bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Islamic banking perspective on consumers’ perception in Pakistan
Authors: Riaz Umair , Khan Musafar , Khan Naimat
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The aim of this study is to examine the perceptions of consumers on Islamic banking and finance in Pakistan. Islamic finance is an emerging phenomenon, and its survival depends on the availability, affordability and awareness. This paper attempts to fill the gap in the literature by exploring the perceptions of consumers and bankers in an attempt to gain insights so that the availability of products and awareness can be increased.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a regression model by using perception as a dependent variable and awareness, knowledge and religious motivation as independent variables. Primary data is collected using 150 questionnaires distributed amongst finance students in several universities and employees of Islamic banks in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Province of Pakistan.

Findings

The findings reveal that overall consumers’ perception is positive about Islamic banking and finance in Pakistan. Statistical analysis shows that awareness, knowledge and religiosity level have a positive influence on the perception of consumers about Islamic financing products and services in Pakistan. To improve the awareness and understanding, Islamic banks could make better marketing strategies and could increase their presence by mosque visits and conferences. Cooperation between the industry and scholars could help in providing more innovative products to the consumers.

Research limitations/implications

There has been a limited amount of work carried out on the perceptions of consumers about Islamic banking in Pakistan. The present study represents the start of a larger context for examining Islamic banking practices in Pakistan. The findings of the study can be used as a reference in future research projects in the areas of perceptions and awareness.

Originality/value

Little research has been conducted to study this problem from the perspectives of consumers and Islamic banking employees. Most of the research associated with Islamic banks fails to pay attention to these stakeholder groups in one study.
How private meta-governance helps standard-setting partnerships deliver
Authors: Mundle Lili , Beisheim Marianne , Berger Lars
Published: September 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze the relevance of private meta-governance for multi-stakeholder partnerships. The authors assume that meta-governance, defined as higher level rules that shall guide partnerships’ governance activities, could build on and institutionalize lessons learned about partnerships’ success conditions and, in doing so, may render partnerships’ work more effective in the future.

Design/methodology/approach

The research paper investigates a case of non-state meta-governance in the standard-setting arena. It explores how actors assess the interaction of the meta-governance efforts of the International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labelling (ISEAL) Alliance (mainly in the form of their three Codes of Good Practice) and the Alliance for Water Stewardship’s efforts when setting and implementing their International Water Stewardship Standard. For this, a combination of research methods is applied: a literature review for deriving propositions on success conditions; document analysis, participatory observation and semi-structured interviews for gathering empirical evidence on the interaction between meta-governance and the partnership’s work.

Findings

Respondents praise the benefits of ISEAL’s enabling meta-governance measures to strengthen their standard, structures and processes, as well as from ensuring activities, as these also improve their internal governance system while simultaneously providing credibility. In this context, they confirm the relevance of three success factors mentioned in the literature on voluntary standards: an inclusive process, a locally adapted design of the standard and institutionalized compliance management.

Practical implications

Instead of reinventing the wheel with every new multi-stakeholder partnership, meta-governance frameworks should be used to enable partnership staff and members, policymakers and stakeholders to learn from experience.

Originality/value

The authors’ analysis generates unique insights into perceptions of partnerships’ staff and stakeholders regarding lessons learned and private meta-governance. The present study on these actors’ perspectives provides a starting-point for further research on how meta-governance could help institutionalize success factors to scale-up and improve the impact of standard-setting partnerships.
Using soil amendments and plant functional traits to select native tropical dry forest species for the restoration of degraded Vertisols
Authors: Werden Leland K. , Alvarado J. Pedro , Zarges Sebastian , Calderón M. Erick , Schilling Erik M. , Gutiérrez L. Milena , Powers Jennifer S.
Published: September 2017

Tropical dry forests (TDFs) are critically endangered, and their restoration is understudied. Large‐scale passive restoration efforts in north‐west (NW) Costa Rica have catalysed TDF regeneration but are not effective on degraded Vertisols, where active restoration is necessary due to high content of shrink–swell clays that impede regeneration following degradation.

We established a large‐scale restoration experiment in degraded former pastures in NW Costa Rica to determine (1) the restoration potential of native TDF tree species on Vertisols, (2) if plant functional traits elucidate mechanisms behind interspecific variability in species performance and (3) if affordable and readily available soil amendments increase seedling survivorship and growth. We planted 1,710 seedlings of 32 native species coupled with five amendments aimed at ameliorating root‐zone microclimatic conditions: sand, rice hulls, rice hull ash, hydrogel and unamended controls. For each species, we quantified a suite of resource‐acquisition and ecophysiological functional traits, and monitored survival and growth seasonally over 2 years.

Interspecific survivorship after 2 years ranged widely (0%–92.5%). Functional traits including wood density, photosynthetic parameters and upregulation of integrated water‐use efficiency, explained interspecific variation in survivorship and growth at distinct ontogenetic stages. Easily measured leaf traits, however, were not good predictors of restoration potential.

Hydrogel and sand amendments increased initial seedling survival, but after 2 years no differences among treatments were found.

Synthesis and applications. We have shown it is possible, albeit challenging, to restore tropical dry forest (TDF) on degraded Vertisols. Our results support the use of functional trait‐based screenings to select tree species for restoration projects as tree species with high survivorship and growth in this stressful environment have overlapping ecophysiological functional traits. Furthermore, practitioners should consider water‐use and photosynthetic traits when designing initial species mixes for TDF restorations.
Killing the Regional Leviathan? Deinstitutionalization and Stickiness of Regions
Authors: Zimmerbauer Kaj , Riukulehto Sulevi , Suutari Timo
Published: September 2017

This article focuses on the experiences of debordering and deinstitutionalization of regions. It approaches territories as processes and borders as multilayered social constructs. The article utilizes some key ideas on institutionalization and sees regions as ‘Leviathans’ that are entities ‘thick with things’, both human and nonhuman. Through 10 focus group discussions, the article discusses the sense of belonging and how a region ‘holds onto’ both human and nonhuman actants even after it loses its status in the legitimate regional structure. Due to this stickiness, it concludes that deinstitutionalization is never complete in a sense that all regional consciousness would disappear entirely. After their administrative status is removed, regions remain in a state of in betweenness: not quite fully existing, not quite fully extinct. This makes the concept of deinstitutionalization highly contested and one that eludes easy definitions. However, it is useful to understand deinstitutionalization as a process that turns regions into palimpsests or sets of assemblages that vary in time. Relatedly, regions that are officially deinstitutionalized can endure in ‘penumbral’ form, and can remain meaningful for their inhabitants for a long time.
Comparative milk fatty acid analysis of different dairy species
Authors: Yang Jinhui , Zheng Nan , Wang Jiaqi , Yang Yongxin
Published: September 2017

This study compared the fatty acid (FA) profile of milk from different dairy mammals: buffalo, camel, cow, goat and yak. Data from milk samples and reports in the literature were processed using principal component analysis. The results showed that camel milk contained the lowest levels of C4:0–C12:0 and highest levels of unsaturated fatty acids. Goat milk had the highest level of C8:0–C14:0 FA. Characteristic differences were observed for yak and buffalo milk, which differed from cow milk by their higher levels of saturated fatty acids and lower levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids. It is therefore suggested that each animal species’ milk has its own specific milk FA profile.
Causal inference in studies of preterm babies: a simulation study
Authors: Snowden JM , Basso O
Published: September 2017

Objective

Using a simple simulation, we illustrate why associations estimated from studies restricted to preterm births cannot be interpreted causally.

Design, setting and population

Data simulation involving a hypothetical cohort of fetuses who may be healthy or have one or more of four pathological factors (termed A through D, increasing in severity) with known effects on gestational length and risk of mortality. We focus on babies born at ≤32 weeks of gestation.

Methods

We visually represent the simulated population and compare the association between A (which may represent pre‐eclampsia) and neonatal death. We then repeat the exercise with D (standing in for chorioamnionitis) as the exposure of interest.

Main outcome measures

Odds ratios of neonatal death in the simulated data.

Results

In most weeks, and for both A and D, the calculated odds ratios are substantially biased and underestimate the true risk of neonatal death associated with each pathology. For example, factor A has a true causal odds ratio of 1.50, yet it appears protective among births ≤32 weeks (estimated crude odds ratio 0.39; gestational age‐adjusted odds ratio 0.71).

Conclusions

Among very preterm births, virtually all babies are born with pathologies that increase the risk of adverse outcomes. Hence, babies exposed to one factor (e.g. pre‐eclampsia) are compared with babies who have a mix of other pathologies. Such selection bias affects studies carried out among very preterm births (e.g. where pre‐eclampsia appears to reduce risk of adverse neonatal outcomes).

Tweetable abstract

Selection bias affects studies of preterm births, complicating interpretation.
Assessing the joint behaviour of species traits as filtered by environment
Authors: Schliep Erin M. , Gelfand Alan E. , Mitchell Rachel M. , Aiello‐Lammens Matthew E. , Silander John A.
Published: September 2017

Understanding and predicting how species traits are shaped by prevailing environmental conditions is an important yet challenging task in ecology. Functional trait‐based approaches can replace potentially idiosyncratic species‐specific response models in learning about community behaviour across environmental gradients. Customarily, models for traits given environment consider only trait means to predict species and functional diversity, as intra‐taxon variability in traits is often thought to be negligible. A growing body of literature indicates that intra‐taxon trait variability is substantial and critical in structuring plant communities and assessing ecosystem function.

We propose flexible joint trait distribution models given environment and across species that incorporate intra‐taxon variability as well as inter‐site/plot variability. Using a Bayesian framework, our joint trait distribution models allow for mixed continuous, binary and ordinal trait variables and incorporate dependence among traits enabling both joint and conditional trait prediction at unobserved sites. The models can be used to inform about the well‐known fourth‐corner problem, which attempts to interpret trait‐by‐environment matrices.

We demonstrate the utility of our methodology through joint predictive trait distributions for individual species as well as joint community‐weighted trait distributions for environments while incorporating intra‐taxon trait variability. Explicit details on the probabilistic interpretations of the random trait‐by‐environment matrices obtained arising under our model are also provided to address the fourth‐corner problem. Finally, our joint trait distribution model is applied to simulated and real vegetation data collected from the Greater Cape Floristic Region of South Africa.

The proposed methodology places a fully model‐based foundation on explaining intra‐taxon trait variation given environment. It extends the utility and interpretability of commonly applied techniques for investigating community‐weighted traits and illuminates randomness in the fourth‐corner problem.
Social cognition in autism is associated with the neurodevelopment of the posterior superior temporal sulcus
Authors: Hotier S. , Leroy F. , Boisgontier J. , Laidi C. , Mangin J.‐F. , Delorme R. , Bolognani F. , Czech C. , Bouquet C. , Toledano E. , Bouvard M. , Petit J. , Mishchenko M. , d'Albis M.‐A. , Gras D. , Gaman A. , Scheid I. , Leboyer M. , Zalla T. , Houenou J.
Published: September 2017

Objective

The posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS) plays a critical role in the ‘social brain’. Its neurodevelopment and relationship with the social impairment in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are not well understood. We explored the relationship between social cognition and the neurodevelopment of the pSTS in ASD.

Method

We included 44 adults with high‐functioning ASD and 36 controls. We assessed their performances on the ‘Reading the mind in the eyes’ test (for 34 of 44 subjects with ASD and 30 of 36 controls), their fixation time on the eyes with eye tracking (for 35 of 44 subjects with ASD and 30 of 36 controls) and the morphology of the caudal branches of the pSTS (length and depth), markers of the neurodevelopment, with structural MRI.

Results

The right anterior caudal ramus of the pSTS was significantly longer in patients with ASD compared with controls (52.6 mm vs. 38.3 mm; P = 1.4 × 10−3; Cohen's d = 0.76). Its length negatively correlated with fixation time on the eyes (P = 0.03) in the ASD group and with the ‘Reading the mind in the eyes’ test scores in both groups (P = 0.03).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that the neurodevelopment of the pSTS is related to the ASD social impairments.
A descriptive study on the efficacy and complications of the Capio (Boston Scientific) suturing device for sacrospinous ligament fixation
Authors: Mowat Alex , Wong Vivien , Goh Judith , Krause Hannah , Pelecanos Anita , Higgs Peta
Published: September 2017

Background

Sacrospinous colpopexy is an effective vaginal apical support operation. Due to morbidity associated with traditional approaches which require wide dissection, slim‐line suture delivery devices have been introduced in the hope of reducing morbidity without compromise to outcomes.

Aim

The aim of our series was to report outcomes and complications (particularly buttock pain and blood loss) of the sacrospinous colpopexy using the Capio suturing device and evaluate it against published results using the Miya hook.

Methods

This is a prospective, multi‐centre descriptive study. The primary outcome is objective success at 12 months. Secondary outcomes include subjective success at 12 months, patient‐reported outcomes at 12 months, operating time, estimated blood loss and post‐operative buttock pain.

Results

Fifty‐one consenting patients undergoing sacrospinous colpopexy were recruited at four Queensland hospitals. Objective success at 12 months was 95% (41/43) and subjective success at 12 months was 92% (44/48). Eighty‐four percent of patients reported buttock pain at one week, reducing to 16% by six weeks, of which 7% required analgesia.

Conclusions

At a mean of 17 months follow up, we found that the sacrospinous colpopexy using the Capio suturing device provided excellent apical support with a low requirement for blood transfusion and an average operating time of seven minutes. We found a high rate of buttock pain immediately post‐operatively, but our rates became consistent with previous reports by six weeks post‐operation.
Regression Discontinuity Designs Based on Population Thresholds: Pitfalls and Solutions
Authors: Eggers Andrew C. , Freier Ronny , Grembi Veronica , Nannicini Tommaso
Published: September 2017

In many countries, important features of municipal government (such as the electoral system, mayors' salaries, and the number of councillors) depend on whether the municipality is above or below arbitrary population thresholds. Several papers have used a regression discontinuity design (RDD) to measure the effects of these threshold‐based policies on political and economic outcomes. Using evidence from France, Germany, and Italy, we highlight two common pitfalls that arise in exploiting population‐based policies (compound treatment and sorting), and we provide guidance for detecting and addressing these pitfalls. Even when these problems are present, population‐threshold RDD may be the best available research design for studying the effects of certain policies and political institutions.
Adverse effects of a single dose of gentamicin in adults: a systematic review
Authors: Hayward Rachel S. , Harding Jan , Molloy Rob , Land Lucy , Longcroft‐Neal Kate , Moore David , Ross Jonathan D. C.
Published: September 2017

Aims

To systematically review the frequency and type of adverse events associated with a single dose of intravenous or intramuscular gentamicin in adults, for any indication, in studies where a comparator was available.

Methods

A review protocol was developed and registered (PROSPERO: CRD42013003229). Studies were eligible for review if they: recruited participants aged ≥16 years; used gentamicin intramuscularly or intravenously as a single one‐off dose; compared gentamicin to another medication or placebo; and monitored adverse events. MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, trial registries, conference proceedings and other relevant databases were searched up to November 2016. Risk of bias was assessed on all included studies.

Results

In total, 15 522 records were identified. After removal of duplicates, screening of title/abstracts for relevance and independent selection of full texts by two reviewers, 36 studies were included. Across all the included studies, 24 107 participants received a single one‐off dose of gentamicin (doses ranged from 1 mg kg–1 to 480 mg per dose). Acute kidney injury was described in 2520 participants receiving gentamicin. The large majority of cases were reversible. There were no cases of ototoxicity reported in patients receiving gentamicin. A meta‐analysis was not performed due to study heterogeneity.

Conclusions

A significant number of patients saw a transient rise in creatinine after a single dose of gentamicin at doses up to 480 mg. Persistent renal impairment and other adverse events were relatively rare.
Adaptive Designs for the One-sample Log-rank Test
Authors: Schmidt Rene , Faldum Andreas , Kwiecien Robert
Published: September 2017

Traditional designs in phase IIa cancer trials are single-arm designs with a binary outcome, for example, tumor response. In some settings, however, a time-to-event endpoint might appear more appropriate, particularly in the presence of loss to follow-up. Then the one-sample log-rank test might be the method of choice. It allows to compare the survival curve of the patients under treatment to a prespecified reference survival curve. The reference curve usually represents the expected survival under standard of the care. In this work, convergence of the one-sample log-rank statistic to Brownian motion is proven using Rebolledo's martingale central limit theorem while accounting for staggered entry times of the patients. On this basis, a confirmatory adaptive one-sample log-rank test is proposed where provision is made for data dependent sample size reassessment. The focus is to apply the inverse normal method. This is done in two different directions. The first strategy exploits the independent increments property of the one-sample log-rank statistic. The second strategy is based on the patient-wise separation principle. It is shown by simulation that the proposed adaptive test might help to rescue an underpowered trial and at the same time lowers the average sample number (ASN) under the null hypothesis as compared to a single-stage fixed sample design.
Children's reasoning with peers in cooperative and competitive contexts
Authors: Domberg Andreas , Köymen Bahar , Tomasello Michael
Published: September 2017

We report two studies that demonstrate how five‐ and seven‐year‐olds adapt their production of arguments to either a cooperative or a competitive context. Two games elicited agreements from peer dyads about placing animals on either of two halves of a playing field owned by either child. Children had to produce arguments to justify these decisions. Played in a competitive context that encouraged placing animals on one's own half, children's arguments showed a bias that was the result of withholding known arguments. In a cooperative context, children produced not only more arguments, but also more ‘two‐sided’ arguments. Also, seven‐year‐olds demonstrated a more frequent and strategic use of arguments that specifically refuted decisions that would favour their peers. The results suggest that cooperative contexts provide a more motivating context for children to produce arguments.

Statement of contribution

What is already known on this subject?

Reasoning is a social skill that allows people to reach joint decisions.

Preschoolers give reasons for their proposals in their peer conversations.

By adolescence, children use sophisticated arguments (e.g., refutations and rebuttals).

What the present study adds?

Cooperation offers a more motivating context for children's argument production.

Seven‐year‐olds are more strategic than five‐year‐olds in their reasoning with peers.

Children's reasoning with others becomes more sophisticated after preschool years.
Mobile collaborative language learning: State of the art
Authors: Kukulska‐Hulme Agnes , Viberg Olga
Published: September 2017

This paper presents a review of mobile collaborative language learning studies published in 2012–16 with the aim to improve understanding of how mobile technologies have been used to support collaborative learning among second and foreign language students. We identify affordances, general pedagogical approaches, second‐ and foreign‐language pedagogical approaches, second language acquisition (SLA) principles and affective designs. The results indicate that affordances such as flexible use, continuity of use, timely feedback, personalisation, socialisation, self‐evaluation, active participation, peer coaching, sources of inspiration outdoors and cultural authenticity have been emphasised. These affordances were found to be particularly suited to promote social constructivism, which is often sustained by game‐based, task based and seamless learning. In terms of second and foreign language pedagogical approaches, the combination of individualised and collaborative learning prevails, along with task based, situated and communicative language learning, and raising orthographic awareness. Among SLA principles, negotiation of meaning and opportunities for feedback are highlighted. Affective aspects include increases in motivation, engagement and enjoyment, mutual encouragement, reduction in nervousness and embarrassment, and a few negative reports of risk of distraction, safety concerns, feelings of uncertainty and technical problems. The reviewed studies present a convincing case for the benefits of collaboration in mobile language learning.
The perception of (naked only) bodies and faceless heads relies on holistic processing: Evidence from the inversion effect
Authors: Bonemei Rob , Costantino Andrea I. , Battistel Ilenia , Rivolta Davide
Published: September 2017

Faces and bodies are more difficult to perceive when presented inverted than when presented upright (i.e., stimulus inversion effect), an effect that has been attributed to the disruption of holistic processing. The features that can trigger holistic processing in faces and bodies, however, still remain elusive. In this study, using a sequential matching task, we tested whether stimulus inversion affects various categories of visual stimuli: faces, faceless heads, faceless heads in body context, headless bodies naked, whole bodies naked, headless bodies clothed, and whole bodies clothed. Both accuracy and inversion efficiency score results show inversion effects for all categories but for clothed bodies (with and without heads). In addition, the magnitude of the inversion effect for face, naked body, and faceless heads was similar. Our findings demonstrate that the perception of faces, faceless heads, and naked bodies relies on holistic processing. Clothed bodies (with and without heads), on the other side, may trigger clothes‐sensitive rather than body‐sensitive perceptual mechanisms.
Comparing species interaction networks along environmental gradients
Authors: Pellissier Loïc , Albouy Camille , Bascompte Jordi , Farwig Nina , Graham Catherine , Loreau Michel , Maglianesi Maria Alejandra , Melián Carlos J. , Pitteloud Camille , Roslin Tomas , Rohr Rudolf , Saavedra Serguei , Thuiller Wilfried , Woodward Guy , Zimmermann Niklaus E. , Gravel Dominique
Published: September 2017

Knowledge of species composition and their interactions, in the form of interaction networks, is required to understand processes shaping their distribution over time and space. As such, comparing ecological networks along environmental gradients represents a promising new research avenue to understand the organization of life. Variation in the position and intensity of links within networks along environmental gradients may be driven by turnover in species composition, by variation in species abundances and by abiotic influences on species interactions. While investigating changes in species composition has a long tradition, so far only a limited number of studies have examined changes in species interactions between networks, often with differing approaches. Here, we review studies investigating variation in network structures along environmental gradients, highlighting how methodological decisions about standardization can influence their conclusions. Due to their complexity, variation among ecological networks is frequently studied using properties that summarize the distribution or topology of interactions such as number of links, connectance, or modularity. These properties can either be compared directly or using a procedure of standardization. While measures of network structure can be directly related to changes along environmental gradients, standardization is frequently used to facilitate interpretation of variation in network properties by controlling for some co‐variables, or via null models. Null models allow comparing the deviation of empirical networks from random expectations and are expected to provide a more mechanistic understanding of the factors shaping ecological networks when they are coupled with functional traits. As an illustration, we compare approaches to quantify the role of trait matching in driving the structure of plant–hummingbird mutualistic networks, i.e. a direct comparison, standardized by null models and hypothesis‐based metaweb. Overall, our analysis warns against a comparison of studies that rely on distinct forms of standardization, as they are likely to highlight different signals. Fostering a better understanding of the analytical tools available and the signal they detect will help produce deeper insights into how and why ecological networks vary along environmental gradients.
Epirubicin suppresses proliferative and metastatic potential by downregulating transforming growth factor‐β‐induced expression in urothelial carcinoma
Authors: Shang Donghao , Song Bo , Liu Yuting
Published: September 2017

Transforming growth factor‐β‐induced (TGFΒI) is considered to be a vital gene in several carcinomas. In this study we determined the effect of TGFBI on the proliferative and metastatic potential of human urothelial carcinoma (UC) cells as well as its mRNA and protein expression, which were detected by RT‐PCR and western blot, respectively. UC cell proliferation was analyzed by WST‐1 assay and Hoechst 33258 staining. The effect of TGFBI on UC cell metastasis was analyzed using adhesion, migration and invasion assays. We found that TGFBI increased the proliferation of UC cells. Moreover, TGFBI enhanced the adhesion, migration and invasion of UC cells by upregulating MMP‐2, MMP‐9 and calpain‐2 expression. We evaluated the effect of Epirubicin (EPI) on the regulation of TGFBI expression and found that TGFBI acts as a downstream target of EPI and is suppressed by EPI in UC cells. EPI is more effective in inhibiting the proliferation and metastasis of UC cells with high TGFBI expression. This study demonstrates that TGFBI might lead to tumorigenesis and progression of UC and those cells with high TGFBI expression may be vulnerable to relapse. EPI could prove to be a therapeutic option in patients with high TGFBI expressing UC cells.
Detection of copy number variations in epilepsy using exome data
Authors: Tsuchida N. , Nakashima M. , Kato M. , Heyman E. , Inui T. , Haginoya K. , Watanabe S. , Chiyonobu T. , Morimoto M. , Ohta M. , Kumakura A. , Kubota M. , Kumagai Y. , Hamano S.‐I. , Lourenco C.M. , Yahaya N.A. , Ch'ng G.‐S. , Ngu L.‐H. , Fattal‐Valevski A. , Weisz Hubshman M. , Orenstein N. , Marom D. , Cohen L. , Goldberg‐Stern H. , Uchiyama Y. , Imagawa E. , Mizuguchi T. , Takata A. , Miyake N. , Nakajima H. , Saitsu H. , Miyatake S. , Matsumoto N.
Published: September 2017

Epilepsies are common neurological disorders and genetic factors contribute to their pathogenesis. Copy number variations (CNVs) are increasingly recognized as an important etiology of many human diseases including epilepsy. Whole‐exome sequencing (WES) is becoming a standard tool for detecting pathogenic mutations and has recently been applied to detecting CNVs. Here, we analyzed 294 families with epilepsy using WES, and focused on 168 families with no causative single nucleotide variants in known epilepsy‐associated genes to further validate CNVs using 2 different CNV detection tools using WES data. We confirmed 18 pathogenic CNVs, and 2 deletions and 2 duplications at chr15q11.2 of clinically unknown significance. Of note, we were able to identify small CNVs less than 10 kb in size, which might be difficult to detect by conventional microarray. We revealed 2 cases with pathogenic CNVs that one of the 2 CNV detection tools failed to find, suggesting that using different CNV tools is recommended to increase diagnostic yield. Considering a relatively high discovery rate of CNVs (18 out of 168 families, 10.7%) and successful detection of CNV with <10 kb in size, CNV detection by WES may be able to surrogate, or at least complement, conventional microarray analysis.
The need for spatially explicit quantification of benefits in invasive‐species management
Authors: Januchowski‐Hartley Stephanie R. , Adams Vanessa M. , Hermoso Virgilio
Published: September 2017

Worldwide, invasive species are a leading driver of environmental change across terrestrial, marine, and freshwater environments and cost billions of dollars annually in ecological damages and economic losses. Resources limit invasive‐species control, and planning processes are needed to identify cost‐effective solutions. Thus, studies are increasingly considering spatially variable natural and socioeconomic assets (e.g., species persistence, recreational fishing) when planning the allocation of actions for invasive‐species management. There is a need to improve understanding of how such assets are considered in invasive‐species management. We reviewed over 1600 studies focused on management of invasive species, including flora and fauna. Eighty‐four of these studies were included in our final analysis because they focused on the prioritization of actions for invasive species management. Forty‐five percent (n = 38) of these studies were based on spatial optimization methods, and 35% (n = 13) accounted for spatially variable assets. Across all 84 optimization studies considered, 27% (n = 23) explicitly accounted for spatially variable assets. Based on our findings, we further explored the potential costs and benefits to invasive species management when spatially variable assets are explicitly considered or not. To include spatially variable assets in decision‐making processes that guide invasive‐species management there is a need to quantify environmental responses to invasive species and to enhance understanding of potential impacts of invasive species on different natural or socioeconomic assets. We suggest these gaps could be filled by systematic reviews, quantifying invasive species impacts on native species at different periods, and broadening sources and enhancing sharing of knowledge.
Entrepreneurial finance meets government investment at initial public offering: The role of minority state ownership
Authors: Wang Tang , Jiao Hao , Xu Zhijian , Yang Xiaoming
Published: September 2017

Manuscript Type

Empirical

Research Question/Issue

Prior studies on the role of state investment tend to focus on either majority state ownership or aggregating majority and minority state ownership. Drawing upon signaling theory, we theorize that the negative intent signaled by minority state ownership reduces initial public offering (IPO) market performance. In addition, we hypothesize that founders as chief executive officers and outside directors not from state‐owned enterprises, representing the positive signal of intent, can attenuate the negative effect of minority state ownership.

Research Findings/Insights

The empirical results, based on 274 small and private firms in China's newly launched stock market, provide support for the hypotheses based on price premium, first‐day turnover rate, first‐day price increase, underpricing, and Tobin's Q.

Theoretical/Academic Implications

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to examine how minority state ownership affects small and private firm IPO performance. It suggests new avenues of research on ownership structure and the principal‐principal problem in the corporate governance of emerging economies. This study reveals the distinctive nature and effect between controlling state ownership and minority state ownership. The current research also opens new avenues of research on applying signaling theory, signal of intent in particular, in an IPO study.

Practitioner/Policy Implications

This study reveals the negative intent signaled by minority state ownership in privately controlled firms at IPO due to the weak monitoring capacity, limited resource provision, and enhanced political interdependency between private controllers and minority state owners. As minority state ownership becomes a more salient phenomenon in emerging markets, it guides policy makers in governance choices for government‐funded firms.
Efficacy of constant load verification testing to confirm VO2max attainment
Authors: Astorino Todd A. , DeRevere Jamie
Published: September 2017

Although maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) has been measured for almost 100 years, it is unknown when ‘true’ VO2max is attained. Primary (the VO2 plateau) and secondary criteria are used to confirm VO2max incidence, but frequency of the VO2 plateau varies, and secondary criteria are relatively invalid. The verification test (VER) seems to elicit similar estimates of VO2max versus the incremental value (INC), yet existing data are limited by small populations and use of inadequate criteria to confirm ‘true’ VO2max. We investigated the efficacy of VER by analysing data from 109 participants who underwent INC followed by VER at 105% or 110% of peak power output (PPO). Differences in VO2max between VER and INC were analysed, and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of the mean (SEM) and minimum difference (MD) were computed. Results showed that VO2max was significantly higher (2%, P<0·05) in INC versus VER, VO2max was highly related between protocols (ICC = 0·99) and SEM and MD were low. However, 11% of participants did not reveal ‘true’ VO2max as the verification value was higher than INC by 3·0% ‐ 3·3%. Fitness level altered the difference in VO2max between INC and VER in study one, as lower fitness individuals showed a larger difference in VO2max between protocols, although gender did not affect the difference in VO2max between protocols. Our data show that VER does not verify ‘true’ VO2max in all individuals, which may be related to their fitness level.
RETRACTED: Long non‐coding RNA CRNDE sponges miR‐384 to promote proliferation and metastasis of pancreatic cancer cells through upregulating IRS1
Authors: Wang Gang , Pan Jingen , Zhang Lu , Wei Yajun , Wang Cheng
Published: September 2017

Objective

Colorectal neoplasia differentially expressed (CRNDE), a vital cancer‐related long non‐coding RNA (lncRNA), has been brought to reports for playing quintessential functions in the growth and progression of several human malignancies. Nevertheless, the expression as well as the functional mechanisms of CRNDE in pancreatic cancer is not known so for. This study aimed at investigating the biological and clinical importance of CRNDE in human pancreatic cancer.

Materials and methods

The expression levels of CRNDE in pancreatic cancer tissues as well as cell lines were identified with the help of quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR). Furthermore, the analysis of the relationship between CRNDE expression and clinicopathologic characteristics of patients with pancreatic cancer was also performed. Novel target of CRNDE was identified with the use of bioinformatics analysis and confirmed by a dual‐luciferase reporter assay. Colorectal neoplasia differentially expressed was knocked down using siRNA in pancreatic cancer cells. Thereafter, cell proliferation, migration and invasion were examined. Tumour xenograft was created to explore the function of CRNDE in tumorigenesis in vivo.

Results

Upregulation of the expression of CRNDE was found in pancreatic cancer tissues as well as cell lines, in comparison with the adjacent non‐tumour tissues and human pancreatic duct epithelial cells. High expression of CRNDE was correlated with poor clinicpathological characteristics and shorter overall survival. We identified miR‐384 as a direct target for CRNDE. Moreover, the CRNDE knockdown considerably inhibited pancreatic cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion not only in vitro but also in vivo. In addition, CRNDE positively regulated IRS1 expression through sponging miR‐384.

Conclusions

Colorectal neoplasia differentially expressed performed an oncogenic function in cell proliferation as well as metastasis of pancreatic cancer. Our results suggest that CRNDE is likely to serve as an efficient therapeutic approach in respect of pancreatic cancer treatment.
Islet neuropeptide Y receptors are functionally conserved and novel targets for the preservation of beta‐cell mass
Authors: Franklin Zara J. , Tsakmaki Anastasia , Fonseca Pedro Patricia , King Aileen J. , Huang Guo Cai , Amjad Sakeena , Persaud Shanta J. , Bewick Gavin A.
Published: September 2017

Aims

Two unmet therapeutic strategies for diabetes treatment are prevention of beta‐cell death and stimulation of beta‐cell replication. Our aim was to characterize the role of neuropeptide Y receptors in the control of beta‐cell mass.

Materials and Methods

We used endogenous and selective agonists of the NPY receptor system to explore its role in the prevention of beta‐cell apoptosis and proliferation in islets isolated from both mouse and human donors. We further explored the intra‐cellular signalling cascades involved, using chemical inhibitors of key signalling pathways. As proof of principle we designed a long‐acting analogue of [Leu31Pro34]‐NPY, an agonist of the islet‐expressed Y receptors, to determine if targeting this system could preserve beta‐cell mass in vivo.

Results

Our data reveal that NPY Y1, 4 and 5 receptor activation engages a generalized and powerful anti‐apoptotic pathway that protects mouse and human islets from damage. These anti‐apoptotic effects were dependent on stimulating a Gαi‐PLC‐PKC signalling cascade, which prevented cytokine‐induced NFkB signalling. NPY receptor activation functionally protected islets by restoring glucose responsiveness following chemically induced injury in both species. NPY receptor activation attenuated beta‐cell apoptosis, preserved functional beta‐cell mass and attenuated the hyperglycaemic phenotype in a low‐dose streptozotocin model of diabetes.

Conclusion

Taken together, our observations identify the islet Y receptors as promising targets for the preservation of beta‐cell mass. As such, targeting these receptors could help to maintain beta‐cell mass in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and may also be useful for improving islet transplantation outcomes.
NEW FACTS ABOUT FIRM RISK ACROSS COUNTRIES AND OVER THE BUSINESS CYCLE
Authors: Moscoso Boedo Hernan
Published: September 2017

The characteristics of firm‐level risk over the cycle and across countries are studied in this paper. Low idiosyncratic firm‐level risk is found to be a feature of highly developed, stable economies, whereas the countercyclicality of firm‐level risk is associated with flexible as well as stable economies. These facts are uncovered with the help of a theoretical model where small, risk‐averse firms display procyclical risk, whereas larger, risk‐neutral firms have countercyclical risk patterns that depend on the rigidity of the business environment. The predictions of the model are then confirmed by the data using a large international firm‐level database (ORBIS) together with the World Bank Doing Business Database, during the “Great Recession” across 55 countries. The findings are critical for the growing literature of uncertainty driven business cycles, and show that firm‐level uncertainty cannot be treated as an exogenous parameter. (JEL D21, D22, E32, F44, L11, L25)
Focusing the diversity of Gardnerella vaginalis through the lens of ecotypes
Authors: Cornejo Omar E. , Hickey Roxana J. , Suzuki Haruo , Forney Larry J.
Published: September 2017

Gardnerella vaginalis has long been associated with bacterial vaginosis, a condition that increases the risk of women to preterm birth, sexually transmitted infections, and other adverse sequelae. However, G. vaginalis is also commonly found in healthy asymptomatic women of all ages. This raises the question if genetic differences among strains might distinguish potentially pathogenic from commensal strains. To disentangle the diversity of G. vaginalis, we invoked the concept of ecotypes—lineages of genetically and ecologically distinct strains within a named species—to better understand their evolutionary history and identify functional characteristics. We compared the genomes of G. vaginalis to six species in the closely related Bifidobacterium genus and found that G. vaginalis has a large accessory genome relative to Bifidobacterium, including many unique genes possibly involved in metabolism, drug resistance, and virulence. We then performed a comparative genomic analysis of 35 strains of G. vaginalis to infer a phylogeny based on the combined analysis of the core genome, using nucleotide substitution models, and the accessory genome, using gene gain/loss models. With the inferred tree topology, we performed comparisons of functional gene content among lineages that diverged at varying depths in the phylogeny and found significant differences in the representation of genes putatively involved in pathogenicity. Our functional enrichment analysis suggests that some lineages of G. vaginalis may possess enhanced pathogenic capabilities, including genes involved in mucus degradation like sialidases, while others may be commensal strains, lacking many of these pathogenic capabilities. The combined phylogenetic evidence and functional enrichment analysis allowed us to identify distinct ecotypes that have evolved in G. vaginalis as the result of the differential gene gain/loss for specific functions, including the capability to cause disease. We finally discuss how this analysis framework could be used to gain insight into the etiology of bacterial vaginosis and improve diagnosis.
Paleolimnology and resurrection ecology: The future of reconstructing the past
Authors: Burge David R. L. , Edlund Mark B. , Frisch Dagmar
Published: September 2017

Paleolimnologists have utilized lake sediment records to understand historical lake and landscape development, timing and magnitude of environmental change at lake, watershed, regional and global scales, and as historical datasets to target watershed and lake management. Resurrection ecologists have long recognized lake sediments as sources of viable propagules (“seed or egg banks”) with which to explore questions of community ecology, ecological response, and evolutionary ecology. Most researchers consider Daphnia as the primary model organism in these efforts, but many other aquatic biota, from viruses to macrophytes, similarly produce viable propagules that are incorporated in the sediment record but have been underutilized in resurrection ecology. The common goals shared by these two disciplines have led to mutualistic and synergistic collaborations—a development that must be encouraged to expand. We give an overview of the achievements of paleolimnology and the reconstruction of environmental history of lakes, review the untapped diversity of aquatic organisms that produce dormant propagules, compare Daphnia as a model of resurrection ecology with other organisms amenable to resurrection studies, especially diatoms, and consider new research directions that represent the nexus of these two fields.