectively of 151 first ischaemic stroke patients [67 female, mean age 67 (SD 14) years]. Separate multivariate binary logistic regression analyses showed that dysphagia, dysarthria and aphasia were significantly associated with age‐adjusted stroke severity at baseline [odds ratio (OR), 1.16; 95% CI, 1.09–1.23; OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.07–1.20 and OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.05–1.17 respectively]. Corrected for stroke severity, the risk for aphasia increased by 4% per year of age (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.00–1.07). Adjusted for age and stroke severity, aphasia was significantly associated with large artery atherosclerosis as stroke etiology (OR, 3.91; 95% CI, 1.18–12.98).

Conclusions

This trial showed a high incidence of dysphagia, dysarthria and aphasia following acute ischaemic stroke. Stroke severity was an associated factor for all three symptoms.
Fatal post‐anaesthetic pulmonary haemorrhage in a horse suffering from chronic‐active exercise‐induced pulmonary haemorrhage
Authors: Boustead K. J. , Steyl J. , Joubert K.
Published: June 2020

A 17‐year‐old Thoroughbred gelding was admitted for arthroscopic examination and lavage of the right tarso‐crural joint under general anaesthesia. Based on preanaesthetic examination, the patient was considered clinically healthy. No complications were experienced during induction and maintenance of anaesthesia. During the recovery period, the patient experienced acute pulmonary haemorrhage resulting in death. Post‐mortem examination revealed macroscopic and histopathological lesions indicative of exercise‐induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) with associated acute rupture of the pulmonary vessels (primarily venous). The cause of acute pulmonary blood vessel rupture in this case was speculated to be a result of increased transmural pressures in weakened blood vessels. Partial airway obstruction, catecholamine release, hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, the use of the alpha‐2 adrenoreceptor agonists, fluid overload and blunt trauma may have led to the increase in pulmonary blood vessel transmural pressures. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first description of acute pulmonary haemorrhage in the peri‐anaesthetic period in a horse with underlying EIPH. In addition to describing the case, this case report also looks at anaesthetic management options in horses with known EIPH.
Developing L2 productive language skills online and the strategic use of instructional tools
Authors: Payne J. Scott
Published: June 2020

Sequencing language production activities based on the inherent cognitive load of each activity type can improve student performance and self‐efficacy on high cognitive load language tasks like conversational speech (either face‐to‐face or via video chat). This ordering according to cognitive difficulty can scaffold learners in their development of second language (L2) productive skills. This article provides a research‐based rationale for this approach and includes several practical suggestions for how to design a rigorous and engaging online language course.
Atlantic salmon smolts in the Irish Sea: First evidence of a northerly migration trajectory
Authors: Barry James , Kennedy Richard J. , Rosell Robert , Roche William K.
Published: June 2020

Results from an acoustic telemetry study revealed for the first time a northerly migration route for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) smolts leaving the east coast of Ireland. Atlantic salmon smolts were tagged in spring 2019 in the Castletown and Boyne rivers. Three tagged smolts registered on disparate deep‐water offshore marine receivers as they travelled northwards out of the Irish Sea through the North Channel. One fish had migrated an estimated 250 km in a period of 32 days. The remaining two individuals were detected on receivers located off the Northern Ireland coast, further corroborating the northward migration of salmon smolts through the Irish Sea.
It’s time to stop pretending burning forest biomass is carbon neutral
Authors: Booth Mary S. , Mackey Brendan , Young Virginia
Published: June 2020

Schulze et al. (GCB Bioenergy, 2020, 12, 186–197) argue against putting forests into conservation, alleging that managing forests, including for bioenergy, produces more climate mitigation than letting them grow. However, this conclusion is based on not counting emissions from burning biomass, and other carbon accounting sleight of hand. This is a letter regarding https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12672
Wealth, water and wildlife: Landscape aridity intensifies the urban luxury effect
Authors: Chamberlain Dan , Reynolds Chevonne , Amar Arjun , Henry Dominic , Caprio Enrico , Batáry Péter
Published: June 2020

Aim

Urban biodiversity, and its associated ecosystem services, is an important component of the quality of life of urban residents. The "luxury effect" posits a positive association between biodiversity and socioeconomic status in urban areas, and is thus reflective of environmental injustice, as the benefits associated with biodiversity are not equitably shared across society. We aimed to determine the generality of the luxury effect, and to identify the factors causing its variation across published studies.

Location

Urbanized landscapes globally.

Time period

Current.

Major taxa studied

Terrestrial animals and plants.

Methods

We tested the luxury effect across a sample of 337 estimates of the relationship between biodiversity measures and socioeconomic status from 96 studies via a meta‐analysis, addressing three hypotheses: (a) the luxury effect is more pronounced where water availability is limited, (b) the luxury effect is more pronounced in developing than developed countries, (c) the luxury effect is stronger in exotic compared to native species.

Results

There was a significant overall luxury effect: there was a positive association between terrestrial biodiversity measures and socioeconomic status. The strength of the luxury effect was greater in arid areas. There was limited support for a stronger luxury effect in exotic species, but no support for any association with development status.

Main conclusions

Many key and emerging climate impacts are concentrated in urban areas. Therefore, the degree of environmental injustice represented by the luxury effect may be amplified in the future, especially in arid regions. The objective to increase urban biodiversity through more equitable management and provision of water resources could form part of a wider strategy for sustainable development of cities to promote environmental justice, enhancing the quality of life of urban residents across all sectors of society. Challenges remain to ensure that any such strategy prioritizes conservation goals for native biodiversity.
Towards more inclusive smart cities: Reconciling the divergent realities of data and discourse at the margins
Authors: Lee Jane Yeonjae , Woods Orlando , Kong Lily
Published: June 2020

In this article, we survey a growing body of literature within geography and other intersecting fields that trains attention on what inclusive smart cities are, or what they could be. In doing so, we build on debates around smart citizens, smart public participation, and grassroots and bottom‐up smart cities that are concerned with making smart cities more inclusive. The growing critical scholarship on such discourses, however, alerts us to the knowledge politics that are involved in, and the urban inequalities that are deeply rooted within, the urban. Technological interventions contribute to these politics and inequalities in various ways. Accordingly, we discuss limitations of the current discourses around inclusive smart cities and suggest a need for a nuanced definition of ‘inclusiveness’. We also discuss the necessity to further engage with critical data studies in order to ‘know’ what we are critiquing.
Unreported world: A critical analysis of UK newspaper coverage of post‐disaster events
Authors: Porter James J. , Evans Grace
Published: June 2020

This paper assesses the extent to which a disparity exists in post‐disaster reporting of global North and global South events in UK newspapers, how that disparity manifests itself, and the consequences of that disparity. A critical discourse analysis was used involving a documentary analysis of UK national newspaper articles published on two disasters, Hurricane Harvey in the USA and the South Asian monsoon, in 2017. A reporting bias was found in favour of the number of articles published, the length of those articles, and duration of coverage for the global North disaster. Language used and imagery evoked also differed considerably. Whereas UK media coverage of the global North focused on shared cultural, economic and political values, coverage of the global South emphasised difference, reinforcing an “us” and “them” mentality based on the poor alignment of national/political interests. Such disparities are deeply problematic for informing the public about global matters of concern, creating empathy between nations, and building support for collective action.