bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chemical modification of proteins by insertion of synthetic peptides using tandem protein trans-splicing
Authors: Khoo K.K. , Galleano I. , Gasparri F. , Wieneke R. , Harms H. , Poulsen M.H. , Chua H.C. , Wulf M. , Tampé R. , Pless S.A.
Published: February 2020

Manipulation of proteins by chemical modification is a powerful way to decipher their function or harness that function for therapeutic purposes. Despite recent progress in ribosome-dependent and semi-synthetic chemical modifications, these techniques sometimes have limitations in the number and type of modifications that can be simultaneously introduced or their application in live eukaryotic cells. Here we present a new approach to incorporate single or multiple post-translational modifications or non-canonical amino acids into soluble and membrane proteins expressed in eukaryotic cells. We insert synthetic peptides into proteins of interest via tandem protein trans-splicing using two orthogonal split intein pairs and validate our approach by investigating different aspects of GFP, NaV1.5 and P2X2 receptor function. Because the approach can introduce virtually any chemical modification into both intracellular and extracellular regions of target proteins, we anticipate that it will overcome some of the drawbacks of other semi-synthetic or ribosome-dependent methods to engineer proteins.
The influence of insulin therapy on measurements of optical coherence tomography parameters in diabetic patients without retinopathy
Authors: Zhou Deyuan , Wang Wei , Zhou Rouxi , He Miao , Gong Xia , Li Yuting , Huang Wenyong
Published: February 2020

Purpose

To determine whether there was a change in the fundus of the eye in diabetic patients without retinopathy after insulin therapy.

Methods

The diabetic patients without retinopathy were included in this study. A swept-source optical coherence tomography/angiography (SS-OCT/A) was used to obtain the measurements of macular retinal nerve fibre layer (mRNFL) thickness, ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) thickness, retinal thickness (RT), macular choroidal thickness (MCT), peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (pRNFL) thickness, peripapillary choroidal thickness (PCT), and perfused vascular density (PVD). Univariable and multivariable regression analyses were performed to explore the influence of insulin use on measurements of OCT/A.

Results

A total of 1140 patients used insulin (using group), and 126 patients did not use insulin (without group). The average MCT of the using group was 171.3±67.8 μm, which was thinner than that in the without group (190.2±74.7 μm) (P=0.012). The average PVD of the using group (48.0±2.1 μm) was less than that in the without group (48.7±2.1 μm) (P<0.001). After adjusting for age, gender, axial length, duration, HbA1c, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, cholesterol, serum creatinine, insulin use was significantly associated with thinner MCT (beta=-16.12μm; 95%CI:-29.42, −2.81μm; P= 0.018) and lower PVD (beta=-0.79; 95%CI: −1.22, −0.36; P<0.001).

Conclusion

The use of insulin by diabetic patients without retinopathy might decrease the MCT and PVD compared to patients who did not use insulin, which helps to better understanding the role of insulin use on higher risk for diabetic retinopathy.
OpenMonkeyStudio: Automated Markerless Pose Estimation in Freely Moving Macaques
Authors: Bala Praneet C. , Eisenreich Benjamin R. , Yoo Seng Bum Michael , Hayden Benjamin Y. , Park Hyun Soo , Zimmermann Jan
Published: February 2020

The rhesus macaque is an important model species in several branches of science, including neuroscience, psychology, ethology, and several fields of medicine. The utility of the macaque model would be greatly enhanced by the ability to precisely measure its behavior, specifically, its pose (position of multiple major body landmarks) in freely moving conditions. Existing approaches do not provide sufficient tracking. Here, we describeOpenMonkeyStudio, a novel deep learning-based markerless motion capture system for estimating 3D pose in freely moving macaques in large unconstrained environments. Our system makes use of 62 precisely calibrated and synchronized machine vision cameras that encircle an open 2.45m×2.45m×2.75m enclosure. The resulting multiview image streams allow for novel data augmentation via 3D reconstruction of hand-annotated images that in turn train a robust view-invariant deep neural network model. This view invariance represents an important advance over previous markerless 2D tracking approaches, and allows fully automatic pose inference on unconstrained natural motion. We show thatOpenMonkeyStudiocan be used to accurately recognize actions and track two monkey social interactions without human intervention. We also make the training data (195,228 images) and trained detection model publicly available.
Nuclear sensing of mitochondrial DNA breaks enhances immune surveillance
Authors: Tigano Marco , Vargas Danielle C. , Fu Yi , Tremblay-Belzile Samuel , Sfeir Agnel
Published: February 2020

Mitochondrial double-strand breaks (mtDSBs) are toxic lesions that compromise mitochondrial function. Mito-nuclear communication is essential to maintain cellular homeostasis, however, the nuclear response to mtDSBs remains unknown. Using mitochondrial-targeted TALENs, we show that mtDSBs activate a type I interferon response evidenced by phosphorylation of STAT1 and activation of interferon stimulated genes (ISG). Following mtDNA break formation, BAK-BAX mediated herniation releases mitochondrial RNA to the cytoplasm and trigger a RIG-I/MAVS-dependent immune response. In an independent set of experiments, we investigate the role of mtDSBs in interferon signaling due to genotoxic stress. Our data reveal that activation of ISGs is greatly diminished when cells lacking mtDNA are exposed to ionizing radiation. Furthermore, we show that mtDNA breaks synergize with nuclear DNA damage to mount a robust interferon response. In conclusion, cytoplasmic accumulation of mitochondrial RNA is as an intrinsic immune surveillance mechanism for cells to cope with mtDSBs, including ones inflicted by genotoxic agents.
Analysis of translating mitoribosome reveals functional characteristics of translation in mitochondria of fungi
Authors: Itoh Yuzuru , Naschberger Andreas , Mortezaei Narges , Herrmann Johannes M. , Amunts Alexey
Published: February 2020

Mitoribosomes are specialized protein synthesis machineries in mitochondria. However, how mRNA binds to its dedicated channel, and tRNA moves as the mitoribosomal subunit rotate with respect to each other is not understood. We report models of the translating fungal mitoribosome with mRNA, tRNA and nascent polypeptide, as well as an assembly intermediate. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is found in the central protuberance of the large subunit, and the ATPase inhibitory factor 1 (IF1) in the small subunit. The models of the active mitoribosome explain how mRNA binds through a dedicated protein platform on the small subunit, tRNA is translocated with the help of the protein mL108, bridging it with L1 stalk on the large subunit, and nascent polypeptide paths through a newly shaped exit tunnel involving a series of structural rearrangements. An assembly intermediate is modeled with the maturation factor Atp25, providing insight in to the biogenesis of the mitoribosomal large subunit and translation regulation.
Highly Distinguished Amino Acid Sequences of 2019-nCoV (Wuhan Coronavirus)
Authors: Beal Jacob , Mitchell Thomas , Wyschogrod Daniel , Manthey Jeff , Clore Adam
Published: February 2020

Using a method for pathogen screening in DNA synthesis orders, we have identified a number of amino acid sequences that distinguish 2019-nCoV (Wuhan Coronavirus) from all other known viruses inCoronaviridae. We find three main regions of unique sequence: two in the 1ab polyprotein QHO60603.1, one in surface glycoprotein QHO60594.1.
Transcranialin vivodetection of amyloid-beta at single plaque resolution with large-field multifocal illumination fluorescence microscopy
Authors: Ni Ruiqing , Chen Zhenyue , Shi Gloria , Villois Alessia , Zhou Quanyu , Arosio Paolo , Nitsch Roger M. , Nilsson K. Peter R. , Klohs Jan , Razansky Daniel
Published: February 2020

The abnormal deposition of beta-amyloid proteins in the brain is one of the major histopathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. Currently available intravital microscopy techniques for high-resolution plaque visualization commonly involve highly invasive procedures and are limited to a small field-of-view within the rodent brain. Here, we report the transcranial detection of amyloid-beta deposits at the whole brain scale with 20 μm resolution in APP/PS1 and arcAβ mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease amyloidosis using a large-field multifocal (LMI) fluorescence microscopy technique. Highly sensitive and specific detection of amyloid-beta deposits at a single plaque level in APP/PS1 and arcAβ mice was facilitated using luminescent conjugated oligothiophene HS-169. Immunohistochemical staining with HS-169, anti-Aβ antibody 6E10, and conformation antibodies OC (fibrillar) of brain tissue sections further showed that HS-169 resolved compact parenchymal and vessel-associated amyloid deposits. The novel imaging platform offers new prospects forin vivostudies into Alzheimer’s disease mechanisms in animal models as well as longitudinal monitoring of therapeutic responses at a single plaque level.
Challenging a preconception: Optoacoustic spectrum differs from the absorption spectrum of proteins and dyes for molecular imaging
Authors: Werner Juan Pablo Fuenzalida , Huang Yuanhui , Mishra Kanuj , Janowski Robert , Vetschera Paul , Chmyrov Andriy , Niessing Dierk , Ntziachristos Vasilis , Stiel Andre C.
Published: February 2020

Optoacoustic (photoacoustic) imaging has seen marked technological advances in detection and data analysis, but there is less progress in understanding the photophysics of optoacoustic signal generation of commonly used contrast agents, such as dyes and chromoproteins. This gap blocks the precise development of novel agents and the accurate analysis and interpretation of Multispectral Optoacoustic Tomography (MSOT) images. To close it, we developed a multimodal laser spectrometer (MLS) to enable the simultaneous measurement of optoacoustic, absorbance, and fluorescence spectra. MLS provides reproducible, high-quality optoacoustic (non-radiative) spectra by using correction and referencing workflow. Herein, we employ MLS to analyze several common dyes (Methylene Blue, Rhodamine 800, Alexa Fluor 750, IRDye 800CW and Indocyanine green) and proteins (sfGFP, mCherry, mKate, HcRed, iRFP720 and smURFP) and shed light on their internal conversion properties. Our data shows that the optical absorption spectra do not correlate with the optoacoustic spectra for the majority of the analytes. We determine that for dyes, the transition underlying the high energy shoulder, which mostly correlates with an aggregation state of the dyes, has significantly more optoacoustic signal generation efficiency than the monomer transition. Our analyses for proteins point to a favored vibrational relaxation and optoacoustic signal generation that stems from the neutral or zwitterionic chromophores. We were able to crystalize HcRed in its optoacoustic state, confirming the change isomerization respect to its fluorescence state. Such data is highly relevant for the engineering of tailored contrast agents for optoacoustic imaging. Furthermore, discrepancies between absorption and optoacoustic spectra underline the importance of correct spectral information as a prerequisite for the spectral-unmixing schemes that are often required forin vivoimaging. Finally, optoacoustic spectra of some of the most commonly used proteins and dyes in optical imaging, recorded on our MLS, reveal previously unknown photophysical characteristics, such as unobserved photo-switching behavior.
The Superior Frontal Longitudinal Tract: Connection between the Dorsal Premotor and the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortices
Authors: Bakhit Mudathir , Fujii Masazumi , Hiruta Ryo , Yamada Masayuki , Iwami Kenichiro , Sato Taku , Saito Kiyoshi
Published: February 2020

The structural connection between the dorsal premotor (PMd) and the lateral prefrontal cortices (DLPFC) has been revealed, in a few studies, as the frontal longitudinal system (FLS). This study conducted a tractography analysis and a limited, postmortem, white-fiber dissection to investigate the superior FLS tract (SFLT) and analyze both its symmetry and termination point patterns. An analysis of spatial location, termination points, laterality, and correlation with the subjects’ gender or handedness was performed. SFLT was constructed in 100% of right and 88% of left hemispheres. The tracts exhibited variable patterns in different subjects in their posterior terminations. Additionally, the SFLT was found to possess a complex spatial relationship with the adjacent bundles. The SFLT was revealed successfully in two right hemispheres, where the posterior terminations were found to originate in the PMd, and its posterior terminations being totally separate from the superior longitudinal fasciculus.
Loss of a conserved MAPK causes catastrophic failure in assembly of a specialized cilium-like structure inToxoplasma gondii
Authors: O’Shaughnessy William J. , Hu Xiaoyu , Beraki Tsebaot , McDougal Matthew , Reese Michael L.
Published: February 2020

Primary cilia are important organizing centers that control diverse cellular processes. Apicomplexan parasites likeToxoplasma gondiihave a specialized cilium-like structure called the conoid that organizes the secretory and invasion machinery critical for the parasites’ lifestyle. The proteins that initiate the biogenesis of this structure are largely unknown. We identified theToxoplasmaortholog of the conserved kinase ERK7 as essential to conoid assembly. Parasites in which ERK7 has been depleted lose their conoids late during maturation and are immotile and thus unable to invade new host cells. This is the most severe phenotype to conoid biogenesis yet reported, and is made more striking by the fact that ERK7 is not a conoid protein, as it localizes just basal to the structure. ERK7 has been recently implicated in ciliogenesis in metazoan cells, and our data suggest that this kinase has an ancient and central role in regulating ciliogenesis throughout Eukaryota.
Better safe than sorry—preventing mitotic segregation of meiotic chromosomes
Authors: Meyer Régis E. , Dawson Dean S.
Published: February 2020

The distinctive segregation patterns of chromosomes in mitosis and meiosis are dictated in part by the kinetochores, the structures on chromosomes that attach them to the microtubules of the spindle. Inappropriate mitosis-like chromosome segregation in meiosis leads to gametes with incorrect chromosome numbers. New findings by Chen and colleagues (pp. 209–225) in this issue of Genes & Development reveal how cells restructure their kinetochores when they enter meiosis. Their results describe an interconnected set of mechanisms that provides multiple layers of protection from the carryover of mitotic chromosome segregation patterns into meiotic cells.
Mortality in a neonate with molybdenum cofactor deficiency illustrates the need for a comprehensive rapid precision medicine system
Authors: Kingsmore Stephen F. , Ramchandar Nanda , James Kiely , Niemi Anna-Kaisa , Feigenbaum Annette , Ding Yan , Benson Wendy , Hobbs Charlotte , Nahas Shareef , Chowdhury Shimul , Dimmock David
Published: February 2020

Neonatal encephalopathy with seizures is a presentation in which rapid whole-genome sequencing (rWGS) has shown clinical utility and improved outcomes. We report a neonate who presented on the third day of life with seizures refractory to antiepileptic medications and neurologic and computerized tomographic findings consistent with severe generalized brain swelling. rWGS revealed compound heterozygous variants in the molybdenum cofactor synthesis gene, type 1A (MOCS1 c.*7 + 5G > A and c.377G > A); a provisional diagnosis of molybdenum cofactor deficiency on day of life 4. An emergency investigational new drug application for intravenous replacement of the MOCS1 product, cyclic pyranopterin monophosphate, was considered, but felt unsuitable in light of the severity of disease and delay in the start of treatment. The patient died on day of life 9 despite having a precise molecular diagnosis within the first week of life. This case illustrates that an rWGS-based molecular diagnosis within the first week of life may be insufficient to improve outcomes. However, it did inform clinical decision-making with regard to resuscitation and predicted long-term outcome. We suggest that to achieve optimal reductions in morbidity and mortality, rWGS must be implemented within a comprehensive rapid precision medicine system (CRPM). Akin to newborn screening (NBS), CRPM will have onboarding, diagnosis, and precision medicine implementation components developed in response to patient and parental needs. Education of health-care providers in a learning model in which ongoing data analyses informs system improvement will be essential for optimal effectiveness of CRPM.
Beyond prohibition: responses to illicit drugs in West Africa in an evolving policy context
Authors: Nelson Ediomo-Ubong , Obot Isidore
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss priorities for effective responses to illicit drugs in West Africa in a changing international policy environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyzes published research, technical papers and reports on drug use and policy responses in West Africa and opines on priorities for drug policy in the region within the post-United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) 2016 policy environment.

Findings

Drug use and related harms continue to increase in West African countries despite efforts to reduce drug trafficking and use through legal prohibition. The UNGASS 2016 outcome document enables flexibility in policy interpretation and implementation, which provides an opportunity for governments to prioritize national needs in drug policy. West African countries should prioritize and support research and data collection, prevention, treatment and harm reduction and sustainable livelihoods.

Originality/value

The paper emphasizes the need for West African countries to seize the opportunity created by the ineffectiveness and weakening of the prohibition regime as well as new treaty flexibility following UNGASS 2016 to reform drug policies to prioritize regional and national needs.
Determining key drivers of efficient electricity management practices in public universities in Southwestern Nigeria
Authors: Nunayon Sunday Segbenu , Olanipekun Emmanuel Abiodun , Famakin Ibukun Oluwadara
Published: February 2020

Purpose

University campuses are one of the major consumers of electricity. Therefore, it is important to investigate factors related to electricity saving. This study aims to examine the key drivers in achieving efficient electricity management (EEM) practices in public universities.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the objective, 23 drivers of EEM practices were identified through a comprehensive literature review and an empirical questionnaire survey was performed with 1,386 electricity end-users of three public universities having staff and students’ halls of residences in Nigeria. The collected data were analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS version 21) to identify the number of components that could represent the 23 identified drivers.

Findings

The relative importance index ranking results indicated that 18 drivers were critical. The top five most critical drivers were understanding of the issues, understanding the vision and goal of an energy management programme, knowledge and skill, risk identification and good and effective communication among relevant stakeholders. An exploratory factor analysis revealed that the underlying grouped drivers were raising awareness, top management support and robust energy management team, risk management and stakeholders’ participation. This study also indicates that the most dominant of the four underlying groups was raising awareness, which highlights the role of increasing awareness and public consciousness as a significant catalyst in promoting EEM practices in public universities.

Research limitations/implications

Geographically, this study is limited to the opinion of respondents in public university campuses in Nigeria. Although this study could form the basis for future studies, its limitation must be considered carefully when interpreting and generalizing the results.

Practical implications

This paper has highlighted a few drivers of EEM practices in public universities. The results of this study present scientific evidence that can be used as a basis for formulating public policies that could be incorporated into the energy management regulations of university buildings. It is most important for policymakers to pay adequate attention to the most critical drivers especially those that are related to the “raising awareness” factor to promote sustainable campuses.

Originality/value

This study provides practical knowledge for university management to develop effective methods to implement the identified drivers of efficient and sustainable electricity management on the campus. This study also contributes to the body of knowledge in the field of energy management.
Corruption and FDI inflow to Nigeria: a nonlinear ARDL approach
Authors: Zangina Suleiman , Hassan Sallahuddin
Published: February 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to empirically explore the asymmetric relationship between corruption control and foreign direct investment (FDI) in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

The study utilized the non-linear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) bounds test technique for the time-series analysis covering the period 1984-2017.

Findings

The findings reveal that corruption inhibits FDI inflow and corruption control has asymmetric effects on FDI inflow to Nigeria. The coefficient of positive shock or changes in respect of corruption control is positive as well as statistically significant during the long run, while the coefficient of negative shock is negative, but statistically insignificant. This implies that improvement in corruption control encourages inflow of FDI to the country, whereas a decrease in corruption control has an insignificant effect.

Practical implications

Nigeria needs to intensify its corruption control efforts to effectively enhance the conduciveness as well as attractiveness of its business operating environment for FDI inflow.

Originality/value

This paper is among the first to use time-series analytical process to empirically verify the asymmetric association of corruption control and FDI inflow in Nigeria. In this regard, the insight generated by outcomes of the study will enable specific inferences to be drawn from the empirical findings by policy makers, academic researchers and business practitioners.
Budget allocation design in the EU pre-commercial procurement for innovation
Authors: Dimitri Nicola
Published: February 2020

Purpose

Pre-commercial procurement (PCP), introduced by the European Commission in 2007, is the most important purchasing procedure available to the European Union public sector to solicit innovative solutions from the business sector. As such solutions are not yet in the market, they first require research and development (R&D) activities. PCP is concerned with procuring R&D services only, and typically consists of three phases. This paper aims to discuss how the budget available to the contracting authority (CA) may be optimally allocated along such three phases.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is mostly theoretical and the CA is assumed to maximise the overall probability of success in the PCP, that is the probability of receiving at least one successful proposal at the end of the procedure.

Findings

The main finding of the paper suggests that, for a CA, the optimal budget allocation across the three phases of the PCP depends on how likely it is to receive successful proposals in various stages of the procedure, as well as on the rewards paid to the invited companies.

Practical implications

In this paper, the author proposes a methodology for the optimal budget allocation of a CA and discusses how the approach could be practically implemented, pointing out its potential difficulties.

Social implications

The main social implication of the findings is represented by the best use of the available budget, hence taxpayers’ money.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, no existing paper has discussed the optimal budget allocation in a PCP as in this work.
Intermetallics evolution and its reliability effects on micro-joints in flip chip assemblies
Authors: Tian Ye , Fang Heng , Ren Ning , Qiu Chao , Chen Fan , Sitaraman Suresh
Published: February 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to assess precise correlations between intermetallic compounds (IMCs) microstructure evolutions and the reliability of micro-joints with a Cu/SAC305solder/Ni structure using thermal shock (TS) tests.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses 200-µm pitch silicon flip chips with nickel (Ni) pads and stand-off height of approximately 60 µm, assembled on substrates with copper (Cu) pads. After assembly, the samples were subjected to air-to-air thermal shock testing from 55 to 125 per cent. The transfer time was less than 5 s, and the dwell time at each temperature extreme was 15 min. To investigate the microstructure evolution and crack growth, two samples were removed from the thermal shock chamber at 0, 400, 1,200, 2,000, 5,800 and 7,000 cycles.

Findings

The results showed that one (Cu, Ni)6Sn5/(Ni, Cu)3Sn4 dual-layer structure formed at the Ni pad interface of chip side dominates the micro-joints failure. This is because substantial (Ni, Cu)3Sn4 grain boundaries provide a preferential pathway for the catastrophic crack growth. Other IMCs microstructure evolutions that cause the prevalent joints failure as previously reported, i.e. thickened interfacial (Cu, Ni)6Sn5 and Ni3P layer, and coarsened IMCs inside the solder matrix, only contributed to the occurrence of fine cracks. Moreover, the typical interfacial IMCs spalling triggered by thermally induced stress did not take place in this study, showing a positive impact in the micro-joint reliability.

Originality/value

As sustained trends toward multi-functionality and miniaturization of microelectronic devices, the joints size is required to be constantly scaled down in advanced packages. This arises a fact that the reliability of small-size joints is more sensitive to the IMCs because of their high volume proportion and greatly complicated microstructure evolutions. This paper evaluated precise correlations between IMCs microstructure evolutions and the reliability of micro-joints with a Cu/SAC305solder/Ni structure using TS tests. It found that one (Cu, Ni)6Sn5/(Ni, Cu)3Sn4 dual-layer structure formed at the Ni pad interface dominate the micro-joints failure, whereas other IMCs microstructure evolutions that cause the prevalent joints failure exhibited nearly negligible effects.
Does new performance appraisal system (EVA) affect earnings management?
Authors: He Weifeng , Chen Liping , Liu Wei
Published: February 2020

Purpose

Currently, most research studies focus on ownership reforms and governance reforms, while only a few research studies focus on management system innovations. Based on an evolution of state-owned enterprises’ (SOEs) performance appraisal systems, this paper investigates the influence of performance appraisal system on earnings management.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a natural experiment that central government-owned enterprises (CGOEs) carried out economic value-added performance appraisal (EVA-PA) in 2010, the authors adapt difference-in-difference method to analyze the relationship between EVA-PA and earnings management choice. Furthermore, the authors consider the situation which contained financial status, separation between decision-making rights and decision-control rights, separation between ownership and control and industrial characteristics.

Findings

The research finds that after carrying out EVA-PA, CGOEs prefer accrual-based earnings management to real earnings management, and there is substitution effect between the two types of earnings management. Moreover, further research studies reveal that enterprises suffering losses in the previous year and featuring higher separation between decision-making rights and decision-control rights and higher separation between ownership and control have stronger earnings management motive under EVA-PA. In contrast, enterprises achieving satisfactory financial performance in the previous year and engaging in businesses within protective industry have weaker earnings management motive under EVA-PA. After the implementation of EVA-PA, accrual-based earnings management and real earnings management both impair operating performances of CGOEs.

Originality/value

Theoretically, this paper enriches research studies on earnings management from the perspective of incentive mechanism and expands research studies on economic consequences of EVA-PA. In addition, it validates the relationship between the two types of earnings management. As an important mechanism of corporate management and control, performance appraisal system is an important part for establishing ownership management system and improving internal management system of SOEs.
Exploring the effects of technology and innovation on changing market requirements and the evolving maritime curriculum
Authors: Smith Johnson Evette M.
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine, through the lenses of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the imperative of curricular re-structuring in maritime education and training (MET) and the use of market needs analysis to prevent misalignment between training and ultimate job market need.

Design/methodology/approach

Peer-reviewed material was analyzed, and this examination was undertaken by looking at the literature on curriculum design, curriculum planning and curriculum evaluation. Attention was then given as to how these elements of curriculum should be applied to the discipline of MET and its didactics. This was twinned with an examination of the industry needs met by the delivery of the MET content.

Findings

The study found that the MET sector must respond to change to remain relevant and viable. This imperative of evolution in response to change is equally a truism for the business of shipping (to include the merchant marine industry, cruise tourism and hospitality) as it is for the business of higher education (HE), specifically MET.

Practical implications

The review saw where in 2017 the President of Rolls Royce Marine declared that “Autonomous shipping is the future of the maritime industry”. With this innovation, market needs for skills will shift from the able-bodied seafarer to a robust knowledge base in cyber-physical systems (CPSs). Just as the internet transformed how humans interact with one another, CPSs will transform how we interact with the physical world around us. This reality will necessitate change in instruction, curriculum planning and outcome in MET.

Social implications

Many educational institutions which are stuck in traditional didactics are on the cusp of closure because technology-enhanced learning has overtaken and outstripped the old ways. Indeed, technology and innovation are sounding the death knell for traditional didactics in MET.

Originality/value

The paper examines the discipline of MET as unique and robust area of specialized HE. MET focuses on the equipping of the human element in shipping. It is the engine behind a multi-billion-dollar industry that is driven by the global trade that is facilitated by ships and ports. This trade extends to the maritime tourism and hospitality business. This paper is of value to maritime educators and trainers in the cruise and hospitality industry. Herein is the significance of this review.
Drivers of plant traits that allow survival in wetlands
Authors: Pan Yingji , Cieraad Ellen , Clarkson Beverley R. , Colmer Timothy D. , Pedersen Ole , Visser Eric J. W. , Voesenek Laurentius A. C. J. , van Bodegom Peter M.
Published: February 2020

Plants have developed a suite of traits to survive the anaerobic and anoxic soil conditions in wetlands. Previous studies on wetland plant adaptive traits have focused mainly on physiological aspects under experimental conditions, or compared the trait expression of the local species pool. Thus, a comprehensive analysis of potential factors driving wetland plant adaptive traits under natural environmental conditions is still missing.

In this study, we analysed three important wetland adaptive traits, that is root porosity, root/shoot ratio and underwater photosynthetic rate, to explore driving factors using a newly compiled dataset of wetland plants. Based on 21 studies at 38 sites across different biomes, we found that root porosity was affected by an interaction of temperature and hydrological regime; root:shoot ratio was affected by temperature, precipitation and habitat type; and underwater photosynthetic rate was affected by precipitation and life‐form. This suggests that a variety of driving mechanisms affect the expression of different adaptive traits.

The quantitative relationships we observed between the adaptive traits and their driving factors will be a useful reference for future global methane and denitrification modelling studies. Our results also stress that besides the traditionally emphasized hydrological driving factors, other factors at several spatial scales should also be taken into consideration in the context of future functional wetland ecology.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Research priority setting in women’s health: a systematic review
Authors: Graham L , Illingworth BJG , Showell M , Vercoe M , Crosbie EJ , Gingel LJ , Farquhar CM , Horne AW , Prior M , Stephenson JM , Magee LA , Duffy JMN
Published: February 2020

Background

Developing a shared agenda is an important step in ensuring future research has the necessary relevance.

Objective

To characterise research priority setting partnerships (PSPs) relevant to women’s health.

Search strategy

Included studies were identified by searching MEDLINE and the James Lind Alliance (JLA) database.

Selection criteria

Priority setting partnerships using formal consensus methods.

Data collection and analysis

Descriptive narrative to describe the study characteristics, methods, and results.

Main results

Ten national and two international PSPs were identified. All PSPs used the JLA method to identify research priorities. Nine PSPs had published a protocol. Potential research uncertainties were gathered from guidelines (two studies), Cochrane reviews (five studies), and surveys (12 studies). The number of healthcare professionals (31–287), patients (44–932), and others (33–139) who responded to the survey, and the number of uncertainties submitted (52–4767) varied. All PSPs entered confirmed research uncertainties (39–104) into interim priority setting surveys and healthcare professionals (31–287), patients (44–932), and others (33–139) responded. All PSPs entered a short list of research uncertainties into a consensus development meeting, which enabled healthcare professionals (six to 21), patients (eight to 14), and others (two to 13) to identify research priorities (ten to 15). Four PSPs have published their results.

Conclusion

Future research priority setting studies should publish a protocol, use formal consensus development methods, and ensure their methods and results are comprehensively reported.

Tweetable abstract

Research published in @BJOGtweets highlights future research priorities across women’s health, including @FertilityTop10, @jamesmnduffy.
Stacking up RADSeq assembly programs: From complete hit to completely abysmal
Authors: Marrano Annarita , Palmer Alice E. , Moyers Brook T.
Published: February 2020

Decreasing sequencing costs have driven a rapid expansion of novel genotyping methods. One of these methods is the exploitation of restriction enzyme cut sites to generate genome‐wide but reduced representation sequencing libraries (RRLs), alternatively termed genotyping by sequencing or restriction‐site associated DNA sequencing. Without a reference genome, the resulting short sequence reads must be assembled de novo. There are many possible assembly programs, most not explicitly developed for RRL data, and we know little of their effectiveness. In this issue of Molecular Ecology Resources, LaCava et al. (2020) systematically evaluate six commonly used programs and two commonly varied parameters for complete and accurate assembly of RRLs, using simulated double digests of Homo sapiens and Arabidopsis thaliana genomes with varied mutation rates and types. The authors find substantial variation in performance across assembly programs. The most consistently high‐performing assembler is infrequently used in their literature survey (CD‐HIT; Li and Godzik, 2006), while several others fail to produce complete, accurate assemblies under many conditions. LaCava et al. additionally recommend best practices in parameter choice and evaluation of future assembly programs—advice that molecular ecologists working to assemble sequences of all kinds should take to heart.
Outcome of children relapsing after first allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for acute myeloid leukaemia: a retrospective I‐BFM analysis of 333 children
Authors: Uden Theodor , Bertaina Alice , Abrahamsson Jonas , Ansari Marc , Balduzzi Adriana , Bourquin Jean‐Pierre , Gerhardt Corinne , Bierings Marc , Hasle Henrik , Lankester Arjan , Mischke Kirsten , Moore Andrew S. , Nivison‐Smith Ian , Pieczonka Anna , Peters Christina , Sedlacek Petr , Reinhardt Dirk , Stein Jerry , Versluys Birgitta , Wachowiak Jacek , Willems Leen , Zimmermann Martin , Locatelli Franco , Sauer Martin G.
Published: February 2020

Outcome of 333 children with acute myeloid leukaemia relapsing after a first allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation was analyzed. Four‐year probability of overall survival (4y‐pOS) was 14%. 4y‐pOS for 122 children receiving a second haematopoietic stem cell transplantation was 31% and 3% for those that did not (P = <0·0001). Achievement of a subsequent remission impacted survival (P = <0·0001). For patients receiving a second transplant survival with or without achieving a subsequent remission was comparable. Graft source (bone marrow vs. peripheral blood stem cells, P = 0·046) and donor choice (matched family vs. matched unrelated donor, P = 0·029) positively impacted survival after relapse. Disease recurrence and non‐relapse mortality at four years reached 45% and 22%.
Time‐varying risk of rare disasters, investment, and asset pricing
Authors: Liu Bo , Niu Yingjie , Yang Jinqiang , Zou Zhentao
Published: February 2020

We extend an equilibrium business cycle/asset pricing model of production and capital accumulation by introducing a time‐varying risk of rare disasters. It predicts that investment is much more volatile than output, which provides theoretical support for the empirical data. Furthermore, the model‐generated stationary distribution of the investment‐output ratio fits the data remarkably well. Both of them exhibit negative skewness, which means that there is a small probability that this ratio can be very low. Given the observations of the investment‐output ratio, we obtain the values of the jump intensity implicit in the historical data and find those recession periods coincide with a rapid increase in the probability of a disaster. Finally, the model shows that the existence of adjustment costs generates a procyclical price of capital and contributes to resolving the equity premium puzzle.
Time‐varying relationships between ocean conditions and sockeye salmon productivity
Authors: Malick Michael J.
Published: February 2020

Environmental change is occurring at unprecedented rates in many marine ecosystems. Yet, environmental effects on fish populations are commonly assumed to be constant across time. In this study, I tested whether relationships between ocean conditions and productivity of North American sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) stocks have changed over the past six decades. Specifically, I evaluated the evidence for non‐stationary relationships between three widely used ocean indices and productivity of 45 sockeye salmon stocks using hierarchical Bayesian models. The ocean indices investigated were the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), North Pacific Gyre Oscillation (NPGO), and sea surface temperature (SST). I found partial support for time‐varying salmon–ocean relationships. Non‐stationary relationships were strongest for the NPGO and weaker for the SST and PDO indices. Productivity–NPGO correlations tended to shift gradually over time with opposite trends for stocks in British Columbia (B.C.) and western Alaska; for B.C. stocks, the NPGO correlations shifted from significantly negative prior to 1980 to significantly positive after 1990, whereas for western Alaska stocks, the correlations shifted from positive to negative. Productivity–SST correlations showed declining trends for B.C. and Gulf of Alaska stocks, that is, correlations became more negative (B.C.) or less positive (Gulf of Alaska) over time. For the PDO, correlations weakened during the 1980s for western Alaska and B.C. stocks. Overall, these results provide evidence for time‐varying relationships between salmon productivity and environmental conditions over six decades, highlighting the need to recognize that historical responses of salmon populations to environmental change may not be indicative of future responses.
Global prevalence of aggressive periodontitis: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Bouziane Amal , Hamdoun Radia , Abouqal Redouane , Ennibi Oumkeltoum
Published: February 2020

Aim

The prevalence of aggressive periodontitis (AgP) varies considerably between studies. The aim of this meta‐analysis was to estimate, throughout the world, the prevalence of this disease.

Materials and Methods

Pubmed/Medline, Scopus, Science Direct, EBSCO and Cochrane library were systematically searched up to March 2018. Study selection criteria included cross‐sectional studies reporting prevalence of AgP in non‐specific population and permanent dentition. We assessed risk of bias using the Joanna Briggs Institute tool. A random effect meta‐analysis model was used to estimate the prevalence of AgP. Publication bias was assessed by Begg and Egger's tests and visual aspect of funnel plot.

Results

A total of 33 articles were included. Pooled prevalence for AgP was 1.6% (95% CI 1.1–2.3). Higher pooled prevalence rates were reported in Africa (4.2%, 95% CI 2.0–7.1) and South America (4.0%, 95% CI 0.9–9.1) compared with Europe (0.1%, 95% CI 0.1–0.2). A pooled prevalence of 1.2%, 95% CI 0.5–2.2 was found in Asia and 0.8%, 95% CI 0.4–1.4 in North America. Heterogeneity between groups was statistically significant (Q statistic p < .001).

Conclusions

A relatively high prevalence of AgP was found in Africa. However, the data support the weakness of the definition of this form of periodontal disease. Studies with less heterogeneity are needed to address accurately the prevalence of AgP.
Separate Opinion Writing Under Mandatory Appellate Jurisdiction: Three‐Judge District Court Panels and the Voting Rights Act
Authors: Mak Maxwell , Sidman Andrew H.
Published: February 2020

Most of the empirical work on separate opinion writing by lower federal court judges examines the U.S. Courts of Appeals. Given the Supreme Court's discretionary jurisdiction, it is argued that dissenting opinions operate as a cue signaling that a case is worthy of review. Concurrences, on the other hand, allow judges to join dispositional majorities while still expressing differences in legal reasoning from the majority. Likely in an effort to minimize dissent, the behavior of circuit court judges is found to be less influenced by ideology when potential dissenters serve with them. Despite the specter of Supreme Court review, these works generally find that the motivation to write separately is based largely in ideologically differences among panelists and less so on preferences of the Supreme Court. What, however, does separate opinion writing look like when the Court's jurisdiction is mandatory, as it is over three‐judge district court panels? Among other uses required by law, these district court panels are used to adjudicate cases arising under the Voting Rights Act of 1965. These panels also differ from the traditional judicial structure by placing district court judges, who traditionally decide cases individually, in a multimember setting with another district court judge and a circuit court judge. Examining separate opinion writing on these panels, we find that ideological distance from the majority opinion writer is still an important factor. This, however, is conditioned by the preferences of the Supreme Court, which exert a much stronger influence over behavior than they do in the traditional appellate court setting.
Extracellular vesicles and melatonin benefit embryonic develop by regulating reactive oxygen species and 5‐methylcytosine
Authors: Qu Pengxiang , Luo Shiwei , Du Yue , Zhang Yanru , Song Xiaojie , Yuan Xuetao , Lin Zujie , Li Yuchen , Liu Enqi
Published: February 2020

Embryo culture conditions are crucial as they can affect embryo quality and even offspring. Oviductal extracellular vesicles (EVs) long been considered a major factor influencing interactions between the oviduct and embryos, and thus its absence is associated with inferior embryonic development in in vitro culture. Herein, we demonstrated that melatonin is present in oviduct fluids and oviduct fluid‐derived EVs. Addition of either EVs (1.87 × 1011 particles/mL) or melatonin (340 ng/mL) led to a significant downregulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and 5‐methylcytosine (5‐mC), as well as an increase in the blastocyst rate of embryos, which was inhibited by the addition of luzindole—a melatonin receptor agonist. A combination of EVs (1.87 × 1010 particles/mL) and melatonin (at 34.3 pg/mL) led to the same results as well as a significant decrease in the apoptosis index and increase in the inner cell mass (ICM)/trophectoderm (TE) index. These results suggest that an EV‐melatonin treatment benefits embryonic development. Our findings provide insights into the role of EVs and melatonin during cell communication and provide new evidence of the communication between embryos and maternal oviduct.