bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A critical analysis of service ecosystems research: rethinking its premises to move forward
Authors: Mustak Mekhail , Plé Loic
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This study aims to examine the development of service ecosystems literature and its four premises as follows: the characterization of service ecosystems as loosely coupled systems, the existence of shared institutional arrangements among actors, the occurrence of resource-integrating interactions among actors and value co-creation as the stated purpose of service ecosystems.

Design/methodology/approach

With a systematic literature review, the paper identifies and analyzes 98 articles on service ecosystems. An examination and a cross-check of the central elements of the articles reveal gaps and limitations in the analysis of service ecosystems. These results lead to the formulation of four propositions and suggestions for further research.

Findings

The four premises of service ecosystems are constrained by overly optimistic perceptions that prevent theoretical advancements. These premises overlook possible tight coupling; power asymmetries; divergent interpretations of institutions and institutional arrangements; divergent interpretations of actors’ resource-integrating actions, intentions and abilities; and the co-destruction of value. Four propositions are formulated to address these challenges.

Research limitations/implications

The shortcomings reflect the systematic literature review, which only covers a specific area of the extant knowledge base, namely, English-language articles published in peer-reviewed international journals.

Originality/value

This study extensively and critically investigates the premises of service ecosystems for the first time, proposing a more holistic, dynamic and realistic understanding of them. In so doing, it paves the way for renewed conceptualizations of service ecosystems.
Consistency at different levels
Authors: Su Tao Scofield , Chen Chunhua , Cui Xiaoyu , Yang Chunsheng , Ma Weimo
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to answer following three important but not well-answered or unanswered questions in the extant trust literatures: What is the true magnitude that trust impacts on performance? Is there any consistency among the effects of trust on performance at different levels? How does vertical distance affect the trust-performance relationship?

Design/methodology/approach

It captures the law between trust and performance at different levels by conducting a meta-analytic examination consisting of 238 independent empirical studies, 586 effect sizes and 110,576 independent samples.

Findings

It makes a periodic conclusion that trust significantly promotes performance. Specifically, trust not only has stronger positive correlation with team performance than individual and organizational performance inside organization, but also strongly facilitates organizational performance between organizations. Moreover, consistency exits in the effects of trust on performance at different levels. On one hand, trust has stronger positive correlation with performance of contextual type than performance of innovative type than performance of task type at different levels. On the other hand, promotion effect of trust on performance strengthens when the vertical distance between trustors and trustees diminishes. Additionally, three potential moderators including publication status, measurement tool and common method variance moderate the focused relation, but moderating effect is not thorough for regional culture. Moderating directions of the above four potential moderators are highly consistent.

Originality/value

This paper answers the three important but not well-answered or unanswered questions.
Natural tags identify nursery origin of a coastal elasmobranch Carcharhinus leucas
Authors: TinHan Thomas C. , O'Leary Shannon J. , Portnoy David S. , Rooker Jay R. , Gelpi Carey G. , Wells R. J. David
Published: April 2020

Traditional methods for evaluating the importance of elasmobranch nursery habitats have focused on estimating densities or abundances of juveniles within individual nurseries; however, rates of juvenile mortality may vary among nurseries. Thus, abundance may not reflect contribution to adult populations, and contribution estimates require methods to identify the nursery origin of adults.

We evaluated the use of natural tags, vertebral chemistry (stable isotope analysis, elemental analysis) and genetic markers, to identify bull shark Carcharhinus leucas nursery origin along the Texas coast (northwestern Gulf of Mexico) at multiple spatial scales.

Sharks were most accurately assigned (89% accuracy) to their regional origin (Northern vs. Southern Texas) using a combination of vertebral chemistry and genetic markers. Accuracy decreased when incorporating only one type of natural tag (vertebral chemistry: 58%–84%; genetics: 30%–58%), or when assigning sharks among nurseries grouped into three or four regions (30%–71%; ~100 km spatial scale).

Synthesis and applications. We describe a novel method integrating multiple natural tags to identify the nursery origin of a highly migratory coastal elasmobranch, over smaller spatial scales than previously investigated. This framework provides a powerful tool to estimate the relative source (nursery) contributions to adult populations of highly mobile species, which represent production estimates sought in the designation of essential fish habitat and ultimately incorporated into marine spatial planning practices.
Does income inequality sand or grease the wheels of entrepreneurial activity? International evidence
Authors: Goel Rajeev K. , Saunoris James W.
Published: April 2020

Using a large panel of countries, this research examines the influence of income inequality on entrepreneurship. The impact of income disparities on entrepreneurship is not clear a priori—with a positive effect when inequality encourages entrepreneurship (“greasing effect”) or a negative effect when entrepreneurship discourages entrepreneurship (“sanding effect”). Our findings, across alternative measures of income inequality and even allowing for simultaneity, are consistent with the motivation or greasing effect. An equally insightful finding is that the effect of inequality switches across the prevalence of entrepreneurship—the sanding effect exists in nations with a low prevalence of entrepreneurship, and switches to a greasing effect as the prevalence of entrepreneurship increases. This is suggestive of positive network externalities from entrepreneurship—it takes a threshold level of entrepreneurship in a nation for greasing from income inequality to take hold.
Cohort study with patients older than 80 years with stage 5 chronic kidney failure on hemodialysis vs conservative treatment: Survival outcomes and use of healthcare resources
Authors: García Testal Alicia , García Maset Rafael , Fornés Ferrer Victoria , Cañada Martínez Antonio J. , Fernández Fandos Sonia , Rico Salvador Inmaculada S. , Royo Maicas Pilar , Carretero López Vanesa , Villalón Coca Javier , Fernández Najera Jose E. , Benedito Carrera Caterina , Olagüe Díaz Pau , Torregrosa De Juan Eduardo
Published: April 2020

Renal replacement treatment has not been generalized to the elderly for different reasons. The main objective of the present cohort study is to compare survival in patients older than 80 years with chronic kidney disease stage 5 on renal replacement treatment with those on conservative treatment. The use of healthcare resources is compared too. A Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was run with the outcome variable death during the follow‐up period. The independent variables were treatment type, age, gender, smoking habit, serum albumin, hemoglobin, Charlson Index, diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, ischemic cardiopathy, and neoplasm. For outcome variable “death,” renal replacement treatment obtained a hazard ratio of 0.273 (P .006, CI95% 0.108‐0.686) vs conservative treatment. In conclusion, patients older than 80 years with chronic kidney disease stage 5 on renal replacement treatment presented a lower mortality risk than those receiving conservative treatment. Comorbidity and age are both associated with mortality, but do not cancel out the survival advantage. In healthcare resources, the renal replacement treatment group made greater use of tests, medical visits and consumption of hospital dispensing drugs, but there were no differences with respect to the days of hospital admission or assistance in home hospitalization.
Barn owls as biological control agents: potential risks to non‐target rare and endangered species
Authors: Zaitzove ‐ Raz M. , Comay O. , Motro Y. , Dayan T.
Published: April 2020

Rodent agricultural pests cause significant food loss every year. Attempts at mitigation via chemical pest control may cause secondary poisoning and harm non‐target species. Biological pest control by bolstering barn owl Tyto alba populations through the provision of artificial nest boxes is in use in several countries. The national biological pest control project of Israel began in the early 1980s in the Mediterranean zone and was subsequently expanded to the northwestern Negev desert, including areas adjacent to nature reserves and natural sand dunes, a threatened habitat in Israel. We analyzed prey of barn owls in the northwestern Negev to determine whether owls preyed on non‐target endemic, threatened rodents. A total of 14 632 prey items were collected from 95 nesting boxes between 2013 and 2016. We found that barn owls feed on protected and locally endangered species such as Gerbillus andersoni allenbyi (vulnerable − VU), Gerbillus pyramidum (VU), the endemic Meriones sacramenti (endangered) and Gerbillus gerbillus (critically endangered). These species constitute a significant proportion of barn owl diets (sometimes more than half of the prey items in a single nest box), especially in areas under 5 km from sand dunes, suggesting that bolstering the barn owl population may threaten locally endangered species. It could be hypothesized that agricultural crops serve as a resource for endangered species, allowing their numbers to increase, in which case their conservation status should be reassessed. However, extensive rodent trappings in agricultural fields in the region revealed <1% Gerbillus individuals, while in nearby dunes only gerbils were trapped. Insufficient data are available to assess whether or not M. sacramenti could have become a local pest. Our study highlights the risks that may be associated with the use of barn owls as rodent control agents in areas where natural open landscapes and nature reserves are interspersed with agricultural landscapes.
Drivers of taxonomic bias in conservation research: a global analysis of terrestrial mammals
Authors: dos Santos J. W. , Correia R. A. , Malhado A. C. M. , Campos‐Silva J. V. , Teles D. , Jepson P. , Ladle R. J.
Published: April 2020

Scientific knowledge of species and the ecosystems they inhabit is the cornerstone of modern conservation. However, research effort is not spread evenly among taxa (taxonomic bias), which may constrain capacity to identify conservation risk and to implement effective responses. Addressing such biases requires an understanding of factors that promote or constrain the use of a particular species in research projects. To this end, we quantified conservation science knowledge of the world’s extant non‐marine mammal species (n = 4108) based on the number of published documents in journals indexed on Clarivate Analytics’ Web of Science™. We use an innovative hurdle model approach to assess the relative importance of several ecological, biogeographical and cultural factors for explaining variation in research production between species. The most important variable explaining the presence/absence of conservation research was scientific capacity of countries within the range of the species, followed by body mass and years since the taxonomic description. Research volume (more than one document) was strongly associated with number of years since the data describing on that species, followed by scientific capacity within the range of species, high body mass and invasiveness. The threat status was weakly associated to explain the presence/absence and research volume in conservation research. These results can be interpreted as a consequence of the dynamic interplay between the perceived need for conservation research about a species and its appropriateness as a target of research. As anticipated, the scientific capacity of the countries where a species is found is a strong driver of conservation research bias, reflecting the high variation in conservation research funding and human resources between countries. Our study suggests that this bias could be most effectively reduced by a combination of investing in pioneering research, targeted funding and supporting research in countries with low scientific capacity and high biodiversity.
Idiopathic osteosclerosis mimicry of a tooth: case report
Authors: Yusof MYPM , Dasor MM , Ariffin F , Reduwan NH , Kamil WNWA , Mah MC
Published: April 2020

This report presents two cases of idiopathic osteosclerosis involving the maxilla and mandible which were identified as a buccally impacted canine and a retained root, respectively, on clinical and plain radiographical examinations. Both patients were females who presented with hypodontia. Radiographic evaluation revealed solitary well‐defined radiopaque masses with thickened cortical border. Both patients were undergoing orthodontic treatment and one was planned for a surgical traction of unerupted tooth prior to cone‐beam CT assessment. In this report, we reviewed the clinical findings and explained the radiographic appearance of idiopathic osteosclerosis through plain radiographs and cone‐beam CT to facilitate its identification among general dentists and oral and maxillofacial radiologists.
Differences in size and energy content affect the territorial status and mating success of a neotropical dragonfly
Authors: Ancco Valdivia Fernando Geronimo , Alves-Silva Estevão , Del‐Claro Kleber
Published: April 2020

In male odonates, both size and fat content are related to territory defence and mating success. Males that are larger and have higher energy reserves win relatively more disputes for territory and attract more females. Wing colour has also been regarded as a mechanism that influences agonistic behaviour between males, as wing pigmentation might be regarded as a sign of male quality. In this study, we analysed whether a set of male physical (body size and wing colour), physiological (body fat content) and behavioural (disputes between males) characteristics were involved in the territory defence and mating behaviour of the neotropical dragonflyZenithoptera laneiSantos, 1941 (Anisoptera: Libellulidae). Males were characterised as territorial whenever they warded‐off other males and remained in the same place within the pond for two consecutive days. In general, these territorial males were larger and had more abdominal and thoracic fat, engaged in pursuits more frequently, spent more time on sexual behaviour and female guarding, and mated more in comparison to subordinate males. By evaluating whether the percentage of wing area covered by black ink influenced male behaviour, we found that territorial males tended to act aggressively towards other males whose wings were partially painted, and sexually towards females irrespective of wing area painted. InZ. lanei, both body size and fat content play a role in defining territoriality. By subduing competitors and dominating preferred locations within high‐quality sites, these males are likely to be visited by females and engage in mating.
Retrospective analysis of 736 cases of canine gastric dilatation volvulus
Authors: Song KK , Goldsmid SE , Lee J , Simpson DJ
Published: April 2020

Objective

To identify factors influencing the survival of confirmed gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV) cases presented to a specialist referral and emergency hospital.

Methods

Clinical records of confirmed GDV cases admitted to two specialist referral and emergency centres in Sydney (Animal Referral Hospital (ARH) Homebush and ARH Baulkham Hills) between July 1999 and July 2019 were searched.

Results

A total of 736 GDV cases were reviewed, of which 460 dogs were surgically treated and 276 dogs were humanely killed. The survival rates of patients operated on by general surgeons and specialists were 81.7% and 88.7%, respectively. Both incisional gastropexy and belt‐loop gastropexy were clinically effective in treating GDV, with no significant difference in survival rates. Intraoperative mortality rates for general surgeons and specialists were 7.0% and 2.9%, respectively. The odds of mortality in dogs operated on by general surgeons were 2.03 times those operated on by specialist surgeons. The odds of mortality in dogs presented between 3:00 and 9:00 am were 3.57 times those of dogs presented between 9:00 am and 9:00 pm. The odds of mortality in dogs where the duration from presentation to completion of surgery was more than 3 h were 2.53 times those of dogs where time lapsed was equal or less than 3 h.

Conclusion

The results suggested that admission time was statistically significantly related to the survival rate. Dogs operated on by specialist surgeons had a significantly higher survival rate compared to those operated on by general surgeons. Clinicians should aim to stabilise and complete surgical correction of GDV as soon as possible to decrease the mortality.
Fine‐grained sediment deposition alters the response of plant CSR strategies on the gravel bars of a highly regulated river
Authors: Janssen Philippe , Piégay Hervé , Evette André
Published: April 2020

Aims

In riverine ecosystems, variations in disturbance and stress intensities along the flood gradient shape vegetation community structure. However, human modifications to the flood regime may change the magnitude of disturbance and stress, leading to different species distribution patterns along environmental gradients. We aimed to study the effects of local‐ and broad‐scale environmental gradients on riparian plant CSR (Competitors–Stress tolerators–Ruderals) strategies along a highly regulated river.

Location

Rhône River, France.

Methods

We assessed how changes in elevation, fine sediment and temperature influenced CSR strategies of riparian plant communities, by studying variations in the community‐weighted means and the functional dispersion of the CSR values, on gravel bars along a 250 km north–south river corridor.

Results

Species with contrasting ecological strategies co‐occurred less on gravel bars subject to fine sediment deposition, leading to patterns of biotic homogenization along the flood gradients. Furthermore, a shift in CSR strategies from ruderal to stress‐tolerant communities occurred along the elevation gradient on bars with low proportions of fine sediments and from stress‐tolerant to ruderal communities along the elevation gradient on bars with high proportions of fine sediments. Regarding the climatic gradient, the mean value of ruderals increased with temperatures. Also, for stress tolerators, the dispersion value diverged between the northern and southern gravel bars when the proportion of fine sediments was low and converged when the proportion of fine sediments was high.

Conclusions

Overbank fine sedimentation alleviates the intensity of stress along not only the elevation gradient but also the climatic gradient. By homogenizing the functional composition of communities, this process may have detrimental consequences for riparian plant diversity, especially of ruderal plants in the littoral zone. In regulated river systems, restoration measures should therefore promote an increase in the intensity of: (a) disturbance through the reactivation of bedload supply and transport; and (b) stress through increased flow dynamics.
Pro‐active neutrality: The key to understanding creative facilitation
Authors: Wróbel Agata Ewa , Cash Philip , Lomberg Carina
Published: April 2020

Facilitation is a critical means of supporting creative processes in teams. Previous studies have shown that neutrality is central to effective facilitation but no clear conceptualization of neutrality has been provided to date. The aim of this paper is to explore how neutrality is enacted by facilitators, what its key elements and mechanisms are, and how it is perceived in the creative facilitation context. We adopt a theory building mode and conduct an in‐depth case study, following an innovation project in the IT sector with a series of facilitated creativity workshops. Our results show that neutrality is a multi‐dimensional construct that interacts with several outcome dimensions of facilitation, i.e. people, process, and product. We introduce a pro‐active neutrality framework, which explains the mechanisms of neutrality in facilitation and thereby extend theory on both neutrality and facilitation. We further outline a number of propositions that could be explored by future research as well as provide important creativity management implications that will enhance creativity and innovation in the workplace.
The efficiency of ligand–receptor interaction information alone as new descriptors in QSAR modeling via random forest artificial neural network
Authors: Mozafari Zeinab , Arab Chamjangali Mansour , Beglari Mozhgan , Doosti Rahele
Published: April 2020

A new approach is introduced for the construction of a predictive quantitative structure–activity relationship model in which only ligand–receptor (LR) interaction features are used as relevant descriptors. This approach combines the benefit of the random forest (RF) as a new variable selection method with the intrinsic capability of the artificial neural network (ANN). The interaction information of the ligand–receptor (LR) complex was used as molecular docking descriptors. The most relevant descriptors were selected using the RF technique and used as inputs of ANN. The proposed RF ANN (RF‐LM‐ANN) method was optimized and then evaluated by the prediction of pEC50 for some of the azine derivatives as non‐nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. RF‐LM‐ANN model under the optimal conditions was evaluated using internal (validation) and external test sets. The determination coefficients of the external test and validation sets were 0.88 and 0.89, respectively. The mean square deviation (MSE) values for the prediction of biological activities in the external test and validation sets were found to be 0.10 and 0.11, respectively. The results obtained demonstrated the good prediction ability and high generalizability of the proposed RF‐LM‐ANN model based on the MMDs alone.
Hypoxia regulates the differentiation and anti-tumor effector functions of γδT cells in oral cancer
Authors: Sureshbabu S K , Chaukar D , Chiplunkar S V
Published: April 2020

Hypoxia within the tumor microenvironment (TME) is a key factor contributing to immunosuppression in tumors, co-relating with poor treatment outcome and decreased overall survival in advanced oral cancer (OC) patients. Vδ2 is a dominant subset of gamma delta T cells (γδT cells) present in the peripheral blood which exhibits potent anti-tumor cytotoxicity and is evolving as a key player of anti-cancer cellular therapy. However, the fate of γδT cells in hypoxic oral tumors remains elusive. In the present study, we compared the effect of hypoxia (1% O2) and normoxia (21% O2) on the expansion, proliferation, activation status, cytokine secretion and cytotoxicity of γδT cells isolated from OC patients and healthy individuals. Hypoxia-exposed γδT cells exhibited reduced cytotoxicity against oral tumor cells. Our data demonstrated that hypoxia reduces the calcium efflux and the expression of degranulation marker CD107a in γδT cells, which explains the decreased anti-tumor cytotoxicity of γδT cells observed under hypoxia. Hypoxia-exposed γδT cells differentiated to γδT17 [γδ T cells that produce interleukin (IL)-17] cells, which corroborated our observations of increased γδT17 cells observed in the oral tumors. Co-culture of γδT cells with CD8 T cells in the presence of hypoxia showed that programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1)high γδT cells brought about apoptosis of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1)high CD8 T cells which could be significantly reversed upon blocking PD-1. Thus, future immunotherapeutic treatment modality for oral cancer may use a combined approach of blocking the PD-1/PD-L1 signaling and targeting hypoxia-inducible factor 1α, which may help in reversing hypoxia-induced immunosuppression.
Circulating levels of High‐mobility group box 1 protein and nucleosomes are associated with outcomes after liver transplant
Authors: Faria Luciana C. , Andrade Antônio Márcio F. , Trant Cyntia G. M. C. , Lima Agnaldo S. , Machado Pedro A. B. , Porto Rodrigo D. , Andrade Marcus Vinícius M.
Published: April 2020

Background

Liver transplantation (LT) can be associated with early complications, such as allograft dysfunction and acute kidney injury, which contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality. High‐mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) has been identified as mediator in ischemia‐reperfusion injury. Nucleosomes are complexes formed by DNA and histone proteins, and histones contribute to organs failure and death during sepsis.

Methods

HMGB1 and nucleosome plasma levels were measured, by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays, during LT and in the first 48 post‐operative hours in 22 LT patients. The association between HMGB1 and nucleosome levels and the complications and survival within 6 months after LT were investigated.

Results

We observed peak HMGB1 and nucleosome levels after graft reperfusion. HMGB1 and nucleosome levels were associated with the occurrence of acute kidney injury, early allograft dysfunction, and early survival after LT. Nucleosome levels after graft reperfusion were associated with the occurrence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome.

Conclusions

HMGB1 and nucleosome levels increased after liver reperfusion in human LT setting and were associated with early complications and survival. New studies are necessary to explore their role as early markers of hepatocellular injury in human LT and the risk of graft and organs dysfunction and death.
National culture and (dis)trust in banks: Cross‐country evidence
Authors: Ahunov Muzaffarjon , Van Hove Leo
Published: April 2020

We examine to what extent a specific aspect of national culture—uncertainty avoidance—can explain cross‐country variations in (dis)trust in banks. Relying on data from the World Values Survey, we find that trust in banks is lower in countries that score high for Hofstede's uncertainty avoidance index. Similarly, with Global Findex data, we find that financial exclusion due to a lack of trust in banks is high in high uncertainty avoidance cultures. These results highlight the need for a more culturally aware approach when designing consumer protection measures for the banking sector.
Williams–Beuren syndrome‐related methyltransferase WBSCR27: cofactor binding and cleavage
Authors: Mariasina Sofia S. , Chang Chi‐Fon , Petrova Olga A. , Efimov Sergey V. , Klochkov Vladimir V. , Kechko Olga I. , Mitkevich Vladimir A. , Sergiev Petr V. , Dontsova Olga A. , Polshakov Vladimir I.
Published: April 2020

Williams–Beuren syndrome, characterized by numerous physiological and mental problems, is caused by the heterozygous deletion of chromosome region 7q11.23, which results in the disappearance of 26 protein‐coding genes. Protein WBSCR27 is a product of one of these genes whose biological function has not yet been established and for which structural information has been absent until now. Using NMR, we investigated the structural and functional properties of murine WBSCR27. For protein in the apo form and in a complex with S‐(5′‐adenosyl)‐l‐homocysteine (SAH), a complete NMR resonance assignment has been obtained and the secondary structure has been determined. This information allows us to attribute WBSCR27 to Class I methyltransferases. The interaction of WBSCR27 with the cofactor S‐(5′‐adenosyl)‐l‐methionine (SAM) and its metabolic products – SAH, 5′‐deoxy‐5′‐methylthioadenosine (MTA) and 5′‐deoxyadenosine (5′dAdo) – was studied by NMR and isothermal titration calorimetry. SAH binds WBSCR27 much tighter than SAM, leaving open the question of cofactor turnover in the methylation reaction. One possible answer to this question is the presence of weak but detectable nucleosidase activity for WBSCR27. We found that the enzyme catalyses the cleavage of the adenine moiety from SAH, MTA and 5′dAdo, similar to the action of bacterial SAH/MTA nucleosidases. We also found that the binding of SAM or SAH causes a significant change in the structure of WBSCR27 and in the conformational mobility of the protein fragments, which can be attributed to the substrate recognition site. This indicates that the binding of the cofactor modulates the folding of the substrate‐recognizing region of the enzyme.
Health and living conditions of Samis compared with other citizens based on representative surveys in three Swedish regions
Authors: Gerdner Arne , Carlson Per
Published: April 2020

This is the first general health survey of Samis compared with other Swedes to be based on randomised samples. In three regions, Samis were compared with respondents to the Public Health Investigation (n = 613 Samis and 6,309 respondents). Samis were also compared as to gender and membership in reindeer‐herding Sami villages (SVs). The survey shows that Samis of today have better education, work situation and health, and a healthier lifestyle than other Swedish citizens living in the same regions. There are, however, great differences among the Samis themselves. Members of SVs have weaker finances, and they report having less societal trust and worse health than non‐members do. Male members have lower education, are less involved in social activities and report worse overall health, but do not have a higher incidence of psychiatric problems, than other Samis. Samis, in general, have similar or better health and social situation than non‐Samis, but male SV‐members face greater problems and higher risks than other Samis.

Key Practitioner Message: •Health and welfare authorities in cooperation with the Sami parliament and the Sami villages should develop special strategies to assist the herding communities in culturally sensitive ways.
The Unfair Burdens Argument Against Carbon Pricing
Authors: Tank Lukas
Published: April 2020

Carbon pricing is one of the most politically important approaches for the mitigation of climate change in the world today. Most political actors who are not committed to climate change denial favor carbon pricing, either as emissions trading or carbon taxation. In this article, I argue that carbon pricing should be considered unfair in most of its forms. I present a line of criticism called the Unfair Burdens Argument. It states that the most politically relevant ways to price carbon needlessly burden the less affluent more than the more affluent. This is unfair because, among other things, the more affluent have on average done more to create the problem of climate change in the first place. Principles for the fair distribution of burdens under climate change mitigation like the Polluter Pays Principle, which were thought to support carbon pricing, turn out to speak against it, when interpreted properly. Although the Unfair Burdens Argument on its own cannot show that carbon pricing is impermissible, it offers important clues for what a morally permissible form of climate change mitigation would look like.
Enhanced liver but not muscle OXPHOS in diabetes and reduced glucose output by complex I inhibition
Authors: Alimujiang Miriayi , Yu Xue‐ying , Yu Mu‐yu , Hou Wo‐lin , Yan Zhong‐hong , Yang Ying , Bao Yu‐qian , Yin Jun
Published: April 2020

Mitochondrial function is critical in energy metabolism. To fully capture how the mitochondrial function changes in metabolic disorders, we investigated mitochondrial function in liver and muscle of animal models mimicking different types and stages of diabetes. Type 1 diabetic mice were induced by streptozotocin (STZ) injection. The db/db mice were used as type 2 diabetic model. High‐fat diet‐induced obese mice represented pre‐diabetic stage of type 2 diabetes. Oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) of isolated mitochondria was measured with Clark‐type oxygen electrode. Both in early and late stages of type 1 diabetes, liver mitochondrial OXPHOS increased markedly with complex IV‐dependent OXPHOS being the most prominent. However, ATP, ADP and AMP contents in the tissue did not change. In pre‐diabetes and early stage of type 2 diabetes, liver mitochondrial complex I and II‐dependent OXPHOS increased greatly then declined to almost normal at late stage of type 2 diabetes, among which alteration of complex I‐dependent OXPHOS was the most significant. In contrast, muscle mitochondrial OXPHOS in HFD, early‐stage type 1 and 2 diabetic mice, did not change. In vitro, among inhibitors to each complex, only complex I inhibitor rotenone decreased glucose output in primary hepatocytes without cytotoxicity both in the absence and presence of oleic acid (OA). Rotenone affected cellular energy state and had no effects on cellular and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production. Taken together, the mitochondrial OXPHOS of liver but not muscle increased in obesity and diabetes, and only complex I inhibition may ameliorate hyperglycaemia via lowering hepatic glucose production.
The Taxonomy and Diversity of Proschkinia (Bacillariophyta), A Common But Enigmatic Genus from Marine Coasts
Authors: Kim So‐Yeon , Witkowski Andrzej , Park Jong‐Gyu , Gastineau Romain , Ashworth Matt P. , Kim Byoung‐Seok , Mann David G. , Li Chunlian , Igersheim Anton , Płociński Tomasz , Yoo Yeong‐Du , Chung Sang‐Ok , Theriot Edward C.
Published: April 2020

Detailed morphological documentation is provided for established Proschkinia taxa, including the generitype, P. bulnheimii, and P. complanata, P. complanatula, P. complanatoides and P. hyalosirella, and six new species. All established taxa are characterized from original material from historical collections. The new species described in this paper (P. luticola, P. staurospeciosa, P. impar, P. modesta, P. fistulispectabilis, and P. rosowskii) were isolated from the Western Pacific (Yellow Sea coast of Korea) and the Atlantic (Scottish and Texas coasts). Thorough documentation of the frustule, valve and protoplast architecture revealed the combination of characters diagnostic of the genus Proschkinia: a single‐lobed chloroplast; a broad girdle composed of U‐shaped, perforated bands; the position of the conopeate raphe‐sternum relative to the external and internal valve surface; and the presence of an occluded process through the valve, termed the “fistula”. Seven strains of Proschkinia were grown in culture and five of these were sequenced for nuclear ribosomal SSU and plastid‐encoded rbcL. Phylogenetic analysis recovered a clade of Proschkinia with Fistulifera, another fistula‐bearing diatom genus, and together these were sister to a clade formed of the Stauroneidaceae; in turn, all of these were sister to a clade composed of Parlibellus and two monoraphid genera Astartiella and Schizostauron. Despite morphological similarities between Proschkinia and the Naviculaceae, these two taxa are distant in our analysis. We document the variation in the morphology of Proschkinia, including significant variability in the fistula, suggesting that fistula ultrastructure might be one of the key features for species identification within the genus.
The effect of freeze‐thaw cycles on determination of immunoreactive plasma adrenocorticotrophic hormone concentrations in horses
Authors: Hu Ke , Stewart Allison J. , Yuen Ka Y. , Hinrichsen Sophia , Dryburgh Elizabeth L. , Bertin François‐René
Published: April 2020

Background

Determination of plasma adrenocotrophic hormone (ACTH) concentration (endogenous or thyrotropin‐releasing hormone [TRH] stimulation test) is the most commonly used diagnostic test for pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) in horses. Because ACTH is unstable, samples often are frozen to be shipped to laboratories or to allow for batch analysis of research samples. However, the effect of multiple freeze‐thaw cycles on equine ACTH is unknown.

Objective

To determine the effects of multiple freeze‐thaw cycles on immunoreactive ACTH concentration.

Animals

Twenty‐eight horses ranging from 10 to 27 years of age were used.

Methods

Prospective study. Horses were divided into 4 groups: group 1, PPID‐negative, without TRH stimulation; group 2, PPID‐negative, with TRH stimulation; group 3, PPID‐positive, without TRH stimulation; and group 4, PPID‐positive, with TRH stimulation. Whole blood was collected from each horse at baseline or 30 minutes after TRH stimulation. Immunoreactive plasma ACTH concentration was determined using a chemiluminescence assay. Plasma samples then were frozen at −80°C >24 hours, thawed at 4°C and reanalyzed for 5 freeze‐thaw cycles. Changes in plasma ACTH concentration were analyzed using a linear mixed‐effect model.

Results

Significant effects of freeze‐thaw cycles (P= .001) and PPID status (P= .04) on plasma ACTH concentration were observed, but no significant effect of TRH stimulation was identified.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

The plasma ACTH concentration is altered by freeze‐thaw cycles, and the effect is observed sooner in horses with PPID. To diagnose PPID, multiple freeze‐thaw cycles should be avoided when measuring plasma ACTH concentration.
When I say … team learning
Authors: Meeuwissen Stephanie N. E. , Gijselaers Wim H. , Wolfhagen Ineke H. A. P. , oude Egbrink Mirjam G. A.
Published: April 2020

Meeuwissen et al. present 'team learning' as a process that helps explain how successful teams work, clarifying how behavioral dimensions of team learning lead to new, shared understandings.
Vibrio fischerisiderophore production drives competitive exclusion during dual‐species growth
Authors: Eickhoff Michaela J. , Bassler Bonnie L.
Published: April 2020

When two or more bacterial species inhabit a shared niche, often, they must compete for limited nutrients. Iron is an essential nutrient that is especially scarce in the marine environment. Bacteria can use the production, release, and re‐uptake of siderophores, small molecule iron chelators, to scavenge iron. Siderophores provide fitness advantages to species that employ them by enhancing iron acquisition, and moreover, by denying iron to competitors incapable of using the siderophore–iron complex. Here, we show that cell‐free culture fluids from the marine bacteriumVibrio fischeriES114 prevent the growth of other vibrio species. Mutagenesis reveals the aerobactin siderophore as the inhibitor. Our analysis reveals a gene, that we nameaerE, encodes the aerobactin exporter, and LuxT is a transcriptional activator of aerobactin production. In co‐culture, under iron‐limiting conditions, aerobactin production allowsV. fischeriES114 to competitively excludeVibrio harveyi, which does not possess aerobactin production and uptake genes. In contrast,V. fischeriES114 mutants incapable of aerobactin production lose in competition withV. harveyi. Introduction ofiutA,encoding the aerobactin receptor, together withfhuCDB, encoding the aerobactin importer are sufficient to convertV. harveyiinto an “aerobactin cheater.”
White matter alterations in Alzheimer’s disease without concomitant pathologies
Authors: Ferrer I. , Andrés‐Benito P.
Published: April 2020

Aims

Most individuals with AD neuropathological changes have co‐morbidities which have an impact on the integrity of the WM. This study analyses oligodendrocyte and myelin markers in the frontal WM in a series of AD cases without clinical or pathological co‐morbidities.

Methods

From a consecutive autopsy series, 206 cases had neuropathological changes of AD; among them, only 33 were AD without co‐morbidities. WM alterations were first evaluated in coronal sections of the frontal lobe in every case. Then, RT‐qPCR and immunohistochemistry were carried out in the frontal WM of AD cases without co‐morbidities to analyse the expression of selected oligodendrocyte and myelin markers.

Results

WM demyelination was more marked in AD with co‐morbidities when compared with AD cases without co‐morbidities. Regarding the later, mRNA expression levels ofMBP,PLP1,CNP,MAG,MAL,MOGandMOBPwere preserved at stages I–II/0–A when compared with middle‐aged (MA) individuals, but significantly decreased at stages III–IV/0–C. This was accompanied by reduced expression ofNG2andPDGFRAmRNA, reduced numbers of NG2‐, Olig2‐ and HDAC2‐immunoreactive cells and reduced glucose transporter immunoreactivity. Partial recovery of some of these markers occurred at stages V–VI/B–C.

Conclusions

The present observations demonstrate that co‐morbidities have an impact on WM integrity in the elderly and in AD, and that early alterations in oligodendrocytes and transcription of genes linked to myelin proteins in WM occur in AD cases without co‐morbidities. These are followed by partial recovery attempts at advanced stages. These observations suggest that oligodendrocytopathy is part of AD.
Where reasons and reasoning come apart
Authors: Schmidt Eva
Published: April 2020

Proponents of the reasoning view analyze normative reasons as premises of good reasoning and explain the normativity of reasons by appeal to their role as premises of good reasoning. The aim of this paper is to cast doubt on the reasoning view by providing counterexamples to the proposed analysis of reasons, counterexamples in which premises of good reasoning towards φ‐ing are not reasons to φ.
Plant hydraulics play a critical role in Earth system fluxes
Authors: Anderegg William R. L. , Venturas Martin D.
Published: April 2020

This article is a Commentary on Eller et al., 226: 1622–1637, and Sabot et al., 226: 1638–1655.
A dynamic model of UVR8 photoreceptor signalling in UV‐B‐acclimated Arabidopsis
Authors: Liao Xinyang , Liu Wei , Yang Hong‐Quan , Jenkins Gareth I.
Published: April 2020

The photoreceptor UVR8 mediates numerous photomorphogenic responses of plants to UV‐B wavelengths by regulating transcription. Studies with purified UVR8 and seedlings not previously exposed to UV‐B have generated a model for UVR8 action in which dimeric UVR8 rapidly monomerises in response to UV‐B exposure to initiate signalling. However, the mechanism of UVR8 action in UV‐B‐acclimated plants growing under photoperiodic conditions, where UVR8 exists in a dimer/monomer photo‐equilibrium, is poorly understood.

We examined UVR8 dimer/monomer status, gene expression responses, amounts of key UVR8 signalling proteins and their interactions with UVR8 in UV‐B‐acclimated Arabidopsis.

We show that in UV‐B‐acclimated plants UVR8 can mediate a response to a 15‐fold increase in UV‐B without any increase in abundance of UVR8 monomer. Following transfer to elevated UV‐B, monomers show increased interaction with both COP1, to initiate signalling and RUP2, to maintain the photo‐equilibrium when the dimer/monomer cycling rate increases. Native RUP1 is present in low abundance compared with RUP2.

We present a model for UVR8 action in UV‐B‐acclimated plants growing in photoperiodic conditions that incorporates dimer and monomer photoreception, dimer/monomer cycling, abundance of native COP1 and RUP proteins, and interactions of the monomer population with COP1, RUP2 and potentially other proteins.
Effectiveness, Safety, and Predictive Potential in Ultrasound‐Guided Stellate Ganglion Blockades for the Treatment of Sympathetically Maintained Pain
Authors: Aleanakian Ruben , Chung Boo‐Young , Feldmann Robert E. , Benrath Justus
Published: April 2020

Background

Evaluating the effectiveness of stellate ganglion blockades (SGBs) proves challenging, since the criteria defining a successful blockade are controversial. This may be one reason for the scarcity of studies on this topic, thus forcing clinical guidelines to remain conservative in recommending SGBs. Moreover, factors to predict which patients will benefit from blockade series are not yet available.

Objectives

The objectives of this study were to evaluate through a clinical approach SGBs’ effectiveness performed under ultrasound guidance (us‐SGB) and to identify factors to predict effectiveness.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 809 us‐SGBs in 105 patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and neuropathic pain syndromes (all potentially including sympathetically maintained pain) regarding pain reduction. Volume and type of local anesthetics, magnitude of pain, temperature of the dorsal hands, heart rate, blood pressure, and occurrence of Horner’s syndrome or complications were assessed.

Results

Pain reduction after a blockade series was highly significant and showed no significant correlation with change of temperature, vital signs, or Horner’s syndrome. For patients with neuropathic pain, the predictive potential for pain reduction following a blockade series lies within the range of pain reduction after the first blockade. In a literature comparison, incidences of complications (hoarseness 3.9%, dysphagia 3.4%, hematoma 0.6%) were lower than in non‐ultrasound‐guided techniques.

Conclusions

Data indicate that us‐SGBs are safe and effective in reducing sympathetically maintained pain in patients with CRPS and neuropathic pain syndromes. Pain reduction after the first blockade may predict total pain reduction after a blockade series. Other clinical measures seem unsuitable to predict effectiveness.
A Randomized Double‐Blind Controlled Pilot Study Comparing Leucocyte‐Rich Platelet‐Rich Plasma and Corticosteroid in Caudal Epidural Injection for Complex Chronic Degenerative Spinal Pain
Authors: Ruiz‐Lopez Ricardo , Tsai Yu‐Chuan
Published: April 2020

Objectives

To compare the efficacy and safety between leucocyte‐rich platelet‐rich plasma (LR‐PRP) and corticosteroid in fluoroscopically guided caudal epidural injection for patients with complex chronic lumbar spinal pain.

Study Design

A prospective randomized controlled double‐blinded study.

Methods

Fifty eligible patients with complex chronic degenerative spinal pain were randomly assigned with a 1:1 allocation ratio to receive caudal epidural injection of corticosteroid (triamcinolone acetonide, 60 mg) or LR‐PRP (isolated from 60 mL autologous blood) under fluoroscopic guidance. Levels of low back pain, quality of life, and complications (or adverse effects) were evaluated at 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment. Pain levels and quality of life were assessed using the VAS and Short Form 36‐Item Health Survey (SF‐36), respectively.

Results

No significant difference was shown at baseline between the 2 groups. Compared with the pretreatment values, there were significant reductions in the VAS score in both groups. A significantly lower VAS score at 1‐month follow‐up was detected in patients who received corticosteroid injection. However, the scores were lower in the LR‐PRP group at 3‐ and 6‐month follow‐up. SF‐36 responses at 6 months showed significant improvement in all domains in the LR‐PRP group. There were no complications or adverse effects related to treatment at 6‐month follow‐up in either group.

Conclusions

Both autologous LR‐PRP and corticosteroid for caudal epidural injections under fluoroscopic guidance are equally safe and therapeutically effective in patients with complex chronic lumbar spinal pain. However, LR‐PRP is superior to corticosteroid for a longer pain‐relieving effect and improvement in quality of life.