bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Designing Peptides on a Quantum Computer
Authors: Mulligan Vikram Khipple , Melo Hans , Merritt Haley Irene , Slocum Stewart , Weitzner Brian D. , Watkins Andrew M. , Renfrew P. Douglas , Pelissier Craig , Arora Paramjit S. , Bonneau Richard
Published: September 2019

Although a wide variety of quantum computers are currently being developed, actual computational results have been largely restricted to contrived, artificial tasks. Finding ways to apply quantum computers to useful, real-world computational tasks remains an active research area. Here we describe our mapping of the protein design problem to the D-Wave quantum annealer. We present a system whereby Rosetta, a state-of-the-art protein design software suite, interfaces with the D-Wave quantum processing unit to find amino acid side chain identities and conformations to stabilize a fixed protein backbone. Our approach, which we call the QPacker, uses a large side-chain rotamer library and the full Rosetta energy function, and in no way reduces the design task to a simpler format. We demonstrate that quantum annealer-based design can be applied to complex real-world design tasks, producing designed molecules comparable to those produced by widely adopted classical design approaches. We also show through large-scale classical folding simulations that the results produced on the quantum annealer can inform wet-lab experiments. For design tasks that scale exponentially on classical computers, the QPacker achieves nearly constant runtime performance over the range of problem sizes that could be tested. We anticipate better than classical performance scaling as quantum computers mature.
Reactivation of chromosome signalling induces reversal of the meiotic program
Authors: Castellano-Pozo Maikel , Pacheco Sarai , Sioutas Georgios , Jaso-Tamame Angel Luis , Dore Marian H , Martinez-Perez Enrique
Published: September 2019

Chromosome movements and programmed DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) promote homologue pairing and initiate recombination at meiosis onset. Meiotic progression involves checkpoint-controlled termination of these events when all homologue pairs achieve synapsis and form crossover precursors. We show that termination of chromosome movement and DSB formation is reversible and is continuously implemented by the synaptonemal complex (SC), which silences chromosome signals that promote CHK-2 activity. Forced removal of the SC or different meiosis-specific cohesin complexes, which are individually required for SC stability, causes rapid CHK-2-dependent reinstallation of the DSB-formation and chromosome-movement machinery. This nuclear reorganization occurs without transcriptional changes, but requires signalling from HORMA protein HTP-1. Conversely, CHK-2 inactivation causes rapid disassembly of the DSB-formation and chromosome-movement machinery. Thus, nuclear organization is constantly controlled by the level of CHK-2 activity. Our results uncover an unexpected plasticity of the meiotic program and show how chromosome signalling integrates nuclear organization with meiotic progression.
Computational modeling reveals a hydrophobic force-induced pore-forming mechanism for cholesterol-dependent cytolysins
Authors: Pang Shichao , Yang Junchen , Wang Jingfang
Published: September 2019

During the pore-forming process, cholesterol-dependent cytolysins (CDCs) bind to cholesterol-rich membranes and subsequently undergo a series of conformational changes, predominantly involving in the collapse of the protein and the transformation from α helices to β-hairpins to form a large hydrophobic pore. In the current study, we reconstructed a structural model for both the prepore and pore-forming complexes of PFO based on the cryo-EM data of pneumolysin and performed molecular dynamics simulations and free energy calculations to study the conformational changes in the PFO prepore-to-pore conversion. Our simulations indicate that D2 cannot collapse spontaneously due to the hydrogen bonding and pi-pi interactions between domains D2 and D3, which are partially weakened by binding to cell membranes and oligomerization. The free energy landscape for the prepore-to-pore conversion reveals that an additional force is required for the collapse of D2 to overcome an energy barrier of ∼ 24 kcal/mol. Based on these computational results, we proposed a hydrophobic force-induced pore-forming mechanism to explain the pore-forming process of CDCs. In this mechanism, the hydrophobic interactions between the TMHs and membranes are essential for the prepore-to-pore conversion. The hydrophobic force generated by the TMHs-membrane interactions drives the conformational changes in domains D2 and D3. These findings well explain how the conformational changes within two distant domains synergistically occur, and fits well for the previous biophysical and biochemical data.
Defined factors to reactivate cell cycle activity in adult mouse cardiomyocytes
Authors: Judd Justin , Lovas Jonathan , Huang Guo N.
Published: September 2019

Adult mammalian cardiomyocytes exit the cell cycle during the neonatal period, commensurate with the loss of regenerative capacity in adult mammalian hearts. We established conditions for long-term culture of adult mouse cardiomyocytes that are genetically labeled with fluorescence. This technique permits reliable analyses of proliferation of pre-existing cardiomyocytes without complications from cardiomyocyte marker expression loss due to dedifferentiation or significant contribution from cardiac progenitor cell expansion and differentiation in culture. Using this system, we took a candidate gene approach to screen for fetal-specific proliferative gene programs that can induce proliferation of adult mouse cardiomyocytes. Using pooled gene delivery and subtractive gene elimination, we identified a novel functional interaction between E2f Transcription Factor 2 (E2f2) and Brain Expressed X-Linked (Bex)/Transcription elongation factor A-like (Tceal) superfamily members Bex1 and Tceal8. Specifically, Bex1 and Tceal8 both preserved cell viability during E2f2-induced cell cycle re-entry. Although Tceal8 inhibited E2f2-induced S-phase re-entry, Bex1 facilitated DNA synthesis while inhibiting cell death. In sum, our study provides a valuable method for adult cardiomyocyte proliferation research and suggests that Bex family proteins may function in modulating cell proliferation and death decisions during cardiomyocyte development and maturation.
Multistable and dynamic CRISPRi-based synthetic circuits
Authors: Santos-Moreno Javier , Tasiudi Eve , Stelling Joerg , Schaerli Yolanda
Published: September 2019

Gene expression control based on CRISPRi (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats interference) has emerged as a powerful tool for creating synthetic gene circuits, both in prokaryotes and in eukaryotes; yet, its lack of cooperativity has been pointed out as a potential obstacle for dynamic or multistable circuit construction. Here we use CRISPRi to build prominent synthetic gene circuits in Escherichia coli. We report the first-ever CRISPRi oscillator (“CRISPRlator”), bistable network (toggle switch) and stripe pattern-forming incoherent feed-forward loop (IFFL). Our circuit designs, conceived to feature high predictability and orthogonality, as well as low metabolic burden and context-dependency, allowed us to achieve robust circuit behaviors. Mathematical modeling suggests that unspecific binding in CRISPRi is essential to establish multistability. Our work demonstrates the wide applicability of CRISPRi in synthetic circuits and paves the way for future efforts towards engineering more complex synthetic networks, boosted by the advantages of CRISPR technology.
What does board capital really bring to the table?
Authors: Fernandez Whitney Douglas , Thams Yannick , Lehrer Mark
Published: September 2019

Purpose

Although resource dependence theory (RDT) has substantially deepened the understanding of the function and role of boards, no systematic review of this body of work has yet been undertaken. The purpose of this paper is to synthesize prior research on the strategically relevant resources provided by board members to their organization in the light of RDT and indicate avenues for future research.

Design/methodology/approach

The review covers 79 research articles from 1978 to 2016 dealing with the resource provision of boards of directors.

Findings

Board capital research most often assumes a positive, linear relationship between board capital, resource provision and ultimately firm-level performance outcomes. This tendency tends to exclude from view the possibility of important trade-offs relevant to both theory and practice. Future research will need to incorporate more complex models that take into consideration nonlinear and curvilinear effects. The authors outline opportunities to advance board research by refining the methodological techniques employed.

Originality/value

By recommending investigation of the important trade-offs inherent in board composition, the authors seek to inspire future research that offers practical guidance for improving the effectiveness of corporate boards.
The influence of employer rankings, employment experience, and employee characteristics on employer branding as an employer of choice
Authors: Saini Gordhan K. , Jawahar I.M.
Published: September 2019

Purpose

Drawing on the psychological contract theory and signaling theory, the purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to examine the effect of employer rankings and employment experience on employee recommendation of an employer as an employer of choice and second, to examine whether these effects vary by employee characteristics (i.e. full-time vs part-time, current vs former and newcomers vs established employees).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used multilevel logistic regression on a sample of 39,010 Glassdoor employee reviews, drawn from the companies for which three-year employer rankings (from 2015 to 2017) were available, to achieve our research objectives.

Findings

The results show that employment experience influenced employees’ recommendation of an employer as an employer of choice. The average standardized rankings for three years (i.e. 2015–2017) was also associated with employees’ recommendation of an employer as an employer of choice. Employee characteristics such as employment type (i.e. full-time vs part-time), employment status (i.e. current vs former) and tenure significantly interacted with employment experience in affecting recommendations of a company as an employer of choice.

Originality/value

In contrast to the bulk of the research on employer branding that relied on job seekers, the authors studied factors that influence employees’ recommendation of an employer as an employer of choice, arguably the most important indicator of employer internal brand strength. The results offer fresh theoretical and practical insights in an area where research lags far behind practice.
A reliable model for the compensation loop of multistage amplifiers at high frequency
Authors: Aminzadeh Hamed
Published: September 2019

Purpose

Multistage amplifiers require a reliable frequency compensation solution to remain stable in a closed-loop configuration. A frequency compensation scheme creates an inner negative feedback loop amongst different amplifying stages and shapes the frequency response such that an unconditionally stable single-pole amplifier results for closed-loop operation. The frequency compensation loop is thus responsible for the placement of the poles and zeros and the final stability of multistage amplifiers. An amplifier incorporating a sophisticated frequency compensation network cannot be, however, analyzed in the presence of a complex ac feedback loop. The purpose of this study is to provide a reliable model for the compensation loop of multistage amplifiers at the higher frequencies.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the major part of the amplifier, including a two-port network comprising the compensation network, is characterized using a reliable feedback model.

Findings

The model integrates all the frequency-dependent components of the frequency compensation network, and it can evaluate the nondominant real or complex poles of an amplifier.

Originality/value

The reliability of the proposed model is verified through analysis of the frequency response of the amplifiers and by comparing the analytic results with the simulation results in standard CMOS process.
Favelas and townships: place making, everyday racialization, and the postracial
Authors: Rocha Franco Sergio Henrique
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to indicate how place making and belonging are still largely governed by race in Brazil and South Africa. As such, it engages with debates about the postracial informed by the study of two urban settings that are discernible by their relationship with race issues: Rio de Janeiro’s favelas and Johannesburg’s townships.

Design/methodology/approach

The study provides a brief account of post-racial discourses in each country: Brazilian racial democracy and South Africa’s self-imagination as rainbow nation. Subsequently, these two major national self-understandings are probed using data gathered in the fieldwork (participant observation and in-depth interviews) carried out in Rio de Janeiro’s favelas and Johannesburg’s townships between 2013 and 2015.

Findings

The main accomplishment of the study is to approach debates about senses of place, understood here as place making and belonging, from the everyday experiences of favela and township inhabitants. The study suggests discrepancies between the racialized senses of place in Brazilian and South African urban milieus and any sort of post-racial rhetoric. Despite the existence of norms and institutions promoting equal rights of citizenship in Brazil and South Africa, place making is still largely encumbered by the legacy of racial domination in both countries.

Originality/value

By adding new evidence to the research on everyday racism, the study explores the mutual influences between senses of place and the persistent patterns of racial segregation in two urban contexts of the global South. Beyond this, it offers a comparative approach that connects micro-level social dynamics and macro-level discourses.
The impact of religious salience on purchase intentions: evidence from the UAE
Authors: Nickerson Catherine , Menon Nandialath Anup
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of religious salience on consumer purchase intentions in the multicultural environment of the UAE, more specifically on the willingness of a Muslim consumer to purchase a product labelled or packaged to include an Islamic appeal, i.e. an appeal with a heightened religious salience. While some attempts have been made in the literature to examine the impact of religious salience on purchase intentions, research amongst Muslim consumers remains under-explored.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a randomized survey experiment administered to 148 Emirati educated female nationals. The survey consisted of pairs of advertisements, where each advertisement promoted the same product and the same brand, varying on whether they included an Islamic appeal or not in the labelling, packaging or slogan. The respondents were asked about their attitude to the different versions of the advertisements, as well as their willingness to purchase the product. The authors used causal mediation analysis to explore the mechanisms through which causal effects on purchase intentions are determined.

Findings

This study shows that including an Islamic appeal, and therefore increasing the religious salience in product promotion, leads to higher purchase intentions amongst Muslim consumers. The authors also identified a number of additional moderating factors that influenced the consumer’s purchase intentions, such as product and/or brand awareness and the type of product being promoted, as well as the nature of the artefact that was included in the ad as the Islamic appeal. Finally, the causal mediation analysis suggests that Islamic appeals increases product attractiveness, which in turn leads to higher purchase intentions.

Originality/value

This paper investigates the effect of religious salience on consumer behaviour and their purchase intentions. This paper makes an empirical contribution to understanding consumer behaviour with particular relevance to retail hubs with a majority Muslim population.
Innovation climate mediating complexity leadership and ambidexterity
Authors: Diesel Rick , Scheepers Caren Brenda
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between complexity leadership and contextual ambidexterity as well as the mediating effect of organisational innovation climate in this link. This study is an answer to a call on which leadership approach and mediating factors can meet today’s seemingly contradictory challenges of efficiently managing business demands, while simultaneously searching for new opportunities.

Design/methodology/approach

The researchers analysed 1,204 usable survey responses from employees of South African organisations. Analysis was in the form of structural equation modelling. Mediation analysis was carried out on estimates of the indirect effect.

Findings

Results show that complexity leadership was a strong predictor of innovation climate; in turn, innovation climate positively impacts exploratory innovation by 64 per cent; complexity leadership and innovation climate positively affect exploitation by 57 per cent. The innovation climate plays a total mediator role between complexity leadership and exploratory innovation and a partial effect on exploitation.

Practical implications

This study gives human resource management (HRM) insight into strategically directing leadership recruitment and development towards creating an organisational climate to enhance ambidexterity. HRM must conduct regular climate surveys to ascertain whether current leadership is creating an environment that enables exploratory and exploitative innovation.

Originality/value

The authors’ contribution includes a theoretical contribution to the emerging field of complexity leadership by offering conceptual as well as empirical evidence of its role in ambidexterity. This study extends previous research in highlighting organisational climate’s mediating role of being open to new ideas to enable exploratory innovation.
Testing customer’s knowledge on customer intimacy and its impact on repurchase intention
Authors: Nora Liza
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is testing customer’s knowledge on customer intimacy and its impact on repurchase intention, specifically to Bank Muamalat’s customers in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Design/methodology/approach

This research was conducted at sharia bank with research subject that is a customer of Bank Muamalat reasons to choose Bank Muamalat as a representative of other sharia banks as a place of research because it is the first sharia bank in Indonesia and more experienced in implementing sharia practices. The branch offices approved as research sites are only seven branch offices (Panglima Polim, Slipi, Tanah Abang, Kemayoran, Mangga Dua, Buaran and Kalimalang) in five areas of DKI Jakarta (Central Jakarta, West Jakarta, South Jakarta, East Jakarta and North Jakarta). Respondents at the seven branch offices are considered to represent customers of Bank Muamalat in the area of Jakarta. Data were collected from August to December 2017.

Findings

High customer knowledge is able to encourage customer intimacy, and high customer intimacy is also able to encourage repurchase intention. On the other hand, it was found that customer knowledge was not directly able to increase the intention of repeat purchase. However, from the mediation test (indirect effect) is seen with high customer knowledge, supported by the high customer intimacy, it can indirectly increase the high repurchasing intention.

Originality/value

Originality is seen from testing the mediation effect of customer intimacy on the influence of customer knowledge on purchase intentions. Furthermore, inconsistencies put the customer’s familiarity with familiarity, and familiarity with the intention of repeat purchase, are re-examined in the context of sharia banks. It is assumed the test results will be different if done in different countries and institutions.
Dealing with growing forest insect pests: The role of top‐down regulation
Authors: Martínez‐Abraín Alejandro , Jiménez Juan
Published: September 2019

Forest insect pests are becoming increasingly common in Europe. A recent paper published in this journal dealt with a particular case of pest spreading in Portuguese coniferous forests.

The authors discussed the effect that mass trapping and clear‐cut belts had on slowing down the invasion and suggested that likely causes of pest spreading are stress due to global warming and the introduction of exotic species. Inspired by that paper, we defend here the point that forest communities are not only regulated by bottom‐up mechanisms, such as water stress, but also by top‐down mechanisms, such as predation.

We provide information from European metadata showing that forest biomass grew by 38% (1991–2015) whereas forest insectivorous passerine trends were stable (1980–2016).

Synthesis and applications. We suggest that rebounding European forests are too young to support large communities of insectivorous birds and that an effective way to solve pest problems could be to promote the use of nest boxes for them (and for other insect predators), as it was done in the past in large reforestations implemented in Spain. Additionally, the presence of large mammalian herbivores is needed to reduce the density of trees in forests. Priority should be given to this ecological management in comparison with massive trapping and clear‐cut belt construction or at least it should be used together with those engineering practices.
Management measures to control pine wood nematode spread in Europe
Authors: de la Fuente Begoña , Beck Pieter S. A.
Published: September 2019

Invasive pests, such as the pine wood nematode (PWN), threaten European forests. In De la Fuente, Saura, and Beck, Journal of Applied Ecology, 2018, 55, 2374, we modelled the natural spread of the PWN by the longhorn beetle (Monochamus galloprovincialis) on the Iberian Peninsula. We used the model to evaluate the effectiveness of several management measures to control the PWN spread: early detection and removal of infected trees, beetle mass trapping and clear‐cut belts. We simulated these particular measures because they have been or are being applied in PWN containment efforts on the Iberian Peninsula.

Martínez‐Abraín and Jiménez, Journal of Applied Ecology, 2019, suggested that two other management measures would be appropriate to halt the PWN expansion: installing nest boxes for insectivorous birds in order to increase predation on vector beetles and increasing the populations of large mammalian herbivores to lower forest tree density.

The results of De la Fuente, Saura, and Beck, Journal of Applied Ecology, 2018, 55, 2374 showed that a combination of measures is more likely to control PWN spread than any single one in isolation, indicating that halting this, and many other invasive species, requires a comprehensive approach.

Here, we review current evidence on the efficacy of the measures proposed by Martínez‐Abraín and Jiménez, Journal of Applied Ecology, 2019, as PWN management tools. This evidence suggests that, by themselves, these measures are unlikely to significantly slow down, let alone halt, the PWN spread on the Iberian Peninsula. Furthermore, we indicate how the model presented in De la Fuente, Saura, and Beck, Journal of Applied Ecology, 2018, 55, 2374 lends itself to assessing this quantitatively in future research.

Synthesis and applications. Lost biotic interactions in ecosystems can make them more vulnerable to invasions, and restoring interactions can in turn increase resilience. Ecosystem restoration can thus, in theory, also benefit invasive species management. Current evidence indicates however that managing natural species interactions, such as beetle predation from insectivorous birds or herbivory by large mammals, would need to be applied in combination with other measures if they are to halt or significantly slow down the expansion of the PWN in Europe.
Can germination explain the distribution of tree species in a savanna wetland?
Authors: Oliveira Patricia C. , Parolin Pia , Borghetti Fabian
Published: September 2019

The relationship between seed germination and ecological niche is determined by matching germination characteristics with environmental features. In this study, we selected tree species occurring in the largest savanna wetland in South America – the Pantanal. Very few species are endemic or exclusively found in savanna wetlands, and the majority of tree species occurring in the Pantanal are also found in the neighbouring Brazilian Cerrado, a drier vegetation type that does not flood. We investigated the relationship between germination characteristics and occurrence of savanna trees in wetlands testing the hypothesis that such seeds are tolerant to flooding. We also addressed the question of whether seed tolerance to flood, assessed by survival analysis, explains tree distribution along a gradient of flooding intensity. In this flooding gradient, widely distributed species are those that occur in areas subjected to low as well as to high flooding intensity whereas restricted distributed species are those that occur only in areas subjected to a low level of flood. Seeds from tree species occurring in areas subjected to different flooding intensities were collected. Seed tolerance and germination during and after both one and two months of simulated flood were evaluated. Our results show that seeds of most of the studied savanna species tolerated submergence, which helps to explain their occurrence and wide distribution in wetlands. Nevertheless, germination behaviour checked by survival functions (i.e. how germination is distributed over time) partially explained tree species distribution along a flooding gradient. We conclude that seed tolerance to flooding is one of the components of the regeneration niche that determines tree occurrence and distribution at the regional scale, from savanna to wetland, but not at a local scale along a flooding gradient.
Exploring the link between tumour metabolism and succinate dehydrogenase deficiency: A 18F‐FDOPA PET/CT study in head and neck paragangliomas
Authors: Reichert Thibaut , Fakhry Nicolas , Lavieille Jean‐Pierre , Amodru Vincent , Sebag Frédéric , Romanet Pauline , Loundou Anderson , Castinetti Frédéric , Pacak Karel , Montava Marion , Taïeb David
Published: September 2019

Objectives

Nuclear imaging findings by virtue of phenotyping disease heavily depend on genetic background, metabolites, cell membrane specific targets and signalling pathways. PPGL related to succinate dehydrogenase subunits mutations (SDHx mutations) are less differentiated than other subgroups and therefore may lack to concentrate 18F‐FDOPA, a precursor of catecholamines biosynthesis. However, this 18F‐FDOPA negative phenotype has been reported mostly in SDHx‐PPGL of sympathetic origin, suggesting that both genotype status and location (from sympathetic vs parasympathetic paraganglia; adrenal vs extra‐adrenal) could influence 18F‐FDOPA uptake. The aim of this study was to test if SDHx drives 18F‐FDOPA uptake in presence of normal epinephrine/norepinephrine concentrations.

Design

Retrospective study

Patients

A cohort of 86 head and neck PPGL patients (including three metastatic) with normal metanephrines underwent 18F‐FDOPA PET/CT. The relationships between 18F‐FDOPA uptake and tumour genotype were evaluated.

Results

In nonmetastatic HNPGL (50 non‐SDHx/33 SDHx), no significant difference was observed between these two groups for SUVmax (P = .256), SUVmean (P = .188), MTV 42% (P = .596) and total lesion uptake (P = .144). Metastatic HNPGL also had high elevated uptake values.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that SDH deficiency or metastatic behaviour have no influence on 18F‐FDOPA uptake in HNPGL probably due to their very‐well differentiation status, even at metastatic stage. The potential prognosticator value of 18F‐FDOPA uptake would need to be further explored in the setting of metastatic PPGL of sympathetic origin.
Feasibility of rapid on‐site cytological evaluation of lung cancer by a trained pulmonologist during bronchoscopy examination
Authors: Umeda Yasuaki , Otsuka Mitsuo , Nishikiori Hirotaka , Ikeda Kimiyuki , Mori Yuki , Kobayashi Tomofumi , Asai Yuichiro , Takahashi Yohei , Sudo Yuta , Kodama Kentaro , Yamada Gen , Chiba Hirofumi , Takahashi Hiroki
Published: September 2019

Objective

Rapid on‐site cytological evaluation (ROSE) in bronchoscopy is a useful ancillary technique. ROSE is usually performed by a cytopathologist or cytotechnologist. However, because of staff shortages and reduced availability, ROSE cannot be performed in every hospital. We aimed to evaluate the accuracy of ROSE when performed by a trained pulmonologist, comparing the diagnosis results with the final diagnosis of cytopathologists.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study on 125 patients who underwent bronchoscopy with endobronchial ultrasound‐guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS‐TBNA) and endobronchial ultrasonography with a guide sheath (EBUS‐GS) for peripheral pulmonary lesions by conventional bronchoscopy at Sapporo Medical University Hospital between March 2012 and September 2018. ROSE was performed by a pulmonologist who was trained by a cytotechnologist for a total of 1 month. DiffQuik® staining for ROSE was used to prepare cytology slides. The results of ROSE were compared with the final diagnosis obtained using Papanicolaou staining by cytopathologists.

Results

In all procedures, the sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of ROSE were 88.5%, 83.0% and 86.4%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value or accuracy between EBUS‐TBNA and EBUS‐GS.

Conclusions

ROSE of lung cancer by a trained pulmonologist can be highly accurate and deemed as feasible and useful for not only EBUS‐TBNA but also EBUS‐GS.
Introduction history and population genetics of intracontinental scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) invasion
Authors: Brandes Ursula , Furevik Beate Beatriz , Nielsen Lene Rostgaard , Kjær Erik Dahl , Rosef Line , Fjellheim Siri
Published: September 2019

Aim

Biological invasions at the intracontinental scale are poorly studied, and intracontinental invasions often remain cryptic. Here, we investigate the recent range expansion of scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) into Norway and clarify whether the genetic patterns indicate natural spread or human introduction. Furthermore, we investigate whether plants were moved within the native range and how this influences invasion success. We also infer the level and structuring of genetic diversity within and between the putative native and introduced range.

Location

Europe.

Methods

We analysed the chloroplast sequence variation in 267 scotch broom samples from its northern expansion front and from its native range across Europe, including herbarium samples dating back to 1835. For 37 populations, we analysed variation in nuclear single‐nucleotide polymorphic markers to study gene flow and genetic diversity.

Results

We identified 20 different haplotypes, which lacked spatial and temporal distribution patterns in the recent expansion range in Norway. They also mostly lacked patterns across the native European range of scotch broom. The genetic diversity of nuclear genomic SNP markers across populations in the introduced range was similar to that of populations in the native range, with limited differentiation among populations.

Main conclusions

Scotch broom is alien to Norway and was introduced by humans on multiple occasions from diverse origins over a long period of time. High propagule pressure has probably maintained the high genetic diversity in the novel range through a combination of genetically diverse source populations and high gene flow among them. Within the native European range, our results suggest the presence of cryptic intraspecific admixture, most likely mediated by humans moving genotypes among the regions occupied by distinct native genotypes. Intracontinental invasions may easily go unnoticed and revealing these invasions and the factors driving them may be of great importance for the management of alien species.
Behaviour change, weight loss and remission of Type 2 diabetes: a community‐based prospective cohort study
Authors: Dambha‐Miller H. , Day A. J. , Strelitz J. , Irving G. , Griffin S. J.
Published: September 2019

Aim

To quantify the association between behaviour change and weight loss after diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, and the likelihood of remission of diabetes at 5‐year follow‐up.

Method

We conducted a prospective cohort study in 867 people with newly diagnosed diabetes aged 40–69 years from the ADDITION‐Cambridge trial. Participants were identified via stepwise screening between 2002 and 2006, and underwent assessment of weight change, physical activity (EPAQ2 questionnaire), diet (plasma vitamin C and self‐report), and alcohol consumption (self‐report) at baseline and 1 year after diagnosis. Remission was examined at 5 years after diabetes diagnosis via HbA1c level. We constructed log binomial regression models to quantify the association between change in behaviour and weight over both the first year after diagnosis and the subsequent 1–5 years, as well as remission at 5‐year follow‐up.

Results

Diabetes remission was achieved in 257 participants (30%) at 5‐year follow‐up. Compared with people who maintained the same weight, those who achieved ≥ 10% weight loss in the first year after diagnosis had a significantly higher likelihood of remission [risk ratio 1.77 (95% CI 1.32 to 2.38; p<0.01)]. In the subsequent 1–5 years, achieving ≥10% weight loss was also associated with remission [risk ratio 2.43 (95% CI 1.78 to 3.31); p<0.01].

Conclusion

In a population‐based sample of adults with screen‐detected Type 2 diabetes, weight loss of ≥10% early in the disease trajectory was associated with a doubling of the likelihood of remission at 5 years. This was achieved without intensive lifestyle interventions or extreme calorie restrictions. Greater attention should be paid to enabling people to achieve weight loss following diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes.
Effect of a multicomponent intervention on achievement and improvements in quality‐of‐care indices among people with Type 2 diabetes in South Asia: the CARRS trial
Authors: Shah M. K. , Kondal D. , Patel S. A. , Singh K. , Devarajan R. , Shivashankar R. , Ajay V. S. , Menon V. U. , Varthakavi P. K. , Viswanathan V. , Dharmalingam M. , Bantwal G. , Sahay R. K. , Masood M. Q. , Khadgawat R. , Desai A. , Prabhakaran D. , Narayan K. M. V. , Tandon N. , Ali M. K.
Published: September 2019

Aims

To evaluate whether and what combinations of diabetes quality metrics were achieved in a multicentre trial in South Asia evaluating a multicomponent quality improvement intervention that included non‐physician care coordinators to promote adherence and clinical decision‐support software to enhance physician practices, in comparision with usual care.

Methods

Using data from the Centre for Cardiometabolic Risk Reduction in South Asia (CARRS) trial, we evaluated the proportions of trial participants achieving specific and combinations of five diabetes care targets (HbA1c<53 mmol/mol [7%], blood pressure <130/80 mmHg, LDL cholesterol <2.6 mmol/L, non‐smoking status, and aspirin use). Additionally, we examined the proportions of participants achieving the following risk factor improvements from baseline: ≥11‐mmol/mol (1%) reduction in HbA1c, ≥10‐mmHg reduction in systolic blood pressure, and/or ≥0.26‐mmol/l reduction in LDL cholesterol.

Results

Baseline characteristics were similar in the intervention and usual care arms. Overall, 12.3%, 29.4%, 36.5%, 19.5% and 2.2% of participants in the intervention group and 16.2%, 38.3%, 31.6%, 11.3% and 0.8% of participants in the usual care group achieved any one, two, three, four or five targets, respectively. We noted sizeable improvements in HbA1c, blood pressure and cholesterol, and found that participants in the intervention group were twice as likely to achieve improvements in all three indices at 12 months that were sustained over 28 months of the study [relative risk 2.1 (95% CI 1.5,2.8) and 1.8 (95% CI 1.5,2.3), respectively].

Conclusions

The intervention was associated with significantly higher achievement of and greater improvements in composite diabetes quality care goals. However, among these higher‐risk participants, very small proportions achieved the complete group of targets, which suggests that achievement of multiple quality‐of‐care goals is challenging and that other methods may be needed in closing care gaps.
Agriculture erases climate constraints on soil nematode communities across large spatial scales
Authors: Li Xianping , Zhu Huimin , Geisen Stefan , Bellard Céline , Hu Feng , Li Huixin , Chen Xiaoyun , Liu Manqiang
Published: September 2019

Anthropogenic conversion of natural to agricultural land reduces aboveground biodiversity. Yet, the overall consequences of land‐use changes on belowground biodiversity at large scales remain insufficiently explored. Furthermore, the effects of conversion on different organism groups are usually determined at the taxonomic level, while an integrated investigation that includes functional and phylogenetic levels is rare and absent for belowground organisms. Here, we studied the Earth's most abundant metazoa—nematodes—to examine the effects of conversion from natural to agricultural habitats on soil biodiversity across a large spatial scale. To this aim, we investigated the diversity and composition of nematode communities at the taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic level in 16 assemblage pairs (32 sites in total with 16 in each habitat type) in mainland China. While the overall alpha and beta diversity did not differ between natural and agricultural systems, all three alpha diversity facets decreased with latitude in natural habitats. Both alpha and beta diversity levels were driven by climatic differences in natural habitats, while none of the diversity levels changed in agricultural systems. This indicates that land conversion affects soil biodiversity in a geographically dependent manner and that agriculture could erase climatic constraints on soil biodiversity at such a scale. Additionally, the functional composition of nematode communities was more dissimilar in agricultural than in natural habitats, while the phylogenetic composition was more similar, indicating that changes among different biodiversity facets are asynchronous. Our study deepens the understanding of land‐use effects on soil nematode diversity across large spatial scales. Moreover, the detected asynchrony of taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity highlights the necessity to monitor multiple facets of soil biodiversity in ecological studies such as those investigating environmental changes.
Increase in direct social care costs of Alzheimer's disease in Japan depending on dementia severity
Authors: Takechi Hajime , Kokuryu Atsuko , Kuzuya Akira , Matsunaga Shinji
Published: September 2019

Aim

With the aging population, costs of direct social support for patients with Alzheimer's disease have grown and will continue to increase. The purpose of the present study was to estimate the cost of direct social support for Alzheimer's disease under long‐term care insurance in Japan.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study included 169 patients with Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment who visited a memory clinic and were followed over time. Dementia severity, use of care services and costs were analyzed.

Results

The use of direct social support and costs increased significantly between patients with mild, moderate and severe dementia (P < 0.001). In particular, the use of day services and short stay services increased with the severity of dementia (P < 0.001). Similar findings were obtained when participants were stratified by long‐term care insurance care levels. Of 169 participants, 49 had not applied for long‐term care insurance, although their dementia severity was not different from support‐need level 1 and care‐need level 1. Logistic regression analysis of “did not apply” and “applied and certified” groups showed significant differences not only in dementia severity, but also in age (odds ratio 1.112, 95% confidence interval 1.037–1.193, P = 0.003) and living arrangements (odds ratio 0.257, 95% confidence interval 0.076–0.862, P = 0.028).

Conclusions

As the number of patients with Alzheimer's disease increases, direct social costs will increase. The findings of this study might help standardize the type of direct social support provided after diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and contribute to the development of cost‐effective care for these patients. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; 19: 1023–1029.
Bonding of alkaline and alkaline earth cations in Na‐Ca‐Sr polyphosphate glasses
Authors: Morguetto Gabriel Felipe , Tsunaki Lucas Ely Bins , Schneider José
Published: September 2019

Dissolution of phosphates bioglasses, for bone regeneration or controlled ion release, is a key property to be tuned by adequate selection of chemical species. Mixed Na‐Sr and Na‐Ca polyphosphate glasses exhibit definite bonding preferences of the stronger cations to O from chain‐end phosphates (Q1) instead of random bonding to the network (Q1 and Q2). This behavior is important for the control of dissolution, as hydration starts from the reaction of H with O in Q1. To analyze this bonding preference in glasses with two alkaline earths competing for O, mixed Na‐Ca‐Sr polyphosphates (0.57‐x) Na2O·x/2 SrO·x/2 CaO·0.43 P2O5 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.30 molar fraction) were considered. 31P nuclear magnetic resonance was used to analyze the short‐range environments of Qn groups, detecting preferential bonding of Ca and Sr to Q1. To probe variations in the medium‐range organization of the network induced by Ca or Sr, glasses with compositions (0.57‐x) Na2O·x MO·0.43 P2O5 (M = Ca,Sr; 0 ≤ x≤0.30 molar fraction), were analyzed using 31P‐double‐quantum techniques. An increase in mutual Q2 self‐connectivity relative to the base Na‐polyphosphate network was detected as Ca or Sr were added, indicating conversion of linear phosphate chains into rings.
Policy reforms and productivity change in the judiciary system: a cost function approach applied to time series of the Dutch judiciary system between 1980 and 2016
Authors: Blank Jos L. T. , van Heezik Alex A.S.
Published: September 2019

The judiciary is constantly undergoing change in order to respond to a wide range of social developments that have brought the sector under increasing pressure. In order to deal with the constant call for enhancing budgets, different policy measures have been taken to downsize the appeal to the judiciary and to improve productivity. One of the central questions hereby is whether these measures have actually contributed to a more productive sector. This paper focuses on the development of productivity in the judiciary and how policy measures have affected productivity. In this empirical analysis, we apply a cost function model to time series data of the Dutch judiciary between 1980 and 2016. The results show a dramatic decline of productivity over the entire period (−50%), in spite of various policy measures. The year 2001 can be regarded as a turning point, as since then productivity has remained more or less stable. It seems that this is largely due to the establishment of the Council for the Judiciary and the associated increase in (financial and operational) autonomy for the judiciary. Another striking result is that technical change is biased toward using more personnel through time.
Evolution of mating types in finite populations: The precarious advantage of being rare
Authors: Czuppon Peter , Rogers David W.
Published: September 2019

Sexually reproducing populations with self‐incompatibility bear the cost of limiting potential mates to individuals of a different type. Rare mating types escape this cost since they are unlikely to encounter incompatible partners, leading to the deterministic prediction of continuous invasion by new mutants and an ever‐increasing number of types. However, rare types are also at an increased risk of being lost by random drift. Calculating the number of mating types that a population can maintain requires consideration of both the deterministic advantages and the stochastic risks. By comparing the relative importance of selection and drift, we show that a population of size N can maintain a maximum of approximately N1/3 mating types for intermediate population sizes, whereas for large N, we derive a formal estimate. Although the number of mating types in a population is quite stable, the rare‐type advantage promotes turnover of types. We derive explicit formulas for both the invasion and turnover probabilities in finite populations.
Microglia and the aging brain: are senescent microglia the key to neurodegeneration?
Authors: Angelova Dafina M. , Brown David R.
Published: September 2019

The single largest risk factor for etiology of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease is increased age. Therefore, understanding the changes that occur as a result of aging is central to any possible prevention or cure for such conditions. Microglia, the resident brain glial population most associated with both protection of neurons in health and their destruction is disease, could be a significant player in age related changes. Microglia can adopt an aberrant phenotype sometimes referred to either as dystrophic or senescent. While aged microglia have been frequently identified in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, there is no conclusive evidence that proves a causal role. This has been hampered by a lack of models of aged microglia. We have recently generated a model of senescent microglia based on the observation that all dystrophic microglia show iron overload. Iron‐overloading cultured microglia causes them to take on a senescent phenotype and can cause changes in models of neurodegeneration similar to those observed in patients. This review considers how this model could be used to determine the role of senescent microglia in neurodegenerative diseases.

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Comparing the efficacy of Myjet‐assisted tranexamic acid and vitamin C in treating melasma: A split‐face controlled trial
Authors: Zhao Huijuan , Li Mengna , Zhang Xiaofeng , Li Li , Yan Yan , Wang Baoxi
Published: September 2019

Background

Melasma is a benign and chronic hypermelanosis characterized by irregular light brown to dark brown patches of hyperpigmentation on the skin. Oral tranexamic acid (TA) or vitamin C (VC) supplementation has been one treatment choice. TA interferes with keratinocyte‐melanocyte interactions, and VC functions by reducing melanin production resulting in skin rejuvenation and whitening.

Aim

The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy and safety of Myjet assisted transdermal injection of TA vs VC in the treatment of melasma.

Methods

In this split‐face controlled trial, 17 patients were randomized to receive eight weekly transdermal injections of TA or VC via Myjet either on the right or the left side of their face. MASI was measured from each side of the face at the baseline, at the middle, and at the end of treatment.

Results

A reduction in MASI was observed for TA and VC separately (P value < 0.05). The difference in efficacy between TA and VC group was not statistically significant (P value 0.05). Both treatments were well tolerated, with no serious adverse events reported.

Conclusion

Weekly TA or VC transdermal injections can be an effective treatment for melasma. Further studies are required to validate these findings.