bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis and DFT study of 2,2′′-({[(1E,1′E)-(diselanediyl)bis(2,1-phenylene)]bis(methaneylylidene)}bis(azaneylylidene))bis[3′,6′-bis(diethylamino)-4a',9a'-dihydrospiro[isoindoline-1,9′-xanthen]-3-one]
Authors: Malla Manzoor Ahmad , Bansal Ravi , Butcher Ray J. , Gupta Sushil K.
Published: December 2021

The title compound, C70H70N8O4Se2, is a spiro bicyclic diselenide, made up of two [SeC6H4CH=N—N(CO)C6H4(C)C6H3NEt2(O)C6H3NEt2] units related by a twofold crystallographic symmetry element bisecting the diselenide bond. The compound crystallizes in a non-centrosymmetric polar space group (tetragonal, P\overline{4}b2) and the structure was refined as an inversion twin. The two diethyl amine groups and their attached phenyl groups of the xanthene ring are disordered over two orientations, with occupancies of 0.664 (19)/0.336 (19) and 0.665 (11)/0.335 (11), respectively. The dihedral angles between the mean planes of the central isoindoline and the phenyl rings are 26.8 (2) and 2.5 (4)°, respectively. The mean plane of the central xanthene ring forms dihedral angles of 2.0 (5), 8.8 (5), 1.7 (5) and 7.9 (6)° with the peripheral phenyl rings. The isoindoline and xanthene rings subtend a dihedral angle of 89.8 (2)°. The molecular conformation is stabilized by an intramolecular C—H...O hydrogen bond generating an S(6) ring motif. In the crystal, molecules are linked by C—H...O hydrogen bonds together with C—H...π (ring) interactions, forming a three-dimensional network. A Hirshfeld surface analysis of the crystal structure indicates that the most important contributions to the crystal packing are from H...H (68.1%), C...H/H...C (21.2%) and O...H/H...O (8.7%) contacts. The optimized structure calculated using density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6 – 31 G(d) level is compared with the experimentally determined molecular structure in the solid state. The HOMO–LUMO behaviour was used to determine the energy gap and the molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) of the compound was investigated.
Redetermination of the crystal structures of rare-earth trirhodium diboride RERh3B2 (RE = Pr, Nd and Sm) from single-crystal X-ray data
Authors: Tokuda Makoto , Yubuta Kunio , Shishido Toetsu , Sugiyama Kazumasa
Published: December 2021

The crystal structures of the rare-earth (RE) trirhodium diborides praseodymium trirhodium diboride, PrRh3B2, neodymium trirhodium diboride, NdRh3B2, and samarium trirhodium diboride, SmRh3B2, were refined on the basis of single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The crystal chemistry of RERh3B2 (RE: Pr, Nd, and Sm) compounds has previously been analyzed mainly on the basis of powder samples [Ku et al. (1980). Solid State Commun. 35, 91–96], and no structural investigation by single-crystal X-ray diffraction has been reported so far. The crystal structures of the three hexagonal RERh3B2 compounds are isotypic with that of CeRh3B2; RE, Rh and B sites are situated on special positions with site symmetry 6/mmm (Wyckoff position 1a), mmm (3g) and \overline{6}m2 (2c), respectively. In comparison with the previous powder X-ray study of hexagonal RERh3B2, the present redetermination against single-crystal X-ray data has allowed for the modeling of all atoms with anisotropic displacement parameters (ADPs). The ADPs of the Rh atom in each of the structures result in an elongated displacement ellipsoid in the direction of the stacking of the Rh kagomé-type layer. The features of obtained ADPs of atoms are discussed in relation to RERh3B2-type and analogous structures.
Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of 6,6′-((1E,1′E)-{[1,4-phenylenebis(methylene)]bis(azanylylidene)}bis(methaneylylidene))bis(2-methoxyphenol)
Authors: Kansiz Sevgi , Yesilbag Semanur , Dege Necmi , Saif Eiad , Agar Erbil
Published: December 2021

The Schiff base compound, C24H24N2O4, was synthesized by the interaction of 2-hydroxy-3-methoxy benzaldehyde and 1,4-benzene dimethanamine in ethanol, and crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n with Z′ = 0.5. The molecule is not planar, the 1,4-diethylbenzene and the phenol rings are twisted with respect to each other, making a dihedral angle of 74.27 (5)°. The molecular structure is stabilized by an O—H...N hydrogen bond, forming an S(6) ring motif. In the crystal, molecules are linked by C—H...O hydrogen bonds, resulting in the formation of sheets parallel to the bc plane. A Hirshfeld surface analysis was undertaken to investigate the various intermolecular contacts controlling the supramolecular topology, suggesting the H...O (18%) contacts to be the most significant interactions, whereas the H...H (50.5%) and C...H (24.3%) interactions are less significant.
1,3-Thiazole-4-carbonitrile
Authors: Fait Martin J. G. , Spannenberg Anke , Kondratenko Evgenii V. , Linke David
Published: December 2021

The title compound, C4H2N2S, is a 1,3-thiazole substituted in the 4-position by a nitrile group. In the crystal, C—H...N hydrogen bonds and aromatic π–π stacking interactions are observed.
Dynamic Distributed and Parallel Machine Learning algorithms for big data mining processing
Authors: Djafri Laouni
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This work can be used as a building block in other settings such as GPU, Map-Reduce, Spark or any other. Also, DDPML can be deployed on other distributed systems such as P2P networks, clusters, clouds computing or other technologies.

Design/methodology/approach

In the age of Big Data, all companies want to benefit from large amounts of data. These data can help them understand their internal and external environment and anticipate associated phenomena, as the data turn into knowledge that can be used for prediction later. Thus, this knowledge becomes a great asset in companies' hands. This is precisely the objective of data mining. But with the production of a large amount of data and knowledge at a faster pace, the authors are now talking about Big Data mining. For this reason, the authors’ proposed works mainly aim at solving the problem of volume, veracity, validity and velocity when classifying Big Data using distributed and parallel processing techniques. So, the problem that the authors are raising in this work is how the authors can make machine learning algorithms work in a distributed and parallel way at the same time without losing the accuracy of classification results. To solve this problem, the authors propose a system called Dynamic Distributed and Parallel Machine Learning (DDPML) algorithms. To build it, the authors divided their work into two parts. In the first, the authors propose a distributed architecture that is controlled by Map-Reduce algorithm which in turn depends on random sampling technique. So, the distributed architecture that the authors designed is specially directed to handle big data processing that operates in a coherent and efficient manner with the sampling strategy proposed in this work. This architecture also helps the authors to actually verify the classification results obtained using the representative learning base (RLB). In the second part, the authors have extracted the representative learning base by sampling at two levels using the stratified random sampling method. This sampling method is also applied to extract the shared learning base (SLB) and the partial learning base for the first level (PLBL1) and the partial learning base for the second level (PLBL2). The experimental results show the efficiency of our solution that the authors provided without significant loss of the classification results. Thus, in practical terms, the system DDPML is generally dedicated to big data mining processing, and works effectively in distributed systems with a simple structure, such as client-server networks.

Findings

The authors got very satisfactory classification results.

Originality/value

DDPML system is specially designed to smoothly handle big data mining classification.
Adoption of innovative technologies in the South African construction industry
Authors: van Wyk Liané , Kajimo-Shakantu Kahilu , Opawole Akintayo
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The South African construction industry appears to be lagging behind other industries in the country in terms of implementation and adoption of innovative technologies. Moreover, sufficient empirical data on the adoption of innovative technologies, especially, in developing countries are not readily available. The aim of this study is therefore to assess the adoption and implementation of innovative technologies in the South African construction industry with a view to improving the industry's performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was undertaken using a questionnaire, administered to construction professionals primarily in project management, quantity surveying and architectural firms.

Findings

The key findings show that there are some innovative technologies such as building information modelling, 3-dimensional mapping, drones, 3-dimensional printing and virtual reality that have been deployed. However, limited adoption of innovative technologies within the industry and low levels of knowledge of its benefits among the respondents were reported. This low implementation of innovative technologies was due to critical barriers such as high cost, limited knowledge, time requirement, fear of change, lack of interest, nature of construction processes and lack of team dynamics. Key drivers of innovation were found to include globalization and competition.

Practical implications

The current level of implementation of innovative technologies indicated that they are not yet optimized in the South African construction industry and suggests implications for change, adaptation and growth. The study recommends that firms should consider investing in research and development in order to exploit the potential of innovation for organizations and the industry at large.

Originality/value

The drivers and barriers indicated will help to prioritize the direction of adoption and growth which could help to improve the industry.
Managing competing institutional logics in governance of public-sector entities in Tanzania
Authors: Mzenzi Siasa Issa , Gaspar Abeid Francis
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The paper aims to investigate how the governance practices of public-sector entities (PSEs) in Tanzania are shaped by competing institutional logics and strategies used to manage the logics.

Design/methodology/approach

In the paper, empirical evidence was gathered through documentary sources, non-participant observations and in-depth interviews with members of boards of directors (BoDs), chief executive officers (CEOs), internal and external auditors, senior executives and ministry officials. The data were analyzed using thematic and pattern-matching approaches.

Findings

The paper shows that bureaucratic and market logics co-exist and variations in governance practices within and across categories of PSEs. These are reflected in CEO appointments, multiple roles of CEOs, board member appointments, board composition, multiple board membership, board roles and evaluation of board performance. External audits also foster market logic in governance practices. The two competing logics are managed by actors through selective coupling, compromise, decoupling and compartmentalization. Despite competing logics, the bureaucratic logic remains dominant and is largely responsible for variations between the underlying logics and governance practices.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that public-sector reforms in emerging economies (EEs) must account for the fact that governance practices in PSEs are shaped by different institutional logics embedded in socioeconomic, political and organizational contexts and their corresponding management strategies.

Originality/value

Few previous studies explicitly report relationships between institutional logics and the governance practices of PSEs in EEs. The current study is one of few empirical studies to connect competing institutional logics and the associated management strategies, as well as governance practices in EEs in the context of public-sector reforms.
Exploring the role of corruption and money laundering (ML) on bank’s loan portfolio quality: a cross-country investigation
Authors: Hussain Nadir , Sheikh Salman Masood , Shah Ijaz Hussain
Published: December 2021

Purpose

Corruption and money laundering (ML) are severe concerns for both developing and developed countries. According to international organizations, such as Transparency International, the Basel Institute on Governance and the International Country Risk Guide, corruption and ML exist in every country. This research aims to investigate the impact of corruption and ML on the loan portfolio quality of banks.

Design/methodology/approach

From 2013 to 2019, this study used the panel data of 132 countries, including 87 highly corrupt and 45 least corrupt countries: the fixed effect and random effect econometric regression techniques for data analysis. Additionally, this study used the generalized methods of moment technique to check the result’s robustness.

Findings

This study shows that corruption and ML have diverse relationships with non-performing loans in highly corrupt and low corrupt countries. It is potentially because of the differences in the regulatory structure of a highly corrupt and least corrupt environment.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first attempt that provides a unique perspective on corruption, ML and its effect on the loan’s portfolio quality of banks. Furthermore, this study suggests that governments in highly corrupt environments develop robust anti-corruption and anti-ML regulations.
Real Estate Insights Grand ideas or delusions of grandeur? Placing big thinkers and essential theories in property economics research
Authors: Squires Graham
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This article is looking to reflect on the various important touchstones of “grand theory” and “big thinkers” that can be framed when engaging empirical evidence in property economics research.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is reflexive in nature, using experiential reflection to consider theory in property economics. The importance of “methodology” is emphasised rather than “method”.

Findings

Using reflexive mode, the paper does not have “findings” as such: if the views expressed are accepted, then a research agenda to better understand property economics research is implied.

Research limitations/implications

The nature of reflection is that it follows from the writer's experiential processes and interpretations. The reader may come from a different stance. Broadly accepting the propositions, there is a call for property economics research to be formulated in reason and logic, particularly as humans do not reason from facts alone. Such reasoned thinking could for example be in the property economic concepts of space and place, contracts and justice, capital and financialisation.

Practical implications

To engage with such theory would provide some depth of philosophical roots for property as a discipline. Elevating property as a “real-world” discipline rather than simply an applied mathematics discipline.

Social implications

The paper enables an understanding of how property economics research can benefit from more ontology and more inductive reasoning.

Originality/value

The paper reflects the views and experience of the author based on over 15 years of research in property economics.
Real Estate Insights Data intelligence and real estate – machines are the real game changer
Authors: Cajias Marcelo , Wins Anett
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The paper shows with two concrete examples about how algorithms are used in active real estate management. The paper also highlights that the discussion about the adoption of new technologies is crucial for market players.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors review the current status quo about new technologies in real estate and provide two examples of how algorithms can be used to understand locations and the value drivers of rents.

Findings

Location, location, location is nowadays data, data, data coupled with the knowledge of how to create life out of data. Algorithm can help to understand the value drivers of rents and can also help to evaluate the attractiveness of a location.

Practical implications

Real estate management will adapt to new technologies fast. This change has the potential to disrupt exiting strategies due to the increase in efficiency, insights, transparency and location knowledge. Investment managers walking this talk will definitely benefit in future.

Originality/value

The paper makes usage of the latest machine learning technologies applied to real estate investment cases. This is a unique opportunity on bringing light on the discussion about transparency in real estate.
Commentary: the moral limits of service markets – just because we can, should we?
Authors: Raciti Maria , Badejo Foluké Abigail , Previte Josephine , Schuetz Michael
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This commentary extends our 2020 11th SERVSIG Panel The moral limits of service markets: Just because we can, should we?, inspired by Michael J. Sandel’s book What Money Can’t Buy: The Moral Limits of Markets. In Sandel’s (2012) book, the pursuit of “the good life” is a common motivation for pushing the moral boundaries of markets and “the good life” is dominated by service consumption.

Design/methodology/approach

Like Sandel (2012), this commentary begins with a provocation regarding the need for moral development in services marketing. Next, we present three real-life case studies about a modern slavery survivor service, aged care services and health-care services as examples of moral limits, failings and tensions.

Findings

The commentary proposes four guidelines and a research agenda. As service marketers, we must reignite conversations about ethics and morality. Taking charge of our professional moral development, exercising moral reflexivity, promoting an ethics of care and taking a bird’s-eye perspective of moral ecologies are our recommended guidelines. Morality is an essential condition – a sine qua non – for service marketers. Hence, our proposed research agenda focuses first on the service marketer and embeds a moral gaze as a universal professional protocol to engender collective moral elevation.

Originality/value

This commentary highlights the need for a moral refresh in services marketing and proposes ways to achieve this end.
Conditional filamentation as an adaptive trait of bacteria and its ecological significance in soils
Authors: Karasz David C. , Weaver Anna I. , Buckley Daniel H. , Wilhelm Roland C.
Published: December 2021

Bacteria can regulate cell morphology in response to environmental conditions, altering their physiological and metabolic characteristics to improve survival. Conditional filamentation, in which cells suspend division while continuing lateral growth, is a strategy with a range of adaptive benefits. Here, we review the causes and consequences of conditional filamentation with respect to bacterial physiology, ecology and evolution. We describe four major benefits from conditional filamentation: stress tolerance, surface colonization, gradient spanning and the facilitation of biotic interactions. Adopting a filamentous growth habit involves fitness trade‐offs which are also examined. We focus on the role of conditional filamentation in soil habitats, where filamentous morphotypes are highly prevalent and where environmental heterogeneity can benefit a conditional response. To illustrate the use of information presented in our review, we tested the conditions regulating filamentation by the forest soil isolate Paraburkholderia elongata 5NT. Filamentation by P. elongata was induced at elevated phosphate concentrations, and was associated with the accumulation of intracellular polyphosphate, highlighting the role of filamentation in a phosphate‐solubilizing bacterium. Conditional filamentation enables bacteria to optimize their growth and metabolism in environments that are highly variable, a trait that can impact succession, symbioses, and biogeochemistry in soil environments.
Leveraging Big Data to Study Information Dissemination of Material Firm Events
Authors: LI BIN , VENKATACHALAM MOHAN
Published: December 2021

Could real‐time big data help unravel material firm events? How would it compare with firm disclosure and traditional media in terms of timeliness and completeness? Could big data provide incremental value‐relevant information for investors? With these questions in mind, we use a novel data set of cell phone “pings” (i.e., geolocation signals from mobile devices) to track production disruptions (outages)––material events for U.S. oil refineries. We first validate the construct by examining the effects of outages on local gas prices and firms’ accounting performance. Our main analyses show that (1) refining firms do not voluntarily disclose refinery outages identified by cell phone pings; (2) traditional media cover only a small portion of ping‐based outages; (3) the stock market finds ping‐based outages to be value relevant but incorporates the information with delay. Further analysis suggests that given the incomplete media coverage and lack of firm disclosure, investors appear to learn the financial impact of such outages through subsequent earnings announcements. Our evidence has implications for regulators such as the U.S. Energy Information Administration and the Securities and Exchange Commission as they continue to evaluate both the compliance and usefulness of disclosures for material firm events such as production disruptions.
Choosing among correlative, mechanistic, and hybrid models of species’ niche and distribution
Authors: TOURINHO Luara , VALE Mariana M.
Published: December 2021

Different models are available to estimate species’ niche and distribution. Mechanistic and correlative models have different underlying conceptual bases, thus generating different estimates of a species’ niche and geographic extent. Hybrid models, which combining correlative and mechanistic approaches, are considered a promising strategy; however, no synthesis in the literature assessed their applicability for terrestrial vertebrates to allow best‐choice model considering their strengths and trade‐offs. Here, we provide a systematic review of studies that compared or integrated correlative and mechanistic models to estimate species’ niche for terrestrial vertebrates under climate change. Our goal was to understand their conceptual, methodological, and performance differences, and the applicability of each approach. The studies we reviewed directly compared mechanistic and correlative predictions in terms of accuracy or estimated suitable area, however, without any quantitative analysis to support comparisons. Contrastingly, many studies suggest that instead of comparing approaches, mechanistic and correlative methods should be integrated (hybrid models). However, we stress that the best approach is highly context‐dependent. Indeed, the quality and effectiveness of the prediction depends on the study's objective, methodological design, and which type of species’ niche and geographic distribution estimated are more appropriate to answer the study's issue.
Late‐life exercise mitigates skeletal muscle epigenetic aging
Authors: Murach Kevin A. , Dimet‐Wiley Andrea L. , Wen Yuan , Brightwell Camille R. , Latham Christine M. , Dungan Cory M. , Fry Christopher S. , Watowich Stanley J.
Published: December 2021

There are functional benefits to exercise in muscle, even when performed late in life, but the contributions of epigenetic factors to late‐life exercise adaptation are poorly defined. Using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS), ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and mitochondrial‐specific examination of methylation, targeted high‐resolution methylation analysis, and DNAge™ epigenetic aging clock analysis with a translatable model of voluntary murine endurance/resistance exercise training (progressive weighted wheel running, PoWeR), we provide evidence that exercise may mitigate epigenetic aging in skeletal muscle. Late‐life PoWeR from 22–24 months of age modestly but significantly attenuates an age‐associated shift toward promoter hypermethylation. The epigenetic age of muscle from old mice that PoWeR‐trained for eight weeks was approximately eight weeks younger than 24‐month‐old sedentary counterparts, which represents ~8% of the expected murine lifespan. These data provide a molecular basis for exercise as a therapy to attenuate skeletal muscle aging.
Canberra, We Have a Problem: Interpreting Shifting American Grand Strategy Preferences in an Era of Sino–US Rivalry
Authors: Clarke Michael
Published: December 2021

President Joe Biden's assertion that “America is back” and will embrace “strategic competition” with the People's Republic of China has been welcomed in Australia as a sign that the United States is returning to a “normal” grand strategy after the turbulence of the Trump administration. This article argues, however, that this is a problematic assumption as it ignores the question of how American grand strategy choices are made and articulated. Here, Australians need to be much more cognisant of the competing political cultures of statecraft (Hamiltonian, Wilsonian, Jeffersonian, and Jacksonian) at play in American grand strategy. The article argues that each presents a “historical repertoire” that provides multiple narratives for leaders or strategists to draw upon to guide particular grand strategy choices and demonstrates their significance through an analysis of the approaches to American grand strategy of both the Obama and Trump adminstrations and an initial assessment of the role of the political cultures of statecraft in shaping the emergent grand strategy approach of the Biden administration. The paper concludes that a focus on interpreting the grand strategy preferences of the United States fundamentally challenges the bipartisan assumption upon which current Australian strategic policy rests: that the United States maintains not only the capability but also the will to sustain its position of primacy in international affairs.
Importance of cardiac rehabilitation in rural and remote areas of Australia
Authors: Field Patricia , Franklin Richard C. , Barker Ruth , Ring Ian , Leggat Peter , Canuto Karla
Published: December 2021

Objective

To assess implementation of in‐patient cardiac rehabilitation (Phase‐1‐cardiac rehabilitation), impact on people in rural and remote areas of Australia and potential methods for addressing identified weaknesses.

Design

Exploratory case study methodology using qualitative and quantitative methods. Qualitative data collection via semi‐structured interviews, using thematic analysis, augmented by quantitative data collection via a medical record audit.

Setting

Four regional hospitals (2 Queensland Health and 2 private) providing tertiary health care.

Participants

(a) Hospital in‐patients with heart disease ≥18 years. (b) Staff responsible for their care.

Outcome Measures

Implementation of Phase‐1‐cardiac rehabilitation in tertiary hosptials in North Queensland and the impact on in‐patients discharge planning and post discharge care. Recommentations and implications for practice are proposed to address deficits.

Results

Phase‐1‐cardiac rehabilitation implementation rates, in‐patient understanding and multidisciplinary team involvement were low. The highest rates of Phase‐1‐cardiac rehabilitation were for in‐patients with a length of stay three days or more  in cardiac units with cardiac educators. Rates were lower in cardiac units with no cardiac educators, and lowest for in‐patients in all areas of all hospitals with length of stay of two days or less days. Low Phase‐1‐cardiac rehabilitation implementation rates resulted in poor in‐patient understanding about their disease, treatment and post‐discharge care. Further, medical discharge summaries rarely mentioned cardiac rehabilitation/secondary prevention or risk factor management resulting in a lack of information for health care providers on cardiac rehabilitation and holistic health care.

Conclusion

Implementation of Phase‐1‐cardiac rehabilitation in regional hospitals in this study fell short of recommended best practice, resulting in patients' poor preparation for discharge, and insufficient information on holistic care for health care providers in rural and remote areas. These factors potentially impact on holistic care for people returning home following treatment for heart disease.
Appendicitis in Far North Queensland: a new take on an old story
Authors: Swift Kate , Thompson Fintan , Roeder Luisa , Choy Kay Tai , McDonald Malcolm , de Costa Alan
Published: December 2021

Background

Appendicitis is a leading cause of surgical hospital admission. To date, there have been no published epidemiological studies describing appendicitis in tropical and remote Australia and none specifically documenting appendicitis in Indigenous Australians. This descriptive study used available state data to investigate appendicitis across Far North Queensland (FNQ).

Methods

Queensland Health hospital admission data for FNQ was analysed to explore appendicitis epidemiology and outcomes in FNQ, 2012–2018. Population data for the same time period provided rates.

Results

Over the study period, 3458 hospital presentations for appendicitis were available for analysis. Mean incidence was 178 per 100 000/yr. Median age was 27 years with 50.1% female patients. The annual rate of appendicitis was higher in the Indigenous population. Most patients had a laparoscopic procedure with a low rate of conversion to open surgery (2.6%). More than 80% of patients were discharged from hospital in less than 3 days. Intensive care (ICU) admission rate was low overall (1.1%) although higher for Indigenous people (2.4%). Following discharge, the hospital re‐admission rate was 3.8% and all‐cause mortality was 0.03%.

Conclusion

The incidence of appendicitis in FNQ is higher than that reported in the rest of Australia in both Indigenous and non‐Indigenous populations. Despite logistical challenges of health care, clinical outcomes are in line with best practice across the country. Clinicians in FNQ should maintain a high index of suspicion for diagnosing appendicitis in rural and remote settings.
Assessment of synthetic red cell therapy for extremely preterm ovine fetuses maintained on an artificial placenta life‐support platform
Authors: Usuda Haruo , Saito Masatoshi , Ikeda Hideyuki , Sato Shinichi , Kumagai Yusaku , Saito Yuya , Kawamura Shinichi , Hanita Takushi , Sakai Hiromi , Kure Shigeo , Yaegashi Nobuo , Newnham John P. , Kemp Matthew W. , Watanabe Shimpei
Published: December 2021

Background

Artificial placenta therapy (APT) is an experimental care strategy for extremely preterm infants born at 21–24 weeks’ gestation. In our previous studies, blood taken from the maternal ewe was used as the basis of priming solutions for the artificial placenta circuit. However, the use of maternal blood as a priming solution is accompanied by several challenges. We explored the use of synthetic red cells (hemoglobin vesicles; HbV) as the basis of a priming solution for APT used to manage extremely early preterm ovine fetuses.

Methods

Six ewes with singleton pregnancies at 95 d gestation (term = 150 d) were adapted to APT and maintained with constant monitoring of key vital parameters. The target maintenance period was 72 h in duration. A synthetic red cell solution consisting of HbV, sheep albumin and electrolytes was used as priming solutions for the APT circuit. Fetuses were evaluated on gross appearance, physiological parameters and bleeding after euthanasia.

Results

Two out of six APT fetuses were successfully maintained for the targeted 72 h experimental period with controllable anemia (>10 g/dl) and methemoglobinemia (<10%) using an infusion of blood transfusion and nitroglycerin delivered >1 h after APT commencement, a sufficient period of time to cross‐match blood products and screen for viral agents of concern.

Conclusions

Extremely preterm sheep fetuses were maintained for a period of up to 72 h using APT in combination with circuit priming using a synthetic red cell (HbV) preparation. Although significant further refinements are required, these findings demonstrated the potential clinical utility of synthetic blood products in the eventual clinical translation of artificial placenta technology to support extremely preterm infants.
The Baby‐friendly Hospital Initiative for neonatal wards. A mini review
Authors: Maastrup Ragnhild , Hannula Leena , Hansen Mette Ness , Ezeonodo Aino , Haiek Laura N.
Published: December 2021

The Baby‐friendly Hospital Initiative for Neonatal Wards (Neo‐BFHI) is an expansion of the WHO/UNICEF Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding to address the needs of infants and families in all levels of neonatal care. The Neo‐BFHI includes Three Guiding Principles as basic tenets, Ten Steps to protect, promote and support breastfeeding closely following the original Baby‐friendly Hospital Initiative, and adherence to the International Code of Marketing of Breast‐milk Substitutes. In 2020, the WHO/UNICEF published recommendations for breastfeeding small, sick and preterm newborns that aligns with the Neo‐BFHI. Conclusion: This mini review provides a brief description of the content in the Neo‐BFHI.
Home phototherapy of term neonates improves parental bonding and stress: Findings from a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Pettersson Miriam , Eriksson Mats , Odlind Andreas , Ohlin Andreas
Published: December 2021

Aim

We aimed to evaluate whether in‐home phototherapy for hyperbilirubinaemia could reduce the poorer parent‐infant bonding and increased parental stress associated with neonatal hospital treatment.

Methods

In this multicentre randomised controlled trial, we allocated families to either home phototherapy or standard hospital care. The primary outcome was parent‐infant bonding measured on the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire directly after therapy and 4 months later. Secondary outcomes were results on four other instruments measuring parental bonding, quality of life and mental health.

Results

We randomised 78 of 147 newborn infants to intervention and 69 to the control group. No significant differences were detected in length of stay, mean bilirubin, or weight gain. Parents in the intervention group had better scores on bonding both at discharge (p = 0.034) and at 4 months (p = 0.008; effect size r = 0.2) and lower levels of stress at 4 months (p = 0.024) than controls. No statistically significant outcomes were found for the secondary outcomes.

Conclusion

In‐home phototherapy improved bonding and reduced parental stress in comparison with usual in‐hospital treatment. Caregivers should consider offering home phototherapy to families of non‐immunised term infants with hyperbilirubinaemia.
Review article: the sphingosine 1 phosphate/sphingosine 1 phosphate receptor axis ‐ a unique therapeutic target in inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Wang Jie , Goren Idan , Yang Bo , Lin Sinan , Li Jiannan , Elias Michael , Fiocchi Claudio , Rieder Florian
Published: December 2021

Background

Ozanimod, a high selective sphingosine 1 phosphate (S1P) receptor (S1PR) 1/5 modulator was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. Additional S1PR modulators are being tested in clinical development programmes for both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

Aim

To provide an overview of advances in understanding S1PRs biology and summarise preclinical and clinical investigations of S1P receptor modulators in chronic inflammatory disease with special emphasis on inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).

Methods

We performed a narrative review using PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov.

Results

Through S1PRs, S1P regulates multiple cellular processes, including proliferation, migration, survival, and vascular barrier integrity. The S1PRs function of regulating lymphocyte trafficking is well known, but new functions of S1PRs expand our knowledge of S1PRs biology. Several S1PR modulators are in clinical development for both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease and have shown promise in phase II and III studies with ozanimod now being approved for ulcerative colitis.

Conclusions

S1P receptor modulators constitute a novel, promising, safe, and convenient strategy for the treatment of IBD.
Population pharmacokinetics and enterohepatic recirculation of hyzetimibe and its main metabolite in Chinese healthy subjects
Authors: Chen Wenjun , Ruan Zourong , Chen Jinliang , Yang Dandan , Shao Rong , Lou Honggang , Jiang Bo
Published: December 2021

Aims

Hyzetimibe (HS‐25), a new drug approved for hypercholesterolaemia, exhibits obvious enterohepatic recirculation (EHC) after oral administration. Up to now, little is known about the kinetics of HS‐25. Therefore, we performed this population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) analysis aiming to describe the PK behaviour of HS‐25 and its main metabolite (M1), and to identify significant covariates contributing to the variability.

Methods

The plasma concentration data used for modelling were obtained from an open‐label, single‐dose, randomized, 2‐period crossover bioequivalence study. PopPK modelling was performed with NONMEM 7.4.1 using nonlinear mixed effect modelling approach. Goodness of fit plots, bootstrap and visual predictive check were used for model internal validation. Data from another study were used for external validation.

Results

Data from 16 male and 8 female subjects were used in the PopPK analysis. HS‐25 and M1 concentrations in the modelling cohort were well described by a 1‐compartment model incorporating first‐pass metabolism and a gallbladder compartment, accounting for the EHC process. The release kinetic of gall was mimicked by a first‐order constant plus a switch on/off effect. Body weight was identified as a significant covariate effecting on the clearance and apparent distribution volume of HS‐25, as well as
, the transfer rate from metabolite compartment to gallbladder compartment. Internal and external validation demonstrated an acceptable predictive ability of the final model.

Conclusion

We present the first PopPK model describing HS‐25 and M1 concentrations simultaneously, with the EHC process considered. The modelling and simulation results could provide reference for the clinical use of HS‐25.
Enforced dual‐specificity tyrosine‐regulated kinase 2 expression by adenovirus‐mediated gene transfer inhibits tumor growth and metastasis of colorectal cancer
Authors: Imaizumi Yuta , Yoshida Saishu , Kanegae Yumi , Eto Ken , Yoshida Kiyotsugu
Published: December 2021

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common gastrointestinal tumors with good outcomes; however, with distant metastasis, the outcomes are poor. Novel treatment methods are urgently needed. Our in vitro studies indicate that dual‐specificity tyrosine‐regulated kinase 2 (DYRK2) functions as a tumor suppressor in colorectal cancer by regulating cell survival, proliferation, and apoptosis induction. In addition, DYRK2 expression is decreased in tumor tissues compared to nontumor tissues in colorectal cancer, indicating a correlation with clinical prognosis. In this context, we devised a novel therapeutic strategy to overexpress DYRK2 in tumors by adenovirus‐mediated gene transfer. The present study shows that overexpression of DYRK2 in colon cancer cell lines by adenovirus inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in vitro. Furthermore, in mouse subcutaneous xenograft and liver metastasis models, enforced expression of DYRK2 by direct or intravenous injection of adenovirus to the tumor significantly inhibits tumor growth. Taken together, these findings show that adenovirus‐based overexpression of DYRK2 could be a novel gene therapy for liver metastasis of colorectal cancer.
One‐step mini‐emulsion copolymerisation of waterborne polysiloxane‐modified polyacrylate/pigment hybrid latex and its application in textile pigment printing
Authors: Wang Fenping , Li Jiawei , Lu Lin , Yan Xiaofei , Qi Dongming , Chen Zhijie
Published: December 2021

Textile pigment printing and dyeing is an environmentally friendly and sustainable clean production technology that has the advantages of saving water, saving energy and reducing pollution. However, the application of this technology in industry is severely limited because of the disadvantages of stiff hand feeling, poor wet rubbing fastness and other performance properties of traditional pigment‐printed fabric. To improve the pigment printing performance, a novel method of preparing hybrid pigment latex containing silicone by one‐step mini‐emulsion copolymerisation of silicone and acrylic monomers was explored in this work. Here, a comprehensive study of the effect of the ratio of silicone and acrylic, and the silicone component of alkoxysilane and cyclic siloxanes, on the properties of hybrid latex films and pigment‐printed polyester fibres, was conducted. It was found that, with an increasing amount of silicone, the hybrid pigment latex films gradually enhanced the water resistance, flexibility and thermal stability properties. Those water repellencies and smooth feeling properties were achieved by incorporating the hydrophobicity and the flexibility of the copolymer chains of silicone. The waterborne self‐adhesive hybrid pigment containing silicone can be directly applied for pigment printing of polyester fabric. Compared with the control printing system (without silicone), it not only exhibited an equivalent colour strength, but also improved the colour fastness and hand feel. Based on these results, this approach may provide insights into the rational design of waterborne self‐adhesive textile hybrid pigments for high‐quality printing performance.
Neonatal quantitative electroencephalography and long‐term outcomes: a systematic review
Authors: van ’t Westende Charlotte , Geraedts Victor J , van Ramesdonk Tino , Dudink Jeroen , Schoonmade Linda J , van der Knaap Marjo S , Stam Cornelis J , van de Pol Laura A
Published: December 2021

Aim

To evaluate quantitative electroencephalogram (EEG) measures as predictors of long‐term neurodevelopmental outcome in infants with a postconceptional age below 46 weeks, including typically developing infants born at term, infants with heterogeneous underlying pathologies, and infants born preterm.

Method

A comprehensive search was performed using PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science from study inception up to 8th January 2021. Studies that examined associations between neonatal quantitative EEG measures, based on conventional and amplitude‐integrated EEG, and standardized neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2 years of age or older were reviewed. Significant associations between neonatal quantitative EEG and long‐term outcome measures were grouped into one or more of the following categories: cognitive outcome; motor outcome; composite scores; and other standardized outcome assessments.

Results

Twenty‐four out of 1740 studies were included. Multiple studies showed that conventional EEG‐based absolute power in the delta, theta, alpha, and beta frequency bands and conventional and amplitude‐integrated EEG‐related amplitudes were positively associated with favourable long‐term outcome across several domains, including cognition and motor performance. Furthermore, a lower presence of discontinuous background pattern was also associated with favourable outcomes. However, interpretation of the results is limited by heterogeneity in study design and populations.

Interpretation

Neonatal quantitative EEG measures may be used as prognostic biomarkers to identify those infants who will develop long‐term difficulties and who might benefit from early interventions.
Species distribution models rarely predict the biology of real populations
Authors: A. Lee‐Yaw Julie , L. McCune Jenny , Pironon Samuel , N. Sheth Seema
Published: December 2021

Species distribution models (SDMs) are widely used in ecology. In theory, SDMs capture (at least part of) species' ecological niches and can be used to make inferences about the distribution of suitable habitat for species of interest. Because habitat suitability is expected to influence population demography, SDMs have been used to estimate a variety of population parameters, from occurrence to genetic diversity. However, a critical look at the ability of SDMs to predict independent data across different aspects of population biology is lacking. Here, we systematically reviewed the literature, retrieving 201 studies that tested predictions from SDMs against independent assessments of occurrence, abundance, population performance, and genetic diversity. Although there is some support for the ability of SDMs to predict occurrence (~53% of studies depending on how support was assessed), the predictive performance of these models declines progressively from occurrence to abundance, to population mean fitness, to genetic diversity. At the same time, we observed higher success among studies that evaluated performance for single versus multiple species, pointing to a possible publication bias. Thus, the limited accuracy of SDMs reported here may reflect the best‐case scenario. We discuss the limitations of these models and provide specific recommendations for their use for different applications going forward. However, we emphasize that predictions from SDMs, especially when used to inform conservation decisions, should be treated as hypotheses to be tested with independent data rather than as stand‐ins for the population parameters we seek to know.
Local responses to hostility to new asylum seeker centres in Norway
Authors: Strømsø Mette , Bygnes Susanne
Published: December 2021

This article investigates disagreement over how to respond to the establishment of asylum seeker centres in local communities. Building on interviews with individuals in one rural and one urban community in Norway, we analyse experiences and outcomes of the neighbourhood information meetings organized by the Directorate of Immigration before opening the new centres. We demonstrate that such meetings hold a broader social function, and they become arenas to raise concerns and manage disagreement among neighbours. When anti‐immigrant opinions expressed at the meetings are published in the media, community members counter the negative place representations that are not aligned with their own self‐identification. We identify three strategies of contestation deployed to counter negative media coverage: foreseeing conflict, claiming exceptionalism and mobilization to volunteer. Broader implications involve immigration authorities’ management of conflict when establishing such centres; their scope should not be limited to host‐guest relations but should include horizontal contestation within the community.
Figure of merit enhancement in thermoelectric materials based on γ‐Ln0.8Yb0.2S1.5‐y (Ln = Gd, Dy) solid solutions
Authors: V Sotnikov Aleksandr , M Syrokvashin Mikhail , V Bakovets Vladimir , Yu Filatova Irina , V Korotaev Evgeniy , Sh Agazhanov Alibek , A Samoshkin Dmitrii
Published: December 2021

Here we report the study temperature dependencies of the Seebeck coefficient, the electrical resistivity (T = 300–750 K), the total thermal conductivity (T = 300–973 K), and the thermoelectric figure of merit (T = 300–750 K) of ceramic samples of γ‐Ln0.8Yb0.2S1.5‐y (Ln = Gd, Dy) solid solutions. It was found that Yb3+ ions in γ‐Ln0.8Yb0.2S1.5‐y act as the promoters of higher crystallite nucleation rate during the formation of solid solutions. This results in the sample dispersion increase and the formation of the additional phonon scattering centers (dislocations and strain stresses along the crystallites semi‐coherent boundaries). These features of the real structure determined the low value of thermal conductivity of γ‐Ln0.8Yb0.2S1.5‐y solid solutions. The lowest electrical resistivity 20 μΩ m at 750 K and the thermal conductivity 0.58 W/m K at 973 K, the highest Seebeck coefficient 125 μV/K at 700 K and the maximum thermoelectric efficiency, ZT = 0.60 (at 770 K) were obtained for γ‐Dy0.8Yb0.2S1.5‐y.