bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
OWL-Moon in 2050 and beyond
Authors: Schneider Jean , Silk Joseph , Vakili Farrokh
Published: November 2020

We address three major questions in astronomy, namely the detection of biosignatures on habitable exoplanets, the geophysics of exoplanets and cosmology. To achieve this goal, two requirements are needed: (i) a very large aperture to detect spectro-polarimetric and spatial features of faint objects such as exoplanets, (ii) continuous monitoring to characterize the temporal behaviour of exoplanets such as rotation period, meteorology and seasons. An Earth-based telescope is not suited for continuous monitoring and the atmosphere limits the ultimate angular resolution and spectro-polarimetrical domain. Moreover, a space telescope in orbit is limited in aperture, to perhaps 15 m over many decades. This is why we propose an OWL-class lunar telescope with a 50–100 m aperture for visible and IR astronomy, based on ESO's Overwhelmingly Large Telescope concept, unachievable on Earth for technical issues such as wind stress that are not relevant for a lunar platform. It will be installed near the south pole of the Moon to allow continuous target monitoring. The low gravity of the Moon will facilitate its building and manoeuvring, compared to Earth-based telescopes. We introduce a new original idea: such a large lunar telescope will allow Intensity Interferometric measurements when coupled with large Earth-based telescopes, leading to picosecond angular resolution. Rather than going into all details, our objective is essentially to inject new ideas and give a kind of roadmap. In particular, the choice of a final location will have to find a compromise between the cool temperature of craters at the Moon South Pole and the visibility of Earth for some science objectives.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Astronomy from the Moon: the next decades (part 1)’.
Characterization of tulip streak virus, a novel virus associated with the family Phenuiviridae
Authors: Neriya Yutaro , Morikawa Toshiyuki , Hamamoto Kakeru , Noguchi Kengo , Kobayashi Tominari , Suzuki Tomohiro , Nishigawa Hisashi , Natsuaki Tomohide
Published: November 2020

In Japan, tulip-growing areas have been plagued by viral diseases for decades, but the viruses causing the damage remain undescribed. In this study, Nicotiana benthamiana and Chenopodium quinoa plants mechanically inoculated with crude sap from a symptomatic tulip flower exhibited necrosis symptoms. Additionally, flexuous and filamentous virus particles were detected by electron microscopy analysis. Moreover, we determined the complete sequences of two genomic segments of the tulip streak virus (TuSV), which is a new virus associated with streaking symptoms, on the basis of a next-generation sequencing analysis. Homology analyses of the amino acid sequence of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and the terminal sequence of the genomic RNA indicated that TuSV is associated with viruses in the family Phenuiviridae, but differs substantially from other reported viruses.
Evaluation of ResistancePlus MG FleXible, a ‘near-patient’ test for the detection of Mycoplasma genitalium and macrolide resistance mutations, using freshly collected clinical samples
Authors: Murray Gerald L. , Doyle Michelle , Bodiyabadu Kaveesha , Vodstrcil Lenka A. , Garland Suzanne M. , Danielewski Jennifer , Machalek Dorothy A. , McGuinness Colette , Plummer Erica L. , De Petra Vesna , Williamson Deborah A. , Bradshaw Catriona S.
Published: November 2020

Introduction.

Mycoplasma genitalium

is a sexually transmitted pathogen with increasing resistance to first- and second-line antimicrobials. The ‘near-patient test’ ResistancePlus MG FleXible (SpeeDx) detects

M. genitalium

plus four macrolide resistance mutations (MRMs), facilitating same-day patient follow up.

Hypothesis/Gap Statement. This assay has not been assessed on freshly collected samples.

Aim. Our goal was to evaluate the performance of the ResistancePlus MG FleXible test against the standard of care open platform test.

Methods. ResistancePlus MG FleXible (analysed on the Cepheid GeneXpert platform) was evaluated on freshly collected samples and compared to the standard of care open platform test ResistancePlus MG (SpeeDx) analysed on the LightCycler 480 II (Roche).

Results. For 270 valid tests, ResistancePlus MG FleXible yielded a high positive per cent agreement (PPA) of 94.1% [96/102; 95 % confidence interval (CI): 87.6–97.8 %] and negative per cent agreement (NPA) of 95.2% (160/168; 95 % CI: 90.8–97.9%) for

M. genitalium

detection compared to the reference assay (kappa for test concordance of 0.89; 95 % CI: 0.83–0.95). Performance was similar across different sample types. For the detection of MRMs, ResistancePlus MG FleXible had a PPA of 97.1% (66/68; 95% CI: 89.8–99.6) and NPA of 78.6% (22/28; 95 % CI: 59.0–91.7), with test comparison kappa of 0.79 (95 % CI: 0.65–0.93). Notably, of six discordant results (i.e. determined to be wild type by the reference assay), five were positive for MRMs by Sanger sequencing, indicating that the ResistancePlus MG FleXible assay has an improved performance for mutation detection.

Conclusion. ResistancePlus MG FleXible had comparable test performance for

M. genitalium

detection as the open platform assay, with improved detection of MRMs. The ResistancePlus MG FleXible ‘near-patient’ assay can deliver a rapid result to expedite appropriate treatment.
Donor plasmids for phenotypically neutral chromosomal gene insertions in Enterobacteriaceae
Authors: Holden Emma R. , Wickham Gregory J. , Webber Mark A. , Thomson Nicholas M. , Trampari Eleftheria
Published: November 2020

Recombineering using bacteriophage lambda Red recombinase (λ-Red) uses homologous recombination to manipulate bacterial genomes and is commonly applied to disrupt genes to elucidate their function. This is often followed by the introduction of a wild-type copy of the gene on a plasmid to complement its function. This is often not, however, at a native copy number and the introduction of a chromosomal version of a gene can be a desirable solution to provide wild-type copy expression levels of an allele in trans. Here, we present a simple methodology based on the λ-Red-based ‘gene doctoring’ technique, where we developed tools used for chromosomal tagging in a conserved locus downstream of glmS and found no impact on a variety of important phenotypes. The tools described provide an easy, quick and inexpensive method of chromosomal modification for the creation of a library of insertion mutants to study gene function.
Actionable druggable genome-wide Mendelian randomization identifies repurposing opportunities for COVID-19
Authors: Gaziano Liam , Giambartolomei Claudia , Pereira Alexandre C , Gaulton Anna , Posner Daniel C , Swanson Sonja A , Ho Yuk-Lam , Iyengar Sudha K , Kosik Nicole M , Vujkovic Marijana , Gagnon David R , Bento A Patrícia , Beltrao Pedro , Barrio-Hernandez Inigo , Rönnblom Lars , Hagberg Niklas , Lundtoft Christian , Langenberg Claudia , Pietzner Maik , Valentine Dennis , Allara Elias , Surendran Praveen , Burgess Stephen , Zhao Jing Hua , Peters James E , Prins Bram P , Danesh John , Devineni Poornima , Shi Yunling , Lynch Kristine E , DuVall Scott L , Garcon Helene , Thomann Lauren O , Zhou Jin J , Gorman Bryan R , Huffman Jennifer E , O’Donnell Christopher J , Tsao Philip S , Beckham Jean C , Pyarajan Saiju , Muralidhar Sumitra , Huang Grant D , Ramoni Rachel , Hung Adriana M , Chang Kyong-Mi , Sun Yan V , Joseph Jacob , Leach Andrew R , Edwards Todd L , Cho Kelly , Gaziano J Michael , Butterworth Adam S , Casas Juan P
Published: November 2020

Drug repurposing provides a rapid approach to meet the urgent need for therapeutics to address COVID-19. To identify therapeutic targets relevant to COVID-19, we conducted Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses, deriving genetic instruments based on transcriptomic and proteomic data for 1,263 actionable proteins that are targeted by approved drugs or in clinical phase of drug development. Using summary statistics from the Host Genetics Initiative and the Million Veteran Program, we studied 7,554 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and >1 million controls. We found significant Mendelian randomization results for three proteins (ACE2: P=1.6×10−6, IFNAR2: P=9.8×10−11, and IL-10RB: P=1.9×10−14) using cis-eQTL genetic instruments that also had strong evidence for colocalization with COVID-19 hospitalization. To disentangle the shared eQTL signal for IL10RB and IFNAR2, we conducted phenome-wide association scans and pathway enrichment analysis, which suggested that IFNAR2 is more likely to play a role in COVID-19 hospitalization. Our findings prioritize trials of drugs targeting IFNAR2 and ACE2 for early management of COVID-19.
Ticagrelor vs Clopidogrel: the Impact of Platelet Inhibition on Cerebrovascular Microembolic Events during TAVR
Authors: Vavuranakis Michael A. , Kalantzis Charalampos , Voudris Vassilis , Kosmas Elias , Kalogeras Konstantinos , Katsianos Efstratios , Oikonomou Evaggelos , Siasos Gerasimos , Aznaouridis Konstantinos , Toutouzas Konstantinos , Stasinopoulou Myrsini , Tountopoulou Argyro , Bei Evangelia , Moldovan Carmen M. , Vrachatis Dimitrios , Iakovou Ioannis , Papaioannou Theodore G. , Tousoulis Dimitrios , Leucker Thorsten M. , Vavuranakis Manolis
Published: November 2020

Objectives

To evaluate the effects of ticagrelor versus clopidogrel and of platelet inhibition on the number of cerebrovascular microembolic events, in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Background

The impact of the antiplatelet regimen and the extent of associated platelet inhibition on cerebrovascular microembolic events during TAVR are unknown.

Methods

Patients scheduled for TAVR were randomized prior to the procedure to either aspirin and ticagrelor or to aspirin and clopidogrel. Platelet inhibition was expressed in P2Y12 Reaction Units (PRU) and percentage of inhibition. High intensity transient signals (HITS) were assessed with transcranial Doppler (TCD). Safety outcomes were recorded according to the VARC-2 definitions.

Results

Among 90 patients randomized, six had inadequate TCD signal. The total number of procedural HITS was lower in the ticagrelor group (416.5 [324.8, 484.2]) (42 patients) than in the clopidogrel group (723.5 [471.5, 875.0]) (42 patients), p< 0.001. After adjusting for the duration of the procedure, diabetes, extra-cardiac arteriopathy, BMI, and aortic valve calcium content, patients on ticagrelor had on average 255.9 (95% CI: [-335.4, -176.4]) fewer total procedural HITS, than did patients on clopidogrel. Platelet inhibition was greater in those randomized to ticagrelor 26 [10, 74.5] PRU than in those randomized to clopidogrel 207.5 [120-236.2] PRU, p<0.001 and correlated significantly with procedural HITS (r=0.5, p<0.05). This protective effect was not associated with an increase in complications.

Conclusions

Ticagrelor resulted in fewer procedural HITS, compared to clopidogrel, in patients undergoing TAVR, while achieving greater platelet inhibition, without increasing the risk for complications.

Clinical Trial

(ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02989558)

CONDENSED ABSTRACT

We conducted a two-center, prospective, open label, randomized, controlled clinical trial to compare the efficacy of ticagrelor vs clopidogrel in preventing cerebrovascular embolic events as assessed by transcranial Doppler during TAVR.

The total number of procedural HITS was lower in the ticagrelor group (416.5 [324.8, 484.2]) than in the clopidogrel group (723.5 [471.5, 875.0]), p< 0.001. Patients on ticagrelor had on average 255.9 (95% CI: [-335.4, -176.4]) fewer total procedural HITS than those on clopidogrel. This protective effect was not associated with an increase in complications.
Predicting COVID19 Critical Care Beds - The London North-West University Healthcare Trust Experience
Authors: Naude J.A , Taniparthi M. , Adams K. , Biggin-Lamming J. , Elias R. , Milner P. , Mohammed I. , Towers M. , Kuper M.
Published: November 2020

Our trust has an urgent need to make short-term (3-4 days in advance) informed operational decisions which take into account best-practice treatment regimens and known clinical features of COVID19 inpatients.

We believe that any model which is relied upon for operational decision making should have clinically identifiable parameters. Our model’s parameters take into account the conversion rates from acute wards into wards equipped with Non-Invasive Ventilation (NIV) and Mechanical Ventilation (MV), the typical time that these conversions take place and, the historical non-COVID usage of NIV and MV beds.

We have observed that this clinical performance is mathematically identical to a series of linear delays on the time varying inpatient level. High frequency inpatient data, sampled ∼4 hourly, has allowed our hospital trust to predict total critical care usage up to 4 days in advance without making any assumptions on upcoming inpatients. It is based entirely upon current bed occupancy levels and measured clinical pathways.

Through back-testing over the recent 4 months, the bounds of this model include 93.8% of all 4 day inpatient sequences. The average next-day error is 0.8 (95% CI: 0.44, 1.15) and so the system tends to over-predict the next day critical care inpatients by approximately 1 bed.

Potential extensions to the basic model include adjustments for seasonality, case mix, probabilistic marginalisation and known discharges.
Genetic and atherosclerotic plaque immunohistochemical analyses do not associate reduced sclerostin expression with cardiovascular events
Authors: Holdsworth Gill , Staley James R , Hall Peter , van Koeverden Ian , Vangjeli Ciara , Okoye Remi , Boyce Rogely , Turk James R , Armstrong Martin , Wolfreys Alison , Pasterkamp Gerard
Published: November 2020

The sclerostin antibody romosozumab increases bone formation and decreases bone resorption, leading to increased bone mass, bone mineral density and bone strength, and reduced fracture risk. In a clinical study versus alendronate in postmenopausal women (ARCH), an imbalance in adjudicated serious cardiovascular (CV) events driven by an increase in myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke was observed.

To investigate whether inhibition of sclerostin in atherosclerotic plaques may have contributed to this imbalance, sclerostin was immunostained in human plaques to determine whether it was detected in regions relevant to plaque stability. Additionally, genetic variants associated with lifelong reduced sclerostin expression were explored for associations with phenotypes including those related to bone physiology and CV risk factors/events in a population-based phenome-wide association study (PheWAS).

Sclerostin expression was absent (67%) or reduced in atherosclerotic plaques and when present was in deeper regions of the plaque/wall and not in areas considered relevant to plaque stability (fibrous cap and endothelium). Natural genetic modulation of sclerostin by variants with a significant positive effect on bone physiology showed no association with lifetime risk of MI or stroke. These data do not support a causal association between sclerostin inhibition and increased risk of serious cardiovascular events.
Is Standard Personal Protective Equipment Effective Enough To Prevent COVID-19 Transmission During Aerosol Generating Dental, Oral and Maxillofacial Procedures ? A Systematic Review
Authors: Al-Moraissi Essam Ahmed , Abood Marwan Mohamed , Alasseri Nasser A. , Günther Frank , Neff Andreas
Published: November 2020

A systematic review was performed to answer the following questions: 1) Do dental, oral and maxillofacial (OMF) surgical procedures generate bioaerosols (and if so, which ones), which can result in transmission of COVID-19?; 2) Are aerosolized airborne droplets (and to which extent is splatter) in dental and OMF procedures infective?; 3) Is enhanced personal protective equipment (PPE) an essential to prevent spreading of COVID-19 during dental and OMF aerosol generating procedures (AGPs)? Authors performed a systematic review to retrieve all pertinent literature that assessed effectiveness of surgical mask vs respirators for protecting dental health care workers during dental and OMF AGPs surgical procedures. Additionally, studies which assessed potential aerosolization during dental, OMF and orthopaedic surgeries were retrieved. There is moderate evidence showing that ultrasonic scaling and bone drilling using high speed rotary instruments produces respirable aerosols. Additionally, there is very weak/inconclusive evidence to support the creation of infectious aerosols during dental procedures. According to available very weak/inconclusive evidence, transmission of SARS-CoV-2 via infective aerosol during AGPS, so far, must remain speculative and controversial. As, however, this is a probable opportunistic way of transmission which at least cannot be sufficiently excluded and therefore should not be dismissed out of hand prematurely, proper and equally important properly applied protective equipment (i.e., N95 respirators or FFP-2 masksv or above regarding mouth and nose protection) should always be used during AGPs.
Improved RT-PCR SARS-Cov2 results interpretation by indirect determination of cut-off cycle threshold value
Authors: Mokhtar Khelil Mohamed
Published: November 2020

Clinical laboratories of the developing world are overwhelmed with RT-PCR SARS-Cov2 testing demands. It is of paramount importance that each clinical laboratory use an appropriate cut-off value in the interpretation of SARS-Cov2 real-time RT–PCR results, which is specific to their laboratory performances as ISO 15189 recommendations stipulate. We applied an indirect statistical method to a large mixed data set of Ct values (ORF1ab and N) to estimate cut-off Ct value (∼32 cycles).we conclude that the use of indirect statistical approaches to estimate cut-off value in the interpretation of SARS-Cov2 real-time RT–PCR results may improve differential diagnosis of COVID-19 cases with low risk of infectivity, and may help to better estimates of the burden of COVID-19 disease.
Modeling the spread of Covid-19 under active management
Authors: Cherednik Ivan
Published: November 2020

Classical approaches to modeling the spread of epidemics are based on two assumptions: the exponential growth of the total number of infections and the saturation due to the herd immunity. With Covid-19, the growth is essentially power-type, especially during the middle stages, and the saturation is currently mostly due to the protective measures. Focusing on these features and the role of epidemic management, we obtain differential equations for the total number of detected cases of Covid-19, which describe the actual curves in many countries almost with the accuracy of physics laws. The two-phase solution we propose works very well almost for the whole periods of the spread practically in all countries we analyzed that reached the saturation during the first waves. Bessel functions play the key role in our approach. Due to a very small number of parameters, namely, the initial transmission rate and the intensity of the hard and soft measures, we obtain a convincing explanation of the surprising uniformity of the curves of the total numbers of detected infections in many different areas. This theory can serve as a tool for forecasting the epidemic spread and evaluating the efficiency of the protective measures, which is very much needed for epidemics. As its practical application, the computer programs aimed at providing projections for late stages of Covid-19 proved to be remarkably stable in many countries, including Western Europe, the USA and some in Asia. We provide a projection for the saturation of the 3rd wave in the USA: the corresponding number of total, detected or not, cases can presumably reach then the herd immunity levels (G-strains). This can be used to analyze the efficiency of the vaccinations.
Intraglottal aerodynamic pressure and energy transfer in a self-oscillating synthetic model of the vocal folds
Authors: Motie-Shirazi Mohsen , Zañartu Matías , Peterson Sean D. , Erath Byron D.
Published: November 2020

Self-sustained oscillations of the vocal folds during phonation are the result of the energy exchange between the airflow and the vocal fold tissue. Understanding this mechanism requires accurate investigation of the aerodynamic pressures acting on the vocal fold surface during oscillation. A self-oscillating silicone vocal fold model was used in a hemilaryngeal flow facility to measure the time-varying pressure distribution along the inferior-superior length of the vocal fold with a spatial resolution of 0.254 mm, and at four discrete locations in the anterior-posterior direction. It was found that the intraglottal pressures during the opening and closing phases of the vocal fold are highly dependent on three-dimensional and unsteady flow behaviors. The measured aerodynamic pressures and estimates of the medial surface velocity were used to compute the intraglottal energy transfer from the airflow to the vocal folds. The energy was greatest at the anterior-posterior midline, and decreased significantly toward the anterior/posterior endpoints. The net energy transfer over an oscillation cycle was positive, consistent with the theory of energy exchange during phonation. The findings provide insight into the dynamics of the vocal fold oscillation and the potential causes of some vocal fold disorders.
High resolution proximity statistics as early warning for US universities reopening during COVID-19
Authors: Mehrab Zakaria , Ranga Akhilandeshwari Goud , Sarkar Debarati , Venkatramanan Srinivasan , Baek Youngyun Chung , Swarup Samarth , Marathe Madhav V.
Published: November 2020

Reopening of colleges and universities for the Fall semester of 2020 across the United States has caused significant COVID-19 case spikes, requiring reactive responses such as temporary closures and switching to online learning. Until sufficient levels of immunity are reached through vaccination, Institutions of Higher Education will need to balance academic operations with COVID-19 spread risk within and outside the student community. In this work, we study the impact of proximity statistics obtained from high resolution mobility traces in predicting case rate surges in university counties. We focus on 50 land-grant university counties (LGUCs) across the country and show high correlation (PCC > 0.6) between proximity statistics and COVID-19 case rates for several LGUCs during the period around Fall 2020 reopenings. These observations provide a lead time of up to ∼3 weeks in preparing resources and planning containment efforts. We also show how features such as total population, population affiliated with university, median income and case rate intensity could explain some of the observed high correlation. We believe these easily explainable mobility metrics along with other disease surveillance indicators can help universities be better prepared for the Spring 2021 semester.
Sex Differences in MRI-Based Metrics of Glioma Invasion and Brain Mechanics
Authors: Anderies Barrett J. , Yee Sara F. , Jackson Pamela R. , Rickertsen Cassandra R. , Hawkins-Daarud Andrea J. , Johnston Sandra K. , Clark-Swanson Kamala R. , Hoxworth Joseph M. , Le Yuan , Zhou Yuxiang , Pepin Kay M. , Massey Susan C. , Hu Leland S. , Huston John R. , Swanson Kristin R.
Published: November 2020

Gliomas are brain tumors characterized by highly variable growth patterns. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the cornerstone of glioma diagnosis and management planning. However, glioma features on MRI do not directly correlate with tumor cell distribution. Additionally, there is evidence that glioma tumor characteristics and prognosis are sex-dependent. Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is an imaging technique that allows interrogation of tissue stiffnessin-vivoand has found utility in the imaging of several cancers. We investigate the relationship between MRI features, MRE features, and growth parameters derived from an established mathematical model of glioma proliferation and invasion. Results suggest that both the relationship between tumor volume and tumor stiffness as well as the relationship between the parameters derived from the mathematical model and tumor stiffness are sex-dependent. These findings lend evidence to a growing body of knowledge about the clinical importance of sex in the context of cancer diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.
A unifying framework for quantifying and comparing n-dimensional hypervolumes
Authors: Lu Muyang , Winner Kevin , Jetz Walter
Published: November 2020

The quantification of Hutchison’s n-dimensional hypervolume has enabled substantial progress in community ecology, species niche analysis and beyond. While non-parametric methods for quantifying and comparing hypervolumes are popular, they do not support a partitioning of the different components and drivers of hypervolume variation. Here, we propose as alternative the use of multivariate normal distributions for the assessment and comparison of niche hypervolumes and introduce this as the multivariate-normal hypervolume (MVNH) framework.

The framework provides parametric measures of the size and dissimilarity of niche hypervolumes, each of which can be partitioned into biologically interpretable components. Specifically, We use 1) the determinant of the covariance matrix (i.e. the generalized variance) of a MVNH as a measure of total niche size, which can be partitioned into the components of univariate niche variances and a correlation component; and 2) the Bhattacharyya distance between two MVNHs as a measure of niche dissimilarity, which can be partitioned into the components of Mahalanobis distance between hypervolume centroids and the determinant ratio which measures hypervolume size difference.

We use empirical examples of community- and species-level analysis to demonstrate the new insights provided by these metrics. We show that the newly proposed framework enables us to quantify the relative contributions of different hypervolume components and to identify the drivers of functional diversity and environmental niche variation.

Our approach overcomes several operational and computational limitations of non-parametric methods and provides a framework that offers both unification and granularity in the assessment of niche volumes and differences, which has wide implications for understanding niche evolution, niche shifts and expansion during biotic invasions etc.
Impact of regulative noise exposure to biodiesel production due to enhanced lipid droplet production inSaccharomyces cerevisiae: Preliminary results from a laboratory experiment
Authors: Kumar Reetesh
Published: November 2020

Lipid Droplet (LD) is a ubiquitous cellular organelle that stores natural lipids as an energy and carbon source. It has emerged as a highly active organelle, engaged in lipid synthesis, protein storage, protein degradation, transportation, and metabolism. It stores natural lipids in the form of triacylglycerols (TAG) and steryl esters. TAGs consider promising biotechnological importance to produce biodiesel; thus, LD is considered a tremendous scientific concern in the modern era. The TAG accumulation is found in various feedstocks, but amongst the microorganisms becomes an evident alternative against animal and plant-derived sources due to economic reasons. Amid microorganisms, theSaccharomyces cerevisiaeis a better alternative for industrial utilization but has low production of TAGs. Thus, to enhance the LD concentration, novel research was designed to induce alternate high and low sound frequency at a regular interval on a yeast model organism. The control and treated yeast samples further investigated using biochemical, biophysical, and computational tools to conclude that cells increase lipid droplet production under regulative noise exposure. The results endorsed that noise induces yeast LD yield is significantly higher than control, which could be considered a milestone in the biodiesel industry development and the biodiesel policy. This analysis also helps researchers to understand the novel function of LDs and their regulation in cell metabolism.
CentTracker: a trainable, machine learning-based tool for large-scale analyses of C. elegans germline stem cell mitosis
Authors: Réda Zellag M. , Zhao Yifan , Poupart Vincent , Singh Ramya , Labbé Jean-Claude , Gerhold Abigail R.
Published: November 2020

Investigating the complex interactions between stem cells and their native environment requires an efficient means to image them in situ. Caenorhabditis elegans germline stem cells (GSCs) are distinctly accessible for intravital imaging; however, long-term image acquisition and analysis of dividing GSCs can be technically challenging. Here we present a systematic investigation into the technical factors impacting GSC physiology during live imaging and provide an optimized method for monitoring GSC mitosis under minimally disruptive conditions. We describe CentTracker, an automated and generalizable image analysis tool that uses machine learning to pair mitotic centrosomes and which can extract a variety of mitotic parameters rapidly from large-scale datasets. We employ CentTracker to assess a range of mitotic features in GSCs and show that subpopulations with distinct mitotic profiles are unlikely to exist within the stem cell pool. We further find evidence for spatial clustering of GSC mitoses within the germline tissue and for biases in mitotic spindle orientation relative to the germline’s distal-proximal axis, and thus the niche. The technical and analytical tools provided herein pave the way for large-scale screening studies of multiple mitotic processes in GSCs dividing in situ, in an intact tissue, in a living animal, under seemingly physiological conditions.
Xist-seeded nucleation sites form local concentration gradients of silencing proteins to inactivate the X-chromosome
Authors: Markaki Yolanda , Chong Johnny Gan , Luong Christy , Tan Shawn Y.X. , Wang Yuying , Jacobson Elsie C. , Maestrini Davide , Dror Iris , Mistry Bhaven A. , Schöneberg Johannes , Banerjee Abhik , Guttman Mitchell , Chou Tom , Plath Kathrin
Published: November 2020

The long non-coding RNA Xist exploits numerous effector proteins to progressively induce gene silencing across the X chromosome and form the inactive X (Xi)-compartment. The mechanism underlying formation of the chromosome-wide Xi-compartment is poorly understood. Here, we find that formation of the Xi-compartment is induced by ∼50 locally confined granules, where two Xist RNA molecules nucleatesupra-molecularcomplexes (SMCs) of interacting proteins. Xist-SMCs are transient structures that concentrate rapidly recycling proteins in the X by increasing protein binding affinity. We find that gene silencing originates at Xist-SMCs and propagates across the entire chromosome over time, achieved by Polycomb-mediated coalescence of chromatin regions and aggregation, via its intrinsically disordered domains, of the critical silencing factor SPEN. Our results suggest a new model for X chromosome inactivation, in which Xist RNA induces macromolecular crowding of heterochromatinizing proteins near distinct sites which ultimately increases their density throughout the chromosome. This mechanism enables deterministic gene silencing without the need for Xist ribonucleoprotein complex-chromatin interactions at each target gene.
Graph theoretic analysis reveals intranasal oxytocin induced network changes over frontal regions
Authors: Zheng Shuhan , Punia Diksha , Wu Haiyan , Liu Quanying
Published: November 2020

In this study, we aim to elucidate how intranasal oxytocin modulates brain network characteristics, especially over the frontal network. As an essential brain hub of social cognition and emotion regulation, we will also explore the association between graphic properties of the frontal network and individual personality traits under oxytocin (OT) administration. 59 male participants administered intranasal OT or placebo were followed by restingstate fMRI scanning. The Correlation-based network model was applied to study OT modulation effects. We performed community detection algorithms and conducted further network analyses, including clustering coefficient, average shortest path and eigenvector centrality. In addition, we conducted a correlation analysis between clustering coefficients and the self-assessed psychological scales. Modular organizations in the OT group reveal integrations of the frontoparietal network (FPN) and the default mode network (DMN) over frontal regions. Results show that frontal nodes within the FPN are characterized by lower clustering coefficients and higher average shortest path values compared to the placebo group. Notably, these modulation effects on frontal network property are associated with Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) fantasy value. Our results suggest that OT elevates integrations between FPN, DMN and limbic system as well as reduces small-worldness within the FPN. Our results support graph theoretic analysis as a potential tool to assess OT induced effects on the information integration in the frontal network.
A Novel Tool for the Removal of Muscle Artefacts from EEG: Improving Data Quality in the Gamma Frequency Range
Authors: Liebisch Alina Pauline , Eggert Thomas , Shindy Alina , Valentini Elia , Irving Stephanie , Stankewitz Anne , Schulz Enrico
Published: November 2020

Background

The past two decades have seen a particular focus towards high-frequency neural activity in the gamma band (>30Hz). However, gamma band activity shares frequency range with unwanted artefacts from muscular activity.

New Method

We developed a novel approach to remove muscle artefacts from neurophysiological data. We re-analysed existing EEG data that were decomposed by a blind source separation method (independent component analysis, ICA), which helped to better spatially and temporally separate single muscle spikes. We then applied an adapting algorithm that detects these singled-out muscle spikes.

Results

We obtained data almost free from muscle artefacts; we needed to remove significantly fewer artefact components from the ICA and we included more trials for the statistical analysis compared to standard ICA artefact removal. All pain-related cortical effects in the gamma band have been preserved, which underlines the high efficacy and precision of this algorithm.

Conclusions

Our results show a significant improvement of data quality by preserving task-relevant gamma oscillations of cortical origin. We were able to precisely detect, gauge, and carve out single muscle spikes from the time course of neurophysiological measures. We advocate the application of the tool for studies investigating gamma activity that contain a rather low number of trials, as well as for data that are highly contaminated with muscle artefacts. This validation of our tool allows for the application on event-free continuous EEG, for which the artefact removal is more challenging.
Anitta: a star born to be global?
Authors: Binhote Juliana , de Pinho Valéria Moreira , do Rego Monteiro Júlia Gouveia de Melo , Almeida Victor M. C.
Published: November 2020

Supplementary materials

Appendixes for the case study, teaching notes with figures and suggested chart plan schema.

Learning outcomes

Students are expected to learn the use of networks for market growth; types of network connections; and ways to achieve international expansion through networks’ relations.

Case overview/synopsis

This teaching case describes the internationalization of an emerging country artist, the Brazilian singer Anitta, who seeks to expand her audience in foreign markets, while dealing with maintaining the public in her home country.

Complexity academic level

Recommended to International Business disciplines in specialization courses.

Subject code

CSS 5: International Business.
Do online searches influence sales or merely predict them? The case of motion pictures
Authors: Kim Ho
Published: November 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to examine whether a film’s search volume causes its ticket sales in different stages of its lifecycle.

Design/methodology/approach

This study tests the causality between searches and sales by using an instrumental variable approach. This study exploits the ideas that consumers’ perception of a product’s consumption risk is correlated with their search efforts and consumers use multiple information sources to infer a product’s consumption risk. As an instrument for a focal film’s search volume, this paper uses review disagreement for past movies related to the focal film. This paper incorporates the ideas in a model of weekly online search volume and revenues and apply it to a movie data set.

Findings

Films’ search volume influences their revenues only until the opening week. A 10% increase in opening-week search volume generates a 7.4% increase in opening-week revenue, while the same increase in pre-launch search volume generates a 4.1% increase. Although searches are not an influencer of sales from the second week on, the random forest models and cross-validation studies find that weekly search volume is a strong predictor of weekly revenues in this period.

Research limitations/implications

Testing the findings in other product categories is important for generalizing the findings.

Practical implications

This study suggests different usage values for online searches, depending on a film’s lifecycle stages. Furthermore, given that review disagreement has a positive influence on opening-week revenue through searches, managers should encourage diverse opinions about their films until the opening week to increase sales through searches.

Originality/value

Regarding the role of online search, previous studies have maintained the perspective that online search is a predictor of sales. This is the first study that finds causality between searches and sales for films.
Corporate lawyers in the USA: pathway to gender parity?
Authors: Ingersoll Alicia R. , Glass Christy , Cook Alison
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The current study aims to analyze the connection between gender disparities and employment in senior legal roles within large American firms. Specifically, this study seeks to uncover whether legal positions in large corporations reproduce inequalities in representation and wages, or whether these roles provide women with a pathway to greater gender parity.

Design/methodology/approach

Investigating a large data set of over 2,000 USA public companies over a ten-year period, this study examines the representation of women in senior legal roles, the likelihood of women’s appointment to those roles as a function of the gender composition of the industry and if a wage gap exists between men and women serving in the top legal roles in corporate America.

Findings

Findings suggest that rather than moving women closer to gender parity, in-house counsel positions reproduce many of the same inequalities found in large law firms, particularly with regard to representation in senior ranks and compensation.

Originality/value

Research has illustrated that women experience disadvantage in terms of representation, wages and advancement in large law firms and in corporate executive suites. Women lawyers who occupy senior executive roles, however, may benefit relative to their non-legal counterparts given their education and expertise. Their credentials and relative status may contribute in reducing or eliminating gender disparities. This study extends current research by investigating this potential path to greater gender equality.
Study on multi-color emotion based on fashion color in 2019
Authors: Bai Yuanyuan , Xue Yuan
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to derive the relationship between color schemes and emotion to serve for designers and consumers.

Design/methodology/approach

The three attributes of hue, brightness and saturation of the selected sample color are analyzed, and the Semantic Differential (SD) method is used for the emotional evaluation of color schemes, and data obtained from the emotional evaluation of color schemes is analyzed by using Excel software for mean statistics and SPSS software for factor analysis and cluster analysis.

Findings

From the results of the factor analysis, three main factors that affect the feeling of the color scheme can be extracted: “personality”, “gender” and “fashion”. Color emotions can be achieved by changing the level of color saturation and brightness, the cold and warmth of the hue and the way of color combination.

Research limitations/implications

Since it takes a long time to fill out the questionnaire, the number of valid questionnaires collected is a little less and the research data is limited. In addition, some problems are not taken into account such as geography and so on, so the results of the statistical analysis are not very precise and further research is needed.

Practical implications

It can provide information of emotional color schemes for designers and consumers, and based on the SD method, an emotional color matching questionnaire is designed and statistical analysis is conducted to establish the relationship between emotion and color schemes.

Originality/value

Based on the fashion color sample and color harmony theory, the color matching rules and color matching schemes are designed independently.
Seismic fragility assessment of ductile reinforced concrete building frames
Authors: Apu Nibas , Sinha Ravi
Published: November 2020

Purpose

Increasing awareness of the society and complying with design requirements of building codes for seismic safety of structures and inhabitants during severe earthquakes are the primary purpose of seismic analysis. This study aims to present the variability in seismic fragility functions for frames of different heights for the most vulnerable condition of structure using nonlinear time history analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 4, 8 and 20 stories reinforced concrete (RC) moment-resisting two-dimensional frames are considered for this study. Ground motions (GM) are selected as per the conditional mean spectrum and these are conditioned on a target spectral acceleration at the concern time period. RC frames are designed and detailed as per Indian standards. A concentrated plasticity approach is adopted for non-linear analytical modeling of the RC frames. Deterministic capacity limit states in terms of maximum inter-story drift ratio are considered for different damage states. Fragility functions have been derived following a lognormal distribution from incremental dynamic analysis curves. Finally, the maximum likelihood estimation of the response is obtained for fitting curves with observed fragility.

Findings

The fragility functions of the three structures reflect that under critical or extreme conditions of GM the taller buildings have higher fragility than the shorter buildings for each level of limit states even though both are designed to meet their code-level design forces.

Research limitations/implications

The study is conducted on the extreme scenario of GM conditioned on the fundamental time period of each building, whereas comparison can be developed by selecting various methodologies of GM set. The probabilistic capacity model can be developed for future studies to check the fragility variation with deterministic and probabilistic capacity.

Originality/value

The investigation endeavors to present a comprehensive fragility assessment framework by analytical method. The outcome will be useful in the development of a disaster management strategy for new or old buildings and the response of seismic force with a variation of the building’s height. The findings will also be useful for updating the earthquake-resistant building codes for the new building construction in a similar context.
Cultural competence as a technology of whiteness: race and responsibilisation in Scottish health and social care
Authors: Russell Lani
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore and extend understanding of the concept of cultural competence in relation to whiteness, particularly the implications of this link in the context of heightened concerns about safety and risk connected with the responsibilisation of health and social care.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is a critical review of academic literature about cultural competence in health and social care, focussing on Scotland. The discussion develops understandings of cultural competence in light of important writing about whiteness and draws on recent related research, for example, about racial patterning in relation to disciplinary proceedings.

Findings

Cultural competence is an example of the neoliberal fusion of the ideals of quality and equality. It is a technology of whiteness which may reinforce racial disadvantage especially in the current environment of responsibilisation. Cultural competence is associated with individual responsibility tropes which undermine state-funded welfare provision and re-inscribe traditional inequalities.

Practical implications

The findings reinforce the importance of a focus on the social determinants of health and challenge “audit” approaches to competence of all kinds, favouring instead the promotion of creativity from the margins.

Originality/value

This paper brings together several areas of literature, which have perhaps previously not overlapped, to identify under-recognised implications of cultural competence in the sector, thus linking the critical discussion to decolonisation and good practice in new ways.
Investigating consumers' path to showrooming: a perceived value-based perspective
Authors: Rajkumar Narasimhan , Vishwakarma Pankaj , Gangwani Kishore Kumar
Published: November 2020

Purpose

Grounded on the concept of a value trade-off, the authors of this study seek to address the question of why some people visit an offline store before purchasing online. The authors offer a novel perspective by identifying and describing the perceived value drivers (benefits and sacrifices) associated with showrooming in the context of the branded apparel segment.

Design/methodology/approach

Data collected from 318 showrooming customers were analysed in the context of the proposed perceived value framework using the structural equation modelling method.

Findings

The results showed that enhanced product evaluation, monetary savings, smart shopper feelings and perceived enjoyment (positively) and search costs and online risk (negatively) influenced consumers' showrooming value perceptions as benefits and sacrifices associated with showrooming. Only perceived consumption delay emerged as insignificant. As expected, perceived showrooming value was identified as an important driver of showrooming intentions.

Research limitations/implications

The application of this paper's findings is limited to the branded apparel segment. The model can be tested in other sectors with a larger sample size to gain deeper insights.

Practical implications

The findings can be utilized by brick-and-mortar retailers to retain showrooming customers.

Originality/value

The authors of the current research work contribute to a better understanding of showrooming by adopting a perceived-value-based perspective, which offers an alternative yet effective route for understanding showrooming.