bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Computational and experimental investigation of particulate matter deposition in cerebral side aneurysms
Authors: Epshtein Mark , Korin Netanel
Published: August 2020

Intracranial aneurysms frequently develop blood clots, plaque and inflammations, which are linked to enhanced particulate mass deposition. In this work, we propose a computational model for particulate deposition, that accounts for the influence of field forces, such as gravity and electrostatics, which produce an additional flux of particles perpendicular to the fluid motion and towards the wall. This field-mediated flux can significantly enhance particle deposition in low-shear environments, such as in aneurysm cavities. Experimental investigation of particle deposition patterns in
in vitro
models of side aneurysms, demonstrated the ability of the model to predict enhanced particle adhesion at these sites. Our results showed a significant influence of gravity and electrostatic forces (greater than 10%), indicating that the additional terms presented in our models may be necessary for modelling a wide range of physiological flow conditions and not only for ultra-low shear regions. Spatial differences between the computational model and the experimental results suggested that additional transport and fluidic mechanisms affect the deposition pattern within aneurysms. Taken together, the presented findings may enhance our understanding of pathological deposition processes at cardiovascular disease sites, and facilitate rational design and optimization of cardiovascular particulate drug carriers.
Cyclically producing the same average muscle-tendon force with a smaller duty increases metabolic rate
Authors: Beck Owen N. , Gosyne Jonathan , Franz Jason R. , Sawicki Gregory S.
Published: August 2020

Ground contact duration and stride frequency each affect muscle metabolism and help scientists link walking and running biomechanics to metabolic energy expenditure. While these parameters are often used independently, the product of ground contact duration and stride frequency (i.e. duty factor) may affect muscle contractile mechanics. Here, we sought to separate the metabolic influence of the duration of active force production, cycle frequency and duty factor. Human participants produced cyclic contractions using their soleus (which has a relatively homogeneous fibre type composition) at prescribed cycle-average ankle moments on a fixed dynamometer. Participants produced these ankle moments over short, medium and long durations while maintaining a constant cycle frequency. Overall, decreased duty factor did not affect cycle-average fascicle force (
p
≥ 0.252) but did increase net metabolic power (
p
≤ 0.022). Mechanistically, smaller duty factors increased maximum muscle-tendon force (
p
< 0.001), further stretching in-series tendons and shifting soleus fascicles to shorter lengths and faster velocities, thereby increasing soleus total active muscle volume (
p
< 0.001). Participant soleus total active muscle volume well-explained net metabolic power (
r
= 0.845;
p
< 0.001). Therefore, cyclically producing the same cycle-average muscle-tendon force using a decreased duty factor increases metabolic energy expenditure by eliciting less economical muscle contractile mechanics.
Rhythms during the polar night: evidence of clock-gene oscillations in the Arctic scallopChlamys islandica
Authors: Perrigault Mickael , Andrade Hector , Bellec Laure , Ballantine Carl , Camus Lionel , Tran Damien
Published: August 2020

Arctic regions are highly impacted by climate change and are characterized by drastic seasonal changes in light intensity and duration with extended periods of permanent light or darkness. Organisms use cyclic variations in light to synchronize daily and seasonal biological rhythms to anticipate cyclic variations in the environment, to control phenology and to maintain fitness. In this study, we investigated the diel biological rhythms of the Arctic scallop,Chlamys islandica, during the autumnal equinox and polar night. Putative circadian clock genes and putative light perception genes were identified in the Arctic scallop. Clock gene expression oscillated in the three tissues studied (gills, muscle, mantle edge). The oscillation of some genes in some tissues shifted from daily to tidal periodicity between the equinox and polar night periods and was associated with valve behaviour. These results are the first evidence of the persistence of clock gene expression oscillations during the polar night and might suggest that functional clockwork could entrain rhythmic behaviours in polar environments.
Pollen grain size associated with pollinator feeding strategy
Authors: Hao Kai , Tian Zhi-Xi , Wang Zi-Chen , Huang Shuang-Quan
Published: August 2020

Angiosperm pollen grain diameter varies greatly from a few microns to over 100, but the selective forces driving the interspecific variation in pollen size remain unclear. Although both pre- and post-pollination hypotheses have been proposed, empirical evidence remains scarce. Here we propose that visits by pollen-foraging pollinators have selected against large pollen grains. An association between pollinator behaviour and pollen grain size was confirmed by field studies of 80 flowering species in natural communities, showing that pollinators positively collected pollen in those species with relatively smaller pollen grains but rarely did so in species with larger ones. Allowing for the confounding effects of pollinator type, flower size or style length and pollen grain number, we found a significant effect of pollen-foraging behaviour on variation in pollen grain size, particularly in bee-pollinated plants. While these results suggest that many plant species whose pollen is collected or consumed by pollinators produce small pollen grains, it remains unclear whether pollen grain size is directly affected by pollinator foraging habit or indirectly mediated by pollen number trade-offs.
The problem of mediocre generalists: population genetics and eco-evolutionary perspectives on host breadth evolution in pathogens
Authors: Visher Elisa , Boots Mike
Published: August 2020

Many of our theories for the generation and maintenance of diversity in nature depend on the existence of specialist biotic interactions which, in host–pathogen systems, also shape cross-species disease emergence. As such, niche breadth evolution, especially in host–parasite systems, remains a central focus in ecology and evolution. The predominant explanation for the existence of specialization in the literature is that niche breadth is constrained by trade-offs, such that a generalist is less fit on any particular environment than a given specialist. This trade-off theory has been used to predict niche breadth (co)evolution in both population genetics and eco-evolutionary models, with the different modelling methods providing separate, complementary insights. However, trade-offs may be far from universal, so population genetics theory has also proposed alternate mechanisms for costly generalism, including mutation accumulation. However, these mechanisms have yet to be integrated into eco-evolutionary models in order to understand how the mechanism of costly generalism alters the biological and ecological circumstances predicted to maintain specialism. In this review, we outline how population genetics and eco-evolutionary models based on trade-offs have provided insights for parasite niche breadth evolution and argue that the population genetics-derived mutation accumulation theory needs to be better integrated into eco-evolutionary theory.
Reduced thermal tolerance of massive coral species in a highly variable environment
Authors: Klepac C. N. , Barshis D. J.
Published: August 2020

Coral bleaching events are increasing in frequency and severity, resulting in widespread losses in coral cover. However, branching corals native to highly variable (HV) thermal environments can have higher bleaching resistance than corals from more moderate habitats. Here, we investigated the response of two massive corals,
Porites lobata
and
Goniastrea retiformis
, from a moderately variable (MV) and a low variability (LV) pool transplanted into a HV pool on Ofu Island in American Samoa. Paired transplant and native ramets were exposed to an acute thermal stress after 6 and 12 months of exposure to the HV pool to evaluate changes in thermal tolerance limits. For both species, photosynthetic efficiency and chlorophyll loss following acute heat stress did not differ between ramets transplanted into the HV pool and respective native pool. Moreover, HV native
P. lobata
exhibited the greatest bleaching susceptibility compared to MV and LV natives and there was no effect of acute heat stress on MV
P. lobata
. There was also a thermal anomaly during the study, where Ofu's backreef thermal regime surpassed historical records—2015 had 8 degree heating weeks (DHW) and 2016 had up to 5 DHW (in comparison to less than or equal to 3 over the last 10 years)—which may have exceeded the upper thermal limits of HV native
P. lobata
. These results strongly contrast with other research on coral tolerance in variable environments, potentially underscoring species-specific mechanisms and regional thermal anomalies that may be equally important in shaping coral responses to extreme temperatures.
Did the thylacine violate the costs of carnivory? Body mass and sexual dimorphism of an iconic Australian marsupial
Authors: Rovinsky Douglass S. , Evans Alistair R. , Martin Damir G. , Adams Justin W.
Published: August 2020

The relative body masses of predators and their prey strongly affect the predators' ecology. An accurate estimate of the mass of an extinct predator is therefore key to revealing its biology and the structure of the ecosystem it inhabited. Until its extinction, the thylacine was the largest extant carnivorous marsupial, but little data exist regarding its body mass, with an average of 29.5 kg the most commonly used estimate. According to the costs of carnivory model, this estimate predicts that thylacines would have focused on prey subequal to or larger than themselves; however, many studies of their functional morphology suggest a diet of smaller animals. Here, we present new body mass estimates for 93 adult thylacines, including two taxidermy specimens and four complete mounted skeletons, representing 40 known-sex specimens, using three-dimensional volumetric model-informed regressions. We demonstrate that prior estimates substantially overestimated average adult thylacine body mass. We show mixed-sex population mean (16.7 kg), mean male (19.7 kg), and mean female (13.7 kg) body masses well below prior estimates, and below the 21 kg costs of carnivory threshold. Our data show that the thylacine did not violate the costs of carnivory. The thylacine instead occupied the 14.5–21 kg predator/prey range characterized by small-prey predators capable of occasionally switching to relatively large-bodied prey if necessary.
Post-copulatory genetic matchmaking: HLA-dependent effects of cervical mucus on human sperm function
Authors: Jokiniemi Annalaura , Magris Martina , Ritari Jarmo , Kuusipalo Liisa , Lundgren Tuulia , Partanen Jukka , Kekäläinen Jukka
Published: August 2020

Several studies have demonstrated that women show pre-copulatory mating preferences for human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-dissimilar men. A fascinating, yet unexplored, possibility is that the ultimate mating bias towards HLA-dissimilar partners could occur after copulation, at the gamete level. Here, we explored this possibility by investigating whether the selection towards HLA-dissimilar partners occurs in the cervical mucus. After combining sperm and cervical mucus from multiple males and females (full factorial design), we found that sperm performance (swimming velocity, hyperactivation, and viability) was strongly influenced by the male–female combination. This indicates that sperm fertilization capability may be dependent on the compatibility between cervical mucus (female) and sperm (male). We also found that sperm viability was associated with partners' HLA dissimilarity, indicating that cervical mucus may selectively facilitate later gamete fusion between immunogenetically compatible partners. Together, these results provide novel insights into the female-mediated sperm selection (cryptic female choice) in humans and indicate that processes occurring after copulation may contribute to the mating bias towards HLA-dissimilar partners. Finally, by showing that sperm performance in cervical mucus is influenced by partners' genetic compatibility, the present findings may promote a deeper understanding of infertility.
AI support for ethical decision-making around resuscitation: proceed with care
Authors: Biller-Andorno Nikola , Ferrario Andrea , Joebges Susanne , Krones Tanja , Massini Federico , Barth Phyllis , Arampatzis Georgios , Krauthammer Michael
Published: August 2020

Artificial intelligence (AI) systems are increasingly being used in healthcare, thanks to the high level of performance that these systems have proven to deliver. So far, clinical applications have focused on diagnosis and on prediction of outcomes. It is less clear in what way AI can or should support complex clinical decisions that crucially depend on patient preferences. In this paper, we focus on the ethical questions arising from the design, development and deployment of AI systems to support decision-making around cardio-pulmonary resuscitation leading to the determination of a patient’s Do Not Attempt to Resuscitate (DNAR) status (also known as code status). The COVID-19 pandemic has made us keenly aware of the difficulties physicians encounter when they have to act quickly in stressful situations without knowing what their patient would have wanted. We discuss the results of an interview study conducted with healthcare professionals in a university hospital aimed at understanding the status quo of resuscitation decision processes while exploring a potential role for AI systems in decision-making around code status. Our data suggest that 1) current practices are fraught with challenges such as insufficient knowledge regarding patient preferences, time pressure and personal bias guiding care considerations and 2) there is considerable openness among clinicians to consider the use of AI-based decision support. We suggest a model for how AI can contribute to improve decision-making around resuscitation and propose a set of ethically relevant preconditions – conceptual, methodological and procedural – that need to be considered in further development and implementation efforts.
Role of selective Bioactive Compounds as an Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor
Authors: Khan Huma , Husain Tahir , Kataria Monika , Seth Amit , Malik Md. Zubbair , Dash Ashoutosh , Chand Subhash , Khan Mohammad Azhar
Published: August 2020

Hypertension is one of a major reason of mortality and morbidity and it is associated with heart and renal disease. The aim of this study is to find out the antihypertensive role of bioactive compounds from selected medicinal plants targeting ACE molecule which so far is not known. The plants taken in this study wereMoringa oleifera,Azadirachta indica, andHibiscus sabdariffa. The nitric oxide and superoxide scavenging property vary from 39.50% to 68% and 37.67 % to 75.50 %. respectively. The inhibition of ACE activity was found maximally in methanolic extract ofA. indica(74 %), followed by H.sabdariffa(73.4%), and least inM. oleifera(71.8 %). The bioactive chloroform fraction was characterized for the presence of compound using standard techniques such as LCMS and NMR (13C-NMR1H-NMR). The results revealed the presence of beta-sitosterol inM. oleifera, azadiradionolide inA. indicaand hibiscitrin inH. sabdariffa. The compounds have shown significant low binding energy for hibiscitrin (−12.3kcal/mol), beta-sitosterol (−11.2kcal/mol) and azadiradionolide (−11.3kcal/mol) indicating the high efficacy of binding on the enzyme. While, binding energy of drug captopril was −5.6kcal/mol & enalpril - 8.1kcal/mol in the same pocket of the ACE molecule. Upon subjecting molecular dynamic simulation results indicated that beta sitosterol complex provided more compactness than the hibiscitrin and azadiradionolide compounds. The current study delivers a new perspective for the drug development against systolic blood pressure regulation and also opens new horizons for considering alternate highly potent drug target for hypertension.
Modelling early thermal injury using anex vivohuman skin model of contact burns
Authors: Liu Aiping , Ocotl Edgar , Karim Aos , Wolf Josiah J. , Cox Benjamin L. , Eliceiri Kevin W. , Gibson Angela LF
Published: August 2020

Background

Early mechanisms underlying the progressive tissue death and the regenerative capability of burn wounds are understudied in human skin. A clinically relevant, reproducible model for human burn wound healing is needed to elucidate the early changes in the human burn wound environment. This study reports a reproducible contact burn model on human skin that explores the extent of tissue injury and healing over time, and defines the inter-individual variability in human skin to enable use in mechanistic studies on burn wound progression and healing.

Methods

Using a customized burn device, contact burns of various depths were created on human skin by two operators and were evaluated for histologic depth by three raters to determine reproducibility. Early burn wound progression and wound healing were also evaluated histologically after the thermally injured human skin was culturedex vivofor up to 14 days.

Results

Burn depths were reproducibly generated on human skin in a temperature- or time-dependent manner. No significant difference in operator-created or rater-determined depth was observed within each patient sample. However, significant inter-individual variation was identified in burn depth in ten patient samples. Burn-injuredex vivohuman skin placed into culture demonstrated differential progression of cell death and collagen denaturation for high and low temperature contact burns, while re-epithelialization was observed in superficial burn wounds over a period of 14 days.

Conclusion

This model represents an invaluable tool to evaluate the inter-individual variability in early burn wound progression and wound healing to complement current animal models and enhance the translation of preclinical research to improvements in patient care.
A computationally designed fluorescent biosensor for D-serine
Authors: Vongsouthi Vanessa , Whitfield Jason H. , Unichenko Petr , Mitchell Joshua A. , Breithausen Björn , Khersonsky Olga , Kremers Leon , Janovjak Harald , Monai Hiromu , Hirase Hajime , Fleishman Sarel J. , Henneberger Christian , Jackson Colin J.
Published: August 2020

Solute-binding proteins (SBPs) have evolved to balance the demands of ligand affinity, thermostability and conformational change to accomplish diverse functions in small molecule transport, sensing and chemotaxis. Although the ligand-induced conformational changes that occur in SBPs make them useful components in biosensors, they are challenging targets for protein engineering and design. Here we have engineered a D-alanine-specific SBP into a fluorescent biosensor with specificity for the signaling molecule D-serine (D-serFS). This was achieved through binding site and remote mutations that improved affinity (KD= 6.7 ± 0.5 μM), specificity (40-fold increasevs.glycine), thermostability (Tm = 79 °C) and dynamic range (~14%). This sensor allowed measurement of physiologically relevant changes in D-serine concentration using two-photon excitation fluorescence microscopy in rat brain hippocampal slices. This work illustrates the functional trade-offs between protein dynamics, ligand affinity and thermostability, and how these must be balanced to achieve desirable activities in the engineering of complex, dynamic proteins.
Binding of inhibitors to active-site mutants of CD1, the enigmatic catalytic domain of histone deacetylase 6
Authors: Osko Jeremy D. , Christianson David W.
Published: August 2020

The zinc hydrolase histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) is unique among vertebrate deacetylases in that it contains two catalytic domains, designated CD1 and CD2. Both domains are fully functional as lysine deacetylases in vitro. However, the in vivo function of only the CD2 domain is well defined, whereas that of the CD1 domain is more enigmatic. Three X-ray crystal structures of HDAC6 CD1–inhibitor complexes are now reported to broaden the understanding of affinity determinants in the active site. Notably, cocrystallization with inhibitors was facilitated by using active-site mutants of zebrafish HDAC6 CD1. The first mutant studied, H82F/F202Y HDAC6 CD1, was designed to mimic the active site of human HDAC6 CD1. The structure of its complex with trichostatin A was generally identical to that with the wild-type zebrafish enzyme. The second mutant studied, K330L HDAC6 CD1, was prepared to mimic the active site of HDAC6 CD2. It has previously been demonstrated that this substitution does not perturb inhibitor binding conformations in HDAC6 CD1; here, this mutant facilitated cocrystallization with derivatives of the cancer chemotherapy drug suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA). These crystal structures allow the mapping of inhibitor-binding regions in the outer active-site cleft, where one HDAC isozyme typically differs from another. It is expected that these structures will help to guide the structure-based design of inhibitors with selectivity against HDAC6 CD1, which in turn will enable new chemical biology approaches to probe its cellular function.
Developing WIL curriculum which enhances hospitality students capabilities
Authors: Williamson Janine , Wardle Karina , Hasmi Hazreel
Published: August 2020

Purpose

To satisfy multiple stakeholders’ employability goals, higher education providers have introduced Work Integrated Learning (WIL) programs to provide opportunities for students to develop the required skills. Yet despite this increased focus, gaps in graduate capabilities persist. Thus, the paper explores the roles of educators, industry and students in co-creating WIL curriculum which provides transformative learning experiences.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was designed using the Professional Capability Framework which has been validated in other discipline areas. Mean scores, standard deviation and a one-way ANOVA test were computed to identify gaps between the essential capabilities required for supervisory roles and student's levels of proficiency.

Findings

The study highlights the complexity of creating curriculum which meets the needs of multiple stakeholders. The discussion highlights that whilst educators may lead the development of WIL curriculum, without the active engagement of students and industry, gaps in graduates' “work-readiness” will persist. Opportunities for tripartite learning are highlighted.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations of utilising a convenience sample are acknowledged.

Practical implications

Practical recommendations are provided for industry, educators and students. Areas for future research are identified to understand the roles of multiple stakeholders in the development of the future hospitality workforces.

Originality/value

The study is the first to apply the Professional Capability Framework in a hospitality context. The study further contributes implications in relation to curriculum design and identifies opportunities for transformative learning for educators, industry and students'.
How the consumer’s attitude and behavioural intentions are influenced: A case of online food delivery applications in India
Authors: Gupta Vikas , Duggal Shelley
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This study aims to identify various risk and benefit perceptions related to the consumers’ use and selection of online food delivery applications (OFDAs) in India. It also discovers the reasons behind consumers’ OFDAs selection behaviour and how it influences their inclusive attitudes and behavioural intentions (word of mouth and re-use intentions).

Design/methodology/approach

Responses from 337 OFDAs users were subjected to exploratory factor analysis for 5 risk and 2 benefit factors which were tested on a factor model using 31 constructs followed by the structural model.

Findings

It was found that consumers’ usage and selection behaviour related to OFDAs are not only influenced by the perceived risk and benefit factors but are also responsible for their overall attitudinal and behavioural variations. It was also found that a decrease in risk perception or an increase in benefit perception of consumers will positively influence their overall attitude towards the use of OFDAs.

Originality/value

Though a lot of studies related to OFDAs have been conducted in India, but they were limited to identifying the technology used in the apps, analysing the user interface or promoting them as start-ups. Moreover, previous literature related with the risk/benefit perceptions linked with the OFDAs is addressed towards Western countries such as USA, Italy and UK. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first studies that explored the risk/benefit perceptions related to the use and selection of OFDAs in the context of India. Besides, it may also help the stakeholders in OFDA business to align their OFDA features as per the needs of the consumers.
Towards resilient design of the building asset: the BREEAM-based evaluation of the Z Hotel Holborn, London
Authors: Sijakovic Milan , Peric Ana , Ayuso Ollero Pablo
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Environmental treat poses a challenge to the entire built environment. This paper aims to focus on the building asset as the key element of any urban pattern, and, therefore, a crucial condition towards success or failure in achieving resilience. Through the environmental performance assessment of the adaptive reuse project in London, this paper identifies the design principles of resilience, focusing specifically on the measures for protecting vulnerable parts of the building from damage, as well as protecting exposed parts of the building from material degradation.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the overview of both scholarly articles and practitioners’ guides, the authors first offer a systematic overview of the main qualities and attributes of the resilient design. Further, to operationalise the resilient design principles, the authors use the well-established Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) on the case of adaptive reuse of the Z Hotel Holborn in London. Specifically, the authors examine if the case building applies the measures to decrease its internal vulnerability and reduce negative effects of external hazards.

Findings

The study confirms that external shocks are controlled by protecting exposed building parts from degradation and that preventing damage to vulnerable parts of the building increases resilience.

Originality/value

Through the analysis of both reactive and proactive perspectives of resilience, this paper elucidates the concept of resilience in the context of architectural design. Furthermore, this paper identifies the attributes of resilient architectural design and presents the measures which directly influence the durability and resilience of the building asset.
Exploring the influence of religious elements on performance factors in developing countries: a case of the Ghanaian construction industry
Authors: Kissi Ernest , Agyekum Kofi , Adjei-Kumi Theophilus , Caleb Debrah , Micheal Ekow Donkor
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Religiousness is evident in every aspect of life, and its impact on construction project performance is undeniable. However, little has been done to fully understand the influences one's religiosity has on performance factors. This paper aims to explore the influence of religious elements on performance factors in the Ghanaian construction industry (GCI).

Design/methodology/approach

Using a desk survey and closed-ended questionnaire, data were obtained from the three religious' bodies (Christianity, Islamic and Traditionalist) in Ghana. The analysis of the collected data was done using mean score ranking and regression analysis.

Findings

It was revealed that most of the religious bodies were aware of the presence of the seven factors identified for measuring construction project performance. The findings suggested that there was a significant and positive relationship between the religious elements (of all the three religions) and cost as well as schedule performance. Islam recorded the highest relationship in influencing public construction project performance relative to cost performances. Specifically, 1% increase in Islamic elements accounted for an 82.7% increase in cost performance. Traditionalists and the Christian religion had minimal significance in influencing cost performance. Furthermore, a 1% progress in Islamic elements accounted for a 45.8% increase in the schedule performance of construction projects and among construction professionals.

Research limitations/implications

This study has provided better understanding of the religious views on project performance. This research has also provided pragmatic directions to project stakeholders to encourage religious groups to take critical look at the other performance factors that were seen not to be significant.

Originality/value

This paper represents a novel attempt to measure the influence of religious elements on project performance factors in the construction industry. A key contribution to the body of knowledge is that the study has proven that religious element has tendencies to influence cost performance and schedule performance in the construction industry.
How intermediaries' power affects contract farming decisions: evidence from the medicinal and aromatic plant sector in Albania
Authors: Xhoxhi Orjon , Stefanllari Andi , Skreli Engjell , Imami Drini
Published: August 2020

Purpose

In the debate on rural development, contract farming (CF) is pointed out as a mechanism that reduces constraints on farmers' access to resources and improves farmers' welfare. However, the role of intermediaries' power in farmers' contracting decisions has not been investigated thoroughly. Considering that intermediaries' power affects farmers' businesses, livelihoods, risk and profit sharing, it becomes imperative to understand its effects on contracting decisions. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the dimensions over which intermediaries exercise the power they hold over farmers and how these power dimensions influence farmers' participation in CF.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted in the leading Albanian MAP production region, Malësi e Madhe, with 168 sage producers interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) is employed to develop measures for the latent variables of the study (e.g. intermediaries' power), and a logit regression is used to assess CF determinants.

Findings

The study finds that intermediaries exercise their power over different dimensions of farmers' activities, namely profit margin and activities related to product quality. The results point out that intermediaries' exercised power over farmers' margins and product quality-related activities decreased farmers' likelihood to engage in CF. On the other hand, a farmer's commitment to the intermediary and investment in specific assets increased the likelihood of participation. Furthermore, the analysis shows that CF does not leave small farmers out of high-value agricultural commodity chains (HVAC) for highly labour-intensive crops.

Research limitations/implications

The analysis focuses only on one sector with export orientation. Generalisation to other sectors is limited due to the specific features of the MAPs value chain.

Originality/value

The paper expands the debate on CF by adding the concept of intermediaries' power and its different dimensions of influence on farmers' participation in CF.
Audit adjustments and corporate financing: evidence from Iran
Authors: Moradi Mahdi , Salehi Mahdi , Tarighi Hossein , Saravani Mahdi
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Independent auditors play an important role in increasing the reliability of financial information by giving their professional opinion on the financial statements of business units. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the audit adjustments and financing of companies.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample of the study includes 173 Iranian companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) between 2010 and 2017.

Findings

There is no significant association between the profit incremental audit adjustments (Disagreement) and financing of companies in the current year and the following year through a loan. Furthermore, there is no meaningful relationship between the earnings downward/upward audit adjustments (Disagreement) and the financing of companies in the current year and the following year through ordinary stocks. However, there is a meaningful relationship between the profit downward audit adjustments (Disagreement) and the financing of firms in the current year through a loan. In general, as Iran's economy is facing severe economic sanctions, the existence of a high inflation rate has led to a steady increase in the stock prices of Iranian companies; hence, investors regardless of audit reports prefer to invest their money in the stock market so that it does not lose its purchasing power. Under these disaster economic circumstances, creditors are less willing to lend to companies with lower profits.

Originality/value

The results of the current study extend the knowledge of previous studies as financial pressures from economic sanctions have both positive and negative psychological effects on corporate financing.
Image editing-based data augmentation for illumination-insensitive background subtraction
Authors: Sakkos Dimitrios , Ho Edmond S. L. , Shum Hubert P. H. , Elvin Garry
Published: August 2020

Purpose

A core challenge in background subtraction (BGS) is handling videos with sudden illumination changes in consecutive frames. In our pilot study published in, Sakkos:SKIMA 2019, we tackle the problem from a data point-of-view using data augmentation. Our method performs data augmentation that not only creates endless data on the fly but also features semantic transformations of illumination which enhance the generalisation of the model.

Design/methodology/approach

In our pilot study published in SKIMA 2019, the proposed framework successfully simulates flashes and shadows by applying the Euclidean distance transform over a binary mask generated randomly. In this paper, we further enhance the data augmentation framework by proposing new variations in image appearance both locally and globally.

Findings

Experimental results demonstrate the contribution of the synthetics in the ability of the models to perform BGS even when significant illumination changes take place.

Originality/value

Such data augmentation allows us to effectively train an illumination-invariant deep learning model for BGS. We further propose a post-processing method that removes noise from the output binary map of segmentation, resulting in a cleaner, more accurate segmentation map that can generalise to multiple scenes of different conditions. We show that it is possible to train deep learning models even with very limited training samples. The source code of the project is made publicly available at https://github.com/dksakkos/illumination_augmentation
Interpretative phenomenological analysis of young people's lived experiences of therapeutic residential care
Authors: Kor Kenny , Fernandez Elizabeth , Spangaro Jo
Published: August 2020

Concerns of maltreatment and poor outcomes persist in residential care despite numerous government inquiries and recommendations. Young people in residential care continue to be the most vulnerable and marginalized group in the out‐of‐home care population. Young people's voices are also underrepresented in research. Existing studies predominantly focus on service evaluations in which individual voices of young people are overshadowed by adults' perspectives. Other studies examine the perspectives of young people in out‐of‐home care as a homogenous population, limiting understandings of the subjective experiences of young people in residential care. This study focused exclusively on young people's lived experiences in Australian therapeutic residential care, utilizing interpretative phenomenological analysis. The young people in this study revealed experiences of peer victimization, ambiguous loss and uncertainty during transitions. These findings suggest that more work is required in order to provide safe and healing environments and experiences for young people in therapeutic residential care. Each individual voice captured in this study offers valuable insights into how residential care practitioners can strengthen practice to enhance protection, engagement, connection with families and leaving care support.
Relationship between trapezius muscle hardness and transverse cervical artery flow in association with neck and upper‐back stiffness
Authors: Aikawa Ritsu , Kishino Tomonori , Shibasaki Shohei , Harashima Keiichiro , Nakajima Satoshi , Ohnishi Hiroaki , Watanabe Takashi
Published: August 2020

Neck and upper‐back stiffness is a common discomfort encountered occasionally in daily life among otherwise healthy subjects. The pathogenesis of this condition could be attributable to increased tension in muscles such as the trapezius muscle (TM). The transverse cervical artery (TCA) is one of the feeding arteries for the TM, and TCA flow is reportedly related to symptoms of neck and upper‐back stiffness. This study quantitatively investigated relationships between TM hardness and TCA hemodynamics as evaluated on Doppler sonography. Questionnaires regarding neck and upper‐back stiffness, muscle hardness measurements obtained using a muscle hardness meter and examinations of TCA hemodynamics using Doppler sonography were performed on 55 healthy young adults (25 males, 30 females; mean age, 22 ± 2 years). Subjects displaying neck and upper‐back stiffness actually exhibited high muscle hardness (median, 14.0; interquartile range (IQR), 12.9–18.0) compared to those without the symptom (median, 12.0; IQR, 9.9–14.0; p = .002). Peak systolic velocity in the TCA on Doppler sonography was lower in subjects with the symptom (median, 65.1 cm/s; IQR 59.6–72.5 cm/s) than in those without the symptom (median, 72.5 cm/s; IQR 66.5–84.2 cm/s; p = .012). Resistive index in the TCA was high (r2 = .605, p = .014) with increasing TM hardness, particularly among male subjects with the symptom. The present study suggests that high resistance and low blood flow velocity in the TCA could be closely associated with the underlying pathogenesis of neck and upper‐back stiffness.
Niche‐neutral theoretic approach to mechanisms underlying the biodiversity and biogeography of human microbiomes
Authors: Ma Zhanshan (Sam)
Published: August 2020

The human microbiome consists of five major regional biomes distributed in or on our five body sites including skin, oral, lung, gut, and reproductive tract. Its biogeography (the spatial and temporal distribution of its biodiversity) has far‐reaching implications to our health and diseases. Nevertheless, we currently have very limited understanding on the mechanisms shaping the biogeography, since it is often rather difficult to determine the relative importance of drift, dispersal, speciation, and selection, the four processes (mechanisms) determining the patterns of microbial biogeography and community dynamics according to a recent synthesis in community ecology and biogeography. To disentangle these mechanisms, I utilize multisite neutral (MSN) model and niche‐neutral hybrid (NNH) model to analyze large number of truly multisite microbiome samples covering all five major human microbiome habitats, including 699 metacommunities and 5,420 local communities. Approximately 89% of metacommunities and 92% local communities exhibit patterns indistinguishable from neutral, and 20% indistinguishable from niche‐neutral hybrid model, indicating the relative significance of stochastic neutral forces versus deterministic niche selection in shaping the biogeography of human microbiome. These findings cast supporting evidence to van der Gast's revision to classic Bass‐Becking doctrine of microbial biogeography: “Some things are everywhere and some things are not. Sometimes the environment selects and sometimes it doesn't,” offering the first educated guess for “some” and “sometimes” in the revised doctrine. Furthermore, the logistic/Cox regression models describing the relationships among community neutrality, niche differentiation, and key community/species characteristics (including community diversity, community/species dominance, speciation, and migration rates) were constructed to quantitatively describe the niche‐neutral continuum and the influences of community/species properties on the continuum.
Quantification of serum levels in mice of seven drugs (and six metabolites) commonly taken by older people with polypharmacy
Authors: Mach John , Wang XiaoSuo , Hilmer Sarah N.
Published: August 2020

Polypharmacy (use of ≥ 5 drugs) is common in older people but has minimal preclinical or clinical evidence of safety or efficacy and is associated with adverse outcomes in older people. Drug–drug interactions are poorly understood beyond drug pairs. An efficient and sensitive method to measure multiple serum drugs and metabolites could inform drug dosing in polypharmacy. Development of a sensitive liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry method to simultaneously measure seven drugs and their respective metabolites in serum in a preclinical model of polypharmacy. This method was validated for optimal recovery, matrix effect, limit of quantification (LOQ), inter‐ and intra‐day variability, and carry over. Serum samples from mice (n = 5–6/group) treated with chronic oral doses of three polypharmacy regimens and five monotherapies were screened for drug and metabolite levels (metoprolol, α‐hydroxymetoprolol, O‐desmethylmetoprolol, omeprazole, 5‐hydroxyomeprazole, omeprazole sulphone, acetaminophen, irbesartan, citalopram, oxybutynin, oxycodone, noroxycodone, oxymorphone and tenivastatin). The LOQ for the compounds ranged from 0.05 to 0.1 ng/mL in serum. Recovery, matrix effect, and inter‐ and intra‐day variability peak response were acceptable. No carry over was observed at the concentrations tested. Analytes were detectable in mice treated with these drugs, and differences in drug levels were observed with different polypharmacy and monotherapy regimens. The method is sensitive and robust to measure parent drugs and metabolites simultaneously in the context of polypharmacy. Polypharmacy appeared to affect drug levels in a preclinical model. This model can be used to understand pharmacokinetics of chronic polypharmacy, which could inform prescribing and improve outcomes for older people.
Clinical outcomes of laparoscopic‐based renal denervation plus adrenalectomy vs adrenalectomy alone for treating resistant hypertension caused by unilateral aldosterone‐producing adenoma
Authors: Liu Yahui , Zhu Binbin , Zhu Lijie , Zhao Linwei , Ding Degang , Liu Zhonghua , Fan Zhiqiang , Zhao Qiuping , Zhang You , Wang Jiguang , Gao Chuanyu
Published: August 2020

Previous studies describing renal denervation (RDN) from the intima of the renal artery for the treatment of resistant hypertension have reported variable efficacies, and RDN triggers renal intimal injury and atherosclerosis. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of RDN from the adventitia of renal artery plus unilateral laparoscopic adrenalectomy to treat patients with resistant hypertension caused by unilateral aldosterone‐producing adenoma (APA). A total of 60 consecutive patients with resistant hypertension caused by unilateral APA were enrolled in this study. Patients were randomly assigned to undergo RDN from the adventitia of the renal artery plus adrenalectomy (RDN group, n = 30) or adrenalectomy alone (control group, n = 30) and were followed up for 12 months. The primary efficacy end point was the change in 24‐hours mean ambulatory systolic blood pressure (SBP) from baseline to 12 months. At the 12‐month follow‐up, the mean reduction of 24‐hours average SBP and office SBP in the RDN group was 20.7 ± 15.2 and 37.1 ± 26.0 mm Hg, respectively, which was significantly higher than the mean reduction of 24‐hours average SBP (11.9 ± 11.1 mm Hg, P = .017) and the office SBP (25.9 ± 16.8 mm Hg, P = .035) in the control group. Serum potassium levels returned to normal 12 months post‐procedure. Patients in the RDN group had higher proportion of cured clinical and biochemical outcomes than those in the control group (35.7% vs 17.9% in clinical outcome; 96.4% vs 89.3% in biochemical outcome, respectively). There were no procedural‐, device‐, or treatment‐related safety events during the 12‐month follow‐up period between the groups. In conclusion, RDN from the adventitia of the renal artery plus unilateral laparoscopic adrenalectomy is more effective than adrenalectomy alone for treating resistant hypertension caused by unilateral APA.
Effect of intracameral epinephrine on heart rate, post‐operative ocular hypertension, and long‐term outcome following canine phacoemulsification
Authors: Osinchuk Stephanie C. , Salpeter Elyse M. , Lavallee Geneviève , Leis Marina L. , Sandmeyer Lynne S.
Published: August 2020

Purpose

To determine the effect of intrsacameral epinephrine on heart rate, blood pressure, post‐operative ocular hypertension, and complications following canine phacoemulsification.

Procedures

A prospective, double‐blinded, controlled trial was carried out using 30 client‐owned dogs undergoing phacoemulsification. Eyes were randomly assigned to a treatment group receiving intracameral (IC) epinephrine (n = 31) or balanced salt solution (n = 25) at the beginning of surgery. Heart rate, post‐operative intraocular pressures, and outcomes were compared between treatment groups.

Results

No adverse reactions to IC epinephrine or saline were observed. Post‐operative ocular hypertension developed at the 2 and/or 4 hours pressure reading in 35% and 46% in the epinephrine and saline groups, respectively (P = .5072). There were 9.7% and 23.1% eyes that developed complications in the IC epinephrine and saline groups, respectively (P = .2373).

Conclusions

Intracameral epinephrine is safe to use, and non‐significant decreases in post‐operative ocular hypertension and long‐term complications were observed.
A contribution to the fauna of mites (Acari) in Fiji

Authors: Fan Qing-Hai , Dayal Shivana Sweta , Fong Hatch Michael , Rakuita Panapasa , Ram Jainesh Anish
Published: August 2020

We recently had the opportunity to collect some mite samples in Viti Levu and Vanua Levu of Fiji and found a couple of dozens of species. In this paper we present 32 species in three orders—Mesostigmata: 15 species in 11 genera in 9 families; Sarcoptiformes: 13 species in 13 genera in 10 families; Trombidiformes: 4 species in 4 genera in 3 families. The following 22 species are recorded for the first time from Fiji: Ameroseius womersleyi in Ameroseiidae, Lasioseius cuppa, L. latinoamericanus, L. pellitus  and L. penicilliger in Blattisociidae, Androlaelaps casalis in Laelapidae, Proctolaelaps aurora in Melicharidae, Propriosiopsis ovatus and Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) transvaalensis in Phytoseiidae; Funkotriplogynium ovulum in Triplogyniidae, Uroactinia hippocrepea in Uroactiniidae, Neotropacarus mumai and Schwiebea zingiberi in Acaridae, Glycycometus weelawadjiensis in Aeroglyphidae, Blomia tropicalis in Echimyopodidae, Pergalumna (P.) hawaiiensis hawaiiensis in Galumnidae, Nasozetes sumatrensis in Hemileiidae, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus in Pyroglyphidae, Sudasia pontifica in Suidasiidae, Oulenziella bakeri in Winterschmidtiidae, Dactyloscirus smileyi in Cunaxidae, Tarsonemus rakowiensis in Tarsonemidae.