bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Digital restoration of the pectoral girdles of two Early Cretaceous birds, and implications for early flight evolution
Authors: Wang Shiying , Ma Yubo , Wu Qian , Wang Min , Hu Dongyu , Sullivan Corwin , Xu Xing
Published: December 2021

Pectoral girdle morphology is a key determinant of flight capability, but in some respects is poorly known among stem birds. Here, we reconstruct the pectoral girdles of the Early Cretaceous birds Sapeornis and Piscivorenantiornis based on computed tomography and three-dimensional visualization, revealing key morphological details. Enantiornithines such as Piscivorenantiornis have a uniquely localized scapula-coracoid joint, with only one area of articulation. This single articulation contrasts with the double articulation widely present in non-enantiornithine pennaraptoran theropods, including Sapeornis and crown birds, which comprises main and subsidiary articular contacts. A partially closed triosseal canal occurs in non-euornithine birds, representing a transitional stage in flight apparatus evolution. Numerous modifications of the pectoral girdle along the line to crown birds, and lineage-specific pectoral girdle variations, produced diverse pectoral girdle morphologies among Mesozoic birds, which ensured that a commensurate range of capability levels and modes emerged during the early evolution of flight.
Oligodendrocyte lineage cells driven by neuronal activity in selected brain regions are required for episodic memory formation
Authors: Barboza Luendreo P. , Bessières Benjamin , Nazarzoda Omina , Alberini Cristina M.
Published: December 2021

The formation of long-term episodic memories requires the activation of molecular mechanisms in several regions of the medial temporal lobe, including the hippocampus and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). The extent to which these regions engage distinct mechanisms and cell types to support memory formation is not well understood. Recent studies reported that oligodendrogenesis is essential for learning and long-term memory; however, whether oligodendrocyte lineage cells are required only in selected brain regions is still unclear. Also still unknown are the temporal kinetics of oligodendrocyte lineage cells involvement in memory processes and whether these cells are engaged in response to neuronal activity. Here we show that in rats and mice, episodic learning rapidly increases the oligodendrogenesis and myelin biogenesis transcriptsOlig2,Myrf,Mbp, andPlp1as well as oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPC) proliferation and differentiation in the ACC, but not in the dorsal hippocampus (dHC). Region-specific knockdown or knockout ofMyrf, a regulator of oligodendrocyte differentiation, revealed that cells of the oligodendrocyte lineage are required for memory formation in the ACC but not the dHC. Chemogenetic neuronal silencing in the ACC showed that neuronal activity is critical for learning-induced OPC proliferation. Hence, activity-driven oligodendrocyte lineage cells in the ACC, but not dHC, are critical for the formation of episodic memories.

Impact statement

Oligodendrocyte lineage cells are required in the anterior cingulate cortex but not in the hippocampus for long-term memory formation.
Clustering as feature selection method in spam classification: uncovering sick-leave sellers
Authors: Elhussein Mariam , Brahimi Samiha
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a novel way of using textual clustering as a feature selection method. It is applied to identify the most important keywords in the profile classification. The method is demonstrated through the problem of sick-leave promoters on Twitter.

Design/methodology/approach

Four machine learning classifiers were used on a total of 35,578 tweets posted on Twitter. The data were manually labeled into two categories: promoter and nonpromoter. Classification performance was compared when the proposed clustering feature selection approach and the standard feature selection were applied.

Findings

Radom forest achieved the highest accuracy of 95.91% higher than similar work compared. Furthermore, using clustering as a feature selection method improved the Sensitivity of the model from 73.83% to 98.79%. Sensitivity (recall) is the most important measure of classifier performance when detecting promoters’ accounts that have spam-like behavior.

Research limitations/implications

The method applied is novel, more testing is needed in other datasets before generalizing its results.

Practical implications

The model applied can be used by Saudi authorities to report on the accounts that sell sick-leaves online.

Originality/value

The research is proposing a new way textual clustering can be used in feature selection.
Factors affecting the adoption extent of the balanced scorecard by Vietnamese small- and medium-sized enterprises
Authors: Ha Dieu Thuong , Le Thanh , Fisher Greg , Nguyen Thanh Truc
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This study empirically examines factors affecting the extent of balanced scorecard (BSC) adoption in Vietnamese small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) such as top management involvement, an innovative culture, a product innovation strategy, organisational resources, a competitive environment and business network support. This study aims to gain an improved understanding and draw important lessons on BSC adoption for SMEs.

Design/methodology/approach

Using primary data obtained from a survey of top managers of SMEs that have experienced some forms of BSC adoption, the authors conduct their analysis using exploratory factor analysis and regression analysis methods.

Findings

The authors find that top management involvement, an innovative culture, organisational resources and business network support are essential factors impacting the extent of BSC adoption in Vietnamese SMEs. Besides confirming literature findings on these variables, the authors identify support of business networks as another important factor affecting the extent of BSC adoption, alongside location and business owners’ experience. However, the impacts of a product innovation strategy and a competitive environment are not significant.

Research limitations/implications

This study adapts scales previously designed for large enterprises in developed countries to fit into the context of Vietnamese SMEs. Future research can take advantage of this new set of scales and data to obtain further research results.

Practical implications

This study will serve as guidance for SMEs considering BSC adoption to have a clear vision of what factors are likely to affect BSC adoption, how they affect it and in what direction.

Social implications

Lessons learned can be extended not only to Vietnamese SMEs that have not yet adopted the BSC but also to firms in other countries with similar economic conditions.

Originality/value

This study is among pioneering studies on BSC in SMEs and within the context of Vietnam.
Push–pull analysis: the mediating role of promotion types relative to visit intention to a sports museum
Authors: Yim Brian H. , Lyberger Mark R. , Song Doori
Published: December 2021

Purpose

Although sport museums are considered an important sector in nostalgia sport tourism, annual visitations of the major sport Hall of Fames (HoF) have been decreasing, often resulting in operational and financial difficulties for the HoF. The current study examined the relationship between sport museum image, motivation, constraints, monetary and non-monetary promotions (as a mediator), and visit intention among those who have attended or never attended.

Design/methodology/approach

Data was collected from the residents in the Northeast Ohio area via an online survey questionnaire using Qualtrics (N = 1,607). Two sets of data parameters were generated based on consumers previous visitation to Pro Football HoF (visited group n = 754; never-visited group n = 853) and each group's monetary and non-monetary promotion models (total of four models) were analyzed. Descriptive statistics and reliability tests were processed via IBM SPSS Statistics 26 and the structural relationships among the constructs were examined using SmartPLS 3.

Findings

Among all the antecedents, positive perceived image of HoF has been identified as the most significant predictor for both promotions and visit (revisit) intention. Social motivation was found to be a strong driver for visiting a sports museum regardless of the types of promotions. Promotions' mediation effects were found. The monetary promotion between cost constraints and visit intention implied, cost constraints can be mitigated through monetary promotion.

Originality/value

This is the first study examining the role of relationship between image, motivation, constraints and visit intention relative to sport museums. Results provide practical insights for the sport museum marketers and researchers relative to visit intension.
Factors influencing sustainable maintenance in manufacturing industries
Authors: Suresh M. , Dharunanand R.
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This paper intends to discover, analyze and construct a model that may be used to measure the interactions between major factors which are identified by expert opinion and literature review for sustainable maintenance specific to manufacturing industries using the total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) approach.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 12 factors were acknowledged from the literature review and the opinions of experts from manufacturing industries. Scheduled interviews with the employees were conducted by using the questionnaire which is developed from the identified 12 factors in order to find the interrelationships among these factors. The TISM approach is used for analyzing factors' interrelationships. The Matrice d'Impacts Croises Multiplication Appliques a un Classement (MICMAC) approach is used to identify the key factors which influence sustainable maintenance.

Findings

This paper found 12 factors that have ascendancy over the sustainable maintenance practices in the industry by reviewing the literature and consulting industry experts to realize the linkage between the factors. The results found that availability rate, adopting government policies, training and education are key factors that influence sustainable maintenance.

Practical implications

The proposed model would be valuable for experts to understand the factors influencing sustainable maintenance in the industry. This model can be used by an organization's maintenance managers to implement sustainable maintenance practices in their plants.

Originality/value

This study analyzes the interrelationship between factors influencing sustainable maintenance in manufacturing industries, which is a new effort in this domain of practice.
Are ESG stocks safe-haven during COVID-19?
Authors: Rubbaniy Ghulame , Khalid Ali Awais , Rizwan Muhammad Faisal , Ali Shoaib
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate safe-haven properties of environmental, social and governance (ESG) stocks in global and emerging ESG stock markets during the times of COVID-19 so that portfolio managers and equity market investors could decide to use ESG stocks in their portfolio hedging strategies during times of health and market crisis similar to COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a wavelet coherence framework on four major ESG stock indices from global and emerging stock markets, and two proxies of COVID-19 fear over the period from 5 February 2020 to 18 March 2021.

Findings

The results of the study show a positive co-movement of the global COVID-19 fear index (GFI) with ESG stock indices on the frequency band of 32 to 64 days, which confirms hedging and safe-haven properties of ESG stocks using the health fear proxy of COVID-19. However, the relationship between all indices and GFI is mixed and inconclusive on a frequency of 0–8 days. Further, the findings do not support the safe-haven characteristics of ESG indices using the market fear proxy (IDEMV index) of COVID-19. The robustness analysis using the CBOE VIX as a proxy of market fear supports that ESG indices do not possess safe-haven properties. The results of the study conclude that the safe-haven properties of ESG indices during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is contingent upon the proxy of COVID-19 fear.

Practical implications

The findings have important implications for the equity investors and assetty managers to improve their portfolio performance by including ESG stocks in their portfolio choice during the COVID-19 pandemic and similar health crisis. However, their investment decisions could be affected by the choice of COVID-19 proxy.

Originality/value

The authors believe in the originality of the paper due to following reasons. First, to the best of the knowledge, this is the first study investigating the safe-haven properties of ESG stocks. Second, the authors use both health fear (GFI) and market fear (IDEMV index) proxies of COVID-19 to compare whether safe-haven properties are characterized by health fear or market fear due to COVID-19. Finally, the authors use the wavelet coherency framework, which not only takes both time and frequency dimensions of the data into account but also remains unaffected by data stationarity and size issues.
The partisan nature of support for democratic backsliding: A comparative perspective
Authors: GIDENGIL ELISABETH , STOLLE DIETLIND , BERGERON‐BOUTIN OLIVIER
Published: December 2021

This article asks whether the willingness of partisans to condone democratic backsliding is a uniquely American phenomenon and explores why partisans would tolerate a party leader subverting democratic norms. We focus on executive aggrandizement as a key mechanism through which democratic backsliding occurs and develop three potential explanations for why partisans would accept the weakening of checks on the power of the executive. First, in a context of affective polarization, partisans may condone executive aggrandizement in order to advantage their party and disadvantage the opponent. Second, partisans may be willing to trade off democratic norms in pursuit of their ideological agenda. Third, partisans may take cues from the behaviour of party elites. These explanations are tested using a candidate‐choice conjoint experiment administered to Americans and Canadians in 2019 that involved respondents choosing between hypothetical candidates in intra‐party contests. Regardless of party, partisans in both countries proved willing to choose candidates who would loosen legislative and judicial restraints on the executive. While the partisan advantage explanation only held for strong Republicans in the United States, partisans in Canada and the United States alike were apparently willing to weaken restraints on the executive for the sake of their ideological agendas, at least in the case of abortion. Finally, Republicans who approved of the Trump presidency were much less likely than other Republicans to punish undemocratic candidates, lending support to the cue‐taking explanation.
Evaluation of manubriosternal joint fusion and second costal cartilage calcification: Are they useful for estimating advanced age groups?
Authors: Oktay Cemil , Aytaç Güneş
Published: December 2021

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the manubriosternal joint (MSJ) to estimate the minimum chronological age of complete fusion, and how changes in this joint influence age estimation. The study also focused on investigating the calcification patterns of the second costal cartilage (SCC), as they may be related to age. Between January and September 2020, individuals between 30 and 80 years of age, who underwent chest tomography at our institution, were listed by sex and divided into five groups according to age with intervals of 10 years. Twenty patients from each age group and sex were randomly selected, and 200 patients were evaluated. The relationship between age and changes in MSJ and SCC was evaluated. The incidence of complete fusion did not differ significantly between the 30 and 80 age groups. A significant difference was found between the age groups and MSJ degeneration (p < 0.001). The degree of MSJ degeneration and calcification in SCC significantly increased with age, but the range was wide. These values might be used to support traditionally accepted age‐estimation methods but not as independent indicators of specific age ranges.
Intracranial atherosclerotic disease and acute ischaemic stroke: A review of diagnosis and management
Authors: Nguyen Lauren , Maingard Julian , Jhamb Ashu , Brooks Mark , Barras Christen , Kok Hong Kuan , Asadi Hamed
Published: December 2021

Intracranial atherosclerotic disease is highly prevalent and a common cause of ischaemic stroke globally. With the increasing use of endovascular treatment for acute stroke management, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging have become an essential part of patient selection. In this review, we present the typical imaging findings of intracranial atherosclerosis and an overview of management as relevant to diagnostic and interventional radiologists.
Loss of lamin‐B1 and defective nuclear morphology are hallmarks of astrocyte senescence in vitro and in the aging human hippocampus
Authors: Matias Isadora , Diniz Luan Pereira , Damico Isabella Vivarini , Araujo Ana Paula Bergamo , Neves Laís da Silva , Vargas Gabriele , Leite Renata E. P. , Suemoto Claudia K. , Nitrini Ricardo , Jacob‐Filho Wilson , Grinberg Lea T. , Hol Elly M. , Middeldorp Jinte , Gomes Flávia Carvalho Alcantara
Published: December 2021

The increase in senescent cells in tissues, including the brain, is a general feature of normal aging and age‐related pathologies. Senescent cells exhibit a specific phenotype, which includes an altered nuclear morphology and transcriptomic changes. Astrocytes undergo senescence in vitro and in age‐associated neurodegenerative diseases, but little is known about whether this process also occurs in physiological aging, as well as its functional implication. Here, we investigated astrocyte senescence in vitro, in old mouse brains, and in post‐mortem human brain tissue of elderly. We identified a significant loss of lamin‐B1, a major component of the nuclear lamina, as a hallmark of senescent astrocytes. We showed a severe reduction of lamin‐B1 in the dentate gyrus of aged mice, including in hippocampal astrocytes, and in the granular cell layer of the hippocampus of post‐mortem human tissue from non‐demented elderly. The lamin‐B1 reduction was associated with nuclear deformations, represented by an increased incidence of invaginated nuclei and loss of nuclear circularity in senescent astrocytes in vitro and in the aging human hippocampus. We also found differences in lamin‐B1 levels and astrocyte nuclear morphology between the granular cell layer and polymorphic layer in the elderly human hippocampus, suggesting an intra‐regional‐dependent aging response of human astrocytes. Moreover, we described senescence‐associated impaired neuritogenic and synaptogenic capacity of mouse astrocytes. Our findings show that reduction of lamin‐B1 is a conserved feature of hippocampal cells aging, including astrocytes, and shed light on significant defects in nuclear lamina structure which may contribute to astrocyte dysfunctions during aging.
Prevalence of paediatric hyperinflammatory conditions in paediatric and adolescent hospitalized COVID‐19 patients: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Sharma Divyansh , Bhaskar Sonu M. M.
Published: December 2021

In the milieu of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), there are increasing reports of paediatric hyperinflammatory conditions (PHICs), including multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS‐C), paediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome temporally associated with SARS‐CoV‐2 (PIMS‐TS) and Kawasaki disease (KD). Few analyses of PHIC prevalence in paediatric and adolescent hospitalized COVID‐19 patients exist. The purpose of this study was to perform a meta‐analysis to determine a pooled prevalence estimate of PHICs in paediatric and adolescent hospitalized patients admitted for treatment due to COVID‐19. Individual studies were retrieved from PubMed/Medline, EMBASE and Cochrane databases. Relevant prevalence, baseline, treatment and outcome data were extracted using a standardized datasheet. The systematic review and meta‐analysis were conducted as per the PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines. Overall, 14 studies with 2202 patients admitted for treatment due to COVID‐19, among whom 780 were diagnosed with PHICs, were included. The crude estimate of prevalence was 35.42%, and the pooled estimate of prevalence was 29% (random pooled ES = 0.29; 95% CIs = 0.18–0.42; p < 0.0001; z = 7.45). A sizeable proportion of paediatric and adolescent hospitalized patients admitted for treatment due to COVID‐19 are diagnosed with a PHIC warranting a high index of clinical suspicion for PHICs. Further studies are required to validate these findings.
Passive regeneration of subtropical grassland vegetation in a chronosequence of ex‐cultivated fields in Australia
Authors: Osazuwa Omofomwan Kingsley , Dwyer John Matthew , Fensham Roderick
Published: December 2021

Aim

In Australia, natural grasslands largely occur on fertile clay soils and have consequently been extensively cultivated since European settlement. Other studies have demonstrated that passive restoration of subtropical grassland is possible in environments where there is substantial native remnant vegetation in the surrounding landscape. This study examined a chronosequence of abandoned fields to investigate the recovery of fragmented grassland in a matrix of cultivated land with significant exotic species that may impede succession.

Location

Darling Downs, Queensland, Australia.

Methods

In this study we surveyed a chronosequence of ex‐cultivated subtropical grasslands in Queensland's Darling Downs, where only 1% of the original grasslands remain. Floristic surveys were carried out in 80 fallow sites up to 51 years old, and data were compared with 16 previously surveyed remnant grasslands on the same land type.

Results

Richness of native species increased with time since cultivation and approached, but did not reach, that of remnant grasslands after 51 years, whereas the richness of exotics declined with time since cultivation. Rainfall and grazing positively and negatively affected exotic plant abundance respectively and these factors had no significant direct or indirect effect on the native species richness. In terms of composition, fallow grasslands supported 54% of the native plant species from remnant grasslands after 51 years. The native perennial grasses Dichanthium sericeum and Aristida leptopoda were the only dominant species in the remnants that were present in more than 60% of the fallow grasslands. Of the species from remnants that were “missing” from fallow sites, most were native perennial forbs and grasses. Compositional dissimilarity of fallow grassland to remnant grasslands remained high after 51 years (78%). Grassland species that are uncommon in nearby hill woodlands were preferentially absent in fallow grassland and this partly explains the slow compositional recovery.

Conclusion

In a highly fragmented landscape, passive restoration is only partially effective. The restoration of grassland is probably enhanced by repositories of native seeds from hill woodlands that are too rocky to cultivate. However, some species may have to be actively reintroduced to achieve complete recovery. In this landscape, where grazing is a dominant land use, exotic species do not seem to impede succession.
Adults who are more anxious and were anxiously attached as children report later first memories
Authors: Harmon‐Jones Sylvia K. , Richardson Rick
Published: December 2021

Here, we examined retrospective reports of adults’ earliest autobiographical memory, the age of this report and whether the reported age was associated with exposure to early life adversity, current anxiety and childhood attachment. Across four studies, we found that reporting a later ‘earliest’ memory was associated with higher self‐reported anxiety in both American (Studies 1, 2 and 4) and Australian (Study 3) samples. Furthermore, in Studies 2–4, we found that reporting a later earliest memory uniquely predicted anxiety when controlling for number of adverse childhood events (a risk factor for the development of anxiety). In Study 4, we established that this relation is partially mediated by childhood anxious attachment. Although we consistently demonstrated that later earliest memories were associated with current anxiety, we found little evidence for a relation between reported age at the time of earliest memory and childhood adversity. We also found no evidence of gender differences in the associations of interest. These results suggest that poorer memory of early childhood is associated with greater childhood anxious attachment and anxiety in adulthood. The implications of this work are discussed in terms of the adaptive nature of autobiographical memory and the development of a coherent life narrative.
Impaired dynamic cerebral autoregulation is associated with the severity of neuroimaging features of cerebral small vessel disease
Authors: Liu Zhaojun , Ma Hongyin , Guo Zhen‐Ni , Wang Le , Qu Yang , Fan Lei , Liu Xingliang , Liu Jie , Zhu Yuanyuan , Yang Yi
Published: December 2021

Aims

Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is characterized by functional and structural changes in small vessels. We aimed to elucidate the relationship between dynamic cerebral autoregulation (dCA) and neuroimaging characteristics of CSVD.

Methods

A case‐control study was performed. Cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) of bilateral middle cerebral arteries and spontaneous arterial blood pressure were simultaneously recorded. Transfer function analysis was used to calculate dCA parameters (phase, gain, and the rate of recovery of CBFV [RoRc]). Neuroimaging characteristics of CSVD patients were evaluated, including lacunes, white matter hyperintensities (WMH), cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), perivascular spaces (PVS), and the total CSVD burden.

Results

Overall, 113 patients and 83 controls were enrolled. Compared with the control group, the phase at low frequency and the RoRc in CSVD patients were lower, and the gain at very low and low frequencies were higher, indicating bilaterally impaired dCA. Total CSVD burden, WMH (total, periventricular and deep), severe PVS, and lobar CMBs were independently correlated with the phase at low frequency.

Conclusions

Our findings suggested that dCA was compromised in CSVD patients, and some specific neuroimaging characteristics (the total CSVD burden, WMH, severe PVS and lobar CMBs) might indicate more severe dCA impairment in CSVD patients.
Gianotti‐Crosti Syndrom‐ähnliche Reaktion bei Molluscum contagiosum –Klinische Charakteristika und Therapieansprechen
Authors: Bürgler Christina , Weibel Lisa , Schwieger‐ Briel Agnes , Knöpfel Nicole , Luchsinger Isabelle , Theiler Martin
Published: December 2021

Hintergrund und Ziele

Molluscum contagiosum (MC) ist eine häufige Virusinfektion der Haut. Bei gewissen Patienten mit MC kann eine Hypersensitivitätsreaktion ähnlich des Gianotti‐Crosti‐Syndroms beobachtet werden. Diese wird Gianotti‐Crosti syndrome‐like reaction (GCLR, Gianotti‐Crosti‐Syndrom‐ähnliche Reaktion) genannt. Wir berichten über eine Kohorte von Patienten mit GCLR, um deren klinische Präsentation und Verlauf besser zu charakterisieren.

Patienten und Methodik

Retrospektive Studie mit Einschluss aller Kinder, welche sich zwischen 2015 und 2020 mit einer GCLR in unserem pädiatrischen Hautzentrum vorgestellt haben.

Resultate

26 Patienten (14 männlich) mit einem medianen Alter von 6.5 (3–11,3) Jahren wurden eingeschlossen. Die GCLR hat bei allen Patienten die Streckseiten der Extremitäten betroffen. Bei Kindern mit ausgedehntem Ausschlag waren bei 7 (27 %) auch der Stamm und bei 6 (23 %) auch das Gesicht mitbetroffen. Der Befall der Haut über der Achillessehne war ein auffälliges Phänomen bei 4 (15 %) Kindern. Juckreiz war das vorherrschende Symptom bei 20 (77 %) Patienten. Der Ausschlag hat gut auf die Behandlung mit topischen und/oder systemischen Kortikosteroiden angesprochen und ist innerhalb von 4 Wochen abgeklungen. Bei allen Patienten folgte innerhalb von 9 (4–24) Wochen nach der GCLR die Abheilung der MC.

Schlussfolgerungen

GCLR ist ein charakteristischer, akuter, ausgedehnter, juckender papulöser Ausschlag und führt häufig zu Notfallkonsultationen und Verunsicherung der betroffenen Patienten. Die GCLR spricht gut auf eine Behandlung mit Kortikosteroiden an, hat einen gutartigen Verlauf und geht der Abheilung der MC voraus.
Podocarpus in the palaeogeographically complex island of Hispaniola: A stepping‐stone colonization and conservation recommendations
Authors: Nieto‐Blázquez María Esther , Quiroga María Paula , Premoli Andrea C. , Roncal Julissa
Published: December 2021

Aim

Hispaniola is the second largest island in the Caribbean and a hot spot of biodiversity. The island was formed by the fusion of a northern and southern palaeo‐islands during the mid‐Miocene (15 Ma). The historical split of Hispaniola together with repeated marine incursions during the Pleistocene is known to have influenced lineage divergence and genetic structure in a few birds and mammals, but the effect on vascular plants is less understood. The conifer genus Podocarpus has two species, P.hispaniolensis and P.buchii, that are endemic to the mountains of Hispaniola and are IUCN endangered. The former occurs in the mountains of the north, and the latter in the south, with a region of sympatry in the Cordillera Central. Here, we evaluate the historical split of the two palaeo‐islands and repeated marine incursions as dispersal barriers to the geographical distribution of genetic diversity, genetic structure, divergence patterns and the historical demography of the two species.

Location

Hispaniola island, Caribbean.

Methods

Using genotyping‐by‐sequencing in 47 Podocarpus samples, we identified two sets of single nucleotide polymorphisms for our analyses (74,260 and 22,657 SNPs). We conducted a phylogenetic and an approximate Bayesian computation analysis to test evolutionary hypotheses of sympatric and allopatric speciation and stepping‐stone colonization.

Results

Podocarpus showed a population genetic structure that corresponds to the geographic distribution of the species. Podocarpus on Hispaniola fit a stepping‐stone colonization model with bottlenecks at each mountain colonization event and speciation in Cordillera Central.

Main conclusions

The historical events in question did not seem to have influenced the genetic structure, diversity or demography of Podocarpus; instead, the current geographic barriers imposed by lowland xeric valleys did. The clear divergence between species together with the elevated within‐population genetic diversity and significant genetic structure calls for a multi‐population in situ conservation of each species.
LevelMind@JC: Development and evaluation of a community early intervention program for young people in Hong Kong
Authors: Hui Christy L.‐M. , Suen Yi‐Nam , Lam Bess Y.‐H. , Wong Stephanie M.‐Y. , Wong Corine S.‐M. , Lui Simon S.‐Y. , Chan Kai‐Tai , Wong Michael T.‐H. , Chan Sherry K.‐W. , Lee Edwin H.‐M. , Chang Wing‐Chung , Wong Gloria H.‐Y. , Chen Eric Y.‐H.
Published: December 2021

Aim

Hong Kong's existing mental health services are inadequate in addressing young people's needs. The LevelMind@JC project established an early intervention platform of community‐based youth‐specific mental health centres involving youth workers, cross‐disciplinary professionals, and young people. The project intends to (1) pilot a community platform that incorporates a youth‐friendly early screening tool with preventative intervention capabilities, (2) set up a state‐of‐the‐art training system for youth mental health workers, (3) establish a community clinical support team and (4) develop a timely evaluation system to monitor the service and evaluate its outcome and cost‐effectiveness against generic youth services.

Methods

Six hundred LevelMind@JC service users will be assessed alongside 600 young people visiting generic youth centres and 100 young people in the community. Participants will be matched according to age, gender, years of education, socioeconomic status, and level of distress. Assessments, administered at baseline and at 3, 6 and 12 months, will cover demographic characteristics, psychological distress, quality of life, depressive and anxiety symptoms, functioning, physical health and lifestyle, personality and social measures, cognitive measures and health economics. Mixed‐model ANOVAs will be used to indicate interactions between services and between time points.

Conclusion

Built upon a community‐based support model, LevelMind@JC aims to promote positive mental health in young people through the collaboration of cross‐disciplinary mental health professionals. If efficacy and cost‐effectiveness are established, the project could be scaled up, implicating a wider reach of care. We anticipate its success to be critical in combatting mental health issues stemming from both personal and population‐level stressors.
Anterograde interference emerges along a gradient as a function of task similarity: A behavioural study
Authors: Hamel Raphaël , Lepage Jean‐François , Bernier Pierre‐Michel
Published: December 2021

Anterograde interference emerges when two opposite (B → A) or identical tasks (A → A) are learned in close temporal succession, suggesting that interference cannot be fully accounted for by competing memories. Informed by neurobiological evidence, this work tested the hypothesis that interference depends upon the degree of overlap between the neural networks involved in the learning of two tasks. In a fully within‐subject and counterbalanced design, participants (n = 24) took part in two learning sessions where the putative overlap between learning‐specific neural networks was behaviourally manipulated across four conditions by modifying reach direction and the effector used during gradual visuomotor adaptation. The results showed that anterograde interference emerged regardless of memory competition—that is, to a similar extent in the B → A and A → A conditions—and along a gradient as a function of the tasks' similarity. Specifically, learning under similar reaching conditions generated more anterograde interference than learning under dissimilar reaching conditions, suggesting that putatively overlapping neural networks are required to generate interference. Overall, these results indicate that competing memories are not the sole contributor to anterograde interference and suggest that overlapping neural networks between two learning sessions are required to trigger interference. One discussed possibility is that initial learning modifies the properties of its neural networks to constrain further plasticity induction and learning capabilities, therefore causing anterograde interference in a network‐dependent manner. One implication is that learning‐specific neural networks must be maximally dissociated to minimize the interfering influences of previous learning on subsequent learning.
Avoiding the middle‐income trap: The spatial–temporal effects of human capital on regional economic growth in Northeast China
Authors: Yu Tingting , Rong Ah , Hao Feilong
Published: December 2021

Northeast China has seen a remarkable transition from rustbelt to economic revival over the past decade. However, promoting sustainable economic growth is a major issue facing Northeast China after entering the middle‐income stage of development. Based on a panel data set of 34 prefecture‐level cities in Northeast China from 2001 to 2018, this paper constructs a human capital index in terms of both quantity (educational capital) and quality (health capital) and uses the generalized method of moments (GMMs) to explore the spatial–temporal effects of human capital on economic growth under the “middle‐income trap.” The results show that a key factor keeping Northeast China in the middle‐income stage is the loss of highly qualified labor and that the previous attribution of the economic downturn to the population exodus is inaccurate. Although the results of this study indicate that the demographic dividend during the demographic transition period has ended in Northeast China and that the associated low‐cost advantage has been lost, the “talent dividend” can still be obtained by improving the level of human capital and thus promoting sustainable economic growth.
Involved fatherhood and the workplace context: A new theoretical approach
Authors: Atkinson Jamie
Published: December 2021

The prevalence of the ideal worker norm and the unwillingness of organizations to acknowledge the transition to fatherhood as a life‐changing event are key factors that continue to inhibit men who pursue greater involvement as parents. This article applies fresh theoretical perspectives that influence the situated agency of new fathers in the workplace. It argues that informal structural conditions at organizational level, specifically the organization of working time (materialized by the influence of organizational rhythms) and the difficulty of articulating a caring masculine identity are factors that significantly contribute to the debate on fathers' reluctance to embrace involved fatherhood. Drawing together the issues discussed above, the article presents a conceptual model, which argues for a recursive relationship between fathers' ability to achieve involved fatherhood and these structural conditions in an organizational context. The article concludes by considering the practical implications of the model for fathers and organizations and presenting a research agenda based on the issues raised.
Percutaneous ablation or minimally invasive partial nephrectomy for cT1a renal masses? A propensity score‐matched analysis
Authors: Bianchi Lorenzo , Chessa Francesco , Piazza Pietro , Ercolino Amelio , Mottaran Angelo , Recenti Dario , Serra Carla , Gaudiano Caterina , Cappelli Alberta , Modestino Francesco , Golfieri Rita , Bertaccini Alessandro , Marcelli Emanuela , Porreca Angelo , Celia Antonio , Schiavina Riccardo
Published: December 2021

Objective

Local tumor ablation to treat small renal mass is increasing. The aim of the present study was to compare oncologic outcomes among patients with T1 renal mass treated with partial nephrectomy and local tumor ablation.

Methods

To reduce the inherent differences between patients undergoing laparoscopic or robot‐assisted partial nephrectomy (n = 405) and local tumor ablation (n = 137), we used a 1:1 propensity score‐matched analysis. Local tumor ablation consisted of radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation. Disease‐free survival, overall survival and other causes mortality‐free survival rates were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Multivariable logistic regression and competing‐risk regression models were used to identify predictors of complications, recurrence and other causes mortality, respectively.

Results

Partial nephrectomy had higher disease‐free survival estimates, as compared with local tumor ablation (92.8% vs 80.4% at 5 years, P = 0.02), with no significant difference between radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation (P = 0.9). Ablation showed comparable overall survival estimates to partial nephrectomy (91% vs 95.8% at 5 years, P = 0.6). The 5‐year recurrence rates were 7.9% versus 23.8% for patients aged ≤70 years, and 2.5% versus 11.9% for patients aged >70 years treated with partial nephrectomy and ablation, respectively; the 5‐year other causes mortality rates were 0% and 2.2% for patients treated with partial nephrectomy and ablation aged ≤70 years, and 3% versus 10.9% for patients aged >70 years treated with partial nephrectomy and ablation, respectively. At multivariable analysis, ablation was associated with fewer complications (odds ratio 0.41; P = 0.01). At competing risks analysis, age (hazard ratio 0.96) and ablation (hazard ratio 4.56) were independent predictors of disease recurrence (all P ≤ 0.008).

Conclusions

Local tumor ablation showed a higher risk of recurrence and lower risk of complications compared with partial nephrectomy, with comparable overall survival rates.
Masters age football and cardiovascular risk
Authors: Francis Matthew A. , Buckley Thomas , Tofler Alexander R. , Tofler Geoffrey H.
Published: December 2021

Background

Football (soccer) is popular among those of Masters age (≥35 years). Although regular exercise improves health, strenuous exercise causes a transient increase in cardiac risk.

Aim

To gain insight into cardiac risk factors, symptoms, and knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about myocardial infarction (MI), and support for prevention.

Methods

A web‐based survey using REDCap was completed by 153 amateur Masters footballers from A grade competition (n = 24), B or lower grade (n = 95) or social games (n = 34) in Sydney, Australia.

Results

Participants were aged 49.3 ± 7.5 years and primarily male (92.2%), Caucasian (88.9%) and university educated (75.2%). Risk factors included hypercholesterolaemia (37.3%), hypertension (19.6%), smoker (7.8%), overweight (40.5%) or obese (13.1%). One‐fifth (21.6%) reported ≥1 potential cardiac symptom during activity in the prior year, for which one‐quarter (24.2%) sought medical attention. Knowledge of typical MI symptoms was high (>80%) but lower (<40%) for less typical symptoms. Half (49.6%) were not confident to recognise MI in themselves. Half (49.0%) would remain on the field for 5–10 min with chest pain. Only 39.9% were aware that warning signs might precede MI by days. They overestimated survival from cardiac arrest (43%). Participants supported training in automatic external defibrillators (AED) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (84%), AED at games (85%) and cardiac education (>70%).

Conclusions

Cardiac risk factors are common In Masters footballers, with one in five experiencing possible cardiac symptoms in the prior year. While gaps exist in knowledge and optimal responses, strong support exists for preventive measures.
Analyses of lambing dates in sheep breeds using von Mises distribution
Authors: Id‐Lahoucine Samir , Schaeffer Larry R. , Cánovas Angela , Casellas Joaquim
Published: December 2021

Regular changes in the environment and biological responses generate seasonal patterns in the reproduction in small ruminants. Breeding seasonality is a significant constraint impacting efficiency of lamb production. However, seasonality‐related traits present a special peculiarity from a statistical point of view being circular data (day of year running 1:365). Recently, circular mixed models have been developed on the basis of the von Mises distribution and were applied to analyse lambing day distribution recorded from five major Canadian sheep breeds (Rideau Arcott, Romanov, Dorset, Suffolk and Polypay). In a simulation study, the linear model was not able to capture the variance components simulated under the circular paradigm; however, the von Mises model evidenced its ability to infer the variance components of simulated circular records. Using real data of sheep, mostly negligible variances were observed for additive genetic effect when using a linear model on circular data values. In contrast, when using the von Mises model, genetic variances were different across breeds, and it raises the possibility to delay the peak of reproduction and to change the seasonality of the ewes. However, a large variance was captured by flock‐year effects emphasizing the strong influence of management in lambing seasons for Canadian sheep populations. Finally, the results suggest the potential of using the von Mises model to analyse circular data, and further research is needed for better understand the complexity of this trait and the von Mises models.
Syncytiotrophoblast‐derived extracellular vesicles carry apolipoprotein‐E and affect lipid synthesis of liver cells in vitro
Authors: Tersigni Chiara , Furqan Bari Muhammad , Cai Shijei , Zhang Wei , Kandzija Neva , Buchan Alice , Miranda Fabrizio , Di Simone Nicoletta , Redman Christopher W. , Bastie Claire , Vatish Manu
Published: December 2021

In normal pregnancy, hepatic metabolism adaptation occurs with an increase in lipid biosynthesis. Placental shedding of syncytiotrophoblast‐derived extracellular vesicles (STBEVs) into the maternal circulation constitutes a major signalling mechanism between foetus and mother. We investigated whether STBEVs from normal pregnant women might target liver cells in vitro and induce changes in lipid synthesis. This study was performed at the Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, Oxford, UK. STBEVs were obtained by dual‐lobe placental perfusion from 11 normal pregnancies at term. Medium/large and small STBEVs were collected by ultracentrifugation at 10,000g and 150,000g, respectively. STBEVs were analysed by Western blot analysis and flow cytometry for co‐expression of apolipoprotein‐E (apoE) and placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP). The uptake of STBEVs by liver cells and the effect on lipid metabolism was evaluated using a hepatocarcinoma cell line (HepG2 cells). Data were analysed by one‐way ANOVA and Student's t test. We demonstrated that: (a) STBEVs carry apoE; (b) HepG2 cells take up STBEVs through an apoE‐LDL receptor interaction; (c) STBEV incorporation into HepG2 cells resulted in (i) increased cholesterol release (ELISA); (ii) increased expression of the genes SQLE and FDPS (microarray) involved in cholesterol biosynthesis; (iii) downregulation of the CLOCK gene (microarray and PCR), involved in the circadian negative control of lipid synthesis in liver cells. In conclusion, the placenta may orchestrate the metabolic adaptation of the maternal liver through release of apoE‐positive STBEVs, by increasing lipid synthesis in a circadian‐independent fashion, meeting the nutritional needs of the growing foetus.
IGF2BP3 promotes cell metastasis and is associated with poor patient survival in nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Xu Yun , Guo Zhoubo , Peng Hewei , Guo Lanyan , Wang Ping
Published: December 2021

Metastasis contributes to treatment failure in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients. Our study aimed at elucidating the role of insulin‐like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3) in NPC metastasis and the underlying mechanism involved. IGF2BP3 expression in NPC was determined by bioinformatics, quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry analyses. The biological function of IGF2BP3 was investigated by using in vitro and in vivo studies. In this study, IGF2BP3 mRNA and protein levels were elevated in NPC tissues. In addition, IGF2BP3 exerted an oncogenic role by promoting epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT), thereby inducing NPC cell migration and invasion. Further studies revealed that IGF2BP3 regulated the expression of key regulators of EMT by activating AKT/mTOR signalling, thus stimulating NPC cell migration and invasion. Remarkably, targeting IGF2BP3 delayed NPC metastasis through attenuating p‐AKT and vimentin expression and inducing E‐cadherin expression in vivo. Moreover, IGF2BP3 protein levels positively correlated with distant metastasis after initial treatment. Importantly, IGF2BP3 expression served as an independent prognostic factor in predicting the overall survival and distant metastasis‐free survival of NPC patients. This work identifies IGF2BP3 as a novel prognostic marker and a new target for NPC treatment.