bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vis/NIR reflectance spectroscopy for hybrid rice variety identification and chlorophyll content evaluation for different nitrogen fertilizer levels
Authors: Zhang Hao , Duan Zheng , Li Yiyun , Zhao Guangyu , Zhu Shiming , Fu Wei , Peng Ting , Zhao Quanzhi , Svanberg Sune , Hu Jiandong
Published: October 2019

Nitrogen is one of the most important nutrient indicators for the growth of crops, and is closely related to the chlorophyll content of leaves and thus influences the photosynthetic ability of the crops. In this study, five hybrid rice varieties were cultivated during one entire growing period in one experimental field supplied with six nitrogen fertilizer levels. Visible and near infrared (vis/NIR) reflectance spectroscopy combined with multivariate analysis was used to identify hybrid rice varieties and nitrogen fertilizer levels, as well as to detect chlorophyll content associated with nitrogen levels. The support vector machine (SVM) algorithm was applied to identify five varieties of hybrid rice and six levels of nitrogen fertilizer. The results demonstrated that different varieties of hybrid rice for each nitrogen level can be well distinguished except for the highest nitrogen level, and no nitrogen level for each rice variety can be completely identified from the other five nitrogen levels. Further, 12 spectral indices combined with partial least square (PLS) analysis were applied for estimating chlorophyll content of rice leaves from plants subjected to different nitrogen levels, and a root mean square error of cross-validation (RMSECV) of 0.506, a coefficient of determination (
R
2
) of 97.8% and a ratio of performance to deviation (RPD) of 4.6 for all rice varieties indicated this as a preferable procedure. This study demonstrates that Vis/NIR spectroscopy can have a great potential for identification of rice varieties and evaluation of nitrogen fertilizer levels.
Reassessing the observational evidence for nitrogen deposition impacts in acid grassland: Spatial Bayesian linear models indicate small and ambiguous effects on species richness
Authors: Pescott O.L. , Jitlal M.
Published: October 2019

Nitrogen deposition (Ndep) is considered a significant threat to plant diversity in grassland ecosystems around the world. The evidence supporting this conclusion comes from both observational and experimental research, with “space-for-time” substitution surveys of pollutant gradients a significant portion of the former. However, estimates of regression coefficients for Ndep impacts on species richness, derived with a focus on causal inference, are hard to locate in the observational literature. Some influential observational studies have presented estimates from univariate models, overlooking the effects of omitted variable bias, and/or have used P-value-based stepwise variable selection (PSVS) to infer impacts, a strategy known to be poorly suited to the accurate estimation of regression coefficients. Broad-scale spatial autocorrelation has also generally been unaccounted for. We re-examine two UK observational datasets that have previously been used to investigate the relationship between Ndep and plant species richness in acid grasslands, a much-researched habitat in this context. One of these studies (Stevens et al. 2004, Science, 303:1876–1879) estimated a large negative impact of Ndep on richness through the use of PSVS; the other reported smaller impacts (Maskell et al. 2010, Glob. Change Biol., 16:671–679), but did not explicitly report regression coefficients or partial effects, making the actual size of the estimated Ndep impact difficult to assess. We reanalyse both datasets using a spatial Bayesian linear model estimated using integrated nested Laplace approximation (INLA). Contrary to previous results, we found similar-sized estimates of the Ndep impact on plant richness between studies, both with and without bryophytes, albeit with some disagreement over the most likely direction of this effect. Our analyses suggest that some previous estimates of Ndep impacts on richness from space-for-time substitution studies are likely to have been over-estimated, and that the evidence from observational studies could be fragile when confronted with alternative model specifications, although further work is required to investigate potentially nonlinear responses. Given the growing literature on the use of observational data to estimate the impacts of pollutants on biodiversity, we suggest that a greater focus on clearly reporting important outcomes with associated uncertainty, the use of techniques to account for spatial autocorrelation, and a clearer focus on the aims of a study, whether explanatory or predictive, are all required.
Detecting prodromal Alzheimer’s disease with MRI through deep learning
Authors: Feng Xinyang , Provenzano Frank A. , Small Scott A. ,   for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: October 2019

Deep learning applied to MRI for Alzheimer’s classification is hypothesized to improve if the deep learning model implicates disease’s pathophysiology. The challenge in testing this hypothesis is that large-scale data are required to train this type of model. Here, we overcome this challenge by using a novel data augmentation strategy and show that our MRI-based deep learning model classifies Alzheimer’s dementia with high accuracy. Moreover, a class activation map was found dominated by signal from the hippocampal formation, a site where Alzheimer’s pathophysiology begins. Next, we tested the model’s performance in prodromal Alzheimer’s when patients present with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We retroactively dichotomized a large cohort of MCI patients who were followed for up to 10 years into those with and without prodromal Alzheimer’s at baseline and used the dementia-derived model to generate individual ‘deep learning MRI’ scores. We compared the two groups on these scores, and on other biomarkers of amyloid pathology, tau pathology, and neurodegeneration. The deep learning MRI scores outperformed nearly all other biomarkers, including—unexpectedly—biomarkers of amyloid or tau pathology, in classifying prodromal disease and in predicting clinical progression. Providing a mechanistic explanation, the deep learning MRI scores were found to be linked to regional tau pathology, through investigations using cross-sectional, longitudinal, premortem and postmortem data. Our findings validate that a disease’s known pathophysiology can improve the design and performance of deep learning models. Moreover, by showing that deep learning can extract useful biomarker information from conventional MRIs, the advantages of this model extend practically, potentially reducing patient burden, risk, and cost.
A Comparative Study of Topology-based Pathway Enrichment Analysis Methods
Authors: Ma Jing , Shojaie Ali , Michailidis George
Published: October 2019

Background

Pathway enrichment analysis is extensively used in the analysis of Omics data for gaining biological insights into the functional roles of pre-defined subsets of genes, proteins and metabolites. A large number of methods have been proposed in the literature for this task. The vast majority of these methods use as input expression levels of the biomolecules under study together with their membership in pathways of interest. The latest generation of pathway enrichment methods also leverages information on the topology of the underlying pathways, which as evidence from their evaluation reveals, lead to improved sensitivity and specificity. Nevertheless, a systematic empirical comparison of such methods is still lacking, making selection of the most suitable method for a specific experimental setting challenging. This comparative study of nine network-based methods for pathway enrichment analysis aims to provide a systematic evaluation of their performance based on three real data sets with different number of features (genes/metabolites) and number of samples.

Results

The findings highlight both methodological and empirical differences across the nine methods. In particular, certain methods assess pathway enrichment due to differences both across expression levels and in the strength of the interconnectedness of the members of the pathway, while others only leverage differential expression levels. In the more challenging setting involving a metabolomics data set, the results show that methods that utilize both pieces of information (with NetGSA being a prototypical one) exhibit superior statistical power in detecting pathway enrichment.

Conclusion

The analysis reveals that a number of methods perform equally well when testing large size pathways, which is the case with genomic data. On the other hand, NetGSA that takes into consideration both differential expression of the biomolecules in the pathway, as well as changes in the topology exhibits a superior performance when testing small size pathways, which is usually the case for metabolomics data.
Altered germline cyst and oocyte differentiation inTex14mutant mice reveal a new mechanism underlying female reproductive life-span
Authors: Nuzhat Nafisa , Ikami Kanako , Abbott Haley , Tanner Heather , Spradling Allan C. , Lei Lei
Published: October 2019

In adult mammalian females, primordial follicles that form in the fetal/neonatal ovary are the only source to sustain adult ovarian function. Our previous studies revealed that during oocyte differentiation and primordial follicle formation in mouse fetal ovaries, primary oocytes form via gaining cytoplasm and organelles from sister germ cells that are connected to them by intercellular bridges within germline cysts. To better understand the role of intercellular bridges in oocyte differentiation, we analyzed mutant females lackingtestis-expressed 14 (Tex14), a gene involved in cytokinesis and bridge formation. InTex14-/-fetal ovaries, germ cells divide to form a reduced number of cysts in which sister germ cells are still connected via syncytia or fragmented cell membranes, rather than normal intercellular bridges. Compared with wildtype cysts,Tex14-/-cysts fragment at a higher frequency and produce a greatly reduced number of primary oocytes with highly precocious cytoplasmic enrichment and enlarged volume. By contrast,Tex14+/-germline cysts are less fragmented and generate primary oocytes that are smaller than wild type. Interestingly, enlargedTex14-/-primary oocytes are much more stable than wild type oocytes and more efficiently sustain folliculogenesis, whereas undersizedTex14+/-primary oocytes turn over at an accelerated rate. Our observations directly link the nature of fetal germ cell connectivity to cytoplasmic enrichment during oocyte differentiation and to oocyte developmental potential in the adult ovary. Our results imply that the duration of adult ovarian function is strongly influenced by the number of primary oocytes acquiring highly enriched cytoplasm during oocyte differentiation in fetal ovaries, rather than just by the size of the primordial follicle pool.
Large-scale Analysis of 2,152 dataset reveals key features of B cell biology and the antibody repertoire
Authors: Yang Xiujia , Wang Minhui , Shi Dianchun , Zhang Yanfang , Zeng Huikun , Zhu Yan , Lan Chunhong , Wu Jiaqi , Deng Yang , Guo Shixin , Xu Lijun , Ma Cuiyu , Zhang Yanxia , Wu Rongrong , Ou Jinxia , Liu Chu-jun , Chang Changqing , Yang Wei , Zhang Huijie , Chen Jun , Qin Lijie , Zhou Hongwei , Bei Jin-Xin , Wei Lai , Cao Guangwen , Yu Xueqing , Zhang Zhenhai
Published: October 2019

Antibody repertoire sequencing (Ig-seq) has been widely used in studying humoral responses, with promising results. However, the promise of Ig-seq has not yet been fully realized, and key features of the antibody repertoire remain elusive or controversial. To clarify these key features, we analyzed 2,152 high-quality heavy chain antibody repertoires, representing 582 donors and a total of 360 million clones. Our study revealed that individuals exhibit very similar gene usage patterns for germline V, D, and J genes and that 53 core V genes contribute to more than 99% of the heavy chain repertoire. We further found that genetic background is sufficient but not necessary to determine usage of V, D, and J genes. Although gene usage pattern is not affected by age, we observed a significant sex preference for 24 V genes, 9 D genes and 5 J genes, but found no positional bias for V-D and D-J recombination. In addition, we found that the number of observed clones that were shared between any two repertoires followed a linear model and noted that the mutability of hot/cold spots and single nucleotides within antibody genes suggested a strand-specific somatic hypermutation mechanism. This population-level analysis resolves some critical characteristics of the antibody repertoire and thus may serve as a reference for research aiming to unravel B cell-related biology or diseases. The metrics revealed here will be of significant value to the large cadre of scientists who study the antibody repertoire.
Genomic surveillance ofEscherichia coliST131 identifies local expansion and serial replacement of subclones
Authors: Ludden Catherine , Decano Arun Gonzales , Jamrozy Dorota , Pickard Derek , Morris Dearbhaile , Parkhill Julian , Peacock Sharon J. , Cormican Martin , Downing Tim
Published: October 2019

Escherichia colisequence type 131 (ST131) is a pandemic clone that is evolving rapidly with increasing levels of antimicrobial resistance. Here, we investigated an outbreak ofE. coliST131 producing extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) in a long-term care facility (LTCF) in Ireland by combining data from this LTCF (n=69) with other Irish (n=35) and global (n=690) ST131 genomes to reconstruct the evolutionary history and understand changes in population structure and genome architecture over time. This required a combination of short and long-read genome sequencing,de novoassembly, read mapping, ESBL gene screening, plasmid alignment and temporal phylogenetics. We found that clade C was the most prevalent (686 out of 794 isolates, 86%) of the three major ST131 clades circulating worldwide (A, B, C), and was associated with the presence of different ESBL alleles, diverse plasmids and transposable elements. Clade C was estimated to have emerged in ∼1985 and subsequently acquired different ESBL gene variants (blaCTX-M-14vsblaCTX-M-15). An ISEcp1-mediated transposition of theblaCTX-M-15gene further increased the diversity within Clade C. We discovered a local clonal expansion of a rare C2 lineage (C2_8) with a chromosomal insertion ofblaCTX-M-15at themppAgene. This was acquired from an IncFIA plasmid. The C2_8 lineage clonally expanded in the Irish LTCF from 2006, displacing the existing C1 strain (C1_10) and highlighting the potential for novel ESBL-producing ST131 with a distinct genetic profile to cause outbreaks strongly associated with specific healthcare environments.

Importance

Extraintestinal pathogenicE. coli(ExPEC) ST131 is adapting in the context of antibiotic exposure, resulting in a pandemic with distinct genetic subtypes. Here, we track the evolution of antibiotic-resistance gene variants originally discovered in an ExPEC ST131 outbreak that was identified in a LTCF in Ireland. Analysis of 794 global ST131 genomes show that subclade C1 was associated with the initial infection outbreak, but that a new lineage from subclade C2 successfully displaced C1. This genetically distinct C2 subclade with a chromosomal insertion of a key antibiotic-resistance gene had clonally expanded within the LTCF. We provide new insights into the timing of genetic events driving the diversification of C2 subclades to show that that outbreak C2 strain likely evolved elsewhere before spreading to the LTCF. This study highlights the scope of antibiotic-resistance gene rearrangement within ST131, reinforcing the need to integrate genomic, epidemiological and microbiological approaches to understand ST131 transmission.
Nervous System and Tissue Polarity Dynamically Adapt to New Morphologies in Planaria
Authors: Bischof Johanna , Day Margot E. , Miller Kelsie A. , LaPalme Joshua , Levin Michael
Published: October 2019

The coordination of tissue-level polarity with organism-level polarity is crucial in development, disease, and regeneration. Exploiting the flexibility of the body plan in regenerating planarians, we used mirror duplication of the primary axis to show how established tissue-level polarity adapts to new organism-level polarity. Tracking of cilia-driven flow to characterize planar cell polarity of the epithelium revealed a remarkable reorientation of tissue polarity in double-headed planarians. This reorientation is driven by signals produced by the intact brain and is not hampered by radiation-induced removal of stem cells. The nervous system itself adapts its polarity to match the new organismal anatomy in these animals as revealed by distinct regenerative outcomes driven by polarized nerve transport. Thus, signals from the central nervous system can dynamically control and re-orient tissue-level polarity to match the organism-level anatomical configuration, illustrating a novel role of the nervous system in the regulation of patterning.
Localized axolemma deformations suggest mechanoporation as axonal injury trigger
Authors: Montanino Annaclaudia , Saeedimasine Marzieh , Villa Alessandra , Kleiven Svein
Published: October 2019

Traumatic brain injuries are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. With almost 50% of traumatic brain injuries being related to axonal damage, understanding the nature of cellular level impairment is crucial. Experimental observations have so far led to the formulation of conflicting theories regarding the cellular primary injury mechanism. Disruption of the axolemma, or alternatively cytoskeletal damage has been suggested mainly as injury trigger. However, mechanoporation thresholds of generic membranes seem not to overlap with the axonal injury deformation range and microtubules appear too stiff and too weakly connected to undergo mechanical breaking. Here, we aim to shed a light on the mechanism of primary axonal injury, bridging finite element and molecular dynamics simulations. Despite the necessary level of approximation, our models can accurately describe the mechanical behavior of the unmyelinated axon and its membrane. More importantly, they give access to quantities that would be inaccessible with an experimental approach. We show that in a typical injury scenario, the axonal cortex sustains deformations large enough to entail pore formation in the adjoining lipid bilayer. The observed axonal deformation of 10-12% agree well with the thresholds proposed in the literature for axonal injury and, above all, allow us to provide quantitative evidences that do not exclude pore formation in the membrane as a result of trauma. Our findings bring to an increased knowledge of axonal injury mechanism that will have positive implications for the prevention and treatment of brain injuries.
Data sharing for clinical utility
Authors: Bjork Isabel , Peralez Jennifer , Haussler David , Spunt Sheri L. , Vaske Olena Morozova
Published: October 2019

Genomic data offer valuable insights that can be used to help find treatments and cures for disease. Precision medicine, defined by the NIH as “an emerging approach for disease treatment and prevention that takes into account individual variability in genes, environment, and lifestyle for each person,” is gaining acceptance among physicians, who are beginning to integrate patient-centric data analysis into clinical decision-making. Although precision medicine makes use of various types of data, this piece focuses on molecular characterization data specifically, as the discoveries yielded from these data can advance thinking around clinical care for cancer patients. Our pediatrics genomics team at the University of California Santa Cruz Genomics Institute is uniquely situated to discuss the use of shared genomic data for clinical benefit because our collaborations with hospital partners in the United States and internationally rely on big-data comparative genomic analysis. Using shared data, Treehouse Childhood Cancer Initiative develops methods for comparative analysis of tumor RNA sequencing profiles from single patients for the purposes of identifying overexpressed oncogenes that could be targeted by therapies in the clinic. To enable and improve this analysis, we continuously increase the size of our data compendium by adding public pediatric tumor RNA sequencing data sets. We developed an approach for assessing the quality of shared RNA sequencing data to ensure the integrity of the data. In this approach we calculate the number of mapped exonic nonduplicate (MEND) reads, applying a 10 million MEND read minimum threshold for inclusion in our comparative analysis. In collaboration with Stanford University and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford, our team at Treehouse Childhood Cancer Initiative explores the value to researchers everywhere of shared genomic data for clinical utility and the challenges of data sharing that threaten to impede otherwise rapid advances in precision medicine. This Perspective offers recommendations for maximizing the use of genomic data to make discoveries that will benefit patients.
A case for expert curation: an overview of cancer curation in the Clinical Genome Resource (ClinGen)
Authors: Ritter Deborah I. , Rao Shruti , Kulkarni Shashikant , Madhavan Subha , Offit Kenneth , Plon Sharon E.
Published: October 2019

We describe the Clinical Genome Resource (ClinGen) cancer-related curation activities and the importance of curation to the evolving state of variant interpretation in a clinical context for both pediatric and adult cancer patients. We highlight specific examples from the CDH1 and PTEN Variant Curation Expert Panels (VCEPs) of the FDA-recognized process by which ClinGen VCEPs specify the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics/Association of Molecular Pathology evidence code to develop variant classifications. We also review gene curations performed within the Hereditary Cancer Clinical Domain. We describe the parallel efforts for curation of somatic cancer variants from the Somatic Cancer Working Group. The ClinGen Germline/Somatic Committee is working to improve incorporation of both hereditary and somatic variant data to aid clinical interpretation. These ClinGen efforts rely on broad data sharing and detailed phenotypic and molecular information from published case studies to provide expert-curated variant interpretation to the cancer community.
Solar turtle: searching for the game changer
Authors: Urban Boris , Maphalala Jabu
Published: October 2019

Learning outcomes

The learning outcomes are that at the end of the case discussion, the students should be able to evaluate the drivers of social innovation in an African context; discuss social entrepreneurship as a process-driven set of activities; assess the organisation–environment–opportunity fit when innovating; analyse and resolve practical issues in developing simple and affordable social innovations; appreciate how social enterprises are mission-based businesses rather than charities; and evaluate how an organisation may achieve social objectives and remain sustainable.

Case overview/synopsis

SolarTurtle is an award-winning South African social enterprise that manufactures and supplies secure, mobile, solar power stations and kiosks to communities where the electricity grid does not reach. The company converts shipping containers into housings for solar panels to protect them from theft and extreme weather conditions. These units are called “PowerTurtles”. Through the franchise model, the company supplies PowerTurtles to off-grid institutions in rural areas. PowerTurtles are also sold to private sector enterprises and are scalable to suit the energy needs of customers. With the successful launch of the AutoTurtle in 2018 (which folds away the solar panels automatically, where the PowerTurtle requires them to be folded away manually), the company started to develop a new lightweight, fibreglass, solar kiosk with roof-mounted solar panels called the MiniTurtle, and a mobile trolley version known as the BabyTurtle. Now, in 2018, Van der Walt hopes to develop the business to the point where it can sustain itself.

Complexity academic level

Post-graduate students of entrepreneurship, public governance and social welfare.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available upon request for educators only. These teaching notes should be shared solely with the instructor and students should not have access to. Please contact your library to gain login or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Subject code

CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.
Accident at Vidyalaya School – an ethical dilemma
Authors: Moleyar Jayadeva Prasad
Published: October 2019

Learning outcomes

This paper aims to sensitize learners to some of the ethical and public relation issues involved in decision-making with specific reference to the educational field.

Case overview/synopsis

This case brings out a dilemma faced by the school management of Vidyalaya School, Karnataka, India in responding to a notice issued by the State Government to pay a huge compensation and to re-absorb a teacher who was rendered physically challenged owing to an accident within the school premises. The case is set in the milieu of a self-financed, private education industry during the period 2013-2018. This is a case in “Strategy formulation” and “Ethical dilemma” involved in the field of education in India. A teacher was permanently injured and confined to a wheelchair in an attempt to rescue a child attempting to jump off the school building and end her life for having obtained low marks in a test paper. While the school management was initially sympathetic and paid her medical bills and full salary purely on humanitarian grounds, they discontinued this support-line after about two years. The teacher filed a complaint with the Disability Commission, a grievance redressal body of the Government of Karnataka, India. She demanded re-absorption into the job, payment of salary arrears and reimbursement of all the subsequent medical bills incurred abroad totaling Rs 15.5 million, which is unaffordable for a school of that size. The management is faced with a situation where they cannot accept such a huge financial liability as well as accept a wheelchair-bound teacher who would not be able to discharge her duties. The school was briefed by legal experts that there exists no law that specifies either compensation or re-absorption into the job in a situation like this. At the same time, to fight the case purely on legal grounds and deny her a decent livelihood would impact the image of the school as being inhuman to a lady who had actually tried to help the school in the name of humanity. The management is caught in a dilemma on the course of action they must take – to fight the case legally or to accept the demand on humanitarian grounds.

Complexity academic level

This paper is suitable for Undergraduate or Graduate students of Business Management.

Supplementary materials

Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Subject code

CSS 11: Strategy
Technical efficiency and its determinants in the Indonesian micro and small enterprises
Authors: Setiawan Maman , Effendi Nury , Heliati Ratni , Waskito Alfi Syahrin Ario
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the technical efficiency (TE) of micro and small enterprises (MSEs) and its determinants in the Indonesian manufacturing sector covering comprehensive subsectors.

Design/methodology/approach

This research uses the data from the micro and small industry survey sourced from the Indonesian Bureau of Central Statistics for the period 2010–2015. The TE is estimated using data envelopment analysis (DEA) with bootstrapping approach. The TE is also estimated at the firm-level survey data, classified at the five-digit level of the International Standard Industrial Classification system. In addition, a truncated regression model is applied to estimate the effects of the determinants on the TE.

Findings

This research finds that there is a low average TE of the MSEs for the subsectors investigated. It is also found that the TE is associated with firm size, location, export orientations on domestic and world markets, firm age, level of technology, and owner education.

Originality/value

The literature investigating the TE of the MSEs and its determinants is still rare in Indonesia. Most of the previous research limited the studies for specific subsectors and/or specific small regions. Therefore, this research has a contribution in measuring the TE of the MSEs for comprehensive subsectors as well as its relation with the determinants in the Indonesian manufacturing sector. Also, the DEA with bootstrapping approach is applied to estimate the TE of the firms based on each relevant subsector, which is rare in the previous research of the Indonesian MSEs.
Health care investments and economic performance in Portugal: an industry level analysis
Authors: Pereira Alfredo M. , Pereira Rui M. , Rodrigues Pedro G.
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper, on Portugal, is to determine the economic effects of public and private capital spending on health.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use a vector autoregressive model to estimate the elasticities and marginal products of health care investments in Portugal on investment, employment and output.

Findings

Every €1m invested in health care yields significant positive spillover effects, boosting investment and GDP by €24.74 and €20.45m, respectively, creating 188 net jobs. Adversely, net exports deteriorate, as new capital goods are imported. While only 28.2 percent of the total accumulated increase in GDP occurs within a year, investment is front loaded with a corresponding 73.8 percent. Over this period, 68 workers are displaced for every €1m invested. At a disaggregated level, real estate, construction, and transportation and storage are industries where output shares increase the most. Employment shares increase the most in professional services, construction and basic metals.

Research limitations/implications

This paper adds to the empirical literature, corroborating, for example, Rivera and Currais (1999a) and McDonald and Roberts (2002) in that health care spending can have a very significant effect on macroeconomic aggregates. In addition to the analysis of the tradable/non-tradable divide, it adds two further novelties by discussing industry-specific effects on economic performance and the distinction between effects on impact and those over the longer term.

Practical implications

As policy implications, health investments have very significant long-term economic performance effects, but are unhelpful counter cyclically. Also, they will change the industry mix: construction and professional services are the non-traded industries that will benefit the most, while the traded industries of non-metallic minerals, basic metals, and machinery and equipment benefit much less.

Social implications

Given that capital spending on health boosts economic performance, especially in the long run, it ought to be a part of Portugal’s medium-to-long-term growth strategy. Also, if these projects depress economic activity in the short run, and are thus unhelpful counter cyclically, the timing of when they are launched matters. Furthermore, following a health investment, policies that boost net exports will be required to ensure trade balance.

Originality/value

The originality of this paper is to estimate, in a dynamic framework, the aggregate and industry-specific elasticities and marginal products on investment, employment and output, allowing the identification of effects both on impact and over the long term. Although health care investments are expected to have important macroeconomic effects, they need not be evenly distributed across industries.
Does sustainability matter for reshoring strategies? A literature review
Authors: Fratocchi Luciano , Di Stefano Cristina
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Production activities affect environmental and social pillars of firm’s sustainability. Therefore, decisions regarding where products are manufactured have a tremendous impact on a firm’s sustainability. However, until now, interdependencies among back-shoring decisions and sustainability issues have been rarely addressed. This paper aims to fill this research gap and develop avenues for future research.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopts an explorative approach based on a two-steps desk research strategy. In the first one, a structured literature review is implemented analysing 105 Scopus documents published up to August 2018. In the second step, empirical evidence of manufacturing back-shoring decisions coming from secondary sources is analysed and discussed.

Findings

The investigated research questions shed new light on the “how” back-shoring decisions are taken and implemented. The structured review and the empirical evidence show that environmental and social sustainability issues are increasingly assuming certain relevance for the academic debate and managerial decisions.

Research limitations/implications

The structured analysis of the selected literature and the empirical evidence sorted by the UnivAQ Manufacturing Reshoring Dataset clearly shows that neither scholars nor firms’ managers and entrepreneurs considered the environmental and social pillars of sustainability as the most relevant in terms of back-shoring drivers/motivation, outcome/benefit and/or barrier/enabler.

Practical implications

The paper suggests policymakers that sustainability-based legislations may influence – and support – the firm’s decision to backshore. At the same time, policymakers should carefully reflect on the role of market labour laws and ensure that relocations are not based on “informal subcontracting and informal employment”. At the same time, the paper suggest managers to adopt a “progressive” and/or a “selective” approach when implementing reshoring decisions based (also) on sustainability issues.

Originality/value

Even if other authors suggest that sustainability issues may be relevant for the reshoring decisions, this is the first attempt to define the base of knowledge on this topic and to suggest avenues for further research.
Population variation in density‐dependent growth, mortality and their trade‐off in a stream fish
Authors: Matte Jean‐Michel , Fraser Dylan J. , Grant James W. A.
Published: October 2019

Important variation in the shape and strength of density‐dependent growth and mortality is observed across animal populations. Understanding this population variation is critical for predicting density‐dependent relationships in natural populations, but comparisons amongst studies are challenging as studies differ in methodologies and in local environmental conditions.

Consequently, it is unclear whether: (a) the shape and strength of density‐dependent growth and mortality are population‐specific; (b) the potential trade‐off between density‐dependent growth and mortality differs amongst populations; and (c) environmental characteristics can be related to population differences in density‐dependent relationships.

To elucidate these uncertainties, we manipulated the density (0.3–7 fish/) of young‐of‐the‐year brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) simultaneously in three neighbouring populations in a field experiment in Newfoundland, Canada. Within each population, our experiment included both spatial (three sites per stream) and temporal (three consecutive summers) replication.

We detected temporally consistent population variation in the shape of density‐dependent growth (negative linear and negative logarithmic), but not for mortality (positive logarithmic). The strength of density‐dependent growth across populations was reduced in sections with a high percentage of boulder substrate, whereas density‐dependent mortality increased with increasing flow, water temperature and more acidic pH. Neighbouring populations exhibited different mortality‐growth trade‐offs: the ratio of mortality‐to‐growth increased linearly with increasing density at different rates across populations (up to 4‐fold differences), but also increased with increasing temperature.

Our results are some of the first to demonstrate temporally consistent, population‐specific density‐dependent relationships and trade‐offs at small spatial scales that match the magnitude of interspecific variation observed across the globe. Furthermore, key environmental characteristics explain some of these differences in predictable ways. Such population differences merit further attention in models of density dependence and in science‐based management of animal populations.
The moment you decide, you divide: How politicians assess procedural fairness
Authors: ESAIASSON PETER , ÖHBERG PATRIK
Published: October 2019

Are politicians more rational decision makers than citizens? This article contributes to the ongoing debate by examining how politicians and citizens assess the fairness of the process leading to a controversial policy decision. It contains theories as to why it is tempting to match the favourability of policy decision with a fairness assessment of the preceding process, and how politicians and citizens differ in their approach to the task. Having derived three hypotheses, parallel scenario experiments are run in large samples of Swedish politicians and citizens, in which the outcome and fairness of a policy decision process are manipulated. As predicted, it is found that both politicians and citizens match the favourability of the decision with the assessment of the process, that these self‐serving biases are stronger among politicians, and that policy engagement accounts for the group‐level difference.
Identification of Opioids and Related Substances using Handheld Raman Spectrometers
Authors: Lanzarotta Adam , Witkowski Mark , Batson JaCinta
Published: October 2019

This study describes the performance of handheld Raman devices for detecting one hundred opioids and related substances including fentanyl and several analogs. Using a single “parent” device, signatures (spectra) with excellent signal‐to‐noise ratios were generated using <5 mg of most compounds. The signatures were added to a method (library), which was electronically transferred to three “daughter” devices. The devices were able to discriminate different salt forms and isomers. On average, the daughter devices yielded a true‐positive rate of 97.3% for generating an alarm for opioids and were 93.3% effective for correctly identifying the opioid. The devices yielded true‐negative, false‐positive and false‐negative rates of 100%, 0%, and 2.7%, respectively, where false negatives were due to weak signal and fluorescence. These data demonstrate that the parent‐daughter electronic transfer method was successful and effective, which permits the ability to develop methods in the laboratory that can be seamlessly pushed out to field devices.
Criminal records and college admissions: A modified experimental audit
Authors: Stewart Robert , Uggen Christopher
Published: October 2019

In this article, we consider the effect of criminal records on college admissions. Nearly 72 percent of colleges require criminal history information during their application processes, which indicates that an applicant's criminal history could be a significant impediment to achieving the benefits associated with higher education. We conducted a modified experimental audit to learn whether and to what extent criminal records affect admissions decisions. Matched same‐race pairs of tester applications were sent to a national sample of nonelite 4‐year colleges, with both testers applying as either Black or White. Within each pair, one application signaled a prior low‐level felony conviction only when required by the application. Consistent with the findings of research on employment, we find the rejection rate for applicants with felony convictions was nearly 2.5 times the rate of our control testers. Relative to the large racial differences observed in previous studies of hiring decisions, we find smaller racial differences in admissions decisions. Nevertheless, Black applicants with criminal records were particularly penalized when disclosing a felony record at colleges with high campus crime rates. We address implications for reentry, racial progress, and the college “Ban the Box” movement. We suggest colleges consider narrowing the scope of such inquiries or removing the question altogether – particularly when it conflicts with the goals of these institutions, including reducing the underrepresentation of students of color.”
Documented brief intervention associated with reduced linkage to specialty addictions treatment in a national sample of VA patients with unhealthy alcohol use with and without alcohol use disorders
Authors: Frost Madeline C. , Glass Joseph E. , Bradley Katharine A. , Williams Emily C.
Published: October 2019

Background and aims

Alcohol screening, brief intervention (BI) and referral to treatment is often considered stepped care, such that BI with referral links patients to treatment. A meta‐analysis of randomized trials found no evidence that BI increases treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD). This study aimed to determine whether BI is associated with receipt of treatment for AUD among patients receiving BI as part of routine care.

Design

Regression analysis.

Setting

US Veterans Health Administration (VA), in which BI is supported by performance measurement and electronic clinical reminders.

Participants

VA outpatients with positive Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test Consumption screens (≥ 5) (n = 830,825) documented nationally from 1 October 2009 to 30 May 2013.

Measurements

Regression models estimated the prevalence of receiving VA specialty addictions treatment within 0–365 days for patients with documented BI (advice to reduce/abstain within 0–14 days) compared to those without. Models clustered on patient and adjusted for demographics and mental health and substance use conditions were fit among all patients and stratified across documented past‐year AUD diagnosis. Multiple secondary analyses assessed robustness of findings, including assessing repeated BI as a predictor.

Findings

Among 830,825 VA outpatients with unhealthy alcohol use (1,172,606 positive screens), documented BI was associated with lower likelihood of receiving VA specialty addictions treatment [adjusted incidence rate ratio (aIRR) = 0.84, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.83–0.84]. Associations were similar for those with and without AUD (aIRR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.82–0.84 and aIRR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.83–0.88, respectively) and in most secondary analyses. However, among patients without AUD, documentation of more than one BI was associated with greater likelihood of treatment relative to no BI (aIRR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.68–1.83).

Conclusions

In a national sample of US Veterans Health Administration patients with unhealthy alcohol use, documented brief intervention for alcohol use was associated with lower likelihood of receiving specialty addictions treatment regardless of alcohol use disorder diagnosis.
Diversity and community structure of bats (Chiroptera) in the Centre Region of Cameroon
Authors: Waghiiwimbom Mbeng Donatus , Eric‐Moise Bakwo Fils , Jules Atagana Patrick , Aimé Tsague Kenfack Joseph , Tamesse Joseph Lebel
Published: October 2019

In this survey, we investigated the diversity and community structure of bats in the Centre Region of Cameroon with respect to their distribution in the different vegetation zones of the region. We mist‐netted bats monthly from January 2016 to June 2017 for five nonconsecutive nights per month. Thirty‐nine sites were surveyed: 24 in traditional farms, nine in the savannah and six in the forests. A total of 668 bats were captured during 81 nights of capture, covering seven families, 21 genera and 36 species. This included 26 species in traditional farms, 13 species in savannah and 11 species in the forest.Micropteropus pusilluswas the most abundant species (30.7%) recorded, followed byHipposideros ruber(24.9%). The sample efficiency was estimated at 72.1% with fitted species accumulation curves not reaching asymptotes for the three habitat types, suggesting that the survey did not record all the bats present. There was an indication of general increased in abundance of bats during the dry and rainy seasons but it is not significant (Mann–WhitneyU: 783.5,p = .195). The rarity index was highest in traditional farms (0.44), followed by savannah (0.38) and then forest (0.33). This preliminary survey provides baseline data on the distribution of bats in the different vegetation types in the Centre Region of Cameroon.
Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide may affect the endothelial barrier and IL‐10 expression of apolipoprotein B100‐pulsed dendritic cells
Authors: Chalubinski Maciej , Wojdan Katarzyna , Luczak Emilia , Gorzelak‐Pabis Paulina , Kluszczynska Katarzyna , Borowiec Maciej , Gajewski Adrian , Rudnicka Karolina , Chmiela Magdalena , Broncel Marlena
Published: October 2019

Atherogenesis is associated with chronic gut infections; however, the mechanisms are not clear. The aim of the study was to determine whether lipopolysaccharide of E. coli (E. coli LPS) may affect endothelial barrier and modify IL‐10 expression in dendritic cells (DCs). Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and monocyte‐derived DCs were treated with E. coli LPS, apolipoprotein B100 (ApoB100) and 7‐ketocholesterol (7‐kCH) – harmful oxidized form of cholesterol. The effect of E. coli LPS, 7‐kCH and ApoB100 on the barrier functions of HUVECs in real‐time cell electric impedance sensing system (RTCA‐DP) was assessed. Furthermore, the effect of 7‐kCH and ApoB100 on barrier functions of HUVECs co‐cultured with DCs previously treated with LPS was analyzed. Both E. coli LPS and 7‐kCH decreased barrier functions of HUVECs and reduced tight junction protein mRNA expression, whereas ApoB100 increased endothelial barrier. In DCs, ApoB100 and E. coli LPS decreased IL‐10 mRNA expression. In HUVECs co‐cultured with DCs treated with LPS and subsequently pulsed with ApoB100 or 7‐kCH, IL‐10 mRNA expression was lower. E. coli LPS‐exposed DCs diminished the protective effect of ApoB100 on endothelial integrity and led to the decrease in occludin mRNA expression. LPS potentially derived from gut microflora may destabilize endothelial barrier together with oxidized cholesterol and intensify the immunogenicity of ApoB100.