bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Contributions of secondary alcohol–ketone O—H...O=C and furan–acetate Csp
2—H...OOC synthons to the supramolecular packings of two bioactive molecules
Authors: Kenfack Tsobnang Patrice , Tsamo Tontsa Armelle , Mbiangué Yves Alain , Kemda Nangmo Pamela , Kenfack Tiofack Saurelle , Mkounga Pierre , Nkengfack Ephrem Augustin , Tonlé Kenfack Ignas
Published: May 2021

The crystal structures of rubescin D (1, C26H30O5) and monadelphin A (2, C30H36O11), bioactive molecules of the vilasinin and gedunin classes of limonoids, respectively, are reported for the first time and the synthons affecting their crystal packings are analyzed on the basis of their occurrences in molecules in the Cambridge Structural Database that share the same moieties. Rubescin D, 1, crystallizes in the space group P21 and its molecular structure consists of three six-membered rings A, C and D having, respectively, envelope, twist-boat and half-chair conformations, and three five-membered rings with half-chair (B and E) and planar conformations (F). Many synthons found in the crystal packing of 1 are in agreement with expectations derived from molecules displaying the same moieties. However, the secondary alcohol–ketone O—H...O=C synthon, which has a low occurrence (2.9%), contributes much to the layered packing, while the furan–ketone Csp
2—H...O=C and secondary alcohol–epoxide O—H...OC2 synthons usually found in these compounds (occurrences of 20.6 and 17.6%, respectively) are missing. The packing of 1 is close to that of ceramicine B (3), but is completely different from that of TS3 (4), suggesting that the absence of the epoxide group in 3 would have favoured the furan–secondary alcohol Csp
2—H...OH synthon and that the missing hydroxy group in 4, a strong hydrogen-bond donor, would have favoured the involvement of water molecules in the crystal packing. The molecular structure of monadelphin A, 2, consists of four six-membered fused rings (A, B, C and D) and one five-membered ring (E); they have twist-boat (A and C), chair (B), screw-boat (D) and planar (E) conformations. The molecule crystallizes in the space group P212121 with the contribution of many synthons usually found in compounds having the same moieties. However, the secondary alcohol–acetate O—H...OOC and secondary alcohol–ketone O—H...O=C synthons (occurrences of 16.7% each in these compounds) are missing. The furan–acetate Csp
2—H...OOC synthon not observed in these compounds greatly contributes to the layered packing of 2. The layered packing is very close to those of 7-oxogedunin (5) and 6-dehydro-7-deacetoxy-7-oxogedunin (6), which both crystallize in the space group P21.
A reference-based multi-lattice indexing method integrating prior information correction and iterative refinement in protein crystallography
Authors: Zhou Qiang , Gao Zeng-Qiang , Dong Zheng , Jiang Yu-Meng , She Zhun , Geng Zhi , Dong Yu-Hui
Published: May 2021

A new multi-lattice indexing method based on the principle of whole-pattern matching given cell dimensions and space-group symmetry is presented for macromolecular crystallography. The proposed method, termed the multi-crystal data processing suite (MCDPS), features a local correction for prior information accompanied by iterative refinement of experimental parameters, both of which are numerically and experimentally demonstrated to be critical for accurately identifying multiple crystal lattices. Further analysis of data reduction and structure determination with conventional single-crystal programs reveals that the processed multi-lattice data sets are comparable in quality to typical single-crystal ones in terms of crystallographic metrics. Importantly, it is confirmed that careful exclusion of overlapping reflections prior to scaling is necessary to guarantee an accurate data reduction result. The potential for multi-lattice indexing in solving the general macroscopic twinning problem is also explored.
Opportunities and challenges of graduate entrepreneurship in China's Greater Bay Area: cases in Hong Kong and Shenzhen
Authors: Liu Dian
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This study chooses to look at early-stage entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial activities from the perspective of university graduates. More specially, this study takes the stance of integrated role of structure and agency, examining how university graduate entrepreneurs recognize, review and activate their entrepreneurial opportunities, and what implications can be drawn in response to the integration of the in-building of the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

Design/methodology/approach

This article is drawn upon 12 case studies of small-scaled (within five permanent personnel) graduate enterprises based in Shenzhen and Hong Kong. The fieldwork was conducted in 2019, including enterprise visits, analyzing the enterprises documents and interviewing the graduate entrepreneurs. Participants were accessed through snowball sampling, and personal privacy and ethnicity were guaranteed during data collection. All founders of the graduate enterprises are university graduates within five years, regardless of their last achieved academic degree.

Findings

In this study, the objectivity–opportunity is interpreted as external enablers that are recognized by graduate entrepreneurs. Due to lack of experience, graduate entrepreneurs are more dependent on existing external opportunities in the market, instead of creating new inspirations. However, lack of experience does not mean the subjectivity–agency is missing. Instead, the subjectivity–element of entrepreneurial opportunity identification is the continuous evaluation in activating the external enablers, which is interpreted as self-evaluated challenges during entrepreneurial opportunity identification. These challenges function as sources of hesitation, modification and termination during their decision-making, as well as reflections of the current graduate entrepreneurial environment.

Originality/value

By date, no sophisticated study in literature is found analyzing the entrepreneurial opportunity identification of university graduates. Additionally, regardless of the rising attention, no agreement is achieved in the literature on measurement of entrepreneurial opportunity, influential factors of entrepreneurial opportunity and sub-elements of the identification process. This implies that more research to be conducted in diverse contexts, sub-entrepreneurial groups and in-depth analysis of selected variables regarding entrepreneurial opportunity, as elaborated in this article.
Does annual report readability explain the accrual anomaly?
Authors: Liu Ming , Liu Zhefeng
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to investigate the possible role of annual report readability in accrual anomaly, shedding light on why investors fail to incorporate accruals information in a timely and unbiased manner beyond the original naive investor fixation explanation.

Design/methodology/approach

Using five proxies of annual report readability and available data over 1993–2017, we investigate whether accrual overpricing is more severe when annual reports are less readable.

Findings

We find little (substantive) evidence of accrual overpricing among high (low) readability firms. The readability effects are contingent on the level of business complexity and earnings management.

Research limitations/implications

This study extends the original naive investor fixation explanation and documents annual report complexity as a market friction in explaining the accrual anomaly, contributing to the mispricing vs risk debate and supporting the efficient market hypothesis.

Practical implications

Low readability of annual reports is a red flag to investors.

Social implications

This study provides support for regulatory initiatives aimed at enhancing readability of corporate disclosures to address market frictions and improve market efficiency.

Originality/value

Accrual anomaly has posed a challenge to the efficient market hypothesis. This study draws on and adds to the line of research indicating that annual report complexity is a friction erecting a barrier to transparency, hindering market efficiency. This study contributes to our understanding of the enigmatic accrual anomaly.
Transformer network-based word embeddings approach for autonomous cyberbullying detection
Authors: Pericherla Subbaraju , Ilavarasan E.
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Nowadays people are connected by social media like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and much more. Bullies take advantage of these social networks to share their comments. Cyberbullying is one typical kind of harassment by making aggressive comments, abuses to hurt the netizens. Social media is one of the areas where bullying happens extensively. Hence, it is necessary to develop an efficient and autonomous cyberbullying detection technique.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the authors proposed a transformer network-based word embeddings approach for cyberbullying detection. RoBERTa is used to generate word embeddings and Light Gradient Boosting Machine is used as a classifier.

Findings

The proposed approach outperforms machine learning algorithms such as logistic regression, support vector machine and deep learning models such as word-level convolutional neural networks (word CNN) and character convolutional neural networks with short cuts (char CNNS) in terms of precision, recall, F1-score.

Originality/value

One of the limitations of traditional word embeddings methods is context-independent. In this work, only text data are utilized to identify cyberbullying. This work can be extended to predict cyberbullying activities in multimedia environment like image, audio and video.
Recouping proceeds of corruption: is there any need to reverse extant trends by enacting civil forfeiture legal regime in Nigeria?
Authors: Olujobi Olusola Joshua
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The aim of this study is to investigate how Nigeria can seek legal assistance on recovery of its stolen assets to reduce corruption and to ensure no sheltered havens for incomes from corruption.

Design/methodology/approach

The research adopts a conceptual method by using existing literature with the application of doctrinal legal research technique. The research likewise uses primary and secondary sources of legislations such as legislative provisions, case laws and the provisions of Chapter V of the United Nations Convention against Corruption and the process of asset recovery. The study compares the United Kingdom, USA, Hong Kong in China, South Africa and Nigeria proceeds of corruption recovery laws to gain basic legal features that would be beneficial to Nigeria in reforming its anti-corruption laws.

Findings

The principle of territorial sovereignty under the international law makes the offence of corruption not punishable outside the jurisdiction of the state where the offence was committed. As a result, some developed states boost their economy with these proceeds and the developing states are impoverished. There is also an allegation of discrepancies in the figures of funds recovered by the anti-corruption agencies. Thus, there is the need for transparency; law on civil forfeiture of proceeds of corruption; bilateral treaties; and mutual legal assistance on investigation, confiscation among countries for tracing and returning of proceeds of corruption.

Research limitations/implications

The estimates of the volume of assets looted from Nigeria vary widely because of the complexity of collecting data on proceeds of corruption as official statistics on proceeds of corruption recovered do not exist as each anti-corruption agency occasionally makes pronouncements on the volume of assets recovered without any breakdown in terms of assets seized, nature of assets and their locations and its values. Such data would aid policymakers to measure the effectiveness of the present assets legislations and to enhance its effectiveness.

Practical implications

Considering the clandestine manners corruption is being committed, it is tasking to correctly evaluate the amount of money stolen so, their economic impacts on the nation’s economy.

Social implications

Absence of accurate data would aid policymakers to measure the effectiveness of the present assets legislations and to enhance its effectiveness.

Originality/value

The study offers modules on management of proceeds of corruption by establishing “Assets Management Commission” and “Proceeds of Corruption Forfeiture Funds” for reparation of victims’ of corruption. The study suggests the necessity for civil forfeiture of proceeds of corruption, which is presently lacking, and creation of Proceeds of Corruption Recovery and Management Commission to manage such proceeds and advocate establishment of “Proceeds of Corruption Forfeiture Funds” for reparation of victims of corruption.
The forensic analysis of homemade explosive suicides: Case report and systematic review of the literature
Authors: Sacco Matteo Antonio , Ricci Pietrantonio , Gratteri Santo , Scalise Carmen , Aquila Isabella
Published: May 2021

The illegal construction of explosive devices for recreational purposes has become increasingly widespread in recent years. This phenomenon is spurred on by numerous websites that explain how to build a self‐made device. The correlation between the use of firearms and suicide is known in the literature, but the use of explosive devices and self‐harm is little studied. Unfortunately, the risk associated with the manufacture of homemade explosives is poorly known. For this purpose, we describe a rare suicide carried out by a man suffering from depressive disorder with psychotic and delusional features. The forensic investigations at the scene showed that the man had designed a homemade device, and disseminated numerous suicide notes in his home, transcribed in the previous weeks in which he revealed his suicidal motivation. Crime scene investigation showed on the body and on the road in front of the explosion point: multiple fragments of glass (zone 1), a lighter with blood stains (zone 2), and shreds of clothing scattered along the road (zone 3). Autopsy revealed that the cause of death was extensive blunt injury to head and trunk due to barotrauma due to the explosion of a homemade device. The case is compared with data from a systematic review of the forensic literature on suicides involving explosives. The study proposes the analysis of planimetric areas in these crime scene investigations and active surveillance in these subjects.
Investigation into the prevalence of Serratospiculum spp. in wild falcons of the greater Sydney region
Authors: Schader JA , Baron HR
Published: May 2021

Objective

To determine the prevalence of Serratospiculum spp. in falcons in the greater Sydney region.

Methods

This is a cross‐sectional study; a total of 57 falcons entering wildlife rehabilitation in Sydney and surrounding areas between 2017 and 2019 were recruited into the study. Presence of Serratospiculum spp. eggs in faeces using faecal wet prep technique was used as an indicator of infection.

Results

Evidence of Serratospiculum spp. infection was detected in 10 out of 57 falcons, (18%). There was no significant correlation with body condition score or age group. PCR analysis of a representative nematode in a Brown Falcon (Falco berigora) was revealed to be Serratospiculum tendo.

Conclusion

Serratospiculum spp are present in 18% of falcons coming into care in the Sydney region. The prevalence in this study is similar to that found in other parts of the world. This study provides evidence of the importance of faecal testing and treatment of falcons in a rehabilitation setting.
Remote clinical trials: A timely opportunity for a virtual reality approach and its potential application in neurology
Authors: Chiamulera Cristiano , Mantovani Elisa , Tamburin Stefano
Published: May 2021

The COVID‐19 pandemic boosted the expansion and development of new remote models of care and clinical research modalities. Health systems are going to implement telemedical innovations in the near future. Virtual clinical trials (VCT), also known as remote or decentralized ones, may profoundly change the way how clinical studies are conducted, for the benefit of patients with chronic and neurological diseases who are often fragile and may have limited access to traditional healthcare facilities. Despite significant progress, several limitations still need to be addressed to implement telemedicine technologies for VCT. The information and communication technology (ICT) devices (e.g., mobile apps and wearables) may be applied to VCTs but show some practical issues that may hamper the compliance with rigorous research criteria and protocols. We herewith discuss the advantages and disadvantages of virtual reality (VR) in combination with other ICT devices and solutions to improve the conduction of VCT in patients with neurological disorders.

The so‐called “digital divide,” that is, the gap between people who can and those who cannot access high‐speed and broadband internet connections, and issues related to VR, such as VR sickness, should be addressed to improve larger VCT participation to neurological patients.
The dorsal hippocampus is required for the formation of long‐term duration memories in rats
Authors: Hata Toshimichi , Yamashita Tatsuya , Kamada Taisuke
Published: May 2021

Interval timing—the perception of durations mainly in seconds or minutes—is a ubiquitous behavior in organisms. Animal studies have suggested that the hippocampus plays an essential role in duration memory; however, the memory processes involved are unclear. To clarify the role of the dorsal hippocampus in the acquisition of long‐term duration memories, we adapted the “time‐shift paradigm” to a peak‐interval procedure. After a sufficient number of training with an initial target duration (20 s), the rats underwent “shift sessions” with a new target duration (40 s) under a muscimol (0.5 µg per side) infusion into the bilateral dorsal hippocampus. The memory of the new target duration was then tested in drug‐free “probe sessions,” including trials in which no lever presses were reinforced. In the probe sessions, the mean response rate distribution of the muscimol group was located leftward to the control group, but these two response rate distributions were superimposed on the standardized time axis, suggesting a scalar property. In the session‐by‐session analysis, the mean peak time (an index of timing accuracy) of the muscimol group was lower than that of the control group in the probe sessions, but not in the shift sessions. These findings suggest that the dorsal hippocampus is required for the formation of long‐term duration memories within the range of interval timing.
Human‐modified canids in human‐modified landscapes: The evolutionary consequences of hybridization for grey wolves and free‐ranging domestic dogs
Authors: Pilot Małgorzata , Moura Andre E. , Okhlopkov Innokentiy M. , Mamaev Nikolay V. , Manaseryan Ninna H. , Hayrapetyan Vahram , Kopaliani Natia , Tsingarska Elena , Alagaili Abdulaziz N. , Mohammed Osama B. , Ostrander Elaine A. , Bogdanowicz Wiesław
Published: May 2021

Introgressive hybridization between domestic animals and their wild relatives is an indirect form of human‐induced evolution, altering gene pools and phenotypic traits of wild and domestic populations. Although this process is well documented in many taxa, its evolutionary consequences are poorly understood. In this study, we assess introgression patterns in admixed populations of Eurasian wolves and free‐ranging domestic dogs (FRDs), identifying chromosomal regions with significantly overrepresented hybrid ancestry and assessing whether genes located within these regions show signatures of selection. Although the dog admixture proportion in West Eurasian wolves (2.7%) was greater than the wolf admixture proportion in FRDs (0.75%), the number and average length of chromosomal blocks showing significant overrepresentation of hybrid ancestry were smaller in wolves than FRDs. In wolves, 6% of genes located within these blocks showed signatures of positive selection compared to 23% in FRDs. We found that introgression from wolves may provide a considerable adaptive advantage to FRDs, counterbalancing some of the negative effects of domestication, which can include reduced genetic diversity and excessive tameness. In wolves, introgression from FRDs is mostly driven by drift, with a small number of positively selected genes associated with brain function and behaviour. The predominance of drift may be the consequence of small effective size of wolf populations, which reduces efficiency of selection for weakly advantageous or against weakly disadvantageous introgressed variants. Small wolf population sizes result largely from human‐induced habitat loss and hunting, thus linking introgression rates to anthropogenic processes. Our results imply that maintenance of large population sizes should be an important element of wolf management strategies aimed at reducing introgression rates of dog‐derived variants.
Aroma‐volatile profile and its changes in Australian grown black Périgord truffle (Tuber melanosporum) during storage
Authors: Choo Kenny S. O. , Bollen Maike , Dykes Gary A. , Coorey Ranil
Published: May 2021

Black Périgord truffle (Tuber melanosporum) is one of the most expensive fungi in the world that appreciated by gourmets. Studies have indicated the impact of growing location and soil microorganisms on the aroma profile of truffle. The aroma profile of West Australian black Périgord truffle (Tuber melanosporum) has not been previously reported, which was studied over a 14 day storage period. Sixty‐four compounds were identified in all truffle samples. Significant changes (P > 0.05) were observed in 11 key volatiles (carbon dioxide, acetaldehyde, 2‐butanone, 3‐methyl‐1‐butanal, toluene, 2‐butenal, formic acid 2‐methyl butyl ester, 3‐methyl‐1‐butanol, 6‐methyl‐2‐heptanol, 3‐octanol and dimethyl sulfoxide) over time. Comparison of these results against published aroma profile of European grown black Périgord truffle identified number of significant similarities and differences were also detected. Dimethyl sulfoxide, a compound previously identified in European grown white truffle (Tuber magnatum), was detected. Principle component analysis (PCA) showed that the major changes in the truffle aroma profile took place in the first 7 days of storage.
Recent advances in gelatinisation and retrogradation of starch by high hydrostatic pressure
Authors: Okur Ilhami , Sezer Purlen , Oztop Mecit Halil , Alpas Hami
Published: May 2021

Starch is the major polysaccharide following cellulose, but native starch has limited application due to physicochemical and functional properties. To handle such problems, starch is usually modified with either thermal or more recently by non‐thermal technologies such as high hydrostatic pressure (HHP). HHP is a non‐thermal technique that can be applied to a variety of food materials with minimum effect on nutritional quality. High‐pressure levels can cause physicochemical changes in starch such as partial/completely gelatinisation, reduction in solubility and swelling power, increasing pasting temperature and content of slowly digestible starch (SDS) and retention of retrogradation. These physicochemical changes depend on the starch type, pressurisation level, treatment time and temperature. This review has evaluated and synthesised the current research about the effect of HHP on starch gelatinisation, retrogradation and physicochemical properties of starch.
Chromosomal microarray analysis for pregnancies with abnormal maternal serum screening who undergo invasive prenatal testing
Authors: Wu Xiaoqing , Li Ying , Lin Na , Xie Xiaorui , Su Linjuan , Cai Meiying , Lin Yuan , Wang Linshuo , Wang Meiying , Xu Liangpu , Huang Hailong
Published: May 2021

Recently, chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) has been implemented as a first‐tier test in pregnancies with ultrasound anomalies. However, its application for pregnancies with abnormal maternal serum screening (AMSS) only is not widespread. This study evaluated the value of CMA compared to traditional karyotyping in pregnancies with increased risk following first‐ or second‐trimester maternal serum screening. Data from 3973 pregnancies with referral for invasive prenatal testing following AMSS were obtained from April 2016 to May 2020. Routine karyotyping was performed and single nucleotide polymorphism array was recommended. The foetuses were categorized according to the indications as AMSS only (group A) and AMSS with ultrasound anomalies (group B). CMA was performed on 713 prenatal samples. The proportion of women opting for CMA testing in both groups increased over the years. The incremental yield of clinically significant findings for pregnancies with high risk of screening results was similar to that for the foetuses with ultrasound soft markers (P > 0.05), but significantly lower than that for the foetuses with structural anomalies (P < 0.05). The total frequencies of variants of unknown significance in groups A and B showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). CMA should be performed for pregnant women undergoing prenatal invasive testing due to AMSS, especially with high‐risk results, regardless of ultrasound findings.
Identifying potential biomarkers in hepatitis B virus infection and its response to the antiviral therapy by integrated bioinformatic analysis
Authors: He Yi , Zhou Yingzhi , Wang Huimin , Yin Jingyang , Chang Yunan , Hu Peng , Ren Hong , Xu Hongmei
Published: May 2021

The antiviral treatment efficacy varies among chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and the underlying mechanism is unclear. An integrated bioinformatics analysis was performed to investigate the host factors that affect the therapeutic responsiveness in CHB patients. Four GEO data sets (GSE54747, GSE27555, GSE66698 and GSE66699) were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and analysed to identify differentially expressed genes(DEGs). Enrichment analyses of the DEGs were conducted using the DAVID database. Immune cell infiltration characteristics were analysed by CIBERSORT. Upstream miRNAs and lncRNAs of hub DEGs were identified by miRWalk 3.0 and miRNet in combination with the MNDR platform. As a result, seventy‐seven overlapping DEGs and 15 hub genes were identified including CCL5, CXCL9, MYH2, CXCR4, CD74, CCL4, HLA‐DRB1, ACTA1, CD69, CXCL10, HLA‐DRB5, HLA‐DQB1, CXCL13, STAT1 and CKM. The enrichment analyses revealed that the DEGs were mainly enriched in immune response and chemokine signalling pathways. Investigation of immune cell infiltration in liver samples suggested significantly different infiltration between responders and non‐responders, mainly characterized by higher proportions of CD8+ T cells and activated NK cells in non‐responders. The prediction of upstream miRNAs and lncRNAs led to the identification of a potential mRNA‐miRNA‐lncRNA regulatory network composed of 2 lncRNAs (H19 and GAS5) and 5 miRNAs (hsa‐mir‐106b‐5p, hsa‐mir‐17‐5p, hsa‐mir‐20a‐5p, hsa‐mir‐6720‐5p and hsa‐mir‐93‐5p) targeting CCL5 mRNA. In conclusion, our study suggested that host genetic factors could affect therapeutic responsiveness in CHB patients. The antiviral process might be associated with the chemokine‐mediated immune response and immune cell infiltration in the liver microenvironment.
Modeling the drying kinetics of alginate particles considering shrinkage
Authors: Bastiani Fabio Henrique , Sufredini Stephani , Romio Ana Paula , Nicolin Douglas Junior
Published: May 2021

Alginate is an anionic and biodegradable biopolymer of natural occurrence, typically obtained from brown algae, being studied, and used in several applications in biomedicine and food industry by its low toxicity, low cost, and its gelification obtained by the addition of bivalent cations (Ca2+), besides being able to storage large amounts of liquid in its structure. In this context, this work aims to study the drying and shrinkage kinetics of this biomaterial. Microparticles of alginate were synthesized by the ionic gelification method using calcium chloride as reticulant agent. These microparticles were submitted to drying experiments conducted at 40, 50, and 60°C. A mathematical model which considers the microparticles moisture and volume change with time was proposed to model the drying process. Considering that the radius depends on time as Page and Sigmoid equations, two mathematical models were obtained. Both models were able to describe the experimental data and the kinetic parameters were adjusted as an exponential function of temperature (R2 = 0.99). The statistical analysis of the residues between calculated and experimental data indicates an adequate prediction, with Page's model fitting more accurately to the data sets. Akaike's test also indicated the coupled Page model as the most adequate.

Practical Applications

The results presented in this paper provide mathematical methods of modelling the hydration kinetics of alginate particles and fitting the parameters which can help understanding the mass transfer and shrinkage phenomena during drying. Those characteristics are essential in describing alginate particles due to the high amount of water that they contain. Describing the drying kinetics of such particles may help to project and optimize equipment involved in alginate particles production process.
Sleep inhibition induced by amyloid‐β oligomers is mediated by the cellular prion protein
Authors: Del Gallo Federico , Bianchi Susanna , Bertani Ilaria , Messa Massimo , Colombo Laura , Balducci Claudia , Salmona Mario , Imeri Luca , Chiesa Roberto
Published: May 2021

Sleep is severely impaired in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Amyloid‐β deposition in the brain of Alzheimer's disease patients is a key event in its pathogenesis and is associated with disrupted sleep, even before the appearance of cognitive decline. Because soluble amyloid‐β oligomers are the key mediators of synaptic and cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease and impair long‐term memory in rodents, the first aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that amyloid‐β oligomers would directly impair sleep in mice. The cellular prion protein is a cell surface glycoprotein of uncertain function. Because cellular prion protein binds oligomeric amyloid‐β with high affinity and mediates some of its neurotoxic effects, the second aim of the study was to test whether amyloid‐β oligomer‐induced sleep alterations were mediated by cellular prion protein. To address these aims, wild‐type and cellular prion protein‐deficient mice were given acute intracerebroventricular injections (on different days, at lights on) of vehicle and synthetic amyloid‐β oligomers. Compared to vehicle, amyloid‐β oligomers significantly reduced the amount of time spent in non‐rapid eye movement sleep by wild‐type mice during both the light and dark phases of the light–dark cycle. The amount of time spent in rapid eye movement sleep was reduced during the dark phase. Sleep was also fragmented by amyloid‐β oligomers, as the number of transitions between states increased in post‐injection hours 9–24. No such effects were observed in cellular prion protein‐deficient mice. These results show that amyloid‐β oligomers do inhibit and fragment sleep, and that these effects are mediated by cellular prion protein.
Intermediate phenotypes of childhood obstructive sleep apnea
Authors: Au Chun Ting , Chan Kate Ching‐ching , Zhang Jihui , Liu Kin Hung , Chu Winnie Chiu Wing , Wing Yun Kwok , Li Albert Martin
Published: May 2021

An intermediate phenotype of a disease is a trait in the path of pathogenesis from genetic predisposition to disease manifestation. Identifying intermediate phenotypes with high heritability is helpful in delineating the genetics of a disorder. In this study, we aimed to examine various traits with regards to obesity, cardiovascular risk and upper airway structure to identify potential intermediate phenotypes of childhood obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Children aged between 6 and 18 years and their parents and siblings were recruited. All subjects underwent anthropometric measurements, cardiovascular risk assessment, sonographic measurement of lateral parapharyngeal wall (LPW) thickness, X‐ray cephalometry and overnight polysomnography. A total of 34 phenotypes were examined. One hundred and one families consisting of 127 children (46 overweight) and 198 adults (84 overweight) were recruited. Heritability of obstructive apnea–hypopnea index (OAHI) was significant in overweight (h2 = 0.54) but not normal‐weight individuals (h2 = 0.12). LPW thickness (h2 = 0.68) and resting blood pressure (h2 = 0.36 and 0.43 for systolic blood pressure [SBP] and diastolic blood pressure [DBP], respectively) were significantly heritable and associated with OAHI. Moreover, these traits were found to have shared genetic variance with OAHI in the overweight subgroup. Hyoid bone position also had significant heritability (h2 = 0.55) and association with OAHI but genetic correlation with OSA severity was not demonstrated. These findings suggest that LPW thickness and resting blood pressure are possible intermediate phenotypes of OSA independent of body mass index, especially in overweight patients. Identifying genes relevant to these phenotypes may help to elucidate the genetic susceptibility of OSA.
Whose lives mattered? How White and Black Americans felt about Black Lives Matter in 2016
Authors: Drakulich Kevin , Wozniak Kevin H. , Hagan John , Johnson Devon
Published: May 2021

White Americans, on average, do not support Black Lives Matter, while Black Americans generally express strong support. The lack of support among white Americans is striking, and we argue that it matterswhythis racial gap exists. Using a nationally representative survey collected during the crest of the first wave of widespread attention to the movement, we explore four potential explanations for interracial differences in feelings toward Black Lives Matter. These explanations reflect competing claims made by advocates and opponents of the movement and have distinct implications for understanding the meaning of these racial differences. Two explanations focus on attitudes toward the police, and two focus on racial prejudice. The results suggest that interracial differences in contact with the police mattered to views of the movement, though in opposite ways for white and Black Americans. Support for the movement among Black Americans was not motivated by an animosity toward the police. Ultimately, the lack of white support for Black Lives Matter was best explained by anti-Black animus and racial resentment, reflecting a concern about the threat this contemporary civil rights movement presents to the racial status quo.
Marginalized legal categories: Social inequality, family structure, and the laws of intestacy
Authors: Bea Megan Doherty , Taylor Poppe Emily S.
Published: May 2021

Social classifications are increasingly interrelated, far-reaching, and consequential for socioeconomic outcomes. We use the concept of marginalized legal categories to describe how the law disadvantages individuals or groups by transforming inherently ordered social classifications into consequential legal categories, employing intestacy laws as an illustration. Using the Survey of Consumer Finances, we find that more than 21% of American families have forms that are marginalized by intestacy classifications, and that such forms are more common among individuals of color and those with less wealth. Yet, many individuals with these family structures hold assets and lack access to intestacy-avoidance mechanisms, giving consequence to the application of these laws. We conclude by discussing implications of legal classification for inequality.
Nested information processing in the living world
Authors: Wurtz Tilmann
Published: May 2021

Living organisms create, copy, and make use of information, the content depending on the level of organization. In cells, a network of signal chain proteins regulates gene expression and other cell functions. Incoming information is encoded through signal reception, processed by the network, and decoded by the synthesis of new gene products and other biological functions. Signaling proteins represent nodes, and signal transmission proceeds via allosteric binding, chemical and structural modifications, synthesis, sequestering, and degradation. The induction of the gene caudal type homeobox 2 (CDX2) in the mammalian preimplantation embryo is outlined as a demonstration of this concept. CDX2 is involved in the decision of cells to enter the trophoblast lineage. Two signal chains are coordinated into an information processing model with the help of logic gates. The model introduces a formal structure that incorporates experimental and morphological data. Above the cell level, information flow relates to tissue formation and functioning, and whole cells play the role of network nodes. This is described for the anatomical patterning of bone with implications for bone formation and homeostasis. The information usage in cells and tissues is set into a context of the nervous system and the interaction of human individuals in societies, both established scenes of information processing.
Youth Unemployment and Stigmatization Over the Business Cycle in Europe*
Authors: Ayllón Sara , Valbuena Javier , Plum Alexander
Published: May 2021

This paper studies the dynamics of the scarring effect of youth unemployment over the business cycle in 12 European countries. On the one hand, we analyse differences associated with the negative effect of past unemployment experiences on future labour market status. And, on the other hand, we consider the potential stigmatization of prospective young workers – that is, the extent to which employers are more reluctant to hire individuals with a history of unemployment. Our results are based on data from the EU‐SILC for the period 2004 to 2015 and provide support in favour of a significant scarring effect of unemployment among youths that is highly heterogeneous across the countries under analysis and that increased substantially during the Great Recession. In contrast, the evidence of stigma effects was found to be rather weak.
Hematohidrosis of the mid‐face and hands treated with oral oxybutynin
Authors: Tirthani Kiran , Sardana Kabir , Mathachan Sinu Rose
Published: May 2021

Hematohidrosis is a rare condition characterized by blood in the sweat. We report a case of hematohidrosis of the mid‐face and hands in a 13‐year‐old girl who was treated successfully with oral oxybutynin and discuss the therapeutic rationale.
Medical care of newborns born to mothers with confirmed or suspected severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infections in Japan
Authors: Morioka Ichiro , Toishi Satoshi , Kusaka Takashi , Wada Kazuko , Mizuno Katsumi ,   for the Committee of Neonatal Medicine in Japan Pediatric Society
Published: May 2021

Background

There are currently no definitive guidelines regarding newborns born to mothers with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection. This study aimed to investigate the medical care and management that provided or would provide for such newborns.

Methods

A web survey was conducted between September and October 2020. A total of 624 hospitals, which generally accept pregnant women for delivery, were involved in this study. The survey included the number of newborns born to mothers with confirmed SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and evaluated policies regarding the medical care and management of newborns born to mothers with confirmed or suspected SARS‐CoV‐2 infection.

Results

Pregnant women with confirmed or suspected SARS‐CoV‐2 infection were accepted or planned to be accepted in 54% (334) of the hospitals. Out of 52 newborns born to mothers with confirmed SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA was detected from the nasopharyngeal swab of one newborn shortly after birth. The types of personal protective equipment during the delivery, the separation of the newborns from the mothers, the SARS‐CoV‐2 testing methods, and the use of incubators during the quarantine period were uniformly provided. However, the methods of ventilator treatment in the event of respiratory disorders, feeding during maternal isolation, and de‐quarantine and discharge criteria varied.

Conclusions

This survey demonstrated that one newborn detected a SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA shortly after birth out of 52 newborns who were born to mothers with confirmed SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. The policies regarding medical care and management for these newborns in Japan were provided.
The role of plant health in the sustainable production of seed yams in Nigeria: A challenging nexus between plant health, human food security, and culture
Authors: Morse Stephen
Published: May 2021

Yam (Dioscorea rotundata) is a root and tuber crop throughout West Africa and has significant nutritional, economic, and cultural value, which underpins its importance for the food security of many people who live there. The crop is propagated vegetatively, primarily via the planting of small whole tubers (seed yams) and pieces (setts) cut from larger tubers. However, the use of such vegetative material means that a variety of pests (primarily insects and nematodes) and diseases (primarily fungal and viral) can carry over and multiply from season to season. This paper sets out the plant health issues associated with yam, and how these have been addressed by improving the availability of good quality planting material, especially via the Yam Minisett Technique (YMT) and the more recently developed Adapted Yam Minisett Technique (AYMT). Both approaches are based on the planting of “minisetts” treated with pesticide to produce seed yam free of pests and fungal pathogens, but there have been challenges regarding their adoption by farmers. The paper explores these challenges and how these attempts to improve plant health fit into a wider discussion of the sustainability of yam production in West Africa given that there are other driving forces of climate change, globalization, and urbanization at play in the region.
Australian native seed sector characteristics and perceptions indicate low capacity for upscaled ecological restoration: insights from the Australian Native Seed Report
Authors: Gibson‐Roy Paul , Hancock Nola , Broadhurst Linda , Driver Martin
Published: May 2021

The Australian Native Seed Sector survey was conducted in 2016–2017 under the auspices of the Australian Network for Plant Conservation. Respondents self‐selected into a seed supply (Seed Collector, Seed Production Area Grower) or seed demand (Seed Purchaser, Other User) group category. Issue statements facing the sector with respect to limiting opportunities for ecological restoration were presented to survey respondents who ranked them in order of importance. Findings revealed that the order of statement importance varied depending on the primary role (Group) of the respondent in the sector. When combined across groups, the issues of most importance were: future seed demand will be difficult to meet from wild harvest; the seed market is unwilling to pay for the true cost of seed collection/seed production; there is a lack of available seed from a broad range of species; and demand for seed is inconsistent and/or unpredictable. The survey also revealed that the native seed sector is underpinned by a remarkably small and underresourced workforce, composed primarily of sole or small operators, which presents a clear concern to all users of native seed, not only in terms of current capacity for ecological restoration, but also to meet any large and rapid increases in future demand.
Empirical support for a strategy for the restoration of Pugnose Shiner (Notropis anogenus)
Authors: Foster John R. , Lehman Brent C. , Carlson Douglas M. , Ratchford Jason M. , Robbins Brielle , Soukup Michael W.
Published: May 2021

Over much of its range, Pugnose Shiner (Notropis anogenus) populations are isolated and endangered. This study tested the feasibility of pond culturing Pugnose Shiner for restoration. In 2015, 65 wild broodstock from Sodus Bay, New York State's last remaining Lake Ontario population, were stocked into a 0.2ha aquaculture pond. Thousands of juveniles were quickly produced, and during 2016–2017, 7,400 pond‐reared Pugnose Shiner were stocked into Chaumont Bay, Lake Ontario. Poststocking surveys in 2020 demonstrated the establishment of 4‐year classes in Chaumont Bay from natural reproduction. Following the successful establishment of Pugnose Shiner in Chaumont Bay, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation recommended the downlisting of the Pugnose Shiner from Endangered to Special Concern. The restoration strategy described here is applicable to other sites in the United States and Canada, where this species is also of conservation concern.
Ecosystem state assessment after more than 100 years since planting for dune consolidation
Authors: Bonari Gianmaria , Padullés Cubino Josep , Sarmati Simona , Landi Marco , Zerbe Stefan , Marcenò Corrado , Scoppola Anna , Angiolini Claudia
Published: May 2021

The assessment of the ecosystem state is fundamental to understand the success of ecological rehabilitation, especially in the long term. We aim to evaluate the rehabilitation success of a unique Mediterranean dune system site along the Tyrrhenian coast of Italy which underwent a dune consolidation intervention and species planting at the beginning of the twentieth century after the destruction of the natural ecosystem. We used three nearby non‐rehabilitated protected coastal sites with different degrees of disturbance as reference sites encompassing different potential rehabilitation outcomes of the target site. To assess the overall result of the intervention, we used several plant characteristics and measured taxonomic and functional beta‐diversity between all sites. We compared the proportions of typical and ruderal species of dune habitat types across sites. We further used the species–area relationship to examine if the number of observed species in our sites differed from the expected. Our analyses revealed that the rehabilitated site was taxonomically and functionally more similar to the least disturbed site. We suggest that plant characteristics arising from botanical inventories can be fruitfully used in rehabilitation assessment as they value the taxonomic and functional species diversity at the community scale. We conclude that plant characteristics compared across sites are useful tools in ecosystem state assessment if they reflect the ecological functions and conservation values of the natural ecosystems.