bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coping strategies of Vietnamese overseas-trained returnees to do research in home university contexts
Authors: Thi Nguyen Bao Trang , Moore Stephen H. , Nguyen Vu Quynh Nhu
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study focuses on Vietnamese international students who returned from their overseas doctoral education to home universities in Vietnam (henceforth Vietnamese overseas-trained returnees). The purpose is to explore the experience of these returnees “doing research” (i.e. being research active) when resuming a lecturing role at a Vietnamese regional university. In the context of research now receiving heightened attention in both the wider global higher education (HE) discourse and the Vietnamese HE sector, this study is timely and provides valuable insights.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 76 Vietnamese overseas-trained returnees from varied disciplinary backgrounds completed a questionnaire on their research motivation and their perceived constraints doing research. Eighteen subsequently took part in semi-structured interviews. The study draws on the notion of human agency from the sociocultural perspective to understand the coping strategies of the Vietnamese overseas-educated returnees in response to the challenges they encountered.

Findings

The results show that the returnees' motivations to conduct research varied, fuelled by passion, but constrained by multiple factors. Time constraints, heavy teaching loads, familial roles and lack of specialized equipment are key inhibiting factors in re-engaging in research for these returnees. Addressing them necessitated a great deal of readaptation, renegotiation and agentive resilience on the part of the returnees in employing different coping strategies to pursue research.

Practical implications

The paper argues for a subtle understanding of the returnees' experience of re-engaging in research that is both complex and contextual. Implications are drawn for research development in the regional Vietnamese HE context and perhaps in other similar settings.

Originality/value

There is little empirical knowledge about how Vietnamese returned graduates – university lecturers – continue doing research after their return. Also underexplored in global discourse is research on foreign-educated returnees doing research, while they are an important source of human resources. The present study, therefore, fills these research gaps.
A review of worldwide blockchain technology initiatives in the energy sector based on go-to-market strategies
Authors: Chacra Suzane Abou , Sireli Yesim , Cali Umit
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to introduce the current-state of the energy grid, to reviews new and enabling peer-to-peer and blockchain-based solutions and to propose a strategic go-to-market framework, populated with energy companies strategically positioned to capture the unique opportunities present across the energy industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Hundreds of use-cases worldwide have been reviewed, and 50 worldwide blockchain energy companies and initiatives were included in this study based on the publicly accessible information that indicates their go-to-market strategies. As a result, these initiatives were classified into three main types of go-to-market strategies. Each company and its portfolio of blockchain-based solutions was described under these three categories.

Findings

Based on the research conducted in this review paper, it is evident that the adoption of blockchain-based technologies, solutions and services is accelerating at a rapid pace within the global energy industry to meet the needs and challenges that exist within it. Given the companies outlined in this paper, the opportunity to leverage blockchain technology while aligning to a social driver like green energy is perceived to be the most promising go-to-market strategy within this sector.

Originality/value

This study explores the apparent business plans of different blockchain initiatives around the world. Although there are a few other review papers recently published, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this approach has not been taken in other studies in terms of the categorization of available use-cases.
“Going beyond to deliver hip hospitality”: exploring motivation and job satisfaction of hospitality workers in Dubai
Authors: Valk Reimara , Yousif Lina
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the motivation and job satisfaction of employees in the hospitality industry in Dubai, using Herzberg’s two-factor theory of motivation.

Design/methodology/approach

This qualitative research encompassed 20 interviews with employees at four different job levels from a 4-star hotel in Dubai, selected through purposive and quota sampling.

Findings

Findings show that achievement, recognition and responsibility are essential motivators. However, these were sources of dissatisfaction amongst employees from the lower job levels. Leader quality is crucial to hygiene. Moreover, it is a key motivator and a powerful source of job satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

This cross-sectional study entailed a small sample size of 20 employees from one hotel in Dubai. Therefore, the only generalisation to theory is permitted and not to a broader population, such as hospitality workers from other hotels in Dubai or any of the other six United Arab Emirates.

Practical implications

The two specific human resource programmes and practices presented in this paper can exert a positive influence on employees’ motivation and job satisfaction. This, in turn, will bring the hotel in a strong position to compete for motivated and competent human capital to deliver high quality guest services to gain a competitive advantage in the hospitality industry in Dubai.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the literature first, by identifying the type of motivation of the hotel’s employees as follows: “prosocial motivation”, evoked by satisfaction with motivators and hygienes. Second, by presenting a “Satisfier and Hygiene model for Prosocial Motivation and Job Satisfaction”, illustrating the reciprocal relation between prosocial motivation and job satisfaction.
The impacts and success factors of a work-from-home service-learning internship during COVID-19
Authors: Wong May Mei Ling , Lau Ka Hing , Chan Chad Wing Fung
Published: July 2021

Purpose

COVID-19 has changed the way we teach and learn, including service-learning (S-L). This study examines the impacts of the work-from-home (WFH) mode on the work performance and learning outcomes of student interns on an eight-week S-L internship programme, and the key factors in terms of its success.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative research methodology is adopted by interviewing nine student interns and four supervisors from three community partner organisations (CPOs) to understand their experiences of how the WFH mode has impacted intern work performance and learning outcomes. Thematic analysis is used for the data analysis.

Findings

The interns uncover a number of negative WFH impacts on the S-L internship, including ineffective communication and management practice, low work efficiency and quality, a lack of task variety and learning opportunities and distractions in the home environment. Furthermore, five critical factors for WFH success are also identified, including prior preparation, effective communication systems, personal motivators at work, the nature of the job in relation to it being suited to the WFH mode, and organisational support.

Originality/value

The study examines impacts on student work performance and learning outcomes in an S-L summer internship programme operating under the WFH mode as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Key success factors and practical recommendations have been developed for enhancing the future success of S-L internships operating under the WFH mode.
Designing playful employee experience through serious play–reflections from pre-pandemic corporate learning events in Poland
Authors: Sońta Monika
Published: July 2021

Purpose

In times of organizational thirst for employee engagement and meaning through designing corporate stories, the aim of this article is to explore and identify key sources (engines) of engagement during LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® (LSP) corporate learning pre-pandemic events of various types and size in Poland.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper. The research was conducted using participant observation from the perspective of a certified facilitator of the method. This position ensures a prime access to the organizational events. Eight training sessions (four LSP and four non-LSP workshops) have been analysed using thematic analysis. The structure of thematic codes has been conceptualized and reflected as the EPIC framework.

Findings

The findings include (1) the importance of the experience of emerging realities as a key generator of engagement, (2) the significance of social collaboration and peer-to-peer interactions (experience of collective intelligence), (3) the observable rise in engagement and willingness to contribute when real business situations, especially labelled as “strategic issues” are discussed and (4) the role of image-capturing (“snapshot experience”) in creation of an engaging learning experience.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations refer to the potential conflict of interests as the researcher is also the facilitator of the workshop. To ensure the neutral point of view of the researcher, the sessions have been recorded to enable transparency of the observation and non-biased logic of key findings. The “learning experience” research is also culture- and context-sensitive, thus it may be problematic to replicate the research procedure in different countries, however, the EPIC model can be treated as a universal framework to explore and identify the engines of engagement.

Practical implications

The concept of this paper is designed from the practical point of view. The findings are adaptable to the corporate practices aimed at empowering employees and are compatible with management models such as agile, human enablement and human-centred design in organizations.

Social implications

Serious play methods of learning and experiencing are said to be of the highest importance when finding new ways of organizational learning in the pandemic situation and work from home as a standard learning environment.

Originality/value

The contribution of this paper is visible in the conceptualization of the moments that shape an engaging experience. This is also the first academic paper presenting the perspective of a certified facilitator of LSP from Central and Eastern Europe region.
Supporting, tinkering, adjusting and resisting: a typology of user translations of the built environment
Authors: Sharif Ahlam Ammar , Karvonen Andrew
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Architectural theorists have a long tradition of acknowledging the centrality of building users to architectural production. This article contributes to the discourse on architecture, actor–network theory (ANT), and users by proposing a typology of user translations ranging from supporting to tinkering to adjusting to resisting.

Design/methodology/approach

The research utilises an ANT-inspired ethnography of sustainable lighting scripts at the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (MIST). It comprises semi-structured interviews with MIST designers and students, and site visits and participant observation to understand how the users interpret the scripts and how they interact and change them on a daily basis.

Findings

There is a shared understanding that users do not simply receive architectural designs but interpret and change them to suit their preferences. The findings reveal the multiple ways that users interpret and respond to the assumptions of designers and in the process, recast the relations between themselves and their material surroundings.

Originality/value

The research contributes to acknowledging the centrality of users to architectural design processes and the interpretation of design scripts, addressing the limitation in current literature in demonstrating the diversity of ways that users react to such scripts. The research suggests that user actions have significant implications on long-term building performance. It accordingly points to the need for devising multiple means of user involvement in the design process and allowing greater flexibility in design scripts to improve the alignment with user preferences.
Early prediction and analysis of corona pandemic outbreak using deep learning technique
Authors: Gampala Veerraju , Nandankar Praful Vijay , Kathiravan M. , Karunakaran S. , Nalla Arun Reddy , Gaddam Ranjith Reddy
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze and build a deep learning model that can furnish statistics of COVID-19 and is able to forecast pandemic outbreak using Kaggle open research COVID-19 data set. As COVID-19 has an up-to-date data collection from the government, deep learning techniques can be used to predict future outbreak of coronavirus. The existing long short-term memory (LSTM) model is fine-tuned to forecast the outbreak of COVID-19 with better accuracy, and an empirical data exploration with advanced picturing has been made to comprehend the outbreak of coronavirus.

Design/methodology/approach

This research work presents a fine-tuned LSTM deep learning model using three hidden layers, 200 LSTM unit cells, one activation function ReLu, Adam optimizer, loss function is mean square error, the number of epochs 200 and finally one dense layer to predict one value each time.

Findings

LSTM is found to be more effective in forecasting future predictions. Hence, fine-tuned LSTM model predicts accurate results when applied to COVID-19 data set.

Originality/value

The fine-tuned LSTM model is developed and tested for the first time on COVID-19 data set to forecast outbreak of pandemic according to the authors’ knowledge.
Similar crimes, similar behaviors? Comparing lone‐actor terrorists and public mass murderers
Authors: Gill Paul , Silver James , Horgan John , Corner Emily , Bouhana Noémie
Published: July 2021

This article adds to the growth in data‐driven analyses seeking to compare samples of violent extremists with other violent populations of interest. While lone‐actor terrorists and public mass murderers are frequently treated as distinct offender types, both engage (or attempt to engage) in largely public and highly publicized acts of violence and often use similar weapons. This article investigates the (dis)similarities between both offender types. We use a series of bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses to compare demographic, psychologic and behavioral variables across 71 lone‐actor terrorists and 115 public mass murderers. The results show little distinction in sociodemographic profiles, but significant differences in (a) the degree to which they interact with co‐ideologues (b) antecedent event behaviors and (c) the degree to which they leak information before the attack. Overall, our data inform the emerging idea that lone‐actor terrorists and public mass shooters are not distinct offender types. There is more that unites them than divides them. Although the over‐arching focus of our results are on the few variables that distinguish them, the vast majority (80%+), of the 180+ variables showed no significant difference. We discuss implications for threat assessment and management in the context of these results.
Deep learning in magnetic resonance image reconstruction
Authors: Chandra Shekhar S , Bran Lorenzana Marlon , Liu Xinwen , Liu Siyu , Bollmann Steffen , Crozier Stuart
Published: July 2021

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging visualises soft tissue contrast in exquisite detail without harmful ionising radiation. In this work, we provide a state‐of‐the‐art review on the use of deep learning in MR image reconstruction from different image acquisition types involving compressed sensing techniques, parallel image acquisition and multi‐contrast imaging. Publications with deep learning‐based image reconstruction for MR imaging were identified from the literature (PubMed and Google Scholar), and a comprehensive description of each of the works was provided. A detailed comparison that highlights the differences, the data used and the performance of each of these works were also made. A discussion of the potential use cases for each of these methods is provided. The sparse image reconstruction methods were found to be most popular in using deep learning for improved performance, accelerating acquisitions by around 4–8 times. Multi‐contrast image reconstruction methods rely on at least one pre‐acquired image, but can achieve 16‐fold, and even up to 32‐ to 50‐fold acceleration depending on the set‐up. Parallel imaging provides frameworks to be integrated in many of these methods for additional speed‐up potential. The successful use of compressed sensing techniques and multi‐contrast imaging with deep learning and parallel acquisition methods could yield significant MR acquisition speed‐ups within clinical routines in the near future.
tRNA‐derived fragments: tRF‐Gly‐CCC‐046, tRF‐Tyr‐GTA‐010 and tRF‐Pro‐TGG‐001 as novel diagnostic biomarkers for breast cancer
Authors: Zhang Yue , Bi Zhao , Dong Xiaohan , Yu Miao , Wang Kangyu , Song Xingguo , Xie Li , Song Xianrang
Published: July 2021

Background

tRNA‐derived fragments (tRFs) have been found to play a regulatory role in the occurrence and development of many tumors. The aim of this study was to identify the expression of tRFs in breast cancer and their ability to serve as diagnostic markers for breast cancer.

Methods

Total RNA was extracted from breast cancer and paracancerous tissues (n = 83), as well as from the sera of breast cancer patients (n = 214) and healthy donors (n = 113) using trizol reagents. Expression of tRFs was then detected by q‐PCR, and analyzed using t‐test and ROC to illuminate their potential as biomarkers for breast cancer.

Results

Our results demonstrated that tRFs: tRF‐Gly‐CCC‐046, tRF‐Tyr‐GTA‐010 and tRF‐Pro‐TGG‐001 were downregulated in both tissues and sera from breast cancer patients as well as early‐stage patients compared with those in the healthy donors. More importantly, the three tRFs were capable of serving as circulating biomarkers of diagnostics and early diagnosis of breast cancer, possessing areas under the curve (AUC) of 0.7871 and 0.7987, respectively.

Conclusions

tRFs: tRF‐Gly‐CCC‐046, tRF‐Tyr‐GTA‐010 and tRF‐Pro‐TGG‐001 are downregulated in breast cancer and early breast cancer and act as new potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and early diagnosis of breast cancer.
Investigating ancient technology and ceramic composition at Al‐Khidr site (Failaka Island, Kuwait): Geochemical analyses of Bronze Age pottery by pXRF and thin‐section petrographic analyses
Authors: Ashkanani Hasan J. , Kovár Branislav
Published: July 2021

Pottery assemblages from the site of Al‐Khidr on Failaka Island, Kuwait, were analysed in order to reconstruct the chemical composition of Bronze Age wares and to build a mineralogical database of Bronze Age pottery dated from Failaka Periods 1–3B (2000–1650 BCE). A total of 145 ceramic sherds from Al‐Khidr, as well as reference groups, were analysed by non‐destructive portable X‐ray fluorescence (pXRF) spectrometry. Preliminarily petrographic thin‐section analysis was applied to four samples to reconstruct possible clay paste recipes and to identify raw materials. The results indicate that geochemical analyses can successfully distinguish subgroups within a typological category of ceramic assemblages. The results identified two subgroups within the Al‐Khidr typological category: the Dilmun Barbar tradition and the Mesopotamian tradition. Future comparative compositional studies can be conducted to explore other aspects of craft specialisation, such as ceramic technological choices and possibly the influence of sociopolitical units.
The governance role of institutional investors in management compensation: evidence from China
Authors: Zhu Song , Huang Haijie , Bradford William
Published: July 2021

This study examines whether and how institutional investors play a corporate governance role in executive pay in China. Based on a sample of Chinese listed firms from 2005 to 2015, we find that higher institutional investor ownership is negatively related to excessive management compensation; this indicates that institutional investors play a governance role in listed firms’ decisions on management payment. Institutional investors are more likely to have an influence on executive compensation through their representatives on the corporate board or by conducting site visits, especially when their ownership is high. They will also react, as in the US, by ‘voting with their feet’; that is, holding fewer shares than they would otherwise, if firms pay excessive executive compensation, especially when their ownership is low. Cross‐sectional analyses show that the negative impact of institutional ownership on excess management compensation is more evident when firms are not owned by the government, monitored by fewer analysts, and located in regions of China with weak legal investor protection. Our results indicate that institutional investors in China can play an important governance role, especially for firms with characteristics such as location and analyst coverage, for which outside monitoring mechanisms will be in high demand.
Revalidation of the Australasian genus Microsandalus Stål stat. rev., with redescription of M. umbrosus Stål (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)
Authors: Liu Yingqi , Lemaître Valérie A , Cai Wanzhi
Published: July 2021

The generic status of Microsandalus Stål, 1867 stat. rev. is discussed and formally revalidated. The type species of this genus, M. umbrosus Stål, 1867, is redescribed and illustrated with an emphasis on sexual dimorphism. The lectotype of M. umbrosus is designated. Pirates sobrius Walker, 1873 is found to be the brachypterous female of M. umbrosus, and therefore, a previous synonymy, which had recently gone unnoticed, is confirmed. A key to help separate peiratine genera distributed in Australia is provided.
Quality response to real exchange rate shocks: A panel SVAR analysis on China's agricultural exports
Authors: Mao Rui , Xing Mengying , Yu Xiaohua
Published: July 2021

This article applies a panel structural VAR model using complete data of China's monthly agricultural exports to uncover both the dynamics and interproduct and intermarket differences in the responses of product quality to real exchange rate (RER) shocks. It finds that RER appreciation promotes the quality of China's agricultural exports on average compared to discouraging exports, but the effect is fully shown in the short run. The average response peaks in the month immediately after the shock and the average cumulative response converges to a constant level in three months. The quality response to RER shocks substantially differs across both products and markets. More sensitive responses of quality upgrading are found among exports that are less competitive, relatively primary, more reliant on ordinary trade, and exported with nearby and less developed partners. Therefore, greater supports on R&D activities and the adoption of advanced technologies might be needed among other exports.
Streptococcus agalactiae do not penetrate human chorioamniotic membranes in vitro but alter their biomechanical properties
Authors: Mohamed Nasteha A. , Hinge Mogens , Larsen Ole H. , Sørensen Uffe B. S. , Uldbjerg Niels , Nejsum Lene N.
Published: July 2021

Introduction

Vaginal colonization with Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococci) is hypothesized to constitute a risk factor for preterm prelabor rupture of membranes. In vitro studies have shown that S. agalactiae strains isolated from infants with neonatal sepsis adhere to chorion cells of the human chorioamniotic membrane. However, it is still unknown whether S. agalactiae strains penetrate the chorioamniotic membranes and whether S. agalactiae colonization affects the biomechanical properties of the membranes and thus contributes to increased risk of preterm prelabor rupture. The aim of this in vitro study was to explore if different strains of S. agalactiae penetrate and affect the biomechanical properties of human chorioamniotic membranes.

Material and methods

Three different strains of S. agalactiae were obtained, one from an early‐onset neonatal infection, one from a case of preterm prelabor rupture of membranes and one from a healthy pregnant carrier. Chorioamniotic membranes from elective cesarean deliveries were either incubated with S. agalactiae or mounted in a two‐chamber incubation cell generating a “maternal” and a “fetal” chamber and incubated with S. agalactiae in the maternal chamber. Subsequently the membranes were examined to evaluate S. agalactiae attachment, penetration and the effect on the biomechanical properties.

Results

At 5 h after incubation, S. agalactiae adhered to the chorioamniotic membranes with increased number at 20 h. Streptococcus agalactiae did not penetrate the membranes even after 20 h of incubation. Streptococcus agalactiae increased the ultimate tensile stress needed to rupture the membranes and increased the work needed to rupture the membranes as well as the elastic modulus.

Conclusions

Human chorioamniotic membranes constitute a physical barrier against S. agalactiae infections. Moreover, S. agalactiae infection leads to increased strength of the membranes.
Does financial inclusion improve bank performance in the Asian region?
Authors: Vo Duc H. , Nguyen Nhan T.
Published: July 2021

World Bank considers financial inclusion a fundamental and practical mechanism for reducing poverty and boosting prosperity in developing and emerging markets. However, the direct benefits of financial inclusion to bank performance appear to have been largely ignored in the academic literature, in particular in the emerging markets in the Asian region. Unlike previous studies, both bank and country characteristics are considered in this paper. The financial inclusion index is estimated using four sub‐indices that can be classified into two groups: the penetration and utilisation of financial products and services. Principal component analysis and dynamic generalized method of moments (GMM) are used on a sample of 1507 banks in emerging markets in Asia for the 2008–17 period. Findings indicate that, across various scenarios, financial inclusion provides a positive and significant contribution to bank performance in the Asian region. In addition, a larger distance to the bankruptcy of banks and higher national economic growth will enhance bank performance.
Two melatonin treatments improve the conception rate after fixed‐time artificial insemination in beef heifers following synchronisation of oestrous cycles using the CoSynch‐56 protocol
Authors: Guo L , Li M , Gao X , Yang Y , Zhao J , Wang J , Lu W
Published: July 2021

Objective

This study investigated the effect of melatonin administration in combination with the CoSynch‐56 protocol on the conception rate after artificial insemination (AI) in beef heifers.

Methods

Eighty‐six beef heifers were allocated to four treatments in combination with CoSynch‐56 treatment. All heifers, excluding the control group (CTR = 25), were injected with melatonin on day 1. The melatonin (MT = 20) and MT + human chorionic gonadotropin (MT + hCG = 21) groups received no further treatment with melatonin. Each heifer was treated with gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) on day 4, prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) on day 11, and GnRH and AI 56 h later. The fourth group (2MT = 20) was injected again with melatonin concurrent with AI, and the MT + hCG group received hCG on day 19. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed using transrectal ultrasonography 45 days after AI and blood samples were collected via caudal venipuncture on days 0–1, 14–15, 24 and 59. Concentrations of progesterone (P4) and the activities of oxidative stress‐related enzymes were determined using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

The conception rate was greater in the 2MT group (75%) than in the other groups, while there was no significant difference among the CTR (44%), MT (45%) and MT + hCG (38.1%) groups. Treatment with melatonin increased superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities and decreased malondialdehyde concentrations but did not significantly affect the concentration of P4.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that the administration of melatonin twice during the CoSynch‐56 protocol may increase conception rates in beef heifers.
Ruxolitinib resistance or intolerance in steroid‐refractory acute graft‐versus‐host disease — a real‐world outcomes analysis
Authors: Abedin Sameem , Rashid Nahid , Schroeder Mark , Romee Rizwan , Nauffal Mary , Alhaj Moustafa Muhamad , Kharfan‐Dabaja Mohamed A. , Palmer Jeanne , Hogan William , Hefazi Mehrdad , Larson Samantha , Holtan Shernan , DeFilipp Zachariah , Jayani Reena , Dholaria Bhagirathbhai , Pidala Joseph , Khimani Farhad , Grunwald Michael R. , Butler Candace , Hamadani Mehdi
Published: July 2021

Ruxolitinib for steroid‐refractory acute graft‐versus‐host disease (SR‐aGVHD) results in resistance or intolerance in 1/5 of patients. Outcomes of such patients are undefined. We identified these patients in a multicentre review and reported outcomes. Ruxolitinib‐resistant aGVHD was identified in 48/307 patients. Among patients receiving additional therapy, the overall response rate to next therapy was 36%. Median survival was 21 days. Ruxolitinib intolerance led to treatment discontinuation in 16/307 patients. Ten intolerant patients received additional therapy with 50% experiencing continued improvement of aGVHD. Median survival was 50 days in these patients. These data serve as a baseline for future SR‐aGVHD studies.
What are the barriers and facilitators to participation in active recreation for people with learning disabilities? A scoping review
Authors: Haythorne Rebecca , Gega Lina , Knapp Peter , Crawford Hannah
Published: July 2021

Accessible Summary

Hobbies that are active can be a way of improving physical and mental well‐being for people with learning disabilities.

Choice, tailoring an activity to a person's needs and companionship between people with learning disabilities and their caregivers can facilitate participation in hobbies that are active.

Disregard for a person's physical and cognitive capabilities, and for their environmental or carer circumstances, can hinder participation in hobbies that are active.

Background

Active recreation denotes engagement with meaningful and rewarding activities that can improve physical and mental well‐being for everyone; however, there are specific challenges to participation in active recreation for people with learning disabilities.

Aim

To understand what hinders and what enables participation in active recreation for people with learning disabilities.

Method

Using a scoping review framework, we retrieved relevant literature by searching MEDLINE 1946 (Ovid), PsycINFO, CINAHL Complete (EBSCO), Scorpus, PubMed and Web of Science. We extracted data, charted and synthesised them using the Model of Human Occupation (Kielhofner, 2008) and the social–ecological model (Boulton, Horne & Todd, 2017).

Findings

Nineteen studies met our inclusion criteria. Key barriers identified in the studies included caregiver/coach knowledge and skill, caregiver resources, relational, environmental and individual capabilities. Key facilitators included choice, needs‐based tailored activities, positive relationships, consideration of cognitive and functional ability, motivational incentives and policy and organisational factors.

Conclusions

Participation in active recreation involves a complex interaction between individuals with learning disabilities, their caregivers and their wider organisational and community networks. This relationship warrants further exploration from the perspective of people with learning disabilities and their proxies, so that we can optimise how we design and deliver active recreational pursuits for this population.
Policy uncertainty and income distribution: Asymmetric evidence from state‐level data in the United States
Authors: Bahmani‐Oskooee Mohsen , Hasanzade Mehrnoosh
Published: July 2021

Previous studies that tried to assess the effects of an uncertainty measure on income distribution in the United States used volatility of income as a measure of uncertainty. We use the policy uncertainty index as our measure of uncertainty, which is said to be much more comprehensive than income volatility and assess its asymmetric impact on a measure of income inequality in each state of the United States We find much more significant results compared to previous studies. While we find short‐run asymmetric effects of policy uncertainty in 41 states, short‐run effects translate into the long‐run asymmetric effects in 25 states. Furthermore, we find that while in 20 states decreased policy uncertainty worsened income inequality in 14 states increased policy uncertainty improved it.
Multiple system atrophy variant with severe hippocampal pathology
Authors: Ando Takashi , Riku Yuichi , Akagi Akio , Miyahara Hiroaki , Hirano Mitsuaki , Ikeda Toshimasa , Yabata Hiroyuki , Koizumi Ryuichi , Oba Chisato , Morozumi Saori , Yasui Keizo , Goto Atsuko , Katayama Taiji , Sakakibara Satoko , Aiba Ikuko , Sakai Motoko , Konagaya Masaaki , Mori Keiko , Ito Yasuhiro , Yuasa Hiroyuki , Nomura Masayo , Porto Kristine Joyce L. , Mitsui Jun , Tsuji Shoji , Mimuro Maya , Hashizume Yoshio , Katsuno Masahisa , Iwasaki Yasushi , Yoshida Mari
Published: July 2021

The striatonigral and olivopontocerebellar systems are known to be vulnerable in multiple system atrophy (MSA), showing neuronal loss, astrogliosis, and alpha‐synuclein‐immunoreactive inclusions. MSA patients who displayed abundant neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions (NCIs) in the regions other than the striatonigral or olivopontocerebellar system have occasionally been diagnosed with variants of MSA. In this study, we report clinical and pathologic findings of MSA patients characterized by prominent pathologic involvement of the hippocampus. We assessed 146 consecutively autopsied MSA patients. Semi‐quantitative analysis of anti‐alpha‐synuclein immunohistochemistry revealed that 12 of 146 patients (8.2%) had severe NCIs in two or more of the following areas: the hippocampal granule cells, cornu ammonis areas, parahippocampal gyrus, and amygdala. In contrast, the remaining 134 patients did not show severe NCIs in any of these regions. Patients with severe hippocampal involvement showed a higher representation of women (nine women/three men; Fisher's exact test, p = 0.0324), longer disease duration (13.1 ± 5.9 years; Mann–Whitney U‐test, p = 0.000157), higher prevalence of cognitive impairment (four patients; Fisher's exact test, p = 0.0222), and lower brain weight (1070.3 ± 168.6 g; Mann–Whitney U‐test, p = 0.00911) than other patients. The hippocampal granule cells and cornu ammonis area 1/subiculum almost always showed severe NCIs. The NCIs appeared to be ring‐shaped or neurofibrillary tangle‐like, fibrous configurations. Three of 12 patients also had dense, round‐shaped NCIs that were morphologically similar to pick bodies. The patients with Pick body‐like inclusions showed more severe atrophy of the medial temporal lobes and broader spreading of NCIs than those without. Immunohistochemistry for hyperphosphorylated tau and phosphorylated TDP‐43 revealed minimal aggregations in the hippocampus of the hippocampal MSA patients. Our observations suggest a pathological variant of MSA that is characterized by severe involvement of hippocampal neurons. This phenotype may reinforce the importance of neuronal alpha‐synucleinopathy in the pathogenesis of MSA.
Multitarget molecule, PTUPB, to treat diabetic nephropathy in rats
Authors: Khan Md. Abdul Hye , Hwang Sung Hee , Barnett Scott D. , Stavniichuk Anna , Jankiewicz Wojciech K. , Hammock Bruce D. , Imig John D.
Published: July 2021

Background and Purpose

Diabetic nephropathy is a common complications related to high morbidity and mortality in type 2 diabetes. We investigated the action of the dual modulator, PTUPB, a soluble epoxide hydrolase and cyclooxygenase‐2 inhibitor against diabetic nephropathy.

Experimental Approach

Sixteen‐week‐old type 2 diabetic and proteinuric obese ZSF1 rats were treated with vehicle, PTUPB or enalapril for 8 weeks. Measurements were made of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids, thromboxane B2 (TBX2) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the kidney of these and lean ZSF1 rats along with their blood pressure.

Key Result

Obese ZSF1 rats were diabetic with fivefold higher fasting blood glucose levels and markedly higher HbA1c levels compared with lean ZSF1 rats. PTUPB nor enalapril reduced fasting blood glucose or HbA1c but alleviated the development of diabetic nephropathy. In PTUPB‐treated obese ZSF1 rats, glomerular nephrin expression was preserved. Enalapril also alleviated diabetic nephropathy. Diabetic renal injury in obese ZSF1 rats was accompanied by renal inflammation with six to sevenfold higher urinary MCP‐1 (CCR2) level and renal infiltration of CD‐68 positive cells. PTUPB and enalapril significantly reduced urinary MCP‐1 levels and renal mRNA expression of cytokines. Both PTUPB and enalapril lowered blood pressure. PTUPB but not enalapril decreased hyperlipidaemia and liver injury in obese ZSF1 rats.

Conclusion and Implications

Overall, the dual modulator PTUPB does not treat hyperglycaemia but can effectively alleviate hypertension, diabetic nephropathy, hyperlipidaemia and liver injury in type 2 diabetic rats. Our data further demonstrate that the renal actions of PTUPB are comparable with a current standard diabetic nephropathy treatment.
Customized Summarizations of Visual Data Collections
Authors: Yuan Mengke , Ghanem Bernard , Yan Dong‐Ming , Wu Baoyuan , Zhang Xiaopeng , Wonka Peter
Published: July 2021

We propose a framework to generate customized summarizations of visual data collections, such as collections of images, materials, 3D shapes, and 3D scenes. We assume that the elements in the visual data collections can be mapped to a set of vectors in a feature space, in which a fitness score for each element can be defined, and we pose the problem of customized summarizations as selecting a subset of these elements. We first describe the design choices a user should be able to specify for modeling customized summarizations and propose a corresponding user interface. We then formulate the problem as a constrained optimization problem with binary variables and propose a practical and fast algorithm based on the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM). Our results show that our problem formulation enables a wide variety of customized summarizations, and that our solver is both significantly faster than state‐of‐the‐art commercial integer programming solvers and produces better solutions than fast relaxation‐based solvers.
Histatin 1 enhanced the speed and quality of wound healing through regulating the behaviour of fibroblast
Authors: Cheng Liuhanghang , Lei Xiaoxuan , Yang Zengjun , Kong Yanan , Xu Pengcheng , Peng Shiya , Wang Jue , Chen Cheng , Dong Yunqing , Hu Xiaohong , Zhang Xiaorong , Forouzanfar Tymour , Wu Gang , Fu Xiaobing
Published: July 2021

Objectives

Histatin 1(Hst 1) has been proved to promote wound healing. However, there was no specific study on the regulation made by Hst 1 of fibroblasts in the process of wound healing. This research comprehensively studied the regulation of Hst 1 on the function of fibroblasts in the process of wound healing and preliminary mechanism about it.

Materials and methods

The full‐thickness skin wound model was made on the back of C57/BL6 mice. The wound healing, collagen deposition and fibroblast distribution were detected on days 3, 5 and 7 after injury. Fibroblast was cultured in vitro and stimulated with Hst 1, and then, their biological characteristics and functions were detected.

Results

Histatin 1 can effectively promote wound healing, improve collagen deposition during and after healing and increase the number and function of fibroblasts. After healing, the mechanical properties of the skin also improved. In vitro, the migration ability of fibroblasts stimulated by Hst 1 was significantly improved, and the fibroblasts transformed more into myofibroblasts, which improved the function of contraction and collagen secretion. In fibroblasts, mTOR signalling pathway can be activated by Hst 1.

Conclusions

Histatin 1 can accelerate wound healing and improve the mechanical properties of healed skin by promoting the function of fibroblasts. The intermolecular mechanisms need to be further studied, and this study provides a direction about mTOR signalling pathway.
An update on congenital melanocytic nevus syndrome: A case report and literature review
Authors: Abdulmajid Lilaf , Bosisio Francesca Maria , Brems Hilde , De Vlieger Greet , Garmyn Marjan , Segers Heidi , Demaerel Philippe , Segers Katarina , Jansen Katrien , Lagae Lieven , Verheecke Magali
Published: July 2021

Congenital melanocytic nevus syndrome (CMNS) is a rare condition characterized by pigmented skin lesions that are usually present at birth and are associated with an increased risk of neurological abnormalities and malignant melanoma. It mostly results from a post‐zygotic NRAS mutation of neural‐derived crest cells, leading to uncontrolled cell growth. Because of the increased knowledge of the genetics underlying CMNS, targeted therapy becomes a promising treatment option. We present a case of CMNS in a newborn. Physical examination at birth showed a giant congenital melanocytic nevus, extending from the occipital to the lower lumbar region. A magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed multiple cerebral and cerebellar parenchymal lesions. Genetic analysis of the cutaneous lesions showed the presence of an NRAS Q61R mutation. The patient was treated with dermabrasion to reduce the color intensity of the nevus. However, this was complicated by recurrent wound infections and laborious wound healing. At the age of 1 year, the patient had an age‐appropriate psychomotor development, without neurological deficits.
Does digitization lead to the homogenization of cultural content?
Authors: Bourreau Marc , Moreau François , Wikström Patrik
Published: July 2021

Using weekly music charts data in 10 countries over the period 1990–2015, we analyze whether digitization leads to a trend of homogenization of music content or conversely to a greater acoustic disparity. We split the digitization era in four periods that correspond to four new emblematic distribution models (Napster, iTunes, YouTube, Spotify). Our main result is that while acoustic diversity decreased during the iTunes and the YouTube periods, the period that begins with the introduction of audio streaming services, such as Spotify, represents a turning point and is marked by a significant increase in acoustic diversity.
Elevational patterns of bird functional and phylogenetic structure in the central Himalaya
Authors: Ding Zhifeng , Hu Huijian , Cadotte Marc W. , Liang Jianchao , Hu Yiming , Si Xingfeng
Published: July 2021

How communities assemble is a central and fundamental question in ecology. However, it has been mired by conflicting conclusions about whether community assembly is driven by environmental filtering, biotic interactions, and/or dispersal processes. Elevational gradients provide an ideal system for exploring the biotic and abiotic forces influencing the processes of community assembly, as these both change dramatically on mountains over short spatial distances. Here, we explored bird taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity, and assessed the role of spatial (area) and environmental factors (temperature, precipitation, plant richness, habitat heterogeneity, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)) in shaping bird distributions and community structure along a 3600 m elevational gradient in the central Himalayas, China. Our results showed that the three dimensions of diversity consistently showed hump‐shaped patterns with similar peaks. Richness‐controlled functional diversity decreased with elevation, while richness‐controlled phylogenetic diversity showed a Mid Valley pattern. Mean pairwise functional distance decreased linearly with elevation, and mean pairwise phylogenetic distance was nearly constant along the elevation gradient but increased rapidly at higher elevations (above 3900–4200 m a.s.l). The functional structure of bird communities was more clustered relative to source pools (i.e. species more similar to one another) across the elevation gradient, suggesting abiotic or habitat filtering likely governed the assembly processes. However, phylogenetic structure was more clustered relative to source pools at mid‐elevations and more overdispersed (i.e. species are less related) at low and high elevations. In addition, primary productivity (NDVI and/or habitat heterogeneity and/or plant richness) was a good predictor of variation for most diversity metrics. Taken together, our study demonstrated contrasting elevational patterns assessed from functional and phylogenetic measures and highlighted the necessity of considering multiple measures of biodiversity when assessing community structure.
Genotype and phenotype distribution of 435 patients with Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease from central south China
Authors: Xie Yongzhi , Lin Zhiqiang , Liu Lei , Li Xiaobo , Huang Shunxiang , Zhao Huadong , Wang Binghao , Zeng Sen , Cao Wanqian , Li Lu , Zhu Xiying , Huang Siwei , Yang Honglan , Wang Mengli , Hu Zhengmao , Wang Junling , Guo Jifeng , Shen Lu , Jiang Hong , Zuchner Stephan , Tang Beisha , Zhang Ruxu
Published: July 2021

Background and purpose

The purpose was to provide an overview of genotype and phenotype distribution in a cohort of patients with Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease (CMT) and related disorders from central south China.

Methods

In all, 435 patients were enrolled and detailed clinical data were collected. Multiplex ligation‐dependent probe amplification for PMP22 duplication/deletion and CMT multi‐gene panel sequencing were performed. Whole exome sequencing was further applied in the remaining patients who failed to achieve molecular diagnosis.

Results

Among the 435 patients, 216 had CMT1, 14 had hereditary neuropathy with pressure palsies (HNPP), 178 had CMT2, 24 had distal hereditary motor neuropathy (dHMN) and three had hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy (HSAN). The overall molecular diagnosis rate was 70%: 75.7% in CMT1, 100% in HNPP, 64.6% in CMT2, 41.7% in dHMN and 33.3% in HSAN. The most common four genotypes accounted for 68.9% of molecular diagnosed patients. Relatively frequent causes were missense changes in PMP22 (4.6%) and SH3TC2 (2.3%) in CMT1; and GDAP1 (5.1%), IGHMBP2 (4.5%) and MORC2 (3.9%) in CMT2. Twenty of 160 detected pathogenic variants and the associated phenotypes have not been previously reported. Broad phenotype spectra were observed in six genes, amongst which the pathogenic variants in BAG3 and SPTLC1 were detected in two sporadic patients presenting with the CMT2 phenotype.

Conclusions

Our results provided a unique genotypic and phenotypic landscape of patients with CMT and related disorders from central south China, including a relatively high proportion of CMT2 and lower occurrence of PMP22 duplication. The broad phenotype spectra in certain genes have advanced our understanding of CMT.