bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Revisiting intangible capital and labour productivity growth, 2000–2015
Authors: Roth Felix
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to revisit the relationship between intangible capital and labour productivity growth using the largest, up-to-date macro database (2000–2015) available to corroborate the econometric findings of earlier work and to generate novel econometric evidence by accounting for times of crisis (2008–2013) and economic recovery (2014–2015).

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve these aims, this paper employs a cross-country growth accounting econometric estimation approach using the largest, up-to-date database available encompassing 16 EU countries over the period 2000–2015. The paper accounts for times of crisis (2008–2013) and of economic recovery (2014–2015). It separately estimates the contribution of three distinct dimensions of intangible capital: (1) computerized information, (2) innovative property and (3) economic competencies.

Findings

First, when accounting for intangibles, the paper finds that these intangibles have become the dominant source of labour productivity growth in the EU, explaining up to 66 percent of growth. Second, when accounting for times of crisis (2008–2013), in contrast to tangible capital, the paper detects a solid positive relationship between intangibles and labour productivity growth. Third, when accounting for the economic recovery (2014–2015), the paper finds a highly significant and remarkably strong relationship between intangible capital and labour productivity growth.

Originality/value

This paper corroborates the importance of intangibles for labour productivity growth and thereby underlines the necessity to incorporate intangibles into today's national accounting frameworks in order to correctly depict the levels of capital investment being made in European economies. These levels are significantly higher than those currently reflected in the official statistics.
Designing a decision support system to evaluate the environmental and extra-economic performances of a nearly zero-energy building
Authors: Dell'Anna Federico , Bottero Marta , Becchio Cristina , Corgnati Stefano Paolo , Mondini Giulio
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The cost-optimal analysis is not able to address the multi-dimensionality of the decision according to the new European objectives and International sustainable development goals in the field of the nearly-zero energy building (NZEB) design. The purpose of this paper is to study the role of multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) for guiding energy investment decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explores the Preference ranking organization method for enrichment of evaluations II (PROMETHEE II) application to support the project of transforming a rural building into a NZEB. The evaluation provides an estimate of the effects of alternative energy efficiency measures, involving energy consumption, life cycle costs, carbon emissions, property value and indoor comfort criteria. The study performs a multi-actors analysis in order to understand how different consumers' point of views can influence the final choice of the best investment. Furthermore, a multi-site analysis explores the spatial variation of NZEB building appreciation in the real estate market.

Findings

The PROMETHEE II-based model ranks 16 alternative solutions for the NZEB according to energy, economic and extra-economic criteria. The multi-actors analysis highlights the configuration of the NZEB building that best meets the needs of different end-users, respecting the European directives and national standards. The multi-site analysis concludes that location does not change users' appreciation and not influence the output for the best solution.

Originality/value

The MCDA occurs as a support tool that helps to optimize the preliminary design phase of NZEB through the exploration of the optimal solution considering crucial criteria in the energy and environmental and real estate market rules.
Effective medium theory and multiple linear regression‐based velocity estimation in syn‐rift clastic sequence of the Krishna–Godavari basin, India
Authors: Das Prabal Shankar , Chatterjee Rima , Dasgupta Sumangal
Published: April 2020

An inclusion model, based on the Kuster–Toksöz effective medium theory along with Gassmann theory, is tested to forward model velocities for fluid‐saturated rocks. A simulated annealing algorithm, along with the inclusion model, effectively inverts measured compressional velocity (VP) to achieve an effective pore aspect ratio at each depth in a depth variant manner, continuously along with depth. Early Cretaceous syn‐rift clastic sediments at two different depth intervals from two wells [well A (2160–2274 m) and well B (5222–5303 m)], in the Krishna–Godavari basin, India, are used for this study. Shear velocity (VS) estimated using modelled pore aspect ratio offers a high correlation coefficient (>0.95 for both the wells) with measured data. The modelled pore aspect ratio distribution suggests the decrease in pore aspect ratio for the deeper interval, mainly due to increased effective vertical stress. The pore aspect ratio analysis in relation to total porosity and volume of clay reveals that the clay volume has insignificant influence in shaping the pore geometry in the studied intervals. An approach based on multiple linear regression method effectively predicts velocity as a linear function of total porosity, the volume of clay and the modelled pore‐space aspect ratio of the rock. We achieved a significant match between measured and predicted velocities. The correlation coefficients between measured and modelled velocities are considerably high (approximately 0.85 and 0.8, for VP and VS, respectively). This process indicates the possible influence of pore geometry along with total porosity and volume of clay on velocity.
Infrastructures of trust and distrust: The politics and ethics of emerging cryptographic technologies
Authors: BRUUN MAJA HOJER , ANDERSEN ASTRID OBERBORBECK , MANNOV ADRIENNE
Published: April 2020

The authors of this article are engaged in anthropological research on the links between the growing interest in privacy and data security as a technical field and how notions of trust, security and accountability are practised in and beyond technical fields of cryptography, specifically a field called multi‐party computation (MPC). They pursue the relationship between trust in different forms of cryptography – academic and activist – and notions of trust as they are articulated in relation to data security and the protection of citizens’ data. There is a tension between the concerns raised in public debates about data security and the promises of emerging cryptographic protocols. In political speeches and public debates, citizens’ trust that governments and tech companies will protect their data is framed as important and essential. In the environments of emerging cryptographic technologies, such as blockchains, bitcoin and MPC, a promise to provide ‘trustless trust’ and abandon the need for trusted intermediaries, authorities and institutions is articulated.
Gender Inequality, Social Reproduction and the Universal Basic Income
Authors: Lombardozzi Lorena
Published: April 2020

Despite extensive attention being paid to the effects of the Universal Basic Income (UBI) on society at large, there has been little analysis on the relationship between gender inequality and UBI. The purpose of this article is first to reflect on the feminist arguments in favour of UBI and then to examine some of these points by also considering other available policies. By looking into the role of women’s work in both productive and reproductive activities, it is argued that UBI should not be disregarded as a social policy. However, its transformative capacity to empower women and to strengthen their role in society should not be overestimated. In order to address this gap, policy makers should address misconceptions around gender norms and acknowledge the multiple forms of women’s work across the social relations of production and reproduction.
Urban Commoning as a Vehicle Between Government Institutions and Informality: Collective Gardening Practices in Tampere and Narva
Authors: Pikner Tarmo , Willman Krista , Jokinen Ari
Published: April 2020

This article examines the processes of urban commoning and its co‐produced features of urbanity, making the claim that, through these processes, informality becomes translated into institutionalized city planning. Commoning is analysed through a comparative study that utilizes contingent features of urbanity and three modalities accommodating the informality–formality meshwork during urban change. The article contributes to research on urban transformations by integrating commons, informality dynamics and the constitution of state institutions. This focus is elaborated with reference to collective gardening practices in the context of two of the less studied European cities, Narva in Estonia and Tampere in Finland. The results of the study indicate that urban commoning takes place through delegating a public mandate and enacting uncertainty, two processes that informalize city government practices. Particular differences appeared in regard to the institutional porosity that enables unregulated spaces of collective gardening to be mobilized as part of urban politics. We argue that networked movements appear as an essential part of the urban logic of action producing meaningful connections in an informal–formal meshwork and bringing together multiple sites in the commoning process.
Melanization induced by Heliothis virescens ascovirus 3h promotes viral replication
Authors: Li Zi‐Qi , Song Xiao‐Hui , Wang Min , Wang Shu , Huang Guo‐Hua
Published: April 2020

Melanization is an important innate immune defense mechanism of insects, which can kill invading pathogens. Most pathogens, for their survival and reproduction, inhibit the melanization of the host. Interestingly, our results suggested that after infection with Heliothis virescens ascovirus 3h (HvAV‐3h), the speed of melanization in infected Spodoptera exigua larval hemolymph was accelerated and that the phenoloxidase (PO) activity of hemolymph in larvae infected with HvAV‐3h increased significantly (1.20‐fold at 96 hpi, 1.52‐fold at 120 hpi, 1.23‐fold at 144 hpi, 1.12‐fold at 168 hpi). The transcription level of the gene encoding S. exigua prophenoloxidase‐1 (SePPO‐1 gene) was upregulated dramatically in the fat body during the middle stage of infection. In addition, when melanization was inhibited or promoted, the replication of HvAV‐3h was inhibited or promoted, respectively. In conclusion, infection with HvAV‐3h can markedly induce melanization in the middle stage of infection, and melanization is helpful for HvAV‐3h viral replication.
Review of the accuracy of multi‐parametric MRI prostate in detecting prostate cancer within a local reporting service
Authors: Tsai Wei Che , Field Lee , Stewart Sophie , Schultz Martin
Published: April 2020

Introduction

Multi‐parametric magnetic resonance imaging of the prostate is crucial in detecting prostate cancer (CaP) and staging local disease. The Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PIRADS) scoring system is used to assess and classify lesions and enables communication between clinicians and radiologists. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of PIRADSv2 in detecting CaP using histopathology specimens within our local service.

Methods

This retrospective study included 192 patients between September 2016 and May 2019. All had mpMRI prostate examinations prior to biopsy or prostatectomy. Lesions on MRI were assigned a PIRADS score and comparison made with histopathology results. Gleason score ≥7 was considered as clinically significant prostate cancer (csCaP). We calculated accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) for detecting all CaP and csCaP.

Results

In the PIRADS 3 group, 32% were Gleason 6 and 32% were Gleason 7 lesions. In the PIRADS 4 group, 37% were Gleason 6 and 41% were Gleason ≥7. For PIRADS 5 lesions, 32% were Gleason 6 and 68% were Gleason ≥7. For all CaP, sensitivity was 84.7%, specificity 54.6%, PPV 82.3% and NPV 58.8%. For csCaP Gleason ≥7, PIRADS cut‐off ≥3 had sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of 95.7%, 39.3%, 47.5% and 94.1%, respectively, and cut‐off ≥4 had sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of 84.3%, 53.3%, 50.9% and 85.5%.

Conclusions

This study confirms PIRADS has high accuracy, sensitivity and NPV for detecting all CaP and csCaP. A high NPV may obviate need for biopsy in low‐risk patients.
MitoFinder: Efficient automated large‐scale extraction of mitogenomic data in target enrichment phylogenomics
Authors: Allio Rémi , Schomaker‐Bastos Alex , Romiguier Jonathan , Prosdocimi Francisco , Nabholz Benoit , Delsuc Frédéric
Published: April 2020

Thanks to the development of high‐throughput sequencing technologies, target enrichment sequencing of nuclear ultraconserved DNA elements (UCEs) now allows routine inference of phylogenetic relationships from thousands of genomic markers. Recently, it has been shown that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is frequently sequenced alongside the targeted loci in such capture experiments. Despite its broad evolutionary interest, mtDNA is rarely assembled and used in conjunction with nuclear markers in capture‐based studies. Here, we developed MitoFinder, a user‐friendly bioinformatic pipeline, to efficiently assemble and annotate mitogenomic data from hundreds of UCE libraries. As a case study, we used ants (Formicidae) for which 501 UCE libraries have been sequenced whereas only 29 mitogenomes are available. We compared the efficiency of four different assemblers (IDBA‐UD, MEGAHIT, MetaSPAdes, and Trinity) for assembling both UCE and mtDNA loci. Using MitoFinder, we show that metagenomic assemblers, in particular MetaSPAdes, are well suited to assemble both UCEs and mtDNA. Mitogenomic signal was successfully extracted from all 501 UCE libraries, allowing us to confirm species identification using CO1 barcoding. Moreover, our automated procedure retrieved 296 cases in which the mitochondrial genome was assembled in a single contig, thus increasing the number of available ant mitogenomes by an order of magnitude. By utilizing the power of metagenomic assemblers, MitoFinder provides an efficient tool to extract complementary mitogenomic data from UCE libraries, allowing testing for potential mitonuclear discordance. Our approach is potentially applicable to other sequence capture methods, transcriptomic data and whole genome shotgun sequencing in diverse taxa. The MitoFinder software is available from GitHub (https://github.com/RemiAllio/MitoFinder).
Pre‐operative ketorolac efficacy with different anesthetics, irrigants during single visit root canal treatment of mandibular molars with acute irreversible pulpitis
Authors: Nivedha V. , Sherwood I. Anand , Abbott Paul V. , Ramaprabha B. , Bhargavi P.V.
Published: April 2020

Mandibular molar teeth with acute irreversible pulpitis pose challenges in single visit root canal treatment – (i) success of local anaesthesia and (ii) post‐operative pain. One hundred and twenty‐six patients with pain associated with carious mandibular molar teeth were enrolled. All patients were administered 10 mg of ketorolac tromethamine prior to local anaesthesia. Local anesthetics used were 2% lignocaine with 1:80 000 adrenaline and 4% articaine with 1:100 000 adrenaline. Three irrigation solutions were used – saline, 3% sodium hypochlorite and dexamethasone. Mean intra‐operative pain scores for the lignocaine and articaine groups were 4.33 (±2.58) and 4.22 (±2.88), respectively. There was a statistically significant difference (P = 0.000) in post‐operative pain incidence between the lignocaine and articaine groups with 16.7% (10 patients) and 49.2% (29 patients), respectively. Pre‐operative ketorolac tromethamine was not effective in reducing the intra‐operative pain incidence. However, it was effective in controlling post‐operative pain with lignocaine anesthetic group.
Identification and quantification of coding and long non‐coding RNAs in stallion spermatozoa separated by density
Authors: Ing Nancy H. , Konganti Kranti , Ghaffari Noushin , Johnson Charles D. , Forrest David W. , Love Charles C. , Varner Dickson D.
Published: April 2020

Background

It is not unusual for stallions to have fertility problems. For many, artificial insemination with more dense spermatozoa (isolated by density gradient centrifugation) results in greater pregnancy rates compared with the rates when using unfractionated spermatozoa. RNAs in spermatozoa delivered to the oocyte at conception are required for embryo development. Novel molecular assays of spermatozoa that reflect function are needed to predict the fertility of stallions.

Objectives

To describe and compare the RNA populations in more dense and less dense spermatozoa from stallions.

Materials and methods

Spermatozoa from five stallions were separated into more dense and less dense populations by density gradient centrifugation. Complementary DNA libraries were made from each of the ten total RNA samples after ribosomal RNA removal. Next‐generation sequencing characterized the RNA populations in more and less dense spermatozoa. Quantitative reverse transcription‐PCR was used to confirm differential expression of selected RNAs.

Results

Stallion spermatozoa contain 11 215 RNAs, with the most prevalent RNA being a 1492 base long non‐coding RNA. The levels of 159 RNAs were greater in more dense spermatozoa, while levels of seven other RNAs were greater in less dense spermatozoa. Quantitative reverse transcription‐PCR confirmed the threefold greater levels of solute carrier family 26 member 8 (SLC26A8) mRNA in less dense spermatozoa, and sixfold and threefold greater expression levels of the SCP2 sterol binding domain containing 1 (SCP2D1) and spermatogenesis‐associated protein 31D1 (SPATA31D1) mRNAs in more dense spermatozoa, respectively.

Discussion and conclusion

We identified 11 215 RNAs in stallion spermatozoa and 166 with differential expression between more dense and less dense fractions. Many prevalent RNAs were also found in bull, boar, and human spermatozoa. Many differentially expressed RNAs are known to be testis‐ or spermatozoa‐specific. Our results may lead to identification of an RNA population in spermatozoa that is optimal for establishing successful pregnancies.
Treatment of macular hole retinal detachment with macular plug in highly myopic eyes: three‐year results
Authors: Wu An‐Lun , Ling Kiet‐Phang , Chuang Lan‐Hsin , Chen Kuan‐Jen , Chen Yen‐Po , Yeung Ling , Wang Nan‐Kai , Liu Laura , Chen Tun‐Lu , Hwang Yih‐Shiou , Wu Wei‐Chi , Lai Chi‐Chun
Published: April 2020

Purpose

To investigate the long‐term surgical outcomes of macular hole retinal detachment (MHRD) following vitrectomy with macular plug in highly myopic eyes.

Methods

Thirty‐five cases of highly myopic eyes with MHRD in 35 patients who underwent an initially successful vitrectomy with macular plug and were followed up for at least 3 years were reviewed. The anatomical outcomes were evaluated by fundus examination, fundus photographs and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Myopic features after the surgery were differentiated according to recommendations of the Meta‐analysis of Pathologic Myopia (META‐PM) Study Group. The best‐corrected visual acuities (BCVAs) before and after surgery were analysed as the functional outcome. Main outcome measures time–course changes in BCVA and complications.

Results

The mean patient age was 61.0 ± 11.4 years. The follow‐up was 45.2 ± 8.6 months (ranged from 36 to 71 months). The mean axial length was 29.3 ± 1.2 mm. All eyes demonstrated attached retina, but 2 eyes (5.7%) developed reopened macular holes until the last follow‐up. Complications of postoperative rhegmatogenous retinal detachment were detected in 2 eyes (5.7%) within 1 year and retina reattached after the secondary vitrectomy. Three cases (8.6%) of prolonged subretinal fluid lasting more than 1 year were detected but finally absorbed completely. Comparing 1–3 years postoperatively, myopic features showed significant progression of myopic maculopathy category (p = 0.035). Functionally, significantly improved BCVA could be maintained postoperatively between 6 months and 3 years. However, vision of 14 eyes (40.0%) worsened within 1–3 years postoperatively, and visual deterioration was associated with progression of myopic maculopathy (p = 0.004) and pre‐existing disease of glaucoma (p = 0.006).

Conclusions

A vitrectomy combined with macular plug provided favourable outcomes in the long term, over the ≥3‐year follow‐up period.
Drusenoid pigment epithelial detachment volume is associated with a decrease in best‐corrected visual acuity and central retinal thickness: the Norwegian Pigment Epithelial Detachment Study (NORPED) report no. 1
Authors: Tvenning Arnt‐Ole , Krohn Jørgen , Forsaa Vegard , Malmin Agni , Hedels Christian , Austeng Dordi
Published: April 2020

Purpose

To investigate the association of drusenoid pigment epithelial detachment (DPED) volume and change in best‐corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) during the growth phase of large DPEDs.

Methods

Patients from an ongoing prospective observational study, the Norwegian Pigment Epithelial Detachment Study (NORPED), with 1 year of follow‐up and DPEDs ≥1000 µm in diameter, examined with the Heidelberg Spectralis HRA‐OCT were included. Patients with DPEDs in the regression phase were excluded. Multicolour, near‐infrared reflectance, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography images were obtained every 6 months. Fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green angiography were performed at baseline and yearly to exclude choroidal neovascularization (CNV).

Results

Forty‐four patients and 66 eyes were included. In the statistical model for BCVA, every 1.0 mm3 increase in DPED volume led to a decrease in BCVA of 4.0 ETDRS letters (95% CI, −7.0 to −1.0, p = 0.008). A decrease in BCVA was significantly associated with older patient age, the presence of acquired vitelliform lesions and subfoveal location of the DPEDs. In the model for CRT, every 1.0 mm3 increase in DPED volume led to a decrease in CRT of 26.7 µm (95% CI, −44.4 to −9.0, p = 0.003). Two eyes had progression of geographic atrophy and none developed CNV.

Conclusion

The increasing volume of DPEDs during the growth phase is associated with a decrease in BCVA and CRT. The subfoveal location of DPEDs and the presence of acquired vitelliform lesions appear to be associated with a further reduction in BCVA.
Understanding individuals’ subjective experiences of negative symptoms of schizophrenia: A qualitative study
Authors: Butcher Isabelle , Berry Katherine , Haddock Gillian
Published: April 2020

Objectives

Individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia often experience both positive and negative symptoms. Negative symptoms can be disabling and have a serious impact on everyday functioning. Despite the range of clinician‐rated measurement tools used to assess negative symptoms, very little is known about how individuals subjectively experience these symptoms. This study sought to examine, using qualitative methods, how people living with a diagnosis of schizophrenia subjectively experience negative symptoms.

Design

Qualitative study.

Method

Semi‐structured interviews were carried out with individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia who were experiencing negative symptoms. The sample was recruited from community and inpatient National Health Service mental health settings in the United Kingdom. Interviews were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Twenty individuals took part. Individuals highlighted the persistent and enduring nature of their negative symptoms. Two central themes were identified: What it is like to experience negative symptoms and where have my negative symptoms come from? Within the first theme, four sub‐themes emerged: loss of concentration, loss of motivation, withdrawal, and ‘feeling but not feeling’. Within the second theme, four sub‐themes emerged related to the causes of negative symptoms: impact of traumatic life events, positive psychotic symptoms, impact of social network, and recreational and prescribed drug use.

Conclusion

Individuals, who experience negative symptoms, were able to articulate the persistent and disabling nature of negative symptoms and clearly described factors which they believed contributed to the onset, exacerbation, and amelioration of the experiences.

Practitioner points

Negative symptoms for people diagnosed with schizophrenia are persistent and enduring and impact an individual’s life.

There has been little research conducted qualitatively on individuals’ subjective experiences of negative symptoms.

Individuals who experience negative symptoms attribute these to a number of factors, including adverse life events, recreational and prescribed drug use, an absence of social support, and positive psychotic symptoms.

Understanding negative symptoms is important for services, clinicians, and family members, where misattributions made about negative symptoms can lead to such experiences being dismissed.
Comorbidities associated with eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: McHugh Tobial , Levin Marc , Snidvongs Kornkiat , Banglawala Sarfaraz M. , Sommer Doron D.
Published: April 2020

Objective

Eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis (ECRS) is a histological subtype of CRS that is generally recognised as being more difficult to manage. Patients with ECRS tend to have greater disease severity and poorer treatment outcomes after sinus surgery when compared with non‐ECRS patients. The histopathology and biomarker assessments of ECRS are often unavailable prior to surgery and may be impractical and costly to analyse. Thus, the primary objective of this study was to understand clinical comorbidities associated with ECRS.

Design/Setting

We searched three independent databases for articles that reported clinical CRS comorbidities associated with tissue eosinophilia. Data from studies with the same reported comorbidities were pooled, and a forest plot analysis was used to assess potential associations with four different conditions including allergic rhinitis, ASA sensitivity, asthma and atopy. The association between the phenotype of nasal polyps and ECRS was also quantified as a secondary objective. ECRS cut‐off levels were as defined by papers included.

Main outcome/Results

Eighteen articles were identified. The presence of nasal polyps (the first numbers in brackets represent odds ratios) (5.85, 95% CI [3.61, 9.49], P < .00001), ASA sensitivity (5.63, 95% CI [3.43, 9.23], P < .00001), allergic rhinitis (1.84, 95% CI [1.27, 2.67], P = .001) and asthma (3.15, 95% CI [2.61, 3.82], P < .00001) were found to be significantly associated with tissue eosinophilia. Atopy, however, was not significantly associated with tissue eosinophilia (1.71, 95% CI [0.59, 4.95], P = .32).

Conclusion

Certain clinical disease characteristics such as ASA sensitivity, allergic rhinitis and asthma are more associated with CRS patients with eosinophilia when compared to those without eosinophilia. The phenotype of nasal polyps was also associated with ECRS. It is important for surgeons to recognise these comorbidities to ensure correct diagnoses, management and follow‐up are implemented.
Technical Note: Recommendations for Assessing Unit Nonresponse Bias in Dyadic Focused Empirical Supply Chain Management Research
Authors: Clottey Toyin , Benton W. C.
Published: April 2020

The last decade has seen an increase in empirical supply chain management research with dyadic data. Such data structures can further complicate the assessment of nonresponse bias, which plays a key role in establishing the credibility of research results. A survey of 75 research articles with dyadic data, published in five empirically focused supply chain management academic journals, over the last decade, reveals a lack of agreement on methods used in the assessment for potential unit nonresponse bias. Of the various statistical tests found, only the Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) approach allows for a single statistical test to be utilized in assessing for potential unit nonresponse bias via incorporation of the design structure of the dyadic data. We investigate the use of an effect size confidence interval coverage, of a MANOVA, to detect a meaningful difference between respondents and nonrespondents correctly. Our results show that with dyadic data, such meaningful differences can be detected with significantly smaller sample size requirements than traditional approaches such as t‐tests or ANOVA. Recommendations are provided for setting up and executing a MANOVA to assess for potential unit nonresponse bias with dyadic data.
E/e' in relation to outcomes in ST‐elevation myocardial infarction
Authors: Tai Sarah B , Lau Wei Ren , Gao Fei , Hamid Nadira , Amanullah Mohammed Rizwan , Fam Jiang Ming , Yap Jonathan , Ewe See Hooi , Chan Mark Y. , Yeo Khung Keong , Ding Zee Pin , Sahlén Anders
Published: April 2020

Background

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a high‐risk condition especially when filling pressure is raised, and earlier reports have suggested that E/e’ is associated with poor outcome. However, whether E/e’ predicts risk better than LVEF, which is the current standard of practice, is not known. We investigated this question in the largest and most rigorous study of MI patients so far.

Methods and Results

We studied 660 patients with ST‐elevation MI (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention and related E/e’ to short‐term mortality (in‐hospital death), as well as long‐term events at 2 years comprising (a) a composite of MI, stroke, heart failure, and death, and (b) death alone. Short‐term models were adjusted for age, sex, and LVEF. Long‐term models were adjusted for age, sex, diabetes, revascularization procedure, history of MI, hypertension, renal function, drugs on discharge, and LVEF. Elevated E/e’> 15 indicated higher risk of short‐term events (n = 19:7.0% (95% confidence interval 3.4‐10.8%) vs. 1.0% (0.3 ‐ 2.3%); adjusted odds ratio 3.7 (1.3‐10.5)). While elevated E/e’ was also associated with long‐term outcomes (n = 103 composite events: 15.9% (11.9% – 21.4%) vs 6.8% (5.2% – 8.7%), P < .001; n = 38 death events: 6.0% (3.9% – 9.5%) vs 2.0% (1.3% – 3.2%), P = .001), E/e’ was rendered nonsignificant for long‐term outcomes by multivariable adjustment (p = ns for both). LVEF, on the contrary, was a highly significant predictor in the adjusted long‐term model.

Conclusion

E/e’ is associated with poor outcome in STEMI, but LVEF is a stronger predictor of long‐term risk.
Occurrence and correlates of depressive symptoms among the resettled Afghan refugees in a regional area of Australia
Authors: Hamrah Mohammad Shoaib , Hoang Ha , Mond Jonathan , Pahlavanzade Bagher , Charkazi Abdurrahman , Auckland Stuart
Published: April 2020

Aims

Refugees and asylum seekers are at high risk of mental health problems such as post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Elucidating the occurrence and correlates of these problems in specific resettled refugee populations may be helpful in informing tailored prevention and health promotion programs. We sought to elucidate the occurrence and correlates of depressive symptoms among Afghan refugees resettled in Launceston, a regional town of Australia.

Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional survey of 66 resettled Afghan refugees residing in Launceston in April 2019. We used the Hopkins symptoms checklist (HSCL‐25) and the post migration living difficulties scale (PMLD) to measure depression symptoms and post‐migration variables, respectively. Demographic characteristics and levels of physical activity were also assessed. Multivariate analysis was used to examine factors associated with depressive symptoms.

Results

High levels of depressive symptoms were reported by 21.2% of participants (95% CI: 12.1%‐33.0%) and were more common among female participants (41.2%, 95% CI: 18.4%‐67.1%) than male participants (14.3%, 95% CI: 5.9%‐27.2%). Isolation (loneliness, being or feeling alone) (OR = 19.5, 95% CI: 1.9‐203.5) and physical inactivity (OR = 9.2, 95% CI: 1.8‐45.8) were the only variables independently associated with depressive symptoms.

Conclusions

Depressive symptoms were common among Afghan refugees living in Launceston, particularly women, and were associated with isolation and physical inactivity. Hence these factors might usefully be targeted in local health promotion and prevention programs.
Insight into the molecular sex dimorphism of ischaemic stroke in rat cerebral cortex: Focus on neuroglobin, sex steroids and autophagy
Authors: Acaz‐Fonseca Estefanía , Castelló‐Ruiz María , Burguete María C. , Aliena‐Valero Alicia , Salom Juan B. , Torregrosa Germán , García‐Segura Luis M.
Published: April 2020

Including sex is of paramount importance in preclinical and clinical stroke researches, and molecular studies dealing in depth with sex differences in stroke pathophysiology are needed. To gain insight into the molecular sex dimorphism of ischaemic stroke in rat cerebral cortex, male and female adult rats were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. The expression of neuroglobin (Ngb) and other functionally related molecules involved in sex steroid signalling (oestrogen and androgen receptors), steroidogenesis (StAR, TSPO and aromatase) and autophagic activity (LC3B‐II/LC3B‐I ratio, UCP2 and HIF‐1α) was assessed in the ipsilateral ischaemic and contralateral non‐ischaemic hemispheres. An increased expression of Ngb was detected in the injured female cerebral cortex. In contrast, increased expression of oestrogen receptor α, GPER, StAR, TSPO and UCP2, and decreased androgen receptor expression were detected in the injured male cortex. In both sexes, the ischaemic insult induced an upregulation of LC3B‐II/‐I ratio, indicative of increased autophagy. Therefore, the cerebral cortex activates both sex‐specific and common molecular responses with neuroprotective potential after ischaemia–reperfusion, which globally results in similar stroke outcome in both sexes. Nonetheless, these different potential molecular targets should be taken into account when neuroprotective drugs aiming to reduce brain damage in ischaemic stroke are investigated.
Diversity and coexistence are influenced by time‐dependent species interactions in a predator–prey system
Authors: Karakoç Canan , Clark Adam Thomas , Chatzinotas Antonis
Published: April 2020

Although numerous studies show that communities are jointly influenced by predation and competitive interactions, few have resolved how temporal variability in these interactions influences community assembly and stability. Here, we addressed this challenge in experimental microbial microcosms by employing empirical dynamic modelling tools to: (1) detect causal interactions between prey species in the absence and presence of a predator; (2) quantify the time‐varying strength of these interactions and (3) explore stability in the resulting communities. Our findings show that predators boost the number of causal interactions among community members, and lead to reduced dynamic stability, but higher coexistence among prey species. These results correspond to time‐varying changes in species interactions, including emergence of morphological characteristics that appeared to reduce predation, and indirectly facilitate growth of predator‐susceptible species. Jointly, our findings suggest that careful consideration of both context and time may be necessary to predict and explain outcomes in multi‐trophic systems.
Two‐layered susceptibility vessel sign is associated with biochemically quantified thrombus red blood cell content
Authors: Di Meglio L. , Derraz I. , Solonomenjanahary M. , Daly D. , Chodraui Filho S. , Ben Maacha M. , Labreuche J. , Desal H. , Consoli A. , Lapergue B. , Blanc R. , Piotin M. , Mazighi M. , Ho‐Tin‐Noé B. , Desilles J. P. , Bourcier R. ,   the compoCLOT Research Investigators group
Published: April 2020

Background and purpose

Better characterization of the thrombus could be useful to determine acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) aetiology and predict response to thrombolysis and endovascular therapy (EVT). To test the hypothesis that susceptibility vessel sign (SVS) on baseline magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is related to red blood cell (RBC) content of AIS thrombi, the total haemoglobin contents (HbCs) of AIS thrombi retrieved by EVT from patients with or without SVS or two‐layered SVS (TLSVS) were compared.

Methods

Baseline MRI of 84 anterior AIS patients was reviewed by neuro‐radiologists blinded to clinical and biochemical data. Thrombi from these patients were retrieved by EVT and analysed for HbC by quantitative enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and measurement of haem concentration.

Results

Susceptibility vessel sign and TLSVS were respectively observed in 85.7% and 50.0% of cases. The median HbC content was 253 µg/mg thrombus (interquartile range 177–333) and the median haem content was 219 µg/mg thrombus (131–264). Thrombus HbC and haem content were highly correlated with thrombus RBC content determined by flow cytometry (r = 0.94). Thrombi from patients with TLSVS weighed more [31.1 (16.5–68.3) mg vs. 17.7 (11.7–33.3) mg; P = 0.005] and had a higher HbC content [278 (221–331) µg/mg vs. 196 (139–301) µg/mg; P = 0.010] compared to thrombi from patients without TLSVS. There was no difference in thrombus weight or HbC content according to SVS status.

Conclusions

Our study shows that TLSVS is significantly associated with a higher thrombus weight and RBC content, as determined by quantitative assays.
GPR120 facilitates cholesterol efflux in macrophages through activation of AMPK signaling pathway
Authors: An Tong , Zhang Xiaoyi , Li Hongxia , Dou Lin , Huang Xiuqing , Man Yong , Zhang Xiyue , Shen Tao , Li Guoping , Li Jian , Tang Weiqing
Published: April 2020

Cholesterol efflux from macrophages is the initial step of reverse cholesterol transport, an important process for high‐density lipoprotein‐mediated atheroprotection. G protein‐coupled receptor (GPR) 120, which functions as long‐chain fatty acid receptor, is well known for its anti‐inflammatory and insulin‐sensitizing function in macrophages. However, the role of GPR120 on macrophage foam cell formation, the hallmark of atherosclerotic plaques, has not been verified. In this study, we found for the first time that stimulation of GPR120 by its agonist GW9508 elevated the expression of ATP‐binding cassette transporters (ABC) A1 and ABCG1 in THP‐1 macrophage‐derived foam cells and Raw264.7 macrophages, and promoted ABCA1‐ and ABCG1‐mediated cholesterol efflux and reduced cellular cholesteryl ester (CE) content as well. In addition, GPR120 activation was accompanied with the stimulation of AMPK pathway in macrophages; however, the effect of GPR120 on macrophage cholesterol efflux was largely abolished by AMPK inhibition. Moreover, the AMPK activity and the expression of ABCA1 and ABCG1 were markedly abrogated by knockdown of GPR120, or application of phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor, calcium chelator, or CaMKK inhibitor. Because only free cholesterol can be effluxed from macrophages, we found that activation of AMPK could lead to increase both neutral CEs hydrolysis by upregulation of neutral cholesterol ester hydrolase expression and acid CEs hydrolysis by activation of ULK1. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that GPR120 facilitated ABCA1‐ and ABCG1‐mediated cholesterol efflux through activation of PLC/Ca2+/CaMKK/AMPK signaling pathway, which induced CE hydrolysis and elevated the expression of ABCA1 and ABCG1 in macrophages.
Enhanced shrub growth in the Arctic increases habitat connectivity for browsing herbivores
Authors: Zhou Jiake , Tape Ken D. , Prugh Laura , Kofinas Gary , Carroll Geoff , Kielland Knut
Published: April 2020

Habitat connectivity is a key factor influencing species range dynamics. Rapid warming in the Arctic is leading to widespread heterogeneous shrub expansion, but impacts of these habitat changes on range dynamics for large herbivores are not well understood. We use the climate–shrub–moose system of northern Alaska as a case study to examine how shrub habitat will respond to predicted future warming, and how these changes may impact habitat connectivity and the distribution of moose (Alces alces). We used a 19 year moose location dataset, a 568 km transect of field shrub sampling, and forecasted warming scenarios with regional downscaling to map current and projected shrub habitat for moose on the North Slope of Alaska. The tall‐shrub habitat for moose exhibited a dendritic spatial configuration correlated with river corridor networks and mean July temperature. Warming scenarios predict that moose habitat will more than double by 2099. Forecasted warming is predicted to increase the spatial cohesion of the habitat network that diminishes effects of fragmentation, which improves overall habitat quality and likely expands the range of moose. These findings demonstrate how climate change may increase habitat connectivity and alter the distributions of shrub herbivores in the Arctic, including creation of novel communities and ecosystems.
What lies beneath? Population dynamics conceal pace‐of‐life and sex ratio variation, with implications for resilience to environmental change
Authors: Bright Ross Julius G. , Newman Chris , Buesching Christina D. , Macdonald David W.
Published: April 2020

Life‐history and pace‐of‐life syndrome theory predict that populations are comprised of individuals exhibiting different reproductive schedules and associated behavioural and physiological traits, optimized to prevailing social and environmental factors. Changing weather and social conditions provide in situ cues altering this life‐history optimality; nevertheless, few studies have considered how tactical, sex‐specific plasticity over an individual's lifespan varies in wild populations and influences population resilience. We examined the drivers of individual life‐history schedules using 31 years of trapping data and 28 years of pedigree for the European badger (Meles meles L.), a long‐lived, iteroparous, polygynandrous mammal that exhibits heterochrony in the timing of endocrinological puberty in male cubs. Our top model for the effects of environmental (social and weather) conditions during a badger's first year on pace‐of‐life explained <10% of variance in the ratio of fertility to age at first reproduction (F/α) and lifetime reproductive success. Conversely, sex ratio (SR) and sex‐specific density explained 52.8% (males) and 91.0% (females) of variance in adult F/α ratios relative to the long‐term population median F/α. Weather primarily affected the sexes at different life‐history stages, with energy constraints limiting the onset of male reproduction but playing a large role in female strategic energy allocation, particularly in relation to ongoing mean temperature increases. Furthermore, the effects of social factors on age of first reproduction and year‐to‐year reproductive success covaried differently with sex, likely due to sex‐specific responses to potential mate availability. For females, low same‐sex densities favoured early primiparity; for males, instead, up to 10% of yearlings successfully mated at high same‐sex densities. We observed substantial SR dynamism relating to differential mortality of life‐history strategists within the population, and propose that shifting ratios of ‘fast’ and ‘slow’ life‐history strategists contribute substantially to population dynamics and resilience to changing conditions.
A value chain approach to improve biomass policy formation
Authors: Panoutsou Calliope , Singh Asha
Published: April 2020

Biomass value chains for energy, fuels and bio‐based products involve complex, cross sector interactions between their upstream and downstream stages. Overarching policymaking to date has included the use of biomass to deliver sector specific aims (e.g. climate change, energy, etc.) however, this is mostly planned without adjusting support across the most challenging stages of biomass value chains and exploiting specific advantages related to their geographic settings (e.g. domestic feedstocks, local markets, etc.). Policies to date have, therefore, resulted in fragmented, suboptimal biomass use and debates for sustainability and resource efficiency. This opinion paper arose from the project Strategic Initiative for Resource Efficient Biomass Policies Funded by the EU Commission. It discusses the development of a dedicated Biomass Policy Framework which applies the principles of value chain analysis in policy design to enable the market uptake of sustainable, domestic, resource efficient biomass solutions. Firstly, it explains how to provide context by identifying value chains which can offer competitive advantages for biomass mobilization, market infrastructures, rural and economic development within their geographic setting. Then the work builds on the context and prioritized value chains and further rationalizes policy needs and aims within individual value chain stages. This is done by identifying policy‐related challenges and gaps that constrain sustainable and resource efficient deployment of the selected value chains. Also, it suggests policy interventions that will overcome challenges, resolve gaps and as a result mobilize local biomass and improve market uptake. Finally, it discusses the contrasting paradigms for biomass policy formation within single sector target setting and the value chain approach of the Biomass Policy Framework and uses the case of low carbon biomass heat to illustrate the strengths of the suggested approach. The paper concludes with remarks for the concept of biomass value chain analysis in policy.
Learning how to teach unfamiliar subjects: developing training on writing for publication and presentation of research for health libraries
Authors: Barker Eleanor , Phillips Veronica
Published: April 2020

Academic librarians with teaching responsibility have traditionally delivered training in discovering and organising information. However, in recent years, there has been an increased emphasis on supporting researchers through all stages of the research lifecycle. While librarians are ideally placed to provide training in writing for publication and presentation of research, very few in the United Kingdom appear to be doing so. However, there are clear benefits to teaching these subjects. Based on feedback from faculty on user needs, the University of Cambridge Medical Library’s training programme was expanded to include training and support in the publication and presentation of research outputs. This article recounts the process by which the new courses were developed, and the techniques used by the library’s teaching staff to gain understanding of conventions and requirements of forms of written communication with which they were unfamiliar. It also evaluates the impact of the new courses, discusses next steps and provides advice for other librarians wishing to develop similar courses.

D.I.