bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Systemic Treatment with Nicotinamide Riboside is Protective in Three Mouse Models of Retinal Degeneration
Authors: Zhang Xian , Henneman Nathaniel F. , Girardot Preston E. , Sellers Jana T. , Chrenek Micah A. , Li Ying , Wang Jiaxing , Brenner Charles , Nickerson John M. , Boatright Jeffrey H.
Published: December 2019

Purpose: The retina is highly metabolically active, suggesting that metabolic dysfunction could underlie many retinal degenerative diseases. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is a cofactor and a co-substrate in several cellular energetic metabolic pathways. Maintaining NAD+ levels may be therapeutic in retinal disease since retinal NAD+ levels decline with age and during retinal damage or degeneration. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether systemic treatment with nicotinamide riboside (NR), a NAD+ precursor, is protective in disparate models of retinal damage or degeneration.

Methods

Three mouse models of retinal degeneration were tested: an albino mouse model of light-induced retinal degeneration (LIRD) and two models of retinitis pigmentosa (RP), including a mouse line deficient in interphotoreceptor binding protein (IRBP) gene expression (IRBP KO), and a naturally-occuring cGMP phosphodiesterase 6b mutant mouse model of RP (the Pde6brd10 mouse). Mice were intraperitoneally (IP) injected with PBS or NR at various times relative to damage or degeneration onset. One to two weeks later, retinal function was assessed by electroretinograms (ERGs) and retinal morphology was assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT). Afterwards, retina sections were H&E stained for morphological analysis or by terminal deoxynucleiotidyl transferase dUTP nick and labeling (TUNEL). Retinal NAD+/NADH levels were enzymatically assayed.

Results

The retinal degeneration models exhibited significantly suppressed retinal function, and where examined, severely disrupted photoreceptor cell layer and significantly decreased numbers of nuclei and increased accumulation of DNA breaks as measured by TUNEL-labeled cells in the outer nuclear layer (ONL). These effects were prevented by various NR treatment regimens. IP treatment with NR also resulted in increased levels of NAD+ in retina.

Conclusions

This is the first study to report protective effects of NR treatment in mouse models of retinal degeneration. The positive outcomes in several models, coupled with human tolerance to NR dosing, suggest that maintaining retinal NAD+ via systemic NR treatment should be further explored for clinical relevance.
Abundant expression of maternal siRNAs is a conserved feature of seed development
Authors: Grover Jeffrey W. , Burgess Diane , Kendall Timmy , Baten Abdul , Pokhrel Suresh , King Graham J. , Meyers Blake C. , Freeling Michael , Mosher Rebecca A.
Published: December 2019

Small RNAs are abundant in plant reproductive tissues, especially 24-nt short interfering (si)RNAs. Most 24-nt siRNAs are dependent on RNA Pol IV and RDR2, and establish DNA methylation at thousands of genomic loci in a process called RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM). In Brassica rapa, RdDM is required in the maternal sporophyte for successful seed development. Here we demonstrate that a small number of siRNA loci account for over 90% of siRNA expression during B. rapa seed development. These loci exhibit unique characteristics with regard to their copy number and association with genomic features, but they resemble canonical 24-nt siRNA loci in their dependence on RNA Pol IV/RDR2 and role in RdDM. These loci are expressed in ovules before fertilization and in the seed coat, embryo, and endosperm following fertilization. We observed a similar pattern of 24-nt siRNA expression in diverse angiosperms despite rapid sequence evolution at siren loci. In the endosperm, siren siRNAs show a marked maternal bias, and siren expression in maternal sporophytic tissues is required for siren siRNA accumulation. Together these results demonstrate that seed development occurs under the influence of abundant maternal siRNAs that might be transported to, and function in, filial tissues.

Abstract Figure
Integrative analysis and machine learning based characterization of single circulating tumor cells
Authors: Iyer Arvind , Gupta Krishan , Sharma Shreya , Hari Kishore , Lee Yi Fang , Ramalingam Neevan , Yap Yoon Sim , West Jay , Bhagat Ali Asgar , Subramani Balaram Vishnu , Sabuwala Burhanuddin , Tan Tuan Zea , Thiery Jean Paul , Jolly Mohit Kumar , Ramalingam Naveen , Sengupta Debarka
Published: December 2019

We collated publicly available single-cell expression profiles of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and showed that CTCs across cancers lie on a near-perfect continuum of epithelial to mesenchymal (EMT) transition. Integrative analysis of CTC transcriptomes also highlighted the inverse gene expression pattern between PD-L1 and MHC, which is implicated in cancer immunotherapy. We used the CTCs expression profiles in tandem with publicly available peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) transcriptomes to train a classifier that accurately recognizes CTCs of diverse phenotype. Further, we used this classifier to validate circulating breast tumor cells captured using a newly developed microfluidic systems for label-free enrichment of CTCs.
The Phlebotomus papatasi transcriptomic response to trypanosomatid-contaminated blood is robust but non-specific
Authors: Sloan Megan A. , Sadlova Jovana , Lestinova Tereza , Sanders Mandy J. , Cotton James A. , Volf Petr , Ligoxygakis Petros
Published: December 2019

Leishmaniasis, caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania, is a disease that effects up to 8 million people worldwide. Parasites are transmitted to human and animal hosts through the bite of an infected sand fly. Novel strategies for disease control, require a better understanding of the key step for transmission namely, the establishment of infection inside the fly. In this work we wanted to identify fly transcriptomic signatures associated with infection success or failure. We used next generation sequencing to describe the transcriptome of the sand fly Phlebotomus papatasi when fed with blood alone or with blood containing one of three trypanosomatids: Leishmania major, Leishmania donovani and Herpetomonas muscarum: a parasite not transmitted to humans. Of these, only L. major was able to successfully establish an infection in P. papatasi. However, the transcriptional signatures observed were not specific to success or failure of infection but a generalised response to the blood meal. This implies that sand flies perceive Leishmania as just a feature of their microbiome landscape and that any strategy to tackle transmission should focus on the response towards the blood meal rather than parasite establishment.

Authors summary

Leishmania are parasites that cause leishmaniasis, a group of serious diseases that affect millions of people, mainly across the subtropics and tropics. They are transmitted to humans by phlebotomine sand flies. However, despite establishment in the insect’s midgut being key to transmission, early infection events inside the insect are still unclear. Here, we study the gene expression response of the insect vector to a Leishmania parasite that is able to establish infection (L. major) one that is unable to do so (L. donovani) as well as one that is not a natural parasite of sand flies (Herpetomonas muscarum). We found that responses following any of the infected blood meals was very similar to uninfected blood meal. However, changes post-blood meal from day 1 to day 9 were dramatic. As a blood feeding insect can accumulate three times its weight in one blood meal, this seems to be the most important physiological change rather than the presence of the parasite. The latter might be just one in a number of microbes the insect encounters. This result will generate new thinking around the concept of stopping transmission by controlling the parasite inside the insect.
A FIJI Macro for quantifying pattern in extracellular matrix
Authors: Wershof Esther , Park Danielle , Barry David J , Jenkins Robert P , Rullan Antonio , Wilkins Anna , Roxanis Ioannis , Anderson Kurt I , Bates Paul A , Sahai Erik
Published: December 2019

Diverse extracellular matrix patterns are observed in both normal and pathological tissue. However, most current tools for quantitative analysis focus on a single aspect of matrix patterning. Thus, an automated pipeline that simultaneously quantifies a broad range of metrics and enables a comprehensive description of varied matrix patterns is needed. To this end we have developed an ImageJ plugin called TWOMBLI, which stands for The Workflow Of Matrix BioLogy Informatics. TWOMBLI is designed to be quick, versatile and easy-to-use particularly for non-computational scientists. TWOMBLI can be downloaded from https://github.com/wershofe/TWOMBLI together with detailed documentation. Here we present an overview of the pipeline together with examples from a wide range of contexts where matrix patterns are generated.
checkCIF validation ALERTS: what they mean and how to respond
Authors: Spek Anthony L.
Published: December 2019

Authors of a paper that includes a new crystal-structure determination are expected to not only report the structural results of interest and their interpretation, but are also expected to archive in computer-readable CIF format the experimental data on which the crystal-structure analysis is based. Additionally, an IUCr/checkCIF validation report will be required for the review of a submitted paper. Such a validation report, automatically created from the deposited CIF file, lists as ALERTS not only potential errors or unusual findings, but also suggestions for improvement along with interesting information on the structure at hand. Major ALERTS for issues are expected to have been acted on already before the submission for publication or discussed in the associated paper and/or commented on in the CIF file. In addition, referees, readers and users of the data should be able to make their own judgment and interpretation of the underlying experimental data or perform their own calculations with the archived data. All the above is consistent with the FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable) initiative [Helliwell (2019). Struct. Dyn.
6, 05430]. Validation can also be helpful for less experienced authors in pointing to and avoiding of crystal-structure determination and interpretation pitfalls. The IUCr web-based checkCIF server provides such a validation report, based on data uploaded in CIF format. Alternatively, a locally installable checkCIF version is available to be used iteratively during the structure-determination process. ALERTS come mostly as short single-line messages. There is also a short explanation of the ALERTS available through the IUCr web server or with the locally installed PLATON/checkCIF version. This paper provides additional background information on the checkCIF procedure and additional details for a number of ALERTS along with options for how to act on them.
Synthesis and crystal structure of catena-poly[[bis[(2,2′;6′,2′′-terpyridine)manganese(II)]-μ4-pentathiodiantimonato] tetrahydrate] showing a 1D MnSbS network
Authors: Danker Felix , Näther Christian , Bensch Wolfgang
Published: December 2019

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, {[Mn2Sb2S5(C15H11N3)2]·4H2O}
n
, consists of two crystallographically independent MnII ions, two unique terpyridine ligands, one [Sb2S5]4− anion and four solvent water molecules, all of which are located in general positions. The [Sb2S5]4− anion consists of two SbS3 units that share common corners. Each of the MnII ions is fivefold coordinated by two symmetry-related S atoms of [Sb2S5]4− anions and three N atoms of a terpyridine ligand within an irregular coordination. Each two anions are linked by two [Mn(terpyridine)]2+ cations into chains along the c-axis direction that consist of eight-membered Mn2Sb2S4 rings. These chains are further connected into a three-dimensional network by intermolecular O—H...O and O—H...S hydrogen bonds. The crystal investigated was twinned and therefore, a twin refinement using data in HKLF-5 [Sheldrick (2015). Acta Cryst. C71, 3–8] format was performed.
Short-term management earnings forecasts and earnings management through real activities manipulation
Authors: Luo Bing
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the association between managers’ short-term, quarterly earnings forecast characteristics and earnings management through real activities manipulation.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a propensity-score matched sample from 2000 to 2015, the author examines whether, compared to non-issuers, firms issuing short-term earnings forecasts exhibit abnormal levels of earnings management through the manipulation of real activities such as acceleration of sales, changes in shipment schedules and delaying R&D and maintenance expenditures.

Findings

The finding of this study suggests that firms actually engage in less real activities manipulation when they provide short-term management earnings forecasts. This result does not support the practitioners’ criticism that providing short-term management earnings forecasts increases earnings management. Instead, it suggests that providing management earnings forecasts can reduce information asymmetry between managers and external shareholders, thereby constraining managers’ opportunistic behaviors.

Originality/value

Practitioners have expressed concerns that issuing earnings forecasts may foster managerial myopia, therefore, increasing earnings management. However, recent empirical study found evidence that management earnings forecast mitigates accrual-based earnings management, which is inconsistent with practitioners’ view. This study hence aims to provide timely evidence to this debate by examining the relation between management earnings forecasts and real activities manipulation.
Susan's Dilemma
Authors: Jaikumar Saravana , Agarwalla Smriti , Dara Rishabh
Published: December 2019

Susan, a dog lover and an entrepreneur, wanted to start a franchise of Dog Shop in Ahmedabad. She had the data regarding the demand and costs incurred by Dog Shop on various verticals in its first year of operations. Based on this data and using an appropriate investment appraisal technique, Susan had to evaluate the three franchisee options offered by the company. The case can be used in any program and course which includes investment appraisal as part of its syllabus.
Spectrum Management in India (B)1
Authors: Jain Rekha
Published: December 2019

Case B assesses the options available to the government and private operators in light of the SC judgment. It provides scope for examining the dimensions for auction design by illustrating the subsequent exercise undertaken by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.
Micromax at a Crossroads
Authors: Tripathi Sanjeev
Published: December 2019

Micromax is an Indian consumer electronics company which began by selling mobile phones. In early 2014, Micromax ranked third in the mobile handsets category in India, behind Nokia and Samsung. The case is set in 2014, a watershed year for Micromax. It has to make decisions related to the future direction of the company. There are various options available, such as expanding into other consumer electronics and consumer durables categories, expanding outside India, etc. Micromax had recently introduced premium smartphones, and there had been a gradual shift in its target segment from rural to more upmarket consumers. Micromax aspired to be considered among the best brands in the world; however, the company was unsure of how to move forward. Its leadership had to decide on the right positioning for Micromax.
The CAT Project
Authors: Barua Samir K.
Published: December 2019

The case provides an opportunity to students to learn about the basic concepts in Project Management using a situation that can be easily understood by all. The case provides the instructor an opportunity to demonstrate to the students as to how precedence relationships are to be generated from assertions made about a project by the project in-charge – a feature that is generally missing in most cases on the subject. The case also provides an opportunity to develop a Linear Programming (LP) model for the project. The teaching note accompanying the case provides a simple, innovative LP formulation and outlines as to how it can be used to identify the critical path and the critical activities. The case can be taught in one session (if LP formulation is not covered). Else, since it is suitable for two sessions, the model can be developed and solved in the class in the second session.
The association between subjective job insecurity and job performance across different employment groups
Authors: van Vuuren Tinka , de Jong Jeroen P. , Smulders Peter G.W.
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test the relationship between subjective job insecurity and self-rated job performance, and to assess how this association is different across different employment groups.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a data set owned by TNO and Statistics Netherlands of more than 89,000 Dutch workers and self-employed that is a representative sample of the Dutch workforce. The authors included data from 2014 and 2016 assessing subjective job insecurity in terms of “a concern about the future of one’s job/business” and self-rated job performance.

Findings

The effect size of the association between subjective job insecurity and self-rated job performance is small. For temporary agency workers and on-call workers, the association between subjective job insecurity and job performance is weaker compared to permanent workers and fixed-term workers. However for self-employed workers with and without employees, however, the relation between subjective job insecurity and job performance is stronger compared to permanent workers.

Research limitations/implications

The biggest limitation is the cross-sectional design of the study, which limits conclusions about causality.

Practical implications

The finding that subjective job insecurity goes together with less work performance shows that job insecurity has no upside for the productivity of companies.

Originality/value

The study provides a deeper understanding of the relationship between subjective job insecurity and self-rated job performance on a national level.
Mind your attitude: the impact of patriarchy on women’s workplace behaviour
Authors: Adisa Toyin Ajibade , Cooke Fang Lee , Iwowo Vanessa
Published: December 2019

Purpose

By conceptualising patriarchy in the workplace as a social situation, the purpose of this paper is to examine the prevalence of patriarchal attitudes and their impact on women’s workplace behaviour among Nigerian organisations.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a qualitative research approach, drawing on data from 32 semi-structured interviews with female employees and managers in two high-street banks in Nigeria.

Findings

The study finds that patriarchy shapes women’s behaviour in ways that undermine their performance and organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB). Furthermore, the study finds that patriarchal attitudes, often practised at home, are frequently transferred to organisational settings. This transference affects women’s workplace behaviour and maintains men’s (self-perceived) superior status quo, whereby women are dominated, discriminated against and permanently placed in inferior positions.

Research limitations/implications

The extent to which the findings of this research can be generalised is constrained by the limited sample and scope of the research.

Practical implications

The challenges posed by the strong patriarchy on women’s workplace behaviour are real and complex, and organisations must address them in order to create a fairer workplace in which employees can thrive. It is therefore essential for organisations to examine periodically their culture to ensure that all employees, regardless of gender, are involved in the organisation’s affairs. Furthermore, organisations need to help women become more proactive in combating patriarchal behaviour, which often affects their performance and OCB. This requires organisations to affirm consistently their equal opportunities, equal rights and equal treatment policies. It is essential that organisations take this problem seriously by attaching due penalty to gender discrimination, as this will go a long way in ensuring positive outcomes for women and providing a fairer workplace.

Originality/value

This study provides empirical evidence that a more egalitarian work environment (in Nigerian banking) will result in improved performance from female employees and organisations. It calls for greater policy and organisational interventions to create a more inclusive work environment and an equal society.
Herding behaviour and Islamic market efficiency assessment: case of Dow Jones and Sukuk market
Authors: Mnif Emna , Salhi Bassem , Jarboui Anis
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the Islamic stock and Sukuk market efficiency and focus on the presence of investor herding behaviour (HB) captured by Hurst exponent estimation.

Design/methodology/approach

The Hurst exponent was estimated with various methods. The authors studied the evolving efficiency of the “Dow Jones” indices from 1 January 2010 to 30 December 2016 using a rolling sample of the Hurst exponent. In addition, they used a time-varying parameter method based on the Hurst of delayed returns. After that, the robust Hurst method was considered. In the next step, the efficiency of the different activity types of Islamic bonds was studied using an efficiency index. Finally, the Hurst exponent estimates were applied to assess the presence of HB.

Findings

The results show that, firstly, there’s a strong correlation between the “DJIM” and “DJSI” prices and returns. Secondly, by using robust Hurst estimate, it is observed that the “DJIM” is the most efficient market. The Hurst exponent estimation results show that HB is more intensive in the Islamic stock market. These results indicate also the inexistence of this behaviour in the studied Sukuk market.

Research limitations/implications

Sukuk as Islamic financial assets is recent. Their relative time series are not long enough to apply the long memory approach. Furthermore, this work can be extended to study other Islamic financial markets.

Practical implications

Herding affects risk-return characteristics of assets and has an impact on asset pricing models. Practitioners are interested in understanding herding and its timing as it might create profitable trading opportunities.

Social implications

This work analyses the impact of Islamic principles on the financial markets and their ability to understand some behavioural biases.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature by identifying the efficiency and the presence of HB with Hurst exponent estimation in Islamic markets.
Logistical aspects when coping with non-pandemic biological terror attack
Authors: Talmor Irit
Published: December 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the time it would take to provide medical prophylaxis for a large urban population in the wake of an airborne anthrax attack and the effect that various parameters have on the total logistical time.

Design/methodology/approach

A mathematical model that evaluates key parameters and suggests alternatives for improvement is formulated. The objective of the model is to minimize the total logistical time required for prophylaxis by balancing three cycles as follows: the loading cycle, the shipping cycle and the service cycle.

Findings

Applying the model to two representative cases reveals the effect of various parameters on the process. For example, the number of distribution centers and the number of servers in each center are key parameters, whereas the number of central depots and the local shipping method is less important.

Research limitations/implications

Various psychological factors such as mass panic are not included in the model.

Originality/value

There are few papers analyzing the logistical response to an anthrax attack, and most focus mainly on the strategic level. The study deals with the tactical logistical level. The authors focus on the distribution process of prophylaxis and other medical supplies during the crisis, analyze it and identify the parameters that influence the time between the detection of the attack and the provision of effective medical treatment to the exposed population.
A relational capital perspective on social sustainability; the case of female entrepreneurship in Italy
Authors: Dal Mas Francesca , Paoloni Paola
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Female entrepreneurship has been part of the political agenda internationally. Public entities should promote entrepreneurship in general, and female entrepreneurship in particular, with dedicated resources and programs. Female entrepreneurs are considered a key asset for developing economic growth. However, women experience much more difficulties than men in opening their own ventures. Relational capital is particularly relevant when it comes to female entrepreneurship. The purpose of this study is to analyze the factors that affect the opening of new ventures and the role of relational capital in female entrepreneurship, taking into consideration the Italian context during the financial crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a mixed-method approach analyzing data from a regional program to enhance the creation of new companies, trying to understand the issues of potential entrepreneurs in general and women in particular. A single case is then investigated using the characteristics – ambience – organization – sustainability model of micro-entrepreneurship and the network relationship model by Paoloni (2011).

Findings

The analysis highlights how women face much more difficulties in starting new ventures concerning their previous experience if their employment condition finds an extended period of inactivity. Additionally, potential female entrepreneurs are more sensitive to the complexity of the initiative, concerning the required investment and the number of employees, compared to male entrepreneurs. Relational capital is a crucial asset in fostering the success of the venture, especially in the start-up phase.

Originality/value

The purpose of the study is to contribute to the debate regarding the issues affecting the opening of new companies, as well as the link between relational capital and female enterprises. The paper offers some insights about a program covering a well-sized population during the financial crisis.
Entrepreneurial orientation, absorptive capacity and business performance in SMEs
Authors: Ibarra-Cisneros Manuel-Alejandro , Hernandez-Perlines Felipe
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Firms must be constantly looking for markets and business opportunities and developing new products; to do so, they must find ways to increase their competitiveness, productivity so that it is noticed in their financial statements. The purpose of this paper is to establish the influence of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) in business performance (BP) of small and medium-sized enterprises of the manufacturing sector in Mexico. Likewise, it is intended to demonstrate how absorptive capacity (ACAP) allows moderating this important relation.

Design/methodology/approach

Analyzing important theoretical and empirical contributions as regards this topic, a survey was designed and applied to 165 manufacturing firms, and by means of partial least squares structural equation modeling resorting to SmartPLS, the research hypotheses were tried.

Findings

The obtained results indicate that indeed, EO positively influences BP; in like manner, ACAP has a moderating effect on this relation. Thereby, it can be established that the manufacturing sector carries out the right practices that aim at increasing entrepreneurial competitiveness.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation of the paper is its regional scale, not national; however, the typology of the manufacturing sector in the country is very similar, as the analyzed subsectors are the most relevant at a national level. Moreover, the existence of international value chains is also found in the rest of the country, so these chains are not exclusive to the region. Another limitation is that even if the analysis focuses on the main manufacturing subsectors, it would have been interesting to analyze if the behavior is similar in other subsectors.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to broadening the studies on EO, ACAP and BP in a different context. Besides, it allows contrasting the results obtained in an eminently manufacturing country with other economies less dependent on this sector. It also contributes to broadening the multidimensional analysis of the manufacturing sector in Mexico, as the authors of the present paper have also performed studies over similar lines in the same sector.
Residential property market determinants: evidence from the 2018 Australian market downturn
Authors: Wong Peng Yew , Wong Woon-Weng , Mintah Kwabena
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to validate and uncover the key determinants revolving around the Australian residential market downturn towards the 2020s.

Design/methodology/approach

Applying well-established time series econometric methods over a decade of data set provided by Australian Bureau of Statistics, Reserve Bank of Australia and Real Capital Analytics, the significant and emerging drivers impacting the Australian residential property market performance are explored.

Findings

Besides changes in the significant levels of some key traditional market drivers, housing market capital liquidity and cross-border investment fund were found to significantly impact the Australian residential property market between 2017 and 2019. The presence of some major positive economic conditions such as low interest rate, sustainable employment and population growth was perceived inadequate to uplift the Australian residential property market. The Australian housing market has performed negatively during this period mainly due to diminishing capital liquidity, excess housing supplies and retreating foreign investors.

Practical implications

A better understanding of the leading and emerging determinants of the residential property market will assist the policy makers to make sound decisions and effective policy changes based on the latest development in the Australian housing market. The results also provide a meaningful path for future property investments and investigations that explore country-specific effects through a comparative analysis.

Originality/value

The housing market determinants examined in this study revolve around the wider economic conditions in Australia that are not new. However, the coalesce analysis on the statistical results and the current housing market trends revealed some distinguishing characteristics and developments towards the 2020s Australian residential property market downturn.
Determinants of cruise tourists’ expenditure visiting port cities
Authors: Domènech Antoni , Gutiérrez Aaron
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to detect the determinants of cruise tourists’ expenditure level during their visits to an emergent Mediterranean port city. The article also aims to discuss its findings and contrast them with previous similar studies in other territorial contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on surveys conducted on 1,010 cruise tourists that visited the city of Tarragona (Catalonia) during 2017. An ordered logit model is implemented to measure the impact of different variables related to the tourists’ characteristics and their activities developed at the destination.

Findings

Results underline diverse significant influences of multiple factors on the expenditures, such as the travel party, the age of the visitors, the length of stay and the tourists’ activities in the city. Although no incidence has been detected of variables related to the satisfaction with the visit of the cruise passengers in general, a positive association has been identified for those cruise passengers travelling on super-sized ships.

Originality/value

This study tests the effect of different variables that the literature pinpointed as determinants of the cruise tourists’ expenditures as well as other variables that have been underexplored in existing studies. The findings of this article are of special value for public and private organisations to optimally manage and market cruise tourism and boost the local economic impact.
Thinking like a naturalist: Enhancing computer vision of citizen science images by harnessing contextual data
Authors: Terry J. Christopher D. , Roy Helen E. , August Tom A.
Published: December 2019

The accurate identification of species in images submitted by citizen scientists is currently a bottleneck for many data uses. Machine learning tools offer the potential to provide rapid, objective and scalable species identification for the benefit of many aspects of ecological science. Currently, most approaches only make use of image pixel data for classification. However, an experienced naturalist would also use a wide variety of contextual information such as the location and date of recording.

Here, we examine the automated identification of ladybird (Coccinellidae) records from the British Isles submitted to the UK Ladybird Survey, a volunteer‐led mass participation recording scheme. Each image is associated with metadata; a date, location and recorder ID, which can be cross‐referenced with other data sources to determine local weather at the time of recording, habitat types and the experience of the observer. We built multi‐input neural network models that synthesize metadata and images to identify records to species level.

We show that machine learning models can effectively harness contextual information to improve the interpretation of images. Against an image‐only baseline of 48.2%, we observe a 9.1 percentage‐point improvement in top‐1 accuracy with a multi‐input model compared to only a 3.6% increase when using an ensemble of image and metadata models. This suggests that contextual data are being used to interpret an image, beyond just providing a prior expectation. We show that our neural network models appear to be utilizing similar pieces of evidence as human naturalists to make identifications.

Metadata is a key tool for human naturalists. We show it can also be harnessed by computer vision systems. Contextualization offers considerable extra information, particularly for challenging species, even within small and relatively homogeneous areas such as the British Isles. Although complex relationships between disparate sources of information can be profitably interpreted by simple neural network architectures, there is likely considerable room for further progress. Contextualizing images has the potential to lead to a step change in the accuracy of automated identification tools, with considerable benefits for large‐scale verification of submitted records.
Toxic trade: the impact of preferential trade agreements on alcohol imports from Australia in partner countries
Authors: Schram Ashley , Aisbett Emma , Townsend Belinda , Labonté Ronald , Baum Fran , Friel Sharon
Published: December 2019

Background and Aims

Trade liberalization is hypothesized to increase the availability of imported alcoholic beverages in importing countries. This study provides the first longitudinal analysis of the impact of preferential trade agreements (PTAs) on alcohol imports.

Design

Panel data comprising alcohol‐product (n = 15) by importing country (n = 16) observations from 1988 to 2016 constructed from global databases. The relationship between PTA status, tariff level and alcohol imports were assessed using a log‐linear model. Unobserved heterogeneity was addressed through a combination of differencing and product‐year fixed‐effects.

Setting

Australia and its 16 free trade partners (PTA year in parentheses), classified by low [< 50%: Brunei (2010), Cambodia (2010), Indonesia (2010), Malaysia (2010, 2013), Myanmar (2010), Thailand (2003, 2010) and Vietnam (2010)] and high (> 50%: Chile (2009), China (2015), Japan (2015), Korea (2014), Laos (2010), New Zealand (1983, 2010), Philippines (2010), Singapore (2003, 2010) and United States (2005)] percentage of alcohol consumers in the population.

Measurements

Independent variables were the existence of a PTA with Australia and tariff (border tax) rate on Australian products. Outcomes were (log) Australian imports; and a binary indicator of any imports from Australia.

Findings

Introducing a PTA has been associated with a statistically significant increase in the share of Australian alcoholic beverage imports in its partner country's total alcoholic beverage import supply, mainly from trade in new alcoholic beverage categories (0.067, P < 0.05). Tariff rate reductions have been associated with increased imports in both low and high consumption country groups; however, the effect has been larger in low consumption countries (−0.189, P < 0.01 compared with −0.016, P < 0.05). The impact of PTA adoption was significant in low consumption countries only (1.141, P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Preferential trade agreements involving Australia have been positively associated with alcohol imports from Australia in countries with low rates of alcohol consumption, due primarily to trade in new products.
Identification of candidate genes affecting chronic subclinical mastitis in Norwegian Red cattle: combining genome‐wide association study, topologically associated domains and pathway enrichment analysis
Authors: Kirsanova E. , Heringstad B. , Lewandowska‐Sabat A. , Olsaker I.
Published: December 2019

The aim of this study was to identify genes associated with chronic subclinical mastitis (SCM) in Norwegian Red (NR) cattle. Twelve SCM traits defined based on fixed threshold for test‐day somatic cell count (SCC) were, together with lactation‐average somatic cell score (LSCS) used for association and pathway enrichment analyses. A GWAS was performed on 3795 genotyped NR bulls with 777K SNP data and phenotypic information from 7 300 847 test‐day SCC observations from 3 543 764 cows. At 5% chromosome‐wide significance level 36 unique SNP were detected to be associated with one or more of the traits. These SNPs were analysed for linked genes using genomic positions of topologically associated domains (TAD). For the SCM traits with SCC >50 000 and >100 000 cells/ml on two test‐days in a row and LSCS, the same top significant genes were identified – checkpoint clamp loader component (RAD17) and cyclin B1 (CCNB1). The SCM traits with SCC >250 000, 300 000, 350 000 or 400 000 cells/ml on two test‐days in a row and D400 (number of days before the first case with SCC >400 000 cells/ml) displayed similar top significant genes: acyl‐CoA thioesterase 2 and 4 (ACOT2; ACOT4). For the traits SCM200_3 (SCC >200 000 cells/ml on three test‐days in a row) and SCM150, SCM200 (SCC >150 000; 200 000 cells/ml on two test‐days in a row) a group of chemokine (C–X–C motif) ligand genes and the Fos proto‐oncogene, AP‐1 transcription factor subunit (FOS) gene, were identified. Further functional studies of these identified candidate genes are necessary to clarify their actual role in development of chronic SCM in NR cattle.
Tariff quota administration in China's grain markets: An empirical assessment
Authors: Chen Bowen , Villoria Nelson B. , Xia Tian
Published: December 2019

In 2016, the U.S. launched a trade dispute against China at the World Trade Organization, arguing that China has been restricting its grain imports via tariff quota administration. Despite sharp criticisms by the U.S., the extent to which the grain imports were restricted in China remains largely unknown, primarily due to that China's grain import behaviors are still under‐researched. The U.S. grain export sector might actually gain little from China's grain trade liberalization in the short run, since China has become less import dependent on the U.S. through the pursuit of import diversification. In this context, this article aims to quantify impacts of the tariff quota administration on China's grain imports from its trading partners. We calculate ad valorem tariff equivalents of the tariff quota administration and then estimate import demand elasticities using a source differentiated import demand model. We find that the tariff quota administration might have reduced China's quota fill rates for the grain commodities by 10–35% during 2013–2017. In particular, the U.S. wheat exports to China were largely negatively affected. We also find that the tariff quota administration in China acts like a variable import levy—its import restrictiveness varies negatively with world prices, leading to lower import demand elasticities.
Rural health services’ relationships with patients: An enabler and a barrier to advance care planning
Authors: Harvey Pamela , Panozzo Laura , Adams Meagan‐Jane , O'Connor Dennis , Ward Bernadette
Published: December 2019

Objective

The barriers and enablers to the uptake of advance care plans has been well documented but more so in metropolitan health services. Rural and regional areas have their own challenges of higher rates of chronic illness and an aging population when considering end of life care. This study aimed to explore the creation of advance care plans in a regional location that has service links to smaller health services.

Design

A qualitative study involving thematic analysis of interview data.

Setting

A regional local government area in Victoria, Australia.

Participants

Twelve representatives from rural and regional health services, including hospital, private practice and community organisation staff.

Main outcome measures

Barriers and enablers to the creation of advance care planning documents.

Results

The data analysis yielded two main identified themes around Plan creation and communication of patient wishes: system and societal challenges to the creation and communication in advance care planning; and rural communities' expectation of the health service‐patient relationship and advance care planning.

Conclusion

Although barriers to advance care planning are well known, rural and regional practitioners need to be aware of the effect long‐term continuity of care from health practitioners and connections with health services has on advance care plan creation, and whether the paucity of written Plans effects end‐of‐life care. A potential solution was seen in the pending linkages to the national electronic patient record.
Reversal of neuromuscular blockade with sugammadex during continuous administration of anaesthetic agents: a double‐blind randomised crossover study using the bispectral index
Authors: Le Guen M. , Roussel C. , Chazot T. , Dumont G. A. , Liu N. , Fischler M.
Published: December 2019

Sugammadex, a specific reversal agent for steroidal neuromuscular blocking drugs, has on occasion been reported to be associated with clinical signs of awakening. We performed a study to systematically search for an increase in bispectral index values and signs of awakening in patients maintained under general anaesthesia following sugammadex administration. Patients, scheduled to receive general anaesthesia with neuromuscular blockade, were included in this double‐blind randomised crossover study. After surgery was completed, and while the train‐of‐four ratio was zero, intravenous anaesthesia was continued with the aim of maintaining the bispectral index in the range of 40–60. Patients then received either sugammadex 4 mg.kg−1 or saline. In cases of incomplete reversal of neuromuscular blockade after 5 min, patients received the other drug. Bispectral index and train‐of‐four monitoring were recorded every minute and clinical signs of awakening noted. Fifty‐one patients completed the study. Median (IQR [range]) bispectral index values increased after sugammadex administration from 49 (43–53 [38–64]) to 63 (53–80 [45–97]) (p < 0.01) with an increase of ≥ 20 in 22 patients; 14 (27%) patients had clinical signs of awakening. Saline had no effect on bispectral index values, clinical signs of awakening or degree of neuromuscular blockade. This study confirms that reversal of neuromuscular blockade with sugammadex may be associated with clinical signs of awakening despite maintenance of anaesthesia. Intravenous anaesthesia should be maintained until complete recovery of muscle function is achieved, especially when sugammadex is administered.
Efficacy and safety of ranibizumab with or without panretinal laser photocoagulation versus laser photocoagulation alone in proliferative diabetic retinopathy – the PRIDE study
Authors: Lang Gabriele E. , Stahl Andreas , Voegeler Jessica , Quiering Claudia , Lorenz Katrin , Spital Georg , Liakopoulos Sandra
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) is the current standard of care in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). However, treatment with anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor agents might offer better patient outcomes with fewer side‐effects. The PRIDE study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of ranibizumab with or without PRP compared with PRP alone in patients with PDR.

Methods

A total of 106 PDR patients without diabetic macular oedema were randomized to receive ranibizumab 0.5 mg monotherapy (n = 35), PRP (n = 35) or combined ranibizumab 0.5 mg/PRP (n = 36). The primary objective of this 12‐month, multicentre, phase II study was to investigate the change in area of retinal neovascularization (NV). Complete regression of leakage and best‐corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were key secondary end‐points.

Results

At Month 12, there was a statistically significant difference of −2.83 mm² in the least square mean change in NV area between the ranibizumab monotherapy and PRP group, favouring ranibizumab (95% CI [−5.45; −0.21], p = 0.0344). At Month 3, 67%/0%/67% of the patients in the ranibizumab/PRP/combination groups, respectively, showed complete regression of leakage from NVs, while at Month 12, 28%/8%/18% showed complete regression of leakage from NVs. BCVA change was greater in the ranibizumab group compared with the PRP monotherapy group at Month 12 (+1.6 letters; 95% CI [−2.3; 5.5] versus −3.9 letters; 95% CI [−7.8; −0.1], p = 0.0495).

Conclusions

Ranibizumab monotherapy is an alternative treatment option to laser treatment in patients with PDR. Ranibizumab showed stronger effects on NV leakage and area reduction while offering better visual acuity results than PRP alone.
Experimental interpretation of the presence of female genitalia in Early Bronze Age ‘frying pan'‐type ceramics from the Cyclades*
Authors: Siotis I. , Aloupi‐Siotis E.
Published: December 2019

Α new, testable, interpretation of the function of Aegean Early Bronze Age ‘frying pan' ceramics that combines some previously suggested uses is presented experimentally. The proposed function involves a well‐documented natural phenomenon responsible for the rapid change in colour of a natural salt marsh or salt pan surface due to the explosive population growth of the extremophile Archaea Halobacterium salinarium when the salt concentration approaches saturation. The cyclical nature of the appearance of red pigmentation on the salt marsh surface every late summer or every few weeks in a domestic ‘frying pan' presents an obvious analogy with the female menstruation cycle and provides an explanation for the fact that several ceramic vessels used for this purpose bear the characteristics of the female body. Furthermore, the resulting red pigment lends itself for use as a cosmetic colorant.