bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding LGBT individuals' employment environment in Taiwan: a relational framework perspective
Authors: Achyldurdyyeva Jennet , Wu Li-Fan , Datova Nurbibi
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the aspects of workplace environment and the experiences of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) employees in an Asian context; a subject that has hitherto been somewhat neglected. It responds to a call for more contextual research in the field of employment diversity in organizational management in general.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a mixed method study, which utilizes multiple sources of primary and secondary data and consists of in-depth personal interviews, a survey of LGBT employees, published data (including legislation and state policies), reports issued by social and media organizations, documentary evidence from Taiwanese companies and insights drawn from the existing literature.

Findings

It was found that there is an interplay between the macro, meso and micro levels in the multilevel relational framework applied to diversity of employment in Taiwan. Macrolevel factors, such as supportive legislation, mass media and social tolerance toward LGBT community positively affect mesolevel factors, such as stable and secure social networks among the LGBT community in the form of legal and social organizations (NGOs, social media, bars, restaurants, etc.) as well as many companies inclusion of sexual orientation in their definitions of diversity. However, this is opposed by macrolevel, cultural values related to family structure and intergenerational relationships that inhibit pro-active integration and equality of LGBT individuals at the meso organizational level. Companies headed by older-generation leadership can be slow to advocate, support and promote sexual-orientation diversity in their workplaces. In contrast, microlevel data shows that LGBT employees receive robust psychological support from their peer group, friends and the LGBT community, although gaining acceptance by family and coworkers remains a challenge.

Research limitations/implications

Future studies need to focus on the dynamics of the meso- and microlevel factors by investigating how organizational structure, perspectives of leaders and HR managers, diversity management practices and attitudes and behaviors of LGBT employees and other coworkers affect development and integration of sexual-orientation diversity programs within organizations.

Practical implications

Managers, policy makers in organization as well as educators benefit from the context-sensitive findings and recommendations offered in this paper.

Social implications

Understanding of LGBT individuals employment environment helps to facilitate or hinder the positive development of equal society and benefit both LGBT employees, their coworkers and managers.

Originality/value

Limited research exists on the LGBT employees experiences at work in Asia. This study makes unique contribution to the understanding of sexual orientation category of diversity at work in Taiwan context.
Why management models are crucial to the success of business models
Authors: Denning Stephen
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The author posits that the management model of an organization determines what kind of business models can be pursued within that organization and that successful 21st century management models are very different from those that succeeded in the 20th century.

Design/methodology/approach

The author compares and contrasts successful 21st century management models with models that succeeded in the 20th century.

Findings

Success in the digital age requires a 21st century management model and mindset based on an obsession with delivering value to customers.

Practical implications

The management model incorporates the key ‘written and unwritten rules’ of the firm. The success of digital innovation can be threatened by 20th Century management assumptions that thwart Agile initiatives.

Originality/value

Article explains how Agile mindsets and practices are essential to the 21st century management model, and how they potentiate the firm’s focus on creating customers.
Behavioral integration in the boardroom
Authors: Pastra Aspasia , Koufopoulos Dimitrios N. , Samac Nikola , Johansson Tafsir
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This study aims to understand the relationship between behavioral integration in the boardroom and board performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors performed a series of multiple hierarchical regression analyses to explore research questions. Primary data were collected via questionnaires from 184 Nordic members to identify perceptions of behavioral integration and board performance in their boardroom.

Findings

The authors found that different dimensions of behavioral integration have a different effect on board performance. The collaborative behavior of the board did not predict any dimension of board performance, whereas information exchange predicted one dimension of board performance, that of providing strategic leadership. The paramount role of joint decision-making is underlined in this study as this positively predicted all of the dimensions of board performance (strategic leadership, networking and readiness of the board).

Research limitations/implications

Future research should investigate behavioral integration among board members using a longitudinal design and expand the sample cross-culturally.

Practical implications

For forming high-performing teams, emphasis should be given on the joint decision-making. Understanding the joint problems, transparency in actions and discussion about the problem under consideration are of paramount importance for the effectiveness of the team.

Social implications

Team’s conversational environment has crucial impact on team outcomes.

Originality/value

This is one of the rare studies that examine perceptions of executives about the level of behavioral integration in their board.
The effect of community‐wide phytochemical diversity on herbivory reverses from low to high elevation
Authors: Fernandez‐Conradi Pilar , Defossez Emmanuel , Delavallade Adrien , Descombes Patrice , Pitteloud Camille , Glauser Gaëtan , Pellissier Loïc , Rasmann Sergio
Published: March 2021

Theory predicts that a large fraction of phytochemical diversity—the richness of individual chemical compounds produced by plants—governs the complexity of interactions between plants and their herbivores. While the effect of specific classes of chemical compounds on plant resistance against herbivores has been largely documented, the effect of community‐level variation in phytochemical diversity on plant–herbivore interactions has so far received minimal consideration.

We hypothesized that plant communities bearing on average higher levels of phytochemical diversity should sustain lower herbivory rates, overall. Yet, the magnitude of this effect could vary across different environmental conditions, potentially because of climate‐mediated effects on phytochemical production and changes in herbivore community richness and composition.

To address these hypotheses, we used previous knowledge of species‐level phytochemical make‐up for more than 400 plant species of the Swiss Alps. Using common garden experiments, we estimated season‐wide herbivore damage on low (average 3,500 unique molecules) and high (average 4,500 unique molecules) phytochemical diversity plant communities that were planted in the colline, mountain and alpine vegetation sites along two elevation transects in the Alps.

We found that high phytochemical diversity plant communities showed reduced levels of herbivore damage in the colline (low elevation) sites, but this pattern reversed in the alpine (high elevation) sites. Our results suggest that the outcome of phytochemical diversity on plant–herbivore interactions depends on the characteristics of the local herbivore communities, together with trade‐offs between chemical defences and other plant traits (i.e. physical defences and plant palatability).

Synthesis. Phytochemical diversity is a key component of functional diversity, influencing community composition and dynamics. We show that the effect of phytochemical diversity on herbivory is environmental‐dependent, generating ecological switches when moving from low to high elevation. Through upward movement of plants under climate change, phytochemical community structure will be likely modified, ultimately disrupting local community assembly processes.
Beyond the Scope of the Deal: Configuration of Technology Alliance Portfolios and the Introduction of Management Innovation
Authors: Estrada Isabel , Zhou Haibo
Published: March 2021

While firms invest in portfolios of technology alliances primarily seeking technological benefits (e.g. access to novel technological knowledge to develop product innovations), an adequate portfolio of technology alliances can also bring non‐technological benefits, such as access to novel managerial knowledge, which can result in management innovation. However, it remains unclear under what conditions technology alliance portfolios yield such benefits. Drawing from the literature on knowledge utilization from alliance portfolios, we examine how the configuration of a firm's technology alliance portfolio affects the likelihood of the firm introducing management innovation. Our panel data analyses of Spanish manufacturing firms for 2008–2016 reveal that a firm is more likely to introduce management innovation when its alliance portfolio shows diversity of partner types; however, this positive effect of diversity becomes less pronounced as the alliance portfolio becomes more oriented towards exploration (i.e. relatively greater presence of research‐focused partner types). Our study also provides recommendations for managers seeking to connect the technological and non‐technological spheres of innovation: a technological alliance portfolio that brings together diverse partner types while avoiding excessive presence of research‐focused partner types may offer greater opportunity for management innovation.
Introduction of point‐of‐care ROTEM testing in the emergency department of an Australian level 1 trauma centre and its effect on blood product use
Authors: Bainbridge Frederick J , Sinha Romi , Tocchetti Rick , Clarke Chris , Martin Daniel , Foo Ngee , Palmer Cameron S , Ellis Daniel Y
Published: March 2021

Objective

To assess whether the introduction of point‐of‐care rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) analysis influences blood product transfusion and coagulation management in a modern Australian level 1 trauma centre.

Methods

Retrospective blood transfusion data collection from all level 1 trauma patients with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) >12 presenting to the Royal Adelaide Hospital in 2016 and 2018. Evaluation of changes in blood product administration with the addition of point‐of‐care viscoelastic testing in the ED in 2018.

Results

A total of 774 patients were analysed with 380 in 2016 and 394 in 2018. Almost a quarter of all 2018 trauma patients (93/394) had ROTEM performed within 24 h of ED arrival, 42% of these having an ISS >25. There was a significant increase in the number of patients receiving cryoprecipitate following the introduction of ROTEM (P = 0.01). In those receiving cryoprecipitate, there was a significant reduction in subsequent platelet and fresh frozen plasma use (P < 0.001). Overall, there was a reduction in expenditure on red cells, platelets and fresh frozen plasma from 2016 to 2018.

Conclusion

Point‐of‐care ROTEM was performed in a small proportion of patients, mainly those with a higher ISS. ROTEM introduction in the ED altered blood product transfusion practices for major trauma patients with an ISS >12, leading to a potentially safer transfusion strategy and cost savings for key blood products.
Workplace performance: a sustainable approach
Authors: Kramar Robin
Published: March 2021

Organisations face major disruptions and transformative change as a result of developments in the contexts in which they operate and the COVID‐19 crisis. These dramatic changes highlight the need to reassess the emphasis on financial and economic outcomes at the national and organisational level. International organisations recognise the urgency of explicitly acknowledging a variety of performance outcomes as ends in themselves. Organisations need to be seen as meeting the needs of a number of stakeholders who have varying interests. There could be tensions between the desired outcomes in the financial, social and human, and ecological areas. These tensions need to be managed in a number of ways. Movement towards a broader range of performance outcomes also requires a long‐term view, acknowledgement of the Sustainable Development Goals and International Labour Organisation Declarations and Initiatives, and International Trade Union Confederation recommendations. Processes of dialogue between stakeholders are essential. Human resource management (HRM) activities can contribute to these performance outcomes through a Sustainable HRM approach.
Tail display is regulated by anaerobic metabolism in an Asian agamid lizard
Authors: ZHU Xinxin , QIU Xia , TANG Xiaolong , QI Yin
Published: March 2021

Understanding the mechanism underlying signal variation is an important goal in the study of animal communication. Several potential causes have been proposed for signal variation, including environmental noise (e.g. wind, sound), energy limitation, and predation risk, among others, but the physiological control of many signals are often unclear. Here, we examined the correlation between tail display signal variation and energy metabolic activity using an Asian agamid lizard Phrynocephalus vlangalii. Individual tail display signals were observed in the field, and blood lactate concentration as well as 2 energy metabolic enzymes was assayed. Our results showed that average tail coil speed was positively associated with blood lactate concentration, while tail coil duration was negatively associated with LDH activity. We also found that average tail lash speed was positively associated with blood lactate concentration, suggesting that the tail display behavior of P. vlangalii was regulated by anaerobic metabolism. Furthermore, the correlation between tail display behavior and energy metabolism was not sex‐dependent. Taken together, our research provides insight into the physiological mechanisms underlying tail display variation in lizards, and suggests that tail display variation likely transmits important information on individual body condition and resource holding potential.
Impact of the Miocene orogenesis on Kaloula spp. radiation and implication of local refugia on genetic diversification
Authors: OTHMAN Siti N. , PUTRI Eggy Triana , MESSENGER Kevin R. , BAE Yoonhyuk , YANG Yi , BOVA Timothy , REED Thomas , AMIN Hina , CHUANG Ming‐Feng , JANG Yikweon , BORZÉE Amaël
Published: March 2021

The phylogeography of the Kaloula genus in East Asia is still poorly understood. One of the difficulties is the absence of fossils to corroborate molecular dating estimates. Here, we examined the mitochondrial structure of Kaloula spp. in East Asia and focused on the impact of glaciations on the northernmost species: Kaloula borealis. We determined the phylogenetic relationships, molecular dating, and genetic connectivity assessments within the genus from 1211 bp of concatenated mitochondrial 12S and 16S. The relaxed clock analyses reveal the emergence of Kaloula spp. common ancestor in East and Southeast Asia between the Eocene and Oligocene, c. 38.47 Ma (24.69–53.65). The genetic diversification of lineages then increased on the East Asian Mainland during the Lower Miocene, c. 20.10 (8.73–30.65), most likely originating from the vicariance and radiation triggered by the orogeny of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. Later, the dispersal towards the North East Asian Mainland during the Upper Miocene drove the population diversification of K. borealis c. 9.01 Ma (3.66–15.29). Finally, the central mainland population became isolated following orogenesis events and diverged into K. rugifera during the Pliocene, c. 3.06 Ma (0.02–10.90). The combination of population genetic and barrier analyses revealed a significant genetic isolation between populations of Kaloula spp. matching with the massive Qinling–Daba Mountain chain located in south‐central China. Finally, we highlight a young divergence within the Eastern Mainland population of K. borealis, possibly attributed to refugia in south eastern China from which populations later expanded.
Cetacean occurrence and diversity in whale‐watching waters off Mirissa, Southern Sri Lanka
Authors: SANKALPA Dissanayake Mudiyanselage Rajitha , THILAKARATHNE Elle Pathirathnalage Darshana Nuwan , LIN Wenzhi , THILAKANAYAKA Vidusanka , KUMARASINGHE Chathurika Piumi , LIU Mingming , LIN Mingli , LI Songhai
Published: March 2021

Scientific information is vital to the conservation of cetaceans and the management of whale‐watching activities. The southern coastal waters of Sri Lanka are near a narrow continental shelf and biologically abundant in cetacean species. Although the occurrence of cetaceans has been investigated in certain waters of Sri Lanka, few surveys have been conducted along the southern coast. To fill this gap, we conducted boat‐based surveys from January to May 2017 to investigate the occurrence, diversity, and behavior of cetaceans in the waters off Mirissa, covering a survey area of 788.9 km2. During 55 survey days, we recorded a total of 242 cetacean sightings and identified at least 9 species (3 mysticetes and 6 odontocetes). The blue whale was the most common mysticete species (167 of 174 mysticete encounters), followed by the Omura's whale (4 of 174) and Bryde's whale (3 of 174). The spinner dolphin was the most common odontocete species (28 of 68 odontocete encounters), followed by the sperm whale (18 of 68), common bottlenose dolphin (13 of 68), short‐finned pilot whale (5 of 68), melon‐headed whale (2 of 68), and killer whale. Blue whales and sperm whales exhibited a clear preference for outer shelf and high slope areas, and blue whales were observed feeding along these waters. The present study provides near‐baseline information on cetacean occurrence and diversity in whale‐watching waters off southern Sri Lanka, and highlights the urgent need for proper management strategies for whale‐watching activities.
Field assessment of dog as sentinel animal for plague in endemic foci of Madagascar
Authors: RAJERISON Minoarisoa , ANDRIANAIVOARIMANANA Voahangy , RATSITORAHINA Maherisoa , RAHELINIRINA Soanandrasana , CHANTEAU Suzanne , TELFER Sandra , RAHALISON Lila
Published: March 2021

The epidemiology of Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, involves vectors and reservoirs in its transmission cycle. The passive plague surveillance in Madagascar targets mainly rodent and fleas. However, carnivores are routinely surveyed as sentinels of local plague activity in some countries. The aim of this study is to assess the use of domestic dog (Canis familiaris) as sentinel animal for field surveillance of plague in a highly endemic area in Madagascar. Cross‐sectional surveys of plague antibody prevalence in C. familiaris were conducted in endemic areas with contrasting histories of plague cases in humans, as well as a plague free area. Rodent capture was done in parallel to evaluate evidence for Y. pestis circulation in the primary reservoirs. In 2 sites, dogs were later re‐sampled to examine evidence of seroconversion and antibody persistence. Biological samplings were performed between March 2008 and February 2009. Plague antibody detection was assessed using anti‐F1 ELISA. Our study showed a significant difference in dog prevalence rates between plague‐endemic and plague‐free areas, with no seropositive dogs detected in the plague free area. No correlation was found between rodents and dog prevalence rates, with an absence of seropositive rodents in some area where plague circulation was indicated by seropositive dogs. This is consistent with high mortality rates in rodents following infection. Re‐sampling dogs identified individuals seropositive on both occasions, indicating high rates of re‐exposure and/or persistence of plague antibodies for at least 9 months. Seroconversion or seropositive juvenile dogs indicated recent local plague circulation. In Madagascar, dog surveillance for plague antibody could be useful to identify plague circulation in new areas or quiescent areas within endemic zones. Within active endemic areas, monitoring of dog populations for seroconversion (negative to positive) or seropositive juvenile dogs could be useful for identifying areas at greatest risk of human outbreaks.
Revisiting animal photo‐identification using deep metric learning and network analysis
Authors: Miele Vincent , Dussert Gaspard , Spataro Bruno , Chamaillé‐Jammes Simon , Allainé Dominique , Bonenfant Christophe
Published: March 2021

An increasing number of ecological monitoring programmes rely on photographic capture–recapture of individuals to study distribution, demography and abundance of species. Photo‐identification of individuals can sometimes be done using idiosyncratic coat or skin patterns, instead of using tags or loggers. However, when performed manually, the task of going through photographs is tedious and rapidly becomes too time‐consuming as the number of pictures grows.

Computer vision techniques are an appealing and unavoidable help to tackle this apparently simple task in the big‐data era. In this context, we propose to revisit animal re‐identification using image similarity networks and metric learning with convolutional neural networks (CNNs), taking the giraffe as a working example.

We first developed an end‐to‐end pipeline to retrieve a comprehensive set of re‐identified giraffes from about 4,000 raw photographs. To do so, we combined CNN‐based object detection, SIFT pattern matching and image similarity networks. We then quantified the performance of deep metric learning to retrieve the identity of known individuals, and to detect unknown individuals never seen in the previous years of monitoring.

After a data augmentation procedure, the re‐identification performance of the CNN reached a Top‐1 accuracy of about 90%, despite the very small number of images per individual in the training dataset. While the complete pipeline succeeded in re‐identifying known individuals, it slightly under‐performed with unknown individuals.

Fully based on open‐source software packages, our work paves the way for further attempts to build automatic pipelines for re‐identification of individual animals, not only in giraffes but also in other species.
Evaluation of CPI‐based co‐parenting education programs in Hong Kong: Implications for social work
Authors: Lau Yuk King
Published: March 2021

This article reports an evaluation study of co‐parenting education services in a pilot project on co‐parenting support services in Hong Kong. Based on the Cooperative Parenting Institute (CPI) model, there are two levels of education program: Level 1 is an information‐based program delivered through talks or lecture format; and Level 2 is participatory, interactive workshops. The study results would provide preliminary support to the effectiveness of the CPI‐based education programs in reducing inter‐parental conflicts with additional effectiveness on the reduction of putting children in the middle for parents participating in the Level 2 program. In response to the findings, it is recommended to match the participants’ level of conflicts with the appropriate level of program. Parents with high conflict need more intensive program. Consequently, a range of mutual support and booster sessions is recommended to maintain the parents’ commitment to co‐parenting after the education. The CPI‐based model is recommended to be the reference or protocol for training the social workers of related services. Moreover, cross‐disciplinary training may equip supporting professions such as judges, lawyers, and mediators with a common framework to facilitate appropriate court order or advice on the appropriate level of the education program.
Valproate is associated with early decrease of high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in the psychiatric population
Authors: Delacrétaz Aurélie , Glatard Anaïs , Dubath Céline , Gholam Mehdi , Gamma Franziska , von Gunten Armin , Conus Philippe , Eap Chin B.
Published: March 2021

Few studies have evaluated the influence of valproate on the deterioration of the lipid profile in psychiatric patients. This observational study aimed to compare the evolution of metabolic parameters in a sample of adult patients starting valproate (n = 39) with a control group (n = 39) of patients starting aripiprazole, a drug associated with a low risk of metabolic deterioration. Data were obtained from a prospective study including psychiatric patients with metabolic parameters monitored during the first year of treatment. During the first month of treatment with valproate (median: 31 days [IQR: 25‐36]), mean body mass index increased significantly (from 24.8 kg/m2 at baseline to 25.2 kg/m2 after one month; P = .03) and mean HDL‐C levels decreased significantly (from 1.39 mmol/L to 1.27 mmol/L; P = .02). In comparison, these metabolic variables remained stable during the first month of treatment with aripiprazole. The proportion of patients with early (ie during the first month of treatment) HDL‐C decrease of ≥ 5% was significantly higher under valproate (54%) than aripiprazole (15%) treatment (P < .001). These findings remind the importance of a prospective metabolic monitoring in patients who initiate valproate treatment. Further research should be conducted on larger samples and should focus on finding effective interventions to prevent such metabolic adverse effects.
Shrinkage estimation of the three‐parameter logistic model
Authors: Battauz Michela , Bellio Ruggero
Published: March 2021

The three‐parameter logistic model is widely used to model the responses to a proficiency test when the examinees can guess the correct response, as is the case for multiple‐choice items. However, the weak identifiability of the parameters of the model results in large variability of the estimates and in convergence difficulties in the numerical maximization of the likelihood function. To overcome these issues, in this paper we explore various shrinkage estimation methods, following two main approaches. First, a ridge‐type penalty on the guessing parameters is introduced in the likelihood function. The tuning parameter is then selected through various approaches: cross‐validation, information criteria or using an empirical Bayes method. The second approach explored is based on the methodology developed to reduce the bias of the maximum likelihood estimator through an adjusted score equation. The performance of the methods is investigated through simulation studies and a real data example.
Risk perception with imperfect information and social interactions: Understanding group polarization
Authors: Pelletan Jacques
Published: March 2021

This article examines the group polarization process when agents are faced with a risk for which the probability of occurrence is not perfectly known. First, we show information destruction through an informational cascade phenomenon. Then, we analyze how this inefficiency is amplified if individuals with the same type of risk‐related behavior group together. Two extensions are detailed: consideration of the possibility that individual agents participate in more than one group, and introduction of agents highly confident in their own information, enabling cascades to be "broken." Under conditions, the behavior of these agents, costly at the individual level, is collectively efficient.
Optogenetic tools for manipulation of cyclic nucleotides functionally coupled to cyclic nucleotide‐gated channels
Authors: Henß Thilo , Nagpal Jatin , Gao Shiqiang , Scheib Ulrike , Pieragnolo Alessia , Hirschhäuser Alexander , Schneider‐Warme Franziska , Hegemann Peter , Nagel Georg , Gottschalk Alexander
Published: March 2021

Background and Purpose

The cyclic nucleotides cAMP and cGMP are ubiquitous second messengers regulating numerous biological processes. Malfunctional cNMP signalling is linked to diseases and thus is an important target in pharmaceutical research. The existing optogenetic toolbox in Caenorhabditis elegans is restricted to soluble adenylyl cyclases, the membrane‐bound Blastocladiella emersonii CyclOp and hyperpolarizing rhodopsins; yet missing are membrane‐bound photoactivatable adenylyl cyclases and hyperpolarizers based on K+ currents.

Experimental Approach

For the characterization of photoactivatable nucleotidyl cyclases, we expressed the proteins alone or in combination with cyclic nucleotide‐gated channels in muscle cells and cholinergic motor neurons. To investigate the extent of optogenetic cNMP production and the ability of the systems to depolarize or hyperpolarize cells, we performed behavioural analyses, measured cNMP content in vitro, and compared in vivo expression levels.

Key Results

We implemented Catenaria CyclOp as a new tool for cGMP production, allowing fine‐control of cGMP levels. We established photoactivatable membrane‐bound adenylyl cyclases, based on mutated versions (“A‐2x”) of Blastocladiella and Catenaria (“Be,” “Ca”) CyclOp, as N‐terminal YFP fusions, enabling more efficient and specific cAMP signalling compared to soluble bPAC, despite lower overall cAMP production. For hyperpolarization of excitable cells by two‐component optogenetics, we introduced the cAMP‐gated K+‐channel SthK from Spirochaeta thermophila and combined it with bPAC, BeCyclOp(A‐2x), or YFP‐BeCyclOp(A‐2x). As an alternative, we implemented the B. emersonii cGMP‐gated K+‐channel BeCNG1 together with BeCyclOp.

Conclusion and Implications

We established a comprehensive suite of optogenetic tools for cNMP manipulation, applicable in many cell types, including sensory neurons, and for potent hyperpolarization.

LINKED ARTICLES

This article is part of a themed issue on cGMP Signalling in Cell Growth and Survival. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v179.11/issuetoc
Expansion of the clinical and molecular spectrum of an XPD‐related disorder linked to biallelic mutations in ERCC2 gene
Authors: Agolini Emanuele , Botta Elena , Lodi Mariachiara , Digilio Maria Cristina , Rinelli Martina , Bellacchio Emanuele , Alesi Viola , Nardo Tiziana , Zambruno Giovanna , Orioli Donata , Alessi Iside , Boccuto Luigi , Rossi Sabrina , Carai Andrea , Colafati Giovanna Stefania , Cacchione Antonella , Dallapiccola Bruno , Novelli Antonio , Mastronuzzi Angela
Published: March 2021

Bi‐allelic inactivation of XPD protein, a nucleotide excision repair (NER) signaling pathway component encoded by ERCC2 gene, has been associated with several defective DNA repair phenotypes, including xeroderma pigmentosum, photosensitive trichothiodystrophy, and cerebro‐oculo‐facio‐skeletal syndrome. We report a pediatric patient harboring two compound heterozygous variants in ERCC2 gene, c.361‐1G>A and c.2125A>C (p.Thr709Pro), affected by severe postnatal growth deficiency, microcephaly, facial dysmorphisms and pilocytic astrocytoma of the brainstem. Some of these features point to a DNA repair syndrome, and altogether delineate a phenotype differentiating from disorders known to be associated with ERCC2 mutations. The DNA repair efficiency following UV irradiation in the proband's skin fibroblasts was defective indicating that the new set of ERCC2 alleles impacts on NER efficiency. Sequencing analysis on tumor DNA did not reveal any somatic deleterious point variant in cancer‐related genes, while SNP‐array analysis disclosed a 2 Mb microduplication involving the 7q34 region, spanning from KIAA1549 to BRAF, and resulting in the KIAA1549:BRAF fusion protein, a marker of pilocytic astrocytoma. In conclusion, this report expands the clinical and mutational spectrum of ERCC2‐related disorders.
Does the introduction of ratings reduce giving? Evidence from charities
Authors: Grant Laura E.
Published: March 2021

The largest charity‐ratings organization evaluates thousands of charities with combined annual donations of $100 billion. Because charities' initial rating occurs at different times, in random order, I can estimate how the introduction of the ratings affects giving. Donations decrease by 5%–9%, on average. The pattern is intuitive: Donations to highest‐rated (4‐star) charities are stable. Yet for each consecutive star lower, donations decrease, with 1‐star charities losing 12%–14%. I also impute each charity's ratings for years before being rated determine the effect of prior information. Annual losses for the rated charities are approximately $2 billion. Several reasons for the losses are discussed including salience of information, donor expectations, and charity visibility.
Defining and quantifying effective connectivity of landscapes for species' movements
Authors: Van Moorter Bram , Kivimäki Ilkka , Panzacchi Manuela , Saerens Marco
Published: March 2021

Ecosystem functioning depends on multiple successful interactions, many supported by individual movements. The degree to which the landscape allows these interactions to take place has been referred to as ‘effective connectivity' (EC). Many of the cumulative impacts of anthropogenic activities on ecosystem functioning arise from changes in EC. Therefore, a coherent framework to quantify EC is urgently needed. Recent theoretical developments propose that studying EC requires the simultaneous consideration of spatial, environmental and species intrinsic characteristics (SEI framework).

In this paper we further expand the SEI framework by integrating advances in geographic information science, ecological niche modelling, movement ecology, island biogeography and network sciences to develop a comprehensive three‐step methodological approach for quantifying EC. First, using niche modelling and movement ecology, we quantify the species movement probabilities with respect to local environmental conditions. Second, we quantify ecological distances between non‐adjacent locations by integrating species movement responses to the local environment with the spatial configuration of the landscape using the expected cost obtained from the randomized shortest paths (RSP) framework. This expected cost generalizes the two most frequently used ecological distance metrics, i.e. least‐cost distance and resistance distance. Moreover the ‘absorbing random walk' properties of RSP allow the integration of new developments in connectivity research, i.e. spatial absorbing Markov chains, to account for movement‐related mortality. Third, drawing from island biogeography and metapopulation ecology, we scale ecological distances by relevant species‐ and area‐specific parameters to estimate EC for the ecological process of interest, e.g. migration, dispersal or gene flow.

The integrative and highly interdisciplinary approach we propose can lead to increasingly more realistic measures of EC at different organizational levels. Moreover efficient computation allows its application to large‐scale high‐resolution landscapes for theoretical studies, conservation planning and sustainable management of real landscapes.
Surviving but not thriving: Burden of care and quality of life for caregivers of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and comorbid substance use in South Africa
Authors: Yerriah Jacqueline , Tomita Andrew , Paruk Saeeda
Published: March 2021

Background

Schizophrenia and schizophrenia spectrum disorders can be devastating for the patient and family. Early recognition and interventions for caregivers, who form part of an overburdened 'invisible health care system' in resource‐limited settings with an extensive mental health treatment gap, are crucial for improved outcomes for patients and carers. The study investigated the burden of care and quality of life (QOL) among caregivers of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and its determinants in South Africa.

Methods

We conducted a study of 101 matched‐paired samples of family caregivers and adult patients (N = 202) seeking care from two psychiatric hospitals in South Africa. The assessment consisted of the Zarit Burden Interview for caregiver burden, WHO‐Quality of life scale and WHO ASSIST for substance use.

Results

Most caregivers (n = 81; 80.2%) reported high or severe caregiver burden. None of the four QOL domains surpassed the 60% mark where the observed scores (out of 100) for physical health (56.2, SD = 16.2), psychological health (55.3, SD = 17,6), social relationships (47.1, SD = 19.3) and environment (53.5, SD = 16.3). Lower burden was associated with greater QOL score across all four domains among caregivers (p ≤ .05). Lower educational attainment was associated with poorer QOL, and higher household income with higher QOL in certain domains. Patient comorbid alcohol (p ≤ .05) and high‐risk cannabis use (p < .02) were the only significant factors of increased caregiver burden scores.

Conclusion

The high caregiver burden, and its association with alcohol and cannabis use, suggests the need to address comorbid substance use and early pragmatic support for families.
Forms of moral impossibility
Authors: Panizza Silvia
Published: March 2021

An important yet often unacknowledged aspect of moral discourse is the phenomenon of moral impossibility, which challenges more widely accepted models of moral discussion and deliberation as a choice among possible options. Starting from observations of the new possibilities of anti‐immigrant attitudes and hate crimes which have been described by the press as something being “unleashed,” the paper asks what it means for something to enter or not the sphere of possibility in the moral sense, and whether it is ever desirable for something to remain or be pushed back outside the realm of the morally possible. Three forms of moral impossibility are identified: the unconceived, the unthinkable, and moral incapacity. Through the discussion of a stark fictional example of moral impossibility, the paper concludes that while the category of moral impossibility cannot settle disagreement, it sheds light on some of the most fundamental aspects of moral life.
Clinical predictors of discordance between screening tests and psychiatric assessment for depressive and anxiety disorders among patients being evaluated for seizure disorders
Authors: Holper Sarah , Foster Emma , Lloyd Michael , Rayner Genevieve , Rychkova Maria , Ali Rashida , Winton‐Brown Toby T. , Velakoulis Dennis , O’Brien Terence J. , Kwan Patrick , Malpas Charles B.
Published: March 2021

Objective

This study was undertaken to identify factors that predict discordance between the screening instruments Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory for Epilepsy (NDDI‐E) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD‐7), and diagnoses made by qualified psychiatrists among patients with seizure disorders. Importantly, this is not a validation study; rather, it investigates clinicodemographic predictors of discordance between screening tests and psychiatric assessment.

Methods

Adult patients admitted for inpatient video‐electroencephalographic monitoring completed eight psychometric instruments, including the NDDI‐E and GAD‐7, and psychiatric assessment. Patients were grouped according to agreement between the screening instrument and psychiatrists’ diagnoses. Screening was "discordant" if the outcome differed from the psychiatrist's diagnosis, including both false positive and false negative results. Bayesian statistical analyses were used to identify factors associated with discordance.

Results

A total of 411 patients met inclusion criteria; mean age was 39.6 years, and 55.5% (n = 228) were female. Depression screening was discordant in 33% of cases (n = 136/411), driven by false positives (n = 76/136, 56%) rather than false negatives (n = 60/136, 44%). Likewise, anxiety screening was discordant in one third of cases (n = 121/411, 29%) due to false positives (n = 60/121, 50%) and false negatives (n = 61/121, 50%). Seven clinical factors were predictive of discordant screening for both depression and anxiety: greater dissociative symptoms, greater patient‐reported adverse events, subjective cognitive impairment, negative affect, detachment, disinhibition, and psychoticism. When the analyses were restricted to only patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) or epilepsy, the rate of discordant depression screening was higher in the PNES group (n = 29, 47%) compared to the epilepsy group (n = 70, 30%, Bayes factor for the alternative hypothesis = 4.65).

Significance

Patients with seizure disorders who self‐report a variety of psychiatric and other symptoms should be evaluated more thoroughly for depression and anxiety, regardless of screening test results, especially if they have PNES and not epilepsy. Clinical assessment by a qualified psychiatrist remains essential in diagnosing depressive and anxiety disorders among such patients.
Prolonged epileptic discharges predict seizure recurrence in JME: Insights from prolonged ambulatory EEG
Authors: Turco Francesco , Bonanni Enrica , Milano Chiara , Pizzanelli Chiara , Steinwurzel Cecilia , Morganti Riccardo , Fornai Francesco , Maestri Michelangelo , Siciliano Gabriele , Giorgi Filippo Sean
Published: March 2021

Objective

Markers of seizure recurrence are needed to personalize antiseizure medication (ASM) therapy. In the clinical practice, EEG features are considered to be related to the risk of seizure recurrence for genetic generalized epilepsies (GGE). However, to our knowledge, there are no studies analyzing systematically specific EEG features as indices of ASM efficacy in GGE. In this study, we aimed at identifying EEG indicators of ASM responsiveness in Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy (JME), which, among GGE, is characterized by specific electroclinical features.

Methods

We compared the features of prolonged ambulatory EEG (paEEG, 22 h of recording) of JME patients experiencing seizure recurrence within a year (“cases”) after EEG recording, with those of patients with sustained seizure freedom for at least 1 year after EEG (“controls”). We included only EEG recordings of patients who had maintained the same ASM regimen (dosage and type) throughout the whole time period from the EEG recording up to the outcome events (which was seizure recurrence for the “cases”, or 1‐year seizure freedom for “controls”). As predictors, we evaluated the total number, frequency, mean and maximum duration of epileptiform discharges (EDs) and spike density (i.e. total EDs duration/artifact‐free EEG duration) recorded during the paEEG. The same indexes were assessed also in standard EEG (stEEG), including activation methods.

Results

Both the maximum length and the mean duration of EDs recorded during paEEG significantly differed between cases and controls; when combined in a binary logistic regression model, the maximum length of EDs emerged as the only valid predictor. A cut‐off of EDs duration of 2.68 seconds discriminated between cases and controls with a 100% specificity and a 93% sensitivity. The same indexes collected during stEEG lacked both specificity and sensitivity.

Significance

The occurrence of prolonged EDs in EEG recording might represent an indicator of antiepileptic drug failure in JME patients.
Hybrid evolutionary network architecture search (HyENAS) for convolution class of deep neural networks with applications
Authors: Soniya  , Singh Lotika , Paul Sandeep
Published: March 2021

Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and its variants are increasingly used across wide domain of applications achieving high performance measures. For high performance, application specific CNN architecture is required, hence the need for network architecture search (NAS) becomes essential. This paper proposes a hybrid evolutionary approach for network architecture search (HyENAS), and targets convolution class of neural networks. One of the significant contribution of this technique is to completely evolve the high performance network by simultaneously finding network structures and their corresponding parameters. An elegant string representation has been proposed which efficiently represents the network. The concept of sparse block evolving requisite layer wise features for dense network is deployed. This permits the network to dynamically evolve for a specific application. In comparison to the other state‐of‐art methods, the high performance of the proposed HyENAS approach is demonstrated across various benchmark data sets belonging to the domain of malariology, oncology, neurology, ophthalmology, and genomics. Further, to deploy the proposed model on lower hardware specification devices, another salient feature of the HyENAS technique is to seamlessly sift out the simpler network architecture with comparable accuracy.
Optimizing pollinator conservation and crop yield among perennial bioenergy crops
Authors: Kemmerling Lindsey R. , Griffin Sean R. , Haddad Nick M.
Published: March 2021

In order to both combat the decline of biodiversity and produce food, fuel, and fiber for a growing human population, current agricultural landscapes must transition into diversified, multifunctional systems. Perennial cellulosic biofuel crops have potential to meet both of these challenges, acting as multifunctional systems that can enhance biodiversity. What is not well understood, and what we test here, are the tradeoffs among different perennial crops in their performance as biofuels and in biodiversity conservation. Working in an established bioenergy experiment with four native, perennial, cellulosic biofuel crop varieties—ranging from monoculture to diverse restoration planting—we tested the effect of biofuel crop management on flower communities, pollinator communities, and crop yield. The greatest abundance and diversity of pollinators and flowers were in treatments that were successional (unmanaged), followed by restored prairie (seeded mix of native grasses and forbs), switchgrass, and a mix of native grasses. However, biofuel crop yield was approximately the inverse, with native grasses having the highest yield, followed by switchgrass and prairie, then successional treatments. Restored prairie was the optimal biofuel crop when both pollinator conservation and crop yield are valued similarly. We add to mounting evidence that policy is needed to create sustainable markets that value the multifunctionality of perennial biofuel systems in order to achieve greater ecosystem services from agricultural landscapes.
Diversity, ecology, distribution and biogeography of Diplura
Authors: Sendra Alberto , Jiménez‐Valverde Alberto , Selfa Jesús , Reboleira Ana Sofia P. S.
Published: March 2021

Diplura is the sister group to insects and one of the three basal hexapod groups with unique entognathan mouthparts. The order is divided into 10 families, which include 1008 species in 141 genera, with a high proportion of monotypic genera. They are ubiquitous in soils and subsurface terrestrial habitats, as well as have an important role in overall biogeochemical cycles.

We present the first comprehensive review of the global biodiversity and ecology of Diplura. We highlight four aspects of this basal hexapod group: diversity in morphological body plans and sizes; ecology in terrestrial environments from soil to caves; food preference and trophic levels, and their biogeographical and paleobiogeographical significance.

Diplura depends on high humidity and moderate temperatures. They are presumably very sensitive to anthropogenic pressures and climate change, and therefore are a suitable model for ecophysiological studies and evident priority targets for conservation.

We conclude that the future efforts should focus on establishing a molecular phylogeny to clarify the relationships between and within families, as well as to reveal global biogeographical patterns. This will require an increase in sampling effort in several regions of the globe, especially in tropical regions.