bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Temporal saliency for motion direction may arise from visual stimulus-specific adaptation in avian midbrain inhibitory nucleus
Authors: Wang Jiangtao , Huang Shuman , Wang Zhizhong , Wang Songwei , Shi Li
Published: November 2021

Food and predators are the most noteworthy objects for the basic survival of wild animals. In nature, both of these are often rare or deviant in both spatial and temporal domains and would soon attract an animal’s attention. Although stimulus-specific adaptation (SSA) is considered to be one neural basis of salient sound detection in the temporal domain, related research on visual SSA is lacking. The avian nucleus isthmi pars magnocellularis (Imc), which plays an extremely important role in the selective attention network, is one of the best models for investigating the neural correlate of visual stimulus-specific adaptation (SSA) and detection of salient stimulus in the temporal domain. Here, we used a constant order paradigm to test the existence of SSA in the pigeon’s Imc. We found that the strength of response of Imc neurons significantly decreased after repetitive motion stimuli, but recovered when the motion was switched to a novel direction, leading to the saliency detection of the novel motion direction. These results suggest that the inhibitory nucleus Imc shows visual SSA to motion direction, allowing the Imc to implement temporal saliency mapping and to determine the spatial-temporal saliency of the current stimulus. This also implies that pigeons may detect novel spatial-temporal stimuli during the early stage of sensory processing.
Optogenetic dissection of actomyosin-dependent mechanics underlying tissue fluidity
Authors: Herrera-Perez R. Marisol , Cupo Christian , Allan Cole , Dagle Alicia B. , Kasza Karen E.
Published: November 2021

Rapid epithelial tissue flows are essential to building and shaping developing embryos. However, it is not well understood how the mechanical properties of tissues and the forces driving them to flow are jointly regulated to accommodate rapid tissue remodeling. To dissect the roles of actomyosin in the mechanics of epithelial tissue flows, here we use two optogenetic tools, optoGEF and optoGAP, to manipulate Rho/Rho-kinase signaling and actomyosin contractility in the germband epithelium, which flows via convergent extension movements during Drosophila body axis elongation. The ability to perturb actomyosin in the tissue allows us to analyze the effects of actomyosin on cell rearrangements, tissue tensions, and tissue mechanical properties. We find that either optogenetic activation or deactivation of Rho1 signaling and actomyosin contractility at the apical surface of the germband disrupts cell rearrangements and tissue-level flows. Rho1 activation leads to poorly oriented rearrangements that are associated with a redistribution of myosin II from the junctional to the medial-apical domain, whereas Rho1 deactivation leads to fewer, slower cell rearrangements that are associated with decreased junctional and medial myosin. By probing mechanical tensions in the tissue using laser ablation and inferring tissue mechanical properties from cell packings, we find that actomyosin influences both the anisotropic forces that drive tissue flow and the mechanical properties of the tissue that resist flow, leading to complex relationships between actomyosin activity and tissue fluidity. Moreover, our results link the subcellular distribution of myosin II to tissue tension and cell packings, revealing how junctional and medial myosin have differential roles in promoting and orienting cell rearrangements during tissue flow.
Divergent evolutionary trajectories shape the postmating transcriptional profiles of conspecific and heterospecifically mated females
Authors: Diaz Fernando , Carson Allan W. , Chen Xingsen , Coleman Joshua M. , Bono Jeremy M. , Matzkin Luciano M.
Published: November 2021

Postmating-prezygotic (PMPZ) reproductive isolation is hypothesized to result from divergent coevolutionary trajectories of sexual selection and/or sexual conflict in isolated populations (coevolutionary divergence model). However, the genetic basis of PMPZ incompatibilities between species is poorly understood. Here, we use a comparative framework to test predictions of the coevolutionary divergence model using a large transcriptomic dataset generated from con- and heterospecifically mated Drosophila mojavensis and D. arizonae female reproductive tracts. We found striking divergence between the species in the female postmating transcriptional response to conspecific mating, including differences in differential expression (DE), alternative splicing (AS), and intron retention (IR). As predicted, heterospecific matings produced disrupted transcriptional profiles, but the overall patterns of misregulation were different between the reciprocal crosses. Moreover, we found a positive correlation between postmating transcriptional divergence between species and levels of transcriptional disruption in heterospecific crosses, indicating that mating-responsive genes that have diverged more in expression also have more disrupted transcriptional profiles in heterospecifically mated females. Overall, our results are consistent with predictions of the coevolutionary divergence model and lay the foundation for future studies aimed at identifying specific genes involved in PMPZ incompatibilities and the evolutionary forces that have contributed to their divergence in closely related species.
Low-coverage reduced representation sequencing reveals subtle within-island genetic structure in Aldabra giant tortoises
Authors: Çilingir F.G. , Hansen D. , Bunbury N. , Postma E. , Baxter R. , Turnbull L.A. , Ozgul A. , Grossen C.
Published: November 2021

Aldabrachelys gigantea (Aldabra giant tortoise) is one of only two giant tortoise species left in the world and survives as a single wild population of over 100,000 individuals on Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles. Despite this large current population size, the species faces an uncertain future because of its extremely restricted distribution range and high vulnerability to the projected consequences of climate change. Captive-bred A. gigantea are increasingly used in rewilding programs across the region, where they are introduced to replace extinct giant tortoises in an attempt to functionally resurrect degraded island ecosystems. However, there has been little consideration of the current levels of genetic variation and differentiation within and among the islands on Aldabra. As previous microsatellite studies were inconclusive, we combined low-coverage and double digest restriction associated DNA (ddRAD) sequencing to analyze samples from 33 tortoises (11 from each main island). Using 5,426 variant sites within the tortoise genome, we detected patterns of population structure within two of the three studied islands, but no differentiation between the islands. These unexpected results highlight the importance of using genome-wide genetic markers to capture higher-resolution genetic structure to inform future management plans, even in a seemingly panmictic population. We show that low-coverage ddRAD sequencing provides an affordable alternative approach to conservation genomic projects of non-model species with large genomes.
Krüppel-like factor 4 is required for development and regeneration of germline and yolk cells from somatic stem cells in planarians
Authors: Issigonis Melanie , Redkar Akshada B. , Rozario Tania , Khan Umair W. , Mejia-Sanchez Rosa , Lapan Sylvain W. , Reddien Peter W. , Newmark Phillip A.
Published: November 2021

Sexually reproducing animals segregate their germline from their soma. In addition to gamete-producing gonads, planarian and parasitic flatworm reproduction relies on yolk-cell-generating accessory reproductive organs (vitellaria) supporting development of yolkless oocytes. Despite the importance of vitellaria for flatworm reproduction (and parasite transmission), little is known about this unique evolutionary innovation. Here we examine reproductive system development in the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea, in which pluripotent stem cells generate both somatic and germ cell lineages. We show that a homolog of the pluripotency factor Klf4 is expressed in primordial germ cells, presumptive germline stem cells, and yolk-cell progenitors. klf4 knockdown animals fail to specify or maintain germ cells; surprisingly, they also fail to maintain yolk cells. We find that yolk cells display germ-cell-like attributes and that vitellaria are structurally analogous to gonads. In addition to identifying a new proliferative cell population in planarians (yolk cell progenitors) and defining its niche, our work provides evidence supporting the hypothesis that flatworm germ cells and yolk cells share a common evolutionary origin.
Multifaceted control of E-cadherin dynamics by the Adaptor Protein Complex 1 during epithelial morphogenesis
Authors: Ramírez Moreno Miguel , Boswell Katy , Casbolt Helen L. , Bulgakova Natalia A.
Published: November 2021

Intracellular trafficking regulates the distribution of transmembrane proteins including the key determinants of epithelial polarity and adhesion. The Adaptor Protein 1 (AP-1) complex is the key regulator of vesicle sorting, which binds many specific cargos. We examined roles of the AP-1 complex in epithelial morphogenesis, using the Drosophila wing as a paradigm. We found that AP-1 knockdown leads to ectopic tissue folding, which is consistent with the observed defects in integrin targeting to the basal cell-extracellular matrix adhesion sites. This occurs concurrently with an integrin-independent induction of cell death, which counteracts elevated proliferation and prevents hyperplasia. We discovered a distinct pool of AP-1, which localizes at the subapical Adherens Junctions. Upon AP-1 knockdown, E-cadherin is hyperinternalized from these junctions and becomes enriched at the Golgi and recycling endosomes. We then provide evidence that E-cadherin hyperinternalization acts upstream of cell death in a potential tumour-suppressive mechanism. Simultaneously, cells compensate for elevated internalization of E-cadherin by increasing its expression to maintain cell-cell adhesion.

Author Summary

The epithelium is one of the four types of tissues found in animals and is essential for the normal development and maintenance of multicellular organisms. In this tissue, the adhesion protein E-cadherin helps keep cells together and facilitates the coordination of their behaviours. E-cadherin is highly dynamic and undergoes constant turnover by intracellular trafficking machinery. Here, we describe the contributions of one of the core components of intracellular trafficking, the AP-1 complex to E-cadherin dynamics. Using epithelial cells from Drosophila melanogaster, we discover that the AP-1 complex limits E-cadherin internalization from the plasma membrane, which is consistent with the localization of a distinct pool of the AP-1 complex at the sites of E-cadherin cell-cell adhesion. We also show that increased E-cadherin internalization triggers programmed cell death, preventing the tissue from hyperplastic overgrowth in a potential tumour-suppressive mechanism. At the same time, cells compensate for the reduction in the membrane presentation of E-cadherin by increasing its expression, therefore protecting tissue integrity.
Fintech credit, bank regulations and bank performance: a cross-country analysis
Authors: Nguyen Liem , Tran Son , Ho Tin
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This study is the first to investigate whether fintech credit influences bank performance, considering the moderating impact of bank regulations.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses an aggregate dataset of 73 countries from 2013 to 2018 to examine the nexus between fintech credit, bank regulations and bank performance. For robustness tests, the authors introduce different proxies of fintech credit, perform sub-sample analysis and substitute control variables, as well as conduct their empirical strategy to tackle potential endogeneity issue.

Findings

The authors document some significant findings. First, the authors’ evidence implies that fintech credit tends to reduce bank profitability, while improving bank risk-related performance. This suggests that as fintech grows, it competes with banks and takes some share of profits, but it also benefits banks in terms of stability. Second, stricter regulations contribute positively to bank stability. Third, the authors argue that the impact of fintech credit on bank performance may depend on the degree of banking regulation, and find that fintech credit would impose a more positive influence on bank stability as more stringent banking regulation is present.

Originality/value

This study is the first to investigate whether fintech credit influences bank performance, considering the moderating impact of bank regulations. The findings imply that fintech credit tends to be more beneficial when bank regulations become stricter. Therefore, they bring relevant implications to the regulators, as well as bank and fintech managers with regard to the potential cooperation.
Modelling interrelationships of quality management, information technology and entrepreneurial culture and their impact on performance from Indian IT enabled service SMEs
Authors: Basu Rana , Bhola Prabha
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This paper attempts to empirically model and analyse interrelationships of quality management (QM), information technology (IT) and entrepreneurial culture (EC) with its impact on performance of Indian IT enabled service small and medium size enterprises (SMEs). More specifically, this paper aims to investigate the proposed model which is validated by analysing both direct and indirect paths by deploying higher order structural modelling.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative approach has been followed by deploying cross-sectional research design. Structured questionnaires were distributed personally and by e-mail to around 1,380 service SMEs. The approach follows empirical testing and analyses of hypothesized paths of the proposed research model which is validated with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using maximum likelihood estimation. This study also identifies and tests the mediation effect of higher order constructs.

Findings

The findings demonstrate poor manifestation of entrepreneurial and market-oriented activities and confirm the mediation effect of IT and QM in the relationships of QM→EC along with IT→performance paths, respectively. Results indicate that IT and QM are complementary resource factors which signifies symbiotic relationships between them. Analyses highlights the significance of QM as a mediator in enhancing performance outcome through IT benefits and the effect of inculcation of EC by enterprises on their performance in today's vibrant and uncertain environment.

Practical implications

This study highlights major key areas of the decision-making process for SMEs’ owner and operations manager to overcome identified challenges like instituting collaboration with external business firms for learning, sharing risks and diversifying innovation capacity for managing capabilities of firms to earn sustainable profit margins. The outcome of this study would help operations manager, decision makers and entrepreneurs to redesign their business processes and entrepreneurial strategies by deploying operational intelligence in order to ensure agility and smooth flow within the firms. This would facilitate and help SMEs to cut down costs and redundancies in the process which would improve productivity and performance excellence.

Originality/value

The novelty of this study is based on development and empirical validation of the proposed research model which depicts how service SMEs could generate value with influence/effect of contextual factors on the QM–performance relationship. Findings of this study make significant contribution to the body of knowledge with new insights by highlighting the niche area in terms of interlinkages pertaining to quality management, IT and EC explicitly in Indian SMEs’ context.
Material convergence issue in the pharmaceutical supply chain during a disease outbreak
Authors: Patil Anchal , Madaan Jitender , Shardeo Vipulesh , Charan Parikshit , Dwivedi Ashish
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Pharmaceutical donations are a practical approach to increase medicine availability during disasters such as disease outbreaks. However, often donated pharmaceuticals are inappropriate and unsuitable. This convergence of inappropriate pharmaceuticals is a severe operational challenge and results in environmental hazards. This study explores the pharmaceutical supply chains (PSCs) during a disease outbreak to relieve the negative impact of the material convergence problem (MCP).

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts a situation-actors-process learning-action-performance (SAP-LAP) linkage framework to understand the PSC dynamics. The problem-solving component of the SAP-LAP analysis provides the strategies catering to MCP. The findings from the SAP-LAP helped to develop the causal loop diagram (CLD). This study conducts several experiments on the proposed strategies by integrating CLD into a stock and flow diagram. Later, a disease outbreak case study accessed the pharmaceutical donations effect on PSC performance.

Findings

The study synthesises and evaluates propositions and strategies to incorporate circular economy (CE) principles in PSC. This study proposed two strategies; one to sort and supply and the other to sort, supply and resell. The reuse policy improves humanitarian organisations' finances in the simulation study. This study verified the operational improvement of PSC by reducing the transport and storage burden due to MCP.

Originality/value

This study comprehensively approaches the issue of drug donation and uniquely produced several propositions for incorporating a CE perspective in PSC. The study also proposed a unique simulation approach to model the donation arrivals in response to a disease outbreak using susceptible, exposed, infectious and recovered modelling.
Personality meta–traits and time-based work–family conflict: the mediating role of work–home boundaries
Authors: Kroumova Maya , Mittal Rakesh , Bienstock Joshua
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine the complex relationship between the personality meta-traits of stability and plasticity and time-based work–family conflict (WFC). Stability and plasticity are hypothesized to influence WFC directly and indirectly, via boundary strength at work (BSW) and boundary strength at home (BSH) domains. WFC has two dimensions – conflict due to family interfering in work (FIW) and conflict due to work interfering in family (WIF).

Design/methodology/approach

Data was collected from 419 full-time employees in multiple US companies. Hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling.

Findings

Stability was associated with lower levels of WFC and stronger boundaries around the work and home domains. BSW mediated the relationship between stability and FIW; BSH mediated the relationship between stability and WIF. plasticity was associated with weaker boundaries around the work and home domains. BSW and BSH had a negative relationship with FIW and WIF, respectively.

Research limitations/implications

The study is cross-sectional and limited to time-based work–family conflict. The results support the adoption of a more agentic view of personality in the boundary setting and WFC literatures.

Practical implications

Employers need to design flexible work programs that offer employees control over work–home boundary strength.

Originality/value

The study links stability and plasticity to WFC. It expands the nomological network of work–home boundaries.
Omni-channel integration: the matter of information and digital technology
Authors: Saghiri Soroosh , Mirzabeiki Vahid
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to explore how omni-channel data flows should be integrated by specifying what data, omni-channel agents and information and digital technologies (IDTs) should be considered and connected.

Design/methodology/approach

A multiple case study method is used with 17 British companies. The studies are supported by 68 interviews with the case companies and their consumers, 5 site visits, 4 focus group meetings and the companies’ archival data and documentations.

Findings

This paper provides novel frameworks for omni-channel data flow integration from consumer and business perspectives. The frameworks consist of omni-channel agents, their data transactions and their supporting IDTs. Relatedly, this paper formalizes the omni-channel data flow integration in the forms of horizontal, vertical and total integrations and explores their contributions to the adaptability of omni-channel, as a complex adaptive system (CAS). It also discusses that how inter-organizational governance mechanisms can support data flow integration and their relevant IDT implementations.

Research limitations/implications

The breadth and depth of the required IDTs for omni-channel integration prove the necessity for omni-channel systems to move toward total integration. Therefore, supported by CAS and inter-organizational governance theories, this research indicates how data flow integration and IDT can transform the omni-channel through self-organization and autonomy capability enhancement.

Originality/value

This research’s recommended frameworks provide a robust platform to formalize data flow integration as the omni-channel's core driver. Accordingly, it moves the literature from a basic description of “what omni-channel is” and provides a novel and significant debate on what specific data should be shared at what levels between which agents of the omni-channel, and with what type of relationship governance mechanism, to assure omni-channel horizontal, vertical and total integrations.
Analysis of the Ecuadorian government's proposed methodology of brand valuation: application in agricultural sector brands
Authors: Macias Washington , Rodriguez Katia , Arosemena-Burbano Flavio , Zhangallimbay Donald
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this work is to analyze a brand valuation methodology proposed by the current Ecuadorian National Service for Intellectual Rights, assessing the relevance of the proposed marketing variables: awareness, associations and evaluation of purchase determinants, and their relationship within the proposed methodology.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used data from surveys of 482 consumers of two agricultural brands in Ecuador (supplies, equipment and services). The authors applied linear multiple regressions estimated by generalized least squares with heteroskedasticity-robust standard errors. “Intention to repurchase” and “recommend” the brands were selected as dependent variables due to their relationship with brand value.

Findings

Brand awareness and associations positively influence the two dependent variables. However, the interaction between brand awareness and associations is negative, suggesting that, for the upper level of awareness, associations have no effect over intentions. This result holds for both brands. Brand evaluation of purchase determinants was a significant predictor of intentions only for the brand which belongs to a product category in which the purchase decision process is more extensive and with more effort.

Research limitations/implications

This study is focused only on agricultural brands, which limits the generalization of the findings.

Originality/value

The agricultural sector is very important in Ecuador due to its contribution to GDP and employment, and the country's position as the fifth exporter of bananas worldwide. Understanding consumer behavior is important for brands and firms' managers in order to preserve or increase brand value, for which a reliable valuation model is useful.
Transformation and resilience processes in mountain oases at the High Atlas (Morocco) – the case of Aït Mrau, Mgoun Valley
Authors: Asencio Juncal Jorge , López-Osorio José Manuel , Rosa-Jiménez Carlos
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This study aims to present the uniqueness of the mountain oasis at the High Atlas (Morocco) and is part of a more extensive study about the landscape, the architecture and the tourist development in the Mgoun Valley. Several natural and anthropogenic factors, such as new environmental conditions and socio-cultural realities, are testing the balance of the system and its adaptive capacity. A sustainable use of water, a key element of the oasis and source of life in the region, and an optimal management of farmland will allow this culture to be perpetuated. The study of the values of this territory and its transformation vectors constitute a first step for valuing this ecosystem and being able to establish management and conservation policies.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based on the fieldwork carried out over six campaigns, between September 2011 and January 2020, when interviews to the local population and graphic and photographic records of the Aït Mrau oasis were carried out. The work started from the literature review and the study of the origin of the settlement, analyzing the transformation processes, both in the cultivated plots and in the built habitat, where the urban evolution of the settlements and the characteristics of the architecture have been analyzed.

Findings

The study has revealed the existence of social, environmental and economic imbalances that affect the status of the oasis, the landscape and the architecture of the study area. The research has characterized the habitat and has identified those elements that must be preserved to guarantee the permanence of the heritage values in a way that the future development of the region was not conditioned.

Originality/value

The research delves into the study of a case that is paradigmatic in the context of the Moroccan High Atlas, since it shows the dynamics of transformation of a region directly affected by the climate change and by the abandonment of the traditional habitats.
Research on the impact of online picture contents of agricultural products on consumers' willingness to click
Authors: Tian Wenhui , Li Yanjun , Li Linzhu
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The paper aims to clarify the influence of different picture contents on consumer's willingness to click pictures when shopping for agricultural products online and examine the intermediary mechanism and boundary conditions of the impact.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper opted for an empirical study based on the cue utilization theory and information processing theory, including 3 experiments to test the existence, intermediary mechanism and boundary conditions of the impact of online picture contents of agricultural products on consumers' clicking intention.

Findings

The paper provides empirical insights about the influence of picture contents on consumer's willingness to click when shopping for agricultural products online. The picture of product's production environment or grower on the search result page can effectively improve consumer's willingness to click the product under dual-systemic information processing modes. Compared with product pictures, pictures displaying products and production environment can stimulate more cognitive system processing, and pictures displaying products and its growers can stimulate more emotional system processing, both resulting in higher click intention. However, the above effects only exist in the context of non-branded agricultural products.

Originality/value

The research results can not only provide practical guidance for merchants, but also fill the gap in the research on the impact of picture contents on consumers in the field of agricultural products in online marketing.
Data breach recovery areas: an exploration of organization's recovery strategies for surviving data breaches
Authors: Mohammed Zareef
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Data breaches are an increasing phenomenon in today's digital society. Despite the preparations an organization must take to prevent a data breach, it is still necessary to develop strategies in the event of a data breach. This paper explores the key recovery areas necessary for data breach recovery.

Design/methodology/approach

Stakeholder theory and three recovery areas (customer, employee and process recovery) are proposed as necessary theoretical lens to study data breach recovery. Three data breach cases (Anthem, Equifax, and Citrix) were presented to provide merit to the argument of the proposed theoretical foundations of stakeholder theory and recovery areas for data breach recovery research.

Findings

Insights from these cases reveal four areas of recovery are necessary for data breach recovery – customer recovery, employee recovery, process recovery and regulatory recovery.

Originality/value

These areas are presented in the data recovery areas model and are necessary for: (1) organizations to focus on these areas when resolving data breaches and (2) future data breach recovery researchers in developing their research in the field.
A crisis volunteer ‘sleeper cell’: An emergent, extending and expanding disaster response organisation
Authors: Carlton Sally , Nissen Sylvia , Wong Jennifer H. K.
Published: November 2021

Understanding the diverse organisational forms of crisis volunteerism is crucial for enabling volunteers to play a more prominent role in disaster response. One of the most widely used analytical tools is the Disaster Research Center typology that identifies ‘established’, ‘expanding’, ‘extending’ and ‘emergent’ groups. However, not all disaster response volunteer groups necessarily fit within this typology. We examine the case of the Student Volunteer Army (SVA) in Aotearoa New Zealand, which has been considered a potential blueprint for youth‐led post‐disaster civic action. Examining a decade of successive disaster responses, we argue the SVA has come to simultaneously exhibit characteristics associated with ‘expanding’, ‘extending’ and ‘repeat emergent’ disaster response organisations. Drawing on in‐depth interviews with people involved with the SVA over its 10 years, we identify dualities in the SVA's tasks and structure that enable it to incorporate both new and existing or routine aspects into its disaster response efforts. In spanning these categories, we propose the SVA has become an ‘expectant’ crisis volunteer organisation—what one interviewee described as a crisis volunteer ‘sleeper cell’. Our discussion considers the possibilities and tensions within this distinct form of organisation.
A high‐quality reference genome forFraxinus pennsylvanicafor ash species restoration and research
Authors: Huff Matt , Seaman Josiah , Wu Di , Zhebentyayeva Tetyana , Kelly Laura J. , Faridi Nurul , Nelson Charles D. , Cooper Endymion , Best Teodora , Steiner Kim , Koch Jennifer , Romero Severson Jeanne , Carlson John E. , Buggs Richard , Staton Margaret
Published: November 2021

Green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) is the most widely distributed ash tree in North America. Once common, it has experienced high mortality from the non‐native invasive emerald ash borer (EAB;Agrilus planipennis). A small percentage of native green ash trees that remain healthy in long‐infested areas, termed “lingering ash,” display partial resistance to the insect, indicating that breeding and propagating populations with higher resistance to EAB may be possible. To assist in ash breeding, ecology and evolution studies, we report the first chromosome‐level assembly from the genusFraxinusforF.pennsylvanicawith over 99% of bases anchored to 23 haploid chromosomes, spanning 757 Mb in total, composed of 49.43% repetitive DNA, and containing 35,470 high‐confidence gene models assigned to 22,976 Asterid orthogroups. We also present results of range‐wide genetic variation studies, the identification of candidate genes for important traits including potential EAB‐resistance genes, and an investigation of comparative genome organization among Asterids based on this reference genome platform. Residual duplicated regions within the genome probably resulting from a recent whole genome duplication event in Oleaceae were visualized in relation to wild olive (Olea europaeavar.sylvestris). We used ourF.pennsylvanicachromosome assembly to construct reference‐guided assemblies of 27 previously sequencedFraxinustaxa, includingF.excelsior. Thus, we present a significant step forward in genomic resources for research and protection ofFraxinusspecies.
Effect of the COVID‐19 pandemic at a major Danish trauma center in 2020 compared with 2018–2019: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Trier Frederik , Fjølner Jesper , Raaber Nikolaj , Sørensen Anders H. , Kirkegaard Hans
Published: November 2021

Background

The COVID‐19 pandemic demanded changes in societal behavior and health care worldwide. Previous studies have compared trauma patient admissions in COVID‐19‐related lockdowns to prior years. This study describes the COVID‐19 impact on trauma patient admissions during entire 2020 at a major trauma center in Denmark.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed trauma patients received by a trauma team and admitted at Aarhus University Hospital in 2020 compared with 2018–2019. The incidence of injuries, mechanism of injury, 30‐day mortality, and Injury Severity Score (ISS) were investigated.

Results

The incidence of minor injuries (ISS 1–15) increased by 24% in 2020 compared with 2018–2019 (incidence rate ratio 1.24 [95% CI: 1.11–1.39]). The incidence of severe injuries (ISS >15) in 2020 did not change compared with 2018–2019 (incidence rate ratio 0.97 [95% CI: 0.80–1.17]). The 30‐day mortality was similar in 2020 compared with 2018–2019. Comparing 2020 with 2018–2019, the risk ratio of traffic injuries decreased (0.90 [95% CI: 0.82–0.99]), risk ratio for fall injuries was 1.13 (95% CI: 0.97–1.30), for violence 1.13 (95% CI: 0.51–2.50), and for self‐harm 1.94 (95% CI: 0.95–3.94). During the first lockdown of 2020, trauma team activations declined from 49.5 to 42 and the risk ratio for traffic injuries was 0.74 (95% CI: 0.50–1.10) compared with the same period in 2018–2019.

Conclusion

The incidence of minor injuries increased, but the incidence of severe injuries was similar in 2020 compared with 2018–2019. Societal restrictions might alter the mechanism of injuries. The first lockdown indicated an association with reduced traffic injuries.
Development Policy and the Poor, Part 1: The Preferential Option for Merchants, Capitalists, and Bureaucrats
Authors: Clark Charles M. A.
Published: November 2021

The often‐stated goal of economic development is to lift people out of poverty. However, the poor are usually an afterthought in the design of development policy, with any benefit that reaches them “trickling down” from what goes to whatever group is the real focus of development policy. All development policy consists of directing and redirecting resources to the group that is felt will promote the aims of those implementing the policy. Political realignments and the evolution of capitalism have changed the group that is in the vanguard of development at various stages. In this essay (Part 1), we will look at the economic arguments that each of the first three vanguard groups—merchants, capitalists, and bureaucrats—applied to development policy, with special emphasis of the position of the poor. In a separate essay (Part 2), we will look at the Catholic principle of the “preferential option for the poor,” which recommends making the poor the central focus of development policy. In the past seven decades of the U.N.’s development agenda, we see a tension between a status quo development policy that makes economic growth the primary goal and a bottom‐up development strategy that emphasizes programs to build up the capabilities of the poor. We also look at some of the evidence of the successes of each approach and argue that a human‐centered agenda has a better chance of lifting the poor out of poverty.
Development Policy and the Poor, Part 2: Preferential Option for the Poor
Authors: Clark Charles M. A.
Published: November 2021

In a previous essay (Part 1), we examined the economic arguments for development policies that placed certain groups at the vanguard of development policy, making note of the place of the poor in these arguments. In this essay (Part 2), we look at the case for making the poor the central focus of development policy, following the principle in Catholic social thought of the “preferential option for the poor.” That principle recommends evaluation of policies and outcomes first and foremost on how they affect the poor. In looking at the U.N. development agenda, from the first development decade to the millennium development goals and sustainable development goals, we can see a tension between economic growth and eradication of poverty. Over time, a shift in focus has occurred towards placing the poor at the center of development policy. By focusing on the poor and poverty eradication, development policy becomes more about human flourishing, which, ironically, produces higher levels of growth in developing countries. It does, however, lower the growth rate of developed countries, as it reduces their privileged position.
Poverty in “Transition”: 30 Years After and in the Pandemic
Authors: Gevorkyan Aleksandr V. , Assa Jacob
Published: November 2021

This article chronicles the evolution of poverty in the formerly socialist economies of Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. The article is an analytical review covering the 30 years since the launch of market reforms with a reflection on the impacts of the COVID‐19 pandemic. The theoretical assumption in the 1990s of a seamless transition from a socialist, state‐led economy to a capitalist, market‐driven economy remained just that—an assumption. Many of the tangible improvements in living standards for the bulk of the population of the post‐socialist era have yet to materialize. Focusing on the smallest post‐socialist economies, with a bigger picture in mind, this study argues that a crisis of human well‐being has been lurking in the background—behind macroeconomic stabilization and growth since the early 2000s. This article contributes to the literature on socioeconomic resilience, restructuring, critical perspectives on poverty, and efforts to define and measure poverty holistically.
Antibiotic treatment of community‐acquired pneumonia: A questionnaire survey in Danish general practice
Authors: Eggers‐Kaas Lotti , Bisgaard Lise , Thomsen Janus Laust , Jarbøl Dorte Ejg , Llor Carl , Christensen Morten Bondo , Bjerrum Lars , Siersma Volkert , Hansen Malene Plejdrup
Published: November 2021

Background

Discrepancies exist in Danish guidelines for the treatment of bacterial community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP). This study aimed to investigate how general practitioners (GPs) treat adults with CAP and explore associations between GP characteristics and treatment duration.

Methods

In autumn 2020, GPs in the North Denmark Region were asked to complete an electronic questionnaire on antibiotic prescribing for CAP. Information about GP gender, age, experience and type of practice was obtained. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyse the association between GP characteristics and treatment duration.

Results

A total of 298 GPs were invited to participate of whom 108 completed the survey. Penicillin V was used as first line treatment for CAP by all participants. Treatment duration varied from 5 (54.6%) to 10 days (8.3%). A 5‐day course of penicillin was less likely to be prescribed by male GPs (odds ratio [OR] 0.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.13–0.94) and more likely to be prescribed by GPs with 5–9 years of experience in general practice (OR 5.03, 95% CI 1.09–23.21) compared to those with 10–19 years of experience.

Conclusion

Variation in antibiotic treatment of CAP emphasises the importance of generating solid evidence about the optimal duration regarding both effectiveness and safety.
Predicting adaptive expertise with rational number arithmetic
Authors: McMullen Jake , Hannula‐Sormunen Minna M. , Lehtinen Erno , Siegler Robert S.
Published: November 2021

Background

Adaptive expertise is a highly valued outcome of mathematics curricula. One aspect of adaptive expertise with rational numbers is adaptive rational number knowledge, which refers to the ability to integrate knowledge of numerical characteristics and relations in solving novel tasks. Even among students with strong conceptual and procedural knowledge of rational numbers, there are substantial individual differences in adaptive rational number knowledge.

Aims

We aimed to examine how a wide range of domain‐general and mathematically specific skills and knowledge predicted different aspects of rational number knowledge, including procedural, conceptual, and adaptive rational number knowledge.

Sample

173 6th and 7th grade students from a school in the southeastern US (51% female) participated in the study.

Methods

At three time points across 1.5 years, we measured students’ domain‐general and domain‐specific skills and knowledge. We used multiple hierarchal regression analysis to examine how these predictors related to rational number knowledge at the third time point.

Result

Prior knowledge of rational numbers, general mathematical calculation knowledge, and spontaneous focusing on multiplicative relations (SFOR) tendency uniquely predicted adaptive rational number knowledge, after taking into account domain‐general and mathematically specific skills and knowledge. Although conceptual knowledge of rational numbers and general mathematical achievement also predicted later conceptual and procedural knowledge of rational numbers, SFOR tendency did not.

Conclusion

Results suggest expanding investigations of mathematical development to also explore different features of adaptive expertise as well as spontaneous mathematical focusing tendencies.
Scoring system for intraoperative diagnosis of intracranial schwannoma by squash cytology
Authors: Fujita Hirotaka , Tajiri Takuma , Machida Tomohisa , Nomura Nozomi , Toguchi Suguru , Itoh Hitoshi , Hiraiwa Shinichiro , Sugiyama Tomoko , Inomoto Chie , Imai Masaaki , Oda Shinri , Shimoda Masami , Nakamura Naoya
Published: November 2021

Objective

To assess the utility of a newly developed squash cytology (SC)‐based scoring system for accurate intraoperative diagnosis of schwannoma.

Methods

We first compared SC‐based and frozen section (FS) diagnoses with final pathological diagnoses of schwannoma (16 cases), meningioma (39 cases) and low‐grade astrocytoma (16 cases). Then, by logistic regression modeling, we identified features of SC preparations that were independently predictive of schwannoma. To develop a diagnostic scoring system, we assigned one point to each feature, and performed receiver operating characteristic analysis to determine the score cut‐off value that was most discriminatory for differentiating schwannoma from the other tumour types. We then compared accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of diagnosis before and after the application of the scoring system.

Results

Overall diagnostic concordance rates for SC and FS were almost the same, at 73.2% (52/71) and 77.5% (55/71 cases), respectively. Of the 16 SC features entered into the analysis, the following nine were found to independently predict schwannoma, and were thus incorporated into the scoring system: smooth cluster margins, few or no isolated tumour cells, fibrillary stroma, spindle‐shaped nuclei, parallel arrangement of stroma, parallel arrangement of nuclei, presence of anisonucleosis, absence of nucleoli, and hemosiderin deposition. A cut‐off score of four items yielded the best sensitivity, specificity and predictive values for prediction of schwannoma. Use of the scoring system improved accuracy of intraoperative diagnosis from 80.3% to 94.4%, sensitivity from 56.2% to 93.8%, and specificity from 87.3% to 94.5%.

Conclusion

Our proposed SC‐based scoring system will increase accuracy of intraoperative diagnosis of schwannoma vs non‐schwannoma tumours.
The entangled pandemic: Deep incarnation in creation
Authors: Simmons Ernest
Published: November 2021

The metaphorical appropriation of quantum entanglement (non‐local relational holism) helps to conceptualize the physical relationship of God to creation in a way that can support the understanding of deep incarnation. The relational holism of Divine entanglement helps clarify how deep incarnation is possible. The pandemic is then approached as an example of evolutionary theodicy that can be addressed through such entangled deep incarnation. This in turn provides the basis for deep resurrection, which, while acknowledging suffering and death in the natural world, also affirms hope and life in Christ.
Acute flaccid myelitis and Guillain–Barré syndrome in children: A comparative study with evaluation of diagnostic criteria
Authors: Helfferich Jelte , Roodbol Joyce , de Wit Marie‐Claire , Brouwer Oebele F. , Jacobs Bart C. ,   the 2016 Enterovirus D68 Acute Flaccid Myelitis Working Group and the Dutch Pediatric GBS Study Group
Published: November 2021

Background and purpose

Differentiation between acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) and Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) can be difficult, particularly in children. Our objective was to improve the diagnostic accuracy by giving recommendations based on a comparison of clinical features and diagnostic criteria in children with AFM or GBS.

Methods

A cohort of 26 children with AFM associated with enterovirus D68 was compared to a cohort of 156 children with GBS. The specificity of the Brighton criteria, used for GBS diagnosis, was evaluated in the AFM cohort and the specificity of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) AFM diagnostic criteria in the GBS cohort.

Results

Children with AFM compared to those with GBS had a shorter interval between onset of weakness and nadir (3 vs. 8 days, p < 0.001), more often had asymmetric limb weakness (58% vs. 0%, p < 0.001), and less frequently had sensory deficits (0% vs. 40%, p < 0.001). In AFM, cerebrospinal fluid leukocyte counts were higher, whereas protein concentrations were lower. Spinal cord lesions on magnetic resonance imaging were only found in AFM patients. No GBS case fulfilled CDC criteria for definite AFM. Of the AFM cases, 8% fulfilled the Brighton criteria for GBS, when omitting the criterion of excluding an alternate diagnosis.

Conclusions

Despite the overlap in clinical presentation, we found distinctive early clinical and diagnostic characteristics for differentiating AFM from GBS in children. Diagnostic criteria for AFM and GBS usually perform well, but some AFM cases may fulfill clinical diagnostic criteria for GBS. This underlines the need to perform diagnostic tests early to exclude AFM in children suspected of atypical GBS.