bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
TopicNet: a framework for measuring transcriptional regulatory network change
Authors: Lou Shaoke , Li Tianxiao , Kong Xiangmeng , Zhang Jing , Liu Jason , Lee Donghoon , Gerstein Mark
Published: December 2019

Next generation sequencing data highlights comprehensive and dynamic changes in the human gene regulatory network. Moreover, changes in regulatory network connectivity (network “rewiring”) manifest different regulatory programs in multiple cellular states. However, due to the dense and noisy nature of the connectivity in regulatory networks, directly comparing the gains and losses of targets of key TFs is not that informative. Thus, here, we seek a abstracted lower-dimensional representation to understand the main features of network change. In particular, we propose a method called TopicNet that applies latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) to extract meaningful functional topics for a collection of genes regulated by a TF. We then define a rewiring score to quantify the large-scale changes in the regulatory network in terms of topic change for a TF. Using this framework, we can pinpoint particular TFs that change greatly in network connectivity between different cellular states. This is particularly relevant in oncogenesis. Also, incorporating gene-expression data, we define a topic activity score that gives the degree that a topic is active in a particular cellular state. Furthermore, we show how activity differences can highlight differential survival in certain cancers.
High-force magnetic tweezers with hysteresis-free force feedback
Authors: Kah D. , Dürrbeck C. , Schneider W. , Fabry B. , Gerum R. C.
Published: December 2019

Magnetic tweezers based on solenoids with iron alloy cores are widely used to apply large forces (~100 nN) onto micron-sized (~5 μm) superparamagnetic particles for mechanical manipulation or microrheological measurements at the cellular and molecular level. The precision of magnetic tweezers, however, is limited by the magnetic hysteresis of the core material, especially for time-varying force protocols. Here, we eliminate magnetic hysteresis by a feedback control of the magnetic induction, which we measure with a Hall sensor mounted to the distal end of the solenoid core. We find that the generated force depends on the induction according to a power-law relationship, and on the bead-tip distance according to a stretched exponential relationship. Together, both relationships allow for an accurate force calibration and precise force feedback with only 3 calibration parameters. We apply our method to measure the force-dependence of the viscoelastic and plastic properties of fibroblasts using a protocol with stepwise increasing and decreasing forces. We find that soft cells show an increasing stiffness but decreasing plasticity at higher forces, indicating a pronounced stress stiffening of the cytoskeleton. By contrast, stiff cells show no stress stiffening but an increasing plasticity at higher forces. These findings indicate profound differences between soft and stiff cells regarding their protection mechanisms against external mechanical stress. In summary, our method increases the precision, simplifies the handling and extends the applicability of magnetic tweezers.

SIGNIFICANCE

Magnetic tweezers are widely used, versatile tools to investigate the mechanical behavior of cells or to measure the strength of receptor-ligand bonds. A limitation of existing high-force magnetic tweezer setups, however, is caused by the magnetic hysteresis of the tweezer core material. This magnetic hysteresis requires that the tweezer core must be de-magnetized (de-Gaussed) prior to each measurement, and that flexible force protocols with decreasing forces are not possible. We describe how these limitations can be overcome with a force feedback though direct magnetic field measurement. We demonstrate the applicability of our setup by investigating the visco-elastic and plastic deformations of fibroblasts to forces of different amplitudes.
Cryogenic OrbiSIMS Localizes Semi-Volatile Molecules in Biological Tissues
Authors: Newell Clare L. , Vorng Jean-Luc , MacRae James I. , Gilmore Ian S. , Gould Alex P.
Published: December 2019

OrbiSIMS is a recently developed instrument for label-free imaging of chemicals with micron spatial resolution and high mass resolution. Here we report a cryogenic workflow for OrbiSIMS (Cryo-OrbiSIMS) that improves chemical detection of lipids and other biomolecules in tissues. Cryo-OrbiSIMS decreases ion-beam induced fragmentation, allowing large molecules such as triglycerides to be more reliably identified. It also increases chemical coverage to include biomolecules with intermediate or high vapor pressures, such as free fatty acids and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs). We find that Cryo-OrbiSIMS reveals the hitherto unknown localization patterns of SVOCs with high spatial and chemical resolution in diverse plant, animal and human tissues. We also show that Cryo-OrbiSIMS can be combined with genetic analysis to identify enzymes regulating SVOC metabolism. Cryo-OrbiSIMS is applicable to high resolution imaging of a wide variety of non-volatile and semi-volatile molecules across many areas of biomedicine.
Genetic Underpinnings of Risky Behaviour Relate to Altered Neuroanatomy
Authors: Aydogan Gökhan , Daviet Remi , Linnér Richard Karlsson , Hare Todd A. , Kable Joseph W. , Kranzler Henry R. , Wetherill Reagan R. , Ruff Christian C. , Koellinger Philipp D. , Nave Gideon
Published: December 2019

Previous research points to the heritability of risk-taking behaviour. However, evidence on how genetic dispositions are translated into risky behaviour is scarce. Here, we report a genetically-informed neuroimaging study of real-world risky behaviour across the domains of drinking, smoking, driving, and sexual behaviour, in a European sample from the UK Biobank (N= 12,675). We find negative associations between risky behaviour and grey matter volume (GMV) in distinct brain regions, including amygdala, ventral striatum, hypothalamus, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). These effects replicate in an independent sample recruited from the same population (N=13,004). Polygenic risk scores for risky behaviour, derived from a genome-wide association study in an independent sample (N=297,025), are inversely associated with GMV in dlPFC, putamen, and hypothalamus. This relation mediates ~2.2% of the association between genes and behaviour. Our results highlight distinct heritable neuroanatomical features as manifestations of the genetic propensity for risk taking.

One Sentence Summary

Risky behaviour and its genetic associations are linked to less grey matter volume in distinct brain regions.
Disruption of TFIIH activities generates a stress gene expression response and reveals possible new targets against cancer
Authors: Urioistegui-Arcos Maritere , Aguayo-Ortiz Rodrigo , Valencia-Morales María del Pilar , Melchy-Pérez Erika , Rosenstein Yvonne , Domínguez Laura , Zurita Mario
Published: December 2019

Disruption of the enzymatic activities of the transcription factor TFIIH by Triptolide (TPL) or THZ1 could be used against cancer. Here, we used an oncogenesis model to compare the effect of TFIIH inhibitors between transformed cells and their progenitors. We report that tumour cells exhibited highly increased sensitivity to TPL or THZ1 and that the combination of both had an additive effect. TPL affects the interaction between XPB and P52, causing a reduction in the levels of XPB, P52, and P8, but not other TFIIH subunits. RNA-Seq and RNAPII-ChIP-Seq experiments showed that although the levels of many transcripts were reduced, the levels of a significant number were increased after TPL treatment, with maintained or increased RNAPII promoter occupancy. A significant number of these genes encode for factors that have been related to tumour growth and metastasis. Some of these genes were also overexpressed in response to THZ1, which depletion enhances the toxicity of TPL and are possible new targets against cancer.
The somatic genetic and epigenetic mutation rate in a wild long-lived perennialPopulus trichocarpa
Authors: Hofmeister Brigitte T. , Denkena Johanna , Colomé-Tatché Maria , Shahryary Yadollah , Hazarika Rashmi , Grimwood Jane , Mamidi Sujan , Jenkins Jerry , Grabowski Paul P. , Sreedasyam Avinash , Shu Shengqiang , Barry Kerrie , Lail Kathleen , Adam Catherine , Lipzen Anna , Sorek Rotem , Kudrna Dave , Talag Jayson , Wing Rod , Hall David W. , Tuskan Gerald A. , Schmutz Jeremy , Johannes Frank , Schmitz Robert J.
Published: December 2019

Background

Plants can transmit somatic mutations and epimutations to offspring, which in turn can affect fitness. Knowledge of the rate at which these variations arise is necessary to understand how plant development contributes to local adaption in an eco-evolutionary context, particularly in long-lived perennials.

Results

Here, we generated a new high-quality reference genome from the oldest branch of a wildPopulus trichocarpatree with two dominant stems which have been evolving independently for 330 years. By sampling multiple, age-estimated branches of this tree, we used a multi-omics approach to quantify age-related somatic changes at the genetic, epigenetic and transcriptional level. We show that the per-year somatic mutation and epimutation rates are lower than in annuals and that transcriptional variation is mainly independent of age divergence and cytosine methylation. Furthermore, a detailed analysis of the somatic epimutation spectrum indicates that transgenerationally heritable epimutations originate mainly from DNA methylation maintenance errors during mitotic rather than during meiotic cell divisions.

Conclusion

Taken together, our study provides unprecedented insights into the origin of nucleotide and functional variation in a long-lived perennial plant.
Connectomic consistency: a systematic stability analysis of structural and functional connectivity
Authors: Osmanlıoğlu Yusuf , Alappatt Jacob A. , Parker Drew , Verma Ragini
Published: December 2019

Connectomics, the study of brain connectivity, has become an indispensable tool in neuroscientific research as it provides insights into brain organization. Connectomes are generated for different modalities such as using diffusion MRI to capture structural organization of the brain or using functional MRI to elaborate brain’s functional organization. Understanding links between structural and functional organizations is crucial in explaining how observed behavior emerges from the underlying neurobiological mechanisms. Many studies have investigated how these two organizations relate to each other; however, we still lack a proper understanding on how much variation should be expected on the two modalities, both between people cross-sectionally and within a single person longitudinally. Notably, connectomes of both modalities were shown to have significant differences depending on how they are generated. In this study, for both modalities, we systematically analyzed consistency of connectomes, that is the similarity between connectomes in terms of individual connections between brain regions or in terms of overall network topology. We present a comprehensive study of consistency in structural and resting-state functional connectomes both for a single subject examined longitudinally and across a large cohort of subjects cross-sectionally. We compared connectomes generated by different tracking algorithms, parcellations, edge weighting schemes, and edge pruning techniques. We evaluated consistency both at the levels of individual edges using correlation and at the level of network topology via graph matching accuracy. We also examined consistency of connectomes that are generated using most commonly applied communication schemes. Our results demonstrate varying degrees of consistency for the two modalities, with structural connectomes showing higher consistency than functional connectomes. Moreover, we observed a wide variation in consistency depending on how connectomes are generated. Our study sets a reference point for consistency of connectome types, which is especially important for structure-function coupling studies in evaluating mismatches between modalities.
In Vivo Dual RNA-Seq Analysis Reveals the Basis for Differential Tissue Tropism of Clinical Isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae
Authors: Minhas Vikrant , Aprianto Rieza , McAllister Lauren J. , Wang Hui , David Shannon C. , McLean Kimberley T. , Comerford Iain , McColl Shaun R. , Paton James C. , Veening Jan-Willem , Trappetti Claudia
Published: December 2019

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a genetically diverse human-adapted pathogen commonly carried asymptomatically in the nasopharynx. We have recently shown that a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the raffinose pathway regulatory gene rafR accounts for a significant difference in the capacity of clonally-related strains to cause localised versus systemic infection. Here we have used dual RNA-seq to show that this SNP extensively impacts both bacterial and host transcriptomes in infected lungs. It affects expression of bacterial genes encoding multiple sugar transporters, and fine-tunes carbohydrate metabolism, along with extensive rewiring of host transcriptional responses to infection, particularly expression of genes encoding cytokine and chemokine ligands and receptors. The dual RNA-seq data predicted a crucial role for differential neutrophil recruitment in the distinct virulence profiles of the infecting strains and single cell analysis revealed that while reduced expression of the RafR regulon driven by a single rafR SNP provides a clear advantage for pneumococci to colonize the ear, in the lung it leads to massive recruitment of neutrophils and bacterial clearance. Importantly, the observed disease outcomes were confirmed by in vivo neutrophil depletion showing that early detection of bacteria by the host in the lung environment is crucial for effective clearance. Thus, dual RNA-seq provides a powerful tool for understanding complex host-pathogen interactions and revealed how a single bacterial SNP can drive differential disease outcomes.
Arabidopsis CPR5 regulates ethylene signaling via interacting with ETR1 N-terminus and controlling mRNAs nucleocytoplasmic transport
Authors: Chen Jiacai , Yu Yanchong , Sui Xinying , Qiao Longfei , Dong Chun-Hai
Published: December 2019

ETR1 is the major ethylene receptor in Arabidopsis thaliana. Previous studies showed that RTE1 and CPR5 can bind to ETR1 and play regulatory roles in ethylene signaling. RTE1 has been suggested to promote ETR1 signal transduction by influencing the conformation of ETR1, but little is known about the mechanism of CPR5 on the regulation of ETR1 signaling. In this study, we showed that both CPR5 and RTE1 could interact with the N-terminal transmembrane domains of ETR1, and CPR5 needs at least three transmembrane domains of ETR1 while RTE1 needs only two for the binding. As CPR5 has also been shown to be localized in the nuclear membrane and might act as a nucleoporin, we analyzed the effects of CPR5 on the nucleocytoplasmic transport of ethylene-related mRNAs using poly(A)-mRNA in situ hybridization and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR), and the results indicated that CPR5 could selectively regulate the nucleocytoplasmic transport of mRNAs in ethylene signaling pathway. In contrast, the nucleoporin mutants (nup160, nup96-1 and nup96-2) dramatically accumulated all the examined mRNAs in the nucleus. In conclusion, the present study provides evidence demonstrating that CPR5 regulates ethylene signaling through interacting with the ETR1 receptor and controlling the mRNAs nucleocytoplasmic transport in ethylene signaling pathway.

Key message

This study reveals that CPR5 is involved in the regulation of ethylene signaling via two different ways: interacting with the N-terminal domains of ERT1 and controlling the nucleocytoplasmic transport of mRNAs in ethylene signaling pathway.
Expanding the Chinese hamster ovary cell long non-coding RNA transcriptome using RNASeq
Authors: Motheramgari Krishna , Valdés-Bango Curell Ricardo , Tzani Ioanna , Gallagher Clair , Rivadeneyra Marina Castro , Zhang Lin , Barron Niall , Clarke Colin
Published: December 2019

Our ability to study Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell biology has been revolutionised over the last decade with the development of next generation sequencing and the publication of reference DNA sequences for CHO cells and the Chinese hamster. RNA sequencing has not only enabled the association of transcript expression with bioreactor conditions and desirable bioprocess phenotypes but played a key role in the characterisation of protein coding and small non-coding RNAs. The annotation of long non-coding RNAs, and therefore our understanding of their role in CHO cell biology, has been limited to date. In this manuscript, we use high resolution RNASeq data to more than double the number of annotated lncRNA transcripts for the CHOK1 genome. In addition, the utilisation of strand specific sequencing enabled the identification of more than 1,000 new lncRNAs located antisense to protein coding genes. The utility of monitoring lncRNA expression is demonstrated through an analysis of the transcriptomic response to a reduction of cell culture temperature and identification of simultaneous sense/antisense differential expression for the first time in CHO cells. To enable further studies of lncRNAs, the transcripts annotated in this study have been made available for the CHO cell biology community.
Global energy and geopolitical risk: behavior of oil markets
Authors: Alqahtani Abdullah , Taillard Michael
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The question being assessed is whether changes in the degree of global geopolitical risk (GPR), as defined by the framework developed by Iacoviello (2018), can be used to improve allocative efficiency, thereby increasing investment returns on oil commodities.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the linear and nonlinear model, this paper analyzes the impact of GPR on returns of oil prices (BRENT, WTI and Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries), as well as the short- and long-run relationship between GPR and oil prices.

Findings

The results of the impulse response function indicates that oil prices do not respond to shocks in GPR. The results of the Granger causality test show that oil returns are not caused by GPR. The regression analysis and autoregressive distributed lag results show that there is no significant impact of GPR on the returns of oil.

Originality/value

This is unique among the literature in that it identifies and isolates the relationship between GPR and oil market pricing. Insight into the lag in market response and the degree to which GPR can be used to estimate oil prices using curvilinear models are derived from the analysis.
Explicating the influence of shared goals and hope on knowledge sharing and knowledge creation in an emerging economic context
Authors: Goswami Anil Kumar , Agrawal Rakesh Kumar
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to empirically investigate the influence of shared goals and hope on knowledge sharing and knowledge creation in organizations. Furthermore, it examines the mediating role of hope in the relationship between shared goals and knowledge sharing and between shared goals and knowledge creation.

Design/methodology/approach

This study has used quantitative research methodology wherein the data have been collected from 221 employees of information technology (IT) companies in India using survey questionnaire. Structural equation modelling has been applied to test the hypotheses of the study.

Findings

The findings of the study reveal that shared goals and hope positively influence knowledge sharing and knowledge creation. Shared goals also affects hope positively. Further, hope acts as a mediator between shared goals and knowledge sharing and between shared goals and knowledge creation.

Research limitations/implications

This study is a cross-sectional study conducted in IT companies in India. It can be supplemented by future studies through qualitative approaches and longitudinal data collection.

Practical implications

The study makes a significant contribution to literature by considering shared goals and hope as antecedents of knowledge sharing and knowledge creation. It provides directions to managers to focus on various interventions to strengthen shared goals and hope amongst employees to motivate them to share and create knowledge that can help the organization to get sustainable competitive advantage.

Originality/value

To the best of authors’ knowledge, this study is an early study conducted to examine the influence of shared goals and hope on knowledge sharing and knowledge creation. Further, hardly any study has examined the mediating role of hope in the relationship between shared goals and knowledge sharing and between shared goals and knowledge creation.
Three-echelon supply chain inventory model for growing items
Authors: Sebatjane Makoena , Adetunji Olufemi
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to formulate a coordinated inventory control model for growing items in a supply chain with farming, processing and retail operations. The farmer grows newborn items and then delivers them to a processor once the items mature. At the processing plant, the items are slaughtered, cut and packaged at a specified rate. The processor then delivers a certain number of equally sized shipments of processed items to a retailer who satisfies customer demand.

Design/methodology/approach

A cost minimisation inventory model describing the problem at hand is formulated with the number of shipments and the cycle time being the decision variables. A solution algorithm for solving the problem is presented and applied to a numerical example.

Findings

Opting for an integrated policy is favourable to all supply chain members. When the proposed model is compared to equivalent independent and equal-cycle time replenishment policies, the total cost savings amount to 3 and 14 per cent, respectively.

Social implications

The model can serve as a guideline for procurement managers dealing with growing items to better their inventory management practices. Considerable cost savings in food production chains can be achieved through improved inventory control, and these savings can be used to cushion consumers against rising food prices.

Originality/value

Most previously published models on inventory management for growing items were formulated under the assumption that the items are grown and then sold to consumers instantaneously. In real food production systems, the items need to be transformed and packaged into a consumable form before customer demand is met. The model presented in this paper accounts for this and is therefore more realistic.
Making investment decisions in stock markets using a forecasting-Markowitz based decision-making approaches
Authors: Moeini Najafabadi Zahra , Bijari Mehdi , Khashei Mehdi
Published: December 2019

Purpose

This study aims to make investment decisions in stock markets using forecasting-Markowitz based decision-making approaches.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors’ approach offers the use of time series prediction methods including autoregressive, autoregressive moving average and artificial neural network, rather than calculating the expected rate of return based on distribution.

Findings

The results show that using time series prediction methods has a significant effect on improving investment decisions and the performance of the investments.

Originality/value

In this study, in contrast to previous studies, the alteration in the Markowitz model started with the investment expected rate of return. For this purpose, instead of considering the distribution of returns and determining the expected returns, time series prediction methods were used to calculate the future return of each asset. Then, the results of different time series methods replaced the expected returns in the Markowitz model. Finally, the overall performance of the method, as well as the performance of each of the prediction methods used, was examined in relation to nine stock market indices.
Relationship between corporate identity, place architecture and identification
Authors: Foroudi Mohammad M. , Balmer John M.T. , Chen Weifeng , Foroudi Pantea
Published: December 2019

Purpose

How organizations view, value and manage their place architecture in relation to identification and corporate identity has received little research attention. The main goal of this paper is to provide an integrative understanding of the relationships between corporate identity, place architecture, and identification from a multi-disciplinary approach. It is assumed that the characteristics of the organization and of the way a corporate identity and place architecture are managed will affect employees’ and consumers’ identification.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a theory-building case study within the phenomenological/qualitative research tradition. The data were gathered through 15 in-depth interviews with top management who were working at a London-Based Business School. In addition, six focus groups were conducted with a total of 36 academics, and new empirical insights are offered. NVivo software was used to gain insight into the various influences and relationships.

Findings

Drawing on one case study, the findings confirm that firms are using the conceptualizations of corporate identity and place architecture, including the leveraging of tangible and intangible forms of consumers’/employees’ identification, toward a university business school. The insights from a single, exploratory, case study might not be generalizable.

Originality/value

The relationships between corporate identity, place architecture and identification have received little research attention and have hardly been studied at all from the perspective of this paper. This paper has value to researchers in the fields of marketing, corporate identity, place architecture, design, as well as professionals involved in managing a company’s architecture. Drawing on the marketing/management theory of identity and architecture alignment, managers and policy advisors should devote attention to each element of the corporate identity and place architecture and ensure that they are meaningful, as well as in dynamic alignment.
Evaluating the factors of corporate website favorability: a case of UK and Russia
Authors: Ageeva Elena , Melewar T.C. , Foroudi Pantea , Dennis Charles
Published: December 2019

Purpose

This study aims to evaluate the significance of the corporate website favorability notion and examines its factors in developing competitive advantage in the context of retail and service settings in the UK and Russia.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the attribution, social identity and signaling theories, this study adopted the qualitative exploratory approach by conducting 14 interviews with retail experts and eight focus groups with retail users in the UK and Russia, combined with experts in website design, communication and marketing.

Findings

The study findings indicated that it is crucial to build and maintain a favorable corporate website that reveals the corporate identity as part of the overall company strategy. The study suggests that navigation, visual, information, usability, customization, security, availability, website credibility, customer service, perceived corporate social responsibility and perceived corporate culture are the factors of corporate website favorability that contribute to the company’s competitive advantage. The findings show that consumers from Russia as well as from the UK found the significance of a favorable corporate website (i.e. corporate website favorability), as well as the factors affecting corporate website favorability. However, consumers in the UK are more critical and demanding in the level of expectation of the website overall and put more weight than consumers from Russia on the perceived corporate social responsibility, perceived corporate culture, customer service and website credibility.

Practical implications

Corporate website favorability should be adopted by the companies, as part of the overall corporate identity management. Furthermore, it is advised to take into consideration the variations in the level of importance of the factors of corporate website favorability in different countries. The findings of this study suggest that this investigation will make a considerable managerial contribution to the understanding of a company’s decision-makers, communication professionals and website specialists about the building of a favorable corporate website in line with corporate identity strategy of the company.

Originality/value

There has been little systematic study of the effect of corporate websites on consumer evaluations of the websites; also, there is a lack of research with regard to the factors that contribute to the development of a favorable corporate website (i.e. corporate website favorability). This is the first study of its kind to find the effect of corporate website favorability in Russia, representing a non-western country, and the UK, representing a western country. Therefore, it contributes to the corporate visual identity literature by presenting the corporate website favorability construct and demonstrating the factors that influence corporate website favorability.
Are religious customers skeptical toward sexually appealing advertising?
Authors: Sugiarto Catur , de Barnier Virginie
Published: December 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to shed new light on the consumer response toward sex appeal in advertising and investigates ad skepticism in a culturally diverse context.

Design/methodology/approach

By using the qualitative research methodology, the following study draws upon informant opinions regarding the extent of graphic nudity in print advertising is needed to avoid undesirable reactions from potential consumers and how religiosity influences their attitudes toward sexually appealing advertisements. The information was obtained through semi-structured in-depth interviews with 22 interviewees from four groups, namely, academia, advertising practitioners, religious figures and general consumers.

Findings

The remarkable findings to emerge from the interviews relate to the following: the role of religiosity vis-à-vis nudity and the “lowering of the gaze” concept in Islam, the objectification and stereotypical portrayals of women, the irrational depiction of sexuality and intimacy and factors that lead to contextual interpretation.

Research limitations/implications

The result provides further evidence that skepticism does not only exist on a cognitive basis but also on an emotional level as a response to the exaggeration, unrealistic and irritating claims made in some adverts.

Practical implications

This study suggests that advertisers should advance their cultural comprehension by taking into account the moral and social differences.

Originality/value

This has been the first study to investigate the skepticism toward sex appeal in advertising and integrate both cognitive and affective context of skepticism.
Female child with hematidrosis of the palm: Case report and published work review
Authors: Murota Hiroyuki , Kotobuki Yorihisa , Yamaga Kosuke , Yoshioka Yoshichika
Published: December 2019

Hematidrosis is a rare disorder involving spontaneous excretion of sweat contaminated by blood cells. We report the case of a 6‐year‐old girl with hematidrosis from her palms with no underlying disease or psychotic disorder. Before the onset of this symptom, the patient was given an indoor horizontal exercise bar with which she had been frequently playing. This symptom appeared without apparent triggers and was not associated with subjective symptoms. To examine her hematidrosis, metabolites in the red bodily fluid were analyzed using nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. We found the fluid had a metabolome profile similar to that of eccrine sweat. Pathological analysis revealed no abnormal findings, including expression of the tight junction protein claudin 3. Her symptom decreased after treatment with tap‐water iontophoresis. Here, we describe our case and discuss its etiology by reviewing previous reports.
Ecosystem service provision by road verges
Authors: Phillips Benjamin B. , Bullock James M. , Osborne Juliet L. , Gaston Kevin J.
Published: December 2019

Roads form a vast, rapidly growing global network that has diverse, detrimental ecological impacts. However, the habitats that border roads (‘road verges’) form a parallel network that might help mitigate these impacts and provide additional benefits (ecosystem services; ES).

We evaluate the capacity of road verges to provide ES by reviewing existing research and considering their relevant characteristics: area, connectivity, shape, and contextual ES supply and demand. We consider the present situation, and how this is likely to change based on future projections for growth in road extent, traffic densities and urban populations.

Road verges not only provide a wide range of ES, including biodiversity provision, regulating services (e.g. air and water filtration) and cultural services (e.g. health and aesthetic benefits by providing access to nature) but also displace other habitats and provide ecosystem disservices (e.g. plant allergens and damage to infrastructure). Globally, road verges may currently cover 270,000 km2 and store 0.015 Gt C/year, which will further increase with 70% projected growth in the global road network.

Road verges are well placed to mitigate traffic pollution and address demand for ES in surrounding ES‐impoverished landscapes, thereby improving human health and well‐being in urban areas, and improving agricultural production and sustainability in farmland. Demand for ES provided by road verges will likely increase due to projected growth in traffic densities and urban populations, though traffic pollution will be reduced by technological advances (e.g. electric vehicles). Road verges form a highly connected network, which may enhance ES provision but facilitate the dispersal of invasive species and increase vehicle–wildlife collisions.

Synthesis and applications. Road verges offer a significant opportunity to mitigate the negative ecological effects of roads and to address demand for ecosystem services (ES) in urban and agricultural landscapes. Their capacity to provide ES might be enhanced considerably if they were strategically designed and managed for environmental outcomes, namely by optimizing the selection, position and management of plant species and habitats. Specific opportunities include reducing mowing frequencies and planting trees in large verges. Road verge management for ES must consider safety guidelines, financial costs and ecosystem disservices, but is likely to provide long‐term financial returns if environmental benefits are considered.
Hesperidin attenuates altered redox homeostasis in an experimental hyperlipidaemic model of rat
Authors: Kumar Raushan , Akhtar Farhan , Rizvi Syed Ibrahim
Published: December 2019

Diets rich in saturated fats and cholesterol contribute to the incidence of hyperlipidaemia. An altered lipid profile is a major factor responsible for the development of CVD. Male Wistar rats were fed with a high‐fat diet (HFD) (suspension (w/v) of 0.5% cholesterol, 3% coconut oil and 0.25% cholic acid for 30 days) to induce an experimental hyperlipidaemic model. High‐fat diet fed rats were also supplemented with hesperidin (100 mg/kg body weight). The present study reports reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, oxidative stress parameters: malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl (PCO), oxidation of plasma protein (AOPP), and advance glycation end products (AGEs); antioxidant defence parameters: ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), reduced glutathione (GSH), Paraoxonase‐1 (PON‐1), plasma membrane redox system (PMRS); general biochemical parameters: triglyceride, cholesterol, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), fasting insulin, fasting glucose, homeostatic model assessment–insulin resistance (Homa‐IR) index, and inflammatory biomarkers: interleukin (IL)‐6 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α. Experimental hyperlipidaemia was found to be associated with significantly higher body weight (27.58%), cholesterol (140%), triglyceride (190%), and fasting glucose level (37%). Reactive oxygen species production (67%), MDA (28.9%), AOPP (31.42%), PCO (58.53%), and PMRS (156%), inflammatory markers, cytokines IL‐6 and TNF‐α, were elevated and GSH (50%), PON 1 (37.07%), and FRAP (26.58%) activity were significantly (P < .05) lower in the high‐fat diet group. Hesperidin supplementation protected HFD‐fed rats from oxidative damage. Our findings indicate that the supplementation of hesperidin provides protection against redox imbalance induced by hyperlipidaemia in rats.
The false smut pathogen Ustilaginoidea virens requires rice stamens for false smut ball formation
Authors: Fan Jing , Liu Jie , Gong Zhi‐You , Xu Pei‐Zhou , Hu Xiao‐Hong , Wu Jin‐Long , Li Guo‐Bang , Yang Juan , Wang Yu‐Qiu , Zhou Yu‐Feng , Li Shuang‐Cheng , Wang Li , Chen Xiao‐Qiong , He Min , Zhao Ji‐Qun , Li Yan , Huang Yan‐Yan , Hu Dong‐Wei , Wu Xian‐Jun , Li Ping , Wang Wen‐Ming
Published: December 2019

Rice false smut has emerged as a serious grain disease in rice production worldwide. The disease is characterized by the transformation of individual rice florets into false smut balls, which is caused by the fungal pathogen Ustilaginoidea virens. To date, little is known about the host factors required for false smut ball formation by U. virens. In this study, we identified histological determinants for the formation of false smut balls by inoculating U. virens into rice floral mutants defective with respect to individual floral parts. The results showed that U. virens could form mature false smut balls in rice floral mutants with defective pistils, but failed to develop false smut balls in the superwoman mutant lacking stamens, identifying that U. virens requires rice stamens to complete its infection cycle. Comparative transcriptome analysis indicated a list of candidate host genes that may facilitate nutrient acquisition by U. virens from the rice stamens, such as SWEET11, SWEET14 and SUT5, and genes involved in the biosynthesis of trehalose and raffinose family sugars. These data pinpoint rice stamens as the key target organ of U. virens infection and provide a valuable starting point for dissecting the molecular mechanism of false smut ball formation.
Identification of four caspase genes from Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and their regulations toward different apoptotic stimulations
Authors: Yu Huan , Li Zi‐Qi , Ou‐Yang Yi‐Yi , Huang Guo‐Hua
Published: December 2019

Apoptosis plays critical roles in multiple biological processes in multicellular organisms. Caspases are known as important participators and regulators of apoptosis. Here, four novel caspase genes of Spodoptera exigua were cloned and characterized, which were designated as SeCasp‐1, SeCasp‐6, SeCasp‐7 and SeCasp‐8. Analysis of the putative encoded protein sequences of these SeCasps indicated that SeCasp‐1 and SeCasp‐7 were possible homologs of executor caspases; SeCasp‐8 was a possible homolog of initiator caspases; and SeCasp‐6 was a unique caspase of S. exigua that shares low similarity with all the identified insect caspases. Based on baculovirus expression system analyses, SeCasp‐1 exhibited similar caspase activity to human caspase‐1, ‐3, ‐4, ‐6, ‐8 and ‐9; SeCasp‐6 presented similar caspase activity to human caspase‐2, ‐3, ‐4, ‐6, ‐8 and ‐9; SeCasp‐7 exhibited similar caspase activity to human caspase‐2, ‐3 and ‐6; and SeCasp‐8 presented similar caspase activity only to human caspase‐8. Induction with different chemicals revealed that SeCasp‐1 showed extreme upregulation after 24 h in the treated fat body cell line (IOZCAS‐Spex‐II) of S. exigua. Developmental expression analysis revealed that SeCasp‐1 was highly transcribed in the larval stages, while SeCasp‐6, SeCasp‐7, SeCasp‐8 were down‐regulated. The in vivo detection of the relative expression levels of SeCasps in S. eixgua larvae inoculated with different pathogens suggested that SeCasp‐1 was sensitive to Bacillus thuringiensis infection and that SeCasp‐6 was sensitive to baculovirus infection. SeCasp‐7 and SeCasp‐8 showed slight changes under either in vitro chemical apoptosis induction or in vivo pathogen infection.
Insufficient awareness and vaccination practices for inflammatory bowel disease patients in China: A multi‐center survey of Chinese gastroenterologists
Authors: Li Shu Yan , Li Pei Wei , Shen Bo , Zhi Min , Gu Yu Bei , Wang Xin Ying , Guo Hong , Li Yue , Fan Yi Hong , Yang Bo Lin , Xue Meng , Wang Xiao Ying , Lv Min Fang , Li Yan , Ye Bin , Zhu Xin Jian , Chen Yan
Published: December 2019

Objective

The prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been increasing worldwide, and the risk of infection has increased due to the use of immunosuppressive and biologic medications. Some of these infections can be prevented with vaccinations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the vaccination practices of Chinese gastroenterologists for patients with IBD.

Methods

Questionnaires based on quick response codes were sent using email and the WeChat platform to gastroenterologists at 20 hospitals in China. The vaccination practices of the gastroenterologists, including vaccinating for hepatitis B, hepatitis A, and varicella, were assessed.

Results

Of the 468 gastroenterologists who received the questionnaire, 307 (65.6%) completed it. Of the gastroenterologists who were most concerned about hepatitis B; 83.4% always or frequently asked about an infection history, 53.7% took an immunization history, and 73.6% tested patients for hepatitis B infection. However, few gastroenterologists did so for hepatitis A or varicella. The proportion of patients who were asked about an infection and immunization history and tested for varicella infection was 16.0%, 15.0%, and 9.4%, respectively. Only a few gastroenterologists recommended vaccination for patients without an infection before IBD medical treatment (26.7% for hepatitis A, 45.6% for hepatitis B, and 28% for varicella vaccination).

Conclusion

Vaccination practices for patients with IBD used by Chinese gastroenterologists vary greatly, suggesting that education about immunization is needed.
Long‐term outcome in children with juvenile dermatomyositis: A single‐center study from north India
Authors: Sharma Avinash , Gupta Anju , Rawat Amit , Suri Deepti , Singh Surjit
Published: December 2019

Introduction

Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is the commonest childhood inflammatory myopathy. Outcome of children with JDM has improved significantly with current treatment protocols. We undertook this study to evaluate long‐term outcome of these children using validated outcome measures.

Methods

All children diagnosed as JDM and on follow‐up for more than 2 years were eligible for enrolment. Cross‐sectional examination was performed to assess signs of disease activity, damage, physical function and complications by using multiple validated outcome measures/tools.

Results

Thirty‐seven patients were enrolled, 19 were male. Median duration of disease at time of enrolment was 73 months (range 24‐219 months) and median duration of follow‐up was 60 months (range 24‐218 months). Disease course was monocyclic in two‐thirds of patients. Eight children were still on therapy at the time of enrolment. On Manual Muscle Testing 8, 3 and 7 children had severe weakness and mild to moderate weakness, respectively. Neck flexors were the most commonly affected muscle group. On abbreviated Cutaneous Assessment Tool, 14 children had evidence of cutaneous activity. More than 50% had at least 1 sign of cutaneous damage, most common signs being calcinosis and lipodystrophy. Nearly two‐thirds of patients had damage in at least 1 organ using Myositis Damage Index. Nine children had physical dysfunction when assessed by Child Health Assessment Questionnaire.

Conclusions

Skin disease continued to be active in a significant proportion of patients. Features of damage, namely calcinosis and lipodystrophy, were seen in more than half. Muscle disease normalized in a large proportion of patients.
Institutional investors, controlling shareholders and CEO pay‐performance relationship: evidence from China
Authors: Zhang Dan , Ma Shiguang , Pan Xiaofei
Published: December 2019

Using a large sample of China’s listed firms between 2005 and 2015, we find that domestic mutual funds have a positive effect on the CEO pay‐performance relationship, and this effect becomes stronger when their ownership is higher and closer to the controlling shareholder’s ownership. This effect is stronger in non‐state‐owned enterprises (non‐SOEs), firms facing weaker industry competition incentives, and firms located in more developed regions. However, Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors (QFIIs) do not have such an influence. Overall, our study contends that the effectiveness of institutional investors’ monitoring role is subject to their identity, controlling shareholders and institutional environments.
Evaluation of purely accelerated six fractions per week radiotherapy in postoperative oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Rath Satyajeet , Khurana Rohini , Sapru Shantanu , Rastogi Madhup , Gandhi Ajeet K. , Hadi Rahat , Sahni Kamal , Mishra Surendra P. , Srivastava Anoop K. , Syedkather Farzana
Published: December 2019

Objectives

Randomized controlled trials have shown improved loco‐regional control (LRC) and disease‐free survival (DFS) by modest acceleration using six fractions per‐week radiotherapy (RT) as compared to conventional fractionation in patients of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. We aimed to evaluate the role of pure modestly accelerated fractionated radiotherapy (PM‐ART) using six fractions per‐week in patients of postoperative oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC).

Materials and Methods

Between May 2015 and July 2016, 40 OCSCC patients with ≥ 1 indication of RT were treated with adjuvant PM‐ART, 60 Gray in 30 fractions over 5 weeks by three‐dimensional conformal technique on a linear accelerator with a sixth 2 Gray fraction on Saturday using same fields. Primary endpoint was to assess acute toxicity, which was reviewed weekly during RT using Radiation Therapy Oncology Group criteria.

Results

Maximal grade 3 oral mucositis, pharynx/esophageal toxicity, and skin toxicity were seen in 77.5%, 25%, and 17.5%, respectively. Two patients had grade 4 mucositis. 47.5% were on tube feeding during RT. All the patients were taken off Ryle's tube within 4 weeks of RT completion. The median RT completion duration was 36 days. Three patients had treatment interruptions. With a median follow‐up of 21.2 months, the 2‐year LRC, DFS, and overall survival rates were 87.5%, 83.5%, and 85%, respectively. There were two distant failures.

Conclusion

PM‐ART is feasible and tolerable. The high acute mucositis rates did not result in increased consequential late toxicity.
Bureaucratic Responsiveness to LGBT Americans
Authors: Lowande Kenneth , Proctor Andrew
Published: December 2019

Marriage rights were extended to same‐sex couples in the United States in 2015. However, anecdotes of bureaucratic noncompliance (in the form of bias or denial of license issuance) raise the possibility that de jure marriage equality has not led to equality in practice. We investigate this by conducting a nationwide audit experiment of local‐level marriage license–granting officials in the United States. These officials vary in the constituencies they serve, as well as how they are selected, allowing us to evaluate long‐standing hypotheses about bureaucratic responsiveness. Overall, we find no evidence of systematic discrimination against same‐sex couples—regardless of responsiveness measure, institutions, ideology, or prior state legal history. We find, however, that among same‐sex couples, officials tended to be more responsive to lesbian couples. In contrast to evidence in other areas of service provision, such as policing and federal assistance programs, we find bureaucrats tasked with provision of marriage services show little evidence of discrimination.