bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oscillation-based connectivity architecture is dominated by an intrinsic spatial organization, not cognitive state or frequency
Authors: Mostame Parham , Sadaghiani Sepideh
Published: July 2020

Functional connectivity (FC) of neural oscillations (~1-150Hz) is thought to facilitate neural information exchange across brain areas by forming malleable neural ensembles in the service of cognitive processes. However, neural oscillations and their FC are not restricted to certain cognitive demands and continuously unfold in all cognitive states. To what degree is the spatial organization of oscillation-based FC affected by cognitive state or governed by an intrinsic architecture? And what is the impact of oscillation frequency and FC mode (phase-versus amplitude coupling)? Using ECoG recordings of 18 presurgical patients, we quantified the state-dependency of oscillation-based FC in five canonical frequency bands and across an array of 6 task states. For both phase- and amplitude coupling, static FC analysis revealed a spatially largely state-invariant (i.e. intrinsic) component in all frequency bands. Further, the observed intrinsic FC pattern was spatially similar across all frequency bands. However, temporally independent FC dynamics in each frequency band allow for frequency-specific malleability in information exchange. In conclusion, the spatial organization of oscillation-based FC is largely stable over cognitive states, i.e. primarily intrinsic in nature, and shared across frequency bands. The state-invariance is in line with prior findings at the other temporal extreme of brain activity, the infraslow range (~<0.1Hz) observed in fMRI. Our observations have implications for conceptual frameworks of oscillation-based FC and the analysis of task-related FC changes.
Diagnostic utility of genetic testing in patients undergoing renal biopsy
Authors: Benson Katherine A. , Murray Susan L. , Doyle Ross , Doyle Brendan , Dorman Anthony M. , Sadlier Denise , Brennan Eoin , Large Margaret , Cavalleri Gianpiero L. , Godson Catherine , Conlon Peter J.
Published: July 2020

High-throughput DNA testing is becoming established as a standard diagnostic test in the renal clinic. Previously published studies on cohorts of patients with unexplained chronic kidney disease of a suspected genetic aetiology have suggested a diagnostic yield for genomic sequencing of up to 18%. Here we determine the yield of targeted gene panel in a clinically unscreened cohort of patients referred for percutaneous native renal biopsy. Patients who underwent renal biopsy for investigation of chronic kidney disease were sequenced using a genomic sequencing panel covering 227 genes in which variation is known to be associated with monogenic chronic kidney disease (CKD). Candidate disease-causing variants were assessed for pathogenicity using guidelines from the American College for Medical Genetics and Genomics. Fifty CKD patients were recruited and sequenced. A molecular diagnosis was obtained for two patients (4%). A molecular diagnosis is possible using genomic testing in ∼4% of clinically unscreened patients undergoing renal biopsy. Genetic screening may be useful for diagnosis in a subset of CKD patients but is most valuable when applied to patients with suspected heritable forms of kidney disease.
Micro-foundations of small business internationalization: introduction to the Special Section
Authors: Vanderstraeten Johanna , Loots Ellen , Hamelin Anaïs , van Witteloostuijn Arjen
Published: July 2020

Purpose

We introduce and summarize the selected papers of the Special Section on the “Micro-Foundations of Small Business Internationalization and briefly summarize the state-of-the-art of this literature stream.

Design/methodology/approach

We briefly summarize the state-of-the-art of the literature regarding the micro-foundations of small business internationalization. Then, we summarize the selected papers of the Special Section, highlighting their main contributions. We end with suggesting future research avenues.

Findings

We move beyond the usual suspects such as gender, education and experience to bring together internationalization studies that open up the individual lens to small business internationalization. To do so, we selected papers examining deeper-level behavioural and psychological constructs impacting the internationalization process, going from internationalization intention to internationalization behaviour and eventually leading to internationalization performance.

Originality/value

We stress the importance of the entrepreneur as a person to better understand small business internationalization. We address the current lack of attention attributed to psychological and behavioural drivers (e.g. motives, attitudes, ambitions and aspirations) throughout the internationalization process, and we urge future researchers to further develop this research stream.
The awareness and application of multimedia tools for information literacy instruction at an African university
Authors: Mashiyane Dina Mokgadi , Bangani Siviwe , Van Deventer Kirchner
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine academic librarians’ awareness and application of multimedia content for information literacy (IL) instruction at the North-West University in South Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used both the survey and focus group interviews to gather data from the university's faculty librarians.

Findings

The results of this study show that despite the majority of librarians being aware of the existence and benefits of multimedia tools that can complement their traditional instructional practices, very few actually apply the tools for IL instructional practices. Among the multimedia tools that the librarians often use for the IL instruction, LibGuides were the most favourable because of their ease of use. The main reasons for not using the multimedia tools cited by librarians include the lack of infrastructure and insufficient skills.

Practical implications

This study recommends the reskilling of librarians by training them in the use of multimedia tools for IL instruction.

Social implications

The paper sheds light on the current strategies being implemented by faculty librarians in providing IL using multimedia tools. It also outlines the importance of multimedia tools in enhancing eLearning endeavours. Multimedia skills for librarians can also be essential during times of crisis such as the recent COVID-19 outbreak.

Originality/value

This study is a welcome contribution to the role of ICTs in enhancing library activities during the 4IR. The voice of the librarians in this area has also been minimally represented. This study, therefore, seeks to address these gaps in published scholarly literature.
Nature-inspired hybrid deep learning for race detection by face shape features
Authors: Sukumaran Asha , Brindha Thomas
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The humans are gifted with the potential of recognizing others by their uniqueness, in addition with more other demographic characteristics such as ethnicity (or race), gender and age, respectively. Over the decades, a vast count of researchers had undergone in the field of psychological, biological and cognitive sciences to explore how the human brain characterizes, perceives and memorizes faces. Moreover, certain computational advancements have been developed to accomplish several insights into this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper intends to propose a new race detection model using face shape features. The proposed model includes two key phases, namely. (a) feature extraction (b) detection. The feature extraction is the initial stage, where the face color and shape based features get mined. Specifically, maximally stable extremal regions (MSER) and speeded-up robust transform (SURF) are extracted under shape features and dense color feature are extracted as color feature. Since, the extracted features are huge in dimensions; they are alleviated under principle component analysis (PCA) approach, which is the strongest model for solving “curse of dimensionality”. Then, the dimensional reduced features are subjected to deep belief neural network (DBN), where the race gets detected. Further, to make the proposed framework more effective with respect to prediction, the weight of DBN is fine tuned with a new hybrid algorithm referred as lion mutated and updated dragon algorithm (LMUDA), which is the conceptual hybridization of lion algorithm (LA) and dragonfly algorithm (DA).

Findings

The performance of proposed work is compared over other state-of-the-art models in terms of accuracy and error performance. Moreover, LMUDA attains high accuracy at 100th iteration with 90% of training, which is 11.1, 8.8, 5.5 and 3.3% better than the performance when learning percentage (LP) = 50%, 60%, 70%, and 80%, respectively. More particularly, the performance of proposed DBN + LMUDA is 22.2, 12.5 and 33.3% better than the traditional classifiers DCNN, DBN and LDA, respectively.

Originality/value

This paper achieves the objective detecting the human races from the faces. Particularly, MSER feature and SURF features are extracted under shape features and dense color feature are extracted as color feature. As a novelty, to make the race detection more accurate, the weight of DBN is fine tuned with a new hybrid algorithm referred as LMUDA, which is the conceptual hybridization of LA and DA, respectively.
Work–life conflict and burnout among working women: a mediated moderated model of support and resilience
Authors: Gupta Pragya , Srivastava Shalini
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Using job demand-control-support (JDCS) model as its foundation, the purpose of this paper is to examine the important, but under-explored, relationship between perceptions of work–life conflict and burnout being mediated and moderated by support systems and resilience among female employees in India.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 270 female employees belonging to various sectors such as Information Technology/ Information Technology enabled services, retail, bank and hospitality located in Northern India were surveyed. The study used stratified sampling method for good coverage from different departments of the organizations. The structural equation method was used to test the direct effect, and for the mediation effects, they were tested by the method of indirect effects (Preacher and Hayes, 2004).

Findings

The results supported the hypothesized model that there exists a significant and positive relationship of work–life conflict with burnout, and work–life conflict has a negative association with both family support and organizational support. The findings also supported the hypothesis that family support and organizational support mediate the relationship of work–life conflict and burnout. This analysis expectedly confirmed that resilience not only displayed a negative relationship with burnout but also exhibited a moderated relationship with organizational and family support.

Research limitations/implications

The research design was co-relational and cross-sectional, so inferring causality is not possible. Future research must incorporate a longitudinal design to investigate the causal effects of work–life conflict on employees’ experiences of burnout and whether it gets buffered by availability of workplace support and family support.

Practical implications

It is imperative for the organizations to take substantial steps to reduce job burden and deadline pressure on the female employees, nurture decision autonomy at all levels of hierarchy and encourage amiable relationships of employees with their supervisors and peers based on mutual trust and support.

Originality/value

Although most of the research studies on work–life conflict have been unidirectional, i.e. investigating spillover of work demands on to family domains (Greenhaus and Beutell, 1985; Byrne and Barling, 2017), these conflicts have been found to be bidirectional, meaning thereby that family issues do spill over into work realm (Makela and Suutari, 2011). This study examines both directions of work–life conflict.
Application of smart electronic systems, firm characteristics and efficient energy consumption – a case of public universities in Uganda
Authors: Isingoma-Wakaisuka Juliet , Ibanda Charles Kalvin Kikwanga , Naluwooza Ruqqaiya , Namaganda Christine
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to examine the relationship between the application of smart electronic systems, firm characteristics and efficient energy consumption: a case of public universities in Uganda.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted both quantitative and qualitative approach as well as descriptive cross-sectional survey design tantamounting to an experimental-observation approach. A sample of four public academic universities were explored using primary data. A semi-structured questionnaire together with an evaluation form and a tested experimental kit (from one of the leading electronics centres in Uganda) was used to examine the consumption rates of different electronic appliances of less than 30 Amps. Further, a Pearson product moment correlation (r) analysis was also used to determine the direction of a relationship among the variables together with a linear relationship (regression) to predict a linear association of one or more variables. Recommendations were also given.

Findings

Smart electronic systems make a significant determining factor to both firm characteristics (age, number of students, administrative staff and support staff) as well as efficient energy consumption. Nonetheless, there is no significant difference of efficient energy consumption as far as firm characteristics are concerned.

Research limitations/implications

Results support the contributions of the theory of technology and acceptance model by affirming that a number of factors influence the usefulness and ease of use of the smart electronic systems, which in turn influence energy consumption.

Practical implications

Universities' management should endeavour to install smart electronic systems. But still, government should try to lower taxes on smart electronic systems and genuine agents should be named for easy and affordable access of the users, universities inclusive.

Originality/value

The study contributes towards a theoretical position by affirming the usefulness of technology acceptance model for efficient energy consumption in public universities.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-02-2019-0083
Principals' systems thinking attribute: exploring a principal–middle leader relational demography perspective
Authors: Benoliel Pascale , Shaked Haim , Nadav Nehama , Schechter Chen
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Relying on information processing and attribution theories, which relate to the formation of leadership perceptions and attributes, the current study seeks to examine the relationship between demographic variables and principals' systems thinking (PST) in an integrated model. The present study purpose was threefold: first, the study seeks to examine whether attributions middle leaders make about PST may show substantial and systematic variance in a management team. Second, the study seeks to investigate the influence of principal–middle leaders’ relational demography variables (gender, education and tenure) (dis)similarity on middle leaders’ PST attribute. Finally, the study seeks to explore the moderating role of duration of principal- principal–middle leader acquaintance in the relationship of demographic (dis)similarity to PST.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 305 dyads (middle leaders and their principals) from 101 schools. MANOVA analysis and hierarchical regression analyses were used to test the hypothesis.

Findings

Findings showed that it is both appropriate and important to examine group-level effects when studying PST effects. Also, PST levels were higher in gender-similar relationships than in gender-dissimilar ones. Finally, duration of acquaintance was found to moderate the relationship between principal–middle leaders’ gender (dis)similarity and PST appraisal.

Originality/value

Focusing on principal–middle leader relationships, which are explicitly relational, with a consideration for level relationships may potentially highlight the need to consider multiple levels of analysis in order to understand how PST attribution occurs. This focus can help us to capture the core of PST social dynamics among the dyad, as well as highlighting the distinction, if any, between in-groups and out-groups. Acknowledging that school faculty are motivated by their interpersonal relationships with their principals and how such relationships are contingent upon demography (dis)similarity and the duration of acquaintance between dyads may help to broaden the understanding regarding potential antecedents of middle leaders' PST attribution and its implication for school organizations.
Corporate governance and earnings forecast accuracy in IPO prospectuses: an empirical analysis
Authors: Ben Ahmed Faten , Salhi Bassem , Jarboui Anis
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to present an extension to the research area dealing with the Tunisia initial public offering (IPO) associated earnings management forecasts, by an examination of the corporate governance mechanisms and earnings forecast accuracy relating impacts.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use a multiple regression technique (FGLS) to estimate the effect of corporate governance structures and audit quality on earnings forecast accuracy. A sample of 33 IPO companies (165 firm-year observations) collected over the period ranging between 2011 and 2015 was applied.

Findings

The finding of this study reveals that the companies displaying a respectable audit committee size have a significant level of earnings forecast accuracy. Similarly, the accuracy level associated with IPO earnings forecasts is positively influenced by the use of the brand-name auditor.

Research limitations/implications

This study is based on a small sample from a single jurisdiction and limited time period. In fact, the findings examine how financial statements are measured and reported and assess additional regulation to protect investors and understand as well as manage earnings forecast accuracy in IPO prospectuses.

Practical implications

The findings of the study provide some implications for regulators, financial analysts, investors and users of financial statements, particularly who are investigating in potentially IPO firms. This study has an implication for market regulators who suggest that a requirement to publish very detailed forecast information would improve market efficiency by reducing the forecast error.

Originality/value

Previous studies on this subject carried out in other countries with a regulatory framework differ from that of Tunisia, which obligatorily obliges the publication of the forecasts in the prospectus of IPO and capital increase. This is one of the most important studies that simultaneously tests the impacts of corporate governance and audit quality on earnings forecast accuracy in an emerging market, and the results of this study may give strength to Tunisian as well as other developing countries.
Practices of preventive maintenance planning in discrete manufacturing industry
Authors: Salonen Antti , Gopalakrishnan Maheshwaran
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to assess the readiness of the Swedish manufacturing industry to implement dynamic, data-driven preventive maintenance (PM) by identifying the gap between the state of the art and the state of practice.

Design/methodology/approach

An embedded multiple case study was performed in which some of the largest companies in the discrete manufacturing industry, that is, mechanical engineering, were surveyed regarding the design of their PM programmes.

Findings

The studied manufacturing companies make limited use of the existing scientific state of the art when designing their PM programmes. They seem to be aware of the possibilities for improvement, but they also see obstacles to changing their practices according to future requirements.

Practical implications

The results of this study will benefit both industry professionals and academicians, setting the initial stage for the development of data-driven, diversified and dynamic PM programmes.

Originality/Value

First and foremost, this study maps the current state and practice in PM planning among some of the larger automotive manufacturing industries in Sweden. This work reveals a gap between the state of the art and the state of practice in the design of PM programmes. Insights regarding this gap show large improvement potentials which may prove important for academics as well as practitioners.
Disclosing CSR by Islamic banks: does Jaiz Bank Nigeria, Plc adopt the practice of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited?
Authors: Umar Umar Habibu , Musa Sulaiman
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to establish whether Jaiz Bank Nigeria, Plc (JBNP) adopts the corporate social responsibility (CSR) practice and disclosure of Islami Bank Bangladesh (IBBL) as the latter provided managerial and technical assistance to the former.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were extracted from the annual reports and accounts of the banks from 2013 to 2017.

Findings

The study established that over the period, IBBL had clearly disclosed sector-wise CSR expenditures and the number of beneficiaries, such as humanitarian and disaster relief, education, health and environment, among others, for the welfare of the poor and the needy in the country. However, the CSR practice and disclosure of IBBL have not yet been adopted by JBNP. It only discharges CSR activities through its foundation called Jaiz Foundation, with unlawful income based on the doctrine of necessity, as approved by the Financial Regulation Advisory Council of Experts (FRACE) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Further, the total amount to expend for CSR activities is located in the statement of sources and uses of charity funds.

Research limitations/implications

The study covered only two Islamic Banks. Besides, only CSR aspects for the community service and development over five years were examined.

Practical implications

It is suggested that JBNP should adopt the CSR practice and disclosure of IBBL for the welfare of the poor and the needy in Nigeria.

Social implications

Adopting the IBBL CSR practice and disclosure by JBNP would contribute to the minimization of the incidence of poverty in Nigeria.

Originality/value

This study, to the best knowledge of the researchers, is among the few of its kind that deeply evaluated the CSR expenditure of Islamic banks solely for the welfare of the poor and the needy of the society.
Thresholds in finance–growth nexus: Evidence from G‐7 economies
Authors: Swamy Vighneswara , Dharani Munusamy
Published: July 2020

This study explores the finance and economic growth nexus in G‐7 economies as these countries experience significantly higher levels of financial development. Using a balanced panel of 31 years from 1983 to 2013, we provide new evidence on the finance–growth relationship. We show the presence of nonlinearity as there is an inverted U‐shaped relationship between finance and growth in the long run. Estimating the thresholds in the finance–growth nexus, we notice that there exists a threshold effect of finance at 109% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). We observe that exceeding the threshold would hinder the countries instead of furthering economic growth as too much finance is harmful. Based on the panel Granger causality test results, we claim that financial development should be associated with optimal growth performance. Our findings for the G‐7 economies offer some useful policy inferences to the emerging and developing economies in designing their financial development strategies.
John Graunt at 400: Fighting Disease with Numbers
Authors: Harkness Timandra
Published: July 2020

Demographers, epidemiologists and statisticians working today are building on foundations laid by John Graunt, a London haberdasher born in 1620, who sought to analyse the many causes of death and calculate life expectancy. By Timandra Harkness
Inflation in Argentina: A Controversial Figure
Authors: Briones Cecilia T. Lanata , Daniel Claudia
Published: July 2020

Argentina has one of the highest rates of inflation in the world – and, because of this, in recent decades the measurement of inflation has found itself embroiled in controversy. Cecilia T. Lanata Briones and Claudia Daniel tell the story
What's the Big Idea? Cramér–Rao Inequality and Rao Distance
Authors: Plastino Angel Ricardo , Plastino Angelo
Published: July 2020

Angel Ricardo Plastino and Angelo Plastino give a brief introduction to two key developments in statistics that originate with C. R. Rao's 1945 paper, “Information and accuracy attainable in the estimation of statistical parameters”
Epidemiology and Me
Authors: Das Shikta
Published: July 2020

Career story.
After Covid-19, The US Statistical System Needs to Change
Authors: Lane Julia
Published: July 2020

Julia Lane calls for a new, more democratic, public data infrastructure
Time for Data Science to Professionalise
Authors: Steuer Detlef
Published: July 2020

Data science must become a profession if it is to get to grips with the issues of data ethics, argues Detlef Steuer
Symbiotic bacteria attenuate Drosophila oviposition repellence to alkaline through acidification
Authors: Liu Wei , Wang Jie , Zhang Hong‐Yu , Yang Ying‐Chun , Kang Ru‐Xue , Bai Peng , Fu Hui , Chen Li‐Rong , Gao Yan‐Ping , Tan Eng King
Published: July 2020

Metazoans harbor a wealth of symbionts that are ever‐changing the environment by taking up resources and/or excreting metabolites. One such common environmental modification is a change in pH. Conventional wisdom holds that symbionts facilitate the survival and production of their hosts in the wild, but this notion lacks empirical evidence. Here, we report that symbiotic bacteria in the genus Enterococcus attenuate the oviposition avoidance of alkaline environments in Drosophila. We studied the effects of alkalinity on oviposition preference for the first time, and found that flies are robustly disinclined to oviposit on alkali‐containing substrates. This innate repulsion to alkaline environments is explained, in part, by the fact that alkalinity compromises the health and lifespan of both offspring and parent Drosophila. Enterococcus dramatically diminished or even completely reversed the ovipositional avoidance of alkalinity in Drosophila. Mechanistically, Enterococcus generate abundant lactate during fermentation, which neutralizes the residual alkali in an egg‐laying substrate. In conclusion, Enterococcus protects Drosophila from alkali stress by acidifying the ovipositional substrate, and ultimately improves the fitness of the Drosophila population. Our results demonstrate that symbionts are profound factors in the Drosophila ovipositional decision, and extend our understanding of the intimate interactions between Drosophila and their symbionts.
Only mothers feed mature offspring in EuropeanCeratinabees
Authors: Mikát Michael , Waldhauserová Jitka , Fraňková Tereza , Čermáková Kateřina , Brož Vojtěch , Zeman Šimon , Dokulilová Marcela , Straka Jakub
Published: July 2020

Parental care directed to adult offspring is uncommon in animals. Such parental care has been documented in Xylocopinae bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Moreover, someCeratinabees (Xylocopinae) are known to feed mature siblings, and feeding of mature siblings is achieved by dwarf eldest daughters when mothers died. These daughters are intentionally malnourished by mothers and usually originate from the first brood cell.

Here, we examined the pattern of care provided to young adults in three small European carpenter bees:Ceratina(Ceratina)cucurbitina,C. (Euceratina)chalybea, andC. (E.)nigrolabiata. Observations of nest departures and arrivals were performed to study foraging behavior. We detected intensive foraging behavior of mothers in all three studied species. However, we did not observe regular foraging behavior of daughters in any species. The experimental removal of mothers inC. cucurbitinaled to the emigration of young adults and did not initiate foraging activity in daughters. We conclude that the feeding of siblings does not occur in these species unlike in the American speciesC. calcarata. We detected female‐biased sex ratios in the first brood cell inC. cucurbitinaandC. chalybea. Female offspring in the first brood cell was smaller than other female offspring only inC. cucurbitina. Our results show that a female‐biased sex ratio and the small size of daughters in the first brood cell do not provide sufficient evidence for demonstrating the existence of an altruistic daughter and also that the pattern of maternal investment is not exclusively shaped by social interactions.
Effects of mixed signals on employer attractiveness: A mixed‐method study based on signalling and convention theory
Authors: Pernkopf Katharina , Latzke Markus , Mayrhofer Wolfgang
Published: July 2020

Traditional recruiting activities are marked by information asymmetry and organisational information control, leading to uncertainty among applicants about employer attractiveness. New technologies profoundly change the picture. Recruiting websites provide more thorough, yet controlled information; online employer reviews offer employee‐generated information mostly out of organisational control. While this diminishes information asymmetry, applicants have to handle incongruent information. It remains largely unclear how so‐called ‘mixed signals’ affect employer attractiveness and how applicants interpret them. To address the issue, we developed an integrated theoretical framework based on signalling and convention theory to better understand how applicants interpret and evaluate signals about employers. We then conducted a mixed‐method study to examine how congruent and mixed signals influence perceived employer attractiveness. Our results show that while congruent signals increase employer attractiveness and mixed‐signal situations reduce it, distinct evaluative patterns emerge when potential applicants reflect and judge employers. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.
An amplicon sequencing protocol for attacker identification from DNA traces left on artificial prey
Authors: Rößler Daniela C. , Lötters Stefan , Veith Michael , Fugmann Michèle , Peters Charlene , Künzel Sven , Krehenwinkel Henrik
Published: July 2020

Clay model studies are a popular tool to identify predator–prey interactions that are challenging to observe directly in the field. But despite its wide use, the method's applicability is limited by its low taxonomic resolution. Attack marks on clay models are usually identified visually, which only allows classification into higher taxonomic levels of predators. Thus, the method is often biased, lacks proof and, above all, standardization.

Here, we tested whether precise identification of attackers can be provided by amplification and sequencing of mitochondrial DNA left in bite marks on clay models. We validated our approach in a controlled laboratory study as well as in a field experiment using clay models of a common European amphibian, the European fire salamander Salamandra salamandra. DNA‐based taxonomic assignments were additionally compared to visual assessments of bite marks.

We show that trace DNA of attackers can be routinely isolated and sequenced from bite marks, providing accurate species‐level classification. In contrast, visual identification alone yielded a high number of unassigned predator taxa. We also highlight the sensitivity of the method and show likely sources of contamination as well as probable cases of secondary and indirect predation.

Our standardized approach for species‐level attacker identification opens up new possibilities far beyond the standard use of clay models to date, including food web studies at unprecedented detail, invasive species monitoring as well as biodiversity inventories.
Temperature changes affect the rheological properties of a silicone‐based and an epoxy resin‐based root canal sealers
Authors: de Freitas Jéssica Vavavassori , Ebert Johannes , Mazzi‐Chaves Jardel Francisco , Tomazinho Flávia Sens Fagundes , Sousa‐Neto Manoel Damião de , Lohbauer Ulrich , Baratto‐Filho Flares
Published: July 2020

To evaluate temperature changes on the rheological properties (setting time and complex viscosity (η*)) of GuttaFlow Bioseal (GFB) and AH Plus Jet (AHPJ). Rheological measurements were performed in oscillating mode at the strain amplitude and angular frequency of 0.01% and 10 rad s−1, respectively. Each sealer (n = 5) was tested running a temperature ramp (rapid increase to 80°C, 1 min constantly at 80°C, and slower decrease to 37°C). Control groups (n = 5) were tested at a constant temperature of 37°C. Kolmogorov–Smirnov and one‐way ANOVA (P < 0.05) statistical tests were performed. The temperature ramp reduced setting time of GFB (24.85 to 4.45 min) (P < 0.05), but did not alter that of AHPJ (P > 0.05). GFB exhibited an increased η*, whereas the AHPJ η* was decreased when heated (P < 0.05). Rheological properties of sealers were negatively affected by temperature changes.
The impact of Caesarean section on the infant gut microbiome
Authors: Hoang Delphine M. , Levy Elvira I. , Vandenplas Yvan
Published: July 2020

Aim

Description of the impact of caesarean section on the infant gut microbiome, infant health and solutions to restore the dysbiosis.

Methods

We searched PubMed and Google Scholar for relevant articles. Only articles published in English were selected. Separate searches were performed for each topic. We selected 60 articles published between 1999 and 2019 by extracting subject headings and key words of interest for this topic.

Results

Caesarean section is an obstetrical procedure that is increasing in prevalence worldwide. On top of the maternal and neonatal risks that this procedure carries, it also induces a dysbiosis of the infant intestinal microbiome possibly challenging the health outcome for the infant. Antibiotics administered during Caesarean deliveries contribute to the development of the gut microbiome. Nonetheless, breastfeeding and several interventions such as vaginal seeding and supplementation with probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics may contribute to the restoration of the dysbiosis.

Conclusion

Caesarean section is associated with the development of an imbalance of the infant gut microbiome. Long‐term consequences of this imbalance are debated. Besides breastfeeding, other strategies to restore this dysbiosis need further studies before they can be recommended.
Cross‐component registration for multivariate functional data, with application to growth curves
Authors: Carroll Cody , Müller Hans‐Georg , Kneip Alois
Published: July 2020

Multivariate functional data are becoming ubiquitous with advances in modern technology and are substantially more complex than univariate functional data. We propose and study a novel model for multivariate functional data where the component processes are subject to mutual time warping. That is, the component processes exhibit a similar shape but are subject to systematic phase variation across their time domains. To address this previously unconsidered mode of warping, we propose new registration methodology that is based on a shift‐warping model. Our method differs from all existing registration methods for functional data in a fundamental way. Namely, instead of focusing on the traditional approach to warping, where one aims to recover individual‐specific registration, we focus on shift registration across the components of a multivariate functional data vector on a population‐wide level. Our proposed estimates for these shifts are identifiable, enjoy parametric rates of convergence, and often have intuitive physical interpretations, all in contrast to traditional curve‐specific registration approaches. We demonstrate the implementation and interpretation of the proposed method by applying our methodology to the Zürich Longitudinal Growth data and study its finite sample properties in simulations.
Factors affecting third‐stage management and postpartum hemorrhage in planned midwife‐led home and birth center births in the United States
Authors: Erickson Elise N. , Bovbjerg Marit L. , Cheyney Melissa J.
Published: July 2020

Background

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is a potential childbirth complication. Little is known about how third‐stage labor is managed by midwives in the United States, including use of uterotonic medication during community birth. Access to uterotonic medication may vary based on credentials of the midwife or state regulations governing midwifery.

Methods

Using data from the Midwives of North America 2.0 database (2004‐2009), we describe the PPH incidence for women giving birth in the community, their demographic and clinical characteristics, and methods used by midwives to address PPH. We also examined PPH rates by midwifery credentials and by the presence of regulations for legal midwifery practice.

Results

Of the 17 836 vaginal births, 15.9% had blood loss of over 500 mL and 3.3% had 1000 mL or greater blood loss. Midwives used pharmaceuticals to prevent or treat postpartum bleeding in 6.3% and 13.9% of births, respectively, and the rate of hospital transfer after birth was 1.4% (n = 247). In adjusted analyses, PPH was less likely when births occurred at home vs a birth center, if the midwife had a CNM/CM credential vs a CPM/LM/LDM credential, or if the woman was multiparous without a history of PPH or prior cesarean birth. PPH was more likely in states with barriers to midwifery practice compared with regulated states (OR: 1.26; 95% CI, 1.16‐1.38).

Conclusions

Women giving birth in the community experienced low overall incidence of PPH‐related hospital transfer. However, the occurrence of PPH itself would likely be reduced with improved legal access to uterotonic medication.
Impacts of exclusion fencing on target and non‐target fauna: a global review
Authors: Smith Deane , King Rachel , Allen Benjamin L.
Published: July 2020

Exclusion fencing is a common tool used to mitigate a variety of unwanted economic losses caused by problematic wildlife. While the potential for agricultural, ecological and economic benefits of pest animal exclusion are often apparent, what is less clear are the costs and benefits to sympatric non‐target wildlife. This review examines the use of exclusion fencing in a variety of situations around the world to elucidate the potential outcomes of such fencing for wildlife and apply this knowledge to the recent uptake of exclusion fencing on livestock properties in the Australian rangelands. In Australia, exclusion fences are used to eliminate dingo (Canis familiaris dingo) predation on livestock, prevent crop‐raiding by emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae), and enable greater control over total grazing pressure through the reduction of macropods (Macropodidae) and feral goats (Capra hircus). A total of 208 journal articles were examined for location, a broad grouping of fence type, and the reported effects the fence was having on the study species. We found 51% of the literature solely discusses intended fencing effects, 42% discusses unintended effects, and only 7% considers both. Africa has the highest proportion of unintended effects literature (52.0%) and Australia has the largest proportion of literature on intended effects (34.2%). We highlight the potential for exclusion fencing to have positive effects on some species and negative effects on others (such as predator exclusion fencing posing a barrier to migration of other species), which remain largely unaddressed in current exclusion fencing systems. From this review we were able to identify where and how mitigation strategies have been successfully used in the past. Harnessing the potential benefits of exclusion fencing while avoiding the otherwise likely costs to both target and non‐target species will require more careful consideration than this issue has previously been afforded.
Prognostic significance of spatial immune profiles in human solid cancers
Authors: Tsujikawa Takahiro , Mitsuda Junichi , Ogi Hiroshi , Miyagawa‐Hayashino Aya , Konishi Eiichi , Itoh Kyoko , Hirano Shigeru
Published: July 2020

Immune‐based tumor characteristics in the context of tumor heterogeneity are associated with suppression as well as promotion of cancer progression in various tumor types. As immunity typically functions based on intercellular contacts and short‐distance cytokine communications, the location and spatial relationships of the tumor immune microenvironment can provide a framework to understand the biology and potential predictive biomarkers related to disease outcomes. Immune spatial analysis is a newly emerging form of cancer research based on recent methodological advances in in situ single‐cell analysis, where cell‐cell interaction and the tissue architecture can be analyzed in relation to phenotyping the tumor immune heterogeneity. Spatial characteristics of tumors can be stratified into the tissue architecture level and the single‐cell level. At the tissue architecture level, the prognostic significance of the density of immune cell lineages, particularly T cells, is leveraged by understanding longitudinal changes in cell distribution in the tissue architecture such as intra‐tumoral and peri‐tumoral regions, and invasive margins. At the single‐cell level, the proximity of the tumor to the immune cells correlates with disease aggressiveness and therapeutic resistance, providing evidence to understand biological interactions and characteristics of the tumor immune microenvironment. In this review, we summarize recent findings regarding spatial information of the tumor immune microenvironment and review advances and challenges in spatial single‐cell analysis toward developing tissue‐based biomarkers rooted in the immune spatial landscape.
How Children Learn From Others: An Analysis of Selective Word Learning
Authors: Sobel David M. , Finiasz Zoe
Published: July 2020

One way children are remarkable learners is that they learn from others. Critically, children are selective when assessing from whom to learn, particularly in the domain of word learning. We conducted an analysis of children’s selective word learning, reviewing 63 papers on 6,525 participants. Children’s ability to engage in selective word learning appeared to be present in the youngest samples surveyed. Their more metacognitive understanding that epistemic competence indicates reliability or that others are good sources of knowledge has more of a developmental trajectory. We also found that various methodological factors used to assess children influence performance. We conclude with a synthesis of theoretical accounts of how children learn from others.
Obesity and food‐related content aimed at children on YouTube
Authors: Castelló‐Martínez Araceli , Tur‐Viñes Victoria
Published: July 2020

This article explores the intersection between advertising by food brands, practices on YouTube and child obesity. The objective is to analyse the communication features of marketing content by food brands targeting children on YouTube. The existing literature confirming the relationship between exposure to food advertising and actual consumption prioritizes television while largely ignoring the digital world. When children connect to the internet, watching videos on YouTube is their most common activity. We analyse and compare the advertising by food brands on regular TV networks (traditional advertising) with videos by child YouTubers (influencing) in Spanish. An exploratory study is conducted by means of a content analysis of 304 videos, with 12 variables grouped into 2 categories: prevalence of ultra‐processed vs healthy products in advertising, and marketing style. The results reveal marked differences in practices between brands and child YouTubers, along with the rise of hybrid media forms. The conclusions highlight the absence of advertising warnings in content targeting children. Changes are recommended to increase the responsibility assumed by these media spaces that exert such a huge influence on an audience as vulnerable as children.
How many more young Australians say that they would use cannabis if it were legal?
Authors: Leung Janni , Chiu Vivian , Chung Jack Yiu Chak , Hall Wayne D. , Chan Gary C. K.
Published: July 2020

Introduction and Aims

The potential for increased cannabis use by young people after legalisation remains a key concern of opponents of legalisation. This study used survey data to estimate how many young Australians may be prepared to use cannabis if it became legally available.

Design and Methods

The study included 3052 youths (adolescents aged 12–17 and young adults aged 18–25 years) in Australia who participated in the 2016 National Drug Strategy Household Survey. Incident cases were estimated by multiplying the prevalence and estimated population sizes from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Results

It was estimated that 17% of adolescents would try (13%) or use (4%), and 32% of young adults would try (15%) or use (17%) cannabis if it were legal. Among those who reported an intention to try it, 85% of adolescents and 59% of young adults had never used cannabis. These translate to 199 000 and 238 000 potential initiators, respectively. Among those with an intention to use cannabis, 21% of adolescents and 3% of young adults had never used cannabis. These translate to 14 000 adolescents and 12 000 young adults who intended to use cannabis if it were legal.

Discussion and Conclusions

A substantial minority of young Australians say that they would use cannabis for the first time if it were legalised. A proportion of young people who have used cannabis also expressed an interest in increasing their use. Both would warrant special attention if cannabis were legalised.
Insect occurrence in agricultural land‐uses depends on realized niche and geographic range properties
Authors: Waldock Conor A. , De Palma Adriana , Borges Paulo A. V. , Purvis Andy
Published: July 2020

Geographic range size predicts species’ responses to land‐use change and intensification, but the reason why is not well established because many correlates of larger geographic ranges, such as realized niche breadth, may mediate species’ responses to environmental change. Agricultural land uses (hereafter ‘agroecosystems’) have warm, dry and more variable microclimates than do cooler and wetter mature forests, so are predicted to filter for species that have warmer, drier and broader fundamental and realized niches. To test these predictions, we estimated species’ realized niches, for temperature and precipitation, and geographic range sizes of 764 insect species by matching GBIF occurrence records to global climate layers, and modelled how species presence/absence in mature forest and nearby agroecosystems depend on species’ realized niches or geographic ranges. The predicted species niche effects consistently matched the expected direction of microclimatic transition from mature forest to agroecosystems. We found a clear signal that species with preference for warmer and drier climates were more likely to be present in agroecosystems. In addition, the probability that species occurred in different land‐use types was predicted better by species’ realized niche than their geographic range size. However, niche effects are often context‐dependent and varied amongst studies, taxonomic groups and regions used in this analysis: predicting which particular aspects of species’ realized niche cause sensitivity to land‐use change, and the underpinning mechanisms, remains a major challenge for future research and multiple components of species’ realized niches may be important to consider. Using realized niches derived from open‐source occurrence records can be a simple and widely applicable tool to help identify when biodiversity responds to the microclimate component of land‐use change.