bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Carnivores cross irrigation canals more often through overpasses than through culverts
Authors: Azedo Rita , Ilhéu Ana , Santos Sara , Vaz Pedro G.
Published: June 2021

As rainfall becomes scarcer or more erratic, we rely more on irrigation systems for water provision. Impacts of irrigation canals such as the barrier effect on wildlife movements are poorly documented. Although canal culverts and overpasses can be used by wildlife, little is known about their crossing patterns to guide barrier effect mitigation efforts. Over 7 years, we recorded medium-sized carnivore crossings by video-surveillance through 30 culverts and 28 overpasses in a large irrigation project in south-central Portugal. We examined the influence of the structures’ features and landscape context on the likelihood of canal crossing. Culvert crossings were positively influenced by the proportion of nearby montado, a high nature value farming system. Overpass crossings were more likely in areas away from paved roads and with more nearby wetlands. Overpasses increased the crossing rates by about 11 % relative to culverts and both were crossed more often in landscapes with evenly distributed land uses. In the project area, 20% of the montado has recently transitioned to irrigated agriculture, and wetlands have increased by 43%. It is therefore plausible that the increase in the crossing rate of overpasses relative to culverts will be accentuated. Our study produced the first evidence of a contrast in crossing rates among irrigation canal crossing structures. We have shown that the landscape can be a driver of animal crossings but irrigation projects can in turn be transformative of the landscape. Broadly, the fact that the deployment of irrigation canals may favor some land uses over others creates a conundrum that needs careful consideration when planning barrier effect mitigation interventions.
Antecedents of CSR disclosure in an emerging economy: evidence from the banking industry
Authors: de Oliveira Kleber Vasconcellos , Lustosa Paulo Roberto B. , Freire Fatima de Souza , de Carvalho Frederico A.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study examines the factors which affect the adoption of corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure practices in line with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines in Brazil's banking industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis comprised the deposits (demand and savings), fee income, employee expenses, regulatory capital (Basel ratio) and ownership structure of all Brazilian banks from 2006 to 2017. The sample totalled 1,613 firm-year observations. The authors used three binary regression models (logit, probit and complementary log-log) in order to choose the one that best fits the model proposed. The authors controlled for size, profitability, leverage and liquidity.

Findings

The main results show positive relationships between CSR reporting and both savings deposits and fee income. The authors also found that state-owned (foreign private-owned) banks have a positive (negative) relationship with probability of CSR disclosure. A negative relationship was found between CSR disclosure and regulatory capital, indicating that banks are more likely to publish GRI reports as they approach the minimum levels of the Basel ratio.

Research limitations/implications

Some banks may disclose CSR reports which do not adhere to the GRI guidelines; these were not captured in this study.

Practical implications

The estimated model aids understanding of factors influencing CSR disclosure in the banking industry in an emerging economy, which may help bank regulators to adopt new approaches in their supervisory and regulatory roles.

Originality/value

This work is the first to document that both fee income and banks' regulatory capital are related to CSR disclosure. Furthermore, this study investigates the entire banking industry of a Latin American country over the longest and most up-to-date period the authors are aware of.
China drive toward Africa between arguments of neo-colonialism and mutual-beneficial relationship: Egypt as a case study
Authors: el-Shafei Alyaa Wagdy , Metawe Mohamed
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The main purpose of the paper is to examine the truth behind allegations of neo-colonialism performed by China toward Africa, which was raised due to the growing relationship between China and Africa that enhanced the debate between supporters of the notion of neo-colonialism or mutual beneficial relationship. In addition to the growing number of arguments are on the dominance of PRC in Africa over the western powers as European Union or United States in the Continent.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper investigates the claims of neo-colonialism practiced by China toward Africa through the lenses of international political economy using the Interdependence theory of neoliberalists. Egypt was selected as a case study due to the emphases that Egypt gives to China as a strategic partner and as rising economic power as well as representing a way of diversifying Egypt's foreign policy and an additional economic partner beside the western ones. The research relied on two interwoven indicators to investigate the main argument: Trade and Development Aid.

Findings

The two pillars of analysis indicate that the growing relationship between Egypt and China is a form of interdependent relationship that is expected to get further complex in the future, which is relatively indicated among other things in the synergy Egypt has made between its Vision 2030 and China's Belt and Road Initiative. In reference to development aid, China uses different techniques that is not commonly used by the donors of Official Development Assistance (“ODA”), and due to unpublished actual data on China's aid figures, any indication of dominance is hard to attain regardless a solo incident of debt trap in Africa, the model of China's aid is provided through low-interest loans for development projects that is highly important for developing countries.

Originality/value

The paper tried to engage in the ongoing debate and examine the truth behind the neo-colonial allegations from the perspective of international political economy, which is an added value to the literature in this regard as the data provided are prepared for the present research purpose.
Identifying ideal product composition of chocolate‐flavored milk using preference mapping
Authors: Mahato Dipendra Kumar , Oliver Penelope , Keast Russell , Liem Djin Gie , Russell Catherine Georgina , Mohebbi Mohammadreza , Cicerale Sara , Mahmud MM Chayan , Gamlath Shirani
Published: June 2021

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends cutting down added sugar in processed foods and beverages. There is a growing concern for increased calorie intake from added sugar in flavored milk. To understand how to effectively reduce added sugar in flavored milk, the influence of other nutritional components such as percentage of fat, protein, and salt need to be accounted for as they are the determinants for color, flavor and mouthfeel attributes that ultimately influence consumer liking. Therefore, this study aims to identify the ideal product composition of commercial chocolate flavored milk samples and to link the existing variations to consumers’ liking data using External Preference Mapping (EPM). Thirty‐four commercial chocolate milk samples systematically varying in compositional profile (sugar, fat, protein, salt, stabilizer and sweetener) were analysed by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with a subset of 10 chocolate milk samples varying in product composition (fat, protein, salt and sugar) selected for consumer evaluation. Consumers (n = 235) evaluated these 10 chocolate milk samples for overall liking using a 9‐point hedonic scale. Significant differences (p < 0.0001) were observed in the hedonic ratings of these 10 samples, and consumers were grouped into four clusters using Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA), each cluster showing a preference for different products. EPM was applied to the consumer liking data to reveal the ideal product composition of chocolate milk acceptability. Chocolate milk samples 4 (OAK chocolate) and 6 (OAK thick death by chocolate) with 10.6%–10.9% sugar, 3.4%–3.5% fat, 3.5%–3.6% protein and 0.05% salt were identified to have the highest appeal satisfying between 70% and 80% of consumers assessed.

Practical Application

The results of this research could be applied for the reformulation of a new product to ensure that the product composition including sugar concentration is critical to influencing the sensory perception and consumer acceptance of the product. In addition, the results provide an ideal product composition along with sugar concentration that can be used as a standard or control mark for sugar reduction target.
Analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) for 2‐way layouts using a generalised ANOSIM statistic, with comparative notes on Permutational Multivariate Analysis of Variance (PERMANOVA)
Authors: Somerfield Paul J. , Clarke K. Robert , Gorley Ray N.
Published: June 2021

ANOSIM (Analysis of Similarities) is a robust non‐parametric hypothesis testing framework for differences in resemblances among groups of samples. The generalised ANOSIM statistic RO is defined as the slope of the linear regression of ranked resemblances from observations against ranked distances in a model describing the unordered or ordered distances among samples under an alternative to the null hypothesis. In the absence of ordering, this becomes the standard ANOSIM R statistic. The construction of 2‐way tests using the generalised statistic in various nested and crossed designs, with and without ordered factors, and with or without replication, is described. Examples are given of 2‐way tests with ordered factors in marine ecological studies: 1. phytal meiofaunal communities in species of macroalgae with increasing physical complexity, among islands in the Isles of Scilly; 2. coral community composition across intertidal flats in Thailand, sampled in different years; 3. macrofauna inhabiting kelp holdfasts from different places in response to an oil spill; 4. experimental effects of salinity stress and food restriction on nematode communities. ANOSIM is fully non‐parametric and thus cannot, for two‐way crossed designs, decompose factors into (metric‐based) main effects and interactions; this requires at least semi‐parametric modelling, such as provided by PERMANOVA. The two approaches therefore test very different hypotheses: ANOSIM gives a robust, comparable and globally interpretable measure of magnitude of overall community change associated with each factor, having excised any possible effect from the factor(s) it is crossed with, irrespective of whether the factors interact or not. PERMANOVA cannot do this because the presence of interactions will compromise (sometimes totally) any overall measures of the main effects of each factor. Conversely, PERMANOVA can test for interactions involving directional (but non‐magnitudinal) community change, which are entirely invisible to ANOSIM. The two methods are therefore seen as complementary, rather than as alternatives.
Analysis of pedigree data and whole‐genome sequences in 12 cattle breeds reveals extremely low within‐breed Y‐chromosome diversity
Authors: Escouflaire C. , Capitan A.
Published: June 2021

In this article, we analyzed pedigree information on males from 12 bovine breeds born in France between 2015 and 2019. We report an overall small number of paternal lineages with, for example, a minimal number of ancestors accounting for 95% of the Y‐chromosome pool of their breed ranging from only 2 to 15 individuals. Then, we mined whole‐genome sequence data from 811 sires (2 ≤ n ≤ 510 per breed) and built a median‐joining network using 1411 SNPs. Most branches were breed‐specific and in agreement with the geographic and genetic relatedness of these populations. The within‐breed haplotype diversity was lower than expected based on genealogical information, which supports the existence of major male founder effects predating pedigree recording. In addition, we observed de novo mutation events among the descendants of the same ancestors, which are of interest to define paternal sub‐lineages. Our results pave the way to future studies on the estimation of the effects of Y‐chromosome haplotypes on male reproductive performances and on the conservation of Y‐chromosome diversity.
Jugarse La Vida: Urban Political Ecologies of Oil and Marronage
Authors: Valdivia Gabriela
Published: June 2021

Environmental justice scholarship recognises and denounces the uneven spatio‐temporal patterns of toxic exposures. In doing so, it often prioritises oppositional acts and standardised metrics of evidence of harm. In this essay, I explore the concept of jugarse la vida (wagering life) as a philosophy of vitality in toxic spaces to argue that desire and human agency have been obscured in environmental justice scholarship, specifically, the embodied and ordinary dimensions of how life is lived under conditions of environmental unfreedom. The essay proposes that locally developed analytics such as jugarse la vida can stand in for a theory of life under toxic conditions, specifically, a theory of marronage, and pushes for a critical engagement with the coloniality of North‐centric concepts and frameworks in understanding environmental injustices in the global South.
Time points and risk factors for RhD immunizations after the implementation of targeted routine antenatal anti‐D prophylaxis: A retrospective nationwide cohort study
Authors: Jernman Riina , Isaksson Camilla , Haimila Katri , Kuosmanen Malla , Mäkikallio‐Anttila Kaarin , Toivonen Suvi , Ordén Maija‐Riitta , Sulin Kati , Tihtonen Kati , Vääräsmäki Marja , Sainio Susanna
Published: June 2021

Introduction

Targeted routine antenatal anti‐D prophylaxis was introduced to the national prophylaxis program in Finland in late 2013. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence, time‐points, and risk factors for Rhesus D immunization after the implementation of routine antenatal anti‐D prophylaxis, in all women in Finland with antenatal anti‐D antibodies detected in 2014–2017.

Material and methods

In a nationwide population‐based retrospective cohort study, the incidence, time‐points, and risk factors of anti‐D immunizations were analyzed. Information on antenatal screening was obtained from the Finnish Red Cross Blood Service database, and obstetric data from hospital records and the Finnish Medical Birth Register.

Results

The study included a total of 228 women (197 with complete data for all pregnancies). After the implementation of routine antenatal anti‐D prophylaxis, the prevalence of pregnancies with anti‐D antibodies decreased from 1.52% in 2014 to 0.88% in 2017, and the corresponding incidence of new immunizations decreased from 0.33% to 0.10%. Time‐points for detection of new anti‐D antibodies before and after 2014 were the first screening sample at 8–12 weeks of gestation in 52% vs 19%, the second sample at 24–26 weeks in 20% vs 50%, and the third screening at 36 weeks in 28% vs 32%.

Conclusions

The incidence of new anti‐D immunizations decreased as expected after the implementation of routine antenatal anti‐D prophylaxis. True failures are rare and they mainly occur when the prophylaxis is not given appropriately, suggesting a need for constant education of healthcare professionals on the subject.
Do consumers care about work health issues? A qualitative study on voluntary occupational health activities and consumer social responsibility
Authors: Müller Sebastian , Kuhn Eva , Buyx Alena , Heidbrink Ludger
Published: June 2021

As occupational health management (OHM) and work health promotion (WHP) become increasingly prominent in companies worldwide, little is known about consumers' attitudes towards work health‐related issues. Do consumers consider the health of employees in German companies to be important? Do German companies consider consumers to be relevant stakeholders in voluntary occupational health (OH) and well‐being activities? In the first of two qualitative interview studies, German consumers were asked which actors they consider to be responsible in OH contexts and whether or not they prefer OH‐related product attributes to other socially desirable ones. During a second qualitative interview study with representatives from German companies, suppliers, institutions, and organizations concerned with voluntary and legally mandatory OH, participants were asked about their expectations regarding whether or not consumers are interested in such OH activities. Both studies highlight the difference between the consumers' perspective on OH issues and responsibilities on the one hand and what companies and stakeholders believe consumers think about OH issues and responsibilities on the other. The findings show that consumers can recognize non‐mandatory OH and well‐being activities as elements of their own social responsibility (ConSR), while companies usually do not consider this perspective in their corporate social responsibility (CSR).
Community‐based pharmacists' role in deprescribing: A systematic review
Authors: Bužančić Iva , Kummer Ingrid , Držaić Margita , Ortner Hadžiabdić Maja
Published: June 2021

Aims

Community‐based pharmacists are an important stakeholder in providing continuing care for chronic multi‐morbid patients, and their role is steadily expanding. The aim of this study is to examine the literature exploring community‐based pharmacist‐initiated and/or ‐led deprescribing and to evaluate the impact on the success of deprescribing and clinical outcomes.

Methods

Library and clinical trials databases were searched from inception to March 2020. Studies were included if they explored deprescribing in adults, by community‐based pharmacists and were available in English. Two reviewers extracted data independently using a pre‐agreed data extraction template. Meta‐analysis was not performed due to heterogeneity of study designs, types of intervention and outcomes.

Results

A total of 24 studies were included in the review. Results were grouped based on intervention method into four categories: educational interventions; interventions involving medication review, consultation or therapy management; pre‐defined pharmacist‐led deprescribing interventions; and pharmacist‐led collaborative interventions. All types of interventions resulted in greater discontinuation of medications in comparison to usual care. Educational interventions reported financial benefits as well. Medication review by community‐based pharmacist can lead to successful deprescribing of high‐risk medication, but do not affect the risk or rate of falls, rate of hospitalisations, mortality or quality of life. Pharmacist‐led medication review, in patients with mental illness, resulting in deprescribing improves anticholinergic side effects, memory and quality of life. Pre‐defined pharmacist‐led deprescribing did not reduce healthcare resource consumptions but can contribute to financial savings. Short follow‐up periods prevent evaluation of long‐term sustainability of deprescribing interventions.

Conclusion

This systematic review suggests community‐based pharmacists can lead deprescribing interventions and that they are valuable partners in deprescribing collaborations, providing necessary monitoring throughout tapering and post‐follow‐up to ensure the success of an intervention.
Adverse outcome in follicular lymphoma is associated with MYC rearrangements but not MYC extra copies
Authors: Bussot Lucile , Chevalier Simon , Cristante Justine , Grange Béatrice , Tesson Bruno , Deteix‐Santana Clémence , Orsini‐Piocelle Frédérique , Leyronnas Cécile , Dupire Sophie , Gressin Rémy , Salles Gilles , Bachy Emmanuel , Emadali Anouk , Valmary‐Degano Séverine , Huet Sarah , Lefebvre Christine , Carras Sylvain
Published: June 2021

Follicular lymphomas (FLs) with MYC rearrangements (MYC‐R) and extra copies of MYC (MYC‐EC) are rare and the prognosis impact is uncertain. We conducted a retrospective study including 321 FL patients, among whom 259 (81%) had no 8q24 alterations and 62 (19%) were assigned to 8qAlt. Forty‐five cases were classified as MYC‐EC and six as MYC‐R. MYC‐R patients were significantly older (P = 0·008), had higher follicular lymphoma international prognostic index (FLIPI) stage (P = 0·05) and β2‐microglobulin (β2m; P = 0·05). Among patients treated with immuno‐chemotherapy, four presented a MYC‐R and 25 a MYC‐EC. Univariate analysis showed the absence of significant difference between MYC‐EC and normal MYC (MYC‐NL) regarding progression‐free survival (PFS; HR1·3; 95% CI [0·4–1·6]) and specific overall survival (SOS; HR 1·6; 95% CI [0·4–5·7]). Those results were compared to data from the PRIMA trial. This confirmed that MYC‐EC had no impact on PFS (P = 0·86) or SOS (P = 0·9). Conversely, MYC‐R was associated with a trend to inferior outcome regarding PFS (HR : 6·1; 95% CI [2·2–17·1]; P = 0·00026), lymphoma‐related death (SOS; HR 13·6; 95% CI [2·9–65]; P = 0·00014) and risk of transformation (transformation‐free survival (TFS); HR 82·7; 95% CI [14·8–463·4]; P < 0·0001). In conclusion, MYC‐EC has no prognostic impact in FL but MYC‐R FL tended to be associated with an increased risk of transformation and poorer outcome.
Sowing forests: a synthesis of seed dispersal and predation by agoutis and their influence on plant communities
Authors: Mittelman Pedro , Dracxler Caroline Marques , Santos‐Coutinho Pollyanna R. O. , Pires Alexandra S.
Published: June 2021

Granivorous rodents have been traditionally regarded as antagonistic seed predators. Agoutis (Dasyprocta spp.), however, have also been recognized as mutualistic dispersers of plants because of their role as scatter‐hoarders of seeds, especially for large‐seeded species. A closer look shows that such definitions are too simplistic for these Neotropical animals because agoutis can influence plant communities not only through seed dispersal of large seeds but also through predation of small seeds and seedlings, evidencing their dual role. Herein, we summarize the literature on plant–agouti interactions, decompose agouti seed dispersal into its quantitative and qualitative components, and discuss how environmental factors and plant traits determine whether these interactions result in mutualisms or antagonisms. We also look at the role of agoutis in a community context, assessing their effectiveness as substitutes for extinct megafaunal frugivores and comparing their ecological functions to those of other extant dispersers of large seeds. We also discuss how our conclusions can be extended to the single other genus in the Dasyproctidae family (Myoprocta). Finally, we examine agoutis’ contribution to carbon stocks and summarize current conservation threats and efforts. We recorded 164 interactions between agoutis and plants, which were widespread across the plant phylogeny, confirming that agoutis are generalist frugivores. Seed mass was a main factor determining seed hoarding probability of plant species and agoutis were found to disperse larger seeds than other large‐bodied frugivores. Agoutis positively contributed to carbon storage by preying upon seeds of plants with lower carbon biomass and by dispersing species with higher biomass. This synthesis of plant–agouti interactions shows that ecological services provided by agoutis to plant populations and communities go beyond seed dispersal and predation, and we identify still unanswered questions. We hope to emphasise the importance of agoutis in Neotropical forests.
Do Belonging and Social Exclusion at School Affect Structural Brain Development During Adolescence?
Authors: Raufelder Diana , Neumann Nicola , Domin Martin , Lorenz Robert C. , Gleich Tobias , Golde Sabrina , Romund Lydia , Beck Anne , Hoferichter Frances
Published: June 2021

Students’ sense of belonging presents an essential resource for academic and health outcomes, whereas social exclusion at school negatively impacts students’ well‐being and academic performance. Aiming to understand how feelings of school‐related belonging and exclusion shape the structural brain development, this study applied longitudinal questionnaire‐based data and MRI data from 71 adolescent students (37 females, Mage at t1 = 15.0; t2 = 16.1 years). All were white participants from Germany. Voxel‐based morphometry revealed only an association of social exclusion (and not of belonging) and gray matter volume in the left anterior insula: From t1 to t2, there was less gray matter decrease, the more social exclusion students perceived. School‐related social exclusion and disturbed neurodevelopment are thus significantly associated.
Identification of OCA2 as a novel locus for the co‐morbidity of asthma‐plus‐eczema
Authors: Margaritte‐Jeannin Patricia , Budu‐Aggrey Ashley , Ege Markus , Madore Anne‐Marie , Linhard Christophe , Mohamdi Hamida , von Mutius Erika , Granell Raquel , Demenais Florence , Laprise Catherine , Bouzigon Emmanuelle , Dizier Marie‐Hélène
Published: June 2021

Background

Numerous genes have been associated with the three most common allergic diseases (asthma, allergic rhinitis or eczema) but these genes explain only a part of the heritability. In the vast majority of genetic studies, complex phenotypes such as co‐morbidity of two of these diseases, have not been considered. This may partly explain missing heritability.

Objective

To identify genetic variants specifically associated with the co‐morbidity of asthma‐plus‐eczema.

Methods

We first conducted a meta‐analysis of four GWAS (Genome‐Wide Association Study) of the combined asthma‐plus‐eczema phenotype (total of 8807 European‐ancestry subjects of whom 1208 subjects had both asthma and eczema). To assess whether the association with SNP(s) was specific to the co‐morbidity, we also conducted a meta‐analysis of homogeneity test of association according to disease status (“asthma‐plus‐eczema” vs. the presence of only one disease “asthma only or eczema only”). We then used a joint test by combining the two test statistics from the co‐morbidity‐SNP association and the phenotypic heterogeneity of SNP effect meta‐analyses.

Results

Seven SNPs were detected for specific association to the asthma‐plus‐eczema co‐morbidity, two with significant and five with suggestive evidence using the joint test after correction for multiple testing. The two significant SNPs are located in the OCA2 gene (Oculocutaneous Albinism II), a new locus never detected for significant evidence of association with any allergic disease. This gene is a promising candidate gene, because of its link to skin and lung diseases, and to epithelial barrier and immune mechanisms.

Conclusion

Our study underlines the importance of studying sub‐phenotypes as co‐morbidities to detect new susceptibility genes.
Long‐term outcomes after seton placement for perianal fistulas with and without Crohn’s disease
Authors: Motamedi Mohammad Ali K. , Serahati Sara , Rajendran Luckshi , Brown Carl J. , Raval Manoj J. , Karimuddin Ahmer , Ghuman Amandeep , Phang Paul T.
Published: June 2021

Aim

Perianal sepsis in Crohn's disease (CD) fistulas is managed with antibiotics and surgical drainage; a noncutting seton is used for an identified transsphincteric fistula tract. The optimal management following seton placement for initial control of perianal sepsis remains to be determined. Our main aim was to assess the success rates of curative surgery, seton removal or long‐term indwelling seton in patients with and without CD.

Method

This was a retrospective cohort of consecutive patients with a perianal fistula treated with a noncutting seton between 2010 and 2019, including 83 CD patients and 94 patients without CD. Initial control of symptomatic perianal infection with a seton and subsequent healing and reintervention rates were compared between the three postseton management strategies.

Results

A total of 177 patients, 61% male and 83.1% with complex fistulas, were followed for a median of 23 months (interquartile range 11–40 months). Immunomodulatory treatment was used in 90.4% of CD patients after seton placement. Good initial control of perianal infection was achieved with a seton in CD and non‐CD patients, at 92.9% and 96.7%, respectively (p = 0.11). Overall fistula healing or control for CD and non‐CD patients was, respectively, 64% and 86% (p = 0.1) after curative surgery, 49% and 71% after seton removal (p = 0.21) and 58% and 50% with long‐term seton placement (p = 0.72). Overall reintervention for recurrence was 83% in CD versus 53.1% in non‐CD patients during the follow‐up period (p = 0.002).

Conclusion

Definitive surgery was possible in only a minority of CD patients. Long‐term seton management was an effective option in patients with CD with acceptable improvement and recurrence rates.
Advanced extreme learning machine‐based ensemble classification scheme with enhanced data perturbation for human DNA sequences
Authors: Janakiraman Sengathir , Deva Priya Maruthakutty
Published: June 2021

The dramatic growth in machine learning has brought in significant features and quantified non‐linear associations in the data derived from sensitive medical datasets. The data should be preserved without influencing the associated classifications by applying a robust, effective and reliable data perturbation technique before enforcing ensemble classification. In this paper, an Integrated Condensation Scheme imposed Privacy Preserving Rotation‐based Data Perturbation and Ensemble Classification (ICS‐PPR‐DPEC) is proposed for ensuring privacy of such sensitive data. Condensation Algorithm‐based Data Perturbation is used for constructing homogenous groups determined from the distance between tuples. It also generates a rotation matrix for conducting perturbation that ensures higher data sensitivity protection before it is sent for classification. Advanced Extreme Learning Machine‐based Ensemble Classification Scheme includes kernel, norm‐optimized and regularized Extreme Learning Machine (ELM)‐based classifiers for attaining predominant classification accuracy in identifying human DNA sequences. This approach facilitates classification by constructing ensembles which are trained through randomly resampled ELM classifiers. It includes an objective function that systematically improves the accuracy and diversity among resulting ensembles. The experimental results of the proposed ICS‐PPR‐DPEC are found to be excellent in terms of classification Accuracy, Precision, Recall, and Kappa statistic when compared to the benchmarked techniques.
Hybrid intelligent technology for plant health using the fusion of evolutionary optimization and deep neural networks
Authors: Al‐bayati Jalal Sadoon Hameed , Üstündağ Burak Berk
Published: June 2021

In the last decade, plant leaf disease identification has been an efficient research subject. In connection with this interest, deep learning architectures show a remarkable era in various fields of image processing and computer vision, including image classification, function detection, and image pattern recognition. In this study, we examine many aspects of convolutional neural networks for image pattern recognition. We examine the early and late fusion of multiple pattern recognition classifiers using various plant leaves. Commonly, it considers disease discovery with the diagnostic technologies available. In standard cases, planters usually do not discover the disease. Therefore, plant leaf disease detection is a significant research problem, and one of their goals is to uncover an effective way to identify leaf image disease. The article has made a potential effort to find a process that should be able to expose plant leaf disease using early and late fusion of two classifiers: modified Optimized Deep Neural Network (ODNN) with different parameters of evolutionary optimization of Grasshopper algorithm (GOA), Speeded Up Robust Features (SURF) and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) that could support the system to achieve excellent performance. Classification quality parameters are determined, and research to explain the validation of the model has been carried out.
Taxonomic and functional homogenization of farmland birds along an urbanization gradient in a tropical megacity
Authors: Marcacci Gabriel , Westphal Catrin , Wenzel Arne , Raj Varsha , Nölke Nils , Tscharntke Teja , Grass Ingo
Published: June 2021

Urbanization is a major driver of land use change and biodiversity decline. While most of the ongoing and future urbanization hotspots are located in the Global South, the impact of urban expansion on agricultural biodiversity and associated functions and services in these regions has widely been neglected. Additionally, most studies assess biodiversity responses at local scale (α‐diversity), however, ecosystem functioning is strongly determined by compositional and functional turnover of communities (β‐diversity) at regional scales. We investigated taxonomic and functional β‐diversity of farmland birds across three seasons on 36 vegetable farms spread along a continuous urbanization gradient in Bangalore, a South Indian megacity. Increasing amount of grey area in the farm surroundings was the dominant driver affecting β‐diversity and resulting in taxonomic and functional homogenization of farmland bird communities. Functional diversity losses were higher than expected from species declines (i.e., urbanization acts as an environmental filter), with particular losses of functionally important groups such as insectivores of crop pests. Moreover, urbanization reduced functional redundancy of bird communities, which may further weaken ecosystems resilience to future perturbations. Our study underscores urbanization as a major driver of taxonomic and functional homogenization of species communities in agricultural systems, potentially threatening crucial ecosystem services for food production.
Clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of acquired haemophilia A in Korea
Authors: Hyun Shin Young , Shin Ho‐Jin , Yoon Sung‐Soo , Moon Joon Ho , Han Jae Joon , Yang Deok‐Hwan , Lee Won Sik , Bang Soo‐Mee , Yhim Ho‐Young , Kim Sung‐Hyun , Oh Doyeun , Do Young Rok , Park Yong , Choi Chul Won , Lee Je‐Hwan , Jang Ji Eun , Kim Soo‐Jeong , Hwang Doh Yu , Kim Jin Seok
Published: June 2021

Introduction

Acquired haemophilia A (AHA) treatment involves the haemostatic treatment for acute haemorrhage and immunosuppressive therapy (IST) to eradicate FVIII inhibitory antibodies.

Aim

We assessed the clinical features of AHA and analysed treatment outcomes in Korea. We further identified prognostic factors affecting treatment outcomes.

Methods

Medical records of 55 patients with AHA from 18 institutions were reviewed retrospectively. Logistic and Cox regression analyses were performed to elucidate clinical factors affecting the achievement of complete remission (CR). The primary endpoint was time to CR after IST, and secondary endpoints were time to haemostasis, the achievement of CR, and overall survival (OS).

Results

Among the 55 patients, 50 (91%) had bleeding symptoms. Bleeding was severe in 74% of patients. Thirty‐six (72%) patients received haemostatic therapy. Of the 42 patients who received IST, 23 (52%) received steroid alone, with a 52% response rate, and 10 (25%) received a combination of steroid and cyclophosphamide, with an 83% response rate. Five (16%) patients relapsed after a median duration of 220 days. There were eight deaths. In the Cox regression analysis, the FVIII inhibitor titre ≥ 20 BU/mL was the only significant prognostic factor affecting time to CR and haemostasis. No significant difference was observed in OS based on the inhibitor titre.

Conclusion

The present study demonstrated the demographic data of AHA in Korea and showed that FVIII inhibitory antibody titre was a predictor of time to achieve CR after IST.
Identifying patterns in unplanned hospital admissions during the COVID‐19 pandemic: a single‐centre retrospective study
Authors: Goel Vishal , Chan R. Kimberley , Smibert Olivia C. , Holmes Natasha E. , Marhoon Nada , Bach Cindy‐Anne T. , Trubiano Jason A. , Jones Nicholas R.
Published: June 2021

Background

Countries with a high prevalence of COVID‐19 have identified a reduction in crude hospital admission rates for non‐COVID‐19 conditions during the pandemic. There remains a paucity of such data from lower prevalence countries, including Australia.

Aims

To describe the patterns of unplanned hospital daily admission rates during the COVID‐19 pandemic in a major Australian metropolitan hospital, with a focus on acute medical presentations including acute coronary syndrome (ACS), stroke and falls.

Methods

This single‐centre retrospective analysis analysed hospital admission episodes between 1 March and 30 April 2020 (COVID‐19‐era) and compared this to a historical cohort during the same period between 2017 and 2019 (pre‐COVID‐19). Information collected included total admission rates and patient characteristics for ACS, stroke and falls patients.

Results

A total of 12 278 unplanned admissions was identified across the study period. The daily admission rate was lower in the COVID‐19‐era compared with pre‐COVID‐19 (46.59 vs 51.56 days, P < 0.001). There was also a reduced average daily admission rate for falls (7.79 vs 9.95 days, P < 0.001); however, similar admission rates for ACS (1.52 vs 1.49 days, P = 0.83) and stroke (1.56 vs 1.76 days, P = 0.33).

Conclusions

Public health interventions have been effective in reducing domestic cases of COVID‐19 in Australia. At our tertiary metropolitan hospital, we have observed a significant reduction in unplanned hospital admission rates during the COVID‐19‐era, particularly for falls. Public health messaging needs to focus on educating the public how to seek medical care safely and promptly in the context of the ongoing COVID‐19 crisis.
Fact versus fiction: bridging contrasting medicinal cannabis information needs
Authors: Philip Jennifer , Panozzo Stacey , Collins Anna , Weil Jennifer , Whyte Jan , Barton Michael , Coperchini Maria , Rametta Meri , Le Brian
Published: June 2021

Regulatory changes now permit the availability and prescribing of medicinal cannabis in Australia. Public awareness and patient interest are high. Using a co‐design approach involving cancer patients, carers and oncology and palliative care clinicians, two information resources were developed to provide readily available sources of important information for cancer patients and clinicians who are considering the use of medicinal cannabis. Focus groups and evaluation interviews revealed some areas of dissonance between consumers and clinicians concerning aspects of medicinal cannabis.
Lues venerea at Warrane, Sydney Cove 1788–1828
Authors: Short Bruce H.
Published: June 2021

Historical writings of the growth of the Colony at Sydney Cove, Warrane, offered limited insight into the deprivations endured by sufferers of the 18th century canker, lues venerea, syphilis. Despite Governor Arthur Phillip's well‐meaning precautions, the disease effortlessly accompanied the First Fleet, rapidly spread among the Colonial inhabitants and very soon spilled over to the indigenous Cadigal clansmen. Sporadic reporting by early Sydney diarists delineated the unstoppable course of the advancing affliction.
Underutilised human immunodeficiency virus testing in the setting of invasive pneumococcal disease
Authors: Punton Hannah , Cisera Kathryn , Ojaimi Samar , Woolley Ian
Published: June 2021

People living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at increased risk of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). We assessed whether patients with invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae, in blood or cerebrospinal fluid, underwent HIV serology testing over a 5‐year period. We found that only 39 inpatients out of 156 (25%) with IPD were tested for HIV and thus conclude that such testing is not being undertaken according to some guidelines in patients with IPD. Education and implementation strategies are required to increase testing.
High‐temperature fatigue crack propagation mechanism of orthogonal 3‐D woven amorphous SiC Fiber/SiC/YSi2‐Si matrix composites
Authors: Kanazawa Shingo , Yamazaki Naoki , Asakura Yuki , Kubushiro Keiji , Ogasawara Toshio
Published: June 2021

To elucidate degradation mechanisms attributable to high‐temperature fatigue crack propagation, a study was conducted of 3‐D woven SiCf/SiC CMC in which amorphous SiC fiber was used as a reinforcement material and in which a matrix was formed through low‐temperature melt infiltration. From a high‐temperature fatigue test conducted at 1373 K in the atmosphere with stress of 142 MPa or more, the fracture lifetime of newly developed SiCf/SiC CMC was found to be longer than that of SiCf/SiC CMC, which uses crystalline SiC fiber. Furthermore, repeatedly applying high temperatures during high‐temperature fatigue tests and using X‐ray computed tomography, fatigue cracks were found to propagate in a direction across 0‐degree fiber bundles that undergo stress. Electron mapping of regions with crack propagation revealed that oxidation eliminates boron nitride (BN), which has a crack deflection effect. The SiC fibers and matrix are fixed through the formation of oxides. Cracks propagate because of the consequent decrease in toughness of the SiCf/SiC CMC. In regions without crack propagation, fracture surfaces were not covered with oxides. These regions underwent forcible fracture in the final stage of the high‐temperature fatigue tests. From the test results presented above, SiCf/SiC CMC is considered to undergo fracture when the effective cross‐sectional area is reduced because of crack propagation accompanying oxidation and when the test load exceeds the tensile strength of the residual cross‐sectional area. However, some cracks in the matrix produced by a low‐temperature melt infiltration process were closed by oxides derived from YSi2. Because of crack closing, crack propagation is presumed to be avoided. Also, LMI‐CMC showed excellent high‐temperature fatigue properties at pressures higher than 150 MPa, which exceeds the proportional limit.
Physiological stress responses to inequality across income groups in a virtual society
Authors: Ryan Megan , Muldoon Orla T. , Gallagher Stephen , Jetten Jolanda
Published: June 2021

A growing body of research suggests that inequality can be stressful for all within a society. We consider this assertion by exploring whether there is evidence of physiological stress responses to different income and inequality conditions in a hypothetical society. The combined effect of inequality for different income groups on cardiovascular reactivity was assessed while participants engaged in purchasing decisions. The study included 102 participants, 84 of which had full data for analyses (42 male, 41 female, 1 unspecified). The average age was 23 years. A 3 × 2 design manipulated both inequality (stable, increasing, and decreasing) and income (high and low). Cardiovascular reactivity was operationalized as change in heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP; diastolic and systolic) responses at the end of the purchasing task compared with baseline. Although there was no direct association between income, inequality, and BP, results indicated that low‐income participants had the higher HR reactivity to stable inequality compared with increasing inequality. These findings indicate that inequality has the hallmarks of a stressor; this is contingent on the type of inequality. This suggests that inequality itself may be detrimental to future health via the stress pathway. These findings highlight that the nature of inequality, increasing, decreasing, or stable is relevant to its impact and that these impacts of inequality may extend to the biological.
Smoking increases oral mucosa susceptibility to Candida albicans infection via the Nrf2 pathway: In vitro and animal studies
Authors: Ye Pei , Chen Wei , Huang Fan , Liu Qin , Zhu Ya‐Nan , Wang Xiang , Han Xiao‐Dong , Wang Wen‐Mei
Published: June 2021

Smoking and Candida albicans (C. albicans) infection are risk factors for many oral diseases. Several studies have reported a close relationship between smoking and the occurrence of C. albicans infection. However, the exact underlying mechanism of this relationship remains unclear. We established a rat infection model and a C. albicans‐Leuk1 epithelial cell co‐culture model with and without smoke exposure to investigate the mechanism by which smoking contributes to C. albicans infection. Oral mucosa samples from healthy individuals and patients with oral leucoplakia were also analysed according to their smoking status. Our results indicated that smoking induced oxidative stress and redox dysfunction in the oral mucosa. Smoking‐induced Nrf2 negatively regulated the NLRP3 inflammasome, impaired the oral mucosal defence response and increased the oral mucosa susceptibility to C. albicans. The results suggest that the Nrf2 pathway could be involved in the pathogenesis of oral diseases by mediating an antioxidative response to cigarette smoke exposure and suppressing host immunity against C. albicans.
Induction of specific brain oscillations may restore neural circuits and be used for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Chan D. , Suk H.‐J. , Jackson B. , Milman N. P. , Stark D. , Beach S. D. , Tsai L.‐H.
Published: June 2021

Brain oscillations underlie the function of our brains, dictating how we both think and react to the world around us. The synchronous activity of neurons generates these rhythms, which allow different parts of the brain to communicate and orchestrate responses to internal and external stimuli. Perturbations of cognitive rhythms and the underlying oscillator neurons that synchronize different parts of the brain contribute to the pathophysiology of diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), epilepsy and other diseases of rhythm that have been studied extensively by Gyorgy Buzsaki. In this review, we discuss how neurologists manipulate brain oscillations with neuromodulation to treat diseases and how this can be leveraged to improve cognition and pathology underlying AD. While multiple modalities of neuromodulation are currently clinically indicated for some disorders, nothing is yet approved for improving memory in AD. Recent investigations into novel methods of neuromodulation show potential for improving cognition in memory disorders. Here, we demonstrate that neuronal stimulation using audiovisual sensory stimulation that generated 40‐HZ gamma waves reduced AD‐specific pathology and improved performance in behavioural tests in mouse models of AD, making this new mode of neuromodulation a promising new avenue for developing a new therapeutic intervention for the treatment of dementia.