bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DeepEthogram: a machine learning pipeline for supervised behavior classification from raw pixels
Authors: Bohnslav James P. , Wimalasena Nivanthika K. , Clausing Kelsey J. , Yarmolinksy David , Cruz Tomás , Chiappe Eugenia , Orefice Lauren L. , Woolf Clifford J. , Harvey Christopher D.
Published: September 2020

Researchers commonly acquire videos of animal behavior and quantify the prevalence of behaviors of interest to study nervous system function, the effects of gene mutations, and the efficacy of pharmacological therapies. This analysis is typically performed manually and is therefore immensely time consuming, often limited to a small number of behaviors, and variable across researchers. Here, we created DeepEthogram: software that takes raw pixel values of videos as input and uses machine learning to output an ethogram, the set of user-defined behaviors of interest present in each frame of a video. We used convolutional neural network models that compute motion in a video, extract features from motion and single frames, and classify these features into behaviors. These models classified behaviors with greater than 90% accuracy on single frames in videos of flies and mice, matching expert-level human performance. The models accurately predicted even extremely rare behaviors, required little training data, and generalized to new videos and subjects. DeepEthogram runs rapidly on common scientific computer hardware and has a graphical user interface that does not require programming by the end-user. We anticipate DeepEthogram will enable the rapid, automated, and reproducible assignment of behavior labels to every frame of a video, thus accelerating all those studies that quantify behaviors of interest.

Code is available at:https://github.com/jbohnslav/deepethogram
COVID-19 mortality rate in Russia: forecasts and reality evaluation
Authors: Marina Lifshits , Natalia Neklyudova
Published: September 2020

Relevance

COVID-19 is an extremely dangerous disease that not only spreads quickly, but is also characterized by a high mortality rate. Therefore, predicting the number of deaths from the new coronavirus is an urgent task.

Research objective

The aim of the study is to analyze the factors affecting COVID-19 mortality rate in various countries, to predict direct and indirect victims of the pandemic in the Russian Federation, and to estimate additional mortality during the pandemic based on the demographic data.

Data and methods

The main research method is econometric modeling. Comparison of various data was also applied. The authors’ calculations were based on data from the RSSS, the World Bank, as well as specialized sites with coronavirus statistics in Russia and in the world.

Results

A predictive estimation of the deceased number of people due to the pandemic in Russia was made. It is confirmed that the deaths proportion of the completed cases of the disease depends on the level of testing. It is shown that the revealed mortality of the disease depends on the proportion of completed cases, on the population age structure, and on how early the pandemic entered the country compared to the other countries. It is determined that the number of additional deaths due to the coronavirus is approximately 31 thousand people.

Conclusions

The analysis revealed that the relatively low proportion of COVID in Russia is the result of a special approach to the cause of death determination. The mortality rate in Russia in April 2020 was about 3% higher than in April 2019. The share of the deceased health workers in the total coronavirus mortality in the Russian Federation is higher than in the developed countries, which indicates an underestimation of the data on COVID-19 deaths in the Russian Federation, and the unsatisfactory quality of the Russian healthcare system. The number of direct and indirect victims of the pandemic in the Russian Federation at the end of July was approximately 43 thousand people.
Spatially-Aware Clustering of Ion Images in Mass Spectrometry Imaging Data Using Deep Learning
Authors: Zhang Wanqiu , Claesen Marc , Moerman Thomas , Groseclose M. Reid , Waelkens Etienne , De Moor Bart , Verbeeck Nico
Published: September 2020

Computational analysis is crucial to capitalize on the wealth of spatio-molecular information generated by mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) experiments. Currently, the spatial information available in MSI data is often under-utilized, due to the challenges of in-depth spatial pattern extraction.

The advent of deep learning has greatly facilitated such complex spatial analysis. In this work, we use a pre-trained neural network to extract high-level features from ion images in MSI data, and test whether this improves downstream data analysis. The resulting neural network interpretation of ion images, coinedneural ion images, are used to cluster ion images based on spatial expressions.

We evaluate the impact of neural ion images on two ion image clustering pipelines, namely DBSCAN clustering, combined with UMAP-based dimensionality reduction, and k-means clustering. In both pipelines, we compare regular and neural ion images from two different MSI datasets. All tested pipelines could extract underlying spatial patterns, but the neural network-based pipelines provided better assignment of ion images, with more fine-grained clusters, and greater consistency in the spatial structures assigned to individual clusters.

Additionally, we introduce the Relative Isotope Ratio metric to quantitatively evaluate clustering quality. The resulting scores show that isotopical m/z values are more often clustered together in the neural network-based pipeline, indicating improved clustering outcomes.

The usefulness of neural ion images extends beyond clustering towards a generic framework to incorporate spatial information into any MSI-focused machine learning pipeline, both supervised and unsupervised.
An early cortical progenitor-specific mechanism regulates thalamocortical innervation
Authors: Pal Suranjana , Dwivedi Deepanjali , Pramanik Tuli , Godbole Geeta , Iwasato Takuji , Jabaudon Denis , Bhalla Upinder S. , Tole Shubha
Published: September 2020

The cortical subplate is critical in regulating the entry of thalamocortical sensory afferents into the cortex. These afferents reach the subplate at embryonic day (E)15.5 in the mouse, but “wait” for several days, entering the cortical plate postnatally. We report that when transcription factor Lhx2 is lost in E11.5 cortical progenitors, which give rise to subplate neurons, thalamocortical afferents display premature, exuberant innervation of the E15.5 cortex. Embryonic mutant subplate neurons are correctly positioned below the cortical plate, but they display an altered transcriptome and immature electrophysiological properties during the waiting period. The sensory thalamus in these cortex-specificLhx2mutants displays atrophy, eventually leading to severe deficits in thalamocortical innervation. Strikingly, these phenotypes do not manifest if Lhx2 is lost in postmitotic subplate neurons. These results demonstrate a mechanism operating in subplate progenitors that has profound consequences on the growth of thalamocortical axons into the cortex.
Crystal structure of aqua(citric acid)(hydrogen citrato)calcium monohydrate, [Ca(HC6H5O7)(H3C6H5O7)(H2O)]·H2O, from synchrotron X-ray powder data, and DFT-optimized crystal structure of existing calcium hydrogen citrate trihydrate, [Ca(HC6H5O7)(H2O)3]
Authors: Kaduk James A.
Published: September 2020

The crystal structure of `aquabis(dihydrogen citrato)calcium hydrate', better formulated as aqua(citric acid)(hydrogen citrato)calcium monohydrate, (I), has been solved and refined using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data, and optimized using density functional techniques. The CaO8coordination polyhedra are isolated, but occur in layers parallel to theabplane. Both the Rietveld-refined and DFT-optimized structures indicate that one citrate is doubly ionized and that the other is citric acid. All of the active hydrogen atoms participate in strong (11–16 kcal mol−1) hydrogen bonds. Hydrogen atoms were added to the existing calcium hydrogen citrate trihydrate structure [Sheldrick (1974).Acta Cryst.B30, 2056–2057; CSD refcode: CAHCIT], (II), and a DFT calculation was carried out to assess the hydrogen bonding and compare it to this optimized structure.
Bis[tris(pyridin-2-yl)amine]iron(II) tris(dicyanomethylidene)methanediide
Authors: Setifi Zouaoui , Setifi Fatima , Dege Necmi , Al-Douh Mohammed Hadi , Glidewell Christopher
Published: September 2020

In the title compound, [Fe{(C5H4N)3N}2][C{C(CN)2}3], both ions lie across centres of inversion, with the anion being statistically disordered over two sets of atomic sites having equal occupancy. The cation and anion have approximate \overline{3} and 32 symmetry, respectively, and the Fe—N bond lengths indicate low-spin FeII. A combination of two-centre C—H...N and three-centre C—H...(N)2 hydrogen bonds link the ions into complex sheets. Several low-occupancy water molecules are present, whose H atoms could not be located: accordingly, the reflection data were subjected to the SQUEEZE procedure [Spek (2015). Acta Cryst. C71, 9–18].
The long-term erosion of repeat-purchase loyalty
Authors: Dawes John G. , Graham Charles , Trinh Giang
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The study investigates the long-term erosion of repeat-purchase loyalty among consumers who purchase brands in a one-year base period.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a five-year consumer panel of continuous reporters. We identify brand buyers in a base year, then calculate the proportion that fail to buy the brand in later years. We analyse the top 20 brands in 10 consumer goods categories.

Findings

We find pronounced erosion in repeat-buying over the long-term. The proportion of buyers from a base year that fail to buy in a later year increases steadily over time, from 57% in year 2 to 71.5% by year 5. Moreover, we identify brand and marketing mix factors linked to this over-time customer loss or erosion.

Research limitations/implications

The study provides evidence that consumers’ propensity to buy particular brands changes over a period of years, even though those brands continue to exhibit a stable market share. This evidence provides a different interpretation than the literature to date, which has viewed purchase propensities as fixed.

Practical implications

The study finds that store brands and niche brands exhibit lower levels of erosion in their buyer base; that a broad range is associated with lower erosion, and that high price promotion incidence is associated with lower erosion for manufacturer brands.

Originality/value

Loyalty erosion has been reported before (Ehrenberg, 1988; East and Hammond, 1996) but only over short periods. This study examines the phenomenon over five years, confirms that the rate of erosion does diminish over time, and that it is related to category and brand characteristics, as well as marketing mix decisions.
Not just another internal service provider: how a firm’s marketing research function influences uses of market research information
Authors: Bode Christian , Geiger Ingmar
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to better understand a firm’s market research function’s (MRF) roles and influences on the different uses of market research information (MRI) (instrumental, conceptual and symbolic) in the firm.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a mixed-methods design: In a qualitative study among marketing managers (n = 9) and market researchers (n = 10); different roles of a firm’s MRF are scrutinized. The quantitative study among corporate users of MRI (n = 235) tests a conceptual model on the MRF-related determinants of MRI uses, using structural equation modeling.

Findings

When the MRF exhibits methodological, market and business expertise and interacts with market research users, these features indirectly influence instrumental, conceptual, and symbolic uses, through MRI quality perceived by the users. The users’ knowledge of market research methods, the function’s integrity, top management support, and decentralized decision-making have various beneficial influences on the three uses of MRI.

Research limitations/implications

Broadly speaking, this research expands the theoretical understanding of marketing-related organizational learning processes. It considers message, source, recipient, and context variables to explain changes in attitude and behavior, related to MRI uses.

Practical implications

Overall, corporations should use MRI more thoroughly. Treating the MRF as a strategic asset rather than just another internal service provider increases its value to the firm. Firms should thus bolster the MRF’s different roles, namely, internal colleague, service provider, customer representative, quality assurance, and knowledge broker.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to comprehensively analyze the MRF’s role in MRI generation and various uses. It identifies three expertise dimensions of the MRF to fully leverage the MRF’s value to the organization and empirically underscores theoretical writings on the MRF’s roles in the firm.
Gender bias in the recruitment of entry-level B2B salespeople
Authors: Ashnai Bahar , Mani Sudha , Kothandaraman Prabakar , Shekari Saeed
Published: September 2020

Purpose

In response to calls to reduce the gender gap in the salesforce, this study aims to examine the effect of candidate gender, manager gender and industry to explain gender bias in salesperson recruitment during screening and skill assessment.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper tested the hypotheses using observational data from a national sales competition in the USA, where managers evaluated student candidates for entry-level sales positions.

Findings

This research finds gender bias during screening using the dyadic perspective. Specifically, female managers evaluate male candidates more favorably than male managers do during screening. Further, managers of service companies evaluate female candidates more favorably than managers of goods companies during screening. However, this paper finds no such effects during candidates’ skill assessment.

Research limitations/implications

The findings indicate the importance of using dyadic research techniques to assess gender bias.

Practical implications

Managers should not use short interactions to screen candidates.

Social implications

Implicit bias exists when candidates and managers interact during screening. To reduce gender bias in recruitment the candidates and managers should interact for a longer duration.

Originality/value

This study draws upon a unique setting, where the candidates interact with the managers for screening and skill assessment. Implicit bias exists when candidates and managers interact for screening under time pressure. This paper finds no evidence of gender bias in skill assessment. This study finds that female managers are more prone to bias when evaluating male candidates than male managers. Prior work has not examined industry-based bias; this paper provides evidence of such bias in candidate screening.
Infanticide and its relationship with postpartum psychosis: a critical interpretive synthesis
Authors: Jansen van Rensburg Nicole , Spies Ruan , Malan Lelanie
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This study aims to synthesise the available literature on the phenomenon of infanticide within the context of postpartum psychosis from a novel perspective using critical interpretive synthesis (CIS). The study placed its focus on the environmental aspects involved in the phenomenon of postpartum psychosis where the outcome was infanticide, as well as the chosen method of inflicting death.

Design/methodology/approach

CIS is a reviewing method that synthesises existing literature into a coherent frame with the exploration of literature at its core. CIS results in a natural critique of the body of literature and was critical to the study and its findings. The study ultimately found five synthetic constructs related to environmental aspects and method of inflicting death.

Findings

These included prior psychiatric history and care, demographics of perpetrators, perceptions on motherhood, profile on victims such as age and the method of death and, finally, the presence of “warning behaviour”. Reflections on the current state of the literature formed an important part of the study and enabled the authors to make recommendations for future research.

Research limitations/implications

The age of the literature acts as a limitation to the study, there is a need for updated to research to inform our current historical context. In addition, most of the included studies was based in developed countries which may impact on generalisability. The aim of he study was not to include an exhaustive body of literature, thus other relevant literature may have not been included. Some included studies did not solely focus on the concept of infanticide within the context of postpartum psychosis. Although efforts were made to ensure rigour, it is accepted that different researchers may come to different conclusion in inherently qualitative means of enquiry such as CIS. These included prior psychiatric history and care, demographics of perpetrators, perceptions on motherhood, profile on victims such as age and the method of death and, finally, the presence of “warning behaviour”. Reflections on the current state of the literature formed an important part of the study and enabled the authors to make recommendations for future research.

Originality/value

The study has not been published previously and all sources are credited. This study made a contribution by indicating important misconceptions about motherhood and the demography associated with infanticide in postpartum psychosis. It also highlighted the need for updated empirical research that may have implications for policy and practice
Navigating the leadership tensions in creating collective responsibility
Authors: Le Fevre Deidre , Meyer Frauke , Bendikson Linda
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to use a collective responsibility theoretical lens to examine the work of three school principals as they focussed on school-wide goal-setting processes to achieve valued student achievement goals. The tensions principals face in creating collective responsibility are examined so that these might be intentionally navigated.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative case studies of three New Zealand schools include data from interviews with principals, middle leaders and teachers. An inductive and deductive thematic analysis approach was employed.

Findings

Principals face four key tensions: (1) whether to promote self or centrally directed and voluntary or mandatory professional learning; (2) how to balance a top-down versus a middle-up process for accountability; (3) ways to integrate both educator and student voice and (4) the complexity of both challenging teachers' beliefs and providing support. These challenges seemed inherent in the work of developing collective responsibility and leaders tended to move along response continuum.

Research limitations/implications

This research highlights the importance of being intentional and transparent with staff members about both the nature of these tensions and their navigation, and opens up further questions in relation to leader, and teacher perceptions of tensions in creating collective responsibility for achieving school-improvement goals.

Practical implications

An understanding of the tensions that need to be navigated can help leaders and other educators to take effective action, scrutinize the reasoning behind decisions, and understand the inherent challenges faced.

Originality/value

Leadership tensions in creating collective responsibility are explored and implications for leadership practice and learning considered.
Valuation uncertainty – when and why this is important
Authors: Thorne Chris
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The recent coronavirus pandemic created uncertainty across most markets. This has resulted in many valuations being reported with caveats warning that they are uncertain. However, many valuers and their clients remain unclear as to what these warnings are supposed to convey and why they are required by many valuation standards, including the International Valuation Standards. The purpose of this paper is to explain how recognition of the need for uncertainty disclosures has developed over the past 25 years and how such disclosures can enhance overall trust in valuation.

Design/methodology/approach

The author has been involved in the development of the guidance issued by both the International Valuation Standards Council and Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, which included extensive consultation with financial regulators and valuation users alike. He has also examined the wider economic theories of risk and uncertainty and how these need to be clearly distinguished in valuations.

Findings

This paper identifies the situations under which valuation uncertainty can occur, and steps that a valuer can follow to determine whether it is sufficiently material to require an appropriate caveat to be issued alongside the valuation. It also examines the merits of different ways in which material uncertainty can be disclosed.

Practical implications

The paper should provide valuers with a better understanding of the reason why uncertainty disclosures are required and the circumstances in which they are required. It also provides principles to help them formulate disclosures that are appropriate in different circumstances.

Originality/value

This is an abridged version of a Valuers' Briefing “Valuation Uncertainty – Reporting the unknowable” by the author and published as either an eBook or paperback available from Amazon.
Customer participation and well-being: the roles of service experience, customer empowerment and social support
Authors: Xie Lishan , Li Dongmei , Keh Hean Tat
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This research aims to contribute to the transformative service research (TSR) literature by examining how customer participation in the service process influences their service experience and eudaimonic well-being, as moderated by customer empowerment and social support.

Design/methodology/approach

In the contexts of wedding (n = 623) and tourism services (n = 520), two surveys were conducted to test the hypotheses using mediation and moderation analyses.

Findings

Customer participation had a positive effect on their well-being, as mediated by service experience. These effects were moderated by customer empowerment and social support. Specifically, customer empowerment negatively moderated the relationship between customer participation and their service experience for both services. In addition, the moderating effect of social support on the relationship between customer participation and service experience was positive for the wedding service but negative for the tourism service.

Practical implications

The findings imply that firms should encourage customer participation to enhance their service experience and well-being. In addition, the firm could judiciously empower customers by adapting to the level of customer participation. Furthermore, depending on the complexity of the service required to produce the expected service outcomes, the firm may encourage the customers to engage their social network for support.

Originality/value

This research uses the service ecosystem perspective to examine the roles of the customer, the firm and the customer's social network in shaping their service experience and well-being for two common and important mental stimulus services, enriching the authors’ understanding on the role mental stimulus services play in enhancing consumers' eudaimonic well-being.
Enhancing participation through organizational drivers
Authors: Ruiz-Pérez Fernando , Lleó Álvaro , Viles Elisabeth , Jurburg Daniel
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This paper unifies previous research literature on employee participation in continuous improvement (CI) activities through the development and validation of a conceptual model. The purpose of this model is to illustrate how organizational drivers foster organizational and individual enablers which, in turn, strengthen employee participation in CI. The article also discusses the results and managerial implications.

Design/methodology/approach

Firstly, the article introduces the main variables affecting employee participation in CI, looking at the different possible relationships proposed in existing literature. In accordance with the Kaye and Anderson (1999) framework, these variables are categorized into organizational drivers, organizational and individual enablers and individual outcomes. Based on these categories, a model was put forward and empirically validated using data collected from three Spanish companies (n = 483) and using partial least squares structural equations modelling (PLS–SEM).

Findings

A model was put forward, proposing PIRK systems (power, information, rewards, knowledge) as the main organizational driver of employee participation in CI activities. PIRK impacts positively on social influence (organizational enabler), self-efficacy and job satisfaction (individual enablers). These enablers, together with employee intention of participating, help determine employee participation in CI activities.

Practical implications

Organizations with CI programmes should develop systems based on employee empowerment, information, rewards and knowledge in order to foster their self-efficacy and seek out a culture where social influence may help to improve job satisfaction. By suitably managing these organizational drivers, managers can help to further develop certain organizational and individual enablers responsible for fostering employee participation in CI activities.

Originality/value

By unifying different behavioural and CI-related frameworks, this paper carries out an in-depth study into the process of fostering employee participation as the key aspect in helping organizations sustain CI programmes. This paper shows the importance of managing PIRK organizational drivers as levers in the process of developing certain organizational and individual enablers, which are responsible for enhancing employee participation in CI.
In utero exposure to threat of evictions and preterm birth: Evidence from the United States
Authors: Khadka Aayush , Fink Günther , Gromis Ashley , McConnell Margaret
Published: September 2020

Objective

To estimate county‐level associations between in utero exposure to threatened evictions and preterm birth in the United States.

Data Sources

Complete birth records were obtained from the National Center for Health Statistics (2009‐2016). Threatened evictions were measured at the county level using eviction case filing data obtained from The Eviction Lab (2008‐2016). Additional economic and demographic data were obtained from the United States Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Study Design

We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis using 7.3 million births from 1,633 counties. We defined threatened eviction exposures as the z‐score of average case filings over the pregnancy and by trimester. Our primary outcome was an indicator for preterm birth (born < 37 completed weeks of gestation). Secondary outcomes included a continuous measure for gestational length, a continuous measure for birth weight, and an indicator for low birth weight (born < 2500 g). We estimated within‐county associations controlling for individual‐ and time‐varying county‐level characteristics, state‐of‐residence‐year‐and‐month‐of‐conception fixed effects, and a county‐specific time trend.

Data Collection/Extraction

We merged birth records with threatened eviction data at the county‐month‐year level using mother's county of residence at delivery and month‐year of conception. We supplemented these data with information on county‐level annual 18‐and‐over population, annual poverty rate, and monthly unemployment rate.

Principal Findings

Increased levels of eviction case filings over a pregnancy were associated with an increased risk of prematurity and low birth weight. These associations appeared to be sensitive to exposure in the second and third trimesters. Associations with secondary outcomes and within various population subgroups were, in general, imprecisely estimated.

Conclusions

Higher exposure to eviction case filings within counties, particularly in the latter stages of a pregnancy, was associated with an increased risk of adverse birth outcomes. Future research should identify the causal effect of threatened evictions on maternal and child health outcomes.
Paramedic streaming upon arrival in emergency department: A prospective study
Authors: Olaussen Alexander , Abetz Jeremy W , Smith Karen , Bernard Steve , Gaddam Ravali , Banerjee Arvin , Mc Entaggart Laura , Lim Andrew , Clare Steven , Smit De Villiers , Cameron Peter A , Mitra Biswadev
Published: September 2020

Objective

The role of paramedics in hospital triage or streaming models has not been adequately explored and is potentially a missed opportunity for enhanced patient flow. The aim of the present study was to assess the concordance between a streaming decision by paramedics with the decision by nurses after arrival to the ED.

Methods

A prospective observational study was conducted. Paramedics were met at the entrance to the hospital and asked which destination they thought was appropriate (the index test). The ED nurse streaming decision was the reference standard. Cases of discordance were reviewed and assessed for clinical risk by an independent expert panel that was blinded.

Results

We collected data from 500 cases that were transported by ambulance consisting of 55% males with a median age of 57 years (interquartile range 38–75). The overall concordance between paramedics' and streaming decision was 86.4% (95% confidence interval 83.1–89.1). The concordance was highest among patients streamed to resuscitation and general cubicles. Among discordant cases (n = 68), 39 were streamed to a more acute destination than the paramedic suggested. Of the 68 discordant cases, 56 were deemed to be of no clinical risk.

Conclusions

Despite limited knowledge of patient load within the ED, paramedics can allocate a streaming destination with high accuracy and this appears to be associated with low clinical risks. Early pre‐hospital notification of streaming destination with proactive allocation of ED destination presents a real opportunity to minimise off‐load times and improve patient flow.
The differential genetic signatures related to climatic landscapes for jaguars and pumas on a continental scale
Authors: ZANIN Marina , GONZALEZ‐BORRAJO Noa , CHÁVEZ Cuauhtémoc , RUBIO Yamel , HARMSEN Bart , KELLER Claudia , VILLALVA Pablo , SRBEK‐ARAUJO Ana Carolina , COSTA Leonora Pires , PALOMARES Francisco
Published: September 2020

Modern and paleoclimate changes may have altered species dynamics by shifting species’ niche suitability over space and time. We analyze whether the current genetic structure and isolation of the two large American felids, jaguar (Panthera onca) and puma (Puma concolor), are mediated by changes in climatic suitability and connection routes over modern and paleoclimatic landscapes. We estimate species distribution under 5 climatic landscapes (modern, Holocene, last maximum glaciations [LMG], average suitability, and climatic instability) and correlate them with individuals’ genetic isolation through causal modeling on a resemblance matrix. Both species exhibit genetic isolation patterns correlated with LMG climatic suitability, suggesting that these areas may have worked as “allele refuges.” However, the jaguar showed higher vulnerability to climate changes, responding to modern climatic suitability and connection routes, whereas the puma showed a continuous and gradual transition of genetic variation. Despite differential responsiveness to climate change, both species are subjected to the climatic effects on genetic configuration, which may make them susceptible to future climatic changes, since these are progressing faster and with higher intensity than changes in the paleoclimate. Thus, the effects of climatic changes should be considered in the design of conservation strategies to ensure evolutionary and demographic processes mediated by gene flow for both species.
Out‐of‐pocket spending among a cohort of Australians living with gout
Authors: Nathan Nicholas , Nguyen Amy D. , Stocker Sophie , Laba Tracey‐Lea , Baysari Melissa T. , Day Richard O.
Published: September 2020

Objective

To measure the direct and indirect out‐of‐pocket (OOP) costs borne by Australians with gout.

Methods

A cross‐sectional, Australia‐wide, web‐based survey was conducted over 12 months between May 2017 and April 2018. Participants were recruited via advertisements in doctors’ clinics and healthcare organizations’ websites, and social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. Survey questions collected information about participants’ OOP spending on direct medical and non‐medical gout‐related healthcare costs. Participant demographics, gout status, healthcare sought, workdays lost to due gout and health‐related quality of life were also collected.

Results

Seventy‐nine patients with gout completed the survey; 70 (89%) were male, and on average were 56 (SD 16) years of age and had gout for 14 (SD 12) years. For this cohort, the median total OOP direct medical cost was AU$200 per year (interquartile range [IQR]: AU$60‐AU$570). Sixty (76%) people with gout reported being affected by gout during work; however, only 0.25 (IQR: 0‐3) days of work (approximately $60) were lost due to gout in a year. Nine percent (n = 7) of participants experienced cost‐related treatment attrition and 33% reported economic hardship (n = 26). Participants who experienced economic hardship or cost‐related treatment attrition had higher median total gout‐related direct costs than those who did not.

Conclusion

In Australia, gout has an OOP financial cost and reduces work productivity. The presence of cost‐related treatment attrition among people with gout indicates that financial costs may be a significant barrier to seeking treatment for a subset of patients with gout.
Extracellular vesicles in spontaneous preterm birth
Authors: Menon Ramkumar , Shahin Hend
Published: September 2020

Feto‐maternal communication helps to maintain pregnancy and contributes to parturition at term and preterm. Endocrine and immune factor are well‐reported communication mediators. Recent advances in extracellular vesicle (EV) biology have introduced them as major communication channels between the mother and fetus. EVs are round structures with a lipid bilayer membrane. EVs are generally categorized based on their size and mode of biogenesis. The most commonly reported EVs are exosomes with a size range of 30‐160 nm that are formed inside the intraluminal vesicles of multivesicular body. Microvesicles (MVs) are larger than > 200 nm and formed by outward budding of plasma membrane. Vesicles are released from all cells and carry various factors that reflect the physiologic state of cell at the time of their release. Analysis of vesicle provides a snapshot of origin cell. Recent studies in perinatal medicine have shown that exosomes are key communicators between feto‐maternal units, and they can cross placenta. Fetal‐derived exosomes released under term labor‐associated conditions can cause parturition‐associated changes in maternal uterine tissues. Exosomes carrying inflammatory cargo can cause preterm birth in animal models suggesting their functional role in parturition. A few reports have profiled differences between exosome cargos from term and preterm pregnancies and indicated their biomarker potential to predict high‐risk pregnancy status. There are hardly any reports on MVs and their functional roles in reproduction. Herein, we review of EVs and MVs, their characteristics, function, and usefulness predicting adverse pregnancy complications such as preterm birth.
Discovery and validation of hsa_circ_0001953 as a potential biomarker for proliferative diabetic retinopathy in human blood
Authors: Wu Zheming , Liu Bing , Ma Yan , Chen Haisong , Wu Jing , Wang Jiawei
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This study aimed to determine whether circular RNAs (circRNAs) in whole blood could be served as novel non‐invasive biomarkers for proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).

Methods

This retrospective cross‐sectional study comprised 34 healthy participants, 34 PDR patients and 34 non‐proliferative DR (NPDR) patients. High‐throughput whole transcriptome sequencing was performed to explore the expression profile of circRNAs in the whole blood, and the candidate circRNAs were validated by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis evaluated the ability of these candidate circRNAs in discriminating PDR patients from NPDR patients and healthy subjects. Finally, the networks of circRNA‐miRNA‐mRNA based on the candidate circRNAs were constructed.

Results

Using sequencing and qRT‐PCR, hsa_circ_0001953 was found to be elevated in PDR patients in contrast with the other two groups. Statistical analysis showed that the expression levels of hsa_circ_0001953 in PDR patients were positively related to the duration of diabetes and HbAc1. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed that hsa_circ_0001953 was associated with a high diagnostic accuracy in discriminating PDR patients from NPDR patients and healthy controls, resulting in an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.87 and 0.92, respectively. The circRNA‐miRNA‐target gene networks for hsa_circ_0001953 showed that hsa_circ_0001953 could interact with dozens of miRNAs and some targeted mRNAs have been potentially involved in the pathogenesis of diabetes.

Conclusion

The present findings indicate that hsa_circ_0001953 in the whole blood may serve as a novel diagnostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target for PDR.
Melatonin ameliorates the sleep disorder induced by surgery under sevoflurane anaesthesia in aged mice
Authors: Jia Xixi , Zhang Liqun , Zhang Wen , Zhou Yang , Song Yanan , Liu Chang , Yang Ning , Sun Jie , Sun Zhuonan , Li Zhengqian , Shi Chengmei , Han Yongzheng , Yuan Yi , Shi Jie , Liu Yajie , Guo Xiangyang
Published: September 2020

Post‐operative sleep disorders induce adverse effects on patients, especially the elderly, which may be associated with surgery and inhalational anaesthetics. Melatonin is a neuroendocrine regulator of the sleep‐wake cycle. In this study, we analysed the alterations of post‐operative sleep in aged melatonin‐deficient (C57BL/6J) mice, and investigated if exogenous melatonin could facilitate entrainment of circadian rhythm after laparotomy under sevoflurane anaesthesia. The results showed that laparotomy under sevoflurane anaesthesia had a greater influence on post‐operative sleep than sevoflurane alone. Laparotomy under anaesthesia led to circadian rhythm shifting forward, altered EEG power density and delta power of NREM sleep, and lengthened REM and NREM sleep latencies. In the light phase, the number of waking episodes tended to decline, and wake episode duration elevated. However, these indicators presented the opposite tendency during the dark phase. Melatonin showed significant efficacy for ameliorating the sleep disorder and restoring physiological sleep, and most of the beneficial effect of melatonin was antagonized by luzindole, a melatonin receptor antagonist.
NH2‐terminal fragment of ZF21 protein suppresses tumor invasion via inhibiting the interaction of ZF21 with FAK
Authors: Nagano Makoto , Hoshino Daisuke , Toshima Jiro , Seiki Motoharu , Koshikawa Naohiko
Published: September 2020

Cellular migration, coupled with the degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM), is a key step in tumor invasion and represents a promising therapeutic target in malignant tumors. Focal adhesions (FAs) and invadopodia, which are distinct actin‐based cellular structures, play key roles in cellular migration and ECM degradation, respectively. The molecular machinery coordinating the dynamics between FAs and invadopodia is not fully understood, although several lines of evidence suggest that the disassembly of FAs is an important step in triggering the formation of invadopodia. In a previous study, we identified the ZF21 protein as a regulator of both FA turnover and invadopodia‐dependent ECM degradation. ZF21 interacts with multiple factors for FA turnover, including focal adhesion kinase (FAK), microtubules, m‐Calpain, and Src homology region 2‐containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 (SHP‐2). In particular, the dephosphorylation of FAK by ZF21 is a key event in tumor invasion. However, the precise role of ZF21 binding to FAK remains unclear. We established a method to disrupt the interaction between ZF21 and FAK using the FAK‐binding NH2‐terminal region of ZF21. Tumor cells expressing the ZF21‐derived polypeptide had significantly decreased FA turnover, migration, invadopodia‐dependent ECM degradation, and Matrigel invasion. Furthermore, the expression of the polypeptide inhibited an early step of experimental lung metastasis in mice. These findings indicate that the interaction of ZF21 with FAK is necessary for FA turnover as well as ECM degradation at the invadopodia. Thus, ZF21 is a potential regulator that coordinates the equilibrium between FA turnover and invadopodia activity by interacting with FAK.
Tumour size and overall survival among surgically treated patients with non‐metastatic colon cancer in the U.S. Military Health System
Authors: Alexander Melannie , Lin Jie , Shriver Craig D. , McGlynn Katherine A. , Zhu Kangmin
Published: September 2020

Aim

Larger tumour size and lymph node involvement traditionally predict poorer survival in colon cancer patients. However, it has been recently suggested that very small tumours (<5 mm) may be a predictor of poor prognosis in colon cancer patients when lymph nodes are involved. This study investigated whether node‐positive colon cancer patients with small tumours had worse survival compared to those with larger tumours in the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Military Health System (MHS), a universal health care system.

Methods

Surgically treated colon cancer patients were identified from the DoD's Automated Central Tumour Registry (ACTUR). These patients were diagnosed with Stage I–III colon cancer between 1989 and 2010, had one or more lymph nodes examined, did not receive pre‐operative radiotherapy and were followed through 2013 to determine vital status. Multivariable Cox models were used to examine survival differences according to tumour size, and data were stratified by lymph node status and age.

Results

There were no differences in overall survival according to tumour size in the study population. These findings remained similar in analyses stratified by lymph node status and age.

Conclusion

In a universal healthcare system, small tumour size is not associated with worse prognosis in node‐positive colon cancer patients.
Colorimetric detection of Mn(ii) based on a mixture of an anionic pyridylazo dye and a cationic polyelectrolyte in aqueous solution
Authors: Fukushima Yasumasa , Aikawa Shunichi
Published: September 2020

We have developed a simple and valuable method for the construction of a colorimetric chemosensor for detecting Mn(ii) in aqueous media. The chemosensor was prepared by mixing two commercial products, an anionic organic dye, 2‐(5‐nitro‐2‐pyridylazo)‐5‐(N‐propyl‐N‐sulphopropylamino)phenol (Nitro‐PAPS) and a cationic polyelectrolyte, poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC). Upon gradual addition of Mn(ii) to the chemosensor, the absorption spectra showed a remarkable bathochromic shift concomitantly with a distinct colour change from yellow to blue‐green, while Nitro‐PAPS alone could not detect Mn(ii) in a colorimetric method. PDADMAC played a key role in sensing Mn(ii) for the mixture. The colour change might be due to the formation of the aggregate obtained through electrostatic interactions of a Nitro‐PAPS‐based Mn(ii) complex with PDADMAC. This investigation can inform the development of a new chemosensor by the combination of an anionic dye and a cationic polyelectrolyte.
Wide distribution of anaerobic ammonium‐oxidizing bacteria in the water column of the South China Sea: Implications for their survival strategies
Authors: Liu Xiaohan , Wu Jiapeng , Hong Yiguo , Li Yiben , Hu Yaohao , Wang Limei , Wang Yu , Long Aimin
Published: September 2020

Aim

Anammox bacteria are widely distributed in various environments, but the community composition and survival strategies of anammox bacteria in oligotrophic, deep‐sea water rich in dissolved oxygen (DO) remain unknown. We aimed to understand the distribution of anammox bacteria in the water columns of the South China Sea (SCS).

Time period

Three cruises were in October 2014, October 2015 and September 2016, respectively.

Location

Six water columns were obtained in the SCS, China (E 111–120°, N 16–22°).

Methods

The diversity and community composition of anammox bacteria were investigated through a high‐throughput sequencing technique targeting the anammox 16S rRNA gene.

Results

Unexpectedly, phylogenetic analysis showed that Ca. Brocadia (78.35%) was the dominant genus while Ca. Scalindua and unclassified species accounted for 12.62% and 9.03%, respectively. The highest diversity of anammox bacteria and concentrations of particulate organic matter (POM) were simultaneously observed in the 50–200 m layer, suggesting that particles may be a favourable niche for anammox bacteria. The wide distribution of anammox bacteria in the DO‐rich sea waters suggests two possible survival strategies: one strategy is attaching to particles and using anaerobic anammox metabolism to produce energy, and the other strategy is free‐living and using aerobic metabolism to produce energy.

Main conclusions

A high diversity of anammox bacteria was found in the aerobic water columns, and Ca. Brocadia was the clearly dominant genus. Furthermore, anammox microbes could improve their viability by switching their metabolic pathways between anaerobic and aerobic conditions. Overall, our study has improved the understanding of the distribution and survival strategies of anammox communities in an aerobic marine environment and could provide new ideas for engineering applications in wastewater treatment with anammox technology.
Association between mitral annular calcification and progression of mitral and aortic stenoses
Authors: Jozsa Csilla , Budwal Balam , Lloyd Guy , Bhattacharyya Sanjeev
Published: September 2020

Background

Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is a chronic degenerative process affecting the annular fibrosus of the mitral valve. We sought to examine the relationship between MAC and the progression of valve disease.

Methods

The echocardiography database was searched for patients with MAC who had undergone at least two studies more than 1 year apart. The degree of MAC was quantified according to both extent and thickness. The degree of aortic stenosis (AS) and mitral stenosis (MS) was classified according to valve area and mean gradient, respectively.

Results

Of 125 patients, moderate or greater AS was present in 8 of 86 (9.3%) patients with mild, 12 of 29 (41.4%) patients with moderate, and 4 of 10 (40%) patients with severe MAC extent, P = .0002. The rate of progression of AS was highest in those with greatest MAC extent (0.21 cm2/y) or greatest MAC thickness (0.28 cm2/y) compared with those with least MAC extent (0.09 cm2/y) or thickness (0.07 cm2/y), P = .04 and <.0001, respectively. The rate of progression of mean mitral gradient was highest in those with greatest MAC extent (0.71 mm Hg/y) or greatest MAC thickness (0.17 mm Hg/y) compared with those with least MAC extent (0.07 mm Hg/y) or thickness (0.07 mm Hg/y), P = .0003 and P < .0001, respectively. Patients with greatest MAC extent had lower survival than those with lower MAC extent, P = .03. However, there was no difference in survival between patients with different MAC thickness, P = .43.

Conclusion

Both the degree of MAC extent and thickness are associated with the rate of progression of aortic and mitral stenosis and may serve as a risk marker for future progression.