bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Glycomic profiling of the gut microbiota by Glycan-seq
Authors: Oinam Lalhaba , Minoshima Fumi , Tateno Hiroaki
Published: June 2021

Background

There has been immense interest in studying the relationship between the gut microbiota and human health. Bacterial glycans modulate the cross talk between the gut microbiota and its host. However, little is known about these glycans because of the lack of appropriate technology to study them.

Methods

We previously developed a sequencing-based glycan profiling method called Glycan-seq, which is based on the use of 39 DNA-barcoded lectins. In this study, we applied this technology to analyze the glycome of the intact gut microbiota of mice. Fecal microbiota was incubated with 39 DNA-barcoded lectins exposed to UV, and the number of released DNA barcodes were counted by next-generation sequencing to obtain a signal for each lectin bound to the microbiota. In parallel, the bacterial composition of the gut microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Finally, we performed a lectin pull-down experiment followed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing to identify lectin-reactive bacteria.

Results

The evaluation of cultured gram-positive (Deinococcus radiodurans) and gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria showed significantly distinct glycan profiles between these bacteria, which were selected and further analyzed by flow cytometry. The results of flow cytometry agreed well with those obtained by Glycan-seq, indicating that Glycan-seq can be used for bacterial glycomic analysis. We thus applied Glycan-seq to comparatively analyze the glycomes of young and old mice gut microbiotas. The glycomes of the young and old microbiotas had significantly distinct glycan profiles, which reflect the different bacterial compositions of young and old gut microbiotas based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Therefore, the difference in the glycomic profiles between young and old microbiotas may be due to their differing bacterial compositions. α2-6Sia-binders bound specifically to the young microbiota. Lectin pull-down followed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the young microbiota identified Lactobacillaceae as the most abundant bacterial family with glycans reacting with α2-6Sia-binders.

Conclusion

The Glycan-seq system can, without any prior culturing and fluorescence labeling, reveal the glycomic profile of the intact bacterial gut microbiota. A combination of lectin pull-down and 16S rRNA gene sequencing can identify lectin-reactive bacteria.
A Bayesian inference transcription factor activity model for the analysis of single-cell transcriptomes
Authors: Gao Shang , Dai Yang , Rehman Jalees
Published: June 2021

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has emerged as a powerful experimental approach to study cellular heterogeneity. One of the challenges in scRNA-seq data analysis is integrating different types of biological data to consistently recognize discrete biological functions and regulatory mechanisms of cells, such as transcription factor activities and gene regulatory networks in distinct cell populations. We have developed an approach to infer transcription factor activities from scRNA-seq data that leverages existing biological data on transcription factor binding sites. The Bayesian inference transcription factor activity model (BITFAM) integrates ChIP-seq transcription factor binding information into scRNA-seq data analysis. We show that the inferred transcription factor activities for key cell types identify regulatory transcription factors that are known to mechanistically control cell function and cell fate. The BITFAM approach not only identifies biologically meaningful transcription factor activities, but also provides valuable insights into underlying transcription factor regulatory mechanisms.
8-Methyl-3-methylsulfanyl-8a,8b-dihydro-5H-1-oxa-2,4-diazaacenaphthylene
Authors: Abou Akoun , Bamba Fanté , Marrot Jérôme , Yaya Soro , Coustard Jean-Marie
Published: June 2021

In the tricyclic title compound, C11H12N2OS, the 2,3,4,5-tetrahydropyridine ring adopts a half-chair conformation. This ring makes dihedral angles of 27.72 (7) and 45.17 (7)°, respectively, with the isoxazole and the cyclohexa-1,3-diene rings while the isoxazole ring is oriented at an acute angle of 63.46 (7)° with respect to the cyclohexa-1,3-diene ring. In the crystal, molecules associate via C—H...N hydrogen bonds and C—H...π interactions, forming a three-dimensional network.
A systematic review of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) with people with intellectual disabilities: an unsafe gap in the literature
Authors: Crompton Chloe , Duncan Bethany , Simpson-Adkins Graham
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to systematically review the available evidence that explores adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in people with intellectual disabilities (PwID). It is important to systematically review this literature as, to date, there is little known about the number of studies in this area, despite the World Health Organization declaring ACE prevention and support as a global public health priority.

Design/methodology/approach

Published studies were identified from electronic database searches. Key journals and reference lists were also hand searched.

Findings

Two studies met the inclusion criteria and the prevalence and frequency of ACEs experienced by participants of these studies analysed. Overall, due to the small number of studies meeting the inclusion criteria, it is difficult to establish any meaningful conclusions.

Originality/value

This appears to be the first systematic review to try and identify a research base looking at the prevalence of ACEs within a PwID population. Findings suggest that this is a highly neglected area of research, and the authors hope to have identified that further evidence is required to draw clearer conclusions about the impact of ACEs on PwID.
Business strategies responding to COVID-19: experience of Chinese corporations
Authors: Wu Minyu , Kong Kun
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives adopted by Chinese firms during the outbreak of COVID-19. Facing this unknown, unexpected and devastating disease, Chinese corporations demonstrated their CSR in different approaches. The purpose of this paper is to explore how CSR influences the decisions of the corporations that respond to a severe incident and how corporations can achieve their mission or strategic objectives by responding to a serious incident.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on secondary data and thematic analysis, this paper examines six Chinese corporations which are the leading firms in their respective industries.

Findings

This paper finds that firms adopted a mixed approach to conducting their CSR initiatives, including altruistic, strategic and citizenship CSR initiatives. This paper also confirms that strategic CSR initiatives were in line with the five dimensions of strategic CSR including centrality, specificity, proactivity, visibility and voluntarism. In addition, this paper also shows that a company could create its competitive advantage by carrying out CSR initiatives that are able to strengthen its value chain activities or the competitive context. This is based on the partnership built by the firms with their stakeholders to recognize the shared value.

Practical implications

This paper shows the implication that business leaders should understood the role of a business in society and the importance of stakeholders’ expectations. The underlying philosophy is that CSR could strengthen the resilience of society; business organizations need to operate in a healthy society.

Originality/value

This paper provides insights of Chinese corporations responding to a severe social incident. It highlights the strategic perspective of CSR initiatives and the linkage between CSR activities and a firm’s competitive advantage.
Selection of wearable sensor measurements for monitoring and managing entry-level construction worker fatigue: a logistic regression approach
Authors: Lee Wonil , Lin Ken-Yu , Johnson Peter W. , Seto Edmund Y.W.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The identification of fatigue status and early intervention to mitigate fatigue can reduce the risk of workplace injuries. Off-the-shelf wearable sensors capable of assessing multiple parameters are available. However, using numerous variables in the fatigue prediction model can elicit data issues. This study aimed at identifying the most relevant variables for measuring occupational fatigue among entry-level construction workers by using common wearable sensor technologies, such as electrocardiogram and actigraphy sensors.

Design/methodology/approach

Twenty-two individuals were assigned different task workloads in repeated sessions. Stepwise logistic regression was used to identify the most parsimonious fatigue prediction model. Heart rate variability measurements, standard deviation of NN intervals and power in the low-frequency range (LF) were considered for fatigue prediction. Fast Fourier transform and autoregressive (AR) analysis were employed as frequency domain analysis methods.

Findings

The log-transformed LF obtained using AR analysis is preferred for daily fatigue management, whereas the standard deviation of normal-to-normal NN is useful in weekly fatigue management.

Research limitations/implications

This study was conducted with entry-level construction workers who are involved in manual material handling activities. The findings of this study are applicable to this group.

Originality/value

This is the first study to investigate all major measures obtainable through electrocardiogram and actigraphy among current mainstream wearables for monitoring occupational fatigue in the construction industry. It contributes knowledge on the use of wearable technology for managing occupational fatigue among entry-level construction workers engaged in material handling activities.
Association of child survival with birth size and mother’s BMI: a human right approach
Authors: Singh Abhishek , Jain Kshipra
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Children are the most vulnerable group owing to long lasting impact of the violation of human rights in term of proper nutrition and their right to live. The purpose of this paper is to assess the risk of child mortality associated with size of child at birth and mother’s anemia level in northern India.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were used from 2015–2016 National Family Health Survey (NFHS). The participants (n= 41,412) were children aged under-five years from north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The main outcome measure was child deaths defined by under-five mortality. The univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses were used in data analysis. Kaplan–Meier analyses, Log-rank tests and Cox’s regression analyses were performed to fulfill the objective of the study.

Findings

There were a total of 2,835 deaths out of 41,412 births in the past five years preceding the survey period. Children of very small size at birth were significantly two and half times more likely to die than children of average size at birth. The estimated adjusted hazard ratio indicated that the children of severely anemic mothers were significantly 1.5 times more likely to die compared to children of not anemic mothers. Size of child at birth, mother’s anemia level, mother’s age at time of her first birth, wealth index and mother’s education were significantly associated with the under-five mortality in northern India.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of this study is recall errors arising from the dates of birth and death given by women interviewed in the survey were minimized by restricting the analyses to births within the five-year period preceding the survey.

Practical implications

This study advocates the promotion of comprehensive prevention strategies through appropriate institutional mechanism would be the best intervention or adaptive mechanism to reduce the adverse impact of size of child at birth, mother’s anemia level on under-five mortality in Uttar Pradesh, India.

Originality/value

This research is original. This study enjoys a unique importance by exploring effect of size of child at birth and mother’s anemia on child survival in developing countries like India.
Role of personal anxiety in individual kaizen behaviour and performance: evidence from Japan
Authors: Yokozawa Kodo , Nguyen Hao Anh , Tran Thi Bich Hanh
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study examines the role of anxiety in kaizen behaviour and performance by empirically testing the influence of personal anxiety (state and trait) on individual kaizen behaviours (rule adherence, initiative and perseverance of effort), which, in turn, affect individual kaizen performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were obtained from a survey of 552 employees of four companies in Japan and analysed using structural equation modelling.

Findings

The results show that state anxiety has a significantly positive effect on rule adherence and kaizen performance. Trait anxiety positively influences employees' initiative and perseverance but has a significant negative effect on kaizen performance.

Originality/value

This study contributes to kaizen and continuous improvement theory by focussing on individual kaizen, which is considered to be as important as organisation-level kaizen and investigating the relevance of personal anxiety in individual kaizen behaviours and kaizen performance.
Digital information product development: lessons from a small-sized German enterprise
Authors: Keller Pascal , Lima Afonso
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This case study examines the new product development (NPD) process of digital information products (DIPs) and its critical success factors (CSFs) in a small-sized German enterprise.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study was conducted with a small firm focused on the development of DIPs; data were obtained through semi-structured interviews, direct observation and document analysis.

Findings

The firm uses an informal and cross-functional NPD process (idea generation, idea validation, product creation and product launch) in converting an idea into a sellable product. Peculiar aspects of each stage within the process as well as ten CSFs to NPD projects were verified.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations are attributed to its qualitative nature, which does not allow generalizations, though careful attention was given to validity and reliability issues through the use of data source triangulation.

Practical implications

The paper provides a conceptual process that may benefit further initiatives for developing and launching DIPs, as well as a comprehensive list of CSFs for such projects.

Originality/value

This paper is the first one to schematize the NPD process and practices for DIPs, as well as key capabilities. It contributes to the NPD literature in discussing dynamic aspects that are typical to the firm analyzed and to others operating in a digital context. At the same time, it reinforces other traditional aspects that have become overlooked in digital business debates.
Modelling the predictors of consumers’ willingness to pay premium price for sustainable products
Authors: Kamboj Shampy , Matharu Manita
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to increase existing knowledge of consumers’ sustainable products via converging and testing social identity and value-belief-norm theory used in sustainable behaviour literature. More specifically, the present paper incorporated consumers’ orientation towards a lifestyle of health and sustainability (COLOHAS), attitude towards sustainable products’ (ATSP’) purchase, perceived consumer effectiveness and perceived knowledge about sustainability issues as a conceptual framework to understand comprehensively consumers’ willingness to pay premium price (WPPP) for sustainable products.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were gathered through a survey of 850 customers residing at Delhi-NCR and buying sustainable products. Data were analysed using the structural equation modelling approach.

Findings

The results show that perceived consumer effectiveness has a greater descriptive value on their WPPP than do their ATSP’s purchase and perceived knowledge about sustainability issues. Additionally, both dimensions (health consciousness and value orientation towards sustainability) of COLOHAS have been found to have a significant and positive influence on consumer ATSP.

Research limitations/implications

The empirical results offer managers with better insights on how COLOHAS, perceived effectiveness and perceived knowledge about sustainability issues influences their WPPP for sustainable products.

Originality/value

This study adds to the body of literature by emphasizing those cognitive processes that influence the customers’ WPPP for sustainable products. Therefore, this paper presents important information to the managers and marketers about the sustainability aspects.
Investigation and analysis of digital poverty among adolescents in China
Authors: Yuan Jing , Guo Lingyu
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the status quo of digital poverty among adolescents in China, analyze the characteristics and the causes, then propose countermeasures to provide reference for alleviating digital poverty among adolescents.

Design/methodology/approach

The study developed an initial scale of digital poverty among adolescents and used survey data to revise the scale, on this basis, formed a questionnaire, which was distributed to nationwide adolescents. The study developed its findings from the 837 valid questionnaire respondents.

Findings

The digital poverty among adolescents is mainly shown in the poverty of digital ability, digital psychology and digital environment and presents the following characteristics, that is, insufficient information seeking ability and information selection ability needing to be improved; equipped with basic information awareness but lack of information evaluation ability; lack of patience in obtaining information and inclined to the principle of least effort; imperfect knowledge structure and immature psychological emotions and vulnerable to external interference; having a certain relationship with the information environment, but not significantly affected by regional economic differences. Finally, the study puts forward countermeasures to alleviate digital poverty among adolescents.

Practical implications

Understanding of the digital poverty among adolescents will likely demand rethinking into a number of issues ignored by information poverty studies.

Originality/value

Few studies focus on digital poverty among adolescents. This study developed an initial scale of digital poverty among adolescents and revised it by survey data, then conducted an empirical study through questionnaire, which could expand the understanding of information poverty in the field of library and information science.
The relationship between the withdrawal of the digital economy's innovators, government interventions, the marketization level and market size based on big data
Authors: Zhao Yang , Chen Xiaohui
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Digital economic innovation is associated with risks. The lack of a platform's profitability weakens the operation's ability to sustain innovators and increases the possibility of the business' termination. Relevant data demonstrate a significant upward trend in the exit of Chinese innovators of the digital economy. The study aims to clarify the role of an effective government and effective market in the prevention and control of the withdrawal of innovators.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on balanced panel data of 31 provinces and cities from 2010 to 2018, this study uses the individual fixed effect model to study the impact of the marketization level, the market's scale and government interventions on the withdrawal of innovators. Simultaneously, based on the spatial econometric model, this study examines the spatial spillover effect of the withdrawal of innovators.

Findings

Results indicate that government interventions have an inhibiting effect on the withdrawal of innovators. Moreover, there was a positive “U”-shaped nonlinear relationship between the marketization level and the withdrawal of innovators, and an inverse “U”-shaped nonlinear relationship between the market size and the withdrawal of innovators.

Originality/value

The paper first studies the relationship between the exit of innovators and government intervention, marketization level and field scale; takes the lead in the research on the role of the government and effective market in the prevention and control of the exit of innovators from the perspective of the exit of innovators and puts forward policy suggestions to promote the sustainable and healthy development of fintech innovation in China from the market scale and other aspects.
Identification of systemically important banks in India using SRISK
Authors: Gupta Juhi , Kashiramka Smita
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Systemic risk has been a cause of concern for the bank regulatory authorities worldwide since the global financial crisis. This study aims to identify systemically important banks (SIBs) in India by using SRISK to measure the expected capital shortfall of banks in a systemic event. The sample size comprises a balanced data set of 31 listed Indian commercial banks from 2006 to 2019.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the authors have used SRISK to identify banks that have a maximum contribution to the systemic risk of the Indian banking sector. Leverage, size and long-run marginal expected shortfall (LRMES) are used to compute SRISK. Forward-looking LRMES is computed using the GJR-GARCH-dynamic conditional correlation methodology for early prediction of a bank’s contribution to systemic risk.

Findings

This study finds that public sector banks are more vulnerable to macroeconomic shocks owing to their capital inadequacy vis-à-vis the private sector banks. This study also emphasizes that size should not be used as a standalone factor to assess the systemic importance of a bank.

Originality/value

Systemic risk has attracted a lot of research interest; however, it is largely limited to the developed nations. This paper fills an important research gap in banking literature about the identification of SIBs in an emerging economy, India. As SRISK uses both balance sheet and market-based information, it can be used to complement the existing methodology used by the Reserve Bank of India to identify SIBs.
Men with intellectual disabilities and sexual offending histories: an exploration of their experiences of living within a secure hospital setting
Authors: Heppell Stacey , Rose John
Published: June 2021

Purpose

There is a national drive to transform services for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID), to provide care within the community rather than hospital settings. However, there are limited community provisions for those with more complex care needs such as sexual offending. There has been limited research focussing on this client group’s experiences of inpatient services and the treatment they have received from their own perspective. This study aims to explore their experiences of living in a secure service focussing on treatment for sex offences.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 10 men with ID and sexual offending histories took part in an interview designed to explore their experiences of living within a secure hospital setting. The data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Findings

Three key themes relating to the participants’ experiences within the hospital were identified. These were, namely, “hospital environment”, “personal journey through secure services” and “closeness to home”.

Practical implications

Men’s experiences at a secure hospital were generally positive in terms of a supportive staff approach. Difficulties existed around the hospital organisation affecting the support they received.

Originality/value

Some participants experienced a struggle to become more independent and move to less restrictive environments due to their perceived risk levels. Some participants found being away from home to be hard and longed to be closer to their families. Around half of the participants did not want to live near their hometown due to family difficulties, negative peer influences or fears of consequences for their sexual offending. Implications for community service planning are considered.
Comparative study of multifunctional properties of synthesised ZnO and MgO NPs for textiles applications
Authors: Faisal Saira , Naqvi Shenela , Ali Muhammad , Lin Long
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Among various metal oxide nano particles, MgO NPs and ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) in particular are gaining increasing attention due to their multifunctional characteristics, low cost and compatibility with textile materials. Each type of nanoparticle excels over others in certain properties. As such, it is often crucial to carry out comparative studies of NPs to identify the one showing higher efficiency/output for particular applications of textile products.

Design/methodology/approach

In the investigation reported in this paper, ZnO NPs and MgO NPs were synthesised via sol-gel technique and characterised. For comparative analysis, the synthesised NPs were evaluated for multiple properties using standard procedures before and after being applied on cotton fabrics by a dip-pad-dry-cure method.

Findings

XRD and FTIR analyses confirmed the successful synthesis of ZnO and MgO NPs. Homogeneous formation of desired NPs and their dense and uniform deposition on the cotton fibre surface were observed using SEM. ZnO NPs and MgO NPs coatings on cotton were observed to significantly enhance self-cleaning/stain removal properties achieving Grade 5 and Grade 4 categories, respectively. In terms of ultraviolet (UV) protection, ZnO or MgO NP coated fabrics showed UPF values of greater than 50, i.e. excellent in blocking UV rays. MgO NPs exhibited 20% cleaning efficiency in treating reactive dye wastewater against ZnO NPs which were 4% efficient in the same treatment, so MgO was more suitable for such type of treatments at low cost. Both NPs were able to impart multifunctionality to cotton fabrics as per requirement of the end products. However, ZnO NPs were better for stain removal from the fabrics while MgO NPs were appropriate for UV blocking.

Originality/value

It was therefore clear that multifunctional textile products could be developed by employing a single type of cost effective and efficient nano particles.
Effect of structural deformations and bend angle on the collapse load of pipe bends subjected to in-plane closing bending moment
Authors: R. Silambarasan , A.R. Veerappan , S. Shanmugam
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of structural deformations and bend angle on plastic collapse load of pipe bends under an in-plane closing bending moment (IPCM). A large strain formulation of three-dimensional non-linear finite element analysis was performed using an elastic perfectly plastic material. A unified mathematical solution was proposed to estimate the collapse load of pipe bends subjected to IPCM for the considered range of bend characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

ABAQUS was used to create one half of the pipe bend model due to its symmetry on the longitudinal axis. Structural deformations, i.e. ovality (Co) and thinning (Ct) varied from 0% to 20% in 5% steps while the bend angle (ø) varied from 30° to 180° in steps of 30°.

Findings

The plastic collapse load decreases as the bend angle increase for all pipe bend models. A remarkable effect on the collapse load was observed for bend angles between 30° and 120° beyond which a decline was noticed. Ovality had a significant effect on the collapse load with this effect decreasing as the bend angle increased. The combined effect of thinning and bend angle was minimal for the considered models and the maximum per cent variation in collapse load was 5.76% for small bend angles and bend radius pipe bends and less than 2% for other cases.

Originality/value

The effect of structural deformations and bend angle on collapse load of pipe bends exposed to IPCM has been not studied in the existing literature.
Challenges of rural start-ups in Karnataka, India
Authors: Kulkarni Praveen , Mutkekar Rohit , Chiniwar Shashidhar , Ingalagi Sanjeev
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide the insights on the challenges influencing rural start-ups. It provides insights with regards to managerial, operational, marketing and finance-related challenges influencing the rural start-ups in the study. The study aims to expand the domain of start-ups by including a broader range of challenges and related aspects found in the start-up literature.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper opted for an exploratory study using the open-ended approach of grounded theory, including 61 rural start-ups operating in Karnataka, India. The data were analysed through non-parametric test to understand the comparison between different sectors of rural start-ups.

Findings

It suggests that marketing techniques and infrastructure challenges influences the rural start-ups. Therefore, success of start-ups is influenced by these related variables.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the chosen research approach, the research results may lack generalizability. Researchers are therefore encouraged to test the proposed propositions further in the area of challenges and growth in the domain of managerial, infrastructure, marketing, finance, human resource and logistics in rural start-ups. The study is restricted to rural start-ups located in districts of Karnataka, India.

Practical implications

The paper includes implications for managing the challenges for enhancing the growth of start-ups. The paper provides insights on the significant challenges witnessed by the start-ups and provides directions for the growth of start-ups.

Social implications

This paper fulfils an identified need of the start-ups in rural sector and contribute to the growth of start-ups in rural sector of India.

Originality/value

This paper fulfils an identified need to study how rural start-ups operate and create a niece in the growth of Indian economy.
Contemporary evaluation of adverse outcome risks associated with ‘did not wait’ emergency department presentations
Authors: Bin Mohamed Ebrahim Mohamed Eftal , Tang Matthew , Vukasovic Matthew , Coggins Andrew
Published: June 2021

Objective

Did not wait (DNW) is a frequently cited ED key performance indicator. We conducted a network‐based observational study of consecutive DNW presentations.

Methods

Prospective cohort study of Western Sydney Local Health District with a primary outcome measure of reported 30‐day all‐cause mortality and secondary outcomes of demographic characteristics and representation risk. For re‐presenting patients who were subsequently admitted, a manual review of electronic records and incident report systems based on a priori plan assessed each case for the length of stay and adverse outcomes.

Results

During the study window, there were 1114 DNW presentations with 172 (15.4%) re‐presentation within 72 h. The analysis of re‐presented patients did not reveal adverse outcomes or prolonged length of stay. A review of available outcomes data revealed one DNW patient died within 30 days but had a previous palliative plan for terminal illness.

Conclusion

While a proportion of DNW patients re‐presented within 72 h, an excess prevalence of poor outcomes were not observed.
NF‐κB/IKK activation by small extracellular vesicles within the SASP
Authors: Fafián‐Labora Juan Antonio , O’Loghlen Ana
Published: June 2021

Cellular senescence plays an important role in different biological and pathological conditions. Senescent cells communicate with their microenvironment through a plethora of soluble factors, metalloproteases and extracellular vesicles (EV). Although much is known about the role that soluble factors play in senescence, the downstream signalling pathways activated by EV in senescence is unknown. To address this, we performed a small molecule inhibitor screen and have identified the IκB kinases IKKε, IKKα and IKKβ as essential for senescence mediated by EV (evSASP). By using pharmacological inhibitors of IKKε, IKKα and IKKβ, in addition to CRISPR/Cas9 targeting their respective genes, we find these pathways are important in mediating senescence. In addition, we find that senescence activation is dependent on canonical NF‐κB transcription factors where siRNA targeting p65 prevent senescence. Importantly, these IKK pathways are also relevant to ageing as knockout of IKKA, IKKB and IKKE avoid the activation of senescence. Altogether, these findings open a new potential line of investigation in the field of senescence by targeting the negative effects of the evSASP independent of particular EV contents.
Markers with low GenTrain scores can generate spurious signals in genome‐wide scans for transmission ratio distortion
Authors: Luigi‐Sierra María Gracia , Casellas Joaquim , Martínez Amparo , Vicente Delgado Juan , Fernández Álvarez Javier , Such Francesc Xavier , Jordana Jordi , Amills Marcel
Published: June 2021

Transmission ratio distortion (TRD) is the preferential transmission of one specific allele to offspring at the expense of the other. The existence of TRD is mostly explained by the segregation of genetic variants with deleterious effects on the developmental processes that go from the formation of gametes to fecundation and birth. A few years ago, a statistical methodology was implemented in order to detect TRD signals on a genome‐wide scale as a first step toward uncovering the biological basis of TRD and reproductive success in domestic species. In the current work, we have analyzed the impact of SNP calling quality on the detection of TRD signals in a population of Murciano–Granadina goats. Seventeen bucks and their offspring (N = 288) were typed with the Goat SNP50 BeadChip, whereas the genotypes of the dams were lacking. Performance of a genome‐wide scan revealed the existence of 36 SNPs showing significant evidence of TRD. When we calculated GenTrain scores for each of the SNPs, we observed that 25 SNPs showed scores below 0.8. The allele frequencies of these SNPs in the offspring were not correlated with the allele frequencies estimated in the dams with statistical methods, providing evidence that flawed SNP calling quality might lead to the detection of spurious TRD signals. We conclude that, when performing TRD scans, the GenTrain scores of markers should be taken into account to discriminate SNPs that are truly under TRD from those yielding spurious signals owing to technical problems.
“Send Them a Shipload of Rice”: Australia's Food Aid to Indonesia, 1960s–1970s
Authors: van der Eng Pierre
Published: June 2021

This paper asks why it took ten years after a major famine in Indonesia in 1957 for Australia's food aid to increase in greater amounts, and why food aid was so significant in Australia's foreign aid to Indonesia during the late 1960s and 1970s. Indonesia's reluctance to apply for food aid under the Colombo Plan is the reason for the delay. A combination of humanitarian, commercial and international relations interests converged to shape Australia's rapidly growing food aid to Indonesia after 1966. Food aid contributed to alleviating food shortages and famines in Indonesia. It also supported Australian firms in regaining their share in the growing market for wheat‐based products in Indonesia, and in building market share for Australian rice exports, in competition with United States (US) producers and the US PL480 food aid program. Food aid also allowed Australia to expand its foreign aid program to Indonesia rapidly after 1966, in support of the government of new President Soeharto and improved bilateral relations.
A population physiologically‐based pharmacokinetic model to characterize antibody disposition in pediatrics and evaluation of the model using infliximab
Authors: Chang Hsuan Ping , Shakhnovich Valentina , Frymoyer Adam , Funk Ryan Sol , Becker Mara L. , Park K. T. , Shah Dhaval K.
Published: June 2021

Aims

In order to better predict the pharmacokinetics (PK) of antibodies in children, and to facilitate dose optimization of antibodies in paediatric patients, there is a need to develop systems PK models that integrate ontogeny‐related changes in human physiological parameters.

Methods

A population‐based physiological‐based PK (PBPK) model to characterize antibody PK in paediatrics has been developed, by incorporating age‐related changes in body weight, organ weight, organ blood flow rate and interstitial volumes in a previously published platform model. The model was further used to perform Monte Carlo simulations to investigate clearance vs. age and dose–exposure relationships for infliximab.

Results

By estimating only one parameter and associated interindividual variability, the model was able to characterize clinical PK of infliximab from two paediatric cohorts (n = 141, 4–19 years) reasonably well. Model simulations demonstrated that only 50% of children reached desired trough concentrations when receiving FDA‐labelled dosing regimen for infliximab, suggesting that higher doses and/or more frequent dosing are needed to achieve target trough concentrations of this antibody.

Conclusion

The paediatric PBPK model presented here can serve as a framework to characterize the PK of antibodies in paediatric patients. The model can also be applied to other protein therapeutics to advance precision medicine paradigm and optimize antibody dosing regimens in children.
Mean macular intercapillary area in eyes with diabetic macular oedema after anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor therapy and its association with treatment response
Authors: Sorour Osama A. , Elsheikh Mohamed , Chen Siyu , Elnahry Ayman G. , Baumal Caroline R. , Pramil Varsha , Abdelhalim Tamer I. , Nassar Elsayed , Moult Eric M. , Witkin Andre J. , Duker Jay S. , Waheed Nadia K.
Published: June 2021

Background

To evaluate the changes in the mean macular intercapillary area (ICA) from sequential enface optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) images following intravitreal anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy in initially treatment‐naïve eyes with diabetic macular oedema (DME).

Methods

In this multicentre retrospective study, 6 × 6 and 3 × 3 mm customised, total retinal projection enface OCTA images were collected and processed for quantitative assessment of ICA by a customised MATLAB software. Measurements were done in concentric regions centred on the fovea—with the exclusion of foveal avascular zone (FAZ)—in 0.5 mm diameter increments as well as within the intervening rings.

Results

In this study, 6 × 6 mm OCTA images from 46 eyes of 29 patients, and 3 × 3 mm OCTA images from 23 eyes of 15 patients were included. There was no significant change in mean ICA after treatment in either scan size or in any measurement regions (all p > 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that baseline BCVA was significantly correlated with the visual outcome (p = 0.039). Additionally, after correction for age, baseline central retinal thickness (CRT), baseline BCVA, and retinopathy severity, mean ICA in the 1.5 mm circle was found to be a significant predictor of post treatment CRT, (p = 0.006).

Conclusions

Absence of significant change in mean ICA after a minimum of three intravitreal anti‐VEGF injections, may indicate that, in the short term, anti‐VEGF injections neither impair nor improve macular perfusion in DME. Baseline BCVA was found to be a robust predictor of functional outcome, while inner mean ICA was a significant predictor for macular thickness outcomes.
Effects of ozone treatment on denim garment properties
Authors: Ben Fraj Abir , Jaouachi Boubaker
Published: June 2021

The conventional denim washing process is considered to be the most polluting in the textile industry. This sector uses huge amounts of water, energy and chemicals, and generates a lot of wastewater with a high pollution load. For this reason, other types of washing treatment have been discovered. Among these treatments, we can specify the ozone treatment, which is sustainable and economical. In this study, ozone treatment was applied to denim fabric samples to improve the effect of the washing conditions on the appearance and physical characteristics of the fabrics. Bagging resistance, force at break, shrinkage, spectroscopy testing, rubbing fastness evaluation and Fourier Transform–infrared analysis of the treated and untreated denim fabrics (which did not undergo desizing treatment) were analysed and investigated. To study the individual and main effects and significance of input parameters, the Taguchi design was used. Based on the obtained results, ozone treatment increased the whiteness value of treated fabrics. Moreover, it induced certain changes to the physical, mechanical and bagging properties of denim fabrics. The loss of force at break and the percentage of shrinkage reached 30.11% and 15.15%, respectively. The bagging resistance indicated a significant decrease of up to 40.17% after ozone treatment.
Introducing new methods based on the standard ISO/IEC 24790 to evaluate graininess for coloured printed images
Authors: Panahi Bita , Gorji Kandi Saeideh
Published: June 2021

Printing quality control has been one of the challenges in the printing industry. Therefore, it is indispensable to find evaluation methods with high correlations with the human visual system to assess the quality of the printed images. Standard ISO/IEC 24790 is one of the recommended standards to achieve this goal. An evaluation procedure for graininess, a common defect in printing, has been presented in this standard; however, this procedure is suggested only for monochrome printed images. Hence, in this research, the graininess of coloured samples is evaluated based on the proposed method in this standard with considering the effect of the paper. For this purpose, fictitious graininess defects are designed and applied on coloured samples and are printed on different papers. A visual assessment is performed to examine the effect of colour and paper differences on graininess. Six different methods, including the method suggested in the standard and the proposed modified procedures, are used to evaluate graininess, and their results are compared to subjective results. Moreover, three other wavelets are studied besides the suggested one in the standard. To eliminate the effect of paper texture, a Gaussian filter is utilised. The results show that applying the Gaussian filter to images increases the correlation between computational procedure results and visual assessment results. Also, the results indicate that utilising haar wavelet slightly increases the correlation. The results demonstrate that besides assessing graininess in greyscale mode, evaluating graininess in RGB (red, green, blue) colour space results in a high correlation with the visual assessment results.
Talimogene laherparepvec pseudolymphomatous reaction mimicking metastatic melanoma
Authors: Henning Ania , Agnese Doreen , Chung Catherine G.
Published: June 2021

Talimogene laherparepvec (TVEC) is a genetically modified herpes simplex virus‐1 approved as an intralesional oncolytic immunotherapy for the treatment of advanced melanoma. Cutaneous reactions at the site of injection may mimic recurrent or progressive melanoma; histopathological findings have included chronic granulomatous dermatitis, neutrophilic dermatitis, lymphocytic dermatitis, and pigment incontinence. We report a 39‐year‐old male with metastatic stage IIIc melanoma treated with TVEC with clinical regression of melanoma lesions that later developed pink nodules at sites of prior injection. Histopathology demonstrated a nodular mononuclear infiltrate that stained strongly and diffusely with CD45 and CD20 with a surrounding rim of CD3‐positive T‐cells. Immunoglobulin gene rearrangement was negative for a clonal B‐cell population. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a pseudolymphomatous reaction mimicking recurrent melanoma after TVEC therapy.
Metabolic improvement with short‐term, glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist treatment does not improve cardiac diastolic dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Bojer Annemie Stege , Sørensen Martin Heyn , Bjerre Jenny , Gæde Peter , Vejlstrup Niels , Madsen Per Lav
Published: June 2021

Aim

To investigate if short‐term treatment with liraglutide, a glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist, improves left ventricular diastolic function.

Materials and Methods

An investigator‐initiated, double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled trial on the effect of 18 weeks of treatment with liraglutide on diastolic function was assessed in patients with type 2 diabetes with signs of diastolic dysfunction (echo‐Doppler determined E/e' ≥ 9 and/or lateral e' ≤ 10 cm/s). Primary outcomes were improved left ventricle filling (the early peak filling rate [ePFR]) and left atrium ease of emptying (the passive emptying fraction [LAPEF]), assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging at rest and during chronotropic stress. Secondary outcomes included left ventricular and left atrial volumes and systolic function, measures of aortic stiffness and echocardiographic diastolic variables.

Results

Forty patients were randomized to liraglutide subcutaneously 1.8 mg/day (n = 20) or placebo (n = 20). Liraglutide reduced HbA1c (−0.47%, 95% CI [−0.88% to −0.06%] [−5.1, 95% CI {−9.7 to −0.62} mmol/mol]) and weight (−2.9, 95% CI [−4.6 to −1.2] kg); both P < .03. Liraglutide did not change ePFR at rest (−24 ± 60 vs. −6 ± 46 mL/s), during stress (2 ± 58 vs. −2 ± 38 mL/s), or the changes from rest to stress (12.9 ± 72.5 vs. 4.7 ± 104.0; all P > .05). LAPEF decreased with liraglutide during stress (−3.1% [−9.0%, 1.1%] vs. 1.0% [−2.9%, 6.1%]; P = .049), but no changes were evident at rest (−4.3% [−7.9%, 1.9%] vs. −0.6% [−3.1%, 2.2%]; P = .19), or for the changes from rest to stress (−1.7 ± 8.4 vs. 0.8 ± 8.2; P = .4). Secondary outcomes were unchanged by liraglutide.

Conclusions

Short‐term treatment with liraglutide did not improve left ventricular diastolic function, suggesting the cardioprotective effect is not exerted through the improvement in diastolic dysfunction.