bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reviewing interfirm relationship quality from a supply chain management perspective
Authors: Qian Chen , Seuring Stefan , Wagner Ralf
Published: September 2020

With the overlap of the interfirm relationship quality and supply chain management research in mind, this paper reviewed 100 recent, scientific, English-language papers on interfirm relationship quality based on a categorisation schema derived from a conceptual framework of supply chain management. We aim to contribute to the existing supply chain management literature by providing an insight into the connections of supply chain performance with buyer–supplier relationship quality from the relationship quality scholars’ perspective. Through content analysis, frequency and contingency analysis, we evaluated how the three relationship quality dimensions—information, operational, and relational dimensions—and the three types of supply chain performance—financial and market, operational, and relational performance have been reflected in the current interfirm relationship quality papers and how the scholars have tended to link them to each other. The results reveal that relational dimension plays a key role in SC relationship management and influences performance significantly. Information dimension will affect performance indirectly through relational dimension. However, the impact of the operational dimension on performance varies. In addition, buyers’ and suppliers’ perspectives on the relational drivers of their financial performance may differ. Based on the findings, we suggest promising avenues for future investigation of supply chain relationship and performance.
Soil respiration in seven types of temperate forests exhibits similar temperature sensitivity
Authors: Klimek Beata , Chodak Marcin , Niklińska Maria
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The aim of the study was to compare the temperature sensitivity of soil respiration rate in two soil horizons of seven types of temperate forests.

Materials and methods

Soil samples were collected in O and A horizons in seven types of temperate forests, each one represented by five independent stands distributed throughout Poland. Soil respiration rates were measured at standard moisture in five temperatures (4 °C, 10 °C, 16 °C, 22 °C and 28 °C), and the first-order Q10 values were calculated for each stand. General linear models (GLM) were fitted for respiration rate and for Q10 values separately using selected soil physical-chemical properties: C:N ratio, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content and soil pH.

Results and discussion

The soil respiration rate increased with temperature was the highest in O horizon of fresh mixed forest dominated by hornbeam and increased with C:N ratio, DOC content and soil pH (model p < 0.0001). In turn, model for Q10 was not significant meaning none of tested variables affected soil temperature sensitivity (p = 0.2886).

Conclusions

Despite studied forest types exhibit substantial distinctness in many soil properties including respiration rate, they showed similar susceptibility to temperature increase (roughly to climate warming).
Prevention, disruption and deterrence of online child sexual exploitation and abuse
Authors: Quayle Ethel
Published: September 2020

European law has recognised the need for international cross-disciplinary collaboration to both identify, locate and safeguard victims and prevent, investigate and prosecute online child exploitation and abuse (OCSEA). However, there is evidence that these crimes are continuing to increase and develop in step with technological advances. Changing the behaviour of both perpetrators and victims is both challenging and expensive and there is little evidence of what works to reduce these crimes. In this paper an argument is presented that changing the environments which support OCSEA is necessary if we are to detect and manage these crimes, and more importantly prevent them.
A bound on the genus of a curve with Cartier operator of small rank
Authors: Zhou Zijian
Published: September 2020

Ekedahl showed that the genus of a curve in characteristic $$p>0$$

p
>
0

with zero Cartier operator is bounded by $$p(p-1)/2$$

p
(
p
-
1
)
/
2

. We show the bound $$p+p(p-1)/2$$

p
+
p
(
p
-
1
)
/
2

in case the rank of the Cartier operator is 1, improving a result of Re.
$${\mathfrak {S}}_5$$-equivariant syzygies for the Del Pezzo surface of degree 5
Authors: Bauer Ingrid , Catanese Fabrizio
Published: September 2020

The Del Pezzo surface Y of degree 5 is the blow up of the plane in 4 general points, embedded in $${\mathbb {P}}^5$$

P

5

by the system of cubics passing through these points. It is the simplest example of the Buchsbaum–Eisenbud theorem on arithmetically-Gorenstein subvarieties of codimension 3 being Pfaffian.
Its automorphism group is the symmetric group $${\mathfrak {S}}_5$$

S
5

. We give canonical explicit $${\mathfrak {S}}_5$$

S
5

-invariant Pfaffian equations through a 6$$\times $$
×
6 antisymmetric matrix. We give concrete geometric descriptions of the irreducible representations of $${\mathfrak {S}}_5$$

S
5

. Finally, we give $${\mathfrak {S}}_5$$

S
5

-invariant equations for the embedding of Y inside $$({\mathbb {P}}^1)^5$$

(

P

1

)

5

, and show that they have the same Hilbert resolution as for the Del Pezzo of degree 4.
Convergence of sampling Kantorovich operators in modular spaces with applications
Authors: Costarelli Danilo , Vinti Gianluca
Published: September 2020

In the present paper we study the so-called sampling Kantorovich operators in the very general setting of modular spaces. Here, modular convergence theorems are proved under suitable assumptions, together with a modular inequality for the above operators. Further, we study applications of such approximation results in several concrete cases, such as Musielak–Orlicz and Orlicz spaces. As a consequence of these results we obtain convergence theorems in the classical and weighted versions of the$$L^p$$Lpand Zygmund (or interpolation) spaces. At the end of the paper examples of kernels for the above operators are presented.
Corneal Neurotization and Novel Medical Therapies for Neurotrophic Keratopathy
Authors: Rosenblatt Tatiana R. , Sears Connie M. , Park Ji Kwan , Kossler Andrea Lora
Published: September 2020

Purpose of Review

Neurotrophic keratopathy (NK) is a degenerative corneal disease characterized by decreased corneal sensibility and impaired corneal healing. In this article, we review surgical techniques for corneal neurotization (CN) and novel medical therapies for the treatment of NK.

Recent Findings

In recent decades, there has been a paradigm shift in the treatment strategies for NK. New minimally invasive direct and indirect CN approaches have demonstrated efficacy at improving best-corrected visual acuity and central corneal sensation while decreasing surgical morbidity. In addition, several targeted medical therapies, such as recombinant human nerve growth factor (rhNGF), regenerating agents (RGTA), and nicergoline, have shown promise in improving corneal epithelial healing. Of these options, cenegermin (Oxervate®, Dompé), a topical biologic medication, has emerged as an approved medical treatment for moderate to severe NK.

NK is a challenging condition caused by alterations in corneal nerves, leading to impairment in sensory and trophic function with subsequent breakdown of the cornea. Conventional therapy for NK depends on the severity of disease and focuses primarily on protecting the ocular surface. In recent years, numerous CN techniques and novel medical treatments have been developed that aim to restore proper corneal innervation and promote ocular surface healing. Further studies are needed to better understand the long-term efficacy of these treatment options, their target populations, and the potential synergistic efficacy of combined medical and surgical treatments.
A comparative study of social group optimization with a few recent optimization algorithms
Authors: Naik Anima , Satapathy Suresh Chandra
Published: September 2020

From the past few decades, the popularity of meta-heuristic optimization algorithms is growing compared to deterministic search optimization algorithms in solving global optimization problems. This has led to the development of several optimization algorithms to solve complex optimization problems. But none of the algorithms can solve all optimization problems equally well. As a result, the researchers focus on either improving exiting meta-heuristic optimization algorithms or introducing new algorithms. The social group optimization (SGO) Algorithm is a meta-heuristic optimization algorithm that was proposed in the year 2016 for solving global optimization problems. In the literature, SGO is shown to perform well as compared to other optimization algorithms. This paper attempts to compare the performance of the SGO algorithm with other optimization algorithms proposed between 2017 and 2019. These algorithms are tested through several experiments, including multiple classical benchmark functions, CEC special session functions, and six classical engineering problems etc. Optimization results prove that the SGO algorithm is extremely competitive as compared to other algorithms.
Stewardship and Shareholder Engagement in Germany
Authors: Ringe Wolf-Georg
Published: September 2020

Corporate stewardship holds great promise for the improvement of shareholder engagement and the encouragement of more responsible and long-term oriented value creation. This is particularly true since the outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Many countries have long adopted a best practice code for the stewardship role of institutional investors and asset managers, but Germany has so far refused to follow that trend. This paper explores the reasons for this reluctance, as well as whether the adoption of a Stewardship Code would still make sense in the regulatory framework of Germany today. Despite the increased presence of shareholder engagement (and even activism), several reasons may be put forward for why lawmakers have refused to adopt a stewardship code. This paper argues that the main political reason for this reluctance lies in the limited geographical reach of such a code, which would primarily be restricted to the (limited) domestic fund industry and would thus be unable to prescribe any meaningful principles to foreign-based asset managers. Still, I argue that the adoption of a code in the German context may make sense, for example to define expectations and to clarify the obligations of investee companies. Most importantly, it would benefit domestic investors that are typically ‘home biased’ and thereby frequently disproportionately invested in domestic funds.
Creating Value From Energy Data: A Practitioner’s Perspective on Data-Driven Smart Energy Business Models
Authors: Chasin Friedrich , Paukstadt Ute , Ullmeyer Patrick , Becker Jörg
Published: September 2020

Along the energy value chain where produced energy is delivered for consumption within individual households, physical devices are being replaced by smart and connected products referred to as the Internet of Things. These smart products generate large volumes of data that can enable new data-driven business models. In the energy sector, consumers produce data by consuming energy, which is monitored and controlled by different smart energy products like microgeneration units or home automation devices. Although smart energy business models have been subject to academic research, the business value of data, which is created from smart energy products, remains unclear. Against this background, the paper presents a practitioners’ perspective on the data-driven potential of smart energy technologies for new business models, the constituting elements of these business models, and the challenges associated with their implementation. By doing this, we provide trajectories for the future of the energy industry and draw guiding implications for developing data-driven smart energy business models.
Relationship Between Nurses’ Decision-Making Style and Their Disaster Response Competencies
Authors: Aliakbari Fatemeh , Ghaedamini Masoumeh , Deris Fatemeh , Masoudi Reza
Published: September 2020

Nurses are the first respondents to the critical situations and therefore must be able to effectively manage the critical situations using their competencies. Given that the decision-making style under the stressful critical situations is an important component of the care process in these situations, this study was conducted with the aim of determining the relationship between decision-making style and nurses’ disaster response competencies.

This descriptive, analytical study was conducted in Shahr-e Kord city in 2018. A total of 300 nurses were selected from Ayatollah Kashani and Hajar hospitals by multistage sampling and from the Emergency Medical Services Center by the census method. Data were collected using the Disaster Nursing Competence Assessment and the decision-making style questionnaires and analyzed with SPSS 21 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY).

Most of the nurses used the intuitive decision-making style and the total score of disaster nursing competencies was 162.58 ± 22.70. Pearson’s correlation coefficient indicated that there was a positive relation between decision-making style and nurses’ disaster response competencies.

The results show that decision-making style affects nurses’ competencies for disaster response and provides evidence for the development of educational policies in disaster nursing education.
Convergence, parallelism, and function of extreme parietal callus in diverse groups of Cenozoic Gastropoda
Authors: Pietsch Carlie , Anderson Brendan M. , Maistros Lauren M. , Padalino Ethan C. , Allmon Warren D.
Published: September 2020

We use scanning electron microscopy imaging to examine the shell microstructure of fossil and living species in five families of caenogastropods (Strombidae, Volutidae, Olividae, Pseudolividae, and Ancillariidae) to determine whether parallel or convergent evolution is responsible for the development of a unique caenogastropod trait, the extreme parietal callus (EPC). The EPC is defined as a substantial thickening of both the spire callus and the callus on the ventral shell surface such that it covers 50% or more of the surface. Caenogastropods as a whole construct the EPC convergently, using a variety of low-density, poorly organized microstructures that are otherwise uncommon in caenogastropod non-callus shell construction. Within clades, however, we see evidence for parallelism in decreased regulation in both the shell and callus microstructure. Low-density and poorly ordered microstructure—such as used for the EPC—uses less organic scaffolding and is less energetically expensive than normal shell microstructure. This suggests the EPC functions to rapidly and inexpensively increase shell thickness and overall body size. Tests of functional ecology suggest that the EPC might function both to defend against crushing predation through increased body size and dissipation of forces while aiding in shell orientation of highly mobile gastropods. These interpretations hinge on the current phylogenetic placement of caenogastropod families, emphasizing the essential contribution of phylogeny when interpreting homoplasy.
Principal component analysis of avian hind limb and foot morphometrics and the relationship between ecology and phylogeny
Authors: Falk Amanda R. , Lamsdell James C. , Gong Enpu
Published: September 2020

Principal component analysis has been used to test for similarities in ecology and life habit between modern and fossil birds; however, the two main portions of the hind limb—the foot and the long bone elements—have not been examined separately. We examine the potential links between morphology, ecology, and phylogeny through a synthesis of phylogenetic paleoecological methods and morphospace analysis. Both hind limb morphologies and species’ ecologies exhibit extreme phylogenetic clumping, although these patterns are at least partially explainable by a Brownian motion style of evolution. Some morphologies are strongly correlated with particular ecologies, while some ecologies are occupied by a variety of morphologies. Within the morphospace analyses, the length of the hallux (toe I) is the most defining characteristic of the entire hind limb. The foot and hind limb are represented on different axes when all measurements are considered in an analysis, suggesting that these structures undergo morphological change separately from each other. Early birds tend to cluster together, representing an unspecialized basal foot morphotype and a hind limb reliant on hip-driven, not knee-driven, locomotion. Direct links between morphology, ecology, and phylogeny are unclear and complicated and may be biased due to sample size (~60 species). This study should be treated as a preliminary analysis that further studies, especially those examining the vast diversity of modern birds, can build upon.
Rising burden of overweight and obesity among Indian adults: empirical insights for public health preparedness
Authors: Rai Rajesh Kumar , Kumar Chandan , Singh Lucky , Singh Prashant Kumar , Acharya Subhendu Kumar , Singh Shalini
Published: September 2020

With simultaneous efforts to address a huge burden of malnutrition, especially among children and younger women, India also encounters a mushrooming prevalence of overweight and obesity among the adult population. This study analysed data from two consecutive rounds of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) conducted in 2005–06 and 2015–16, to present the burden of overweight and obesity among adult men and women in India. The findings highlight a rising burden of overweight and obesity, although the level and the extent of change over the study period varied across states. The district-wise analysis revealed geographical clusters of overweight and obesity. Further investigation suggests that overweight or obesity are not exclusive to urban areas, and economically well-off populations are more inclined to be overweight or obese. The trends and patterns of overweight and obesity in India argue for timely public health preparedness and interventions to avoid the rising incidence of non-communicable diseases in India.
Mental Health Problems at a Critical Juncture: Exit from Social Assistance among Young Finns
Authors: VAALAVUO MARIA , BAKKUM BORIS
Published: September 2020

Reducing social assistance dependency is high on the political agenda; labour market and social exclusion of youth, in particular, has been considered worrisome. With these policy objectives and societal considerations in mind we set to study the association between health problems, with a specific focus on mental health, and the duration of social assistance receipt among young adults in Finland. Our analyses are based on rich register data encompassing the total population in the metropolitan area of Finland from 2005 to 2016. We follow a cohort of new social assistance recipients (n=36,728) aged 18–34 for a maximum of 60 months using Cox proportional hazard model. The results show a strong association between mental health problems and duration of social assistance receipt. The association was the strongest among those aged 18–24. Some differences in the strength of the association were found for different psychiatric diagnoses. On the other hand, somatic diagnoses were only weakly associated with duration of social assistance receipt. Mental health problems appear to be an important obstacle for exiting social assistance and this should be taken into account when governments aim to decrease welfare dependency and reform the last-resort financial aid.
Value systems as motivational forces for the suppression of ageism towards older people amongst young adults: an analysis across countries
Authors: Stanciu Adrian
Published: September 2020

What explains ageism towards older people? Several answers exist in the literature, but it is still unclear whether the ageism people express has been altered by motivational forces (i.e.factors which carry or enact motivation, leading to action or thought) or whether an original, primal ageism can be expressed directly. Investigating populations of young adults (45 and younger), this article suggests that value systems are sources of internal and external motivational forces which work to either suppress or to justify both subtle and blatant forms of ageism. It was hypothesised that, at the individual level, values precede any threat perception and negative stereotypical beliefs associated with older people, leading to forms of ageism which match the motivational goals of a person's values. It was further expected that, at the cultural level, values represent the climate in which people express ageist beliefs. It was found that self-transcendence values can bypass the negative effects of threat perception and negative stereotypes, resulting in less-negative forms of ageism. A sample comprising a clear majority of hierarchical, non-Western cultures showed that self-enhancement values also contributed motivational strength for the suppression of blatant ageism. A practical implication of these findings is the possibility of further developing existing strategies of combating ageism by working to effect appropriate long-term changes in the values of young adults.
A Visual Programming Approach for Co-designed Robots
Authors: Vázquez Andrés S. , Calvo Tomás , Fernández Raúl , Ramos Francisco
Published: September 2020

This paper proposes an approach for the high-level programming of co-designed robots that reduces programming complexity. Particularly, the work presented focuses on the programming framework of an intelligent system, based on the IEEE Standard Ontologies for Robotics and Automation, which allows users the automatic design of robots and the automatic implementation of controllers in the Robot Operating System (ROS). In our approach, the co-designed robot functionalities are automatically translated into visual programming blocks allowing non-expert users an easy robot programming by means of a visual programming language. Several robot configurations and three case studies are provided as a proof of concept. The validation, in terms of usability, of the framework has been carried out with inexperienced users showing promising results.
Cost-effectiveness of treating head and neck cancer using intensity-modulated radiation therapy: implications for cancer control program in India
Authors: Chauhan Akashdeep Singh , Prinja Shankar , Ghoshal Sushmita , Verma Roshan
Published: September 2020

Background

The newer cancer treatment technologies hold the potential of providing improved health outcomes at an additional cost. So it becomes obligatory to assess the costs and benefits of a new technology, before defining its clinical value. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) as compared to 2-dimensional radiotherapy (2-DRT) and 3-dimensional radiotherapy (3D-CRT) for treating head and neck cancers (HNC) in India. The cost-effectiveness of 3-DCRT as compared to 2-DRT was also estimated.

Methods

A probabilistic Markov model was designed. Using a disaggregated societal perspective, lifetime study horizon and 3 percent discount rate, future costs and health outcomes were compared for a cohort of 1000 patients treated with any of the three radiation techniques. Data on health system cost, out of pocket expenditure, and quality of life was assessed through primary data collected from a large tertiary care public sector hospital in India. Data on xerostomia rates following each of the radiation techniques was extracted from the existing randomized controlled trials.

Results

IMRT incurs an incremental cost of $7,072 (2,932–13,258) and $5,164 (463–10,954) per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained compared to 2-DRT and 3D-CRT, respectively. Further, 3D-CRT as compared to 2-DRT requires an incremental cost of $8,946 (1,996–19,313) per QALY gained.

Conclusion

Both IMRT and 3D-CRT are not cost-effective at 1 times GDP per capita for treating HNC in India. The costs and benefits of using IMRT for other potential indications (e.g. prostate, lung) require to be assessed before considering its introduction in India.
John Stuart Mill's Harm Principle and Free Speech: Expanding the Notion of Harm
Authors: Bell Melina Constantine
Published: September 2020

This article advocates employing John Stuart Mill's harm principle to set the boundary for unregulated free speech, and his Greatest Happiness Principle to regulate speech outside that boundary because it threatens unconsented-to harm. Supplementing the harm principle with an offense principle is unnecessary and undesirable if our conception of harm integrates recent empirical evidence unavailable to Mill. For example, current research uncovers the tangible harms individuals suffer directly from bigoted speech, as well as the indirect harms generated by the systemic oppression and epistemic injustice that bigoted speech constructs and reinforces. Using Mill's ethical framework with an updated notion of harm, we can conclude that social coercion is not justified to restrict any harmless speech, no matter how offensive. Yet certain forms of speech, such as bigoted insults, are both harmful and fail to express a genuine opinion, and so do not deserve free speech protection.
Genetic diversity of the Andean blackberry (Rubus glaucusBenth.) in Ecuador assessed by AFLP markers
Authors: Garrido Patricia , Morillo Eduardo , Vásquez-Castillo Wilson
Published: September 2020

Andean blackberry (Rubus glaucusBenth.) is an emerging fruit crop with significant commercial potential. Despite its growing popularity, basic research about its genetic resources and breeding remains insufficient. The aim of this study was to assess the genetic diversity of Andean blackberry cultivars and related berries species from the main production areas in Ecuador. We analysed a total of 106 samples and performed DNA screening with different molecular markers: random-amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSRs) and a set of representative samples with amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs). The tested RAPD primers did not reveal any differentiation among accessions identified asR. glaucus, however one ISSR primer was useful to find polymorphisms allowing the selection of 29 accessions for the analysis with AFLP markers. AFLP-M13 technology was used for screen genetic variations among these accessions and eight wildRubusaccessions. We scored 203 bands using five primer combinations; out of these 152 were informative inR. glaucus. AFLP markers clearly distinguishR. glaucusfrom the screened wildRubusspecies, also an unexpected genetic structure was revealed amongR. glaucuscultivars. This genetic differentiation and detection of admixed genotypes suggest a possible introgression of wildRubusspecies inR. glaucus. Our findings are relevant for blackberry genetic breeding and use of these genetic resources.
Isotopic Evidence for Multiple Recycled Sulfur Reservoirs in the Mangaia Mantle Plume
Authors: Dottin J. W. , Labidi J. , Jackson M. G. , Woodhead J. , Farquhar J.
Published: September 2020

Mangaia, an ocean island in the Cook‐Austral volcanic chain, is the type locality for the HIMU mantle reservoir and has also been shown to exhibit evidence for recycled sulfur with anomalous δ34S and Δ33S that has been attributed an Archean origin. Here we report bulk S‐isotope data from sulfide inclusions in olivine and pyroxene phenocrysts from one of the previously analyzed and four additional Mangaia basalts to further test for the prevalence of anomalous S in the HIMU mantle source feeding Mangaia. We document compositions that range from −5.13‰ to +0.21‰ (±0.3 2σ), +0.006‰ to +0.049‰ (±0.016 2σ), −0.81‰ to +0.69‰ (±0.3 2σ) for δ34S, Δ33S, and Δ36S, respectively. These data extend the range of measured compositions and suggest S‐isotope heterogeneity in the HIMU mantle source at Mangaia. We show that S‐isotope compositions of bulk sulfide in olivine is not in isotopic equilibrium with bulk sulfide in pyroxene from the same samples and that samples from a confined area (M4, M10, M12, and M13) in the northern central part of the island show a distinct covariation for δ34S and Δ33S. This isotopic variation (forming an array) suggests mixing of sulfur from two sources that were captured at different stages of crystallization by phenocrysts in the Mangaia HIMU sulfur endmember.
Clustering of Marine‐Debris‐ and Sargassum‐Like Drifters Explained by Inertial Particle Dynamics
Authors: Miron P. , Olascoaga M. J. , Beron‐Vera F. J. , Putman N. F. , Triñanes J. , Lumpkin R. , Goni G. J.
Published: September 2020

Drifters designed to mimic floating marine debris and small patches of pelagic Sargassum were satellite tracked in four regions across the North Atlantic. Though subjected to the same initial conditions at each site, the tracks of different drifters quickly diverged after deployment. We explain the clustering of drifter types using a recent Maxey‐Riley theory for surface ocean inertial particle dynamics applied on multidata‐based mesoscale ocean currents and winds from reanalysis. Simulated trajectories of objects at the air‐sea interface are significantly improved when represented as inertial (accounting for buoyancy and size), rather than as perfectly Lagrangian (fluid following) particles. Separation distances between simulated and observed trajectories were substantially smaller for debris‐like drifters than for Sargassum‐like drifters, suggesting that additional consideration of its physical properties relative to fluid velocities may be useful. Our findings can be applied to model variability in movements and distribution of diverse objects floating at the ocean surface.
Transport and Deposition Patterns of Particles Laden by Rising Submarine Hydrothermal Plumes
Authors: Lou Yingzhong , He Zhiguo , Han Xiqiu
Published: September 2020

Transport and deposition behavior of mineral particles driven by hydrothermal plumes along mid‐ocean ridges is one of the least understood processes in geoscience. We reveal the mechanism and three typical transport patterns of particles emitted from submarine vents and subsequently laden by plumes in the stratified deep ocean with or without crossflows, that is, suspension, near‐vent deposition, and long‐distance transport, by developing a Lagrangian model coupled with a computational fluid dynamics model and using in situ measurements as model inputs. The particle trajectories suggest a general expression that predicts a linear variation of deposition location with the reciprocal of settling velocity, which potentially leads to a power law distribution of sediment mass along the radial direction. Our findings provide a new perspective on the accumulation of sediments near hydrothermal vents, indicating a critical role of the entrainment of plumes and consequent vortex systems in controlling deposition flux.
Coupling From the Middle Atmosphere to the Exobase: Dynamical Disturbance Effects on Light Chemical Species
Authors: Jones M. , Siskind D. E. , Drob D. P. , McCormack J. P. , Emmert J. T. , Dhadly M. S. , Attard H. E. , Mlynczak M. G. , Brown P. G. , Stober G. , Kozlovsky A. , Lester M. , Jacobi C.
Published: September 2020

This paper characterizes the impacts of sudden stratospheric warmings (SSWs) and mesospheric coolings (MCs) on the light species distribution (i.e., helium [He], and atomic hydrogen [H]) of the thermosphere using a combined data‐modeling approach. Performing a set of numerical experiments with a general circulation model whose middle atmospheric dynamical and thermodynamical fields were constrained using a numerical weather prediction system, we simulate the effects of SSWs and MCs on light chemical species, and via comparisons with two data sets taken from the mesosphere and thermosphere, we quantify the associated variability in light species abundances and mass density. Large depletions in the observed and modeled polar H abundance in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) occur with MC onset, as opposed to SSW onset. Depletions in all light thermospheric species at high northern latitudes extend up to the exobase in our model simulations during the January 2013 SSW/MC period, with the largest depletions simulated for the lightest species. Further, our modeling work substantiates the paradigm of increased mixing in the MLT driven by a meridional residual circulation during SSWs resulting from enhanced small‐scale gravity wave and migrating semidiurnal tidal forcing; the former being the primary driver and the latter of secondary but notable importance in our model simulations. SSW/MC induced light species variability then gets projected upward into the thermosphere through molecular diffusion. Modeled light species variability during the January 2013 SSW/MC event suggests SSW/MC signatures could be present in the topside ionosphere and plasmasphere.
Land Use and Season Influence Event‐Scale Nitrate and Soluble Reactive Phosphorus Exports and Export Stoichiometry from Headwater Catchments
Authors: Kincaid Dustin W. , Seybold Erin C. , Adair E. Carol , Bowden William B. , Perdrial Julia N. , Vaughan Matthew C. H. , Schroth Andrew W.
Published: September 2020

Catchment nutrient export, especially during high flow events, can influence ecological processes in receiving waters by altering nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations and relative amounts (stoichiometry). Event‐scale N and P export dynamics may be significantly altered by land use/land cover (LULC) and season. Consequently, to manage water resources, it is important to understand how LULC and season interact to influence event N and P export. In situ, high‐frequency spectrophotometers allowed us to continuously and concurrently monitor nitrate (NO3−) and soluble reactive P (SRP) concentrations and therefore examine event‐scale NO3−and SRP export dynamics. Here we analyzed event NO3−and SRP concentration‐discharge hysteresis patterns and yields for >400 events to evaluate how LULC and seasonality influence event NO3−and SRP export dynamics in three low‐order watersheds with different primary LULCs (agricultural, forested, and urban). Differences among event NO3−and SRP hysteresis patterns suggest these nutrients have different source areas and dominant transport pathways that were impacted by both LULC and seasonality. Unexpectedly, we observed similar seasonal patterns in event NO3−:SRP stoichiometry among LULCs, with the most N‐enriched events occurring in spring, and event stoichiometry approaching Redfield N:P ratios in the fall. However, seasonal stoichiometry patterns were driven by unique seasonal NO3−and SRP export patterns at each site. Overall these findings suggest LULC and seasonality interact to alter the timing and magnitude of event NO3−and SRP exports, leading to seasonal patterns in event NO3−to SRP stoichiometry that may influence ecological processes, such as productivity, in receiving waters.
Mouse–human co-clinical trials demonstrate superior anti-tumour effects of buparlisib (BKM120) and cetuximab combination in squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck
Authors: Kim Hye Ryun , Kang Han Na , Yun Mi Ran , Ju Kwon Young , Choi Jae Woo , Jung Dong Min , Pyo Kyoung Ho , Hong Min Hee , Ahn Myoung-Ju , Sun Jong-Mu , Kim Han Sang , Kim Jinna , Yoo Jinseon , Kim Kyu Ryung , Koh Yoon Woo , Kim Se Heon , Choi Eun Chang , Yoon Sun Ock , Shim Hyo Sup , Paik Soonmyung , Kim Tae-Min , Cho Byoung Chul
Published: September 2020

Background

Recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (R/M SCCHN) is a common cancer with high recurrence and mortality. Current treatments have low response rates (RRs).

Methods

Fifty-three patients with R/M SCCHN received continuous oral buparlisib. In parallel, patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) were established in mice to evaluate resistance mechanisms and efficacy of buparlisib/cetuximab combination. Baseline and on-treatment tumour genomes and transcriptomes were sequenced. Based on the integrated clinical and PDX data, 11 patients with progression under buparlisib monotherapy were treated with a combination of buparlisib and cetuximab.

Results

For buparlisib monotherapy, disease control rate (DCR) was 49%, RR was 3% and median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 63 and 143 days, respectively. For combination therapy, DCR was 91%, RR was 18% and median PFS and OS were 111 and 206 days, respectively. Four PDX models were originated from patients enrolled in the current clinical trial. While buparlisib alone did not inhibit tumour growth, combination therapy achieved tumour inhibition in three of seven PDXs. Genes associated with apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest were expressed at higher levels with combination treatment than with buparlisib or cetuximab alone.

Conclusions

The buparlisib/cetuximab combination has significant promise as a treatment strategy for R/M SCCHN.

Clinical Trial Registration

NCT01527877.
Examination of potential novel biochemical factors in relation to prostate cancer incidence and mortality in UK Biobank
Authors: Perez-Cornago Aurora , Fensom Georgina K. , Andrews Colm , Watts Eleanor L. , Allen Naomi E. , Martin Richard M. , Van Hemelrijck Mieke , Key Timothy J. , Travis Ruth C.
Published: September 2020

Background

Although prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer death, its aetiology is not well understood. We aimed to identify novel biochemical factors for prostate cancer incidence and mortality in UK Biobank.

Methods

A range of cardiovascular, bone, joint, diabetes, renal and liver-related biomarkers were measured in baseline blood samples collected from up to 211,754 men at recruitment and in a subsample 5 years later. Participants were followed-up via linkage to health administrative datasets to identify prostate cancer cases. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using multivariable-adjusted Cox regression corrected for regression dilution bias. Multiple testing was accounted for by using a false discovery rate controlling procedure.

Results

After an average follow-up of 6.9 years, 5763 prostate cancer cases and 331 prostate cancer deaths were ascertained. Prostate cancer incidence was positively associated with circulating vitamin D, urea and phosphate concentrations and inversely associated with glucose, total protein and aspartate aminotransferase. Phosphate and cystatin-C were the only biomarkers positively and inversely, respectively, associated with risk in analyses excluding the first 4 years of follow-up. There was little evidence of associations with prostate cancer death.

Conclusion

We found novel associations of several biomarkers with prostate cancer incidence. Future research will examine associations by tumour characteristics.
BCAS2, a protein enriched in advanced prostate cancer, interacts with NBS1 to enhance DNA double-strand break repair
Authors: Wang Li-Po , Chen Tzu-Yu , Kang Chun-Kai , Huang Hsiang-Po , Chen Show-Li
Published: September 2020

Background

Breast cancer amplified sequence 2 (BCAS2) plays crucial roles in pre-mRNA splicing and androgen receptor transcription. Previous studies suggested that BCAS2 is involved in double-strand breaks (DSB); therefore, we aimed to characterise its mechanism and role in prostate cancer (PCa).

Methods

Western blotting and immunofluorescence microscopy were used to assay the roles of BCAS2 in the DSBs of PCa cells and apoptosis in Drosophila, respectively. The effect of BCAS2 dosage on non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination (HR) were assayed by precise end-joining assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Glutathione-S-transferase pulldown and co-immunoprecipitation assays were used to determine whether and how BCAS2 interacts with NBS1. The expression of BCAS2 and other proteins in human PCa was determined by immunohistochemistry.

Results

BCAS2 helped repair radiation-induced DSBs efficiently in both human PCa cells and Drosophila. BCAS2 enhanced both NHEJ and HR, possibly by interacting with NBS1, which involved the BCAS2 N-terminus as well as both the NBS1 N- and C-termini. The overexpression of BCAS2 was significantly associated with higher Gleason and pathology grades and shorter survival in patients with PCa.

Conclusion

BCAS2 promotes two DSB repair pathways by interacting with NBS1, and it may affect PCa progression.
The experience of general practitioners with Very Brief Advice in the treatment of tobacco addiction
Authors: van Schayck Onno C. P. , Bindels Lynn , Nijs Ancka , van Engelen Bo , van den Bosch Adrienne , Muller Ilona Statius , Spigt Mark
Published: September 2020

Although tobacco smoking is the world’s most important preventable cause of many chronic diseases (including COPD and asthma) and premature death, many physicians do not routinely apply smoking cessation in the daily health care of their patients. Two widely felt important concerns of physicians are that smoking cessation as part of a treatment is time-consuming and may jeopardize their relationship with patients. Very Brief Advice (VBA) is a non-confrontational method, which could assist general practitioners (GPs) as a simple, quick first step in getting patients to stop smoking. In this study, we investigated the opinions and experiences of GPs with VBA in their routine care in two rounds of telephone interviews with 19 GPs. The interviews were recorded and transcribed and subsequently analysed with NVivo12. We observed that the GPs had a very positive experience with using VBA. They found the method to be efficient as to the time involved, patient-friendly and easy to implement.
Two hundred and fifty-four metagenome-assembled bacterial genomes from the bank vole gut microbiota
Authors: Lavrinienko Anton , Tukalenko Eugene , Mousseau Timothy A. , Thompson Luke R. , Knight Rob , Mappes Tapio , Watts Phillip C.
Published: September 2020

Vertebrate gut microbiota provide many essential services to their host. To better understand the diversity of such services provided by gut microbiota in wild rodents, we assembled metagenome shotgun sequence data from a small mammal, the bank vole Myodes glareolus (Rodentia, Cricetidae). We were able to identify 254 metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs) that were at least 50% (n = 133 MAGs), 80% (n = 77 MAGs) or 95% (n = 44 MAGs) complete. As typical for a rodent gut microbiota, these MAGs are dominated by taxa assigned to the phyla Bacteroidetes (n = 132 MAGs) and Firmicutes (n = 80), with some Spirochaetes (n = 15) and Proteobacteria (n = 11). Based on coverage over contigs, Bacteroidetes were estimated to be most abundant group, followed by Firmicutes, Spirochaetes and Proteobacteria. These draft bacterial genomes can be used freely to determine the likely functions of gut microbiota community composition in wild rodents.
Detection of circulating BMP5 as a risk factor for Barrett’s esophagus
Authors: Correia Ana C. P. , Calpe Silvia , Mostafavi Nahid , Hoefnagel Sanne Johanna Maria , Sancho-Serra Maria del Carmen , de Koning Patricia S. , Krishnadath Kausilia K.
Published: September 2020

Barrett’s esophagus (BE) predisposes for the malignant condition of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Since BE patients have few or no symptoms, most of these patients are not identified and not included in surveillance programs. These BE patients are at risk of developing advanced-stage EAC. At present, non-invasive tests to identify BE patients from the general population are lacking. We and others showed that Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 (BMP4), and other BMPs are upregulated in BE. We aimed to determine if circulating BMPs can be identified and used as blood biomarkers to identify BE patients at high risk in the general population. In this study, we could detect the different BMPs in the blood of 112 BE patients and 134 age- and sex-matched controls. Concentration levels of BMP2, BMP4, and BMP5 were elevated in BE patients, with BMP2 and BMP5 significantly increased. BMP5 remained significant after multivariate analysis and was associated with an increased risk for BE with an OR of 1.49 (p value 0.01). Per log (pg/mL) of BMP5, the odds of having BE increased by 50%. Future optimization and validation studies might be needed to prove its utility as a non-invasive method for the detection of BE in high-risk populations and screening programs.
Reproductive performance of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) broodstock showing different expression of fatty acyl desaturase 2 and fed two dietary fatty acid profiles
Authors: Ferosekhan Shajahan , Xu Hanlin , Turkmen Serhat , Gómez Ana , Afonso Juan Manuel , Fontanillas Ramon , Rosenlund Grethe , Kaushik Sadasivam , Izquierdo Marisol
Published: September 2020

Previous studies have shown that it is possible to nutritionally program gilthead seabream offspring through fish oil (FO) replacement by vegetable oils (VO) in the broodstock diet, to improve their ability to grow fast when fed low fish meal (FM) and FO diets during grow-out phase. However, in those studies broodstock performance was reduced by the VO contained diet. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine if it is possible to replace FO by a mixture of FO and rapeseed oil (RO) with a specific fatty acid profile in broodstock diets, without altering gilthead seabream broodstock reproductive performance. Besides, the study also aimed to evaluate the reproductive performance of broodstock with different expression of fatty acid desaturase 2 gene (fads2) a key enzyme in synthesis of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. For that purpose, broodfish having either a high (HD) or low (LD) expression of fads2 were fed for three months during the spawning season with two diets containing different fatty acid profiles and their effects on reproductive hormones, fecundity, sperm and egg quality, egg biochemical composition and fads2 expression were studied. The results showed that blood fads2 expression in females, which tended to be higher than in males, was positively related to plasma 17β-estradiol levels. Moreover, broodstock with high blood fads2 expression showed a better reproductive performance, in terms of fecundity and sperm and egg quality, which was correlated with female fads2 expression. Our data also showed that it is feasible to reduce ARA, EPA and DHA down to 0.43, 6.6 and 8.4% total fatty acids, respectively, in broodstock diets designed to induce nutritional programming effects in the offspring without adverse effects on spawning quality. Further studies are being conducted to test the offspring with low FM and FO diets along life span.