bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A retrospect on the US apparel industry: expert predictions and reality data
Authors: Kincade Doris H. , Annett-Hitchcock Kate E.
Published: May 2021

Purpose

In 1978, the once powerful US apparel industry was on the cusp of change, and the consulting firm KSA conducted a Delphi survey of apparel executives’ predictions into the 2000s. The purpose of this paper is to compare actual changes over the subsequent decades with these 1978 expert predictions and explore the accuracy/inaccuracy of these “educated guesses” (KSA, 1978, p. 1).

Design/methodology/approach

The chorographic method was used to analyze the report and document historical data. Chorography is “concerned with significance of place, regional characterization, [and] local history […]” (Rohl, 2012, p.1) and includes contextual settings and researcher input. Primary data were examined during each decade and included: industry literature, government documents and labor data. The researchers used content analysis to reduce and organize data.

Findings

Findings cover three decades of Southeast US apparel industry data including imports, employment, number of plants, size of plants and productivity. Predictions were inaccurate about imports, predicted to be minor in comparison with domestic production, which they actually surpassed. Predicted decrease in employment was similar to actual decrease but reasons were inaccurate. Change in number and size of plants were over-predicted and under-predicted. Reasons given by experts were automation and government intervention; in actuality, limited automation occurred with insignificant impact in contrast to outsourcing, which decimated employment in US plants. Steady increase in productivity was predicted when productivity often decreased.

Originality/value

Previous studies focus on the textile sector; studies of the apparel sector tend to be regional or topical. This study is more expansive and provides insight into predictions and changes made in the US apparel industry at a critical time in its near demise. With the current climate of global change and increased market uncertainty, insights from this study may provide direction for rethinking of the domestic apparel industry for the USA and other developed countries.
Salvage logging management affects species' roles in connecting plant–pollinator interaction networks across post‐wildfire landscapes
Authors: Burkle Laura A. , Heil Laura J. , Belote R. Travis
Published: May 2021

Spatial connections between habitats are important to allow movement of organisms across heterogeneous landscapes with diverse disturbances and management. Similarly, species providing functional connections between subnetworks of species interactions (modules) are important for ecosystem services across these landscapes. These functional connectors have received less study.

In post‐wildfire landscapes, we investigated the influence of salvage logging, a common management technique, on plant–pollinator network modularity. We measured the composition, strength and characteristics of forb and bee connector species across spatial and temporal scales.

Salvage logging influenced the structure of plant–pollinator interaction networks. Network modularity was higher in salvage‐logged areas compared to unlogged areas, indicating that logging functionally fragmented these species interactions. There were compositional differences in connectors, especially of plants, between logged and unlogged areas. Plant species, but not bee species, had weaker connections across modules in salvage‐logged areas, suggesting that although some plant species were serving as connectors after salvage logging, they were performing worse in this role. While some suites of species formed spatial connections, others formed temporal connections (linking interactions across the growing season), indicating that disparate groups of species are likely needed to provide these critical functions across space and time.

Synthesis and applications. Investigating species’ roles as connectors can provide a more complete understanding of the implications of management and provide insight into how best to conserve or restore the structure and function of species interactions across landscape mosaics. Bees may be more capable of readily responding to changes in their plant partner's spatial or temporal distributions due to salvage logging. As a result, bees may be better poised to maintain stable connections across modules compared to plants, and management actions supporting highly mobile connector species (like bees) may help offset detrimental effects of salvage logging or other disturbances. This work also indicates that minimizing the spatial extent of salvage logging relative to the proximity of other habitat types will likely aid species in forming spatial connections. Applying this framework of species as network connectors may help maintain the spatial and temporal continuity of floral resources and pollination services, even when management reduces biodiversity.
Crop functional diversity drives multiple ecosystem functions during early agroforestry succession
Authors: dos Santos Diego , Joner Fernando , Shipley Bill , Teleginski Marinice , Lucas Renata Rodrigues , Siddique Ilyas
Published: May 2021

We still lack practical guidelines for diversifying cropping systems that consider both yield and regulating functions of agroecosystems. Recent studies have suggested that maximizing functional diversity (FD, the distribution of species with different functional traits in the niche space) may lead to agroecosystems with greater multifunctionality due to niche complementarity. Therefore, scientists are now advocating the use of a trait‐based approach to develop multifunctional sustainable agroecosystems.

In order to assess the effects of crop FD on key agroecosystem functions and to consider trade‐offs and synergies among them, we established, in late 2016, permanent experimental field plots of successional agroforestry systems (SAFS), in humid subtropical Southern Brazil. The experiment represents a gradient of plant functional trait diversity (designed FD based on leaf nitrogen concentration), while maintaining crop species richness constant across all treatments. Our hypothesis is that the observed FD of crops (hereafter, crop FD) drives multiple agroecosystem functions.

We determined the observed FD by quantifying traits of crops and weeds (maximum plant height, leaf area, specific leaf area) and performed two data collections (March and September 2017) at the end of the summer and winter crops respectively. We used structural equation modelling to test a hypothetical causal model to explain how crop FD affects three functions: weed suppression, soil protection (soil cover by either crops or weeds) and crop yield.

Our results support the hypothesis that high crop FD drives agroecosystem processes and contributes to the provision of multiple ecosystem functions. We found that with greater crop FD in SAFS, crop plants occupied a large niche space, thereby increasing the total photosynthetic light intercepted in the agroecosystem, that in turn, increased crop yield. Additionally, greater FD increased soil protection by crops and decreased weed cover. This greater FD also reduced the FD of the weed community.

Synthesis and applications. Crop mixtures based on complementary plant traits can increase the multifunctionality of agroecosystems through their sustainable use. A more heterogeneous structure and projection of crop leaf area drives greater resistance to competition with weeds and produces higher crop yields in young diversified crop mixtures.
Differences between flower and leaf phenological responses to environmental variation drive shifts in spring phenological sequences of temperate woody plants
Authors: Buonaiuto D. M. , Wolkovich E. M.
Published: May 2021

The relative timing of growth and reproduction is an important driver of plant fitness. For deciduous woody species in temperate regions, leaves and flowers both appear in the early spring, but the order and duration of these phenological events vary among species, populations and individuals. Researchers have long hypothesized that this variation in flower–leaf sequences (FLSs) may be important—affecting the reproduction, recruitment and survival of individuals. Furthermore, FLSs appear to be shifting with climate change; thus, anticipating the extent of these shifts may influence projections of how climate change impacts species' performance and reshapes forest communities.

Predicting FLS shifts requires an improved understanding of how environmental variation dictates FLS patterns. To address this, we compared the phenological responses of flowers and developing leaves for 10 temperate woody species to varying levels of temperature and photoperiod in a lab experiment. Our experimental design allowed us to test competing hypotheses for how environmental cues determine FLS variation—specifically whether forcing (warm temperatures) alone drives variation or differential sensitivity to chilling (cool temperatures generally in the fall/winter) and/or photoperiod matter.

Within species, we found that flower and leaf phenology responded with differential sensitivity to environmental cues, with differences in their response to chilling being the dominant driver of FLS variation. These differences between flowering and leaf responses were consistent across species, but because species differ in the order of phenological events in their FLSs (flowering‐first versus leafing‐first), differences between flower and leaf phenology will have contrasting impacts on FLS variation across species. Simple projections of FLS shifts with climate change showed large shifts in species that flower before leafing, with flower–leaf interphases substantially shortened. For wind‐pollinated species, this shorter interphase would reduce the time period for efficient pollen transfer, and thus raises the possibility that wind‐pollinated taxa may experience reproductive declines due to FLS shifts.

Synthesis. Our study provides strong evidence that flower and leaf phenology responds with differential sensitivity to environmental variation. Because climate change will amplify variability in temperature across time and space, our findings suggest that FLS shifts may be large, but are likely to vary substantially among populations and species. Our analyses indicate that climate change will likely decrease flower–leaf interphases, especially in flowering‐first species. FLS shifts are likely to affect fitness for some species more strongly than others, thereby impacting community structure and function as climate continues to change.
Effects of plant community history, soil legacy and plant diversity on soil microbial communities
Authors: Schmid Marc W. , van Moorsel Sofia J. , Hahl Terhi , De Luca Enrica , De Deyn Gerlinde B. , Wagg Cameron , Niklaus Pascal A. , Schmid Bernhard
Published: May 2021

Plant and soil microbial diversities are linked through a range of interactions, including the exchange of carbon and nutrients but also herbivory and pathogenic effects. Over time, associations between plant communities and their soil microbiota may strengthen and become more specific, resulting in stronger associations between plant and soil microbial diversity.

We tested this hypothesis at the end of a 4‐year field experiment in 48 plots with different plant species compositions established 13 years earlier in a biodiversity experiment in Jena, Germany. We factorially crossed plant community history (old vs. new plant communities) and soil legacy (old vs. new soil) with plant diversity (species richness levels 1, 2, 4 and 8, each with 12 different species compositions). We use the term ‘plant community history’ to refer to the co‐occurrence history of plants in different species compositions in the Jena Experiment. We determined soil bacterial and fungal community composition in terms of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) using 16S rRNA gene and ITS DNA sequencing.

Plant community history (old plants) did not affect overall soil community composition but differentially affected bacterial richness and abundances of specific bacterial taxa in association with specific plant species compositions. Soil legacy (old soil) markedly increased soil bacterial richness and evenness and decreased fungal evenness. Soil fungal richness increased with plant species richness, regardless of plant community history or soil legacy, with the strongest difference between plant monocultures and mixtures. Specific plant species compositions and functional groups were associated with specific bacterial and fungal community compositions. Grasses increased fungal richness and evenness and legumes decreased fungal evenness, but bacterial diversity was not affected.

Synthesis. Our findings indicate that as experimental ecosystems varying in plant diversity develop over time (2002–2010), plant species associate with specific soil microbial taxa. This can have long‐lasting effects on below‐ground community composition in re‐assembled plant communities, as reflected in strong soil legacy signals still visible after 4 years (2011–2015). Effects of plant community history on soil communities are subtle and may take longer to fully develop.
Clear Blue Water? The 2019 Party Manifestos
Authors: Allen Nicholas , Bara Judith
Published: May 2021

Brexit may have dominated the 2019 general election campaign, but it wasn't the only issue at stake. The political parties published wide‐ranging manifestos, while their appeals also rested on established ideological reputations. This article analyses the content of the 2019 manifestos and uses the latest Manifesto Project estimates to explore ideological movement in the British party system. It reports the changing policy emphases in Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat manifestos and the ideological positions of these and other political parties in 2019. It further presents new measures for parties’ positions on the cosmopolitan‐traditionalist dimension of party competition, an increasingly important divide in electoral politics. The article shows that the ideological gap between the Conservatives and Labour opened up further in 2019. It also shows how the parties’ distinctive ideological profiles, as well as their positions on Brexit, gave voters a clearer choice than in recent elections.
Successful trachelectomy and re‐vaginoplasty for cervico‐vaginal stenosis following unsuccessful uterovaginal anastomosis and vaginoplasty in congenital cervical and vaginal aplasia: description of technique and a case report
Authors: Kisu I , Banno K , Iida M , Matsuda K , Shiraishi T , Iijima M , Nakamura K , Hirao N
Published: May 2021

We describe a successful surgical technique of abdominal trachelectomy and re‐vaginoplasty for cervico‐vaginal stenosis following unsuccessful uterovaginal anastomosis and vaginoplasty in a patient with congenital cervical and vaginal aplasia. After the surgical procedure, cervico‐vaginal stenosis was resolved and periodic menstruation without dysmenorrhoea resumed. While long‐term follow‐up is essential to ensure successful pregnancy and delivery, we conclude that this novel surgical procedure is a promising alternative for improvement of the quality of life and normal sexual function, and for preservation of fertility in patients with cervical and vaginal aplasia.
Non‐Answers During Conference Calls
Authors: GOW IAN D. , LARCKER DAVID F. , ZAKOLYUKINA ANASTASIA A.
Published: May 2021

We construct a novel measure of disclosure choice by firms. Our measure is computed using linguistic analysis of conference calls to identify whether a manager's response to an analyst question is a “non‐answer.” Using our measure, about 11% of analyst questions elicit non‐answers from managers, a rate that is stable over time and similar across industries. A useful feature of our measure is that it enables an examination of disclosure choice within a call. Analyst questions with a negative tone, greater uncertainty, greater complexity, or requests for greater detail are more likely to trigger non‐answers. We find performance‐related questions tend to be associated with non‐answers, and this association is weaker when performance news is favorable. We also find analyst questions about proprietary information are associated with non‐answers, and this association is stronger when firm competition is more intense.
Do virtual reality experiments replicate projection bias phenomena? Examining the external validity of a virtual supermarket
Authors: de‐Magistris Tiziana , López‐Galán Belinda , Ballco Petjon
Published: May 2021

We examine whether projection bias is also present in virtual environments. Two hypotheses were tested using a between‐subject experiment with three conditions: (i) experimental context (virtual vs. real); (ii) consumption periods (today vs. tomorrow); and (iii) appetite level (hungry vs. satiated). An exact replication of the virtual supermarket was performed in a real supermarket setting to test for robustness. The findings indicate the presence of a projection bias in the virtual reality setting. The robustness test used to compare a virtual and a real purchase at the supermarket showed that subjects in the virtual environment behave similarly to those in a real supermarket. These results validate our findings and highlight virtual reality use as a new tool for investigating consumer behaviour in food research.
Shifts in the rhizobiome during consecutive in planta enrichment for phosphate‐solubilizing bacteria differentially affect maize P status
Authors: De Zutter Noémie , Ameye Maarten , Debode Jane , De Tender Caroline , Ommeslag Sarah , Verwaeren Jan , Vermeir Pieter , Audenaert Kris , De Gelder Leen
Published: May 2021

Phosphorus (P) is despite its omnipresence in soils often unavailable for plants. Rhizobacteria able to solubilize P are therefore crucial to avoid P deficiency. Selection for phosphate‐solubilizing bacteria (PSB) is frequently done in vitro; however, rhizosphere competence is herein overlooked. Therefore, we developed an in planta enrichment concept enabling simultaneous microbial selection for P‐solubilization and rhizosphere competence. We used an ecologically relevant combination of iron‐ and aluminium phosphate to select for PSB in maize (Zea mays L.). In each consecutive enrichment, plant roots were inoculated with rhizobacterial suspensions from plants that had grown in substrate with insoluble P. To assess the plants’ P statuses, non‐destructive multispectral imaging was used for quantifying anthocyanins, a proxy for maize’s P status. After the third consecutive enrichment, plants supplied with insoluble P and inoculated with rhizobacterial suspensions showed a P status similar to plants supplied with soluble P. A parallel metabarcoding approach uncovered that the improved P status in the third enrichment coincided with a shift in the rhizobiome towards bacteria with plant growth‐promoting and P‐solubilizing capacities. Finally, further consecutive enrichment led to a functional relapse hallmarked by plants with a low P status and a second shift in the rhizobiome at the level of Azospirillaceae and Rhizobiaceae.
The Role of Deferred Equity Pay in Retaining Managerial Talent*
Authors: Gopalan Radhakrishnan , Huang Sheng , Maharjan Johan
Published: May 2021

We examine the extent to which deferred vesting of stock and option grants (deferred pay) helps firms retain executives. To the extent an executive forfeits all deferred pay if they leave the firm, deferred vesting will increase the cost (to the executive) of an early exit. The impact of deferred pay on executive retention, a key ingredient for firms to create shareholder value is hence an important empirical issue. Using pay duration proposed in Gopalan et al. (2014) as a measure of the extent of deferred equity, we find that CEOs and non‐CEO executives with longer pay duration are less likely to leave the firm voluntarily. The talent retention role of deferred pay is mitigated by performance‐vesting provisions and signing bonuses offered by industry peers. Moreover, we also find that voluntary turnover is less sensitive to pay duration for executives who are perceived to be more talented and have more firm‐specific skills. Overall, our study highlights a strong link between compensation design and turnover of top executives. It suggests that firms take into account the need for retaining managerial talent in designing executive compensation.
Computed tomography angiography for aerodigestive injuries in penetrating neck trauma: A systematic review
Authors: Paladino Lorenzo , Baron Bonny J. , Shan Gururaj , Sinert Richard
Published: May 2021

Objectives

Management of hemodynamically stable patients with penetrating neck trauma (PNT) has evolved in recent years with improvements in imaging technology. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) encompassing all zones of the neck has become part of the standard diagnostic algorithm for PNT patients who do not require immediate surgical intervention for vascular or aerodigestive injuries (ADI). Several studies have demonstrated favorable operating characteristics for CTA at excluding arterial injuries; however, consensus as to CTA’s ability to detect ADI is lacking. We conducted a systematic review (PROSPERO registration number CRD42019133509) to answer the question Is CTA sufficient to rule out ADI in hemodynamically stable PNT patients without hard signs?

Methods

Investigators independently searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science from their inception to August 2020 for the search terms “penetrating neck injuries” and “CT scan.” To be included, studies required sufficient data to construct a 2×2 table of CTA for ADI. The operating characteristics of CTA for detecting ADIs are reported as sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios (LRs), with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Bias in our studies was quantified by QUADAS‐2.

Results

Our search identified 1,242 citations with seven studies with moderate to high risk of bias meeting our inclusion/exclusion criteria and encompassing 877 subjects with an ADI prevalence of 13.4%. CTA for ADI had sensitivity of 92% (95% CI = 85% to 97%), specificity of 88% (95% CI = 85% to 90%), positive likelihood ratio of 12.2 (95% CI = 4.6 to 32), and negative LR of 0.14 (95% CI = 0.05 to 0.37). Of the 26 identified esophageal injuries across our studies that were diagnosed by either swallow studies or surgical exploration, five (19%, 95% CI = 8.1% to 38.3%) were initially missed by CTA.

Conclusion

CTA alone is not sufficient to exclude esophageal injuries in PNT. Because delayed diagnosis is associated with increased morbidity, additional diagnostic interventions should be undertaken if there is remaining concern for esophageal injury.
An empirical investigation of the quality of value‐at‐risk disclosure in Australia
Authors: Campbell Angus , Smith Daniel R.
Published: May 2021

We study the level and quality of value‐at‐risk (VaR) disclosure at Australian banks. We find that Australian banks have increased disclosure about their VaR recently, reaching a level post‐crisis that is similar to other regulatory jurisdictions. We find that the actual VaR estimates produced by banks are generally rejected by standard backtesting procedures. During quiet periods bank VaRs are too high, while during high volatility stress periods bank VaRs are too low. We are able to reject the null hypothesis that the daily VaRs for two banks are the 1st percentile using a quantile regression‐based test.
Identifying novel ovarian tumor biomarkers through mining of the transcriptome of circulating immune cells: A proof‐of‐concept study
Authors: Uppal Shitanshu , Medlin Erin , Felder Mildred , Kapur Arvinder , Sterner Robert C. , Vazquez Jessica , Lindner Payton N. , Stanic Aleksandar K. , Barroilhet Lisa , Gonzalez‐Bosquet Jesus , Patankar Manish S.
Published: May 2021

Objective

Treatment of high‐grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) will benefit from early detection of cancer. Here, we provide proof‐of‐concept data supporting the hypothesis that circulating immune cells, because of their early recognition of tumors and the tumor microenvironment, can be considered for biomarker discovery.

Methods

Longitudinal blood samples from C57BL/6 mice bearing syngeneic ovarian tumors and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy postmenopausal women and newly diagnosed for HGSOC patients were subjected to RNASeq. The results from human immune cells were validated using Affymetrix microarrays. Differentially expressed transcripts in immune cells from tumor‐bearing mice and HGSOC patients were compared to matching controls.

Results

A total of 1282 transcripts (798 and 484, up‐ and downregulated, respectively) were differentially expressed in the tumor‐bearing mice as compared with controls. Top 100 genes showing longitudinal changes in gene expression 2, 4, 7, and 18 days after tumor implantation were identified. Analysis of the PBMC from healthy post‐menopausal women and HGSOC patients identified 4382 differentially expressed genes and 519 of these were validated through Affymetrix microarray analysis. A total of 384 genes, including IL‐1R2, CH3L1, Infitm1, FP42, CXC42, Hdc, Spib, and Sema6b, were differentially expressed in the human and mouse datasets.

Conclusion

The PBMC transcriptome shows longitudinal changes in response to the progressing tumor. Several potential biomarker transcripts were identified in HGSOC patients and mouse models. Monitoring their expression in individual PBMC subsets can serve as additional discriminator for the diagnosis of HGSOC.
Alpha‐linolenic acid regulates the gut microbiota and the inflammatory environment in a mouse model of endometriosis
Authors: Ni Zhexin , Ding Jie , Zhao Qianqian , Cheng Wen , Yu Jin , Zhou Ling , Sun Shuai , Yu Chaoqin
Published: May 2021

Problem

This study aims to investigate the effects of alpha‐linolenic acid (ALA) on the gut microbiota (GM) and the abdominal environment in mice with endometriosis (EMS).

Methods

The effects of faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from EMS mice on mice treated with antibiotic cocktail were conducted. The 16S rRNA sequencing and PICRUSt software were used to detect the structure and function of GM respectively. The protein levels of Claudin 4 and ZO‐2 in the intestinal wall were detected using the western blotting. The level of LPS in the abdominal cavity was detected using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The content of macrophages in the abdominal cavity was detected using flow cytometry.

Results

The exogenous supplementation of ALA could restore the abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidota in EMS mice. After the ALA treatment, the abundance of 125 functional pathways and 50 abnormal enzymes related to GM in EMS mice was significantly improved (p < .05). The expression of the ZO‐2 protein in the intestinal wall was decreased, and the level of LPS in the abdominal cavity was significantly increased after FMT from EMS mice (p < .05). ALA could increase the expression of the ZO‐2 protein in the intestinal wall of EMS mice, reduce the level of LPS in the abdominal cavity (p < .05) and reduce the aggregation of peritoneal macrophages (p < .05).

Conclusion

Alpha‐linolenic acid can improve the GM, intestinal wall barrier and abdominal inflammatory environment and reduce the level of LPS in mice with EMS.
Genome‐wide association study identifies TNFSF15 associated with childhood asthma
Authors: Kim Kyung Won , Kim Dong Yun , Yoon Dankyu , Kim Ka‐Kyung , Jang Haerin , Schoettler Nathan , Kim Eun Gyul , Kim Mi Na , Hong Jung Yeon , Lee Jeom‐Kyu , Kim Sangwoo , Ober Carole , Gee Heon Yung , Sohn Myung Hyun
Published: May 2021

Background

Genome‐wide association studies (GWASs) of asthma have identified several risk alleles and loci, but most have been conducted in individuals with European‐ancestry. Studies in Asians, especially children, are still lacking. We aimed to identify susceptibility loci by performing the first GWAS of asthma in Korean children with persistent asthma.

Methods

We used a discovery set of 741 children with persistent asthma as cases and 589 healthy children and 551 healthy adults as controls to perform a GWAS. We validated our GWAS findings using UK Biobank data. We then used the Genotype‐Tissue Expression database to identify expression quantitative trait loci of candidate variants. Finally, we quantified proteins of genes associated with asthma.

Results

Variants at the 17q12‐21 locus and SNPs in CYBRD1 and TNFSF15 genes were associated with persistent childhood asthma at genome‐wide thresholds of significance. Four SNPs in the TNFSF15 gene were also associated with childhood‐onset asthma in British white participants in the UK Biobank data. The asthma‐associated rs7856856‐C allele, the lead SNP, was associated with decreased TNFSF15 expression in whole blood and in arteries. Korean children with asthma had lower serum TNFSF15 levels than controls, and those with the asthma risk rs7856856‐CC genotype exhibited the lowest serum TNFSF15 levels overall, especially asthmatic children.

Conclusions

Our GWAS of persistent childhood asthma with allergic sensitization identified a new susceptibility gene, TNFSF15, and replicated associations at the 17q12‐21 childhood‐onset asthma locus. This novel association may be mediated by reduced expression of serum TNFSF15 and loss of suppression of angiogenesis.
Demonstrating public value to funders and other stakeholders—the journey of ELIXIR, a virtual and distributed research infrastructure for life science data
Authors: Martin Corinne S. , Repo Susanna , Arenas Márquez Juan , Blomberg Niklas , Lauer Katharina B. , Pérez Sitjà Xènia , Velek Premysl , Melo Ana M. P. , Stansberg Christine , De Leo Francesca , Griniece Elina , Rothe Hannes , Petryszak Robert , Smith Andrew
Published: May 2021

Open Science is a founding principle of ELIXIR, a pan‐European research infrastructure for life science data, with 21 Member countries plus the European Molecular Biology Laboratory. The mission of ELIXIR is to coordinate bioinformatics resources so that they form a single, integrated and pan‐European infrastructure, which can be used freely by academic and private‐sector researchers across the globe. As a recipient of public and charitable funding, ELIXIR must demonstrate its value, and the need to produce evidence in support of this is intensifying. Our practice‐led journey towards demonstrating public value is articulated around five main challenges and, for each, we present our pragmatic approach for tackling it. We begin by showing how we are working towards demystifying what research infrastructures do. We then shed light on the sort of evidence our funders and other stakeholders are asking us for, how this evidence varies in nature and scope, and our tactics to satisfy them. We follow‐on by providing our thoughts on possible barriers and solutions to embedding impact evaluation in our activities. Finally, we provide lessons learned, which we believe are sufficiently transferable and will be inspirational to other research infrastructures as they embark on their own journeys to demonstrate public value.
The link between stereotypical leader traits and perceived electability: Do Black women politicians face double jeopardy?
Authors: Mosier Amanda E. , Pietri Evava S.
Published: May 2021

This paper examined whether Black women political candidates face double jeopardy in voter perceptions of electability due to Black women being perceived as having fewer traditional leader traits compared to White male, White female, and Black male candidates. Due to increasing political polarization in the United States, concerns over electability are at the forefront of many voters’ minds when casting their ballots. Traditional conceptions of electability are built upon racialized and gendered notions of what traits connote an effective leader; thus, women and racial minority candidates are often perceived as less electable compared to White men. However, research has not adequately examined the intersectional aspect of electability bias. The current study proposed a double jeopardy effect: we expected that participants (n = 454) would perceive Black women, compared to White men, White women, and Black men, as lower in competence and leadership ability, which would lead to lower electability perceptions and voting intentions. Unexpectedly, there were mixed findings for the effects of race/gender on competence and leadership ability, and we did not find any evidence that candidate race/gender related to electability or voting intentions. We discuss potential explanations for these null findings and suggest avenues for future research.
The nature, severity and causes of medication incidents from an Australian community pharmacy incident reporting system: The QUMwatch study
Authors: Adie Khaled , Fois Romano A. , McLachlan Andrew J. , Walpola Ramesh L. , Chen Timothy F.
Published: May 2021

Aims

Most research into medication safety has been conducted in hospital settings with less known about primary care. The aim of this study was to characterise the nature and causes of medication incidents (MIs) in the community using a pharmacy incident reporting programme.

Methods

Thirty community pharmacies participated in an anonymous or confidential MI spontaneous reporting programme in Sydney, Australia. The Advanced Incident Management System was used to record and classify incident characteristics, contributing factors, severity and frequency ratings.

Results

In total, 1013 incidents were reported over 30 months, 831 of which were near misses while 165 reports involved patient harm. The largest proportion of cases pertained to patients aged >65 years (35.7%). Most incidents involved errors during the prescribing stage (61.1%), followed by dispensing (25.7%) and administration (23.5%), while some errors occurred at multiple stages (17.9%). Systemic antibacterials (12.2%), analgesics (11.8%) and renin–angiotensin medicines (11.7%) formed the majority of implicated classes. Participants identified diverse and interrelating contributing factors: those concerning healthcare providers included violations to procedures/guidelines (75.6%), rule‐based mistakes (55.6%) and communication (50.6%); those concerning patients included cognitive factors (31.9%), communication (25.5%) and behaviour (6.1%). Organisational safety culture and inadequate risk management processes were rated as suboptimal.

Conclusion

An MI reporting programme can capture and characterise medication safety problems in the community and identify the human and system factors that contribute to errors. Since medicine use is ubiquitous in the community, morbidity and mortality from MIs may be reduced by addressing the prioritised risks and contributing factors identified in this study.
Post‐stroke epilepsy and antiepileptic drug use in men and women
Authors: Loikas Desirée , Linnér Love , Sundström Anders , Wettermark Björn , von Euler Mia
Published: May 2021

Evidence‐based recommendations for choice of antiepileptic drug (AED) in post‐stroke epilepsy (PSE) are lacking. The aim of this study was to describe the use and persistence of AEDs when initiating treatment in men and women with PSE. An observational study based on individual‐level patient data from a regional healthcare register in Stockholm, Sweden, was conducted. Adults (≥18 years) with a stroke diagnosis 2012‐2016, a dispensed prescription of any AED within two years after the stroke, and with an epilepsy‐related diagnosis were identified. Multinomial logistic regression and logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with choice of AED and discontinuation within 90 days, respectively. Of 9652 men and 9844 women with a stroke diagnosis, 287 men and 273 women had PSE and were dispensed AED. More than 60% of both men and women with PSE were treated with levetiracetam. Carbamazepine was the second most common drug followed by lamotrigine and valproic acid. There were significant differences in AED choice depending on for instance sex, age and renal impairment. Levetiracetam had the highest persistence in both men and women. Choice of AED, oral anticoagulant use and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) showed an association with the persistence to therapy. We conclude that in both men and women with PSE, levetiracetam was the most used AED for initiation of treatment and also had the highest persistence.
3D reconstruction of the Lapis Tiburtinus (Tivoli, Central Italy): The control of climatic and sea‐level changes on travertine deposition
Authors: Mancini Alessandro , Della Porta Giovanna , Swennen Rudy , Capezzuoli Enrico
Published: May 2021

3D modelling is a fundamental tool to visualize and understand the history of sedimentary basin filling and to reconstruct the geobody architecture. Spatial distribution of discontinuity surfaces and geobody characteristics provide valuable information on the factors controlling the sedimentary evolution of basins. Several Neogene‐Quaternary basins of central‐western Italy are controlled by extensional and strike‐slip tectonics and characterized by travertine deposition, related to hydrothermal fluids rising up along discontinuities and fractured carbonate bedrocks. This study presents the 3D modelling results of the quarry area within the tectonically controlled Acque Albule Basin (Tivoli, Central Italy) that hosts the Pleistocene Lapis Tiburtinus travertine. The 3D reconstruction of the different surfaces bounding the travertine units shows a complex architecture composed of depressions, reliefs and channels as predominant morphological elements related to four different depositional environments (subaqueous, palustrine, slope and travertine channel). The reconstructed surface maps highlight the presence of laterally migrating, E–W‐oriented lens‐shaped geometries, with a drainage system persistent through time oriented towards the southern part of the study area in the direction of the Aniene River, bordering the Acque Albule Basin in the South. The Lapis Tiburtinus travertine developed in an area of 28 km2, accumulated in a system composed of sub‐basins (approximately 1–2 km2 wide) with subaqueous conditions interconnected by a hydrographic network, controlled through time by fluctuations of the Aniene River base level. Based on the results obtained, base‐level fluctuations of the Aniene River, related to glacio‐eustatic sea‐level oscillations of the last 115 kyrs associated with alternation of humid and arid climatic conditions, arise as the most important factor affecting the architecture of the travertine geobodies.
Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: Is active surveillance always enough?
Authors: Sutherland Rosie , Tsang Venessa , Clifton‐Bligh Roderick J. , Gild Matti L.
Published: May 2021

The incidence of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) has increased over recent decades. This apparent epidemic has been attributed to the overdiagnosis of small PTC ≤10 mm in diameter (papillary thyroid microcarcinoma [PTMC]) incidentally detected on imaging for unrelated presentations. Although most PTMCs follow an indolent disease course, there is a small but significant proportion of cases that display more biologically aggressive features such as early metastasis and lymph node involvement. Management of PTMC diagnosed preoperatively should be distinguished from managing those PTMCs incidentally discovered after thyroidectomy. Here, we will focus on the challenge of managing the preoperative patient. Current guidelines recommend against routine biopsy of nodules ≤10 mm, even if they display highly suspicious features on ultrasound; however, it is not known how to identify those PTMCs at higher risk of disease progression. In view of their good prognosis even without surgical resection, active surveillance has emerged as an alternative to operative management for low‐risk PTMC without lymph node involvement or distant metastasis. This review aims to summarise active surveillance data for PTMC and identify clinical features that may differentiate the indolent majority from those PTMCs that exhibit early disease progression and metastasis.
Differential production of interleukin‐6 and tumor necrosis factor‐α in primary rat astrocyte cultures using two distinct methods of microglia elimination
Authors: Barany Zoltan , Toth Istvan , Jocsak Gergely , Frenyo Laszlo V. , Bartha Tibor , Sterczer Agnes , Kiss David S.
Published: May 2021

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a neurocognitive disorder due to acute or chronic liver failure as well as portosystemic bypass. Both neuroinflammation and oxidative stress have been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of HE. An increasing body of evidence suggests that in the development of these mechanisms astrocytes may be involved. With regard of HE, this aspect of astrocytes is, however, neglected. While several studies focus on astrocytes related to the above‐mentioned pathological processes, the applied in vitro models are generated by diverse methods, which make the results difficult to compare with each other. In addition, these astrocyte cultures frequently contain microglia as well, complicating the interpretation of results. Therefore, we applied enriched primary rat astrocyte cultures generated by microglia elimination via shaking or the combination of cytosine β‐d‐arabinofuranoside hydrochloride (AraC) and l‐leucine methyl ester (LME). We examine whether some HE‐relevant pathological factors, such as ammonia, manganese (Mn), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and H2O2 could elicit oxidative stress and cytokine production in astrocytes. Mn exposure increased the oxidative stress in astrocytes in a time‐dependent manner; furthermore, we could detect tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α production in both cultures at resting state. In addition, it was around 10‐fold higher in the cultures after shaking. LPS increased TNF‐α secretion in cultures after shaking, but not in cultures after AraC + LME treatment. In contrast, interleukin (IL)‐6 was detectable only in the AraC + LME‐treated cultures. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that HE‐relevant factors evoke oxidative stress and cytokine production, albeit depending on the elimination method used.
Retinal prostheses: Where to from here?
Authors: Allen Penelope J.
Published: May 2021

Researchers have been working towards the development of retinal prostheses, so called “bionic eyes” since the 1960s in an effort to restore functional vision to severely visually impaired patients. Groups from all around the world are involved in this research but in particular, groups from the United States, Germany, France, Japan and Australia have conducted clinical trials of these devices and three of these devices have achieved either FDA HDE (U.S. Food and Drug Administration Humanitarian Device Exception) or CE mark approval for commercial production. Despite this, all three of these devices are now not in commercial production. There are many challenges to overcome to develop devices suitable to implant in human patients and then reach commercial distribution. This is an exacting process and many hurdles need to be overcome to reach this point so that leaving the market after achieving this goal is a significant decision. Ongoing research is exploring the possibility of less complicated surgery with better visual processing algorithms to provide more useful visual information for our patients to provide a commercial alternative.
Endoscopic submucosal dissection is safe and feasible, allowing for ongoing surveillance and organ preservation in patients with inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Lightner Amy L. , Vaidya Prashansha , Allende Daniela , Gorgun Emre
Published: May 2021

Aim

Experience of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for colorectal lesions in the setting of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains limited. The aim of this work was to determine the safety, feasibility and oncological outcomes of ESD in patients with IBD.

Method

A retrospective review of all adult patients (≥18 years) with a known diagnosis of either ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD) who underwent advanced colonoscopy and ESD between 1 January 2014 and 1 October 2020. Data collected included patient demographics, disease characteristics, pathological variables and procedure‐related complication rates.

Results

A total of 25 patients were included: 19 (76%) were male with a median age of 63 years and disease duration of more than 10 years. Sixteen had UC and nine had CD; the majority were taking corticosteroids, immunomodulators or monoclonal antibodies at the time of ESD. The median procedure time was 41 min and the majority (n = 18; 72%) utilized chromoendoscopy. The median lesion size was 30 mm: eight had low‐grade dysplasia, nine had high‐grade dysplasia and three had adenocarcinoma and underwent oncological resection. None had surgical intervention for complication of ESD or perforation. A total of 23 (88%) had a complete R0 resection. Over a median follow‐up of 19 months, three were found to have dysplasia excised in polyps and none had subsequent adenocarcinoma.

Conclusion

ESD in the setting of IBD is safe and effective for complete removal of large neoplastic lesions, allowing for ongoing endoscopic surveillance and organ preservation rather than surgical intervention.
PyRICo‐Pilot: pyridostigmine to reduce the duration of postoperative ileus after colorectal surgery – a phase II study
Authors: Dudi‐Venkata Nagendra N. , Kroon Hidde M. , Bedrikovetski Sergei , Traeger Luke , Lewis Mark , Lawrence Matthew J. , Hunter Ronald A. , Moore James W. , Thomas Michelle L. , Sammour Tarik
Published: May 2021

Aim

Postoperative ileus (POI) is a major problem after colorectal surgery. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors such as pyridostigmine increase gastrointestinal (GI) motility through a cholinergic anti‐inflammatory pathway. The purpose of this phase II pilot study is to determine the safety of oral pyridostigmine after elective colorectal surgery.

Method

This is a Stage 2b safety study (IDEAL framework). All adult patients undergoing elective colorectal resection or formation or reversal of stoma at the Royal Adelaide Hospital between September 2020 and January 2021 were eligible. The primary outcomes were 30‐day postoperative complications, reported adverse events and GI‐2 – a validated composite outcome measure of recovery of GI function after surgery, defined as the interval from surgery until first passage of stool and tolerance of a solid intake for 24 h (in whole days) in the absence of vomiting.

Results

Fifteen patients were included in the study. The median age was 58 (range 50–82) years and seven (47%) were men. Most participants had an American Society of Anesthesiologists grade ≥2 (53%) and the median body mass index was 27 (24–35) kg/m2. There were 13 postoperative complications [seven were Clavien–Dindo (CD) 1, five CD 2 and one CD 3]. None appeared directly related to pyridostigmine administration, and none of the patients had any overt symptoms of excessive parasympathetic activity. Median GI‐2 was 2 (1–4) days.

Conclusion

Oral pyridostigmine appears to be safe to use after elective colorectal surgery in a select group of patients. However, considering this is a pilot study with a small sample size, larger controlled studies are needed to confirm this finding and establish efficacy for prevention of POI.