bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reanalysis And Integration Of Public Microarray Datasets Reveals Novel Host Genes Modulated In Leprosy
Authors: Leal-Calvo Thyago , Moraes Milton Ozório
Published: October 2019

Background

Leprosy is an insidious disease caused primarily by mycobacteria. The difficulties in culturing this slow-growing bacteria together with the chronic progression of the disease have hampered the development of accurate methods for diagnosis. Host gene expression profiling is an important tool to assess overall tissue activity, whether in health or disease conditions. High-throughput gene expression experiments have become popular over the last decade or so, and public databases have been created to easily store and retrieve these data. This has enabled researchers to reuse and reanalyze existing datasets with the aim of generating novel and or more robust information. In this work, after a systematic search, nine microarray datasets evaluating host gene expression in leprosy were reanalyzed and the information was integrated to strengthen evidence of differential expression for several genes.

Results

Reanalysis of individual datasets revealed several differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Then, five integration methods were tested, both at the P-value and effect size level. In the end, random effects model (REM) and ratio association (sdef) were selected as the main methods to pinpoint DEGs. Overall, some classic gene/pathways were found corroborating previous findings and validating this approach for analysis. Also, various original DEGs related to poorly understood processes in leprosy were described. Nevertheless, some of the novel genes have already been associated with leprosy pathogenesis by genetic or functional studies, whilst others are, as yet, unrelated or poorly studied in these contexts.

Conclusions

This study reinforces evidences of differential expression of several genes and presents novel genes and pathways associated with leprosy pathogenesis. Altogether, these data are useful in better understanding host responses to the disease and, at the same time, provide a list of potential host biomarkers that could be useful in complementing leprosy diagnosis based on transcriptional levels.
Dectin-1 Molecular Aggregation and Signaling is Sensitive to β-Glucan Structure and Glucan Exposure on Candida albicans Cell Walls
Authors: Anaya Eduardo U. , Amin Akram Etemadi , Wester Michael J. , Danielson Michael E. , Michel Kyle S. , Neumann Aaron K.
Published: October 2019

Dectin-1A is a C-type Lectin innate immunoreceptor that recognizes β-(1,3;1,6)-glucan, a structural component of Candida species cell walls. The higher order structure of β-glucans ranges from random coil to insoluble fiber due to varying degrees of tertiary (helical) and quaternary structure. Model Saccharomyces cerevisiae β-glucans of medium and high molecular weight (MMW and HMW, respectively) are highly structured. In contrast, low MW glucan (LMW) is much less structured. Despite similar affinity for Dectin-1A, the ability of glucans to induce Dectin-1A mediated calcium influx and Syk phosphorylation positively correlates with their degree of higher order structure. Chemical denaturation and renaturation of MMW glucan showed that glucan structure determines agonistic potential, but not binding affinity, for Dectin-1A. We explored the role of glucan structure on Dectin-1A oligomerization, which is thought to be required for Dectin-1 signaling. Glucan signaling decreased Dectin-1A diffusion coefficient in inverse proportion to glucan structural content, which was consistent with Dectin-1A aggregation. Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) measurements revealed that molecular aggregation of Dectin-1 occurs in a manner dependent upon glucan higher order structure. Number and Brightness analysis specifically confirmed an increase in the Dectin-1A dimer and oligomer populations that is correlated with glucan structure content. Comparison of receptor modeling data with FRET measurements confirms that in resting cells, Dectin-1A is predominantly in a monomeric state. Super Resolution Microscopy revealed that glucan-stimulated Dectin-1 aggregates are very small (<15 nm) collections of a few engaged receptors. Finally, FRET measurements confirmed increased molecular aggregation of Dectin-1A at fungal particle contact sites in a manner that positively correlated with the degree of exposed glucan on the particle surface. These results indicate that Dectin-1A senses the solution conformation of β-glucans through their varying ability to drive receptor dimer/oligomer formation and activation of membrane proximal signaling events.
Crystal structure and structural phase transition in bismuth-containing HoFe3(BO3)4in the temperature range 11–500 K
Authors: Smirnova Ekaterina S. , Alekseeva Olga A. , Dudka Alexander P. , Khmelenin Dmitry N. , Frolov Kirill V. , Lyubutina Marianna V. , Gudim Irina A. , Lyubutin Igor S.
Published: October 2019

An accurate single-crystal X-ray diffraction study of bismuth-containing HoFe3(BO3)4between 11 and 500 K has revealed structural phase transition atTstr= 365 K. The Bi atoms enter the composition from Bi2Mo3O12-based flux during crystal growth and significantly affectTstr. The content of Bi was estimated by two independent methods, establishing the composition as (Ho0.96Bi0.04)Fe3(BO3)4. In the low-temperature (LT) phase belowTstrthe (Ho0.96Bi0.04)Fe3(BO3)4crystal symmetry is trigonal, of space groupP3121, whereas at high temperature (HT) above 365 K the symmetry increases to space groupR32. There is a sharp jump of oxygen O1 (LT) and O2 (LT) atomic displacement parameters (ADP) atTstr. O1 and O2 ADP ellipsoids are the most elongated over 90–500 K. In space groupR32 specific distances decrease steadily or do not change with decreasing temperature. In space groupP3121 the distortion of the polyhedra Ho(Bi)O6, Fe1O6and Fe2O6, B2O3and B3O3increases with decreasing temperature, whereas the triangles B1O3remain almost equilateral. All BO3triangles deviate from theabplane with decreasing temperature. Fe–Fe distances in Fe1 chains decrease, while distances in Fe2 chains increase with decreasing temperature. The Mössbauer study confirms that the FeO6octahedra undergo complex dynamic distortions. However, all observed distortions are rather small, and the general change in symmetry during the structural phase transition has very little influence on the local environment of iron in oxygen octahedra. The Mössbauer spectra do not distinguish two structurally different Fe1 and Fe2 positions in the LT phase. The characteristic temperatures of cation thermal vibrations were calculated using X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer data.
Atomic atmosphere: a way to understand phase evolution during vanadium slag roasting at the atomic level
Authors: Li Hong-Yi , Wang Kang , Wang Chengjie , Lin Minmin , Xie Bing
Published: October 2019

To increase vanadium recovery, it is critical to understand the intrinsic phase evolution during vanadium slag roasting. This work proposes the novel concept of `atomic atmosphere' to effectively evaluate and recognize the microscopic state of the vanadium atom in vanadium slag before and after roasting. Atomic atmosphere includes the chemical state, chemical environment and spatial environment of the atom, and provides a universal way to explore the microscopic phase evolution mechanism during the metal-extraction process from minerals.
Determinants of bank efficiency: evidence from the Latin American banking industry
Authors: Jiménez-Hernández Ignacio , Palazzo Gabriel , Sáez-Fernández Francisco Javier
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze a variety of factors that can explain the differences in commercial bank efficiency among 17 countries in Latin America (LatAm).

Design/methodology/approach

In a first stage, data envelopment analysis (DEA) and conditional efficiency analysis techniques are used to assess the relative efficiency level of 409 banks for the 2014-2016 period. The conditional efficiency approach considers environmental variables (that are beyond the manager’s control), which could influence the shape and the level of the boundary of the attainable set. In the second stage, the resulting conditional efficiency scores are correlated with internal variables (those that are under the manager’s control), which might affect the distribution of the inefficiencies. For this purpose, an econometric approach developed by Simar and Wilson (2007) is used.

Findings

First stage scores reveal the heterogeneity of average efficiency within the region. Regarding the factors that may explain the differences in performance in the LatAm banking sector, the results allow us to state that certain internal variables such as bank size, the ratio of loans to total assets and the ratio of non-performing loans show the expected relationship to efficiency, in line with much of the previous literature.

Originality/value

This is the first time that conditional efficiency and Simar and Wilson (2007) approaches have been applied at the same time to analyse the LatAm banking industry.
The role of entrepreneurial orientation and family control of the firm in the economic recovery of underperforming firms
Authors: Capelleras Joan-Lluís , Contin-Pilart Ignacio , Garcés-Galdeano Lucia , Larraza-Kintana Martin
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse how entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and the family control of the company influence the performance of underachieving firms and how they contribute to economic recovery.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors test the authors’ predictions on a unique and representative sample of 1,500 Spanish small firms in high and medium technology manufacturing and service industries. Given the nature of the dependent variable, the authors estimate a series of regression models to test the hypotheses. In addition, the authors consider two interaction terms where the underperforming firms’ variable is interacted with family firms and EO.

Findings

The results of analyses show that both EO and family ownership separately increase subsequent performance for underachieving firms.

Originality/value

The study contributes to expand the literature on underperforming firms analysing how strategic and structural factors affect the performance of firms that face an economic downturn. It also provides some guidance for practitioners on the decision and contexts that better serve the economic recovery of underperforming firms.
Software warranty cost optimization under imperfect debugging
Authors: Verma Vibha , Anand Sameer , Aggarwal Anu Gupta
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify and quantify the key components of the overall cost of software development when warranty coverage is given by a developer. Also, the authors have studied the impact of imperfect debugging on the optimal release time, warranty policy and development cost which signifies that it is important for the developers to control the parameters that cause a sharp increase in cost.

Design/methodology/approach

An optimization problem is formulated to minimize software development cost by considering imperfect fault removal process, faults generation at a constant rate and an environmental factor to differentiate the operational phase from the testing phase. Another optimization problem under perfect debugging conditions, i.e. without error generation is constructed for comparison. These optimization models are solved in MATLAB, and their solutions provide insights to the degree of impact of imperfect debugging on the optimal policies with respect to software release time and warranty time.

Findings

A real-life fault data set of Radar System is used to study the impact of various cost factors via sensitivity analysis on release and warranty policy. If firms tend to provide warranty for a longer period of time, then they may have to bear losses due to increased debugging cost with more number of failures occurring during the warrantied time but if the warranty is not provided for sufficient time it may not act as sufficient hedge during field failures.

Originality/value

Every firm is fighting to remain in the competition and expand market share by offering the latest technology-based products, using innovative marketing strategies. Warranty is one such strategic tool to promote the product among masses and develop a sense of quality in the user’s mind. In this paper, the failures encountered during development and after software release are considered to model the failure process.
Structure optimization of the frame based on response surface method
Authors: Wang Ya-hui , Zhang Cai , Su Yong-qiang , Shang Li-yang , Zhang Tao
Published: October 2019

Purpose

As a key part of the algae removal equipment in the middle route of South-to-North Water Diversion Project, the static analysis and dynamic analysis are carried out for the structural characteristics of the frame. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the model is constructed for analysis. Second, finite element analysis are carried out. And finally, test designed is used for the construction.

Findings

The optimization scheme that minimizes the quality under the condition of satisfying the allowable stress is found, and the quality is reduced by 6.88 percent.

Originality/value

The paper is based on the occurrence of seasonal algae in the main channel of the Middle Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, an automatic algae-removing equipment was designed.
Internal mechanism of brand app recommendation from the integrated cross-channel perspective
Authors: Chen Qian , Lu Yaobin , Gong Yeming
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Many service organizations use brand apps as an important mobile-end service channel and expect to increase brand app use through customer recommendations. The purpose of this paper is to explore the internal mechanism of brand app recommendation from the cross-channel perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on value–satisfaction–loyalty (VSL) framework, this study examines how brand app’s unique cross-channel features influence customer recommendations, and the effect of involvement in the framework. The authors conduct a research survey in airline industry and questionnaires are developed and distributed to respondents who have experiences with air travel and have used the corresponding airlines’ brand apps. Finally, the authors collect 399 valid questionnaires to test the research model.

Findings

The results show that brand app usability mediates the relationship between offline service satisfaction and brand app satisfaction, which finally leads to brand app recommendation. Brand app usability and satisfaction significantly affect involvement, which also lead to brand app recommendation.

Originality/value

This study distinguishes the features of brand apps from those of ordinary apps and fills the research gap in the internal mechanism of app recommendation from the integrated cross-channel perspective. Besides, this study extends the VSL value in the context of brand app use. Based on the results, this study also provides the practical suggestions of enhancing offline service quality and brand app usability to increase brand app recommendation.
Managing digital transformation through hybrid business models
Authors: Endres Herbert , Stoiber Kristina , Wenzl Nina Magdalena
Published: October 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to examine how hybrid business models can help companies to survive in a constantly evolving digital world. The hybridization of business models is a promising approach to innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors discuss the key elements of a successful business model hybridization along the Business Model Canvas (Osterwalder and Pigneur, 2010). In particular, the elements of value propositions, customer segments, channels and a company’s cost structures demonstrate the individual steps toward a hybridized business model. Using Paddy Power Betfair as an example, the authors showcase how the concept of a hybrid business model can be successfully implemented in practice.

Findings

By hybridizing its business model, Betfair not only expanded existing customer value propositions but also introduced new ways of co-creating value with customers. Simultaneously, the hybridization positively affects a company’s revenue model, hence evolving in new ways of capturing value.

Originality/value

To effectively hybridize and thus innovate a company’s business model, the two key factors are successful value creation and value capture. By hybridizing elements of existing business models, new value for customers can be generated. Companies capturing this additional value may achieve sustainable and successful business models and thereby gain a competitive advantage.
Outcome-based education in accounting
Authors: Gunarathne Nuwan , Senaratne Samanthi , Senanayake Shashiprabha
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the operationalization of the outcome-based education (OBE) model in an accountancy study program in Sri Lanka and the impact of education frameworks on OBE.

Design/methodology/approach

This study follows the case study approach to the first academic accounting study program in a Sri Lankan public sector university. Primary data were collected through semi-structured interviews and secondary data through a content analysis of various relevant documents. The data were analyzed thematically using the theory of constructive alignment.

Findings

In accounting, the most significant imperative for the OBE stems from normative pressures. Since the accounting education frameworks have closely followed the approach suggested in constructive alignment, the normative institutionalization of professional standards in accounting supports OBE in accounting education. The OBE approach with its diverse range of teaching and learning activities and assessment methods in accounting has yielded multi-stakeholder benefits while posing some challenges in operationalization.

Research limitations/implications

The paper’s insights are based on a single case study in Sri Lanka and may be difficult to generalize to other countries.

Originality/value

This is the first empirical attempt to study the operationalization of the theory of constructive alignment of OBE in accounting for a study program.
A new empirical approach for balance sheet management effects on performance and financial variables development
Authors: Amedzro St-Hilaire Walter
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to estimate empirically and by empirical means, the empirical effect of the balance sheet management at the zero lower bound on the interest rate on performance and financial variables.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper has an empirical approach to examine whether the movement in the balance sheet has had a spillover effect on the performance and financial variable. The empirical method used is a “structural panel management,” being appropriate for the analysis. This has never been used in strategic and management development.

Findings

The paper presents the following interesting results: the balance sheet management explains a significant portion of the changes in performance and financial variable during the non-conventional strategy approach; the performance fundamentals as the development and the opening of the financial market deal with the heterogeneity of the business in relation to the responses of the balance sheet shocks; the positive advantage of the balance sheet management may not be profitable in context characterized by low liquidity, low exposure to global markets and low stability of performance fundamentals.

Originality/value

Based on a heterogeneous structural panel data management over a sample spanning the balance sheet management model, the author find some evidence of small cross-border effects on the decline of long-term bond yield, an increase in performance, an increase in the stock market prices, local currency appreciation and increase in credit growth. Yet, the quantile responses show that there is substantial heterogeneity in the Asia pacific business market responses to the governance’s shocks over all response periods. Accordingly, the effects vary across Asia pacific market and are time-varying, depending on their performance fundamentals, exposure to global markets and financial market depth. The balance sheet management on performance and financial variables could be an excellent reference for future researches and practices in Schools of Management and Finances.
Curvilinearity in the performance feedback and R&D relationship
Authors: Jirásek Michal
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The question of how the firm responds to performance feedback forms the backbone of the behavioral theory of the firm. Although the literature works with goals aspirations and additional determinants of a firm’s search activity – proximity to bankruptcy and slack resources – the majority of the empirical research assumes the firm’s response to performance feedback to be linear with a spline at the aspiration level. The purpose of this paper is to study possible curvilinear properties of performance feedback itself that may yield insight on the behavior of firms responding differently from the theory’s predictions.

Design/methodology/approach

The research uses data from exchange-listed German industrial firms followed from 2001 to 2015. It evaluates hypotheses using historical aspiration models with ROA as a measure of performance and with a spline specification. The fixed-effects panel data models serve as an estimation technique.

Findings

The research supports an inverted U-shape relationship between performance feedback and research and development (R&D) intensity for firms below their aspiration levels, and a U-shape relationship for firms above their aspiration levels.

Originality/value

The research is one of the first to directly study curvilinearity in performance feedback relationships. Arguably, there is no such a study directly focusing on a firm’s search as represented by R&D, despite the fact, that R&D forms the backbone of performance feedback research. Also, the population of German industrial firms is new in the literature.
Evidence on aggregate volatility risk premium for the French stock market
Authors: Zaghouani Chakroun Amal , Mezzez Hmaied Dorra
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine alternative six- and seven-factor equity pricing models directed at capturing a new factor, aggregate volatility, in addition to market, size, book to market, profitability, investment premiums of the Fama and French (2015) and Fama and French’s (2018) aggregate volatility augmented model.

Design/methodology/approach

The models are tested using a time series regression and Fama and Macbeth’s (1973) methodology.

Findings

The authors show that both six- and seven-factor models best explain average excess returns on the French stock market. In fact, the authors outperform Fama and French’s (2018) model. The authors use sensitivity of aggregate volatility of a stock VCAC as a proxy to construct the aggregate volatility risk factor. The spanning tests suggest that Fama and French’s (1993, 2015, 2018) and Carhart’s (1997) models do not explain the aggregate volatility risk factor FVCAC. The results show that the FVCAC factor earns significant αs across the different multifactor models and even after controlling for the exposure to all the other in Fama and French’s (2018) model. The asset pricing tests show that it is systematically priced. In fact, the authors find a significant and negative (positive) relation between the aggregate volatility risk factor and the excess returns in the French stock market when it is rising (falling), in addition, periods with downward market movements tend to coincide with high volatility.

Originality/value

The authors contribute to the related literature in several ways. First, the authors test two new empirical six- and seven-factor model and the authors compare them to Fama and French’s (2018) model. Second, the authors give new evidence about the VCAC, using it for the first time to the authors’ knowledge, to construct a volatility risk premium.
The effect of political neuromarketing 2.0 on election outcomes
Authors: Hegazy Islam Mohamed
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is the better understanding of the increasing relation between big data 2.0 and neuromarketing, particularly to influence election outcomes, along with a special aim to discuss some raised doubts about Trump’s presidential campaign 2016 and its ability to hijack American political consumers’ minds, and to direct their votes.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper combines deductive/inductive methodology to define the term of political neuromarketing 2.0 through a brief literature review of related concepts of big data 2.0, virtual identity and neuromarketing. It then applies a single qualitative case study by presenting the history and causes of online voter microtargeting in the USA, and analyzing the political neuromarketing 2.0 mechanisms adopted by Trump’s political campaign team in the 2016 presidential election.

Findings

Based on Trump’s political marketing mechanisms analysis, the paper believes that big data 2.0 and neuromarketing techniques played an unusual role in reading political consumers’ minds and helping the controversial candidate to meet one of the most unexpected victories in the presidential elections. Nevertheless, this paper argues that the ethics of using political neuromarketing 2.0 to sell candidates and its negative impacts on the quality of democracy are and will continue to be a subject of ongoing debates.

Originality/value

The marriage of big data 2.0 and political neuromarketing is a new interdisciplinary field of inquiry. This paper provides a useful introduction and further explanations for why and how Trump’s campaign defied initial loss predictions and attained victory during this election.
Selecting and designing visual curriculum materials for inquiry-based instruction
Authors: Callahan Cory , Howell James B. , Maddox Lamont E.
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Visual documents (e.g. maps, editorial cartoons, historical photographs, portraits, documentary films, historically-based movies, etc.) are common curriculum resources within social studies classrooms; however, only recently scholars have begun to systematically research ways to more authentically and powerfully center instruction around visual documents. Here, the purpose of this paper is to synthesize relevant lines of inquiry into research-based, wise-practices for selecting and designing visual curriculum materials to help social studies students and teachers think about social phenomenon deeply and in more disciplinary-specific ways.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors share recent scholarship that has posited explanations for why visual data tend to afford learners especially powerful opportunities to think critically about the world around them. Throughout the discussion, the authors integrate applicable research-based principles that can guide the selection and design of visual curriculum materials.

Findings

Scholars have suggested that visual documents are rarely introduced in educational settings as a means to develop the thinking skills of decoding, interpreting and evaluating pictorial information. The authors argue that these skills are vital civic competencies because the creation and critique of non-written information often mediates modern public issues and social identities.

Research limitations/implications

Informed by strong, consistent research into multimodal learning, visual literacy and the cognitive sciences, the wise-practice scaffolding suggestions the authors provide may help professionals with an interest in social studies education to synthesize theory-based suggestions with practice-based implementations as it concerns visual documents. The authors hope the guidance shared here helps teachers, teacher educators and curriculum designers produce high-quality resources that will engage contemporary students and help them develop civic competence.

Originality/value

First, the authors posit a research-based template, or planning checklist, of wise-practice suggestions to help social studies teachers, teacher educators and curriculum designers select visual documents. The authors then share several digital collection archives that teachers can visit to locate powerful visuals and describe research-based suggestions for designing them for dynamic implementation. Finally, the authors argue for more deliberative space in the social studies curriculum and classroom time for teachers to explore the educative power of centering inquiry-based instruction around visual information.
Can chlorination of ballast water reduce biological invasions?
Authors: Lin Yaping , Zhan Aibin , Hernandez Marco R. , Paolucci Esteban , MacIsaac Hugh J. , Briski Elizabeta
Published: October 2019

Ballast water has been identified as a leading vector for introduction of non‐indigenous species. Recently, the International Maritime Organization implemented management standards—D‐2—where all large, commercial ships trading internationally are required to adopt an approved treatment system using technologies such as ultraviolet radiation or chlorination. However, current management regulations are based only on the total abundance of viable taxa transported (i.e. total propagule pressure), largely ignoring species richness (i.e. colonization pressure).

To determine the efficacy of chlorine treatment in reducing invasion risks and changes in transported biological communities inside ballast tanks, we used DNA metabarcoding‐based approaches to estimate colonization pressure (here, the number of species/operational taxonomic units [OTUs] introduced) and relative propagule pressure (relative abundance of each species/OTU) of zooplankton communities in control and chlorine treated tanks during four transatlantic voyages.

Our study demonstrated that transport itself did not significantly reduce colonization pressure of zooplankton species, nor did chlorine treatment. Chlorine treatment altered community structure by reducing relative propagule pressure of some taxa such as Mollusca and Rotifera, while increasing relative propagule pressure of some Oligohymenophorea and Copepoda species.

Synthesis and applications. Chlorine treatment may not reduce invasion risks as much as previously thought. Reduction in total propagule pressure does not mean reduction in abundance of all species equally. While some taxa might experience drastically reduced abundance, others might not change at all or increase due to hatching from dormant stages initiated by chlorine exposure. Therefore, management strategies should consider changes in total propagule pressure and colonization pressure when forecasting risk of new invasions. We therefore recommend adopting new approaches, such as DNA metabarcoding‐based methods, to assess the whole biodiversity discharged from ballast water. As species responses to chlorine treatment are variable and affected by concentration, we also recommend a combination of different technologies to reduce introduction risks of aquatic organisms.
Power to detect trends in abundance within a distance sampling framework
Authors: Andersen Erik M. , Steidl Robert J.
Published: October 2019

Ensuring that inferences from biological monitoring are reliable requires a level of sampling effort that is commensurate with programmatic objectives and reflects attributes of target populations. Consensus guidelines have emerged to guide allocation of sampling effort for programmes designed to detect trends in occupancy but not for abundance, despite its prevalence as a target parameter.

We evaluated the influence of population attributes (density, availability, detection probability and magnitude of trend) and sampling design features (number of sites, number of repeat surveys, and survey‐year interval) on a Bayesian analogue of statistical power to detect declines in abundance estimated using distance sampling methods. For a range of values common to terrestrial vertebrates, we simulated spatially and temporally replicated populations from which we generated survey data. We then analysed each dataset with a hierarchical open‐population model that allowed for temporary emigration to estimate power for periods of 5–20 years.

For a given amount of sampling effort, power to detect trends was highest when effort was allocated to maximizing the number of sites by decreasing the number of repeat surveys within a year and increasing the interval between survey years. For example, to have an 80% chance of detecting a 3% annual decline required 40% longer when 67 sites were surveyed three times per year compared to 600 sites surveyed once every three years despite both allocations requiring 4,000 surveys over 20 years. Notably, these patterns were independent of density or detectability of the target species, which contrasts with occupancy studies where optimal allocation shifts from surveying more sites to more repeat surveys when detectability is low or occupancy is high.

Synthesis and applications. Our findings provide guidance for allocating resources efficiently for distance sampling studies focused on terrestrial vertebrates. By comparing the approximate density and detectability of target populations to those we considered, monitoring programmes can balance the amount of survey effort allocated to sites, surveys per site, and annual revisits to help ensure sufficient power to meet objectives effectively and efficiently. These decisions are increasingly important as budgets for conservation decrease and consequences of inaction continue to increase.
Gender discrimination in the United States: Experiences of women
Authors: SteelFisher Gillian K. , Findling Mary G. , Bleich Sara N. , Casey Logan S. , Blendon Robert J. , Benson John M. , Sayde Justin M. , Miller Carolyn
Published: October 2019

Objective

To examine reported experiences of gender discrimination and harassment among US women.

Data Source and Study Design

Data come from a nationally representative, probability‐based telephone survey of 1596 women, conducted January‐April 2017.

Methods

We calculated the percentages of women reporting gender discrimination and harassment in several domains, including health care. We used logistic regression to examine variation in experiences among women by race/ethnicity and sexual orientation/gender identity.

Principal Findings

Sizable fractions of women experience discrimination and harassment, including discrimination in health care (18 percent), equal pay/promotions (41 percent), and higher education (20 percent). In adjusted models, Native American, black, and Latina women had higher odds than white women of reporting gender discrimination in several domains, including health care. Latinas’ odds of health care avoidance versus whites was (OR [95% CI]) 3.69 (1.59, 8.58), while blacks’ odds of discrimination in health care visits versus whites was 2.00 [1.06, 3.74]. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) women had higher odds of reporting sexual harassment (2.16 [1.06, 4.40]) and violence (2.71 [1.43, 5.16]) against themselves or female family members than non‐LGBTQ women.

Conclusions

Results suggest that discrimination and harassment are widely experienced by women across multiple domains of their lives, particularly those who are a racial/ethnic minority or LGBTQ. Further policy and programmatic efforts beyond current legal protections for women are needed to meaningfully reduce these negative experiences, as they impact women's health care and their lives overall.
Leadership challenges of directors of emergency medicine: An Australasian Delphi study
Authors: Rixon Andrew , Wilson Samuel , Hussain Sairah , Terziovski Mile , Judkins Simon , White Peter
Published: October 2019

Objective

Emergency medicine (EM) is an emerging profession with complex clinical and leadership demands. However, studies of leadership in EM are in their infancy. The present study makes a novel contribution to empirical research in this area by examining the leadership challenges faced by Australasian directors of emergency medicine (DEMs).

Methods

An online Delphi study was conducted with 87 Australasian DEMs. To structure the process, participants were sorted into four panels reflecting their leadership experience and geographical location. Using a three‐phase Delphi process, participants were guided through the process of brainstorming leadership challenges, narrowing down these challenges, and ranking these challenges from most to least important.

Results

Four leadership challenges were shared across all panels, regardless of experience and location; namely, administrative overload, overcrowding and access block, managing challenging colleagues and engaging with hospital executive. However, the low consensus achieved within and across panels highlights the complexity of leadership in EM and cautions against simplistic approaches to addressing leadership challenges.

Conclusion

The recommendation for DEMs is that they need to engage in programmes which will support the development of the leadership and non‐clinical skills required to enable them to cope with responsibilities of hybrid role of physician‐leader. The development and delivery of specialised leadership programmes attuned to the hybridity of the director role and the complexity of hospitals is vital for ensuring high‐quality patient care and successful running of EDs.
Accuracy of de novo assembly of DNA sequences from double‐digest libraries varies substantially among software
Authors: LaCava Melanie E. F. , Aikens Ellen O. , Megna Libby C. , Randolph Gregg , Hubbard Charley , Buerkle C. Alex
Published: October 2019

Advances in DNA sequencing have made it feasible to gather genomic data for non‐model organisms and large sets of individuals, often using methods for sequencing subsets of the genome. Several of these methods sequence DNA associated with endonuclease restriction sites (various RAD and GBS methods). For use in taxa without a reference genome, these methods rely on de novo assembly of fragments in the sequencing library. Many of the software options available for this application were originally developed for other assembly types and we do not know their accuracy for reduced representation libraries. To address this important knowledge gap, we simulated data from the Arabidopsis thaliana and Homo sapiens genomes and compared de novo assemblies by six software programs that are commonly used or promising for this purpose (ABySS, CD‐HIT, Stacks, Stacks2, Velvet and VSEARCH). We simulated different mutation rates and types of mutations, and then applied the six assemblers to the simulated data sets, varying assembly parameters. We found substantial variation in software performance across simulations and parameter settings. ABySS failed to recover any true genome fragments, and Velvet and VSEARCH performed poorly for most simulations. Stacks and Stacks2 produced accurate assemblies of simulations containing SNPs, but the addition of insertion and deletion mutations decreased their performance. CD‐HIT was the only assembler that consistently recovered a high proportion of true genome fragments. Here, we demonstrate the substantial difference in the accuracy of assemblies from different software programs and the importance of comparing assemblies that result from different parameter settings.
Bringing automated, remote‐sensed, machine learning methods to monitoring crop landscapes at scale
Authors: Jia Xiaowei , Khandelwal Ankush , Mulla David J. , Pardey Philip G. , Kumar Vipin
Published: October 2019

This article provides an overview of how recent advances in machine learning and the availability of data from earth observing satellites can dramatically improve our ability to automatically map croplands over long periods and over large regions. It discusses three applications in the domain of crop monitoring where machine learning (ML) approaches are beginning to show great promise. For each application, it highlights machine learning challenges, proposed approaches, and recent results. The article concludes with discussion of major challenges that need to be addressed before ML approaches will reach their full potential for this problem of great societal relevance.
Trade‐offs in the performance of alternative farming systems
Authors: Ramankutty Navin , Ricciardi Vincent , Mehrabi Zia , Seufert Verena
Published: October 2019

Numerous alternative farming systems are proposed as solutions to the sustainability challenges of today's conventional farming systems. In this paper, we review the production, environmental, and socioeconomic performance of three widely discussed and promoted alternative farming systems—organic, smallholder, and urban agriculture. We show that both organic and smallholder agricultures have some benefits, but also entail important trade‐offs; organic has environmental benefits, and also livelihood, health, and nutritional benefits for producers and consumers, but is hampered by lower yields and higher prices. Smaller farms have higher yields and host higher biodiversity, but are hampered by lower incomes to farmers. Urban agriculture can take some pressure off rural landscapes, provide nutritional benefits to the urban poor, and engage urban dwellers in addressing food system challenges, but it simply cannot scale up to be a substantial solution in and of itself. We suggest that instead of focusing on alternative systems, we should identify pathways to sustainable farming for all systems, reforming conventional systems where they perform poorly, and transitioning to alternative systems in contexts where they perform best.
Implementing an outreach headspace mental health service to increase access for disadvantaged and rural youth in Southern Tasmania
Authors: Bridgman Heather , Ashby Miranda , Sargent Celina , Marsh Pauline , Barnett Tony
Published: October 2019

Problem

Barriers, including distance and lack of transport, make it difficult for young people to access mental health services such as headspace.

Design

A collaborative mental health outreach service initiative with outcome measures assessed at baseline and after 2 years.

Setting

The service was designed and implemented by headspace Hobart and Pulse Youth Health Service based in Glenorchy, Tasmania, Australia.

Key measures for improvement

Number of rural and socio‐economically disadvantaged young people accessing the outreach service.

Wait time to see a mental health clinician.

Strategies for change

Organisational leadership and adoption of co‐design principles. Staff and youth from both services were engaged in planning and implementation. Regular service reviews were undertaken by representatives from both organisations.

Effects of change

Numbers of young people from rural and socio‐economically disadvantaged areas accessing the service increased. Wait times to see a mental health clinician were reduced by a minimum 10 working days.

Lessons learnt

Staff engagement was vital in supporting and promoting the new outreach service. The risk of diluting the headspace model fidelity was ameliorated by collaborating with an existing, complimentary youth health service. The success of the service has resulted in four more outreach sites. Although administration resources are stretched, the outreach model offers an opportunity to increase access to youth‐friendly mental health services for young people from disadvantaged and rural areas of Southern Tasmania.
Long‐term follow‐up of antivascular endothelial growth factor treatment for diabetic macular oedema: a four‐year real‐world study
Authors: Granstam Elisabet , Rosenblad Andreas , Modher Raghib Aseel , Granström Therese , Eriksson Jan W. , Lindholm Olinder Anna , Leksell Janeth
Published: October 2019

Purpose

To evaluate visual acuity (VA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) on optical coherence tomography during a 4‐year period in patients treated for sight‐threatening diabetic macular oedema (DMO) at two Swedish county hospitals. Additionally, to compare health‐related quality of life and subjective visual functioning before and after 4 years of treatment.

Methods

Fifty‐eight patients with DMO were evaluated after 4 years of antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment. VA, CRT and clinical data were retrospectively reviewed. Health‐related quality of life and subjective visual functioning were evaluated with Short Form Health Survey (SF‐36) and National Eye Institute Vision Functioning Questionnaire 25 (VFQ‐25). Comparisons between independent groups were performed using Pearson's χ2 test, Fisher's exact test or Mann–Whitney U test. Spearman's ρ was used for correlation analyses. Wilcoxon signed‐rank test was used for comparison between dependent groups. Logistic regression analysis was applied for analysis of VA and CRT over 4 years.

Results

Follow‐up data were obtained from 37 of 58 (63.8%) patients. Baseline characteristics were similar, regardless of follow‐up. VA improvement at 1 year (mean + 4.4, SD 7.5; ETDRS letter score) was maintained over 3 years, then declined. CRT was reduced throughout the study. In the first treatment year, eyes received 5.1 (1.4) anti‐VEGF injections, followed by approximately two injections yearly. Additional treatment included laser and dexamethasone implants. SF‐36 showed no change at 4 years, compared with baseline. VFQ‐25 demonstrated improvement in near vision activities (p = 0.036).

Conclusion

Significant long‐term improvement in visual function was present in patients with anti‐VEGF‐treated DMO.
A deadly trend in fentanyl fatalities (England, 1998–2017)
Authors: Claridge Hugh , Williams Bryn D. , Copeland Caroline S.
Published: October 2019

Aim

To identify trends in drug‐related deaths associated with fentanyl and its derivatives, including novel variants, in England, 1998–2017.

Methods

Case reports from the National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths (NPSAD) where a pharmaceutical fentanyl or non‐pharmaceutical fentanyl derivative (NPFD) was found at post‐mortem and/or implicated in the death were extracted for analysis.

Results

NPSAD has received case reports detailing 298 deaths in England from 1998–2017 where a fentanyl was found at post‐mortem and/or implicated in the death. Hospital administered fentanyl is “very safe”, whereas pharmaceutical fentanyls in the community, procured either legitimately via prescription or illegitimately, carry high risk of unintentional death. Deaths involving NPFDs, which possess extreme potencies in comparison to morphine, have drastically risen over the past three years, and correlate with an increasing number of available compounds. Males, and those with existing opioid abuse disorders, are particularly susceptible to death related to NPFD intake.

Conclusions

The increasing availability of both pharmaceutical fentanyls and NPFDs represents a serious risk to public health. Unintentional misuse of these compounds in England is contributing to the exponential increase in fentanyl‐associated deaths that is being observed at the global scale.