bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A novel bioinformatics approach to reveal the role of circadian oscillations in AD development
Authors: Ji Zhiwei , Shang Dazhi , Kim Pora , Yang Mengyuan , Wu Sijia , Zhao Weiling , Kim Eunju , Wirianto Marvin , Chen Zheng , Yoo Seung-Hee , Zhou Xiaobo
Published: July 2020

Altered circadian gene expression may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) progression. Unfortunately, sampling the central nervous system (CNS) at multiple time points is not feasible. Moreover, there are no AD-related time-series transcriptome datasets available for studying these circadian patterns and their impacts on AD development. In this study, we introduce a novel computational platform, Event-driven Sample Ordering for Circadian Variation Detection (ESOCVD), to reveal rhythmic patterns of gene expression of AD using untimed transcriptome datasets. ESOCVD was applied to 20 untimed gene expression profiles of 16 brain regions from approximately 3000 AD patients in public transcriptome databases. Our analysis revealed five types of circadian alteration patterns in ~2,000 circadian genes in different brain regions of AD patients. Further analyses of additional databases confirmed that our analytical platform can be applied to identify the evolutionary dynamics of circadian variation during the process of AD development. Through the gene expression correlation analysis for our 8 circadian genes identified from AMP-AD MSBB cohorts, we identified stage-specifically enriched biological processes with anticipated context. Gene expression analysis of AD mouse brain tissues further substantiated the predictions of the ESOCVD model. In summary, ESOCVD is highly versatile in bridging circadian research and precision medicine.
Early acquisition of conserved, lineage-specific proteins currently lacking functional predictions were central to the rise and diversification of archaea
Authors: Méheust Raphaël , Castelle Cindy J. , Jaffe Alexander L. , Banfield Jillian F.
Published: July 2020

Recent genomic analyses of Archaea have profoundly reshaped our understanding of their distribution, functionalities and roles in eukaryotic evolution. Within the domain, major supergroups are Euryarchaeota, which includes many methanogens, the TACK, which includes Thaumarchaeaota that impact ammonia oxidation in soils and the ocean, the Asgard, which includes lineages inferred to be ancestral to eukaryotes, and the DPANN, a group of mostly symbiotic small-celled archaea. Here, we investigated the extent to which clustering based on protein family content recapitulates archaeal phylogeny and identified the proteins that distinguish the major subdivisions. We also defined 10,866 archaeal protein families that will serve as a community resource. Clustering based on these families broadly recovers the archaeal phylogenetic tree. Interestingly, all major groups are distinguished primarily by the presence of families of conserved hypothetical proteins that are either novel or so highly diverged that their functions are obscured. Given that these hypothetical proteins are near ubiquitous within phyla, we conclude that they were important in the origin of most of the major archaeal lineages.
Electromyography Classification during Reach-to-Grasp Motion using Manifold Learning
Authors: Lashgari Elnaz , Maoz Uri
Published: July 2020

Electromyography (EMG) is a simple, non-invasive, and cost-effective technology for sensing muscle activity. However, EMG is also noisy, complex, and high-dimensional. It has nevertheless been widely used in a host of human-machine-interface applications (electrical wheelchairs, virtual computer mice, prosthesis, robotic fingers, etc.) and in particular to measure reaching and grasping motions of the human hand. Here, we developd a more automated pipeline to predict object weight in a reach-and-grasp task from an open dataset relying only on EMG data. In that we shifted the focus from manual feature-engineering to automated feature-extraction by using raw (filtered) EMG signals and thus letting the algorithms select the features. We further compared intrinsic EMG features, derived from several dimensionality-reduction methods, and then ran some classification algorithms on these low-dimensional representations. We found that the Laplacian Eigenmap algorithm generally outperformed other dimensionality-reduction methods. What is more, optimal classification accuracy was achieved using a combination of Laplacian Eigenmaps (simple-minded) and k-Nearest Neighbors (88% for 3-way classification). Our results, using EMG alone, are comparable to others in the literature that used EMG and EEG together. They also demonstrate the usefulness of dimensionality reduction when classifying movement based on EMG signals and more generally the usefulness of EMG for movement classification.
Ecdysone regulates theDrosophilaimaginal disc epithelial barrier, determining the duration of regeneration checkpoint delay
Authors: DaCrema Danielle , Bhandari Rajan , Karanja Faith , Yano Ryunosuke , Halme Adrian
Published: July 2020

Regeneration ofDrosophilaimaginal discs, larval precursors to adult tissues, produces a systemic response, a regeneration checkpoint that coordinates regenerative growth with developmental progression. This regeneration checkpoint is coordinated by the release of the relaxin-family peptide Dilp8 from regenerating tissues. Secreted Dilp8 protein can be detected within the imaginal disc lumen. The disc epithelium separates from the lumen from the larval hemolymph and the targets for Dilp8 activity in the brain and prothoracic gland. Here we demonstrate that the imaginal disc epithelial barrier limits Dilp8 signaling and checkpoint delay. We also observe that the wing imaginal disc barrier becomes more restrictive during development, becoming impermeable only at end of the final larval instar. This change in barrier permeability is driven by the steroid hormone ecdysone and correlates with changes in localization of Coracle, a component of the septate junctions that is required for the late, impermeable epithelial barrier. Based on these observations, we propose that the imaginal disc epithelial barrier regulates the duration of the regenerative checkpoint, providing a mechanism by which tissue function can signal the completion of regeneration.

Summary Statement

Ecdysone signaling directs theDrosophilathird instar imaginal disc epithelial barrier to mature, becoming more restrictive. This mature barrier limits Dilp8 signaling and determines the duration of the regeneration checkpoint.
DLPAlign: A Deep Learning based Progressive Alignment for Multiple Protein Sequences
Authors: Kuang Mengmeng
Published: July 2020

This paper proposed a novel and straightforward approach to improve the accuracy of progressive multiple protein sequence alignment. We trained a decision-making model based on the convolutional neural networks and bi-directional long short term memory networks, and based on this model, we progressively aligned the input sequences by calculating different posterior probability matrixes.

To test the accuracy of this approach, we have implemented a multiple sequence alignment tool called DLPAlign and compared its performance with eleven leading alignment methods on three empirical alignment benchmarks (BAliBASE, OXBench and SABMark). Our results show that DLPAlign can get the best total-column scores on the three benchmarks. When evaluated against the 711 low similarity families with average PID ≤ 30%, DLPAlign improved about 2.8% over the second-best MSA software.

Besides, we also compared the performance of DLPAlign and other alignment tools on a real-life application, namely protein secondary structure prediction on four protein sequences related to SARS-COV-2, and DLPAlign provides the best result in all cases.
Antifibrotic activity of a rho-kinase inhibitor restores outflow function and intraocular pressure homeostasis
Authors: Li Guorong , Lee Chanyoung , Read A. Thomas , Wang Ke , Navarro Iris , Cui Jenny , Young Katherine M. , Gorijavolu Rahul , Sulchek Todd , Kopczynski Casey C. , Farsiu Sina , Samples John R. , Challa Pratap , Ethier C. Ross , Stamer W. Daniel
Published: July 2020

Glucocorticoids are widely used as an ophthalmic medication. A common, sight-threatening adverse event of glucocorticoid usage is ocular hypertension, caused by dysfunction of the conventional outflow pathway. We report that netarsudil, a rho-kinase inhibitor, rapidly reversed glucocorticoid-induced ocular hypertension in patients whose intraocular pressures were uncontrolled by standard medications. Mechanistic studies in our established mouse model of glucocorticoid-induced ocular hypertension show that netarsudil both prevented and reversed intraocular pressure elevation. Further, netarsudil reversed characteristic steroid-induced pathologies as assessed by quantification of outflow function and tissue stiffness, and morphological and immunohistochemical indicators of tissue fibrosis. Thus, rho-kinase inhibitors act directly on conventional outflow cells to efficaciously prevent or reverse fibrotic disease processes in glucocorticoid-induced ocular hypertension. These data motivate a novel indication for these agents to prevent or treat ocular hypertension secondary to glucocorticoid administration, and demonstrate the antifibrotic effects of rho-kinase inhibitors in an immune-privileged environment.
Tensor-decomposition-based unsupervised feature extraction applied to prostate cancer multiomics data
Authors: Taguchi Y-h. , Turki Turki
Published: July 2020

The largepsmallnproblem is a challenge without a de facto standard method available to it. In this study, we propose a tensor-decomposition (TD)-based unsupervised feature extraction (FE) formalism applied to multiomics datasets, in which the number of features is more than 100,000 whereas the number of samples is as small as about 100, hence constituting a typical largepsmallnproblem. The proposed TD-based unsupervised FE outperformed other conventional supervised feature selection methods, random forest, categorical regression (also known as analysis of variance, or ANOVA), penalized linear discriminant analysis, and two unsupervised methods, multiple non-negative matrix factorization and principal component analysis (PCA) based unsupervised FE when applied to synthetic datasets and four methods other than PCA based unsupervised FE when applied to multiomics datasets. The genes selected by TD-based unsupervised FE were enriched in genes known to be related to tissues and transcription factors measured. TD-based unsupervised FE was demonstrated to be not only the superior feature selection method but also the method that can select biologically reliable genes. To our knowledge, this is the first study in which TD-based unsupervised FE has been successfully applied to the integration of this variety of multiomics measurements.
Overcoming barriers to disseminate effective smoking cessation treatments globally
Authors: Patwardhan Sudhanshu , Rose Jed E.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the barriers in the dissemination of effective smoking cessation treatments and services globally. Offering tobacco users help to stop using tobacco is a key demand reduction measure outlined under Article 14 of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Implementing Article 14 can reap great dividends for the billion plus tobacco users around the world and their families, friends and societies.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of the status of the global implementation of Article 14 using available literature on smoking cessation products, services and national guidelines. Discussing innovative approaches being currently explored in South Asia that can lead to faster adoption and implementation of Article 14 globally.

Findings

Major gaps remain in cessation products’ availability and resource allocation for cessation services globally. Current licensed products are falling short on delivering and sustaining smoking cessation. Innovation in cessation products and services needs to build on learnings in nicotine pharmacokinetics, behavioural insights from consumer research and tap into 21st century tools such as mobile based apps. National implementation of FCTC’s Article 14 needs to follow guidelines that encourage integration into existing health programmes and health-care practitioners’ (HCPs) upskilling.

Originality/value

Smoking cessation is a desirable health outcome and nicotine replacement products are a means of achieving cessation through tobacco harm reduction. E-cigarettes are sophisticated nicotine replacement products. Innovation is urgently needed to fill the gaps in smoking cessation products and services, and for converting global policy into local practice. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), HCPs’ knowledge, attitudes and practice regarding tobacco use and cessation may hold the key to rapidly scaling up cessation support and delivery to achieve FCTC objectives sooner. Additionally, HCPs can play an important role in offering smoking cessation support in existing national health programmes for TB, cancer screening and maternal and child health. Also, widely prevalent smartphone devices may deliver smoking cessation through telemedicine in LMICs sooner, leapfrogging the hurdles of the existing health-care infrastructure.
Government intervention in the market for electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). The known, the unknown and challenges
Authors: Yurekli Ayda A. , Kovacevic Patricia , Sunley Emil , Ranganathan Karthik
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to describe the various government measures that regulate the market for novel tobacco harm reduction products (THRPs), with an emphasis on e-cigarettes [electronic nicotine delivery systems (“ENDS”)], and evaluates the public health impact of excise taxes levied on these products.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews the economic research on the impact ENDS. Using cited evidence, the paper compares the tax treatment of ENDS and cigarettes and provides a simulation of potential lives that can be saved under alternative tax treatment of ENDS.

Findings

ENDS are considerably less harmful than cigarettes. Imposing the same tax burden on them (per unit of “harm”) as on cigarettes leads to poorer health outcomes. Differential tax treatment of ENDS will encourage more cigarette smokers to switch to ENDS and could save millions of lives worldwide.

Research limitations/implications

Country experiences with regulatory measures on ENDS are limited to those with high THRP penetration. The paper’s simulation analysis used evidence from a limited number of studies. Rigorous economic analysis is needed to understand how ENDS could save lives and could prevent expected one billion premature deaths by the end of this century.

Originality/value

The paper uses research evidence in its analysis of the impact that the differential taxation of cigarettes and ENDS would have. It also provides a rough estimate of the number of lives that could be saved if more smokers who are trying to quit can make the switch to ENDS.
Vis-à-vis: pampering the sophisticated and satisfying the simple
Authors: Ho Shu-Hsun , Wu Heng-Hui , Hao Andy
Published: July 2020

Learning outcomes

Learning objectives of this case is to understand the hairdressing industry and develop the sub-branding strategy. After reading this case and practicing in class, students should be able to understand this business and marketing terminology and apply them in the real world. Students will learn the branding strategies: brand extension, brand architecture and brand portfolio. Students will design (DS) the brand name for the new store.

Case overview/synopsis

Case synopsis Mr. Tai-Hua Teng (aka TR) was a hair artist and opened his first hair salon, vis-à-vis (VS), in 1989 using a high-end positioning strategy. VS focused on offering superb and diverse services to keep ahead of the competition rather than trying to undercut prices. VS hair salon had a solid foundation based mainly on the elite, celebrities and high-salary customers. In 2017, TR owned 16 stores (including one in Canada and two intern salons), 1 academy, 265 employees and 3 brand names. The three brand names were VS, DS and concept (CC). DS and CC were less known to the public, so now these two brands had been carried the parent name and were known as VS DS and VS CC. Quick cut hairdressing businesses were thriving because customers needed quick and cheap hairdressing services. Acknowledging the benefits of entering the highly competitive quick haircut market, TR began to contemplate the new brand name and services to offer. VS had adopted the brand house strategy but TR wondered if it was better to have an individual brand name when entering the quick haircut market. The sub-branding strategy carried the established quality assurance of VS but there was possible brand overlap. An individual new brand name might lack the well-established values from VS but it also showed the potential to reach different segments of customers. TR’s decision to make: a branded house or hybrid? This case showed a high-end hair salon facing the need for simplicity in the market and considered how to expand its business to the lower-end market. Keywords: hairdressing, brand extension and sub-branding strategy.

Complexity academic level

Level of difficulty: easy/middle level to undergraduate courses specific prerequisites: it is not necessary for students to prepare or read any marketing theory or chapters of the textbook. However, it would help a more in-depth discussion if students know the CCs of brand architecture, brand portfolio, brand extension and line extension.

Supplementary materials

Teaching Notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 8: Marketing.
Sustainability survey to assess student perspectives
Authors: Speer James Hardy , Sheets Virgil , Kruger Tina M. , Aldrich Stephen Peter , McCreary Nicholas
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to assess environmental concern at a Midwest university, analyze trends in concern over time and determine the effect of the development of a campus sustainability office.

Design/methodology/approach

A multi-question survey was administered through peer-to-peer recruitment from an undergraduate environmental science class each fall from 2010–2017. This exercise was originally developed as a pedagogical exercise on the scientific method.

Findings

Over eight years, incoming freshmen have expressed more concern that humans are harming the environment and students also express greater concern as they progress through college.

Research limitations/implications

The first year of the survey (2010) and the year that the lead PI was on sabbatical (2014) saw reduced response rates (∼1%–3% of the student population) compared to 6%–9% of the student population in other years.

Practical implications

Responses to all of the questions in the survey provide guidance for university administrations and sustainability offices about the concerns of the campus community, awareness about campus efforts and support for sustainability activities on campus.

Originality/value

Few studies have been published on students’ perspectives on environmental concern and sustainability activities on university campuses. These data provide an overview of environmental concern, perceived government action and empowerment to action over an eight-year period. This approach is recommended as a technique to teach the scientific method in introductory classes and as a means to collect data about student perspectives on sustainability.
The effect of online shopping festival promotion strategies on consumer participation intention
Authors: Chen Chuanhong , Li Xueyan
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the effect of consumers' perceived product promotion and atmosphere promotion strategies on their participation intention, and the possible interaction between product promotion and atmosphere promotion strategies on their participation intention in online shopping festivals.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper conceptualized consumer perception of product promotion strategies of online shopping festivals as Perceived Temptation of Price Promotion, Perceived Categories Richness of Promotion and Perceived Fun of Promotion Activities and atmosphere promotion strategies as Perceived Contagiousness of Mass Participation. Based on the Stimulus-Response Theory, this study constructed an influencing model of promotion strategies on consumer participation intention in online shopping festivals. Structural equation modeling with partial least squares was used for analyzing the data from a sample of 495 consumers to test the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

The results showed that Perceived Temptation of Price Promotion, Perceived Categories Richness of Promotion, Perceived Fun of Promotion Activities and Perceived Contagiousness of Mass Participation significantly and positively affect consumer Participation Intention; Perceived Contagiousness of Mass Participation plays a moderating role in the effect of Perceived Temptation of Price Promotion on Participation Intention.

Originality/value

This study is the first empirical attempt to examine the moderating role of atmosphere promotion between product promotion and consumer participation intention in online shopping festivals. The findings provide theoretical basis and practical guidance for e-commerce platforms and merchants for improving their online shopping festival promotion strategies.
Supporting students' transition to higher education
Authors: Perander Katarina , Londen Monica , Holm Gunilla
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate how a workshop can enhance first-year university students' understanding of their study strategies and self-regulated learning.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative content analysis was done of 190 reflective journals written by first-year university students.

Findings

The main findings confirmed that starting studies in higher education is challenging for many students. New insights were provided on how these challenges can be addressed, especially regarding self-regulated learning. Students perceived that they gained several insights from the workshop that they believed could benefit their studying and thereby enhance motivation.

Practical implications

This study showed that even small measures promote both good study habits and specifically self-regulated learning skills. Interventions like the workshop described in this study ease first-year students' transition to the university and foster successful studies for all students.

Originality/value

This study contributes to research on supporting students' transition to higher education by investigating how students perceive early study skill interventions. It adds to a holistic perspective of students' challenges and coping strategies during their first semester in higher education.
Determinants of foreign and domestic non-listed real estate fund flows in India
Authors: Gupta Ashish , Newell Graeme , Bajaj Deepak , Mandal Satya
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Real estate forms an important part of any economy and the investment in real estate, in turn, is impacted by the macroeconomic environment of that country. The purpose of the present research is to examine macroeconomic determinants of foreign and domestic non-listed real estate fund (NREF) flows and to examine whether they are similar or different for an emerging economy like India.

Design/methodology/approach

The long and short-run cointegration between the time-series variables is estimated using the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds test and error correction model (ECM) using quarterly data across the 2005–2017 period. ARDL is a suitable method for short time-series data.

Findings

The empirical results indicate that domestic NREF flows are positively and significantly impacted by real GDP and performance of listed real estate stocks (i.e. BSE realty index). Whereas, foreign NREF flows are positively and significantly impacted by the exchange rate, performance of listed real estate stocks and domestic NREF flows.

Practical implications

The empirical results have significant implications for academicians, policy makers and real estate market practitioners. In the context of these results, some interesting insights are gained that would help in the implementation of the policies aimed toward increasing the fund flows in the real estate sector, which in turn would have a significant trickle-down effect on the Indian economy.

Originality/value

The existing literature looks at macroeconomic and other drivers of foreign investment in international real estate investments. However, there are very few studies on the determinants of domestic real estate investment flows and on determinants of NREFs' investment flows; particularly in emerging markets. The present study, in contrast, evaluates simultaneously the macroeconomic determinants of the domestic and foreign NREFs' investment flows in India. The ARDL and ECM method used has been applied for the first time to the study of NREFs.
“Integrated thinking and reporting” towards sustainable business models: a concise bibliometric analysis
Authors: Di Vaio Assunta , Syriopoulos Theodore , Alvino Federico , Palladino Rosa
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a thorough and systematic overview of the academic literature focusing on the role of integrated reporting (IR) and integrated thinking (IT) in achieving sustainable business models (SBMs). The paper discusses whether the incorporation of newer IR systems can facilitate the integration of processes, as well as a better allocation of resources and capital to create long-term value, according to a circular approach.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a database containing 60 publications in English with a publication date from 1990 to 2019, a bibliometric analysis is conducted. Data on publications, journals, authors and citations are collected, verified, cross-checked and examined by applying bibliometric measures.

Findings

Bibliometric analysis has identified that IR and IT have determined an evolution in the way companies communicate and create value, facilitating the integration of processes and a better allocation of resources and capital. However, market practice still perceives them as simple reporting tools to meet stakeholders’ needs rather than as critical corporate governance tools.

Research limitations/implications

This study highlights key issues in the past literature on IR and IT to meet SDGs, contributing also to the identification of critical difficulties that companies encounter in attempting to attain sustainable goals.

Originality/value

This document contributes to the existing literature on IR, IT and SBMs through a systematic review of the literature on these topics along with the sustainable development goals perspective. The study, furthermore, attempts to assess the role that the relevant literature attributes to IR and IT in the SBMs architecture.
People analytics research and practice: a review of international conferences
Authors: Tursunbayeva Aizhan
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze 54 People Analytics (PA) conferences with a view to mapping the discussions around PA, industries/sectors that currently lead in PA practices and PA opinion makers.

Design/methodology/approach

A scoping approach was adopted to examine the emerging topic of PA. This is one of the first methodological attempts to analyze a number of business/management conferences together.

Findings

The findings illustrate a broad geography of existing PA knowledge hubs and the relative PA maturity of organizations from some sectors. Within organizations, discussion on PA takes place at the top levels. The results also indicate a growing interest in and readiness to embrace PA on the part of the professional community and enthusiasm among some management academics about making PA the center of the HR profession. The findings reveal the most frequently discussed conference topics, and those that are currently overlooked in extant published work, guaranteeing future research and practice.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first methodological attempt to analyze numerous PA-related business/management conferences together.
Adaptive hybrid diffusion model using variational mode decomposition for edge preserving noise attenuation
Authors: Feng Jun , Zhu Bingxue , Li Wei , Chen Hui , Zhou Bin , Wu Shi‐hu , Guo Ke
Published: July 2020

Preserving the structural and stratigraphic discontinuities or edges is essential in seismic data processing and interpretation. According to several numerical experiments, it is obvious that random noise has a constant spectral density, whereas the structural features vary significantly within different frequency bands, which means that the ratio between the densities of noise and structural features varies significantly in different frequency bands. Therefore, we propose a method called adaptive hybrid diffusion to attenuate random noise, which utilizes a novel adaptive frequency‐based parameter. First, the adaptive hybrid diffusion method decomposes the seismic sections into several band‐limited portions using variational mode decomposition. These portions are called intrinsic mode functions, in which noise and structural energy have distinct differences. Subsequently, utilizing the adaptive frequency‐based parameter, each intrinsic mode function is divided into several monotonous portions that represent the noise or structural area. Afterwards, the total variation and L2 minimization algorithms are utilized separately to suppress the noise in different band‐limited monotonous areas. The algorithms are chosen dynamically, as the portion changes with the change in the adaptive parameter. Finally, these denoised portions are combined to obtain the denoised seismic section. Experimental results on synthetic and field seismic data showed that seismic noise is effectively suppressed by the adaptive hybrid diffusion method, with the edge details of seismic events well preserved.
Trade and Political Fragmentation on the Silk Roads: The Economic Effects of Historical Exchange between China and the Muslim East
Authors: Blaydes Lisa , Paik Christopher
Published: July 2020

The Silk Roads stretched across Eurasia, connecting East and West for centuries. At its height, the network of trade routes enabled merchants to travel from China to the Mediterranean Sea, carrying with them high‐value commercial goods, the exchange of which encouraged urban growth and prosperity. We examine the extent to which urban centers thrived or withered as a function of shocks to trade routes, particularly political fragmentation along natural travel paths. We find that political fragmentation along the roads to Aleppo and historic Chang'an — major terminus locations for cross‐regional trade—damaged city growth. These conclusions contribute to our understanding of how a premodern international system operated through an examination of exchange between the two most developed world regions of the medieval and early modern periods, China and the Muslim East.
Faecal immunochemical testing for adults with symptoms of colorectal cancer attending English primary care: a retrospective cohort study of 14 487 consecutive test requests
Authors: Nicholson Brian D. , James Tim , Paddon Maria , Justice Steve , Oke Jason L. , East James E. , Shine Brian
Published: July 2020

Background

Faecal immunochemical testing (FIT) is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to triage symptomatic primary care patients for further investigation of colorectal cancer.

Aim

To ascertain the diagnostic performance of FIT in symptomatic adult primary care patients.

Methods

Faecal samples from routine primary care practice in Oxfordshire, UK were analysed using the HM‐JACKarc FIT method between March 2017 and March 2020. Clinical details were recorded. Patients were followed for up to 36 months in linked hospital records for evidence of benign and serious (colorectal cancer, high‐risk adenomas and bowel inflammation) colorectal disease. The diagnostic accuracy of FIT is reported by gender, age group and FIT threshold.

Results

In 9896 adult patients with at least 6‐month follow‐up, a FIT result ≥10 µg Hb/g faeces had a sensitivity for colorectal cancer of 90.5% (95% CI 84.9%‐96.1%), specificity 91.3% (90.8%‐91.9%), positive predictive value (PPV) 10.1% (8.15%‐12.0%) and negative predictive value (NPV) 99.9% (99.8%‐100.0%). The PPV and specificity for serious colorectal disease were higher and the sensitivity and NPV lower than for colorectal cancer alone. The area under the curve for all adults did not change substantially by gender or by increasing the minimum age of testing. Using ≥10 µg Hb/g faeces, 10% of adults would be investigated to detect 91% of cancers, a number needed to scope of ten to detect one cancer. Using ≥7, ≥50 and ≥150 µg Hb/g faeces, 11%, 4% and 3% of adults would be investigated, and 91%, 74% and 54% cancers detected, respectively.

Conclusion

A FIT threshold of ≥10 µg Hb/g faeces would be appropriate to triage adult patients presenting to primary care with symptoms of serious colorectal disease. FIT may be used to reprioritise patients referred with colorectal cancer symptoms whose investigations have been delayed by the COVID‐19 pandemic.
The edaphic control of plant diversity
Authors: Hulshof Catherine M. , Spasojevic Marko J.
Published: July 2020

Background

The central thesis of plant ecology is that climate determines the global distribution of vegetation. Within a vegetation type, however, finer‐scale environmental features, such as the physical and chemical properties of soil (edaphic variation), control patterns of plant diversity and distributions.

Aims

Here, we review the literature to provide a mechanistic framework for the edaphic control of plant diversity. First, we review three examples where soils have known, prevalent effects on plant diversity: during soil formation, on unusual soils and in regions with high edaphic heterogeneity. Second, we synthesize how edaphic factors mediate the relative importance of the four key processes of community assembly (speciation, ecological drift, dispersal and niche selection). Third, we review the potential effects of climate change in edaphically heterogeneous regions. Finally, we outline key knowledge gaps for understanding the edaphic control of plant diversity. In our review, we emphasize floras of unusual edaphic areas (i.e., serpentine, limestone, granite), because these areas contribute disproportionately to the biodiversity hotspots of the world.

Taxa

Terrestrial plants.

Location

Global.

Conclusion

Edaphic variation is a key driver of biodiversity patterns and influences the relative importance of speciation, dispersal, ecological drift, niche selection and interactions among these processes. Research is still needed to gain a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms by which edaphic variation influences these community assembly processes, and unusual soils provide excellent natural systems for such tests. Furthermore, the incorporation of edaphic variation into climate change research will help to increase the predictive power of species distribution models, identify potential climate refugia and identify species with adaptations that buffer them from climate change.
Awareness of testicular cancer among young men: A literature review
Authors: Bresciani Martina , Boarin Mattia , Facconi Ilaria , Manara Duilio F. , Villa Giulia
Published: July 2020

What is the degree of knowledge and awareness regarding testicular cancer and what interventions may improve information about testicular cancer in the male population? Testicular cancer incidence rates are increasing among young men, who typically demonstrate poor awareness and a lack of knowledge about this disease. Although testicular self‐examination might be an effective method for early detection, few people know about this process or regularly perform it. This lack of examination could delay the diagnosis, which would affect treatment outcomes and mortality rates. A literature review was conducted starting from a bibliographic research in the major databases, and 450 documents were identified. The final analysis included 19 studies and found that men feel anxious about testicular cancer, which leads to a delay in their diagnosis and treatment, especially in developing countries. A widespread lack of awareness and knowledge about testicular cancer and self‐examination exists in these nations. Few males performed testicular self‐examination; most considered this procedure to be an invasion of their privacy and masculinity. The most effective tools to disseminate awareness about testicular cancer prevention were television, radio and YouTube. It is important to educate young males to spread information and improve awareness and knowledge about testicular cancer and self‐examination. However, the support of regular self‐examination is controversial, as this practice might also produce more harm than benefits due to the resulting false positives, fear and anxiety. Regular testicular cancer screening is therefore recommended in limited populations, including patients with risk factors, such as cryptorchidism or a family history of this cancer.
Neuroprotective effects of 1‐O‐hexyl‐2,3,5‐trimethylhydroquinone on ischaemia/reperfusion‐induced neuronal injury by activating the Nrf2/HO‐1 pathway
Authors: Tang Chaoliang , Hu Yida , Lyu Haiyan , Gao Jie , Jiang Jiazhen , Qin Xiude , Wu Yuanbo , Wang Jiawu , Chai Xiaoqing
Published: July 2020

1‐O‐Hexyl‐2,3,5‐trimethylhydroquinone (HTHQ), a lipophilic phenolic agent, has an antioxidant activity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging property. However, the role of HTHQ on cerebral ischaemic/reperfusion (I/R) injury and the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In the present study, we demonstrated that HTHQ treatment ameliorated cerebral I/R injury in vivo, as demonstrated by the decreased infarct volume ration, neurological deficits, oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis. HTHQ treatment increased the levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its downstream antioxidant protein, haeme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1). In addition, HTHQ treatment decreases oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis of PC12 cells following hypoxia and reperfusion (H/R) in vitro. Moreover, we provided evidence that PC12 cells were more vulnerable to H/R‐induced oxidative stress after si‐Nrf2 transfection, and the HTHQ‐mediated protection was lost in PC12 cells transfected with siNrf2. In conclusion, these results suggested that HTHQ possesses neuroprotective effects against oxidative stress and apoptosis after cerebral I/R injury via activation of the Nrf2/HO‐1 pathway.
A fresh perspective on an established marker: S100B‐dynamics for early detection of melanoma recurrence
Authors: Posch C.
Published: July 2020

Linked article: S.S. Ertekin et al. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2020; 34:1482‐1488. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.16212.
Too Early for Early Education? Effects on Parenting for Mothers and Fathers
Authors: Zachrisson Henrik D. , Owen Margaret T. , Nordahl Kristin B. , Ribeiro Luisa , Dearing Eric
Published: July 2020

Objective

To estimate the effect of children's age of entry into early childhood education and care (ECEC) on parenting quality of mothers and fathers in a context of universal access to subsidized ECEC following a 1 year paid parental leave.

Background

Children entering non‐parental care settings in early childhood may have negative consequences for parenting quality. Yet, current evidence supporting this claim is predominantly from the United States, is focused almost exclusively on mothers, and is predominantly based on statistical approaches that are vulnerable to unobserved selection bias.

Method

Data are from a Norwegian longitudinal study, including ratings of observed mother–child (n = 901) and father–child (n = 621) interactions, and children's age of entry into ECEC. Multivariate regression models and instrumental variable models were used to estimate the causal effect of age of entry on parenting quality.

Results

There was no support for the hypothesis that an earlier age of entry into ECEC negatively affects parenting quality, for either fathers or mothers. This was true for the sample as a whole, and for different sociodemographic subgroups.

Conclusion

In a Norwegian context in which families have universal access to subsidized ECEC from the time their child is 1 year of age, and most children enter ECEC in their second year, there is no evidence that an earlier age of entry in ECEC harms parenting quality.
Marital Dissolution and Personal Wealth: Examining Gendered Trends across the Dissolution Process
Authors: Kapelle Nicole , Baxter Janeen
Published: July 2020

Objective

This study examined potentially gendered net worth changes over the marital dissolution process, starting up to 3 years prior to separation and continuing up to 15 years postdivorce.

Background

Incipient literature showed steep wealth declines for men and women associated with divorce, treating marital dissolution as a single point‐in‐time event. These findings may be limiting as legal regulations and divorce‐stress‐adjustment research conceptualize marital dissolution as a process that lasts several years.

Method

Using fixed effects regression models, we analyzed changes in personal net worth as well as changes in personal net housing worth and financial net worth of individuals whose marriages dissolved between 2002 and 2017. Analyses used comprehensive wealth data from the German Socio‐Economic Panel study.

Results

Although wealth declines commenced prior to separation, separation was the most critical point with 82% and 76% reductions in personal wealth of men and women, respectively. Divorce did not pose additional wealth penalties, but wealth was also not recovered in years after divorce. The lasting separation penalty was mainly driven by declines in housing wealth and a lack of financial wealth recovery. Overall, both men and women experienced dramatic relative wealth declines with negligible gender differences. Predicted wealth levels, however, indicated that men may be in a financially better position compared to women due to higher preseparation wealth levels.

Conclusion

Results illustrated important variations in personal wealth measures over the marital dissolution process, which may drive lasting wealth inequalities, particularly with regard to housing wealth for both men and women.
Running out of bullets: The challenging management of acute hepatitis and SARS‐COV‐2 from the SMatteo COvid19 Registry (SMACORE)
Authors: Colaneri Marta , Valsecchi Pietro , Perotti Luciano , Ludovisi Serena , Seminari Elena , Pieri Teresa Chiara , Sacchi Paolo , Bruno Raffaele
Published: July 2020

Liver impairment is frequent in patients with novel coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) and direct viral tropism for the liver has been proven. Since several of the currently administered drugs against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) are possibly hepatotoxic, the management of patients with COVID‐19 and liver failure is still an almost unexplored field. Taking this challenging case of acute HBV with persistent hyperbilirubinemia and SARS‐COV‐2 infection with respiratory distress as a starting point, we here loop through this condition. Where the available therapeutic options are scarce, we here propose hemoperfusion (HP) as an attractive alternative to both delay any late‐stage progression of hyper inflammation process in COVID‐19 and remove the toxins involved in acute liver failure.
Mycorrhizas transfer carbon in a mature mixed forest
Authors: Gorzelak Monika A. , Ellert Benjamin H. , Tedersoo Leho
Published: July 2020

Mycorrhizal fungi transfer nutrients to plants in exchange for photosynthates. Plants allocate up to 20% of their carbon to mycorrhizal structures, mycelium and fruit bodies of their fungal partners. Individuals of mycorrhizal fungi may encompass hundreds of square metres of soil and defragmented litter, linking multiple plant individuals of different species and size (Figure 1). Using a free‐air 13CO2 enrichment (web‐FACE) technique in a mature forest, interspecific transfer accounted for 40% of fine root carbon after 5 years of back and forth transfer between trees. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Rog, Rosenstock, Körner, and Klein (2020) show that closely related trees shared relatively more mycorrhizal fungi than distantly related trees in the same experimental site, which correlated to increased carbon sharing.
Argostemma bachmaense (Rubiaceae, Rubioideae, Argostemmateae), a new species from central Vietnam
Authors: Van Do Truong , Zhe Chen , Yang Niu
Published: July 2020

Argostemma bachmaense, a new species from central Vietnam, is described and illustrated here. The new species is most similar to A. laoticum and A. vietnamicum but can be distinguished from the latter two by having a well‐developed internode with leaf pairs separately arranged along stem, isophyllous or slightly anisophyllous leaves, an oblanceolate to spatulate lamina with attenuate base and lateral veins with 4–5 pairs prominent on abaxially, a terminal, solitary flower, an absent bract, narrowly ovate or broadly lanceolate, 8.5–10.5 × 2.8–4.2 mm petals, 6.5–7.5 mm long stamen with yellow anther, a 8.5–9.5 mm long, exerted style and a globose stigma. Information on ecology, phenology and preliminary conservation assessment of the proposed new species are provided. In addition, we also provide an identification key to the nine Argostemma species found in Vietnam.
Pinda shrirangii, a new elegant species of Apiaceae from the northern Western Ghats, India
Authors: Gosavi Kumar Vinod Chhotupuri , Madhav Nilesh Appaso , Borude Devidas Bhausaheb , Chandore Arun Nivrutti
Published: July 2020

A new species, Pinda shrirangii Gosavi & Chandore, is described and illustrated from a high‐elevation region of northern Western Ghats, India. The new species is closely allied to the only other species in the genus, Pinda concanensis (Dalzell) P.K.Mukh. & Constance which was also described from the northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra state of India. Coloured photographs and illustrations are provided to facilitate the identification.