bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Klarigi: Characteristic Explanations for Semantic Data
Authors: Slater Luke T , Williams John A , Schofield Paul N , Russell Sophie , Pendleton Samantha C , Karwath Andreas , Fanning Hilary , Ball Simon , Hoehndorf Robert T , Gkoutos Georgios V
Published: June 2021

Background: Annotation of biomedical entities with ontology classes provides for formal semantic analysis and mobilisation of background knowledge in determining their relationships. To date enrichment analysis has been routinely employed to identify classes that are over-represented in annotations across sets of groups, such as biosample gene expression profiles or patient phenotypes. These approaches, however, usually consider only univariate relationships, make limited use of the semantic features of ontologies, and provide limited information and evaluation of the explanatory power of both singular and grouped candidate classes. Moreover, they do not solve the problem of deriving cohesive, characteristic, and discriminatory sets of classes for entity groups.

Results: We have developed a new method, Klarigi, which introduces multiple scoring heuristics for identification of classes that are both compositional and discriminatory for groups of entities annotated with ontology classes. The tool includes a novel algorithm for derivation of multivariable semantic explanations for entity groups, makes use of semantic inference through live use of an ontology reasoner, and includes a classification method for identifying the discriminatory power of candidate sets. We describe the design and implementation of Klarigi, and evaluate its use in two test cases, comparing and contrasting methods and results with literature and enrichment analysis methods.

Conclusions: We demonstrate that Klarigi produces characteristic and discriminatory explanations for groups of biomedical entities in two settings. We also show that these explanations recapitulate and extend the knowledge held in existing biomedical databases and literature for several diseases. We conclude that Klarigi provides a distinct and valuable perspective on biomedical datasets when compared with traditional enrichment methods, and therefore constitutes a new method by which biomedical datasets can be explored, contributing to improved insight into semantic data.
A species-wide genetic atlas of antimicrobial resistance in Clostridioides difficile
Authors: Imwattana Korakrit , Rodríguez César , Riley Thomas V. , Knight Daniel R.
Published: June 2021

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) plays an important role in the pathogenesis and spread of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), the leading healthcare-related gastrointestinal infection in the world. An association between AMR and CDI outbreaks is well documented, however, data is limited to a few ‘epidemic’ strains in specific geographical regions. Here, through detailed analysis of 10,330 publicly-available C. difficile genomes from strains isolated worldwide (spanning 270 multilocus sequence types (STs) across all known evolutionary clades), this study provides the first species-wide snapshot of AMR genomic epidemiology in C. difficile. Of the 10,330 C. difficile genomes, 4,532 (43.9%) in 89 STs across clades 1 – 5 carried at least one genotypic AMR determinant, with 901 genomes (8.7%) carrying AMR determinants for three or more antimicrobial classes (multidrug-resistant, MDR). No AMR genotype was identified in any strains belonging to the cryptic clades. C. difficile from Australia/New Zealand had the lowest AMR prevalence compared to strains from Asia, Europe and North America (p<0.0001). Based on the phylogenetic clade, AMR prevalence was higher in clades 2 (84.3%), 4 (81.5%) and 5 (64.8%) compared to other clades (collectively 26.9%) (p<0.0001). MDR prevalence was highest in clade 4 (61.6%) which was over three times higher than in clade 2, the clade with the second-highest MDR prevalence (18.3%). There was a strong association between specific AMR determinants and three major epidemic C. difficile STs: ST1 (clade 2) with fluoroquinolone resistance (mainly T82I substitution in GyrA) (p<0.0001), ST11 (clade 5) with tetracycline resistance (various tet-family genes) (p<0.0001) and ST37 (clade 4) with macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLSB) resistance (mainly ermB) (p<0.0001) and MDR (p<0.0001). A novel and previously overlooked tetM-positive transposon designated Tn6944 was identified, predominantly among clade 2 strains. This study provides a comprehensive review of AMR in the global C. difficile population which may aid in the early detection of drug-resistant C. difficile strains, and prevention of their dissemination world-wide.

Impact statement

Utilising a publicly-available database of 10,330 sequence reads, this study provides the first species-wide evaluation of genotypic AMR in C. difficile. It reports the most common AMR determinants and their genomic neighbourhood, associations between important genotypes and specific strains or geographical regions, and rare AMR genotypes that may have been missed in earlier studies.

Data summary

This study utilises publicly available raw sequence reads available at the NCBI Sequence Read Archive (SRA) as of January 2020. The details of all genomes are available in the Supplementary Data (10.6084/m9.figshare.14623533).
Systematic Chromosome Rearrangement Induced by CRISPR-Cas9 Reshapes the Genome and Transcriptome of Human Cells
Authors: Liu Ying , Ma Guangwei , Gao Zenghong , Li Jian , Wang Jin , Zhu Xiangping , Yang Jiawen , Zhou Yiting , Hu Kaishun , Zhang Yin , Guo Yabin
Published: June 2021

Chromosome rearrangement plays important roles in development, carcinogenesis and evolution. However, its mechanism and subsequent effects are not fully understood. At present, large-scale chromosome rearrangement has been performed in the simple eukaryote, wine yeast, but the relative research in mammalian cells remains at the level of individual chromosome rearrangement due to technical limitations. In this study, we used CRISPR-Cas9 to target the highly repetitive human endogenous retrotransposons, LINE-1 (L1) and Alu, resulting in a large number of DNA double-strand breaks in the chromosomes. While this operation killed the majority of the cells, we eventually obtained live cell groups. Karyotype analysis and genome re-sequencing proved that we have achieved systematic chromosome rearrangement (SCR) in human cells. The copy number variations (CNVs) of the SCR genomes showed typical patterns that observed in tumor genomes. For example, the most frequent deleted region Chr9p21 containing p15 and p16 tumor suppressor, and the amplified region Chr8q24 containing MYC in tumors were all identified in both SCR cells. The ATAC-seq and RNA-seq further revealed that the epigenetic and transcriptomic landscapes were deeply reshaped by the SCR. Gene expressions related to p53 pathway, DNA repair, cell cycle and apoptosis were greatly altered to facilitate the cell survival under the severe stress induced by the large-scale chromosomal breaks. In addition, we found that the cells acquired CRISPR-Cas9 resistance after SCR by interfering with the Cas9 mRNA. Our study provided a new application of CRISPR-Cas9 and a practical approach for SCR in complex mammalian genomes.

Highlights

Repetitive retroelements with large copy numbers were targeted using CRISPR-Cas9 in human cells.

Cells survived after their chromosomal DNAs were heavily cleaved and systematic chromosome rearrangement was achieved.

Systematic chromosome rearrangement reshaped the genome and transcriptome of the cells.
Senescence inhibits the chaperone response to thermal stress
Authors: Llewellyn Jack , Mallikarjun Venkatesh , Appleton Ellen , Osipova Maria , Gilbert Hamish TJ , Richardson Stephen M , Hubbard Simon J , Swift Joe
Published: June 2021

Cells respond to stress by synthesising chaperone proteins that correct protein misfolding to maintain function. However, protein homeostasis is lost in ageing, leading to aggregates characteristic of protein-folding diseases. Whilst much is known about how these diseases progress, discovering what causes protein-folding to deteriorate could be key to their prevention. Here, we examined primary human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs), cultured to a point of replicative senescence and subjected to heat shock, as anin vitromodel of the ageing stress response. We found through proteomic analysis that the maintenance of homeostasis deteriorated in senescent cells. Time-resolved analysis of factors regulating heat shock protein 70 kDa (HSPA1A) revealed a lack of capacities for protein turnover and translation to be key factors in limiting the stress response during senescence. A kinetic model predicted a consequence of these reduced capacities to be the accumulation of misfolded protein, a hypothesis supported by evidence of systematic changes to protein fold state. These results thus further our understanding of the underlying mechanistic links between ageing and loss of protein homeostasis.
Examining pragmatic failure and other language-related risks in global aviation
Authors: Kale Utku , Herrera Michael , Nagy András
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to investigate the pragmatic failure and other language-related risks between pilots and air traffic controllers in intercultural aviation communication. The paper attempts to provide recommendations for the minimization of these risks, thereby improving aviation safety by reducing the rate of aviation incidents and accidents. Pragmatic failure refers to the miscomprehension of intended pragmatic meaning. As opposed to semantic meaning, it depends on the context and is highly influenced by culture.

Design/methodology/approach

The risk of pragmatic failure in aviation is presented hypothetically, and examples of language-related communication failure in air-to-ground communication between pilots and air traffic controllers (ATCOs) involving language are examined, including an example involving pragmatic failure. A questionnaire has been developed to survey pilots and ATCOs who communicate over radiotelephony. Results from 212 respondents are presented and conclusions are drawn.

Findings

The authors propose, based on linguistic theory and the results of this survey, that native English-speaking aviation operators gain more familiarity with the inner workings of the English language, in particular regarding the difference between semantic and pragmatic meaning. They benefit from this awareness whenever communicating with people of other cultures to develop the valuable skill of focusing on semantic meaning while avoiding adding pragmatic meaning. This minimizes the potential of misunderstanding when an emergency arises that cannot be dealt with through the International Civil Aviation Organization standard phraseology and when the listener of this message is someone from a different culture.

Practical implications

Language and communication are the main tools that play a vital role in reducing the rate of aircraft incidents and accidents. In aviation, pilots and ATCOs are neither in face-to-face contact nor have a video speech interface between them while communicating with each other. Their communications are conducted entirely through radio messages using a specialized language designed to make communication as accurate and efficient as possible. This study, therefore, is important in terms of investigating the risks of pragmatic failure and of language errors in general between pilots and air traffic controllers. This research will be a useful guide for designing training for operators (pilots and ATCOs) as well.

Originality/value

The main focus of the study is to investigate reasons for pragmatic failure and other language-related causes of misunderstanding between pilots and air traffic controllers over air-to-ground communication. To illustrate these roles, a questionnaire has been developed for pilots and ATCOs who communicate over aeronautical radiotelephony and examples of aircraft accidents were given.
Inflation rate and labours’ wages in construction projects: economic relation investigation
Authors: Musarat Muhammad Ali , Alaloul Wesam Salah , Liew M.S.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Labours are one of the key resources of construction projects having a significant impact on economic development. With time, the construction industry is getting a boom due to numerous construction projects in which labours’ contribution is significant. Project betterment is associated with the project productivity which relates to the labours. Wages play a vital role in retaining labours in the construction industry.

Design/methodology/approach

This study focuses on investigating the increasing and decreasing behaviour of labour wages in the construction industry and observing the impact of the inflation rate in deviating labour wages. Initially, the percentage deviation was calculated to observe the changing behaviour of the data and then the Spearman correlation test was used to find the relationship between the inflation rate and the labour wages.

Findings

It is evident that even with a good economy and a stable construction sector, still, the labour wages faced a decline over time, which is a matter of concern. Also, based on the correlation coefficient, it was revealed that several labour wages categories are moderately and strongly correlated with the inflation rate and can impact project cost if the inflation rate is not considered while finalizing the budget. Besides that, the changing behaviour of labour wages due to the inflation rate impacts significantly on gross domestic product (GDP); therefore, it requires vital attention.

Originality/value

Changes in labour wages are not considered in budget estimation which drag the project towards cost overrun. This study brings the attention of the stakeholders on the issue with experimental justification. Also, how the inflation rate is affecting the labour wages has also been addressed.
Enabling construction project managers through a management game
Authors: Fahmi Hassan Arash , Haghighi-Rad Farzad , Abtahi Amir-Reza
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to design and develop a management game in the field of construction project management so that by playing the game, the required level of knowledge, skills, capabilities and overall project management competencies in individuals will be promoted. Also, player’s competencies can be measured.

Design/methodology/approach

This study, in terms of application, is applied research. The construction project management simulation game (CPMSG) was played by 18 university students. To evaluate the level of the players’ project management knowledge and quality of the game, questionnaires were used.

Findings

The game improves the players’ project management knowledge by 158%, and the educational program that was formulated in the game has also achieved the first three levels of bloom’s taxonomy of educational objectives. In the field of game quality, analysis of players’ results of responses and scores show that the game has a good quality level.

Originality/value

The CPMS game provides a useful tool for project management training, especially in the field of construction projects. It helps in addition to improving the quality of teaching theoretical topics, making students acquainted with the risks and uncertainties of such projects, and provides a simulated experience. In the field of common behavior analysis and player’s selection, the results indicated that the majority of groups used high-quality materials during the games to perform activities related to the appearance of the building (such as finishing and building facade activities) and used medium quality materials in implementing infrastructural activities such as brickwork and floor construction that are not visible in the appearance of work.
Event technology for potential sustainable practices: a bibliometric review and research agenda
Authors: Celuch Krzysztof
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This research provides a bibliometric review of the state-of-the-art information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the context of events, and maps out an agenda for future directions on how innovations in the technological realm can help fostering sustainability in the events industry.

Design/methodology/approach

To explore the progress of ICTs and future applications in events, this study conducts a two-fold method of a bibliometric analysis and a modularity clustering technique based on 293 papers published in the last 30 years.

Findings

The findings offer a snapshot of the past progress to offer a glimpse into the future by formulating novel areas for research that merit attention. By interweaving the past, present and future towards sustainability, an agenda with four concrete areas for research is identified, including (1) virtual events, (2) the use of artificial intelligence, (3) big data technology, and (4) virtual reality and augmented reality in the events industry.

Originality/value

The current global challenges together with the rapid technological progress can particularly give rise to innovations in the technological sector. Through a bibliometric review of past research, this study offers a future research agenda of ICTs in the events sector in light of the Sustainable Development Goals. It contributes with a discussion on how to harvest the technological progress to create more sustainable events.
Real estate development in the city of Athens during the financial crisis
Authors: Nikitidou Maria , Archontakis Fragiskos , Tagkalakis Athanasios
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study aims to determine how the prices of residential properties in the Greek real estate sector are affected by their structural characteristics and by the prevailing economic factors during recession.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on 13,835 valuation reports for the city of Athens, covering a period of 11 years (2006–2016), this study develops a series of econometric models, taking into account both structural characteristics of the property market and the macroeconomic relevant variables. Finally, the city of Athens is divided into sub-regions and the different effects of the structural factors in each area are investigated via spatial analysis confirming the validity of the baseline model.

Findings

Findings show that the size, age, level, parking and storage space can explain the property price movements. Moreover, the authors find evidence that it is primarily house demand variables (e.g. the annual average wage, the unemployment rate, the user cost of capital, financing constraints and expectations about the future course of the house market) that affect house prices in a statistically significant manner and with the correct sign. Finally, using a difference-in-differences approach, this study finds that an increase in house demand (on account of net migration) led to higher house prices in smaller and older than in larger and younger apartments in areas with high concentration of immigrants.

Originality/value

This study uses a novel data set to help entities, individuals and policy-makers to understand how the recent economic and financial crisis has affected the real estate market in Athens.
Investigation of dimensional accuracy of metal droplet deposition under repulsion using a lattice Boltzmann approach
Authors: Ren Yanlin , Liu Zhaomiao , Pang Yan , Wang Xiang , Gao Shanshan
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the influence of droplet infiltration and sliding on the deposition size and make a uniform deposition by controlling the interaction between droplets, using the three-dimensional lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) based on the actual working condition.

Design/methodology/approach

D3Q19 Shan-Chen LB approach is developed and optimized based on the metal droplet deposition. The Carnahan-Starling equation of state and transition layers are introduced to maintain the greater stability and low pseudo velocities. In addition, an additional collision term is adopted to implement immersed moving boundary scheme to deal with no-slip boundaries on the front of the phase change.

Findings

The numerical results show that the new¬ incoming droplet wet and slide off the solidified surface and the rejection between droplets are the reasons for the deviation of the actual deposition length. The total length of the longitudinal section negatively correlates with the deposition distance. To improve the dimensional accuracy, the deposition distance and repulsion rate need to be guaranteed. The optimal deposition distance is found to have a negative linear correlation with wettability.

Originality/value

The numerical model developed in this paper will help predict the continuous metal droplet deposition and provide guidance for the selection of deposition distance.
Mobile-based value co-creation: contextual factors towards customer experiences
Authors: Lei Sut Ieng , Wang Dan , Law Rob
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Collecting information from and interacting with customers through mobile platforms for personalization purposes have become a trend. While mobile-based value co-creation has attracted wide research attention, a noticeable gap exists regarding what might potentially affect the firm–customer interaction process through which value is co-created. This paper aims to explore how customers exchange information and communicate with firms through mobile applications for value co-creation purposes in a travel context.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a constructivist research paradigm, this study adopted a qualitative research design. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and were analyzed following narrative analysis approach.

Findings

The findings highlight the contextual factors (individual characteristics, trip characteristics and computer-mediated communication characteristics) that facilitate and inhibit the firm–customer interaction process. Practitioners are suggested to put more efforts on creating stimuli for interactions and managing customer expectation.

Research limitations/implications

This study goes beyond technology adoption and focuses on customers’ post-adoption stage. The findings shed light on the important role of the service provider in facilitating effective interactions for value co-creation with customers.

Originality/value

This study focuses on the interaction process, rather than the antecedents and outcomes of mobile-based value co-creation. It contributes empirical evidence on how customers co-create value and why some situations present better opportunities for successful value co-creation.
Electroacupuncture alleviates spatial memory deficits in METH withdrawal mice by enhancing astrocyte‐mediated glutamate clearance in the dCA1
Authors: He Teng , Li Nanqin , Shi Pengbo , Xu Xing , Nie Jiaxun , Lu Xue , Yu Peiyao , Fan Yu , Ge Feifei , Guan Xiaowei
Published: June 2021

Methamphetamine (METH) elicits endogenous glutamate (Glu) in the brain, which could partially explain METH‐induced memory deficits. Here, we investigated the therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on spatial memory deficits in METH withdrawal mice and its potential synaptic mechanisms. We found that EA at acupoints ‘Baihui’ and ‘Yintang’ ameliorated the impaired spatial memory in METH withdrawal mice. In parallel, EA attenuated the Glu levels in vivo and suppressed the neuronal activities within dCA1 of METH withdrawal mice, as indicated by the decreasing c‐Fos levels and the amplitude of mEPSP. In the dCA1, EA decreased A1‐like astrocytes but increased astrocytic glutamatergic transporting molecules including glutamate transporter 1 and glutamine synthase. However, EA seemed to have no effects on presynaptic Glu transmission from the dCA3, as evidenced by the similiar levels of c‐Fos in the dCA3 neurons, synaptic vesicular markers of dCA3 neural terminals and values of paired‐pulse ratio in the dCA1 neurons between EA‐treated and sham EA‐treated METH withdrawal mice. These findings suggest that EA might normalize the dCA1 Glu levels at least in part through enhancing astrocyte‐mediated Glu clearance. Taken together, astrocytes might be a novel target for developing therapeutic interventions against the impaired memory behaviours in METH users, and EA represents a promising non‐invasive therapeutic strategy for the management of drug‐caused memory deficits.
Parties as Disciplinarians: Charisma and Commitment Problems in Programmatic Campaigning
Authors: Hollyer James R. , Klašnja Marko , Titiunik Rocío
Published: June 2021

We study how parties balance the benefits of disciplined programmatic campaigning with the electoral appeal of charismatic but potentially unfaithful candidates. We incorporate the well‐known collective action problem arising from candidates' inability to fully internalize the fruits of programmatic brand building. Although parties may strategically use promotions to induce brand building efforts, we show that the party may be unable to commit to such a promotion scheme when the electoral returns to candidate charisma are high. We further demonstrate how electoral volatility and parties' ingroup loyalties shape their commitment to reward brand building. Volatility increases the focus on candidate charisma and decreases programmatic campaigning, but only among parties with weak group attachments. Parties with loyal partisans place emphasis on both candidate charisma and programmatic messaging. Empirical analyses of cross‐national data and quantitative and qualitative case studies in Brazil, Austria, and Spain are consistent with our predictions.
Three‐dimensional structure of testis cords in mice and rats
Authors: Nakata Hiroki , Omotehara Takuya , Itoh Masahiro , Iseki Shoichi , Mizokami Atsushi
Published: June 2021

Background

Testis cord elongation and coiling, which occur in the final stage of testis formation, have been attributed to Sertoli cell proliferation; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

Objective

The aim of the present study was to clarify the precise three‐dimensional structure of testis cords in the final stage of testis formation in mice and rats.

Materials and methods

We reconstructed whole testis cords in the final stage of testis formation in mice (on embryonic days 15.5 and 18.5) and rats (on embryonic days 16.5 and 19.5) using serial paraffin sections and high‐performance three‐dimensional reconstruction software.

Results

Detailed morphometric parameters were calculated for three‐dimensionally reconstructed testis cords in six mouse and rat testes each. The mean numbers of testis cords in mice and rats were 12.7 and 27.8, respectively. The mean number of branching points per testis cord was 1.52 in mice, whereas it was only 0.30 in rats. In contrast, the mean ratio of the inner cords, that is, cords not in contact with the tunica albuginea, was 23.0% in rats, whereas it was only 6.5% in mice. In both species, the cords on the cranial side coiled more strongly than those on the caudal side, consistent with the greater expansion of the testis volume on the caudal side. All cords formed right‐handed helices from the rete testis side.

Discussion and conclusions

The present results suggest that testis cords undergo anastomosis at a higher frequency in mice than in rats and that the coiling of testis cords proceeds from the cranial to caudal side of the testis in both species.
Combined treatment with FABP4 inhibitor ameliorates rosiglitazone‐induced liver steatosis in obese diabetic db/db mice
Authors: Chen Meng‐Ting , Huang Jun‐Shang , Gao Ding‐Ding , Li Ying‐Xia , Wang He‐Yao
Published: June 2021

Rosiglitazone has been reported to exert dual effects on liver steatosis, and it could exacerbate liver steatosis in obese animal models, which was suggested to be closely related to the elevated hepatic expression of FABP4. This study aimed to investigate whether combined treatment with FABP4 inhibitor I‐9 could alleviate rosiglitazone‐induced liver steatosis in obese diabetic db/db mice. Male C57BL/KsJ‐db/db mice were orally treated with rosiglitazone, rosiglitazone combined with I‐9 daily for 8 weeks. The liver steatosis was evaluated by triglyceride content and H&E staining. The expression of hepatic lipogenic genes or proteins in liver tissue or in FFA‐treated hepatocytes and PMA‐stimulated macrophages were determined by real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR) or western blotting. Results showed that combined treatment with I‐9 decreased rosiglitazone‐induced increase in serum FABP4 level and expression of lipogenic genes in liver, especially FABP4, and ameliorated liver steatosis in db/db mice. Rosiglitazone‐induced intracellular TG accumulation and increased expression of FABP4 in the cultured hepatocytes and macrophages were also suppressed by combined treatment. We concluded that combined treatment with FABP4 inhibitor I‐9 could ameliorate rosiglitazone‐exacerbated elevated serum FABP4 level and ectopic liver fat accumulation in obese diabetic db/db mice without affecting its anti‐diabetic efficacy.
Genetic parenthood and hard cases
Authors: Simkulet William
Published: June 2021

In a recent article Thomas Douglas and Katrien Devolder propose a theory of genetic parenthood according to which a human child can have only two genetic human parents. I argue this theory is arbitrarily narrow and fails to account for cases such as hybrids, cloning, chimerism, twinning, parthenogenesis, mitochondrial replacement techniques, and more. I propose an alternate theory of genetic parenthood, one that is prima facie consistent with our commonsense intuitions about genetic parenthood and relevant to a right to procreative autonomy.
Why do males emerge before females? Sexual size dimorphism drives sexual bimaturism in insects
Authors: Teder Tiit , Kaasik Ants , Taits Kristiina , Tammaru Toomas
Published: June 2021

Conspecific females and males often follow different development trajectories which leads to sex differences in age at maturity (sexual bimaturism, SBM). Whether SBM is typically selected for per se (direct selection hypothesis) or merely represents a side‐effect of other sex‐related adaptations (indirect selection hypothesis) is, however, still an open question. Substantial interspecific variation in the direction and degree of SBM, both in invertebrates and vertebrates, calls for multi‐species studies to understand the relative importance of its evolutionary drivers. Here we use two complementary approaches to evaluate the evolutionary basis of SBM in insects. For this purpose, we assembled an extensive literature‐derived data set of sex‐specific development times and body sizes for a taxonomically and ecologically wide range of species. We use these data in a meta‐analytic framework to evaluate support for the direct and indirect selection hypotheses. Our results confirm that protandry – males emerging as adults before females – is the prevailing form of SBM in insects. Nevertheless, protandry is not as ubiquitous as often presumed: females emerged before males (= protogyny) in about 36% of the 192 species for which we had data. Moreover, in a considerable proportion of species, the sex difference in the timing of adult emergence was negligible. In search for the evolutionary basis of SBM, we found stronger support for the hypothesis that explains SBM by indirect selection. First, across species, the direction and degree of SBM appeared to be positively associated with the direction and degree of sexual size dimorphism (SSD). This is consistent with the view that SBM is a correlative by‐product of evolution towards sexually dimorphic body sizes. Second, within protandrous species, the degree of protandry typically increased with plastic increase in development time, with females prolonging their development more than males in unfavourable conditions. This pattern is in conflict with the direct selection hypothesis, which predicts the degree of protandry to be insensitive to the quality of the juvenile environment. These converging lines of evidence support the idea that, in insects, SBM is generally a by‐product of SSD rather than a result of selection on the two sexes to mature at different times. It appears plausible that selective pressures on maturation time per se generally cannot compete with viability‐ and fecundity‐mediated selection on insect body sizes. Nevertheless, exceptions certainly exist: there are undeniable cases of SBM where this trait has evolved in response to direct selection. In such cases, either the advantage of sex difference in maturation time must have been particularly large, or fitness effects of body size have been unusually weak.
Understanding bariatric patients' experiences of self‐management post‐surgery: A qualitative study
Authors: Youssef Alaa , Mylopoulos Maria , Maunder Robert , Wiljer David , Cassin Stephanie E. , Wnuk Susan , Leung Samantha , Sockalingam Sanjeev
Published: June 2021

Although most bariatric patients achieve significant weight loss and improvements in both physical and mental health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) in the short‐term, there is wide variability in weight and long‐term HRQoL outcomes. The role of bariatric patients' self‐management style in explaining variability in long‐term outcomes is unclear. This qualitative study examined bariatric patients' self‐management experiences after bariatric surgery in relation to long‐term outcomes. A qualitative study was conducted using semi‐structured individual interviews with post‐surgery patients (n = 23) at a Canadian bariatric surgery program. A constant comparative approach was used to systematically analyse the data and identify overarching themes. Variation in patients' experiences and follow‐up time were the two primary units of analysis. Patients were predominantly female (n = 19; 82.6%) and had a mean age of 50 ± 8.49 years. The median time post‐surgery was 2 years (range: 6 months–7 years). Three distinct phases described the process of self‐management post‐bariatric surgery: (1) rediscovering self‐esteem and confidence in one's ability to self‐manage (1‐month to 1.5‐years post‐surgery), (2) achieving weight maintenance and addressing emotion dysregulation (1.5–3‐years post‐surgery) and (3) embracing a flexible balanced lifestyle (beyond 3‐years). Bariatric surgery patients experience distinct challenges relative to their post‐surgery time course. Facilitating access to interprofessional bariatric care after surgery allowed patients to acquire the self‐management knowledge and skills necessary to address challenges to following the bariatric guidelines in the long‐term.
A novel dissimilarity metric based on feature‐to‐feature scatter frequencies for clustering‐based feature selection in biomedical data
Authors: Sheikhi Ghazaal , Altınçay Hakan
Published: June 2021

Filter feature selection methods have been extensively used for dimensionality reduction in biomedical data analysis. In this article, a novel dissimilarity metric based on feature‐to‐feature (F2F) scatter frequencies is proposed for clustering‐based filter feature selection. The proposed metric is computed by obtaining the feature‐level ranks of samples and identifying the features which assign close ranks to each sample. The order of ranking is determined for each feature by class labels. Samples are represented as a set of affinity sets containing features having rank differences less than a predefined proximity window size. The F2F dissimilarity of a pair of features is computed using the frequency of their appearance in different affinity sets. Features are then clustered into distinct groups using F2F dissimilarity metric. From each cluster, the feature having the highest relevance score is selected. The experiments conducted on ten biomedical datasets confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed method in improving classification performance. Notably, the proposed method outperforms the widely used schemes in terms of both classification under ROC curve and stability.
Rapid shifts in Arctic tundra species' distributions and inter‐specific range overlap under future climate change
Authors: van Beest Floris M. , Beumer Larissa T. , Andersen Asbjørn S. , Hansson Sophia V. , Schmidt Niels M.
Published: June 2021

Aim

The Arctic is one of the planet's most rapidly warming regions, with trends expected to intensify in the future. Projections of shifts in species distributional ranges under future climate change are thus far lacking for most vertebrate species using the Arctic tundra. Our aim was to assess possible climate‐induced changes in distributional ranges and inter‐specific overlap of an Arctic species assemblage within the world's largest land‐based protected area.

Location

During 1979–2013 location data of eight Arctic birds and mammals, Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus), Arctic hare (Lepus arcticus), Arctic wolf (Canis lupus arctos), muskox (Ovibos moschatus), polar bear (Ursus maritimus), rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta), snow bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) and snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus) were collected in the Northeast Greenland National Park.

Methods

The maximum entropy (MaxEnt) algorithm and Schoener's D niche overlap index were used to assess shifts and changes in overlap of species‐specific distributions under recent (1979–2013) and future (2061–2080; representative concentration pathways [RCPs] 2.6, 4.5 and 8.5) bioclimatic conditions.

Results

Species distributions were projected to shift northward and upwards across all scenarios, and at higher rates than previously reported. Future distributions were also forecasted to become spatially less clustered and to expand in size for all species. Species‐specific shifts in distribution ranges altered inter‐specific overlap, most notably by an increase in overlap under scenario RCP 8.5.

Main conclusions

The rapid shifts in distribution ranges detected here underline that climate change impacts are most pronounced in areas with higher levels of warming, leading to accelerated shifts in species’ ranges towards the poles. However, the concomitant range expansions we found may suggest that future climatic conditions in north‐east Greenland may not have such a detrimental impact on the distribution of cold‐adapted species as generally expected, at least in the near future.
Trade‐off mediated by pyrrolizidine alkaloids predicts alternative reproductive tactics in ithomiine butterflies
Authors: Gonzalez‐Karlsson Adrea , Grether Gregory F.
Published: June 2021

1. Trade‐offs between male mating success and survival are the basis of alternative male reproductive tactics.

2. Adult male Greta morgane butterflies acquire protective pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) from plants and use PA‐derived pheromones to attract females. Adult females acquire PAs from male spermatophores, thereby obtaining chemical defence against predation while avoiding costs of PA toxicity and sequestration.

3. We found that males that fed longer on PA‐containing plants were more successful at mating, but males fed a diet containing PAs had a shorter lifespan than males fed a diet without PAs. Together, these results demonstrate a trade‐off between survival and reproduction in relation to male feeding behaviour.

4. As predicted by the alternative reproductive tactics hypothesis, we found that some males fed preferentially on PA‐containing plants while others specialised on PA‐free plants.
Subliminal perception is continuous with conscious vision and can be predicted from prestimulus electroencephalographic activity
Authors: Railo Henry , Piccin Roberto , Lukasik Karolina M.
Published: June 2021

Individuals are able to discriminate visual stimuli they report not consciously seeing. This phenomenon is known as “subliminal perception.” Such capacity is often assumed to be relatively automatic in nature and rely on stimulus‐driven activity in low‐level cortical areas. Instead, here we asked to what extent neural activity before stimulus presentation influences subliminal perception. We asked participants to discriminate the location of a briefly presented low‐contrast visual stimulus and then rate how well they saw the stimulus. Consistent with previous studies, participants correctly discriminated with slightly above chance‐level accuracy the location of a stimulus they reported not seeing. Signal detection analyses indicated that while subjects categorized their percepts as “unconscious,” their capacity to discriminate these stimuli lay on the same continuum as conscious vision. We show that the accuracy of discriminating the location of a subliminal stimulus could be predicted with relatively high accuracy (AUC = 0.70) based on lateralized electroencephalographic (EEG) activity before the stimulus, the hemifield where the stimulus was presented, and the accuracy of previous trial's discrimination response. Altogether, our results suggest that rather than being a separate unconscious capacity, subliminal perception is based on similar processes as conscious vision.
Evaluation of the Impact of a Healthy Relationship Program Among U.S. Refugees
Authors: Young Michael , Salerno Jennifer , Rockhill Sarah , Hernandez Aida , DeMaria Rita
Published: June 2021

This study evaluated a program developed by the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants; Refugee Family Strengthening Program (RFS). The study examined whether two interventions based on RFS produced significant improvements for participants in four outcome measures, when compared to controls. The study used a randomized control trial design.

Findings

Significant differences between treatment participants and controls were found at posttest and maintained at follow‐up for three of the four outcome variables: communication and relationship skills, conflict management skills, and economic stability. For the fourth variable (relationship with youngest child) treatment participants did not differ from control participants at posttest. Treatment 2 participants did, however, show an improved relationship with their youngest child, in comparison to control participants, at follow‐up, when controlling for pretest scores. When controlling for pretest scores, nationality, and treatment dose, it was Treatment 1 participants who showed an improved relationship with their youngest child at follow‐up.

Application

Various agencies provide programming for refugees and immigrants, but efforts to evaluate the effects of these programs have been sorely lacking. This study plays something of a pioneering role, showing that RFS programming can produce positive changes in relevant outcome variables, and these changes can be maintained over time. Record numbers of refugees are looking for an opportunity to resettle in the United States. Additional research that helps establish the long‐term success of programming like RFS is needed.
Numerical Simulation of Solute Transport in Saturated Porous Media with Bounded Domains
Authors: Mohammadi Bahareh , Mehdinejadiani Behrouz
Published: June 2021

This work presents the first attempt to develop unconditionally stable, implicit finite difference solutions of one‐sided spatial fractional advection‐dispersion equation (s‐FADE) by imposing the nonzero Dirichlet boundary condition (ND BC) or the nonzero fractional Robin boundary condition (NFR BC) at inlet boundary and the zero fractional Neumann boundary condition (ZFN BC) at outlet boundary. The results of the numerical studies performed using artificial solute transport parameters demonstrated that the numerical solution with the NFR BC as the inlet boundary produced much more realistic concentration values. The numerical solution with the NFR BC at the inlet boundary was capable of correctly describing the Fickian and non‐Fickian behaviors of the solute transport at different α values, and it had the relatively same accuracy at different numbers of the spatial nodes. Also, the practical application of the numerical solution with the NFR BC as the inlet boundary was investigated by conducting tracer experiments in homogeneous and heterogeneous soil columns. According to the obtained results, this numerical solution described well solute transport in the homogenous and heterogeneous soils. The α values of the homogeneous and heterogeneous soils were obtained in the ranges of 1.849–1.999 and 1.248–1.570, respectively, which were in excellent agreement with the physical properties of the soils. In a nutshell, the numerical solution of the s‐FADE with the NFR BC as the inlet boundary can be successfully applied to describe the solute transport in the homogeneous and heterogeneous soils with bounded spatial domains.
Strategic philanthropy's investment in public systems: A framework for intervention
Authors: Shaw Aileen , Canavan John , Dolan Pat
Published: June 2021

This paper explores the nature of philanthropic intervention in the infrastructure for service and policy development. It offers a comprehensive review of the literature associated with a style of philanthropy that, characterized as ‘strategic’ in orientation, is accompanied by a set of goals for creating impact and adopts a public policy focus. Such approaches are grounded in the unique roles adopted by private foundations in society; alongside their nebulous place as stakeholders in the systems and services occupied by private and public agencies. Firstly, the authors undertake a comprehensive literature review in order to discern what elements of strategic philanthropy have resonance for funders operating with a public policy systems change orientation. From the findings they develop a framework for understanding strategic engagement in public systems that identifies areas of intervention where foundations have the greatest capacity for effectiveness based on their role identification in policy engagement, social innovation or convening. Understanding these three key points of intervention can be used in management and practice to inform the pathways for the adoption of goals among different stakeholders operating with diverse values, purposes and constraints.
Role of Bismuth incorporation on the structural and optical properties in BixIn35‐xSe65 thin films for photonic applications
Authors: Priyadarshini Priyanka , Das Subhashree , Alagarasan Devarajan , Ganesan Rajamanickam , Varadharajaperumal Selvaraj , Naik Ramakanta
Published: June 2021

The present paper investigated the influence of Bi concentration on the structural, linear, and non‐linear optical properties of thermally evaporated BixIn35‐xSe65 (x = 0, 5, 7, 10, 15 at %) thin films. The structural analysis by the XRD measurements showed the crystalline nature at 7 and 15% Bi while the other concentrations showed amorphous nature. The corresponding bonding change was analyzed by Raman spectroscopy. The optical study by UV‐Vis spectroscopy showed the decrease in transmittance and an increase in absorbance property. The linear optical parameters such as absorption coefficient, extinction coefficient, optical density increased while skin depth decreased with Bi additives. The direct, as well as the indirect optical bandgap, decreased along with the decrease in the Tauc parameter. The variation is well explained on the basis of density of defect states by the Mott and Davis model. The non‐linear refractive index and non‐linear susceptibility increased significantly with Bi % which is good for non‐linear optical applications. The static linear refractive index as calculated by the Dimirov and Sakha empirical relation showed an incremental behavior with Bi% concentration and satisfied Moss's rule. The surface structure and elemental concentration were analyzed by FESEM and EDX analysis. The result of the above investigation suggests that these materials can be used as an absorbing layer for several optoelectronic and photonic applications.