bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A network Based method to predict cancer causal genes in GR Network
Authors: Akhavansafar Mostafa , Teimourpour Babak
Published: March 2020

One of the important issues in oncology is finding the genes that perturbation the cell functionality, and result in cancer propagation. The genes, namely driver genes, when they mutate in expression, result in cancer through activation of the mutated proteins. So, many methods have been introduced to predict this group of genes. These are mostly computational methods based on the number of mutations of each gene. Recently, some network-based methods have been proposed to predict Cancer Driver Genes (CDGs). In this study, we use a network-based approach and relative importance of each gene in the propagation and absorption of genes anomalies in the network to recognize CDGs. The experimental results are compared with 19 previous methods that show our proposed algorithm is better than the others in terms of accuracy, precision, and the number of recognized CDGs.
The dorsal striatum sets the sensitivity to effort
Authors: Jurado-Parras Maria-Teresa , Safaie Mostafa , Sarno Stefania , Louis Jordane , Karoutchi Corane , Berret Bastien , Robbe David
Published: March 2020

The dorsal striatum (dS) has been implicated in storing and retrieving procedural memories and controlling movement kinematics (e.g., speed). Since procedural memories are expressed through movements, the exact nature of the dS function has proven difficult to delineate. Here we challenged rats in complementary tasks designed to alleviate this performance confound. Surprisingly, dS lesions spared task-specific procedural memories but altered the kinematics of their expression in motor routines. Further behavioral analyses combined with simulations in the optimal control framework indicated that these alterations reflected an increased sensitivity to effort with preserved reward-seeking and ability to modulate movement speed. By setting the sensitivity to effort, the dS contributes to the optimization of the energy invested into voluntary movements. Such an elementary function of the dS might explain its implication in both procedural decisions and the control of movement speed.
Microampere electric currents caused bacterial membrane damage and two-way leakage in short time
Authors: Krishnamurthi V R , Rogers A , Peifer J , Niyonshuti I , Chen J , Wang Y
Published: March 2020

Physical agents such as low electric voltages and currents have recently gained attention for antimicrobial treatment due to their bactericidal capability. Although microampere electric currents were shown to suppress the growth of bacteria, it remains unclear to what extent the microampere currents damage bacterial membrane. Here, we investigated the membrane damage and two-way leakage caused by microampere electric currents (≤ 100 μA) in a short time (30 min). Based on MitoTracker staining, propidium iodide staining, filtration assays, and quantitative single-molecule localization microscopy, we found that microampere electric currents caused significant membrane damages and allowed two-way leakages of ions, small molecules and proteins. This study paves the way to new development and antibiotic applications of ultra-low electric voltages and currents.

Statement of Significance

Previous studies showed that treating bacteria with milliampere electric currents for 72 hours led to significant damages of the bacterial membrane. However, it remains unclear to what extent membrane damages and two-way (i.e. inward and outward) leakages are caused by lower electric currents in a shorter time. In this work, we set out to answer this question. We carried out several assays on the bacteria treated by microampere electric currents of ≤ 100 μA for 30 min, including MitoTracker staining, propidium iodide staining, filtration assays, and quantitative single-molecule localization microscopy. We found and quantified that the membrane damages were caused by microampere electric currents in half an hour and allowed two-way leakages of ions, small molecules, and proteins.
Evolutionary and functional genomics of DNA methylation in maize domestication and improvement
Authors: Xu Gen , Lyu Jing , Li Qing , Liu Han , Wang Dafang , Zhang Mei , Springer Nathan M. , Ross-Ibarra Jeffrey , Yang Jinliang
Published: March 2020

DNA methylation is a ubiquitous chromatin feature — in maize, more than 25% of cytosines in the genome are methylated. Recently, major progress has been made in describing the molecular mechanisms driving methylation, yet variation and evolution of the methylation landscape during maize domestication remain largely unknown. Here we leveraged whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) on populations of modern maize, landrace, and teosinte (Zea maysssp.parviglumis) to investigate the adaptive and phenotypic consequences of methylation variations in maize. By using a novel estimation approach, we inferred the methylome site frequency spectrum (mSFS) to estimate forward and backward epimutation rates and selection coefficients. We found weak evidence for direct selection on DNA methylation in any context, but thousands of differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were identified in population-wide that are correlated with recent selection. Further investigation revealed that DMRs are enriched in 5’ untranslated regions, and that maize hypomethylated DMRs likely helped rewire distal gene regulation. For two trait-associated DMRs,vgt1-DMR andtb1-DMR, our HiChIP data indicated that the interactive loops between DMRs and respective downstream genes were present in B73, a modern maize line, but absent in teosinte. Functional analyses suggested that these DMRs likely served ascis-acting elements that modulated gene regulation after domestication. Our results enable a better understanding of the evolutionary forces acting on patterns of DNA methylation and suggest a role of methylation variation in adaptive evolution.
Identification of a molecular fingerprint for synaptic glia
Authors: Castro Ryan , Taetzsch Thomas , Vaughan Sydney K. , Godbe Kerilyn , Chappell John , Settlage Robert , Valdez Gregorio
Published: March 2020

The inability to specifically identify and manipulate synaptic glial cells remains a major obstacle to understanding fundamental aspects of synapse formation, stability and repair. Using a combinatorial gene expression approach, we discovered molecular markers that allow us to specifically label perisynaptic Schwann cells (PSCs), glial cells at neuromuscular synapses. Using these markers, we demonstrate that PSCs fully-differentiate postnatally and have a unique molecular signature that includes genes predicted and known to play critical roles at synapses. These findings will serve as a springboard for unprecedented approaches for studying molecular determinants of PSC differentiation and function at neuromuscular synapses and possibly synapse-associated glia throughout the CNS.
Fermented food metagenomics reveals substrate-associated differences in taxonomy, health-associated- and antibiotic resistance-determinants
Authors: Leech John , Cabrera-Rubio Raul , Walsh Aaron M , Macori Guerrino , Walsh Calum J , Barton Wiley , Finnegan Laura , Crispie Fiona , O’Sullivan Orla , Claesson Marcus J , Cotter Paul D
Published: March 2020

Fermented foods have been the focus of ever greater interest as a consequence of purported health benefits. Indeed, it has been suggested that the consumption of these foods that help to address the negative consequences of ‘industrialization’ of the human gut microbiota in Western society. However, as the mechanisms via which the microbes in fermented foods improve health are not understood, it is necessary to develop an understanding of the composition and functionality of the fermented food microbiota to better harness desirable traits. Here we considerably expand the understanding of fermented food microbiomes by employing shotgun metagenomic sequencing to provide a comprehensive insight into the microbial composition, diversity and functional potential (including antimicrobial resistance, carbohydrate-degrading and health-associated gene content) of a diverse range of 58 fermented foods from artisanal producers from around the Globe. Food type, i.e., dairy-, sugar- or brine-type fermented foods, was to be the primary driver of microbial composition, with dairy foods found to have the lowest microbial diversity. From the combined dataset, 127 high quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), including 10 MAGs representing putatively novel species ofAcetobacter, Acidisphaera, Gluconobacter, Lactobacillus, LeuconostocandRouxiella, were generated. Potential health promoting attributes were more common in fermented foods than non-fermented equivalents, with waterkefirs, sauerkrauts and kvasses containing the greatest numbers of potentially health-associated gene clusters (PHAGCs). Ultimately, this study provides the most comprehensive insight into the microbiomes of fermented foods to date, and yields novel information regarding their relative health-promoting potential.

Importance

Fermented foods are regaining popularity in Western society due in part to an appreciation of the potential for fermented food microbiota to positively impact on health. Many previous studies have studied fermented microbiota using classical culture-based microbiological methods, older molecular techniques or, where deeper analyses have been performed, have involved a relatively small number of one specific food type. Here, we have used a state-of-the-art shotgun metagenomic approach to investigate 58 different fermented foods of different type and origin. Through this analysis, we were able to identify the differences in the microbiota across these foods, the factors that drove their microbial composition, and the relative potential functional benefits of these microbes. The information provided here will provide significant opportunities for the further optimisation of fermented food production and the harnessing of their health promoting potential.
Hippocampal-medial prefrontal event segmentation and integration contribute to episodic memory formation
Authors: Liu Wei , Shi Yingjie , Cousins James N. , Kohn Nils , Fernández Guillén
Published: March 2020

How do we encode our continuous life experiences for later retrieval? Theories of event segmentation and integration suggest that the hippocampus binds separately represented events into an ordered narrative. Using a functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) movie watching-recall dataset, we quantified two types of neural similarities (i.e.,activation patternsimilarity and within-region voxel-basedconnectivity patternsimilarity) between separate events during movie watching and related them to subsequent retrieval of events as well as retrieval of sequential order. We demonstrated that compared to forgotten events, successfully remembered events were associated with distinctactivation patternsin the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex. By contrast, similarconnectivity patternsbetween events were associated with memory formation and were also relevant for retaining events in the correct order. We applied the same approaches to an independent movie watching fMRI dataset as validation and highlighted again the role of hippocampal activation pattern and connectivity pattern in memory formation. We propose that distinctactivation patternsrepresent neural segmentation of events while similarconnectivity patternsencode context information, and therefore integrate events into a narrative. Our results provide novel evidence for the role of hippocampal-medial prefrontal event segmentation and integration in episodic memory formation of real-life experience.
Forensic microbial system for high-resolution object provenance
Authors: Qian Jason , Lu Zhi-xiang , Mancuso Christopher P. , Jhuang Han-Ying , del Carmen Barajas-Ornelas Rocío , Boswell Sarah , Ramírez-Guadiana Fernando H. , Jones Victoria , Sonti Akhila , Sedlack Kole , Artzi Lior , Jung Giyoung , Arammash Mohammad , Melfi Michael , Lyon Lorena , Owen Siân V. , Baym Michael , Khalil Ahmad S. , Silver Pamela , Rudner David , Springer Michael
Published: March 2020

Mapping where an object has been is a fundamental challenge for human health, commerce, and food safety. Location-specific microbes offers the potential to cheaply and sensitively determine object provenance. We created a synthetic, scalable microbial spore system that identifies object provenance in under one hour at meter-scale resolution and near single spore sensitivity, and that can be safely introduced into and recovered from the environment. This system solves the key challenges in object provenance: persistence in the environment, scalability, rapid and facile decoding, and biocontainment. Our system is compatible with SHERLOCK, facilitating its implementation in a wide range of applications.
A flexible framework for simulating and fitting generalized drift-diffusion models
Authors: Shinn Maxwell , Lam Norman H. , Murray John D.
Published: March 2020

The drift-diffusion model (DDM) is an important decision-making model in cognitive neuroscience. However, innovations in model form have been limited by methodological challenges. Here, we introduce the generalized drift-diffusion model (GDDM) framework for building, simulating, and fitting DDM extensions, and provide a software package which implements the framework. The GDDM framework augments traditional DDM parameters through arbitrary user-defined functions. Models are simulated numerically by directly solving the Fokker-Planck equation using efficient numerical methods, yielding a 100-fold or greater speedup over standard methodology. This speed allows GDDMs to be fit to data using maximum likelihood on the full response time (RT) distribution. We show that a GDDM fit with our framework explains a classic open dataset with better accuracy and fewer parameters than several DDMs implemented using the latest methodology. Overall, our framework will allow for decision-making model innovation and novel experimental designs.
The order–disorder transition in Cu2Se and medium-range ordering in the high-temperature phase
Authors: Lu Ping , Qiu Wujie , Wei Yuyu , Zhu Chenxi , Shi Xun , Chen Lidong , Xu Fangfang
Published: March 2020

The high thermoelectric performance of cuprous selenide (Cu2Se) arises from its specific structures consisting of two independent sublattices, i.e. the rigid face-centered cubic (f.c.c.) Se sublattice and the flexible Cu sublattice showing a variety of ordered configurations at numerous interstitial sites. Upon increasing the temperature, the Cu sublattice undergoes an order-to-disorder transition but the details of the structural evolution have not been fully elucidated. Here, in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is used to investigate the thermally induced structural changes of Cu2Se in both real and reciprocal spaces. Order–disorder transition was found to proceed in nanoblocks accompanied by the structural fluctuations between low-temperature and high-temperature phases. Electron diffraction revealed the emergence of medium-range ordering of Cu atoms in the high-temperature f.c.c. phase. By referring to the Coulomb interaction evaluations, the superstructures for the medium-range ordering were constructed. Such medium-range atomic ordering was sustained over a wide temperature range (from the phase transition temperature to over 800 K in the TEM) but gradually changed to short-range ordering as indicated by the appearance of diffuse scattering rings.
Spacecraft formation control using aerodynamic and Lorentz force
Authors: Sun Ran , Shan Aidang , Zhang Chengxi , Jia Qingxian
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the feasibility of using the combination of Lorentz force and aerodynamic force as a propellantless control method for spacecraft formation.

Design/methodology/approach

It is assumed that each spacecraft is equipped with several large flat plates, which can rotate to produce aerodynamic force. Lorentz force can be achieved by modulating spacecraft’s electrostatic charge. An adaptive output feedback controller is designed based on a sliding mode observer to account for unknown uncertainties and the absence of relative velocity measurements. Aiming at distributing the control input, an optimal control allocation method is proposed to calculate the electrostatic charge of the Lorentz spacecraft and control commands for the atmospheric-based actuators.

Findings

Numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy in the presence of J2 perturbations. Simulation results show that relative motion in a formation can be precisely controlled by the proposed propellantless control method under uncertainties and unavailability of velocity measurements.

Research limitations/implications

The controllability of the system is not theoretically investigated in the current work.

Practical implications

The proposed control method introduced in this paper can be applied for small satellites formation in low Earth orbit.

Originality/value

The main contribution of the paper is the proposal of the propellantless control approach for satellite formation using the combination of Lorentz force and aerodynamic force, which can eliminate the requirement of the propulsion system.
How scientific papers mention grey literature: a scientometric study based on Scopus data
Authors: Schöpfel Joachim , Prost Hélène
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide empirical insight into the use of the term and concept of grey literature in recent scientific papers.

Design/methodology/approach

The author conducted a scientometric analysis with Scopus data on 1,606 papers mentioning grey (or gray) literature published in 2018. Additionally, the author analysed the evolution between 1999 and 2018, and performed a content analysis on a random subsample of 70 papers in open access.

Findings

The percentage of papers that mention grey literature is low (0.05%) but steadily rising. They are from over 100 countries and a long tail of institutions, covering, namely, medical and health sciences and related topics. The dominant document type is systematic reviews, defining grey literature generally thought of as “unpublished”, “not peer reviewed” and “not in databases” and meaning, most of the time, all kinds of reports and conference papers. A large variety of sources and options on how to retrieve grey literature is mentioned, including Google and Google Scholar, specialised digital libraries, relevant websites, handsearching in bibliographic references and contact with experts in the field.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited to papers indexed in the Scopus database, mainly journals, written in English, with a bias in favour of medical and life sciences.

Originality/value

There is no recent study on the real usage of the term of grey literature in a large sample of academic papers.
Tokenism or realism? Gender inclusion in corporate boards
Authors: Haldar Arunima , Datta Sumita , Shah Snehal
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The paper investigates how the interplay of women-specific human and social capital factors with ownership structure impacts her chances to get director level appointment in the light of recent amendments to the Indian statute.

Design/methodology/approach

The strength of the study lies in fitting a logistic regression model to the unique hand collected data on women director characteristics from 100 large listed Indian firms.

Findings

Counter intuitive findings reveal negative effects of social capital on appointment of independent women directors. This relationship gets reversed when social capital is moderated by ownership structure.

Social implications

Companies may be influenced to take into cognizance the underlying gender biases prevailing in the highest echelons of management and employ un-gendered fair selection practices for board level appointments in order to progress towards gender balanced corporate boards.

Originality/value

The paper is a first of its kind that combines aspects of human capital and ownership structure using Indian data. By developing several new proxy variables to enrich the construct of social capital it contributes to the corporate governance literature and lastly, through main and interaction effects, the paper offers a deeper understanding about the impact of endogenous factors of corporate boards on women's representation at leadership levels in India.
Application of the European tourism indicator system (ETIS) for sustainable destination management. Lessons from County Clare, Ireland
Authors: McLoughlin Emmet , Hanrahan James , Duddy Ann Marie
Published: March 2020

Purpose

Despite indicators being regarded as ideal tools to help achieve sustainability in tourism, their application within Ireland remains under researched. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to advance the knowledge base in the hospitality and tourism field by presenting baseline research from the first application of all 43 of the indicators that make up the European tourism indicator system (ETIS) in county Clare, Ireland.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used the pre-existing visitor, enterprise and resident surveys that accompany the ETIS indicator system in a number of honey pot destinations within county Clare. This approach was complemented further through desk research to gather the necessary data on all 43 core indicators of the ETIS.

Findings

While the application of the ETIS in county Clare constitutes a significant advancement towards evidence informed planning for tourism. There does exist a number of information gaps relating to specific core indicators of the ETIS. Which, if not monitored and benchmarked over time, could have serious ramifications for the future sustainability of tourism in Ireland.

Originality/value

This paper not only discuss the findings from the application of all 43 core indicators of the ETIS in one specific destination but also develops new knowledge on the use of tourism indicators and the move towards evidence informed planning for tourism. Furthermore, this study contributes significantly to the theoretical development of our field, as the ETIS has not been applied in its entirety throughout Europe.
Frequency-division based hybrid force/position control of robotic arms manipulating in uncertain environments
Authors: Liu Guanghui , Fang Lijin , Han Bing , Zhang Hualiang
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a hybrid force/position control algorithm based on the stiffness estimation of the unknown environment. A frequency-division control scheme is developed to improve the applicability and reliability of the robot in welding, polishing and assembly.

Design/methodology/approach

The stiffness estimation algorithm with time-varying forgetting factors is used to improve the speed and accuracy of the unknown environmental estimation. The sensor force control and robot position control are adopted in different frequencies to improve system stability and communication compatibility. In the low frequency of sensor force control, the Kalman state observer is used to estimate the robot’s joints information, whereas the polynomial interpolation is used to ensure the smoothness of the high frequency of robot position control.

Findings

Accurate force control, as well as the system stability, is attained by using this control algorithm.

Practical implications

The entire algorithm is applied to a six-degrees-of-freedom industrial robot, and experiments are performed to confirm its applicability.

Originality/value

The frequency-division control strategy guarantees the control stability and improves the smoothness of the robot movement.
Fostering older adult care experiences to maximize well-being outcomes
Authors: Kabadayi Sertan , Hu Kejia , Lee Yuna , Hanks Lydia , Walsman Matthew , Dobrzykowski David
Published: March 2020

Purpose

Caring for older adults is an increasingly complex and multi-dimensional global concern. This article provides a comprehensive definition of the older adult care experience and discusses its key components to help practitioners deliver older adult-centered care to maximize well-being outcomes for older adults.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on prior research on service operations, service experience, person-centered care and the unique, evolving needs of older adults regarding their care, this paper develops a conceptual framework in which the older adult care experience is the central construct, and key dimensions of well-being are the outcomes.

Findings

The older adult care experience is shaped by older adults' perceptions and evaluations of the care that they receive. Older adult-centered care has autonomy, dignity, unique needs and social environment as its core dimensions and results in those older adults feel empowered, respected, engaged and connected as part of their experience. The article also discusses how such experience can be evaluated by using quality dimensions from service operations, hospitality and healthcare contexts, and challenges that service firms may face in creating older adult care experience.

Research limitations/implications

Given the changing demographics and unique needs of older adults, it is an imperative for academics and practitioners to have an understanding of what determines older adult care experience to better serve them. Such understanding is important as by creating and fostering older adult care experience, service organizations can contribute to individual and societal well-being.

Originality/value

To the authors' best knowledge, this is the first paper to provide a comprehensive conceptualization of the older adult care experience.
The role of marketing and product design in driving firm’s performance
Authors: Canto Primo Mónica , Gil-Saura Irene , Frasquet-Deltoro Marta
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This study aims to suggest an integrative model to investigate design orientation by analyzing its links with market orientation and its ability to generate and maintain a competitive advantage and improve effectiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

The structural equation technique is used to test the research hypotheses based on data from the Spanish furniture and lighting industries. The data are obtained from the responses of 209 companies to a questionnaire targeted at design and marketing managers.

Findings

The results suggest that design orientation helps companies to gain competitive advantages in product differentiation and improve business effectiveness. The design orientation is stimulated by proactive market orientation and by marketing-design integration during the development of new products. The design orientation fully mediates the effect of proactive marketing orientation on perceived effectiveness.

Originality/value

This study uses a quantitative research approach to propose and test an integrative model that relates design orientation with the generation of competitive advantage in product differentiation and perceived effectiveness.
Data literacy training and use for educational professionals
Authors: Henderson Jessa , Corry Michael
Published: March 2020

Purpose

A literature review of 28 data literacy, education articles from 2010 to 2018 was conducted to gain a better understanding of the current state of data literacy research.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review of ERIC, Education Source, and JSTOR was conducted. Articles were included in this literature review if they focused on “data literacy” forK-12 teachers or leaders.

Findings

Results demonstrated that the concept of data literacy has become more concrete, but there is still disagreement about the parameters of the construct. While data literacy was shown to be gaining in importance, training from schools of education were focused heavily on assessment literacy. Four recommendations are made as follows: (1) create skill-focused educator prep programs, (2) encourage opportunities for collaboration, (3) model data use from both quantitative and qualitative sources and (4) investigate the role of technology and big data on data literacy.

Research limitations

The scope of this literature review was very narrow and, as such, does not fully encapsulate data-driven decision-making inK-12 education overall.

Originality/value

Data literacy is important for both teachers and leaders, as educational environments strive to better understand individual learners and improve learning outcomes. This literature review looks to pull together the current status of data literacy research with hopes of inspiring more targeted research that influences training practices for both teachers and leaders.
How anthropomorphic cues affect reactions to service delays
Authors: Ketron Seth , Naletelich Kelly
Published: March 2020

Purpose

Service delays are of significant concern to both consumers and companies – delays cost both groups billions of dollars and lead to consumer frustration and switching activity. Therefore, determining means of overcoming negative consumer reactions to delays is important, and the authors propose that anthropomorphic facial expressions could be one of those means. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to test the effects of anthropomorphic cues (namely, happy and sad faces) on consumer responses to service delays, depending on whether service providers are at fault for those delays.

Design/methodology/approach

Three experimental studies test the proposed effects.

Findings

Happy faces alongside messages about delays appear to provide no significant benefit to repatronage intentions compared to a non-anthropomorphic (control) condition, whether the service provider is or is not to blame. Meanwhile, sad faces are harmful when the provider is not to blame but can somewhat bolster repatronage intentions when the provider is at fault. Further, perceived sincerity of the facial expression and patience with the provider mediate these effects.

Research limitations/implications

The findings offer important insights into how anthropomorphic cues, including emojis, can influence consumer responses to service delays. The work, thus, offers clarity around instances in which anthropomorphism might lead to negative consumer responses.

Practical implications

Managers can use the findings to increase patience and mitigate potentially negative consumer responses when service delays occur.

Originality/value

This work adds clarity to the literature on anthropomorphism by showing how blame attributions for service delays can lead to different consumer responses to anthropomorphic cues. The findings also show how anthropomorphism can help to mitigate negative consumer responses to service delays.
What goes on between customers? A cross-industry study of customer-to-customer interaction (CCI)
Authors: Nicholls Richard
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This study aims to provide service managers and researchers with a deeper understanding of the direct on-site interactions taking place between customers.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the Critical Incident Technique (CIT), 284 incidents are analysed to develop a typology of how service customers experience direct on-site CCI.

Findings

The research reveals a wide range of CCI. A typology consisting of nine distinct categories of CCI emerged: (1) shared use space, (2) assigned space and possessions, (3) information provision, (4) assistance, (5) social conversations, (6) disrespectful attitude, (7) queuing discipline, (8) transaction efficiency and (9) undesired customers and ‘camouflaged customers’. These categories can accommodate a multitude of customer behaviours that impact, negatively or positively, on the service experience of other customers.

Research limitations/implications

Future studies could be conducted following a more inclusive research design capable of gaining CCI insights from employees and managers.

Practical implications

Practitioners can use the typology to systematically identify the full range of specific CCI behaviours affecting their businesses. It also assists them in the analysis and understanding of individual C2C (customer-to-customer) interactions. For academics the typology makes available a comprehensive framework to guide future research into CCI.

Originality/value

The study constitutes the first systematic attempt to classify direct on-site CCI across a wide range of services. The typology, unrestricted by any single-industry bias, is robust and conceptually broad, and therefore highly portable across service industries.
Raising standards for hospitality and tourism education in Malaysia
Authors: Hussain Kashif , Ahmad Abdul Murad , Ragavan Neethiahnanthan Ari , Leong Quee Ling
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a briefing on milestones of Malaysia Centre of Tourism and Hospitality Education (MyCenTHE) regarding its role as a nation-building exercise in developing human capital talent for future sustainable hospitality and tourism in Malaysia. Under a national initiative by the ministry of education, hospitality and tourism educational institutes in the country have set out to better prepare graduates for industry. MyCenTHE aspires to build a hospitality and tourism cluster (threefold) so that Malaysia is able to increase its annual output of hospitality and tourism personnel from 20,000 in 2009 to 50,000 in 2020 and increase the share of graduates with diploma- or degree-level awards from 13% to 50% by 2020. These expectations can only be achieved by creating a sustainable pool of workers for this sector. It was in this context for which “MyCenTHE” was conceived.

Design/methodology/approach

The current study is based on documentary analysis of secondary sources, qualitative in nature, and presents a case study of MyCenTHE with its key accomplishments in promoting hospitality and tourism education in Malaysia.

Findings

The hospitality and tourism industry in Malaysia is set to create 600,000 new job opportunities and in so doing, will need many more skilled, work-ready graduates in the coming decade. This paper highlights the collective efforts of the private higher education sector together with some selected public institutions (polytechnics) under the umbrella of the ministry of education through the MyCenTHE platform in promoting hospitality and tourism education nationwide via national awareness campaigns, conferences, skill competitions, seminars, forums and corporate social responsibility projects.

Originality/value

This paper is of value in its own context and in particular support from ministry and related authorities, 26 institutions of higher education working together, approaches to hundreds of local schools and thousands of audiences/participants in awareness campaigns.
Haemoglobin levels in early pregnancy and severe maternal morbidity: population‐based cohort study
Authors: Ray JG , Davidson AJF , Berger H , Dayan N , Park AL
Published: March 2020

Objective

Data regarding low maternal haemoglobin concentration and severe maternal morbidity (SMM) are limited and potentially biased. This study evaluated the relation between early maternal haemoglobin concentration and SMM or maternal mortality.

Design

Population‐based cohort study.

Setting

Ontario, Canada, in a public healthcare system.

Population

737 393 births with a routine outpatient haemoglobin measured at a calculated gestational age of 2–16 weeks.

Methods

The relation between early‐pregnancy outpatient blood haemoglobin concentration and each study outcome was expressed as adjusted relative risks (aRR) and absolute risk differences (aRD), with 95% confidence intervals (CI), generated by modified Poisson regression.

Main outcome measures

The primary outcome was SMM or maternal mortality, from 23 weeks’ gestation to 42 days postpartum.

Results

The mean (SD) haemoglobin concentration was 126.9 (9.3) g/l. Overall, SMM or death occurred in 13 514 pregnancies (1.8%). Relative to a haemoglobin level of 125–129 g/l, the aRR was 1.07 (95% CI 1.02–1.13) and aRD (0.09%, 95% CI 0.01–0.18) at 120–124 g/l; aRR 1.31 (95% CI 1.17–1.46) and aRD 0.47% (95% CI 0.24–0.69) at 105–109 g/l; and aRR 4.53 (95% CI 3.59–5.72) and aRD 5.94% (95% CI 4.12–7.76) at <90 g/l. In all, 5961 women (0.8%) required red cell transfusion, with significantly higher risks at all haemoglobin concentrations below 125–129 g/l, peaking at a haemoglobin level <90 g/l (aRR 11.82, 95% CI 9.30–15.03).

Conclusion

There is a gradual increase in the risk of SMM or death, as well as red cell transfusion, starting from the lower level of the normal range of haemoglobin of non‐pregnant women.

Tweetable abstract

Women with low haemoglobin in early pregnancy are at higher future risk of morbidity, death and blood transfusion.
Volatile Organic Compounds, Spectral Characterization and Morphology of Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil (ANFO) Samples
Authors: Garzón-Serrano Andrea Y. , Sierra César A. , Rodríguez-Bejarano Oscar , Sinuco Diana
Published: March 2020

Ammonium nitrate fuel oil is an explosive mixture found in most antipersonnel landmines (APL) buried throughout the Colombian territory. During more than 50 years of internal conflict, the Colombian government has found that trained dogs are the most effective method to detect APL. However, the olfactive signature in ANFO is unknown and also if there are differences in detection related to the explosive manufacturing origin. Therefore, this work begins with the analytical validation of the method used to determine ammonia, in its derivatized form as carbamate, released by home‐made ANFO using HS‐SPME‐GC‐FID. Once validated, the method was used to identify ammonia and other organic volatile compounds present in ANFO, under laboratory and simulated field conditions. The validation process includes the evaluation of the optimum conditions for the derivation and extraction of butylcarbamate, the determination of the working ranges with linear response in FID, the limits of detection and quantification, the sensitivity, and the precision. The results of the validation established linearity and sensitivity in a concentration between 20 and 120 mg/L, as well as low limits of detection and quantification of 6.4 and 21.4 mg/L, respectively. Also, an intermediate precision of 11% for butylcarbamate with a repeatability of 8%. The validated method showed in real samples of home‐made ANFO besides ammonia, the presence of low molecular methylamines, and also exhibited differences in volatile compositions according to the origin. The objective of this work is to offer a reliable analytical methodology for the extraction and analysis of volatile compounds from ANFO.
Grainy head signaling regulates epithelium development and ecdysis in Blattella germanica
Authors: Zhao Zheng , Li Liang , Cheng Min , Jing An‐Di , Liu Su‐Ning , Zhu Shi‐Ming , Du Er‐Xia , Li Sheng , Luan Yun‐Xia , Ren Chong‐Hua
Published: March 2020

The transcription factor grainy head (Grh) functions in the protection of the epithelium against the external environment by generating strongly adhesive layers, and this function is conserved in vertebrates and invertebrates. In Drosophila, the top model for holometabolous insects, Grh is necessary during embryonic development, epidermal differentiation, central nervous system specification and epithelial repair. However, the function of this gene in hemimetabolous insect epithelia remains unknown. To examine the function of Grh signaling in regulating epithelium development in Hemimetabola, we focused on the Blattella germanica epidermal layer using a gene knockdown strategy. The spatiotemporal expression pattern of BgGrh was detected, and knockdown of BgGrh and BgCad96ca, which provide positive feedback to BgGrh, caused severe defects in new epithelium development and impeded the molting process required to discard the old integument. Knockdown of the expression of BgGrh and BgCad96ca caused increased expression of chitin synthase gene (BgCHS1) and chitinase gene (BgCht5), the upregulations of which should be mediated by the higher level of hormone receptor 3 (BgHr3) gene. In conclusion, epithelium development is regulated by Grh signaling, which might represent a potential target for the control of urban pest cockroaches.
Effects of lysozyme combined with cinnamaldehyde on storage quality of olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) fillets
Authors: Xu Yongxia , Yin Yiming , Li Tao , Zhao Honglei , Li Xuepeng , Li Jianrong , Sun Tong
Published: March 2020

Effects of lysozyme (LYS) combined with cinnamaldehyde (CA) on quality enhancement of olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) fillets during refrigerated storage at 4 °C for 20 days were assessed. Changes of total viable count (TVC), K‐value, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB‐N), thiobarbituric acid (TBA), texture profile analysis (TPA), and trichloroacetic acid‐soluble peptide (TCA‐soluble peptide) in samples were determined periodically. Results demonstrated that the combination of LYS and CA treatment enhanced the antibacterial activity against S. putrefaciens and P. fluorescens, and lowered TVC values. Meanwhile, LYS combined with CA significantly retarded the increases of TBA value, TVB‐N, K‐value, and TCA‐soluble peptide content compared to the control. Furthermore, the combined treatment also effectively maintained the texture properties of flounder fillets during the storage period. The efficiency was better than that of LYS or CA treatment alone. Thus, LYS combined with CA is promising in olive flounder shelf life extension.
Galactose‐modified duocarmycin prodrugs as senolytics
Authors: Guerrero Ana , Guiho Romain , Herranz Nicolás , Uren Anthony , Withers Dominic J. , Martínez‐Barbera Juan Pedro , Tietze Lutz F. , Gil Jesús
Published: March 2020

Senescence is a stable growth arrest that impairs the replication of damaged, old or preneoplastic cells, therefore contributing to tissue homeostasis. Senescent cells accumulate during ageing and are associated with cancer, fibrosis and many age‐related pathologies. Recent evidence suggests that the selective elimination of senescent cells can be effective on the treatment of many of these senescence‐associated diseases. A universal characteristic of senescent cells is that they display elevated activity of the lysosomal β‐galactosidase, and this has been exploited as a marker for senescence (senescence‐associated β‐galactosidase activity). Consequently, we hypothesized that galactose‐modified cytotoxic prodrugs will be preferentially processed by senescent cells, resulting in their selective killing. Here, we show that different galactose‐modified duocarmycin (GMD) derivatives preferentially kill senescent cells. GMD prodrugs induce selective apoptosis of senescent cells in a lysosomal β‐galactosidase (GLB1)‐dependent manner. GMD prodrugs can eliminate a broad range of senescent cells in culture, and treatment with a GMD prodrug enhances the elimination of bystander senescent cells that accumulate upon whole‐body irradiation treatment of mice. Moreover, taking advantage of a mouse model of adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma (ACP), we show that treatment with a GMD prodrug selectively reduced the number of β‐catenin‐positive preneoplastic senescent cells. In summary, the above results make a case for testing the potential of galactose‐modified duocarmycin prodrugs to treat senescence‐related pathologies.
Vitamin D status is associated with muscular strength in a nationally representative sample of US youth
Authors: Laurson Kelly R. , Thomas Jaime N. , Barnes Jennifer L.
Published: March 2020

Aim

To evaluate the association between serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) and muscular strength in a nationally representative sample of US youth.

Methods

Participants (n = 3350) were 6‐ to 18‐y‐olds from 2011 to 2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Relative handgrip strength was quantified using age‐ and sex‐specific z‐scores. Poor strength was defined as those <25th percentile. Multivariate general linear and logistic models were used to compare strength and poor strength status by clinically relevant groupings of 25OHD.

Results

Approximately 20.2% of youth had 25OHD <50 nmol/L. Mean relative strength was highest for those at ≥75 nmol/L of 25OHD. The percentage of boys/girls with poor strength in the <50 nmol/L, 50‐74.9 nmol/L and ≥75 nmol/L groups was 34.9%/32.3%, 25.8%/28.2% and 14.0%/15.8%, respectively. The odds of boys and girls with <50 nmol/L 25OHD having poor strength were 2.8 (95% CI: 1.4, 5.5) and 3.4 (1.7, 6.8) times higher compared to those with ≥75 nmol/L, respectively.

Conclusion

Higher levels of circulating vitamin D were associated with higher relative strength, and poor strength was more prevalent when 25OHD was <75 nmol/L. These findings highlight the value of vitamin D for the muscle‐bone unit and potential extraskeletal ramifications.
The concept of skeletal muscle memory: Evidence from animal and human studies
Authors: Snijders Tim , Aussieker Thorben , Holwerda Andy , Parise Gianni , van Loon Luc J. C. , Verdijk Lex B.
Published: March 2020

Within the current paradigm of the myonuclear domain theory, it is postulated that a linear relationship exists between muscle fibre size and myonuclear content. The myonuclear domain is kept (relatively) constant by adding additional nuclei (supplied by muscle satellite cells) during muscle fibre hypertrophy and nuclear loss (by apoptosis) during muscle fibre atrophy. However, data from recent animal studies suggest that myonuclei that are added to support muscle fibre hypertrophy are not lost within various muscle atrophy models. Such myonuclear permanence has been suggested to constitute a mechanism allowing the muscle fibre to (re)grow more efficiently during retraining, a phenomenon referred to as “muscle memory.” The concept of “muscle memory by myonuclear permanence” has mainly been based on data attained from rodent experimental models. Whether the postulated mechanism also holds true in humans remains largely ambiguous. Nevertheless, there are several studies in humans that provide evidence to potentially support or contradict (parts of) the muscle memory hypothesis. The goal of the present review was to discuss the evidence for the existence of “muscle memory” in both animal and human models of muscle fibre hypertrophy as well as atrophy. Furthermore, to provide additional insight in the potential presence of muscle memory by myonuclear permanence in humans, we present new data on previously performed exercise training studies. Finally, suggestions for future research are provided to establish whether muscle memory really exists in humans.