bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correlation between protein secondary structure and mechanical performance for the ultra-tough dragline silk of Darwin's bark spider
Authors: Htut K Zin , Alicea-Serrano Angela M. , Singla Saranshu , Agnarsson Ingi , Garb Jessica E. , Kuntner Matjaž , Gregorič Matjaž , Haney Robert A. , Marhabaie Mohammad , Blackledge Todd A. , Dhinojwala Ali
Published: June 2021

The spider major ampullate (MA) silk exhibits high tensile strength and extensibility and is typically a blend of MaSp1 and MaSp2 proteins with the latter comprising glycine–proline–glycine–glycine-X repeating motifs that promote extensibility and supercontraction. The MA silk from Darwin's bark spider (
Caerostris darwini
) is estimated to be two to three times tougher than the MA silk from other spider species. Previous research suggests that a unique MaSp4 protein incorporates proline into a novel glycine–proline–glycine–proline motif and may explain
C. darwini
MA silk's extraordinary toughness. However, no direct correlation has been made between the silk's molecular structure and its mechanical properties for
C. darwini
. Here, we correlate the relative protein secondary structure composition of MA silk from
C. darwini
and four other spider species with mechanical properties before and after supercontraction to understand the effect of the additional MaSp4 protein. Our results demonstrate that
C. darwini
MA silk possesses a unique protein composition with a lower ratio of helices (31%) and β-sheets (20%) than other species. Before supercontraction, toughness, modulus and tensile strength correlate with percentages of β-sheets, unordered or random coiled regions and β-turns. However, after supercontraction, only modulus and strain at break correlate with percentages of β-sheets and β-turns. Our study highlights that additional information including crystal size and crystal and chain orientation is necessary to build a complete structure–property correlation model.
A functionally distinct neutrophil landscape in severe COVID-19 reveals opportunities for adjunctive therapies
Authors: Panda Rachita , Silva Castanheira Fernanda Vargas E , Schlechte Jared , Surewaard Bas GJ , Shim Hanjoo Brian , Zucoloto Amanda Z , Slavikova Zdenka , Yipp Bryan G , Kubes Paul , McDonald Braedon
Published: June 2021

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening syndrome of respiratory failure and diffuse alveolar damage that results from dysregulated local and systemic immune activation, causing pulmonary vascular, parenchymal and alveolar damage. SARS-CoV-2 infection has become the dominant cause of ARDS worldwide, and emerging evidence implicates neutrophils and their cytotoxic arsenal of effector functions as central drivers of immune-mediated lung injury in COVID-19 ARDS. However, a key outstanding question is whether COVID-19 drives a unique program of neutrophil activation or effector functions that contributes to the severe pathogenesis of this pandemic illness, and whether this unique neutrophil response can be targeted to attenuate disease. Using a combination of high-dimensional single cell analysis and ex vivo functional assays of neutrophils from patients with COVID-19 ARDS compared to non-COVID ARDS (caused by bacterial pneumonia), we identified a functionally distinct landscape of neutrophil activation in COVID-19 ARDS that was intrinsically programmed during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Furthermore, neutrophils in COVID-19 ARDS were functionally primed to produce high amounts of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Surprisingly, this unique pathological program of neutrophil priming escaped conventional therapy with dexamethasone, thereby revealing a promising target for adjunctive immunotherapy in severe COVID-19.
Complement activation induces excessive T cell cytotoxicity in severe COVID-19
Authors: Georg Philipp , Astaburuaga-García Rosario , Bonaguro Lorenzo , Brumhard Sophia , Michalick Laura , Lippert Lena J. , Kostevc Tomislav , Gäbel Christiane , Schneider Maria , Streitz Mathias , Demichev Vadim , Gemünd Ioanna , Barone Matthias , Tober-Lau Pinkus , Helbig Elisa Theresa , Stein Julia , Dey Hannah-Philine , Paclik Daniela , Mülleder Michael , Aulakh Simran Kaur , Mei Henrik E. , Schulz Axel R. , Hippenstiel Stefan , Corman Victor Max , Beule Dieter , Wyler Emanuel , Landthaler Markus , Obermayer-Wasserscheid Benedikt , Boor Peter , Demir Münevver , Wesselmann Hans , Suttorp Norbert , Uhrig Alexander , Müller-Redetzky Holger , Nattermann Jacob , Kuebler Wolfgang M. , Meisel Christian , Ralser Markus , Schultze Joachim L. , Aschenbrenner Anna C. , Thibeault Charlotte , Kurth Florian , Sander Leif-Erik , Blüthgen Nils , Sawitzki Birgit
Published: June 2021

Severe COVID-19 is linked to both dysfunctional immune response and unrestrained immunopathogenesis, and it remains unclear if T cells also contribute to disease pathology. Here, we combined single-cell transcriptomics and proteomics with mechanistic studies to assess pathogenic T cell functions and inducing signals. We identified highly activated, CD16+ T cells with increased cytotoxic functions in severe COVID-19. CD16 expression enabled immune complex-mediated, T cell receptor-independent degranulation and cytotoxicity not found in other diseases. CD16+ T cells from COVID-19 patients promoted microvascular endothelial cell injury and release of neutrophil and monocyte chemoattractants. CD16+ T cell clones persisted beyond acute disease maintaining their cytotoxic phenotype. Age-dependent generation of C3a in severe COVID-19 induced activated CD16+ cytotoxic T cells. The proportion of activated CD16+ T cells and plasma levels of complement proteins upstream of C3a correlated with clinical outcome of COVID-19, supporting a pathological role of exacerbated cytotoxicity and complement activation in COVID-19.
Microstructural variation in the human striatum using non-negative matrix factorization
Authors: Robert Corinne , Patel Raihaan , Blostein Nadia , Steele Chrisopher C. , Chakravarty M. Mallar
Published: June 2021

The striatum is a major subcortical connection hub that has been heavily implicated in a wide array of motor and cognitive functions. Here, we developed a normative multimodal, data-driven microstructural parcellation of the striatum using multiple magnetic resonance imaging-based metrics (mean diffusivity, fractional anisotropy, and the ratio between T1- and T2-weighted structural) from the Human Connectome Project Young Adult dataset (n=329 unrelated participants, age range: 22-35, F/M: 185/144). We further explored the biological and functional relationships of this parcellation by relating our findings to motor and cognitive performance in tasks known to involve the striatum as well as demographics. We identified 5 spatially distinct striatal components, for each hemisphere. We also show the gain in component stability when using multimodal versus unimodal metrics. Our findings suggest distinct microstructural patterns in the human striatum that are largely symmetric and that relate mostly to age and sex. Our work also highlights the putative functional relevance of these striatal components to different designations based on a Neurosynth meta-analysis.
Characterizing non-exponential growth and bimodal cell size distributions in Schizosaccharomyces pombe: an analytical approach
Authors: Jia Chen , Singh Abhyudai , Grima Ramon
Published: June 2021

Unlike many single-celled organisms, the growth of fission yeast cells within a cell cycle is not exponential. It is rather characterized by three distinct phases (elongation, septation and fission), each with a different growth rate. Experiments also show that the distribution of cell size in a lineage is often bimodal, unlike the unimodal distributions measured for the bacterium Escherichia coli. Here we construct a detailed stochastic model of cell size dynamics in fission yeast. The theory leads to analytic expressions for the cell size and the birth size distributions, and explains the origin of bimodality seen in experiments. In particular our theory shows that the left peak in the bimodal distribution is associated with cells in the elongation phase while the right peak is due to cells in the septation and fission phases. We show that the size control strategy, the variability in the added size during a cell cycle and the fraction of time spent in each of the three cell growth phases have a strong bearing on the shape of the cell size distribution. Furthermore we infer all the parameters of our model by matching the theoretical cell size and birth size distributions to those from experimental single cell time-course data for seven different growth conditions. Our method provides a much more accurate means of determining the cell size control strategy (timer, adder or sizer) than the standard method based on the slope of the best linear fit between the birth and division sizes. We also show that the variability in added size and the strength of cell size control of fission yeast depend weakly on the temperature but strongly on the culture medium.

Author summary

Advances in microscopy enable us to follow single cells over long timescales from which we can understand how their size varies with time and the nature of innate strategies developed to control cell size. This data shows that in many cell types growth is exponential and the distribution of cell sizes has one peak, namely there is a single characteristic cell size. However data for fission yeast shows remarkable differences: growth is non-exponential and the distribution of cell sizes has two peaks, meaning two characteristic cell sizes exist. Here we construct the first mathematical model of this organism; by solving the model analytically we show that it is able to predict the two peaked distributions of cell size seen in data and provides an explanation for each peak in terms of the various growth phases of the single-celled organism. Furthermore by fitting the model to the data, we infer values for the rates of all microscopic processes in our model. This method is shown to provide a much more reliable inference than current methods and sheds light on how the strategy used by fission yeast cells to control their size varies with external conditions.
cyclo-Tetrakis(μ-2,4,6-trimethylphenyl-κC
1:κC
1)bis(trimethylphosphane)-1κP,3κP-tetracopper(I)
Authors: Liebing Phil , Merzweiler Kurt
Published: June 2021

The title compound, [Cu4(C9H11)4(C3H9P)2] or [Cu4(Mes)4(PMe3)2] (Mes = 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl), was synthesized from copper(I) mesityl and trimethylphosphane in THF as solvent. The molecular structure of the complex has C
2 symmetry and consists of four copper(I) atoms bridged by four μ-mesityl groups, giving an eight-membered puckered {Cu4C4} ring. Additionally, two copper(I) atoms at opposite corners of the Cu4 rhomb are each linked to a terminal PMe3 ligand. The PMe3-bearing copper(I) atoms exhibit a distorted trigonal–planar coordination mode whereas the remaining Cu atoms linked to two mesityl groups are nearly linearly coordinated.
On the go – parents are working 24/7
Authors: Mbao Mbita , Hamilton-Mason Johnnie
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of African community leaders, on factors that influence substance use and mental health status of Sub-Sahara African immigrants living in the northeast region of the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

A social constructionist approach to grounded theory was used to understand social life’s complexity in the African community. Data analysis consisted of initial coding and focused coding, which led to the emerging of the following mid-range theories.

Findings

The following mid-range theories are developed: the work culture of Sub-Sahara African immigrants may influence substance-use behaviors, impact treatment for mental health and contribute to interpersonal conflicts related to marriage and parenting; there may be a relationship between the culture of privacy and spirituality because the church is often a place of comfort, and many may not seek treatment for mental health for fear of losing that community; Sub-Sahara African immigrants’ mental health and substance-use behaviors are influenced by unique factors that stem from balancing living in the new culture while also preserving their unique cultural norms.

Originality/value

The analysis of perceptions of African community leaders underscored “On the go” as a metaphor for describing Sub-Sahara African immigrants.
Assessment of passive design strategies in traditional houses of Sabzevar, Iran
Authors: Taheri Jafar , Moghadam Talie Tohidi , Taheri Sorayya , Safari Mohadeseh Kafiyan , Eslami Fereshteh
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to address Passive Design Strategies (PDSs) in the traditional houses of Sabzevar and to assess the adaptation level of these strategies to the climate of the region.

Design/methodology/approach

Identifying the Sabzevar climate, five samples of traditional houses have been chosen to be analyzed via two stages. In stage one, the efficiency of each strategy is weighted through qualitative analysis, and in stage two, the houses are simulated in EnergyPlus 9.3.0 to quantitatively evaluate their heating and cooling performances.

Findings

The obtained results from the energy performance analysis of the case studies indicate that the houses present diverse energy performances in different seasons. Those buildings with PDSs for both cold-arid and hot-arid climates, however, are more adaptable cases to the climate of the region.

Originality/value

The results of this study are expected to provide a basis of materials and methods for the climatic assessment of the traditional buildings, specifically traditional houses and will open new doors to future studies about the integration of these potential PDSs with the new technological developments and climate considerations as well as protecting the conservation policies of these buildings by means of optimizing and improving their energy performance and implementing effective retrofit scenarios.
Consumer perspectives of accelerated access to medicines: a qualitative study
Authors: Pace Jessica , Ghinea Narcyz , Pearson Sallie-Anne , Kerridge Ian , Lipworth Wendy
Published: June 2021

Purpose

In this study, the authors aimed to explore consumer perspectives on accelerated access to medicines. The authors were particularly interested in how they balance competing considerations of safety, efficacy, equity and access; whether and how their views change when there are different levels of uncertainty surrounding the safety and efficacy of new medicines; and the procedures that they think should be used to make decisions about accelerated access to new medicines.

Design/methodology/approach

This was an exploratory qualitative study. Thirteen semi-structured interviews with patient advocates and two focus groups with patients were conducted and analysed thematically. Interviews and focus groups were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed through inductive thematic analysis.

Findings

Participants outlined a range of justifications for accelerated access, including addressing unmet medical needs and encouraging further research and development. However, they were also cognisant of the potential risks and viewed ongoing data collection, disinvestment and market withdrawal as ways to address these. They also emphasised the importance of transparent decisions being made by people with relevant expertise, based on a thorough consideration of scientific evidence and stakeholder perspectives.

Originality/value

This is the first study to comprehensively explore Australian consumers' views of accelerated access to medicines. The results suggest that consumers want timely access to new medicines, but not at the expense of safety, efficacy, equity and sustainability. While accelerated access programs are likely to be welcomed by consumers, they must be fully informed of their conditions and limitations, and robust post-market data surveillance must be implemented and enforced to protect the interests of both individual patients and the broader community.
Nexus between lean operations, eco-product innovativeness, social, green and business performances: an empirical evidence from Ghanaian manufacturing SMEs
Authors: Afum Ebenezer , Gao Yuan , Agyabeng-Mensah Yaw , Sun Zhuo
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper explores the nexus between lean operations, eco-product innovativeness, social performance, green performance and business performance. Both direct and indirect effects are tested among the variables under consideration in this study.

Design/methodology/approach

Data is garnered from 166 Ghanaian small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) manufacturers. All hypothesized relationships are tested using partial least square-structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results suggest that lean operations has a significant positive effect on eco-product innovativeness, social performance, green performance and business performance. The results further indicate that eco-product innovativeness significantly influences green performance and social performance, but does not significantly influence business performance. The mediation procedure performed shows that eco-product innovativeness plays a complementary partial mediation role between lean operations, social performance, green performance and business performance.

Practical implications

The study provides enough evidence that informs managers that the application of lean operations should be a necessity instead of an afterthought when pursuing their sustainable performance targets. The study specifically enlightens Ghanaian managers and those in similar environs to substantially invest in lean operations to achieve eco-product innovativeness and contribute to the survival of the manufacturing sector.

Originality/value

In addition to expanding lean operations and environmental management literature, the study happens to be among the scant studies that has verified the direct and indirect effects between lean operations, eco-product innovativeness, social, green and business performances.
Exploring the treatment effect of religious belief toward mental health with propensity score matching
Authors: Cheng Yi-Chung , Chuang Hui-Chi , Chen Chih-Chuan
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Among the research studies related to the relevance between religious belief and mental health, most of them highlight people with religious belief who tend to obtain mental comforting more easily. However, the research studies mentioned above were cross-sectional studies, and they only verified that religious beliefs and mental health are relevant, but they did not prove their cause-and-effect relationship. That is, they do not identify “due to people's religious beliefs, they have healthier mind” or “due to people's healthier minds, they have religious beliefs.” Therefore, the study aims to explore the benefit evaluation of religious belief affecting mental health.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses propensity score matching (PSM) and treatment effect (ATT) to carry out the causal inference between religious beliefs and mental health. First, the propensity score (PS) is calculated from the impact factors that affect people's religious belief before establishing counterfactual analysis based on the PS to analyze the effect of religious beliefs to further understand the difference of mental health index between people with religious belief and without it, and confirm the cause-and-effect relationship between them.

Findings

Religious beliefs and participation are ubiquitous within and across populations. The associates between religious participation and health are considerably in great magnitude. Most of the research in the past related to religious beliefs and mental health only verified that religious beliefs and mental health are relevant but not proved its cause-and-effect relationship. This paper aimed to explore the causal relationship between religious belief and mental health. The experimental results showed religious belief has treatment effect toward “daily functioning,” “feeling affect,” “spirituality” and “mental health.” On a whole, religious belief can promote mental health.

Originality/value

In academic and practical circles, there are a lot of research studies exploring the relationship between religious belief and mental health. However, there is no research investigating the cause-and-effect relationship between religious belief and mental health. It also causes some questioning toward the relevant research studies. Therefore, the outcome of this study not only can clarify the legitimacy, importance, and practicality on the researches in the past but also provide the practical support for psychology and counseling.
Social contagion and the institutionalisation of GRI-based sustainability reporting practices
Authors: Jain Ameeta , Islam Muhammad Azizul , Keneley Monica , Kansal Monika
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the adoption and diffusion of Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)-based sustainability reporting practices within the global financial services sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach draws on the sociological construct of social contagion theory (SCT) to explain the drivers of diffusion of GRI-based sustainability reporting. Based on a longitudinal study of GRI adoption over a period from 2000 to 2016, thematic content analysis of sustainability reports and media articles was used to refine information gathered that related to nature and spread of GRI-based sustainability practices within the global financial services sector.

Findings

This study finds that the early adopters of GRI-based sustainability reporting and the accompanying media attention influenced the institutional diffusion of GRI-based reporting in the financial services sector. This growth was isomorphic as companies copied best practice models to reduce uncertainty and maintain legitimacy.

Originality/value

This paper focuses on the institutional diffusion of sustainability reporting practices within the global financial sector. It explores the notion of social contagion as an institutional dynamic to understand the drivers for the adoption and diffusion of GRI-based sustainability reporting across national borders. In doing so, the study contributes to the accounting literature on diffusion of innovations in reporting practice, but also, more generally, to the field of diffusion of new ideas in organisations using the unique approach of SCT.
The functions of urban design social attributes in creative placemaking: the case of Kuala Lumpur event festivals
Authors: Ramli Nurul Atikah , Ujang Norsidah
Published: June 2021

Purpose

An increasing effort to reinforce cultural and social activities in creative placemaking is observed. Despite extensive previous studies, works of literature ignored the necessary group-specific indicators and processes in creative placemaking. In successful placemaking, the vital attributes of a place as a social platform should be identified and intensified in the initiatives taken. As such, this study aims to examine the functions of urban design social attributes in generating meaningful creative placemaking initiatives.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was performed, which involved 340 visitors in the inner city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from one case study (a strategic social event initiative called RIUH) on users’ preference toward the social attributes of place and the factors influencing preference. Field observations were carried out to understand the social activities and pattern of engagement.

Findings

The preference study revealed that urban design social attributes encompassed the essential inclusiveness, value, diversity and vitality of place because of high preference and a significant difference among groups.

Social implications

Understanding users’ preferences has emphasized the relevance of each urban design social attribute in accommodating different user opportunity groups, ultimately inducing a positive social impact in creative placemaking.

Originality/value

This study demonstrated the success of creative placemaking in urban development from the social dimension. It provides an understanding that the priority of creative practices should be redirected toward a more in-depth approach in addressing individuals, social capacity, involvement and well-being through the optimization of benefits and other creative placemaking values.
Crisis and disaster management for halal tourism: a systematic review
Authors: Sofyan Andi Syathir , Abror Abror , Putra Trisno Wardy , Muslihati Muslihati , Sofyan Syaakir , Sirajuddin Sirajuddin , Katman Muhammad Nasri , Darussalam Andi Zulfikar
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a primary contribution to the halal tourism industry by presenting a crisis and disaster management framework based on Islamic teachings.

Design/methodology/approach

To develop the framework, a systematic review was conducted using the grounded theory step as an analytical framework through tracing papers from 2000 to 2020. The first step was to carry out an open coding by collecting extracted concepts and categories. Furthermore, axial coding was carried out to connect among the categories. Selective coding was conducted to all identified categories, and they were then integrated to develop a framework. The results obtained are three selected coding, eight axial coding and 55 open coding.

Findings

The result indicates that Islam teaches much principles, behavioral responses and psychological responses to crises and disasters. However, it is not neatly arranged in a modern crisis and disaster management concept. In addition, the advantage for halal tourism is that Muslims make Islamic teachings the foundation of social and community resilience in the face of disasters.

Research limitations/implications

The research findings also provide the knowledge to the tourism planners and academicians in overcoming the crises and disasters.

Originality/value

This paper provides a crisis and disaster management framework with additional decision-making concepts using a maqasid matrix.
Lags in phenological acclimation of mountain grasslands after recent warming
Authors: Bektaş Billur , Thuiller Wilfried , Saillard Amelie , Choler Philippe , Renaud Julien , Colace Marie‐Pascale , Della Vedova Raphael , Münkemüller Tamara
Published: June 2021

In the current biodiversity crisis, one of the crucial questions is how quickly plant communities can acclimate to climate warming and longer growing seasons to buffer the impairment of community functioning. Answering this question is pivotal especially for mountain grasslands that experience harsh conditions but provide essential ecosystem services to people.

We conducted a reciprocal transplant experiment along an elevation gradient (1,920 m vs. 2,450 m) in the French Alps to test the ability of plant species and communities to acclimate to warming and cooling. For 3 years, we measured weekly the timing of phenological events (e.g. start of flowering or greening) and the length of phenological stages linked to demographic performance (e.g. lengths of flowering or greening periods).

We found that warming (and cooling) changed the timing of phenological events strongly enough to result in complete acclimation for graminoids, for communities in early and mid‐season, but not at all for forbs. For example, warming resulted in later greening of communities and delayed all phenophases of graminoids. Lengths of phenological stages did not respond strongly enough to climate change to acclimate completely, except for graminoids. For example, warming led to an acclimation lag in the community's yearly productivity and had a strong negative impact on flowering of forbs. Overall, when there was an acclimation failure, responses to cooling were mostly symmetric and confirmed slow acclimation in mountain grasslands.

Synthesis. Our study highlights that phenological plasticity cannot prevent disruption of community functioning under climate warming in the short term. The failures to acclimate after 3 years of warming signals that species and communities underperform and are probably at high risk of being replaced by locally better‐adapted plants.
Secondary traumatic stress, burnout, compassion satisfaction, and perceived organizational trauma readiness in forensic science professionals
Authors: Levin Andrew P. , Putney Heidi , Crimmins Danielle , McGrath Jonathan G.
Published: June 2021

Secondary traumatic stress, burnout, and compassion satisfaction have been described since the 1980s and extensively studied in first responders, law enforcement, legal professionals, and human service providers. There are few studies in forensic science professionals. To determine levels of secondary traumatic stress, burnout, and compassion satisfaction and relate these to demographics and job characteristics, we administered online a modified version of the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) questionnaire to professionals in crime laboratories and medical examiner offices. Participants also completed a modified version of the Vicarious Trauma‐Organizational Readiness Guide (VT‐ORG) to measure perceptions of their organizations’ efforts to address vicarious trauma and promote health and wellness. Results from 419 subjects indicated that field‐based forensic science professionals registered higher levels of secondary traumatic stress compared to laboratory‐based professionals, but burnout and compassion satisfaction were not significantly different between these groups. Demographic variables did not predict any of these outcome measures, but work with victims’ families and testifying significantly, albeit weakly, predicted higher secondary traumatic stress. Greater employee belief that their organizations were addressing issues of stress and trauma predicted lower levels of secondary traumatic stress and burnout and higher levels of compassion satisfaction. Write‐in responses by participants paralleled the quantitative findings. These results indicate a need to strengthen organizational efforts to address stress and trauma and promote health and wellness, particularly in professionals with direct field‐based exposure to crime scenes, contact with victims’ families, and responsibility for testifying.
OneFeather Mobile Wallet: A Digital Solution for Indigenous Peoples in Canada?*
Authors: Lo Kin , Liu Fiana , Huang Johnson
Published: June 2021

OneFeather is a real company located in British Columbia. The company aims to provide much‐needed services to Indigenous peoples, specifically those in Canada. This case involves a proposed digital wallet specifically designed for the needs of Indigenous peoples in Canada. Students are tasked to consider how the digital wallet needs to consider the unique circumstances of Indigenous peoples, the applicable tax laws, the appropriate technological foundation for the product, and strategies to roll out the product and attract users.
Risk‐Taking Incentives and Earnings Management: New Evidence*
Authors: Mayberry Michael , Park Hyun Jong , Xu Tian
Published: June 2021

We reexamine the positive association between stock option vega and earnings management previously documented by Armstrong, Larcker, Ormazabal, and Taylor (2013; henceforth, ALOT). In contrast to ALOT, prior empirical research and practitioner literature emphasizes earnings management's goals of increasing stock price and reducing volatility. Specifically, we assess whether the association is robust to (i) employing discretionary accruals that are less prone to misspecification, (ii) focusing on a more recent time period, and (iii) including additional controls for period‐specific factors. Our main findings are as follows. First, we fail to find a positive association between vega and earnings management after controlling for performance‐related misspecification in discretionary accruals. Second, we find no association between vega and earnings management in a more recent time period, suggesting the results of ALOT may be sensitive to period‐specific factors. Last, the positive association vanishes when we control for year fixed effects, growth opportunities, or monitoring, suggesting the original results of ALOT's research may be sensitive to correlated, omitted variables. Overall, our results question the extent to which vega incentivizes earnings management. Our results may be of interest to boards of directors in designing executive compensation contracts, to regulators in crafting policies that maintain high levels of financial reporting quality, and to researchers seeking to identify settings where earnings management incentives are most salient.
‘The world somehow stopped moving’: impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on adolescent psychiatric outpatients and the implementation of teletherapy
Authors: Huscsava Mercedes M. , Scharinger Christian , Plener Paul L. , Kothgassner Oswald D.
Published: June 2021

Background

The COVID‐19 pandemic results in disproportional consequences for psychiatric patients. Due to restraints in physical contacts, providers switched from face‐to‐face contacts to teletherapy, but prior experiences were mostly limited. The study aimed at assessing symptom dynamics, potentially increased adversities and factors influencing a successful transition into teletherapy in adolescent psychiatric outpatients during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Method

Thirty adolescent psychiatric outpatients participated in an interview‐based study. The differential impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic was measured by integrating patients’ and psychiatrists’ judgements.

Results

Patients who reported deteriorated symptoms and patients who showed (partial) improvement of symptomatology could be separated by feelings of isolation (specific to deterioration) and perceived reduction in school‐associated stress (unique to improvement). Patients with worsening symptomatology showed a significantly higher degree of psychosocial disability before lockdown and at the first interview. Patients who deteriorated in their level of psychosocial functioning also reported negatively on teletherapy. These patients were verbally less differentiated concerning emotions and affect, reported introspection and rumination, and stated distinctly lower levels of perceived social support. Concerning adversities, no clear trend could be identified, but some patients reported increased domestic violence and neglect.

Conclusions

Patients with a higher degree of psychosocial disability suffer disproportionally from the crisis, so that an assessment of functioning should serve as a triage tool. Also, a screening of the perceived level of social support should be established before offering teletherapy. Additionally, the provision of strategies to enhance verbalisation and differentiation of emotions and affect might be beneficial.
Appropriate use of cancer comprehensive genome profiling assay using circulating tumor DNA
Authors: Sunami Kuniko , Bando Hideaki , Yatabe Yasushi , Naito Yoichi , Takahashi Hideaki , Tsuchihara Katsuya , Toyooka Shinichi , Mimori Koshi , Kohsaka Shinji , Uetake Hiroyuki , Kinoshita Ichiro , Komine Keigo , Takeda Masayuki , Hayashida Tetsu , Tamura Kenji , Nishio Kazuto , Yamamoto Noboru ,   The Working Group of a Joint Task Force of Three Academic Societies for the Promotion of Cancer Genomic Medicine
Published: June 2021

Comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) is being increasingly used for the routine clinical management of solid cancers. In July 2018, the use of tumor tissue‐based CGP assays became available for all solid cancers under the universal health insurance system in Japan. Several restrictions presently exist, such as patient eligibility and limitations on the opportunities to perform such assays. The clinical implementation of CGP based on plasma circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is also expected to raise issues regarding the selection and use of tissue DNA and ctDNA CGP. A Joint Task Force for the Promotion of Cancer Genome Medicine comprised of three Japanese cancer‐related societies has formulated a policy proposal for the appropriate use of plasma CGP (in Japanese), available at https://www.jca.gr.jp/researcher/topics/2021/files/20210120.pdf, http://www.jsco.or.jp/jpn/user_data/upload/File/20210120.pdf, and https://www.jsmo.or.jp/file/dl/newsj/2765.pdf. Based on these recommendations, the working group has summarized the respective advantages and cautions regarding the use of tissue DNA CGP and ctDNA CGP with reference to the advice of a multidisciplinary expert panel, the preferred use of plasma specimens over tissue, and multiple ctDNA testing. These recommendations have been prepared to maximize the benefits of performing CGP assays and might be applicable in other countries and regions.
Oxytocin receptor is a promising therapeutic target of malignant mesothelioma
Authors: Kodama Yuta , Tanaka Ichidai , Sato Tatsuhiro , Hori Kazumi , Gen Soei , Morise Masahiro , Matsubara Daisuke , Sato Mitsuo , Sekido Yoshitaka , Hashimoto Naozumi
Published: June 2021

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is one of the most aggressive tumors. We conducted bioinformatics analysis using Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) datasets to identify new molecular markers in MM. Overexpression of oxytocin receptor (OXTR), which is a G‐protein–coupled receptor for the hormone and neurotransmitter oxytocin, mRNA was distinctively identified in MM cell lines. Therefore, we assessed the role of OXTR and its clinical relevance in MM. Kaplan‐Meier and Cox regression analyses were applied to assess the association between overall survival and OXTR mRNA expression using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets. The function of OXTR and the efficacy of its antagonists were investigated in vitro and in vivo using MM cell lines. Consistent with the findings from CCLE datasets analysis, OXTR mRNA expression was highly increased in MM tissues compared with other cancer types in the TCGA datasets, and MM cases with high OXTR expression showed poor overall survival. Moreover, OXTR knockdown dramatically decreased MM cell proliferation in cells with high OXTR expression via tumor cell cycle disturbance, whereas oxytocin treatment significantly increased MM cell growth. OXTR antagonists, which have high selectivity for OXTR, inhibited the growth of MM cell lines with high OXTR expression, and oral administration of the OXTR antagonist, cligosiban, significantly suppressed MM tumor progression in a xenograft model. Our findings suggest that OXTR plays a crucial role in MM cell proliferation and is a promising therapeutic target that may broaden potential therapeutic options and could be a prognostic biomarker of MM.
Clinical and radiographic performance of self‐locking conical connection implants in the posterior mandible: Five‐year results of a two‐centre prospective study
Authors: Moergel Maximilian , Rocha Salomão , Messias Ana , Nicolau Pedro , Guerra Fernando , Wagner Wilfried
Published: June 2021

Objective

This prospective study aims to assess the 5‐year clinical performance of implants with internal conical connection and platform‐switched abutments in the posterior mandible.

Material and Methods

Healthy adults missing at least two teeth in the posterior mandible and with a natural tooth mesial to the implant site received two or three adjacent implants. After a transmucosal healing period single crown restorations were cemented on platform‐switched abutments. Changes in marginal bone levels were investigated in standardized periapical radiographs from surgery and loading (baseline) to 60‐months post‐loading.

Results

Twenty‐four patients received 52 implants. Bone remodelling took place between surgery and loading (mean:‐0.5, SD:±0.4 mm). From loading to 60 months, there was a mean bone change of 0.27 (SD:±0.47 mm) which stabilized 24 months after prosthesis delivery (mean:0.2, SD:±0.46 mm). 71.7% of all implants presented bone preservation at 60 months irrespective of the initial insertion depth. Two implants were lost after 5 years and the success rate was 95.1%. Patient enquiry revealed high satisfaction.

Conclusion

Internal conical connection implants with platform‐switched abutments presented a high success rate and preservation of marginal bone levels at the implant shoulder after 5 years of loading.
Anthropogenic habitat loss accelerates the range expansion of a global invader
Authors: Wang Xuyu , Yi Tao , Li Wenhao , Xu Chunxia , Wang Supen , Wang Yanping , Li Yiming , Liu Xuan
Published: June 2021

Aim

Understanding the patterns and correlates of the range expansion of established alien species is crucial for predicting invasion impacts and developing effective control strategies. With accelerating globalization, it is key to identify the interactions of different global change processes, such as how land‐use change may influence range expansion, yet empirical studies remain limited.

Location

Liuji Town, Jiangsu Province, China.

Methods

We first divided the study area into 128 grids with a resolution of 1 × 1 km and conducted visual encounter surveys over two years for a total of 492 water bodies to explore the establishment and range expansions of a global notorious invader, the American bullfrog Lithobates catesbeianus (Shaw, 1802) (= Rana catesbeiana (Shaw, 1802)) using generalized linear mixed models. Then, we investigated the residence time of the established bullfrogs in each water body based on a questionnaire survey. We quantified the habitat loss and range expansion of the past 30 years via GIS‐based spatial analysis and explored their temporal dynamics using the breakpoint regression technique.

Results

We found that the area of suitable habitats was the most important variable positively related to the bullfrog establishment. There was a similar temporal trend of the range expansion and habitat loss, although the optimal time of habitat loss was slightly earlier than that of the great increase in bullfrog range expansion. Overall, the bullfrogs tended to expand faster with greater habitat loss after controlling for temporal non‐independence.

Main conclusions

Our results demonstrated that loss of suitable habitats may facilitate invaders with faster range expansion to occupy the remaining limited resources. Alien species might thus accelerate invasions under human‐induced land‐use modifications in the era of global change. The time lag between range expansion and habitat loss is the golden window for preventing the spread of established alien species in disturbed habitats.
Terpene and resin acid contents in Scots pine stem lesions colonized by the rust fungusCronartium pini
Authors: Kaitera Juha , Piispanen Juha , Bergmann Ulrich
Published: June 2021

Cronartium pinicauses economic losses especially on Scots pine in northern Europe. Scots pine reacts to rust infection by resin flow. The chemicals enriched in wood afterCronartiuminfection have not been investigated before. We investigated resin acids and mono‐ and sesquiterpenes produced inCronartium‐infected wood.Cronartium‐infected wood was extracted with acetone, and the extractives were analysed by GC‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) and compared to those from control wood. Among resin acids, abietic acid, levopimaric acid, palustric acid, dehydroabietic acid and neoabietic acid were the richest (32–68 mg/g) inCronartium‐infected wood. Among monoterpenes, concentration of α‐pinene was the highest (49 mg/g) inCronartium‐infected wood. Concentrations of all monoterpenes and resin acids and most sesquiterpenes were significantly higher (1.3‐ to 108‐fold) inCronartium‐infected wood compared to control wood. In the control wood, the extractive content was greater (1.1‐ to 14‐fold) than in the literature suggesting that the chemical processes were strongly affected by the rust. The results suggest that terpenes and resin acids are produced by the host to protect it fromCronartiumrust.
Conceptualizing smart city applications: Requirements, architecture, security issues, and emerging trends
Authors: Haque A. K. M. Bahalul , Bhushan Bharat , Dhiman Gaurav
Published: June 2021

The emergence of smart cities and sustainable development has become a globally accepted form of urbanization. The epitome of smart city development has become possible due to the latest innovative integration of information and communication technology. Citizens of smart cities can enjoy the benefits of a smart living environment, ubiquitous connectivity, seamless access to services, intelligent decision making through smart governance, and optimized resource management. The widespread acceptance of smart cities has raised data security issues, authentication, unauthorized access, device‐level vulnerability, and sustainability. This article focuses on the holistic overview and conceptual development of smart city. Initially, the work discusses the smart city idea and fundamentals explored in various pieces of literature. Further various smart city applications along with notable implementations, are put forth to understand the quality of living standards. Finally, the article depicts a solid understanding of different security and privacy issues, including some crucial future research directions.
Fracture toughness behavior of dissimilar metal (SA508 Gr.3 Class 1 and SA312 Type 304LN) weld joint: With and without stress relieving treatment
Authors: Kumar Suranjit , Kale Rahul P. , Singh Pawan Kumar , Ghosh Mainak , Chattopadhyay Jayanta
Published: June 2021

Dissimilar metal welds (DMW) are used to connect the low‐alloy steel (LAS) pressure vessel and austenitic stainless steel (ASS) piping in nuclear power reactors. DMWs inherently have high gradient of carbon content across fusion boundary (LAS‐ASS), leading to carbon migration from LAS to ASS. Nickel‐based alloy is the preferred buttering and welding consumable to minimize carbon migration. Stress‐relieving treatment after buttering of LAS also enhances the carbon migration, which may lead to a reduction in local fracture toughness in heat affected zone (HAZ) of LAS. Therefore, this paper aims to study the effect of stress‐relieving treatment on the fracture toughness behavior of DMW. Fracture toughnesses of different zones of DMWs have been quantified in as‐welded and stress‐relieved conditions. It has been shown that stress‐relieving leads to lowering of fracture toughness with respect to as welded condition. This is attributed to increase in the microstructural heterogeneity in HAZ (LAS) and near fusion boundary of the DMW.
Crucial involvement of catecholamine neurotransmission in postoperative nausea and vomiting: Whole‐transcriptome profiling in the rat nucleus of the solitary tract
Authors: Sugino Shigekazu , Konno Daisuke , Abe Junko , Imamura‐Kawasawa Yuka , Kido Kanta , Suzuki Jun , Endo Yasuhiro , Yamauchi Masanori
Published: June 2021

The genetic mechanisms of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and the involvement of the catecholamine system in the brain have not been elucidated. Eating kaolin clay as a type of pica has been examined as an alternative behavior to emesis. Here, we evaluated changes in whole‐transcriptome analysis in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) in a rat pica model as a surrogate behavior of PONV to elucidate the molecular genetic mechanisms of the development of PONV and the involvement of the catecholamine system in the NTS. First, kaolin pica behaviors were investigated in 71 female Wistar rats following isoflurane anesthesia, surgical insult or morphine administration. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that 3 mg/kg morphine increased kaolin intake by 2.8 g (P = 0.0002). Next, total RNA and protein were extracted from the dissected NTS, and whole‐transcriptome sequencing (RNA‐seq) was performed to identify PONV‐associated genes and to verify the involvement of the catecholamine system. The gene expression levels of tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine beta‐hydroxylase in the catecholamine biosynthesis pathway decreased significantly in the PONV model. Release of noradrenaline, a catecholamine pathway end product, may have increased at the synaptic terminal of the NTS neuron after pica behavior. Systematic administration of α2 adrenergic receptor agonists after surgery reduced kaolin intake from 3.2 g (control) to 1.0 g (P = 0.0014). These results indicated that catecholamine neurotransmission was involved in the development of PONV in the NTS.