bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detecting cultural evolution in a songbird species using community-science data and computational modeling
Authors: Pichkar Yakov , Searfoss Abigail M. , Creanza Nicole
Published: January 2023

Song in oscine birds is learned across generations, and aspects of the song-learning process parallel genetic transmission: variation can be introduced into both cultural and genetic traits via copy-error, and both types of traits are subject to drift and selective pressure. Similarly to allele frequencies in population genetics, observing frequencies of birdsong features can improve our understanding of cultural transmission and evolution. Uniquely, community-science databases of birdsong provide rich spatiotemporal data with untapped potential to evaluate cultural evolution in songbirds. Here we use both community-science and field-study recordings of chipping sparrows to examine trends across nearly seven decades of song. We find that some syllable types tend to persist in the population for much longer than others. Persistent songs tend to contain more syllables of shorter duration than songs that were observed across fewer years. To draw inferences about the effects of learning biases on chipping sparrow syllables, we construct a spatially explicit agent-based model of song learning. By comparing our empirical analysis to simulated song distributions using three different song-learning strategies—neutral transmission, conformity bias, and directional selection—we suggest that chipping sparrows are unlikely to select tutors neutrally or with a conformity bias and that they learn their songs with a remarkably low copy-error rate.
Pan-cancer Proteomics Analysis to Identify Tumor-Enriched and Highly Expressed Cell Surface Antigens as Potential Targets for Cancer Therapeutics
Authors: Wang Jixin , Yu Wen , D’Anna Rachel , Przybyla Anna , Wilson Matt , Sung Matthew , Bullen John , Hurt Elaine , DAngelo Gina , Sidders Ben , Lai Zhongwu , Zhong Wenyan
Published: January 2023

The National Cancer Institute’s Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC) provides unique opportunities for cancer target discovery using protein expression. Proteomics data from CPTAC tumor types have been primarily generated using a multiplex tandem mass tag (TMT) approach, which is designed to provide protein quantification relative to reference samples. However, relative protein expression data is suboptimal for prioritization of targets within a tissue type, which requires additional reprocessing of the original proteomics data to derive absolute quantitation estimation. We evaluated the feasibility of using differential protein analysis coupled with intensity-based absolute quantification (iBAQ) to identify tumor-enriched and highly expressed cell surface antigens, employing tandem mass tag (TMT) proteomics data from CPTAC. Absolute quantification derived from TMT proteomics data was highly correlated with that of label-free proteomics data from the CPTAC colon adenocarcinoma cohort, which contains proteomics data measured by both approaches. We validated the TMT-iBAQ approach by comparing the iBAQ value to the receptor density value of HER2 and TROP2 measured by flow cytometry in about 30 selected breast and lung cancer cell lines from the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia. Collections of these tumor-enriched and highly expressed cell surface antigens could serve as a valuable resource for the development of cancer therapeutics, including antibody-drug conjugates and immunotherapeutic agents.
White matter microstructure is associated with the precision of visual working memory
Authors: Li Xuqian , Rangelov Dragan , Mattingley Jason B. , Oestreich Lena , Lévy-Bencheton Delphine , O’Sullivan Michael J.
Published: January 2023

Visual working memory is critical for goal-directed behaviour as it maintains continuity between previous and current visual input. Functional neuroimaging studies have shown that visual working memory relies on communication between distributed brain regions, which implies an important role for long-range white matter connections in visual working memory performance. Here, we characterised the relationship between the microstructure of white matter association tracts and the precision of visual working memory representations. To that purpose, we devised a delayed estimation task which required participants to reproduce visual features along a continuous scale. A sample of 80 healthy adults performed the task and underwent diffusion-weighted MRI. We applied mixture distribution modelling to quantify the precision of working memory representations and guess rates, both of which contribute to observed responses. Latent components of tract-specific microstructural indices were identified by principal component analysis. Higher working memory precision was associated with lower bulk diffusion across ten tracts of interest and higher directionality of diffusion in a group of frontoparietal-occipital tracts. Importantly, there was no association between guess rates and any of the structural components. Our findings suggest that microstructural properties of white matter tracts connecting posterior and frontal brain regions mediate, in a functionally specific manner, the precision of visual working memory.
RIPK3 promotes brain region-specific interferon signaling and restriction of tick-borne flavivirus infection
Authors: Lindman Marissa , Angel Juan P , Estevez Irving , Chang Nydia P , Chou Tsui-Wen , McCourt Micheal , Atkins Colm , Daniels Brian P.
Published: January 2023

Innate immune signaling in the central nervous system (CNS) exhibits many remarkable specializations that vary across cell types and CNS regions. In the setting of neuroinvasive flavivirus infection, neurons employ the immunologic kinase receptor-interacting kinase 3 (RIPK3) to promote an antiviral transcriptional program, independently of the traditional function of this enzyme in promoting necroptotic cell death. However, while recent work has established roles for neuronal RIPK3 signaling in controlling mosquito-borne flavivirus infections, including West Nile virus and Zika virus, functions for RIPK3 signaling in the CNS during tick-borne flavivirus infection have not yet been explored. Here, we use a model of Langat virus (LGTV) encephalitis to show that RIPK3 signaling is specifically required in neurons of the cerebellum to control LGTV replication and restrict disease pathogenesis. This effect did not require the necroptotic executioner molecule mixed lineage kinase domain like protein (MLKL), a finding similar to previous observations in models of mosquito-borne flavivirus infection. However, control of LGTV infection required a unique, region-specific dependence on RIPK3 to promote expression of key antiviral interferon-stimulated genes (ISG) in the cerebellum. This RIPK3- mediated potentiation of ISG expression was associated with robust cell-intrinsic restriction of LGTV replication in cerebellar granule cell neurons. These findings further illuminate the complex roles of RIPK3 signaling in the coordination of neuroimmune responses to viral infection, as well as provide new insight into the mechanisms of region-specific innate immune signaling in the CNS.

Importance

Interactions between the nervous and immune systems are very carefully orchestrated in order to protect the brain and spinal cord from immune-mediated damage, while still maintaining protective defenses against infection. These specialized neuro-immune interactions have been shown to vary significantly across regions of the brain, with innate antiviral signaling being particularly strong in the cerebellum, although the reasons for this are poorly understood. Here, we show a specialized adaptation of programmed cell death signaling that uniquely protects the cerebellum from tick-borne flavivirus infection. These findings provide important new insight into the molecular mechanisms that promote the uniquely robust antiviral immunity of the cerebellum. They also provide new clues into the pathogenesis of tick-borne encephalitis, a zoonosis of significant global concern.
Skin keratinocyte-derived SIRT1 and BDNF modulate mechanical allodynia in mouse models of diabetic neuropathy
Authors: O'Brien Jennifer , Niehaus Peter , Chang Koping , Remark Juliana , Barrett Joy , Dasgupta Abhishikta , Adenegan Morayo , Salimian Mohammad , Kevas Yanni , Chandrasekeran Krish , Kristian Tibor , Chellappan Rajeshwari , Rubin Samuel , Kiemen Ashley , Lu Catherine Pei-Ju , Russell James , Ho Cheng-Ying
Published: January 2023

Diabetic neuropathy is a debilitating disorder characterized by spontaneous and mechanical pain. The role of skin mechanoreceptors in the development of mechanical pain (allodynia) is unclear. We discovered that mice with diabetic neuropathy had decreased sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) deacetylase activity in foot skin, leading to reduced expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and subsequent loss of innervation in Meissner corpuscles, a mechanoreceptor expressing the BDNF receptor TrkB. When SIRT1 was depleted from skin, the mechanical allodynia worsened in diabetic neuropathy mice, likely due to retrograde degeneration of the Meissner-corpuscle innervating A-beta axons and aberrant formation of Meissner corpuscles which may have increased the mechanosensitivity. The same phenomenon was also noted in skin BDNF knockout mice. Furthermore, overexpression of SIRT1 in skin induced Meissner corpuscle reinnervation and regeneration, resulting in significant improvement of diabetic mechanical allodynia. Overall, the findings suggested that skin-derived SIRT1 and BDNF function in the same pathway in skin sensory apparatus regeneration and highlighted the potential of developing topical SIRT1-activating compounds as a novel treatment for diabetic mechanical allodynia.
A transcriptional and regulatory map of mouse somitogenesis
Authors: Ibarra-Soria Ximena , Thierion Elodie , Mok Gi Fay , Münsterberg Andrea E. , Odom Duncan T. , Marioni John C.
Published: January 2023

The mammalian body plan is shaped by rhythmic segmentation of mesoderm into somites, which are transient embryonic structures consisting of hundreds of cells that form down each side of the neural tube. We have systematically analysed the genome-wide transcriptional and chromatin dynamics occurring within nascent somites, from early inception of somitogenesis to the latest stages of body plan establishment. We created matched gene expression and open chromatin maps for the three leading pairs of somites at six time points during embryonic development. Here we show that the rate of somite differentiation accelerates as development progresses. We identified a conserved maturation programme followed by all somites after segmentation, but somites from more developed embryos concomitantly switch on differentiation programmes from derivative cell lineages soon after segmentation. Integrated analysis of the somitic transcriptional and chromatin activities revealed opposing regulatory modules controlling the onset of differentiation. We identified transcription factors expressed during early development that inhibit the activity of proteins required for commitment and differentiation of skeletal cell populations. Our results provide a powerful, high-resolution view of the molecular genetics underlying somitic development in mammals.
Caf1 regulates Ash1 histone methyltransferase activity via sensing unmodified histone H3
Authors: Yoon Eojin , Song Ji-Joon
Published: January 2023

Histone modifications are one of key mechanisms to regulate gene expression. Ash1 is a histone H3K36 methyltransferase and involved in gene activation. Ash1 forms a large complex with Mrg15 and Caf1/p55/Nurf55/RbAp48 (AMC complex). Ash1 subunit alone has very low activity due to the auto-inhibition and the binding of Mrg15 releases the auto-inhibition. Caf1 is a scaffolding protein commonly found in several chromatin modifying complexes. Caf1 has an ability to sense unmodified histone H3K4 residue. However, the role of Caf1 in AMC complex has not been investigated. Here, we dissected the interaction among the AMC complex subunits, revealing that Caf1 uses the histone H4 binding pocket to interact with Ash1 near the histone binding module cluster. Furthermore, we show that H3K4 methylation inhibits AMC HMTase activity via Caf1 sensing unmodified histone H3K4 to regulate the activity in an inter-nucleosomal manner, suggesting that there is a crosstalk between H3K4 and H3K36 methylations. Our work reveals a delicate regulatory mechanism of AMC histone H3K36 methyltransferase complex.
Early maturation of sound duration processing in the infant brain
Authors: Polver Silvia , Tóth Brigitta , Háden Gábor P. , Bulf Hermann , Winkler István
Published: January 2023

The ability to process sound duration is crucial already at a very early age for laying the foundation for the main functions of auditory perception, such as object perception and music and language acquisition. With the availability of age-appropriate structural anatomical templates, we can reconstruct EEG source activity with much-improved reliability. The current study capitalized on this possibility by reconstructing the sources of event-related potential (ERP) waveforms sensitive to sound duration in four- and nine-month-old infants. Infants were presented with short (200 ms) and long (300 ms) sounds equiprobably delivered in random order. Two temporally separate ERP waveforms were found to be modulated by sound duration. Generators of these waveforms were mainly located in primary and secondary auditory area and other language-related regions, such as the superior temporal and the inferior frontal gyri. The results show marked developmental changes between four and nine months, partly reflected by scalp-recorded ERPs, but appearing in the underlying generators in a far more nuanced way. The results also confirm the feasibility of the application of anatomical templates in developmental populations.
A multidimensional atlas of human glioblastoma organoids reveals highly coordinated molecular networks and effective drugs
Authors: Wang Changwen , Sun Meng , Shao Chunxuan , Schlicker Lisa , Zhuo Yue , Harim Yassin , Peng Tianping , Tian Weili , Stöffler Nadja , Schneider Martin , Helm Dominic , Mallm Jan-Philipp , Wu Yonghe , Schulze Almut , Liu Hai-Kun
Published: January 2023

Recent advances in the genomics of glioblastoma (GBM) led to the introduction of molecular neuropathology but failed to translate into treatment improvement. This is largely attributed to the genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity of GBM, which are considered the major obstacle to GBM therapy. Here, we use advanced human GBM organoid (LEGO:LaboratoryEngineeredGlioblastomaOrganoid) and provide an unprecedented comprehensive characterization of LEGO models using single-cell transcriptome, DNA methylome, metabolome, lipidome, proteome, and phospho-proteome analysis. We discovered that genetic heterogeneity dictates functional heterogeneity across molecular layers and demonstrates thatNF1mutation drives mesenchymal signature. Most importantly, we found that glycerol lipid reprogramming is a hallmark of GBM, and several targets and drugs were discovered along this line. We also provide a genotype-based drug reference map using LEGO-based drug screen. This study provides novel human GBM models and a research path toward effective GBM therapy.
Cell Instance Segmentation Via Multi-Scale Non-Local Correlation
Authors: Duan Bin , Cao Jianfeng , Wang Wei , Cai Dawen , Yan Yan
Published: January 2023

For cell instance segmentation on Electron Microscopy (EM) images, state-of-the-art methods either conduct pixel-wise classification or follow a detection and segmentation manner. However, both approaches suffer from the enormous cell instances of EM images where cells are tightly close to each other and show inconsistent morphological properties and/or homogeneous appearances. This fact can easily lead to over-segmentation and under-segmentation problems for model prediction,i.e., falsely splitting and merging adjacent instances. In this paper, we propose a novel approach incorporating non-local correlation in the embedding space to make pixel features distinct or similar to their neighbors and thus address the over- and under-segmentation problems. We perform experiments on five different EM datasets where our proposed method yields better results than several strong baselines. More importantly, by using non-local correlation, we observe fewer false separations within one cell and fewer false fusions between cells.
Microsaccades are directed towards the midpoint between targets in a variably cued attention task
Authors: Willett Shawn M. , Mayo J. Patrick
Published: January 2023

Reliable, non-invasive biomarkers that reveal the internal state of a subject are an invaluable tool for neurological diagnoses. Small fixational eye movements, called microsaccades, are a candidate biomarker thought to reflect a subject’s focus of attention (1, 2). The linkage between the direction of microsaccades and attention has mainly been demonstrated using explicit and unambiguous attentional cues. However, the natural world is seldom predictable and rarely provides unambiguous information. Thus, a useful biomarker must be robust to such changes in environmental statistics. To determine how well microsaccades reveal visual-spatial attention across behavioral contexts, we analyzed these fixational eye movements in monkeys performing a conventional change detection task. The task included two stimulus locations and variable cue validities across blocks of trials. Subjects were adept at the task, showing precise and graded modulations of visual attention for subtle target changes and performing better and faster when the cue was more reliable (3). However, over tens of thousands of microsaccades, we found no difference in microsaccade direction between cued locations when cue variability was high nor between hit and miss trials. Instead, microsaccades were made towards the midpoint of the two target locations, not towards individual targets. Our results suggest that the direction of microsaccades should be interpreted with caution and may not be a reliable measure of covert spatial attention in more complex viewing conditions.

Significance Statement

Small fixational eye movements called microsaccades are thought to “point” towards a location that is being attended in the visual periphery. This phenomenon has largely been studied using visual cues that unambiguously indicate the location of the upcoming stimulus change. Because the natural world is rarely unambiguous, we studied the relationship between microsaccade direction and spatial attention using less reliable cues. We found that monkeys’ microsaccade directions in a standard visuospatial attention task did not indicate the animals’ focus of attention, despite behavioral and neuronal evidence of spatial attention. Instead, microsaccades were made towards the midpoint between the target locations in both animals, suggesting a more complex relationship between microsaccades and attention in naturalistic settings.
An artificial neural network (ANN) model for publication bias: a machine learning-based study on PubMed meta-analyses
Authors: Motahari-Nezhad Hossein
Published: January 2023

Purpose

No study has investigated the effects of different parameters on publication bias in meta-analyses using a machine learning approach. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the impact of various factors on publication bias in meta-analyses.

Design/methodology/approach

An electronic questionnaire was created according to some factors extracted from the Cochrane Handbook and AMSTAR-2 tool to identify factors affecting publication bias. Twelve experts were consulted to determine their opinion on the importance of each factor. Each component was evaluated based on its content validity ratio (CVR). In total, 616 meta-analyses comprising 1893 outcomes from PubMed that assessed the presence of publication bias in their reported outcomes were randomly selected to extract their data. The multilayer perceptron (MLP) technique was used in IBM SPSS Modeler 18.0 to construct a prediction model. 70, 15 and 15% of the data were used for the model's training, testing and validation partitions.

Findings

There was a publication bias in 968 (51.14%) outcomes. The established model had an accuracy rate of 86.1%, and all pre-selected nine variables were included in the model. The results showed that the number of databases searched was the most important predictive variable (0.26), followed by the number of searches in the grey literature (0.24), search in Medline (0.17) and advanced search with numerous operators (0.13).

Practical implications

The results of this study can help clinical researchers minimize publication bias in their studies, leading to improved evidence-based medicine.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study to model publication bias using machine learning.
Fuzzy ISM–DEMATEL modeling for the sustainable development hindrances in the renewable energy supply chain
Authors: Ghasemian Sahebi Iman , Toufighi Seyed Pendar , Azzavi Mahdi , Masoomi Behzad , Maleki Mohammad Hasan
Published: January 2023

Purpose

By replacing traditional fossil fuels, renewable energy (RE) has the potential to become an outstanding sustainable energy supply. However, owing to technological, economic, social and legal constraints, RE is still in its early stages of development. Hence, this paper aims to analyze the sustainable development hindrances in the RE supply chain (RESC).

Design/methodology/approach

Twenty-three hindrances to the sustainable development of the RE industry were investigated in this research, which included a review of the expert opinion and literature. Then, a mutual relationship between the hindrances by integrating interpretive structural modeling and decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory in fuzzy environment was established. Furthermore, using the cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to a classification analysis, these hindrances were grouped.

Findings

The findings show that the important hindrances are “lack of standards for the RESC (H19), lack of entrepreneurship support (H21), lack of incentives/subsidies to encourage RE producers to compete (H30) and lack of governmental support for sustainable supply chain solutions (H31).

Originality/value

This research provides unique insights into the area of sustainability in RESC. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper to analyze the sustainability hindrances in the RESC.
Effect of employees' CSR perceptions on affective commitment: exploring multiple mediation mechanisms
Authors: Maqbool Shafat , Nazir Nazir A.
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This study aims to empirically examine how corporate social responsibility (CSR) facilitates the employee's affective commitment in the hospitality sector.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 408 questionnaires were distributed among the employees of the selected 13 hotels in Delhi-National capital region (NCR). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to test the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

The study results confirm that CSR has a positive influence on the employees' affective commitment. Further, this study demonstrates that CSR facilitates work meaningfulness and trust among employees and consequently enhances employees' commitment.

Originality/value

This study enhances the understanding of the CSR-affective commitment link in the hospitality sector. This will add a new perspective to the literature, especially in the context of micro-foundation factors of “work meaningfulness” and “organizational trust.”
Assessment of the Sharīʿah requirements in the Malaysian Islamic Financial Services Act 2013 from the managerialism and Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah perspectives
Authors: Alam Md. Mahmudul , Hoque Muhammad Nazmul , Muda Ruhaini
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The Maqāṣid (objective) hierarchy is a triple-tiered conceptualisation of individual and social needs that is grounded in the five objectives of Sharīʿah (Islamic Law). Managerialism is the ideological representation of human interaction based on managerial doctrines and practices. This paper aims to explore the tension between the Maqāṣid hierarchy and managerialism by evaluating the Sharīʿah requirements in the Islamic Financial Services Act (IFSA) 2013 of Malaysia from the Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

This qualitative study uses an inductive approach to review the sources of Sharīʿah and classical literature of Islamic jurists to present Sharīʿah rulings on managerialism and Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah.

Findings

The Maqāṣid hierarchy promotes a vision of human life that is the opposite of managerialism. In the case of IFSA 2013, the Maqāṣid hierarchy, which is supposed to be the bedrock for Islamic finance, is replaced by a managerial hierarchy closer to Maslow’s hierarchy than it is to Imam Shatibi’s concept of human life. A process of fitting the Maqāṣid hierarchy into a narrow managerial mould occurs in IFSA 2013, meaning that many of the unique aspects of the Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah are lost.

Social implications

This study will assist Sharīʿah scholars, policymakers and Islamic financial institutions to develop the financial system and to implement the Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah to improve macro policy and shaping Islamic institutions.

Originality/value

This is a pioneer study that develops a bridge between the Islamic Maqāṣid and conventional managerial hierarchies, which will encourage academics and practitioners to enrich the literature by conducting more in-depth studies on this topic.
Mapping and visualizing flexible manufacturing system in business and management: a systematic review and future agenda
Authors: Priyadarshini Jaya , Gupta Amit Kumar
Published: January 2023

Purpose

A flexible manufacturing system (FMS) helps improve the system’s performance, thus increasing its overall competitiveness. FMS is an essential component of Industry 4.0 (I4.0), which has revolutionized the way firms manufacture their products. This study aims to investigate the diverse focus of the research being published over the years and the direction of scholarly work in applying FMSs in business and management.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 1,096 bibliometric data were extracted from the Scopus database from the years 2001 to 2021. A systematic review and bibliometric analysis were performed on the data and related articles for performance measurement and scientific mapping on the FMS themes.

Findings

Based on co-keyword, the study reveals four major themes in the FMS field: mathematical models and quantitative techniques, scheduling and optimization techniques, cellular manufacturing and decision-making in FMSs. Based on bibliometric coupling on 2018–2021 bibliometric data, four themes emerged for future research: scheduling problems in FMS, manufacturing cell formation problem, interplay of FMS with other latest technologies and I4.0 and FMS.

Originality/value

The originality lies in answering the following research questions: What are the most highlighting themes in FMS, and how have they evolved over the past 20 years (2001–2021)? What topics have been at the forefront of research in FMS in the past five years (2016–2021)? What are the promising avenues of research in FMS?
Doing or calculating lean? A sensemaking perspective on workplace learning
Authors: Hermanrud Inge , Haukåsen Ole Andreas
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present and discuss two different learning approaches to lean through a sensemaking lens.

Design/methodology/approach

This is comparative case study within one organisation, and a qualitative analysis of interview data, participative observations and documents.

Findings

Although this study found that both practices promoted lean thinking in the organisation, the “calculating lean approach” has an approach oriented towards one profession, namely, medical doctors, whereas “doing lean” has a more multi-professional-oriented approach.

Originality/value

This research enriches the literature on workplace learning in relation to lean, seen from a practice-based perspective. The authors argue that “The calculating lean approach” and its use of data presentations is best suited to persuade the powerful doctors to join, when working with small improvements. “The doing lean approach,” on the contrary, is more suited to promote more comprehensive changes from the bottom up that require a deeper understanding of lean among all the professions involved.
Impact of technology self-efficacy on online learning effectiveness during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Rahman Muhammad Khalilur , Bhuiyan Miraj Ahmed , Mainul Hossain Mohammad , Sifa Rolee
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic provides the scope to conduct online classes in the university teaching methods. This study aims to investigate the impact of technology self-efficacy on students' behavioral intention on the effectiveness of online learning.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was conducted with 323 university students using the online survey platform. Data analysis was acquired by implementing the partial least squares technique to obtain the results.

Findings

The findings revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic affects technology self-efficacy. Technology self-efficacy has a significance on perceived usefulness (PU) and ease of use, which influences students' behavioral intention to use online learning effectively. The results identified that user innovativeness facilitated the relationship between PU and behavioral intention to use online learning efficiency.

Originality/value

This study has a significant insight into the higher educational institutes and academia that lessons from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on technology self-efficacy toward online learning effectiveness.
Skyscraper height and urban development in developing countries: economy and trade
Authors: Zhao Xiaoyang , Mao Xia , Lu Yuxiu
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the factors affecting urban economic development in emerging economic market countries and to provide a new research perspective on urban skyscraper construction.

Design/methodology/approach

An empirical analysis based on a difference-in-differences (DID) model is conducted using data of urban data in China that expand into developed markets from 2003 to 2018.

Findings

The results of the spatial heterogeneity test indicate that the construction of skyscrapers has a significant promotional effect on the eastern city's economy. In contrast, it has a significant inhibitory effect in the central and western regions. Further findings demonstrate that the construction of skyscrapers can influence urban economic development by promoting industrial agglomeration, especially when the transmission effect of the diversified accumulation of tertiary industry is more prominent. The expansion analysis shows that skyscrapers have increased the level of trade in the city, and the impact on trade has an optimal height.

Research limitations/implications

This paper focuses on the economic and trade effects of skyscrapers, and the optimal height of skyscrapers needs to be discussed in more depth, which is also the next problem the researchers need to study.

Practical implications

The government should attach importance to and promote the construction of urban skyscrapers, and do a good job in overall planning and design. The city should formulate preferential policies in land, taxation, finance, system and other aspects to increase support for urban skyscraper construction and promote local economic development.

Originality/value

This study focuses on the impact of urban skyscraper construction on the economic and trade development of cities in developing countries, which not only complements the relevant research on the economic effects of urban skyscraper construction, but also helps to provide reference for the sustainable development of urbanization in many developing countries.
Rebranding a traditional industry: how fountain pens enter luxury market
Authors: Li Zhixian , Fan Chunxing
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to explore how traditional industries revert the trend of decline in sales through rebranding by analyzing the extended case study of the fountain pen industry.

Design/methodology/approach

This study analyzes the marketing in case study of the fountain pen industry through two coordinates – symbolizing status and branding nostalgia. The division of analyses in these categories is supplanted by data, such as linear regression to analyze changes in product characteristics.

Findings

This study finds that the rebranding of the fountain pen in multiple fitting images – status symbol, object of nostalgia and something scarce and unique – is successful in capturing consumer demand, shaping consumer perceptions and help the mature industry locate as well as enter a niche market.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first one to explore the business development of traditional industry as a case study of fountain pens from the perspective of marketing and consumer behavior.
Behavior of parachute under varying in-flight condition – a review
Authors: Dutta Sudev , Bansal Payal
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this review paper is to outline the parachute materials and its behavior. To enhance parachute life, it is highly desirable to consider the commercial angle for any parachute manufacturing industry and its components under varying operational conditions. Hence, the knowledge of various textile materials and operational conditions which contributes the parachute strength and durability will be helpful for industries/researchers.

Design/methodology/approach

This section is not applicable for a review paper.

Findings

Parachute is a material used in numerous real-time applications such as man-drop, cargo delivery, aircraft recovery and aircraft decelerator which drastically reduces human efforts and time. However, each application requires a unique design and fabric selection to achieve the area of drag needed and the terminal velocity of the parachute material while in flight. For designing a man-drop parachute, the most critical parameters are weight and strength which must be considered during manufacturing. The army person uses the man-drop parachute, which must be as light as possible.

Originality/value

This paper is an original review work and will be helpful for parachute manufacturers/researchers to enhance the life of parachutes with improved functionality.
Cumulative propagule pressure exerted by escaped pet parrots
Authors: Stanley Margaret C. , McNaughton Ellery J. , Fewster Rachel M. , Galbraith Josie A.
Published: January 2023

The global pet trade provides a pathway for introduced species to invade new environments. Most studies use trade data as an indirect proxy for propagule pressure exerted by the pet trade. Instead, we quantify the reported rate of loss of captive birds, assess factors that might influence this rate, simulate the survival and retrieval of birds and the overall cumulative propagule pressure exerted by pet birds on the environment.

We used online listings of lost birds to estimate the propagule pressure that the pet trade exerts on the establishment of introduced bird species in Aotearoa–New Zealand. Listings from two popular websites were monitored daily for over 3.5 years, and information was recorded on the frequency, location, species composition and characteristics of the loss events. We investigated a range of factors that may influence the rate of loss events, such as season and human population size. We also developed a simulation approach to investigate the cumulative propagule pressure in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city.

A total of 1205 birds and at least 33 species were reported lost nationwide during our monitoring period, 92% of which were parrots. We found that the reported loss rate was higher in areas of higher human population size and median income, and lower in the winter months.

Simulation results predict that in any given month in Auckland there is an average of at least 491 escaped birds, including 136 potential breeding pairs, and for seven species the chance that at least one locality has a male/female pair at large exceeds 80%.

Synthesis and applications. Online listings of lost pets provide an excellent source of data from which to identify species with high propagule pressure in specific localities. We identified escaped parrot species as a high‐risk invasion pathway, as they contribute to a high and consistent propagule pressure. A preventative approach, by banning the sale of these species, is the most appropriate pest management strategy for reducing the probability of establishment and potential impact.
THE LIMITS OF INFRASTRUCTURE: Public Transport in a Post‐colonial City
Authors: Peters Robbie
Published: January 2023

Since the 1940s, the people of the neighbourhoods (kampungs) around Surabaya's derelict Ngagel industrial estate have made a living by repurposing the remains of what was once one of Asia's most modern road, rail and industry networks. The remains—in the form of leftover fuel, labour and factory parts—are used to rebuild and repair improvised transport vehicles like bicycle‐taxis (becak), minibuses (bemo) and motorbike‐taxis (ojek). The repurposing happens at the limits of a capital‐intensive heavy infrastructure of factories, trams and buses. The limits are those points where such infrastructure fails and a household‐funded mosquito‐fleet of light vehicles succeeds. Repurposing gives those who do it a right to infrastructure by providing the city with much‐needed public transport. In Surabaya, public transport begins at its limits through the improvisations of people who live in the productive remains of capital‐intensive heavy infrastructure. These people live in Surabaya's deindustrialized urban core, where life is made in the ruins of infrastructure through the breaking‐down of it, the reworking of it, the right to it, and the leakage of it—the means through which rank‐and‐file people rather than states and corporations forge infrastructure.
Maternal and neonatal complications following Kielland's rotational forceps delivery: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Giacchino Tara , Karkia Rebecca , Ahmed Hasib , Akolekar Ranjit
Published: January 2023

Background

There is conflicting evidence regarding the safety of Kielland's rotational forceps delivery (KRFD) in comparison with other modes of delivery for the management of persistent fetal malposition in the second stage of labour.

Objectives

To derive estimates of risks of maternal and neonatal complications following KRFD, compared with rotational ventouse delivery (RVD), non‐rotational forceps delivery (NRFD) or a second‐stage caesarean section (CS), from a systematic review and meta‐analysis of the literature.

Search Strategy

Standard search methodology, as recommended by the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.

Selection Criteria

Case series, prospective or retrospective cohort studies and population‐based studies.

Data Collection and Analysis

A meta‐analysis using a random‐effects model was used to derive weighted pooled estimates of maternal and neonatal complications.

Main Results

Thirteen studies were included. For postpartum haemorrhage there was no significant difference between Kielland's and ventouse delivery; the rate was lower in Kielland's delivery compared with non‐rotational forceps (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.65–0.95) and second‐stage CS (RR 0.45, 95% CI 0.36–0.58). There were no differences in the rates of anal sphincter injuries or admission to neonatal intensive care. Rates of shoulder dystocia were higher with Kielland's delivery compared with ventouse delivery (RR 1.79, 95% CI 1.08–2.98), but rates of neonatal birth trauma were lower (RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.26–0.91). There were no differences seen in the rates of 5‐min APGAR score < 7 between Kielland's delivery and other instrumental births, but they were lower when compared with second‐stage CS (RR 0.47, 95% CI 0.23–0.97).

Conclusions

Kielland's rotational forceps delivery is a safe option for the management of fetal malposition in the second stage of labour.
Free amino acids identification and process optimization in greengage wine fermentation and flavor formation
Authors: Yan Xin , Li Shu , Tu Tingyao , Li Yiqin , Niu Mansi , Tong Yuqin , Yang Yang , Xu Tao , Zhao Jian , Shen Caihong , Wang Songtao
Published: January 2023

Greengage wine with low alcohol content is increasing in popularity owing to its fruity taste and rich nutrition. The key to wine aroma and taste is flavor substances like free amino acids (FAAs), volatile fatty acids, higher alcohols, and esters. Amino acid (AA) metabolisms in yeast are an important source of these secondary compounds, which vary with the fermentation conditions. This study explored and optimized the impact of different parameters (carbon source, inoculum, pH, temperature) on FAA contents and dynamics in greengage wine. The results demonstrated that total and essential amino acid (EAA) content rose with a higher proportion of glucose, less yeast inoculation, higher temperature, and higher initial pH. With the results obtained it was concluded that the condition of 22.4°C, pH 4.5, and 3% inoculation was optimum for a 14.9‐fold increase of EAAs in fermented greengage wine. In the long run, the research will aid in the development of the greengage brewing industry.
Antioxidant and antimicrobial characteristics of ethyl acetate polar fractions from walnut green husk
Authors: Xi Meihua , Hou Yujie , Cai Yingying , Shen Heyu , Ao Jingfang , Li Mei , Wang Jun , Luo Anwei
Published: January 2023

Walnut green husk (WGH) is rich in natural compounds and is valued as a potential source of antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. In this study, the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of petroleum ether polar fraction, dichloromethane polar fraction, ethyl acetate polar fraction (EAPF), and n‐butanol polar fraction from WGH were analyzed. The results showed that EAPF exhibited the highest total flavonoid content (65.74 ± 1.01 mg rutin equivalents [RE]/g dry weight [DW]) and total phenol content (48.73 ± 1.09 mg gallic acid equivalent [GAE]/g DW), with the highest 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl, hydroxyl radical (•OH), and 2,2‐azino‐bis‐3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonate scavenging activity compared with other fractions. EAPF also showed good antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus vegetative cells, with a diameter of inhibition zones of 33.5 and 37.6 mm, respectively, a minimum inhibitory concentration of 31.25 mg/ml and a minimum bactericidal concentration of 62.5 mg/ml, which inhibited the growth of both bacteria. Analysis of the antibacterial mechanism demonstrated that EAPF damaged the integrity of the cell membrane, increased the membrane permeability, and triggered the leakage of intracellular material. In addition, ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography‐tandem with mass spectrometry analysis revealed that 8 polyphenols and 14 flavonoids were mainly present in EAPF, such as chlorogenic acid (C16H18O9), gallic acid (C7H6O5), vanillic acid (C8H8O4), ferulic acid (C10H10O4), epicatechin (C15H14O6), catechin (C15H14O6), hesperetin (C16H14O6), naringenin (C15H12O5), hyperin (C21H20O12), luteolin (C15H10O6), and so on. Therefore, WGH had the potential to be developed as a natural antioxidant and antibacterial material.

Practical Application

Our work indicates that WGH contains abundant flavonoids and polyphenols compounds. Therefore, the plant byproducts like WGH may have a promising application as a source of antimicrobial and antioxidant additives.
Circ_0110498 facilitates the cisplatin resistance of non‐small cell lung cancer by mediating the miR‐1287‐5p/RBBP4 axis
Authors: Hao Dexun , Li Yanshuang , Shi Jiang , Jiang Junguang
Published: January 2023

Background

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play vital roles in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression. Our research analyzed the role of circ_0110498 on the cisplatin (DDP) resistance of NSCLC.

Methods

Cell glycolysis was analyzed by measuring glucose consumption and lactate production. Protein expression was determined by western blot analysis. The expression of circ_0110498, microRNA (miR)‐1287‐5p and RBBP4 was detected by RT‐qPCR assay. Cell counting kit‐8, colony formation and transwell assays, together with flow cytometry were conducted to analyze cell DDP resistance, proliferation, metastasis and apoptosis.

Results

Circ_0110498 expression was elevated in DDP‐resistant NSCLC tissues and cells. Circ_0110498 silencing not only suppressed the DDP resistance of NSCLC cells by inhibiting cell growth, metastasis and glycolysis, but also enhanced the DDP sensitivity of NSCLC tumors. MiR‐1287‐5p was sponged by circ_0110498, and its inhibitor also reversed the effect of circ_0110498 silencing on the DDP resistance of NSCLC cells. MiR‐1287‐5p interacted with RBBP4, and RBBP4 overexpression partly reversed the inhibitory effect of miR‐1287‐5p on the DDP resistance of NSCLC cells.

Conclusion

Circ_0110498 facilitated DDP resistance partly through mediating the miR‐1287‐5p/RBBP4 signaling in NSCLC.
Surgical safety analysis and clinical experience sharing of myasthenia gravis patients aged 65 and over
Authors: Jiao Peng , Wu Fanjuan , Wu Jiangyu , Sun Yaoguang , Tian Wenxin , Yu Hanbo , Huang Chuan , Li Donghang , Wu Qingjun , Ma Chao , Tong Hongfeng
Published: January 2023

Background

To evaluate the surgical safety in myasthenia gravis (MG) patients aged 65 and over.

Methods

A total of 564 patients with MG who underwent surgery in the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Beijing Hospital from November 2011 to March 2022 were included in the study and divided into two groups taking the age of 65 as the boundary. Perioperative data of patients were recorded and statistically analyzed.

Results

Compared with young patients, FEV1, FEV1% and MVV in lung function of elderly MG patients were worse (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.002). Postoperative drainage time was longer (p < 0.001), combined with more drainage volume (p = 0.002). The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score of elderly MG patients was higher (p < 0.001). Complications were more likely to occur (p = 0.008) after surgery and Clavien‐Dindo classification (CDC) of postoperative complications was also higher (p = 0.003). Meanwhile, postoperative myasthenic crisis (POMC) was more likely to occur (p = 0.038). Logistic regression showed that lower DLCO% (p = 0.049) was an independent risk factor for postoperative complications.

Conclusions

Surgical indications should be considered in each elderly MG patient on an individual basis. Moreover, most elderly MG patients safely survive the perioperative period and benefit from surgery through individualized consideration.