bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Maqashid sharia-based mosque empowerment index
Authors: As-Salafiyah Aisyah , Rusydiana Aam Slamet , Mustafa Muhammad Isa
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This study aims to formulate an index formula for mosque empowerment based on Maqashid Syariah as a measuring tool for the level of mosque empowerment.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a qualitative and quantitative approach (mixed method). Data collection techniques are carried out by in-depth interviews with experts consisting of academics, practitioners, scholars and regulators. The data analysis technique uses the Analytical Network Process (ANP) with Super Decision 2.10 software to construct the index model structure.

Findings

The results indicate that the mosque has a multi-field role, including in the fields of worship, social, education, politics, economy and culture. This study produces an index of mosque empowerment based on Maqashid Syariah, composed of sic criteria, namely, elements of Maqashid Syariah; protect religion, soul, mind, lineage, property and environment. The weighting results of the criteria indicate that maintaining religion is the main criterion with a weighted value of 0.209. Each of these criteria consists of five indicators. Of all indicators, environmental safety is the top priority, with a weighted value of 0.056.

Originality/value

This study is the first comprehensive study that discusses the mosque empowerment index by weighting the ANP method to produce an index of mosque empowerment based on Maqashid Syariah.
Nonlinear dynamic analysis of multiple grooved water-lubricated journal bearings using attenuation rate interpolation method
Authors: Li Qiang , Liu Qinglei , Wang Yujun , Zhang Shuo , Du Yujing , Li Bin , Xu Wei-Wei
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The stringent requirements for environmental protection have induced the extensive applications of water-lubricated journal bearings in marine propulsion. The nonlinear dynamic analysis of multiple grooved water-lubricated bearings (MGWJBs) has not been fully covered so far in the literature. This study aims to conduct the nonlinear dynamic analysis of the instability for MGWJBs.

Design/methodology/approach

An attenuation rate interpolation method is proposed for the determination of the critical instability speed. Based on a structured mesh movement algorithm, the transient hydrodynamic force model of MGWJBs is set up. Furthermore, the parameters’ analysis of nonlinear instability for MGWJBs is conducted. The minimum water film thickness, side leakage, friction torque and power loss of friction are fully analyzed.

Findings

With the increase of speed, the journal orbits come across the steady state equilibrium motion, sub-harmonic motion and limit circle motion successively. At the limit circle motion stage, the orbits are much larger than that of steady state equilibrium and sub-harmonic motion. The critical instability speed increases when the spiral angle decreases or the groove angle increases. The minimum water film thickness peak is at the rotor speed of 4,000 r/min for the MGWJB with Sa = 0°. As rotor speed increases, the side leakage decreases slightly while the friction torque and the power loss of friction increase gradually.

Originality/value

Present research provides a beneficial reference for the dynamic mechanism analysis and design of MGWJBs.
Augmented reality – an important aspect of Industry 4.0
Authors: Sharma Aatish , Mehtab Raied , Mohan Sanjay , Mohd Shah Mohd Kamal
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Augmented reality (AR) integrates the digital world with the real world and thus, provides a real-time experience to the users. With AR, the immediate surroundings become a learning platform for the users. The perception of the products has been enhanced many times with AR; thus, enriching user experience and responsiveness. The purpose of this paper is to bring forth the basics of AR and provide an overview of the research work carried out by researchers in the implementation of AR in different sectors.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper summarizes the usefulness of AR in different industries. The authors have identified the peer-reviewed research publications from Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, etc. The selection of literature has been made based upon the significance of AR in recent times. The industries/sectors where AR has been implemented successfully have been considered for this paper. The paper has been divided into various sections and subsections to bring more clarity to the readers.

Findings

This paper presents a brief and a precise information on Industry 4.0 and AR. The basic working of AR system and its implications have also been discussed. The preference of AR over virtual reality (VR) has also been deliberated in this paper. The authors have presented the usefulness of AR in different sectors such as smart factories, ship yard building, online shopping, surgery and education. This paper discusses the AR-ready procedures being followed in these sectors.

Originality/value

AR has been an add-on to VR systems. The processes in industries have become very handy and informative with AR. Because the application of AR in different sectors has not been discussed in a single paper; thus, this work presents a systematic literature review on the applications of AR in different sectors/industries.
Digital platforms for connecting actors in the agtech space: insights on platform development from participatory action research on KisanMitr
Authors: Poti Sapna , Joy Simy
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the development of digital platforms in agtech space as a mechanism to mitigate the disconnects among the various actors in the innovation, business and entrepreneurship and extension ecosystems that impede the journey of technology from labs to farms. It does so by tracing the birth and evolution of KisanMitr, an agriculture digital platform created in India.

Design/methodology/approach

The research follows a participatory action research approach.

Findings

Digital platforms can be useful for integrating varied actor groups, in particular by facilitating the open flow of information among actors, and thus bringing to light the ways in which they can collaborate.

Practical implications

The paper demonstrates that digital platforms can become the backbone of integrated agricultural innovation systems, just as in the high-tech industries. Greater information flow enabled by such platforms allows the actors to collaborate more effectively. However, it is necessary to maintain farmer-focus, undertake off-platform activities to facilitate mutual engagement among actors and watch for potential governance issues if these platforms were to make a true impact for farmers.

Social implications

KisanMitr was initiated with the motive of helping the Indian farmers, especially the reverse migrants during the COViD-19 pandemic, specifically for increasing the range of technology options available to them to make agriculture a viable livelihood option.

Originality/value

KisanMitr platform is one the first of its kind in India and in the agricultural sector. Unlike the digital platforms developed by private corporations, it was created by a government agency.
The impact of perceived servant leadership traits and safety climate on task performance and risk-taking behavior in times of crisis
Authors: Aboramadan Mohammed , Dahleez Khalid Abed
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have opened the door to investigations of the leadership practices needed to guarantee positive work-related outcomes among employees in organizations. Therefore, building on the norm of reciprocity, this research aims to propose a model to examine servant leadership’s role in stimulating task performance and risk-taking behaviors during crisis times. In this model, safety climate was hypothesized to serve as a mediating variable between servant leadership, task performance and risk-taking behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 237 staff (medial and administrative staff) working in Palestinian hospitals. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. Common method bias remedies were presented.

Findings

This study demonstrates that servant leadership is effective in fostering task performance and risk-taking behaviors in times of crisis through the mediation of safety climate. According to the results, safety climate demonstrated to fully mediate relationship between servant leadership and task performance (ß = 0.225, p-value = 0.000), and the relationship between servant leadership and risk-taking behavior (ß = 0.248, p-value = 0.000). Moreover, the results demonstrated that employees with higher experience tend to be more willing to engage in risk-taking behavior.

Practical implications

The findings may be useful for hospital managers on the role servant leadership can play in generating positive work-related outcomes during crisis times.

Originality/value

The paper is among the few empirical endeavors which examine the consequences of servant leadership in times of crisis, taking into account the intervening role of safety climate.
Social media and library marketing
Authors: Muhammad Anwar , Zhiwei Tang
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The basic purpose of this paper is to find out library professionals how these libraries perceive the importance of social media and emerging technologies what would make the difference in the libraries and how they help libraries to create environments flexible and exclusive.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reviews various options for libraries to use different forms of social media to market their resources and services.

Findings

The reviewed literature has identified the importance and use of emerging technologies and social media in libraries. This paper can help library professionals to engage themselves to use social media and emerging technologies to bring innovation into the library sources and services.

Originality/value

This paper provides a review of social media and emerging technologies used for marketing in the libraries environment.
Warming and top predator loss drive direct and indirect effects on multiple trophic groups within and across ecosystems
Authors: Antiqueira Pablo Augusto P. , Petchey Owen L. , Rezende Felipe , Machado Velho Luiz Felipe , Rodrigues Luzia Cleide , Romero Gustavo Quevedo
Published: November 2021

The interspecific interactions within and between adjacent ecosystems strongly depend on the changes in their abiotic and biotic components. However, little is known about how climate change and biodiversity loss in a specific ecosystem can impact the multiple trophic interactions of different biological groups within and across ecosystems.

We used natural microecosystems (tank‐bromeliads) as a model system to investigate the main and interactive effects of aquatic warming and aquatic top predator loss (i.e. trophic downgrading) on trophic relationships in three integrated food web compartments: (a) aquatic micro‐organisms, (b) aquatic macro‐organisms and (c) terrestrial predators (i.e. via cross‐ecosystem effects).

The aquatic top predator loss substantially impacted the three food web compartments. In the aquatic macrofauna compartment, trophic downgrading increased the filter feeder richness and abundance directly and indirectly via an increase in detritivore richness, likely through a facilitative interaction. For the microbiota compartment, aquatic top predator loss had a negative effect on algae richness, probably via decreasing the input of nutrients from predator biological activities. Furthermore, the more active terrestrial predators responded more to aquatic top predator loss, via an increase in some components of aquatic macrofauna, than more stationary terrestrial predators. The aquatic trophic downgrading indirectly altered the richness and abundance of cursorial terrestrial predators, but these effects had different direction according to the aquatic functional group, filter feeder or other detritivores. The web‐building predators were indirectly affected by aquatic trophic downgrading due to increased filter feeder richness. Aquatic warming did not affect the aquatic micro‐ or macro‐organisms but did positively affect the abundance of web‐building terrestrial predators.

These results allow us to raise a predictive framework of how different anthropogenic changes predicted for the next decades, such as aquatic warming and top predator loss, could differentially affect multiple biological groups through interactions within and across ecosystems.
Analytic approaches to assess the impact of local spending on sexually transmitted diseases
Authors: Grembowski David , Lim Sungwon , Pantazis Athena , Bekemeier Betty
Published: November 2021

Objective

To compare the estimated associations between annual sexually transmitted diseases (STD) expenditures per capita and STD incidence rates among Florida and Washington local health departments (LHDs) from 2001 to 2017, using two approaches—a longitudinal regression model with lagged STD spending and a regression model with the Arellano–Bond panel estimator.

Data sources

Secondary data for LHDs were obtained from Florida and Washington state government offices and combined with county sociodemographic and health system data from the federal government.

Study design

We examined LHDs in Florida and Washington using a longitudinal panel study design to estimate ecological relationships between annual STD expenditures per capita and annual STD incidence rates from 2001 to 2017, with LHDs as the unit of analysis. We compared two regression models: generalized estimating equations (GEE) and the Arellano–Bond panel estimator (an instrumental variable approach).

Data collection

The secondary data were combined to build a longitudinal panel database for LHDs in Florida and Washington from 2001 to 2017.

Principal findings

In the GEE model with both states, greater STD spending in a prior year was associated unexpectedly with greater STD incidence rates in succeeding years. The Arellano–Bond models for both states had the expected inverse associations but were not significant. In the Arellano–Bond models for Florida, a $1 increase in STD spending in previous years was followed by decreases in STD incidence rates ranging between 29 and 58 points in succeeding years (0.09 ≥ p ≥ 0.04).

Conclusions

In longitudinal panel data for LHDs in two states, the Arellano–Bond estimator, or other instrumental variable approach, is preferred over conventional regression models to obtain unbiased estimates of the relationship between annual STD spending rates and annual STD rates. Future studies will require accurate, standardized, and detailed longitudinal data and rigorous analytic approaches, such as those illustrated in our study.
Construction of a circular RNA–microRNA–messenger RNA regulatory network of hsa_circ_0043256 in lung cancer by integrated analysis
Authors: Li Yongwen , Shi Ruifeng , Zhu Guangsheng , Chen Chen , Huang Hua , Gao Min , Xu Songlin , Cao Peijun , Zhang Zihe , Wu Di , Li Xuanguang , Liu Hongyu , Chen Jun
Published: November 2021

Background

Patients with non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are diagnosed in advanced stages and with a poor 5‐year survival rate. There is a critical need to identify novel biomarkers to improve the therapy and overall prognosis of this disease.

Methods

Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified from three profiles of GSE101586, GSE101684 and GSE112214 using Venn diagrams. hsa_circ_0043256 were validated using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR). The circular RNA–microRNA–messenger RNA (circRNA–miRNA–mRNA) regulatory network was constructed with Cytoscape 3.7.0. Hub genes were identified with protein interaction (PPI) and validated with the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA), Human Protein Atlas (HPA) databases, and immunohistochemistry. Survival analyses were also performed using a Kaplan–Meier (KM) plotter. The effects of hsa_circ_0043256 on cell proliferation and cell cycles were evaluated by EdU staining and flow cytometry, respectively.

Results

hsa_circ_0043256, hsa_circ_0029426 and hsa_circ_0049271 were obtained. Following RT‐qPCR validation, hsa_circ_0043256 was selected for further analysis. In addition, functional experiment results indicated that hsa_circ_0043256 could inhibit cell proliferation and cell‐cycle progression of NSCLC cells in vitro. Prediction by three online databases and combining with DEGs identified from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), a network containing one circRNAs, three miRNAs, and 209 mRNAs was developed. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis indicated DEGs might be associated with lung cancer onset and progression. A PPI network based on the 209 genes was established, and five hub genes (BIRC5, SHCBP1, CCNA2, SKA3, and GINS1) were determined. Following verification of five hub genes using GEPIA database, HPA database, and immunohistochemistry. High expression of all five hub genes led to poor overall survival.

Conclusion

Our study constructed a circRNA–miRNA–mRNA network of hsa_circ_0043256. hsa_circ_0043256 may be a potential therapeutic target for lung cancer.
Coping with COVID: Preparing prescribers during the pandemic
Authors: Ferner Robin E. , Mason Julie , Vallance Hannah K. , Choudhary Tanvi , Marriott John F. , Coleman Jamie J. , Pontefract Sarah K.
Published: November 2021

In response to the COVID‐19 pandemic, Health Education England (HEE) and the University of Birmingham provided National Health Service (NHS) staff free access to SCRIPT, a national eLearning programme for safer prescribing and therapeutics. The eLearning was particularly for those returning to work or being redeployed. In the year March 2020‐21, 3412 users registered to access portfolios and opened an aggregate of 17 198 modules. Each user completed a median of 2 (range 1‐50, interquartile range [IQR] 1‐7) assessed learning modules. Marks improved from pre‐test to post‐test by a median of 2 (IQR 0‐3) marks out of 10. The most frequently selected modules were Adherence and Concordance (1109 users), Fluids (981 users) and Diabetic Emergencies (818 users). A total of 878 users accessed the unassessed COVID‐19 module. The SCRIPT modules provided standardised education in core principles relating to prescribing and therapeutics, and were used by professionals from many healthcare disciplines.
Prognostic impact of Schlafen 11 in bladder cancer patients treated with platinum‐based chemotherapy
Authors: Taniyama Daiki , Sakamoto Naoya , Takashima Tsuyoshi , Takeda Masahiko , Pham Quoc Thang , Ukai Shoichi , Maruyama Ryota , Harada Kenji , Babasaki Takashi , Sekino Yohei , Hayashi Tetsutaro , Sentani Kazuhiro , Pommier Yves , Murai Junko , Yasui Wataru
Published: November 2021

The utility of Schlafen 11 (SLFN11) expression as a predictive biomarker for platinum‐based chemotherapy has been established for cancers from different histologies. However, the therapeutic relevance of SLFN11 in bladder cancer (BC) is unknown. Here, we examined the clinicopathologic significance of SLFN11 expression across 120 BC cases by immunohistochemistry. We divided the cases into two cohorts, one including 50 patients who received adjuvant or neoadjuvant platinum‐based chemotherapy, and the other including 70 BC patients treated by surgical resection without chemotherapy. In the cohort of 50 BC cases treated with platinum‐based chemotherapy, the SLFN11‐positive group (n = 25) showed significantly better overall survival than the SLFN11‐negative group (n = 25, P = .012). Schlafen 11 expression correlated significantly with the expression of luminal subtype marker GATA3. Multivariate analyses identified SLFN11 expression as an independent prognostic predictor (odds ratio, 0.32; 95% confidence interval, 0.11‐0.91; P = .033). Conversely, in the cohort of 70 BC cases not receiving platinum‐based chemotherapy, the SLFN11‐positive group (n = 29) showed significantly worse overall survival than the SLFN11‐negative group (n = 41, P = .034). In vitro analyses using multiple BC cell lines confirmed that SLFN11 KO rendered cells resistant to cisplatin. The epigenetic modifying drugs 5‐azacytidine and entinostat restored SLFN11 expression and resensitized cells to cisplatin and carboplatin in SLFN11‐negative BC cell lines. We conclude that SLFN11 is a predictive biomarker for BC patients who undergo platinum‐based chemotherapy and that the combination of epigenetic modifiers could rescue refractory BC patients to platinum derivatives by reactivating SLFN11 expression.
Systematic identification of activity cliffs with dual‐atom replacements and their rationalization on the basis of single‐atom replacement analogs and X‐ray structures
Authors: Hu Huabin , Bajorath Jürgen
Published: November 2021

Very small chemical changes in active compounds causing large potency effects are of particular interest in medicinal chemistry and drug design. We have systematically searched active compounds with available high‐confidence activity data for pairs of structural analogs with dual‐atom replacements and additional analogs with corresponding single‐atom replacements. From ~287,000 unique qualifying compounds with activity against nearly 1900 unique targets, ~3500 target‐based analog pairs with dual‐atom replacements were identified. These included 852 pairs with significant differences in compound potency, representing a set of previously unobserved activity cliffs. Comparing these pairs with corresponding single‐atom replacement analogs, which were frequently identified, made it possible to systematically analyze how potency changes propagated from single‐ to dual‐atom replacements. The analysis uncovered different potency effects and revealed that individual atom replacements were often decisive for activity cliff formation. For a limited number of activity cliffs, X‐ray structures of targets in complex with cliff compounds were available, which aided in rationalizing potency alterations among analogs with single‐ or dual‐atom replacements. The analog pairs identified herein provide a rich resource of structure‐activity relationship information and attractive test cases for calibrating computational methods.
Microbial profiles of peri‐implant mucositis and peri‐implantitis: Submucosal microbial dysbiosis correlates with disease severity
Authors: Shi Yitian , Tong Zian , Zhang Yu , Si Misi , He Fuming
Published: November 2021

Objective

To investigate the microbiome characteristics of peri‐implant mucositis (PM) and peri‐implantitis (PI), and to analyse the correlation between disease severity and submucosal microbial dysbiosis.

Materials and Methods

A cross‐sectional study design was conducted. Submucosal biofilm samples from 27 PM sites and 37 PI sites from 64 patients were collected and analysed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing (Illumina). Differences in microbiological profiles between PM and PI were evaluated using the α‐diversity, β‐diversity and linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analysis. The relative abundances of the taxa at the phylum and genus levels were compared using the Wilcoxon rank test and logistic regression. The microbial dysbiosis index (MDI) was calculated, and its relationship with clinical measurements (probing depth, bleeding on probing and marginal bone loss, among others) was analysed using Pearson's correlation coefficient.

Results

The overall microbiome distribution in the PM and PI sites was similar according to α‐ and β‐diversity. Twenty‐three taxa at the genus level and two taxa at the phylum level showed significant differences in relative abundance between the two clinical classifications. Five taxa at the genus level were screened out for the MDI calculation after logistic regression. No clinical measurements but marginal bone loss showed a significant positive correlation with microbial dysbiosis.

Conclusion

The microbiome richness, diversity and distribution were similar in PM and PI sites, including both common periodontal bacteria and novel species. In addition, an increase in marginal bone loss was significantly associated with submucosal microbial dysbiosis.
Assessment of the knowledge ofcanalis sinuosusamongst dentists and dental students: An online‐based cross‐sectional study
Authors: Lopes‐Santos Gabriela , Salzedas Leda Maria Pescinini , Bernabé Daniel Galera , Ikuta Carla Renata Sanomiya , Miyahara Glauco Issamu , Tjioe Kellen Cristine
Published: November 2021

Introduction

Canalis sinuosus(CS) is a neurovascular canal that corresponds to a small branch of the infraorbital canal. This study aimed at assessing the knowledge and detection performance of CS amongst dentists and dental students.

Materials and Methods

Four‐hundred and five dentists and dental students answered a questionnaire with three parts: 1. Socio‐demographical; 2. Clinical cases with cone‐ beam computed tomography (CBCT) sections showing CS and 3. Previous knowledge about CS. The chi‐squared test and Spearman's correlation test were used to compare results as appropriate.p‐values below .05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

Most participants did not identify CS in any CBCT. There was an association between the number of correct answers and dental specialties. Most individuals had not learned about CS previously. There was an association between past knowledge of CS and gender, highest academic degree, working environment, dental specialty and number of correct answers but not with age or experience in Dentistry.

Conclusion

This study suggests that most dentists are not aware about CS and do not know how to diagnose it. Previous knowledge about CS positively influenced its identification in CBCT.
Effect of mutation supply on population dynamics and trait evolution in an experimental microbial community
Authors: Cairns Johannes , Jousset Alexandre , Becks Lutz , Hiltunen Teppo
Published: November 2021

Mutation supply can influence evolutionary and thereby ecological dynamics in important ways which have received little attention. Mutation supply influences features of population genetics, such as the pool of adaptive mutations, evolutionary pathways and importance of processes, such as clonal interference. The resultant trait evolutionary dynamics, in turn, can alter population size and species interactions. However, controlled experiments testing for the importance of mutation supply on rapid adaptation and thereby population and community dynamics have primarily been restricted to the first of these aspects. To close this knowledge gap, we performed a serial passage experiment with wild‐type Pseudomonas fluorescens and a mutant with reduced mutation rate. Bacteria were grown at two resource levels in combination with the presence of a ciliate predator. A higher mutation supply enabled faster adaptation to the low‐resource environment and anti‐predatory defence. This was associated with higher population size at the ecological level and better access to high‐recurrence mutational targets at the genomic level with higher mutation supply. In contrast, mutation rate did not affect growth under high‐resource level. Our results demonstrate that intrinsic mutation rate influences population dynamics and trait evolution particularly when population size is constrained by extrinsic conditions.
COVID‐19 vaccine take‐up rate and safety in adults with epilepsy: Data from a multicenter study in China
Authors: Lu Lu , Zhang Qi , Xiao Jing , Zhang Yingying , Peng Wei , Han Xiong , Chen Shengli , Yang Dan , Sander Josemir W. , Zhou Dong , Xiong Weixi
Published: November 2021

Objective

This study was undertaken to investigate the COVID‐19 vaccine uptake rate and possible postvaccination effects in adults with epilepsy.

Methods

We invited adults with epilepsy attending three centers in China from July 24 to August 31, 2021 to participate in this study. We also asked age‐ and sex‐matched controls among people attending for other chronic neuropsychiatric conditions and healthy controls accompanying people with illness attending the hospitals to participate. We excluded people who, under the national guidelines, had evident contradictions to vaccination. Participants were interviewed face‐to‐face using questionnaires. Vaccine uptake and postvaccine adverse events among the people with epilepsy were compared with those with neuropsychiatric conditions and controls. We also compared the willingness and reasons for hesitancy among unvaccinated participants.

Results

We enrolled 981 people, of whom 491 had epilepsy, 217 had other neuropsychiatric conditions, and 273 were controls. Forty‐two percent of those with epilepsy had had the first dose of a vaccine, compared with 93% of controls and 84% of the people with neuropsychiatric conditions (p < .0001). The majority (93.8%) of those immunized had inactivated vaccines. Among the unvaccinated people with epilepsy, 59.6% were willing to have the vaccine. Their main reasons for hesitation were potential adverse effects (53.3%) and concerns about losing seizure control (47.0%). The incidence of adverse events in the epilepsy group was similar to controls. Nineteen people with epilepsy reported an increase in seizure frequency. No episode of status epilepticus or prolonged seizures was reported. Two controls had their first‐ever seizure, which was unlikely related to the vaccine.

Significance

The vaccine uptake rate in people with epilepsy was lower than in their same‐age controls. The postvaccination effect was no higher than in controls. We found no evidence suggesting worsening seizures after vaccination. Measurement and education focused on increasing the vaccination rate in epilepsy are warranted.
Climate and conspecific density inform phenotypic forecasting of juvenile Pacific salmon body size
Authors: Ulaski Marta E. , Finkle Heather , Beaudreau Anne H. , Westley Peter A. H.
Published: November 2021

Predicting effects of climate on fitness‐linked phenotypic traits, such as body size, is important for the management and conservation of species in the face of global change. During sensitive life stages, small changes in mean trait values can have large effects on survival and population productivity.

The transition from freshwater to saltwater by migrating anadromous fishes such as Pacific salmon (genus Oncorhynchus) is a critical life history transition, where survival is mediated by the size of migrating individuals. For salmon that spend extended periods rearing in freshwater, the size at ocean entry (i.e., smolt length) may be sensitive to changes in freshwater conditions shaped by biotic and abiotic factors, yet long‐term phenotypic time series for exploring these responses are rare.

We reconstructed a four‐decade time series of smolt length from archives of returning adult scales to quantify population‐specific responses to climate and conspecific density in a small watershed.

Dynamic linear modeling found that the relationship between a proxy for cohort density and smolt length at ocean entry was consistently negative, suggestive of competition. In contrast, there was a positive, yet dynamic, relationship between a proxy for density of emerging fry during the second summer of growth and smolt length.

The effect of temperature on smolt length was not consistent between two populations of sockeye salmon O. nerka that likely use distinct habitats within the watershed. A positive relationship between smolt length and temperature was only detected for the less abundant, early returning population.

Predictions of smolt length showed variable responses under scenarios of increasing temperature and high and low densities of conspecifics. Collectively, these results reveal population‐specific responses to temperature and density, suggesting that local habitat conditions may filter larger‐scale climate drivers.
Divergent fate of coccolithophores in a warming tropical ecosystem
Authors: Frada Miguel José , Keuter Sabine , Koplovitz Gil , Avrahami Yoav
Published: November 2021

Rising ocean temperatures will alter the diversity of marine phytoplankton communities, likely leading to modifications in food‐web and biogeochemical dynamics. Here we focus on coccolithophores, a prominent group of calcifying phytoplankton that plays a central role in the global carbon cycle. Using both new (2017–2020) and historical (1975–1976) data from the northern Red Sea, we found that during ‘mild summers’, the most common coccolithophores ‐ Emiliania huxleyi and Gephyrocapsa ericsonii ‐ co‐exist at similar densities. Both species then particularly flourish during subsequent winter periods where nutrient availability is higher due to convective mixing. However, during ‘hot summers’, which have become progressively the norm over the last decades with average surface temperatures exceeding 27°C for long time‐periods, G. ericsonii density markedly declined. Moreover, G. ericsonii remains at low background levels even during winter mixing periods, while E. huxleyi succession and development during winter appears unchanged. Further incubation assays using native assemblages confirmed that G. ericsonii’s growth over 27°C is significantly reduced relative to E. huxleyi. Additional factors likely contribute to impair G. ericsonii populations at sea, but temperature is a key factor. Our results illustrate the divergent impact of ongoing ocean warming in tropical phytoplankton species.
Capital Structure and Leverage in Private Equity Buyouts
Authors: Brown Greg , Harris Robert , Munday Shawn
Published: November 2021

Private equity capital structures have evolved over time as financial markets and PE firms have created new ways to attract debt capital. In addition to borrowing by individual portfolio companies, debt is being backed by the fund or the general partner, producing different incentive and risk‐sharing features.

The use of leverage has been a central feature of the PE model by, first of all, making possible a concentrated ownership position. Studies show that this model has created value for investors and can improve management of the underlying assets. What's more, PE's demonstrated effectiveness in reducing the potential costs of financial distress created by leverage is viewed as evidence of its “comparative advantage” in managing high leverage—one that effectively enables PE‐backed firms to take on higher levels of debt than comparable public companies. Nevertheless, PE structures have the potential to introduce agency conflicts of interests and incentives between GPs and LPs that may be managed with only partial success through contractual arrangements.

The outcomes of capital structure decisions in PE vary considerably across the cycle, with rises and falls in leverage and concomitant changes in investment and returns. A number of studies offer explanations of the highly cyclical nature of private equity activity, suggesting that institutional features combined with macroeconomic cycles are to some degree “hardwired” into the industry.

In providing evidence of continuing PE outperformance of public companies, the authors also show that the relationship between debt and performance depends on how leverage is measured. When debt is measured as a percentage of deal value, higher leverage is associated with higher average returns, reflecting the positive risk‐return trade‐off that basic finance theory would predict. But when leverage is measured as a multiple of EBITDA—as industry practitioners tend to do—the relationship with performance is weak and negative, suggesting that companies with high debt‐to‐value ratios are more likely to be mature “value” firms, whereas companies with high leverage ratios tilt towards “growth.”
The Seven Deadly Sins of Start‐Up Valuation
Authors: Bancel Franck , Martinaud Bruno , Philippe Henri
Published: November 2021

Valuing start‐ups is different from most other valuations because the information available on start‐ups is limited, the business models are usually not yet stable, and maturity may be far off. In this setting, it is difficult to identify listed assets or comparable transactions, much less provide credible forecasts of cash flows. Despite such difficulties, the value of the shares in a start‐up can be estimated by applying the standard financial framework while adapting the valuation methodology to the context. To help practitioners value start‐ups successfully, the authors highlight “seven common errors to be avoided” from their practical experience.
Associations between dietary intake of total protein and sources of protein (plant vs. animal) and risk of all‐cause and cause‐specific mortality in older Australian men: The Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project
Authors: Das Arpita , Cumming Robert , Naganathan Vasikaran , Blyth Fiona , Couteur David G. Le , Handelsman David J. , Waite Louise M. , Ribeiro Rosilene V. R. , Simpson Stephen J. , Hirani Vasant
Published: November 2021

Background

The association between dietary protein intake and the risk of mortality is still controversial. The present study aimed to examine the associations between dietary total, animal and plant protein intake and all‐cause and cause‐specific mortality.

Methods

Community‐dwelling men aged ≥ 70 years were recruited from local government areas surrounding Concord Hospital in Sydney, New South Wales for the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project (CHAMP). The research dietitian administered a standardised validated diet history questionnaire to capture baseline dietary intake. In total, 794 men participated in a detailed diet history interview at the third wave. Adequacy of protein intake was assessed by comparing participant intake with the Nutrient Reference Values. Total protein intake was categorised into quintiles. Sources of protein were also captured. Mortality was ascertained through the New South Wales death registry. Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the association between dietary total, animal and plant protein intake and risk of mortality.

Results

The mean age of the CHAMP men was 81 years. In total, 162 men died during a median follow‐up of 3.7 years. Of these, 54 (33.3%) and 49 (30.2%) men died due to cancer and cardiovascular disease, respectively. There were U‐shaped associations between protein intake and all‐cause and cancer mortality. In multiple adjusted analysis, the second (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.38; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.18–0.82) and third (HR = 0.36; 95% CI = 0.16–0.82) quintiles of protein intakes were significantly associated with reduced risk of all‐cause and only second quintile (HR = 0.47; 95% CI = 0.10–0.93) of protein intake was significantly associated with cancer mortality. Each serve increase in animal protein was significantly associated with 12% (HR = 1.12; 95% CI = 1.00–1.26) and 23% (HR = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.02–1.49) increased risk of all‐cause mortality and cancer mortality respectively. Conversely, each serve increase in plant protein intake was significantly associated with 25% (HR = 0.75; 95% CI 0.61–0.92) and 28% (HR = 0.72; 95% CI = 0.53–0.97) reduced risk of all‐cause and cancer mortality, respectively. No such associations were observed for cardiovascular disease mortality.

Conclusions

Both second and third quintiles of total protein intake were associated with reduced all‐cause and cancer mortality. Plant protein was inversely associated with all‐cause and cancer mortality, whereas animal protein intake was positively associated with mortality.
Improvement of urban eye skin in Chinese female by supramolecular retinol plus acmella oleracea extract‐containing product
Authors: Ye Ying , Li Yanan , Bi Tianyu , Jiang Ligang
Published: November 2021

Background

Studies on the anti‐wrinkle effects of retinol have been widely reported, but there are few reports on the infraorbital dark circles reducing effects.

Objective

To evaluate the efficiency and tolerance of one novel formulation containing supramolecular retinol plus acmella oleracea extract in Chinese urban eye skin.

Methods

Thirty‐three women with dark circles and visible fine wrinkles around the eyes, aged 20–45 years, were enrolled and instructed to use the formula for 6 weeks. Instrumental measures and subject assessment were obtained at baseline and at 3‐week intervals.

Results

After 6 weeks, Mexameter MX18 results demonstrated a statistically significant 13.8% decrease in MI (melanin index) value, and Colorimeter CL400 results demonstrated a statistically significant 0.5% increase in L* (lightness) value, which proved the efficacy of reducing dark circles. Primos‐Lite data showed that the wrinkles parameters of Ra, the wrinkle area %, and number of the wrinkles under the eyes and crow's feet revealed significant reduction to varying degrees. Cutometer results showed that R2 value increased significantly by 13.0%, indicating the benefits of firmer skin. In addition, subject assessment revealed that at the end of 6 weeks, the eye skin was noticeably improved.

Conclusions

By clinical evaluation and subject assessment, the novel formulation containing supramolecular retinol plus acmella oleracea extract can effectively diminish the collective signs of stressed urban eye skin for Chinese female in terms of dark circles, fine wrinkles, and sagging skin with good tolerance.
Do Younger Children Benefit More From Cognitive and Academic Interventions? How Training Studies Can Provide Insights Into Developmental Changes in Plasticity
Authors: Park Anne T. , Mackey Allyson P.
Published: November 2021

Educational interventions are frequently designed to occur during early childhood, based on the idea that earlier intervention will have greater long‐term academic benefits. However, surprisingly little is known about when cognitive and academic skills are most plastic, or malleable, during development. One way to study plasticity is to ask whether learning from targeted practice varies as a function of age. In this review, we summarize behavioral and neuroimaging studies that have tested for age‐related differences in cognitive training gains, for executive functions, and for academic skills (reading and math). Findings are mixed, with no clear evidence for an overall younger age benefit. We discuss current challenges and opportunities for leveraging research on cognitive and brain plasticity to inform the timing and content of early academic interventions.
Partitive Articles and Indefinites, Micro and Macrovariation
Authors: Pinzin Francesco , Poletto Cecilia
Published: November 2021

This introductory paper provides an overview of the main phenomena investigated in this Special Issue, such as the relation between the encoding of indefinites and the presence of genitive and definite markers, the relation between partitivity and indefiniteness and the distribution of these phenomena in minority, or “micro”, varieties – such as Italian dialects, Galloromance varieties, North and South Saami – compared to the distribution of the same phenomena in majority, or “macro”, varieties – such as French, Italian, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Estonian, Finnish, Czech and Serbian. The second part of the paper, then, provides an overview of the content of each original paper collected in the special issue.
Broad‐spectrum stress tolerance conferred by suppressing jasmonate signaling attenuation in Arabidopsis JASMONIC ACID OXIDASE mutants
Authors: Marquis Valentin , Smirnova Ekaterina , Graindorge Stéfanie , Delcros Pauline , Villette Claire , Zumsteg Julie , Heintz Dimitri , Heitz Thierry
Published: November 2021

Jasmonate signaling for adaptative or developmental responses generally relies on an increased synthesis of the bioactive hormone jasmonoyl‐isoleucine (JA‐Ile), triggered by environmental or internal cues. JA‐Ile is embedded in a complex metabolic network whose upstream and downstream components strongly contribute to hormone homeostasis and activity. We previously showed that JAO2, an isoform of four Arabidopsis JASMONIC ACID OXIDASES, diverts the precursor jasmonic acid (JA) to its hydroxylated form HO‐JA to attenuate JA‐Ile formation and signaling. Consequently, JAO2‐deficient lines have elevated defenses and display improved tolerance to biotic stress. Here we further explored the organization and regulatory functions of the JAO pathway. Suppression of JAO2 enhances the basal expression of nearly 400 JA‐regulated genes in unstimulated leaves, many of which being related to biotic and abiotic stress responses. Consistently, non‐targeted metabolomic analysis revealed the constitutive accumulation of several classes of defensive compounds in jao2‐1 mutant, including indole glucosinolates and breakdown products. The most differential compounds were agmatine phenolamides, but their genetic suppression did not alleviate the strong resistance of jao2‐1 to Botrytis infection. Furthermore, jao2 alleles and a triple jao mutant exhibit elevated survival capacity upon severe drought stress. This latter phenotype occurs without recruiting stronger abscisic acid responses, but relies on enhanced JA‐Ile signaling directing a distinct survival pathway with MYB47 transcription factor as a candidate mediator. Our findings reveal the selected spectrum of JA responses controlled by the JAO2 regulatory node and highlight the potential of modulating basal JA turnover to pre‐activate mild transcriptional programs for multiple stress resilience.
“Dead but Standing Erect”: Why Southern Conference Members Left to Form the Southeastern Conference
Authors: Watkins Jim
Published: November 2021

Thirteen institutions left the Southern Conference to form the Southeastern Conference during 1932. Why did these schools leave the Southern Conference? Previous historical research portrays the large size of the Southern Conference and the desire to pass academic reforms as reasons for the Southeastern Conference’s formation. This article argues that the university presidents and other administrators at Southeastern Conference institutions formed it to enhance the legitimacy of their member institutions. Throughout the Great Depression, the conference’s administrators pursued increased legitimacy by attempting to reform academic eligibility rules, allowing football games to be broadcast over the radio, awarding athletic scholarships, allowing member institutions to compete in emerging postseason football bowl games, and hiring a commissioner. This instance of conference realignment is historically significant because some of the policies implemented by the Southeastern Conference contributed to its rise as one of the top revenue-generating conferences in college athletics.
Activity of Oritavancin against Gram-Positive Pathogens Causing Bloodstream Infections in the United States over 10 Years: Focus on Drug-Resistant Enterococcal Subsets (2010–2019)
Authors: Carvalhaes Cecilia G. , Sader Helio S. , Streit Jennifer M. , Castanheira Mariana , Mendes Rodrigo E.
Published: November 2021

Oritavancin displayed potent and stable activity (MIC
90
range of 0.06 to 0.5 mg/L) over a 10-year period (2010 to 2019) against Gram-positive pathogens that cause bloodstream infections (BSI), including methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) and resistant subsets of
Enterococcus
spp. Daptomycin and linezolid were also active against methicillin-resistant
S. aureus
and vancomycin-resistant
Enterococcus
(VRE). Only oritavancin and linezolid remained active against
Enterococcus faecium
isolates displaying an elevated daptomycin MIC (i.e., 2 to 4 mg/L).