bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bacillus subtilisspore induces efficient generation of memory T cells via ICAM-1 expression on dendritic cells
Authors: Huang Lulu , Lin Jian , Li Yuchen , Zhang Penghao , Yu Qinghua , Yang Qian
Published: January 2020

The intestinal mucosa is the primary exposure and entry site of infectious organisms. Tissue-resident memory T cells (Trms) is an important first line of defense against infection in mucosal tissues, their function in intestinal immunization remains to be investigated. Here, we reported that the levels of local mucosal and systemic immune responses were enhanced through oral immunization with H9N2 whole inactivated virus (H9N2 WIV) plus spore. Subsequently, H9N2 WIV plus spore led to the generation of CD103+CD69+Trms, which was independent of circulating T cells during the immune period. Meanwhile, we also found thatBacillus subtilisspore can stimulate Acrp30 expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Moreover, adipocyte supernatant or spore also upregulated intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression on dendritic cells (DCs) (P<0.01). Furthermore, the proportion of HA-tetramer+cells was severely curtailed when ICAM-1 expression was suppressed, which was also dependent on HA-loaded DCs. Taken together, our data demonstrated that spore promoted the immune response by stimulating Trms, which were associated with activation of ICAM-1 in DCs.

Author summary

Taken together, Bacillus subtilis spore combined with H9N2 WIV enhanced the mucosal antibody response and induced efficient intestinal-resident memory T cells. Then we demonstrated that spore can induce memory T cell formation through an ICAM-1-mediated contact of a dendritic cell (DC)-derived mechanism. Further, our findings indicated that Acrp30 from adipocytes induced by spore might increase ICAM-1 expression on DCs, which might provide new insight into the significance of adipocyte metabolism related molecules in regulating immunological memory T cells.
Acetylcholine prioritises direct synaptic inputs from entorhinal cortex to CA1 by differential modulation of feedforward inhibitory circuits
Authors: Palacios-Filardo Jon , Udakis Matt , Brown Giles A. , Tehan Benjamin G. , Congreve Miles S. , Nathan Pradeep J. , Brown Alastair J.H. , Mellor Jack R.
Published: January 2020

Acetylcholine release in the hippocampus plays a central role in the formation of new memory representations by facilitating synaptic plasticity. It is also proposed that memory formation requires acetylcholine to enhance responses in CA1 to new sensory information from entorhinal cortex whilst depressing inputs from previously encoded representations in CA3, but this influential theory has not been directly tested. Here, we show that excitatory inputs from entorhinal cortex and CA3 are depressed equally by synaptic release of acetylcholine in CA1. However, greater depression of feedforward inhibition from entorhinal cortex results in an overall enhancement of excitatory-inhibitory balance and CA1 activation. Underpinning the prioritisation of entorhinal inputs, entorhinal and CA3 pathways engage distinct feedforward interneuron subpopulations and depression is mediated differentially by presynaptic muscarinic M3and M4receptors respectively. These mechanisms enable acetylcholine to prioritise novel information inputs to CA1 during memory formation and suggest selective muscarinic targets for therapeutic intervention.
Analyzing kinetic signaling data for G-protein-coupled receptors
Authors: Hoare Sam R.J. , Tewson Paul H. , Quinn Anne Marie , Hughes Thomas E. , Bridge Lloyd J.
Published: January 2020

In classical pharmacology, bioassay data are fit to general equations (e.g. the dose response equation) to determine empirical drug parameters (e.g. EC50and Emax), which are then used to calculate chemical parameters such as affinity and efficacy. Here we used a similar approach for kinetic, time course signaling data, to allow empirical and chemical definition of signaling by G-protein-coupled receptors in kinetic terms. Experimental data are analyzed using general time course equations (model-free approach) and mechanistic model equations (mechanistic approach) in the commonly-used curve-fitting program, GraphPad Prism. A literature survey indicated signaling time course data usually conform to one of four curve shapes: the straight line, association exponential curve, rise-and-fall to zero curve, and rise-and-fall to steady-state curve. In the model-free approach, the initial rate of signaling is quantified and this is done by curve-fitting to the whole time course, avoiding the need to select the linear part of the curve. It is shown that the four shapes are consistent with a mechanistic model of signaling, based on enzyme kinetics, with the shape defined by the regulation of signaling mechanisms (e.g. receptor desensitization, signal degradation). Signaling efficacy is the initial rate of signaling by agonist-occupied receptor (kτ), simply the rate of signal generation before it becomes affected by regulation mechanisms, measurable using the model-free analysis. Regulation of signaling parameters such as the receptor desensitization rate can be estimated if the mechanism is known. This study extends the empirical and mechanistic approach used in classical pharmacology to kinetic signaling data, facilitating optimization of new therapeutics in kinetic terms.
Short and long-run impacts of climate change on agriculture: an empirical evidence from China
Authors: Chandio Abbas Ali , Jiang Yuansheng , Rehman Abdul , Rauf Abdul
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The climate change effects on agricultural output in different regions of the world and have been debated in the literature of emerging economies. Recently, the agriculture sector has influenced globally through climate change and also hurts all sectors of economies. This study aims to examine and explore the impact of global climate change on agricultural output in China over the period of 1982-2014.

Design/methodology/approach

Different unit root tests including augmented Dickey–Fuller, Phillips–Perron and Kwiatkowski, Phillips, Schmidt and Shin are used to check the order of integration among the study variables. The autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach to cointegration and the Johansen cointegration test are applied to assess the association among the study variables with the evidence of long-run and short-run analysis.

Findings

Unit root test estimations confirm that all variables are stationary at the combination of I(0) and I(1). The results show that CO2emissions have a significant effect on agricultural output in both long-run and short-run analyses, while temperature and rainfall have a negative effect on agricultural output in the long-run. Among other determinants, the land area under cereal crops, fertilizer consumption, and energy consumption have a positive and significant association with agricultural output in both long-run and short-run analysis. The estimated coefficient of the error correction term is also highly significant.

Research limitations/implications

China’s population is multiplying, and in the coming decades, the country will face food safety and security challenges. Possible initiatives are needed to configure the Chinese Government to cope with the adverse effects of climate change on agriculture and ensure adequate food for the growing population. In concise, the analysis specifies that legislators and policy experts should spot that the climate change would transmute the total output factors, accordingly a county or regional specific and crop-specific total factor of production pattern adaptation is indorsed.

Originality/value

The present empirical study is the first, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, to investigate the impact of global climate change on agricultural output in China by using ARDL bounds testing approach to cointegration and Johansen cointegration test.
Effects of implementation of International Public Sector Accounting Standards on Nigeria’s financial reporting quality
Authors: Muraina Saheed Adekunle , Dandago Kabiru Isa
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of the implementation of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) on Nigeria’s financial reporting quality.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed a survey research design to determine the effects of the implementation of the IPSAS on Nigeria’s financial reporting quality. Partial Least Square 3(SmartPLS 3) technique of analysis was applied to achieve the research objective.

Findings

The study found that accountability positively and significantly affects the quality of financial reporting in Nigeria. Specifically, IPSAS has improved the level of accountability, which in turn improved Nigeria’s financial reporting quality.

Research limitations

The study only explored two explanatory variables whereas other variables such as transparency, corruption minimization, comparability and faithful representation were not considered in this study. It is, therefore, recommended that further studies could expand the scope to cover some other variables not included in this paper.

Practical implications

IPSAS-Accrual has engendered the Nigerian Government to launch the Asset Tracking and Management Project (ATMProject) in order to easily track its assets for the purpose of accountability. Thus, accountability was discovered in this study to be the most essential factor to enhance the quality of financial reporting using accrual-based IPSAS in Nigeria.

Social implications

Accountability will impact positively on the lives of Nigerians in relation to the application of public funds to impact on the lives of the masses.

Originality/value

The statistical significance of accountability found in this study, using partial least square technique of data analysis, will further enhance financial integrity in the country.
Observed effectiveness of the COSO 2013 framework
Authors: Udeh Ifeoma
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the effectiveness of the Committee of Sponsoring Organization’s 2013 Framework, by investigating how the number of auditor-reported material weaknesses compares for Early-, Timely- and Late-adopters of the framework, and how the number of auditor-reported material weaknesses changed for Early- and Timely-adopters following their adoption of the framework.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses regression analyses based on a sample of US firms subject to Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 404(b).

Findings

Timely-adopters of the 2013 Framework continued to exhibit fewer instances of auditor-reported material weaknesses than Late-adopters, even though they had a marginal increase in the number of auditor-reported material weaknesses, in the post-2013 Framework period.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that the effectiveness of the 2013 Framework may lie in the iterative nature of the internal control process, and as firms remedy deficiencies they or their auditors identify, they will continuously improve the effectiveness of their internal control systems.

Originality/value

Unlike existing literature, this paper uses data from the pre-2013 Framework, transition and post-2013 Framework periods to examine changes in the number of auditor-reported material weaknesses, thus differentiating between Early-, Timely- and Late-adopters of the 2013 Framework. It also shows the effect of adopting the 2013 Framework on the number of auditor-reported material weaknesses.
Money-laundering and terrorism-financing compliance – unsolved issues
Authors: Teichmann Fabian Maximilian Johannes
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on developing prevention mechanisms for banks, this paper shows the ongoing feasibility of laundering money and financing terrorism undetected. It, thereby highlights that the current anti-money-laundering and anti-terrorism-financing mechanisms can be easily circumvented.

Design/methodology/approach

A three-step research process, including both qualitative and quantitative methods, was used. The empirical findings are based on qualitative content analysis of 35 informal interviews with illegal financial services providers and 35 formal interviews with compliance experts and law enforcement officers.

Findings

During those interviews, concrete and specific methods of financing terrorism and limiting the risks of being prosecuted were discussed. To assess compliance officers’ awareness of those methods, a quantitative survey of 190 compliance officers was subsequently conducted to determine what leads to investigations.

Research limitations/implications

The findings only convey the perspectives of the 70 interviewees and 190 survey participants.

Practical implications

The practical implications include suggestions for financial regulators, financial institutions and compliance officers on how to more effectively combat money laundering and terrorism financing.

Originality/value

While the empirical findings are based in Europe, the results could be applied globally.
Ownership structure and the cost of equity in the European context
Authors: La Rosa Fabio , Bernini Francesca , Verona Roberto
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Based on the institutionalized agency theory, this paper aims to analyses the role of earnings management (EM) in mediating the relationship between ownership structure (OS) and the cost of equity capital (COE).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors test the above relationship by investigating a sample of 249 European non-financial listed companies during 2005-2012. The authors adopt different measures for both EM and COE and identify three main types of ownership by the majority share of the ultimate owners. Path analysis is used to explore the role of direct, mediated (i.e. EM) and total effects of OS on COE.

Findings

While OS directly affects COE, the results support the idea that an EM-mediating effect contributes to further explain this relationship in some ownership structures. Particularly European listed family-owned firms experience lower COE owing to the prevailing direct and negative effect of OS, despite the fact that both accrual and real EM mediate and have a positive effect on COE. In financial institutions-owned firms, only a direct and positive effect can be observed on COE while state-owned firms do not have a direct influence on the COE, although they do reduce real EM, which, in turn, decreases the COE in a mediated effect. Further analysis comparing the Anglo-Saxon context with Continental Europe shows more detailed results.

Practical implications

The study marks its entry into the international debate on the evolution in the value relevance of accounting information by arguing that the COE implications of EM depend on institutional factors such as OS and the context investigated.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to extant finance, accounting and corporate governance literature by providing new, robust evidence on the mediating role of EM in defining COE for different ownership types and their diverse risk-taking propensities in Continental Europe, which differs from the Anglo-Saxon context both institutionally and legally.
Risk management in facility management for data centres: status and deficits
Authors: Bieser Juergen , Kurzrock Björn-Martin , Batra Ritika
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Data centres (DC) serve as critical infrastructure and require a sustainable and uninterrupted building operation. Effective risk management (RM), as a component of enterprise RM (ERM), is the basis for secure DC operations. The purpose of this paper is to determine, whether holistic and integrated RM solutions already exist or what they might look like.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review of laws, norms, standards, methods and certifications combined with transcribed paper and pencil expert interviews with DC, facility service companies and consulting firms has been conducted. The study also investigates RM practices of 23 large international DC and facility service companies.

Findings

Results of literature research and intensive interviews with experienced DC experts, covering the entire life cycle of buildings, indicate that there are no holistic and integrated RM practice applications for DC on a sound academic basis.

Practical implications

Findings suggest that there is a need for developing a holistic and integrated RM framework for DC. This paper is a contribution to the expansion of ERM research and can be very valuable for builders and operators. The results of this research form the basis for the development of a structured RM framework for DC that improves performance.

Originality/value

The study allows professionals to understand the operational state-of-the-art of RM in critical environments and shed light on the wide spectrum of conceptualities and definitions.
Welcome to the marriage of human capability and artificial intelligence
Authors: Scott Ryan , Le Lievre Malcolm
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore insights methodology and technology by using behavioral to create a mind-set change in the way people work, especially in the age of artificial intelligence (AI).

Design/methodology/approach

The approach is to examine how AI is driving workplace change, introduce the idea that most organizations have untapped analytics, add the idea of what we know future work will look like and look at how greater, data-driven human behavioral insights will help prepare future human-to-human work and inform people’s work with and alongside AI.

Findings

Human (behavioral) intelligence will be an increasingly crucial part of behaviorally smart organizations, from hiring to placement to adaptation to team building, compliance and more. These human capability insights will, among other things, better prepare people and organizations for changing work roles, including working with and alongside AI and similar tech innovation.

Research limitations/implications

No doubt researchers across the private, public and nonprofit sectors will want to further study the nexus of human capability, behavioral insights technology and AI, but it is clear that such work is already underway and can prove even more valuable if adopted on a broader, deeper level.

Practical implications

Much “people data” inside organizations is currently not being harvested. Validated, scalable processes exist to mine that data and leverage it to help organizations of all types and sizes be ready for the future, particularly in regard to the marriage of human capability and AI.

Social implications

In terms of human capability and AI, individuals, teams, organizations, customers and other stakeholders will all benefit. The investment of time and other resources is minimal, but must include C-suite buy in.

Originality/value

Much exists on the softer aspects of the marriage of human capability and AI and other workplace advancements. What has been lacking – until now – is a 1) practical, 2) validated and 3) scalable behavioral insights tech form that quantifiably informs how people and AI will work in the future, especially side by side.
Creating shared value by the university
Authors: Karwowska Elżbieta
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Works that link creating shared value (CSV) with the university are arising, and there is a hope for a great future of this combination. The main problem with these works is that they are based on the wrong assumptions of what CSV is. The aim of the paper is to properly explain the concept of CSV and match it with university social responsibility (USR) at a strategic level.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review on CSV and USR is briefly outlined. Then, at the foundation of existing models of the USR, normative model that integrates CSV at a strategic level is proposed. To validate the model and explain its assumptions, a qualitative study on Polish universities was conducted. Furthermore, a piece of recommendation for implementing CSV is presented.

Findings

Signs of CSV at universities have been observed. The trend may have positive implications, as it is similar to the recommended strategy: starting small, doing good and growing the program based on the lessons learned.

Research limitations/implications

In this study, the ecosystem’s impact on CSV at the university has been omitted. The qualitative research was based on vaguely distinguished aspects proposed by the new model. One should be cautious about considering findings as anything more than observations.

Practical implications

The normative model may serve as a foundation for future research or a practical guideline to higher education institutions.

Originality/value

The paper links CSV with USR at a strategic level supported by real examples of activities that create social and economic value. The normative model may serve as a foundation for future research or a practical guideline to higher education institutions.
Feasibility investigation and characterization of low-pressure-assisted sintered-silver bonded large-area DBA plates
Authors: Tan Yansong , Li Xin , Chen Xu , Yang Zhenwen , Lu Guo-Quan
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to use nano-silver paste to design a new bonding method for super-large-area direct-bonded-aluminum (DBA) plates. It compared several frequently used bonding methods and proved the feasibility of an optimized low-pressure-assisted double-layer-printed silver sintering technology for large-area bonding to increase the thermal conductivity of power electronic modules with high junction temperature, higher power density and higher reliability.

Design/methodology/approach

The bonding profile was optimized by using transparent glasses as substrates. Thus, the bonding qualities could be directly characterized by optical observation. After sintering, the bonded DBA samples were characterized by nondestructive X-ray computed tomography system, scanning electron microscopy equipped with an energy dispersive spectrometer. Finally, bonding stress evolution was characterized by shear tests.

Findings

Low-pressure-assisted large-area double-layer-printed bonding process consisting of six-step was successfully developed to bond DBA substrates with the size of 50.8 × 25.4 mm. The thickness of the sintered-silver bond-line was between 33  and 74 µm with the average porosity of 12.5 per cent. The distribution of shear strength along the length of DBA/DBA bonded sample was from 9.7  to 18.8 MPa, with average shear strength of 15.5 MPa. The typical fracture primarily propagated in the sintered-silver layer and partially along the Ni layer.

Research limitations/implications

The bonding stress needs to be further improved. Meanwhile, the thermal and electrical properties are encouraged to test further.

Practical implications

If nano-silver paste can be used as thermal interfacial material for super-large-area bonding, the thermal performance will be improved.

Social implications

The paper accelerated the use of nano-silver paste for super-large-area DBA bonding.

Originality/value

The proposed bonding method greatly decreased the bonding pressure.
Commentary on: “Ordinary lives” means ordinary schools: towards a unitary 0-99 years policy for adults and children with learning disabilities
Authors: Hardiman Becky
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to reflect on some of the challenges faced by caregivers when making decisions relating to school placements for their child with a learning disability.

Design/methodology/approach

Quotes from parents and caregivers, contacted via a national syndrome support charity, are shared, along with broader perspectives gained through the charity’s helpline service.

Findings

A number of themes are discussed, including friendships and role models; expectations and educational targets; training, speciality and capacity of staff and managing a widening gap.

Originality/value

When considering the future of education provision, it is important to consider some of the tensions between an ideology of inclusion and the current realities of service provision. To create effective solutions to achieving more effective inclusion, the concerns and experiences of families, as well as children, must be considered.
Wound, pressure ulcer and burn guidelines – 4: Guidelines for the management of connective tissue disease/vasculitis‐associated skin ulcers
Authors: Fujimoto Manabu , Asai Jun , Asano Yoshihide , Ishii Takayuki , Iwata Yohei , Kawakami Tamihiro , Kodera Masanari , Abe Masatoshi , Amano Masahiro , Ikegami Ryuta , Isei Taiki , Isogai Zenzo , Ito Takaaki , Inoue Yuji , Irisawa Ryokichi , Ohtsuka Masaki , Omoto Yoichi , Kato Hiroshi , Kadono Takafumi , Kaneko Sakae , Kanoh Hiroyuki , Kawaguchi Masakazu , Kukino Ryuichi , Kono Takeshi , Koga Monji , Sakai Keisuke , Sakurai Eiichi , Sarayama Yasuko , Shintani Yoichi , Tanioka Miki , Tanizaki Hideaki , Tsujita Jun , Doi Naotaka , Nakanishi Takeshi , Hashimoto Akira , Hasegawa Minoru , Hayashi Masahiro , Hirosaki Kuninori , Fujita Hideki , Fujiwara Hiroshi , Maekawa Takeo , Matsuo Koma , Madokoro Naoki , Motegi Sei‐Ichiro , Yatsushiro Hiroshi , Yamasaki Osamu , Yoshino Yuichiro , Pavoux Andres James LE , Tachibana Takao , Ihn Hironobu ,   Japanese Dermatological Association Guidelines
Published: January 2020

The Japanese Dermatological Association prepared guidelines focused on the treatment of skin ulcers associated with connective tissue disease/vasculitis practical in clinical settings of dermatological care. Skin ulcers associated with connective tissue diseases or vasculitis occur on the background of a wide variety of diseases including, typically, systemic sclerosis but also systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), dermatomyositis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), various vasculitides and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS). Therefore, in preparing the present guidelines, we considered diagnostic/therapeutic approaches appropriate for each of these disorders to be necessary and developed algorithms and clinical questions for systemic sclerosis, SLE, dermatomyositis, RA, vasculitis and APS.
Successful treatment of chromoblastomycosis caused by Fonsecaea pedrosoi using imiquimod
Authors: Belda Walter , Criado Paulo Ricardo , Passero Luiz Felipe Domingues
Published: January 2020

Chromoblastomycosis (CBM) is a fungal infection caused by fungi belonging to the order Chaetothyriales, and caused mainly by Fonsecaea pedrosoi. The classic treatment, based on itraconazole and/or terbinafine as well as physical approaches, is considered complex and ineffective due to the high rate of relapses. Thus, new strategies are needed to manage CBM; in this regard, the present work reports the evolution of lesions in patients successfully treated with imiquimod. Of note, classic treatment was not effective in healing the lesions of two of them, but single topical treatment with imiquimod healed the lesions.
Influence of storage time and elevated ripening temperature on the chemical and sensory properties of white Cheddar cheese
Authors: Walsh Emily A. , Diako Charles , Smith Denise M. , Ross Carolyn F.
Published: January 2020

Aged cheese is an increasingly popular dairy product. One approach to reduce Cheddar cheese maturation time is by utilizing elevated temperature, despite potential problems including development of imbalanced or off‐flavors and negative changes in texture. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of elevated ripening temperature on chemical and sensory properties of aged white Cheddar cheese. White Cheddar cheese was aged at 7.2, 10, or 12.8 °C for 12 months, with samples evaluated at 2, 5, 8, 10, 11, and 12 months by a trained sensory panel (n = 10). Two consumer sensory panels (n = 120) assessed 8‐ and 12‐month aged cheese for comparison to a commercially available reference sample of the same cheese, aged for 12 months. An electronic tongue methodology was developed for analysis of nonvolatile compounds. Trained panel results showed that 2‐month cheeses were described by milkfat flavor and sweet taste, 5‐month cheeses were described by nutty aroma and white color, and 8‐, 10‐, 11‐, and 12‐month cheeses developed aged characteristics, such as umami and bitter tastes, brothy aroma, and aged flavor. Consumer panel results showed similar overall liking scores for the reference cheese and cheeses aged at 10 or 12.8 °C for both evaluations. The electronic tongue could classify samples according to aging month with a validity value of 92.59%. In conclusion, the electronic tongue served as a valid method of instrumental analysis for Cheddar cheese samples throughout maturation. This study demonstrated that aging white Cheddar cheese for 8 months at an elevated storage temperature of 10 °C produced cheese similar in consumer acceptance to that aged at 7 °C for 12 months.

Practical Application

This study showed that aged white Cheddar storage at a higher temperature was perceived similarly by consumers as one stored for 1 year at a slightly lower temperature. This may be useful to those in the dairy industry exploring ways to accelerate aging, reducing devoted resources, while still producing an acceptable product. Also, the electronic tongue was effective at distinguishing among aged white Cheddar cheese samples showing another application for this technology.
Application of Strontium Isotopic Stratigraphy to Dating Marine Sedimentary Units: A Case Study from the Permian Stratotype Section in Southern China
Authors: QU Hongjun , CHEN Shuo , HAN Xing , WANG Li , GUAN Liqun , FAN Yuhai
Published: January 2020

The calibration of sedimentary rock absolute dates is one of the difficulties in sedimentological and stratigraphic research. Since strontium (Sr) resides in seawater much longer (≈106a) than the seawater intermixing time (≈103a), the Sr isotopic composition of global seawater is uniform at any time and results in a stable system throughout geological history, based on which a global Sr isotope composition dating database has been established for age‐calibration of marine strata. The Permian stratigraphic sections in the northern part of the Upper Yangtze block, southern China, record continuous marine sediments with clear stratigraphic boundaries and is suitable for stratigraphic dating of Sr isotopes. Based on sampling and Sr isotopic compositions of Permian carbonate strata in the northern part of the Upper Yangtze, a Permian Sr isotope evolution curve was established. According to the basic principles of Sr isotope stratigraphy, the global Strontium isotope age database can be used to calibrate the Permian stratigraphic dates in the northern Upper Yangtze. The results show that the Sr isotope evolution curves for the marine carbonate rocks in the Permian stratigraphic section of the Upper Yangtze present a decreasing trend from the mid‐Qixia stage (P2) to the mid‐Wujiaping stage (P3), and then rise from the middle Wujiaping stage to the end of Changxing stage (P3). When the Permian Sr‐isotope evolution curve is compared with the global Sr isotope evolution curve in the northern Upper Yangtze, the two are consistent in their long‐term evolutionary trend, indicating that Permian global geological events are important controlling factors for the composition and evolution of Sr isotopes. The87Sr/86Sr value decreased gradually in the background of large‐scale regressions at the turn of middle to late Permian period, revealing that the Emeishan basalt eruption occurred near the Maokou/Wujiaping boundary (GLB). Sr‐isotope stratigraphy dating was performed on the boundaries of the Qixia Formation/Maokou Formation, Maokou Formation/Wujiaping Formation (GLB), Wujiaping Formation/Changxing Formation (WCB) and the Permian/Triassic (PTB) using the Global Strontium Isotope Age Database. The results are 270.4 Ma, 261.2 Ma, 254.5 Ma and 249.7 Ma, respectively. Based on this, the eruption age of the Emeishan basalts is defined at about 261.2 Ma., which is more coincident with that acquired from other previous dating methods on the eruption age of the Emeishan basalts, and therefore proves that the application of Sr isotopic stratigraphy to dating marine sedimentary units is an effective method.
Actin‐like protein 8 promotes cell proliferation, colony‐formation, proangiogenesis, migration and invasion in lung adenocarcinoma cells
Authors: Ma Shanwu , Wang Xiaowei , Zhang Zhenrong , Liu Deruo
Published: January 2020

Background

Non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer‐associated mortality worldwide of which lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common. The identification of oncogenes and effective drug targets is the key to individualized LUAD treatment. Actin‐like protein 8 (ACTL8), a member of the cancer/testis antigen family, is associated with tumor growth and patient prognosis in various types of cancer. However, whether ACTL8 is involved in the development of LUAD remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the role of ACTL8 in human LUAD cells.

Methods

The expression of ACTL8 in LUAD tissues and cell lines was assessed using immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Additionally, plasmids expressing ACTL8‐specific short hairpin RNAs were used to generate lentiviruses which were subsequently used to infect A549 and NCI‐H1975 human LUAD cells. Cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis, as well as cell cycle progression and the expression of protein markers of epithelial to mesenchymal transition were investigated. A549 cell tumor growth in nude mice was also examined.

Results

The results showed that ACTL8 was highly expressed in A549 and NCI‐H1975 LUAD cell lines. Additionally, ACTL8‐knockdown inhibited proliferation, colony formation, cell cycle progression, migration and invasion, and increased apoptosis in both cell lines. Furthermore, in vivo experiments in nude mice revealed that ACTL8‐knockdown inhibited A549 cell tumor growth.

Conclusion

These results suggest that ACTL8 serves an oncogenic role in human LUAD cells, and that ACTL8 may represent a potential therapeutic target for LUAD.

Key points

Our results suggest that ACTL8 serves an oncogenic role in human LUAD cells, and that ACTL8 may represent a potential therapeutic target for LUAD.
Genome‐wide association study of body weight and conformation traits in neonatal sheep
Authors: Tao L. , He X. Y. , Pan L. X. , Wang J. W. , Gan S. Q. , Chu M. X.
Published: January 2020

Sheep, an important source of meat, dairy products and wool, play an essential part in the global agricultural economy. Body weight and body conformation are key traits in the sheep industry; however, their underlying genetic mechanisms are poorly understood. In this study, a GWAS was implemented to identify promising genes possibly linked to birth weight (BW) and body conformation traits in neonatal sheep, using a high‐throughput chip (630 K). After quality control, 277 individuals and 518 203 variants were analyzed using gemma software in a mixed linear model. A total of 48 genome‐wide suggestive SNPs were obtained, of which four were associated with BW, four with withers height (WH), 11 with body length (BL) and 29 with chest girth (CG). In total, 39 genes associated with BW and body conformation traits were identified by aligning to the sheep genome (Ovis aries_v4.0), and most of them were involved in the cell cycle and body development. Promising candidate genes found included the following: FOS like 2 or AP‐1 transcription factor subunit (FOSL2) for BW; potassium voltage‐gated channel subfamily D member 2 (KCND2) for WH; transmembrane protein 117 (TMEM117), transforming growth factor beta induced (TGFBI), and leukocyte cell‐derived chemotaxin 2 (LECT2) for BL; and trafficking kinesin protein 1 (TRAK1) and LOC101102529 for CG. These results provide cues for similar studies aiming at uncovering the genetic mechanisms underlying body development, and marker‐assisted selection programs focusing on BW and body conformation traits in sheep.
Characteristics and trends of sexual assaults in Israel – A large cohort study of 3941 victims
Authors: Mizrachi Yossi , Bar Jacob , Barda Giulia
Published: January 2020

Introduction

To improve care for victims of sexual assault, specialized assault centers have been developed globally, providing medical, psychological and legal care in one place. Our assault center serves a large population in the center of Israel. In 2010, we initiated a program aimed to prevent assaults among minors and to encourage early referral of victims to the center. The goal of the current study was to assess the impact of this program by comparing the characteristics of sexual assaults before and after the program’s initiation.

Material and methods

We conducted a historic cohort study of all victims of sexual assaults who were treated in our center between October 2000 and November 2017. A comparison was performed between victims treated before and after January 2010 (early vs. late study period), when the prevention program was initiated. The program mainly included lectures in middle and high schools, and workshops for police investigators.

Results

Overall, 3941 victims of sexual assault were treated in our center during the study period. Most victims were females (90.5%). Mean age was 23.0 ± 11.0 years. Most victims were single (93.1%), and approximately half knew their perpetrator before the assault. Compared with the early study period, in the late study period we observed a decrease in the rate of minor victims (31.9% vs. 24.7%, respectively, P < .001) and an increase in the rate of victims who arrived to the center within 3 days of the assault (P = .001). However, we observed higher rates of multiple‐perpetrator assaults (16.7% vs. 21.9%, respectively, P < .001), alcohol use (29.2% vs. 40.1%, respectively, P < .001), and drug use (7.2% vs. 9.0%, respectively, P = .04). Moreover, in the late study period, fewer victims were willing to press charges (79.5% vs. 64.4%, respectively, P < .001).

Conclusion

Our prevention program might have contributed to reducing the rate of sexual assaults among minors and shortened the time interval between the assault and victim’s arrival to the center. Nonetheless, more efforts should be taken to reduce the involvement of alcohol and drugs in sexual assaults and to encourage victims to press charges.
Episodic context reinstatement promotes memory retention in older but not younger elementary schoolchildren
Authors: Ma Xiaofeng , Li Tiantian , Li Zengyan , Zhou AiBao
Published: January 2020

Previous studies have shown that reinstatement of spatial and temporal background information during learning can promote memory retention in adults. However, the effect in children is unclear. In order to explore the effect of episodic context reinstatement on the memory retention of different age groups, first‐grade students, third‐grade students, and third‐year college students studied two word lists. When the words were presented mixed together, the participants were told to either restudy the words under intentional learning conditions or make list discrimination judgements by indicating the list from which each word had originated. Results revealed that the retrieval practice based on the episodic context reinstatement paradigm showed a phased development trend in the participants compared to restudy. Episodic context reinstatement only promoted memory retention in the third‐grade children and college students, but not in the first‐grade children. During the early elementary school years, children do not have relatively mature episodic memory ability and cannot output memories according to context clues. Our finding suggests important guidance for the age‐appropriate use of tests as instructional tools in basic education.

Statement of contribution

What is already known on this subject?

One recent theory of retrieval‐based learning is the episodic context account; it promotes memory retention by reinstate the context of a prior learning episode.

Previous studies have confirmed in the adults that the episodic context reinstatement was the main reason for retrieval practice to promote memory retention through the list discrimination tasks

What does this study add?

This study revealed that the retrieval practice based on the episodic context reinstatement paradigm showed a phased development trend in the participants.

Episodic context reinstatement only promoted memory retention in the third‐grade children and college students, but not in the first‐grade children, and the results support the episodic context assumption, namely that episodic context reinstatement is the key factor in memory retention.

The results of this study can explain why most prior work has observed the effect of retrieval practice in the groups above grade three.
Serum soluble VSIG4 as a surrogate marker for the diagnosis of lymphoma‐associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis
Authors: Yuan Shunzong , Wang Yanqing , Luo Hui , Jiang Zheng , Qiao Bing , Jiang Yan , Hu Yaning , Cheng Yang , Chen Xilin , Gong Weihua , Huang Yong , Zhao Weipeng , Luo Deyan , Liu Bing , Su Hang , Zhou Jianfeng , Song Shiping
Published: January 2020

Lymphoma‐associated haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (L‐HLH) is characterized by excessively activated macrophages and cytotoxic T lymphocytes, but few reliable markers for activated macrophages are available clinically. This study, designed to discover novel biomarkers for the diagnosis of lymphoma patients with L‐HLH, was initiated between 2016 and 2018. Fifty‐seven adult lymphoma patients were enrolled — 39 without HLH and 18 with HLH. The differential serum protein expression profile was first screened between lymphoma patients with and without L‐HLH by a quantitative mass spectrometric approach. Soluble V‐set and immunoglobulin domain‐containing 4 (sVSIG4), specifically expressed by macrophages, was significantly upregulated in the L‐HLH group. Subsequently, sVSIG4 concentration was confirmed by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay to be significantly increased in lymphoma patients with L‐HLH. When it was exploited for the diagnosis of lymphoma patients with L‐HLH, the area under a receiver operating characteristic curve was 0·98 with an optimal cut‐off point of 2195 pg/ml and the corresponding sensitivity and specificity were 94·44% and 94·87% respectively. In addition, the one‐year overall survival was significantly worse in patients with a sVSIG4 concentration above 2195 pg/ml compared with those below 2195 pg/ml (5·3% vs. 72·2%, P < 0·0001). sVSIG4 may be a surrogate marker of activated macrophages for the diagnosis of lymphoma patients with L‐HLH.
Network centrality, knowledge searching and creativity: The role of domain
Authors: Tang Chaoying , Zhang Yueqiang , Reiter‐Palmon Roni
Published: January 2020

This study aims to determine the role of knowledge searching on creativity in the fields of science research and technology development. Creativity is a process of knowledge combination, thus internal and external knowledge searching is important for creativity in both fields, particularly in the open innovation age. However, the nature of the work across these fields is different. While science research aims to solve theoretical problems and generate new knowledge, technology development aims to apply new knowledge to solve practical problems. Compared to science research, technology development has clear task goals, which make it easier to identify the related external knowledge and integrate this knowledge and in turn improve employee creativity. Thus, employees' attention to external knowledge as well as the influence of external knowledge on creativity might be different in the two fields. Results based on an empirical study of 211 employees from science research and 257 employees from technology development showed that external knowledge searching increased employee creativity in the field of technology development but not in science research. Furthermore, employees' centrality in the intra‐team problem‐solving network moderated the relationship between external knowledge searching and creativity in the science research field. Suggestions about employee creativity management in science and technology fields are discussed.
Competing risks analysis of the association between perioperative blood transfusion and long‐term outcomes after resection of colorectal cancer
Authors: Dent O. F. , Ripley J. E. , Chan C. , Rickard M. J. F. X. , Keshava A. , Stewart P. , Chapuis P. H.
Published: January 2020

Aim

Despite numerous reports over three decades, the association between perioperative blood transfusion and long‐term outcomes after resection of colorectal cancer remains controversial. This cohort study used competing risks statistical methods to examine the association between transfusion and recurrence and colorectal cancer‐specific death after potentially curative and noncurative resection.

Method

A hospital database provided prospectively recorded clinical, operative and follow‐up information. All surviving patients were followed for at least 5 years. Data were analysed by multivariable competing risks regression.

Results

From 2575 patients in the period 1995–2010 inclusive, after exclusions, 2334 remained for analysis. Among 1941 who had a potentially curative resection and 393 who had a noncurative resection the transfusion rates were 24.9% and 33.6%, respectively. After potentially curative resection there was no significant bivariate association between transfusion and recurrence (HR 0.93, CI 0.74–1.16, P = 0.499) or between transfusion and colorectal cancer‐specific death (HR 1.04, CI 0.82–1.33, P = 0.753). After noncurative resection there was no significant association between transfusion and cancer‐specific death (HR 0.93, CI 0.73–1.19, P = 0.560). Multivariable models showed no material effect of potential confounder variables on these results.

Conclusion

The competing risks findings in this study showed no significant association between perioperative transfusion and recurrence or colorectal cancer‐specific death.
Multi‐level feature optimization and multimodal contextual fusion for sentiment analysis and emotion classification
Authors: Huddar Mahesh G. , Sannakki Sanjeev S. , Rajpurohit Vijay S.
Published: January 2020

The availability of the humongous amount of multimodal content on the internet, the multimodal sentiment classification, and emotion detection has become the most researched topic. The feature selection, context extraction, and multi‐modal fusion are the most important challenges in multimodal sentiment classification and affective computing. To address these challenges this paper presents multilevel feature optimization and multimodal contextual fusion technique. The evolutionary computing based feature selection models extract a subset of features from multiple modalities. The contextual information between the neighboring utterances is extracted using bidirectional long‐short‐term‐memory at multiple levels. Initially, bimodal fusion is performed by fusing a combination of two unimodal modalities at a time and finally, trimodal fusion is performed by fusing all three modalities. The result of the proposed method is demonstrated using two publically available datasets such as CMU‐MOSI for sentiment classification and IEMOCAP for affective computing. Incorporating a subset of features and contextual information, the proposed model obtains better classification accuracy than the two standard baselines by over 3% and 6% in sentiment and emotion classification, respectively.