bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genomic rearrangements of mobile genetic elements associated with carbapenem resistance of Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Vijayakumar Saranya , John Jobin Jacob , Vasudevan Karthick , Mathur Purva , Ray Pallab , Neeravi Ayyanraj , Baskaran Asthawarthani , Kirubananthan Agilandeeswari , Anandan Shalini , Biswas Indranil , Walia Kamini , Veeraraghavan Balaji
Published: February 2022

With the excessive genome plasticity, Acinetobacter baumannii has the capability to acquire and disseminate antimicrobial resistance genes that are often associated with mobile genetic elements (MGE). Analyzing the genetic environment of resistance genes often provides valuable information on the origin, emergence, evolution and spread of resistance. Thus, we characterized the genomic features of some clinical isolates of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii to understand the role of diverse MGE and their genetic context that are responsible for the dissemination of carbapenem resistance genes. For this, a total of 17 clinical isolates of A. baumannii obtained from multiple hospitals in India between the years 2018 and 2019 were analysed. Antimicrobial resistance determinants, genetic context of resistance genes and molecular epidemiology were studied using whole genome sequencing. A high prevalence of blaOXA-23 was observed followed by the presence of dual carbapenemase, blaOXA-23 and blaNDM. Three novel Oxford sequence types were identified. Majority of the isolates belonged to dominant clone, IC2 followed by less prevalent clones such as IC7 and IC8. Complex diverse AbaR4 like and AbGRI-like islands belonging to IC2 lineage were identified. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that provides a comprehensive profiling of resistance islands along with the MGE, acquired antimicrobial resistance genes and the distribution of clonal lineages of carbapenem resistant A. baumannii from India.
Mesenchymal-epithelial transition in lymph node metastases of oral squamous cell carcinoma is accompanied by ZEB1 expression
Authors: Horny Kai , Sproll Christoph , Peiffer Lukas , Furtmann Frauke , Gerhardt Patricia , Gravemeyer Jan , Stoecklein Nikolas H. , Spassova Ivelina , Becker Jürgen C.
Published: February 2022

Background

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), an HPV-negative head and neck cancer, frequently metastasizes to the regional lymph nodes but only occasionally beyond. Initial phases of metastasis are associated with an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), the consolidation phase is associated with mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET). This dynamic is referred to as epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity (EMP). While it is known that EMP is essential for cancer cell invasion and metastatic spread, less is known about the heterogeneity of EMP states within a tumor and even less about the heterogeneity between the primary and metastatic lesions.

Methods

To capture heterogeneity of EMP states in OSCC, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) of 5 primary tumors and 9 matching lymph node metastases and re-analyzed publicly available scRNAseq data of 9 additional primary tumors. To account for possible bias in cell type compositions by scRNAseq, these were also deconvoluted from bulk transcriptome analyses. Protein expression of selected genes were confirmed by immunohistochemistry.

Results

From the 23 OSCC lesions the single cell transcriptome of a total of 7,263 carcinoma cells was available for in-depth analyses. We initially focused on one lesion to avoid inter-patient heterogeneity as a confounding factor and identified OSCC cells expressing genes characteristic of different epithelial and partial EMT stages, such as keratins and SPRR1B (cornifin B) or vimentin and matrix metallopeptidases. RNA velocity information together with the increase in inferred copy number variations indicated a progressive trajectory towards epithelial differentiation in this metastatic lesion. Extension to all samples revealed a less stringent but essentially similar pattern. Interestingly, cells undergoing MET show increased activity of the EMT activator ZEB1. Immunohistochemistry confirmed that ZEB1 was co-expressed with the epithelial marker cornifin B in individual tumor cells - more frequently in lymph node metastases. The lack of E-cadherin mRNA expression suggests this is a partial MET.

Conclusions

This study reveals that EMP enables different partial EMT and epithelial phenotypes of OSCC cells, which are endowed with capabilities essential for the different stages of the metastatic process, including maintenance of cellular integrity. During MET, ZEB1 appears to be functionally active, indicating a more complex role of ZEB1 than mere induction of EMT.
Cytocapsulae and cytocapsular tubes are golden targets for precise, effective and efficient cancer diagnosis and therapy in 307 kinds of liquid and solid cancers
Authors: Yi Tingfang , Wagner Gerhard
Published: February 2022

Cancer is a leading cause of human lethality worldwide. A cancer cell is not only the cytoplasm and nucleus enclosed in the cell membrane. A malignant tumor is not only a mass of cancer cells. Cancer in a patient is not only isolated tumors distributed in tissues and organs. The comprehensive understanding of the complete structural compartments and their biological functions of cancer cells, malignant tumors and tumor systems in patients in vivo is an indispensable prerequisite for effective drug development and efficient clinical cancer pharmacotherapies. However, there remains an open question for a long time: what are the complete structural compartments of cancer cells, malignant tumors and tumor systems in the patient body? Here, we comprehensively and systematically investigated the complete structural compartments of cancer cells, malignant tumors and cytocapsular tube (CCT) network-tumor system (CNTS) of 307 types/subtypes of cancers in 33 kinds of tissues and organs by biochemistry and molecular biology assays with 9,811 clinical cancer tissue specimens from 9,637 cancer patients and >110,000 immunohistochemistry (IHC) fluorescence staining images. We discovered the complete structural compartments of cancer cells, malignant tumors and CNTSs in 307 kinds of cancers, elucidated mechanisms of cytocapsular growth and CCT elongation, and identified the comprehensive procedures of cancer evolution in patients. This study paves avenues for curing all kinds of cancers.
Force sensing on cells and tissues by atomic force microscopy
Authors: Holuigue Hatice , Lorenc Ewelina , Chighizola Matteo , Schulte Carsten , Varinelli Luca , Deraco Marcello , Guaglio Marcello , Gariboldi Manuela , Podestà Alessandro
Published: February 2022

Biosensors are aimed to detect tiny physical and chemical stimuli in biological systems. Physical forces are ubiquitous, being implied in all cellular processes, including cell adhesion, migration, and differentiation. Given the strong interplay between cells and their microenvironment, the extracellular matrix (ECM), the structural and mechanical properties of the ECM play an important role in the transmission of external stimuli to single cells within the tissue. Vice versa, also cells themselves use self-generated forces to probe the biophysical properties of the ECM. ECM mechanics influences cell fate, regulates tissue development and show peculiar features in health and disease conditions of living organisms. Force sensing in biological systems is therefore crucial to dissect and understand complex biological processes, such as mechanotransduction.

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), which can both sense and apply forces at the nanoscale, with sub-nanoNewton sensitivity, represents an enabling technology and a crucial experimental tool in biophysics and mechanobiology.

In this work, we report on the application of AFM to study of biomechanical fingerprints of different components of biological systems, such as the ECM, the whole cell, and cellular components, like the nucleus and the glycocalyx. We show that physical observables like the (spatially resolved) Young’s modulus of elasticity of ECMs or cells, and the effective thickness and stiffness of the glycocalyx, can be quantitatively characterised by AFM. Their modification can be correlated to changes of the microenvironment, physio-pathological conditions, or gene regulation.
Beyond G1/S regulation: How cell size homeostasis is tightly controlled throughout the cell cycle?
Authors: Liu Xili , Yan Jiawei , Kirschner Marc W.
Published: February 2022

To achieve a stable mass distribution over multiple generations, proliferating cells require some means of counteracting stochastic noise in the rate of growth, the time spent in the cell cycle, and the imprecision of the equality of cell division. In the most widely accepted model, cell size is thought to be regulated at the G1/S transition, such that cells smaller than a critical size pause at the end of G1 phase until they have accumulated mass to a predetermined size threshold, at which point the cells proceed through the rest of the cell cycle. However, a model, based solely on a specific size checkpoint at G1/S, cannot readily explain why cells with deficient G1/S control mechanisms are still able to maintain a very stable cell mass distribution. Furthermore, such a model would not easily account for how stochastic variation in cell mass during the subsequent phases of the cell cycle can be anticipated at G1/S. To address such questions, we applied computationally enhanced Quantitative Phase Microscopy (ceQPM) to populations of proliferating cells, which enables highly accurate measurement of cell dry mass of individual cells throughout the cell cycle. From these measurements we can evaluate the factors that contribute to cell mass homeostasis at any point in the cell cycle. Our findings reveal that cell mass homeostasis is accurately maintained, despite disruptions to the normal G1/S machinery or perturbations in the rate of cell growth. Control of cell mass accumulation is clearly not confined to the G1/S transition but is instead exerted throughout the cell cycle. Using several mammalian cell types, we find that the coefficient of variation in dry mass of cells in the population begins to decline well before the G1/S transition and continues to decline throughout S and G2 phases. Among the different cell types tested, the detailed response of cell growth rate to cell mass differs. However, in general, when it falls below that for exponential growth, the natural increase in the coefficient of variation of cell mass is effectively constrained. We find that both size-dependent cell cycle regulation and size-dependent growth rate modulation contribute to reducing cell mass variation within the population. Through the interplay and coordination of these two processes, accurate cell mass homeostasis emerges. Such findings reveal previously unappreciated and very general principles of cell size control in proliferating cells. These same regulatory processes might also be operative in terminally differentiated cells. Further quantitative dynamical studies should lead to a better understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms of cell size control.
GWAShub: A Web-based Resource to Democratize Genome-Wide Association Studies in Crop Plants
Authors: Daware Anurag , Srivastava Rishi , Das Durdam , Malik Naveen , Tyagi Akhilesh K. , Parida Swarup K.
Published: February 2022

Genome-wide association study (GWAS) is a popular approach for linking natural genetic variation with phenotype variation and thus is central to crop quantitative genetics. The ever-increasing wealth of publicly available genomic sequence information for crop plants presents an unprecedented opportunity for utilizing GWAS for the identification of genes governing a plethora of agronomic traits. However, the lack of technical expertise and computational infrastructure is still hindering the ability of plant breeders to conduct GWAS in a self-reliant manner. Here, we present a GWAShub web server that provides a user-friendly interface for performing comprehensive GWAS and post-GWAS in crop plants utilizing publicly available genomic sequence variation data, comprehensive annotation data and diverse computational tools. The utility of GWAS-hub was further demonstrated by conducting large-scale GWAS for flowering/maturity time traits in chickpea. This analysis identified three different flowering/maturity time associated genes, all encoding different histone methyltransferases. Thus, epigenetic regulation is identified as vital mechanism regulating flowering time and maturity duration in chickpea. Finally, we hope GWAShub (www.gwashub.com) will enable resource-scarce researchers to join the GWAS revolution fueled by advancements in next-generation sequencing and computational genomics
Affective arousal explains infant gaze following under various social context
Authors: Ishikawa Mitsuhiko , Senju Atsushi , Kato Masaharu , Itakura Shoji
Published: February 2022

Gaze following is fundamental to human sociocognitive development, such as language and cultural learning. Previous studies have revealed that infant gaze following is not a reflexive orienting to adult’s eye movement. Instead, infants adaptively modulate gaze following behaviour depending on social contexts. However, the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying contextual modulation of gaze following remain unclear. We tested whether contextual modulation of infant gaze following is mediated by the infants’ heart rate, which is hypothesised to indicate the calculation of action value. Forty-one 6- to 9-month-old infants participated in this study. Infants observed either a reliable face, which gazed toward the location of an object, or an unreliable face, which gazed away from the location of an object. Then, the infants watched a video of the same model making eye contact or not showing any ostensive signals, before shifting her gaze toward one of two objects. We revealed that reliability and eye contact independently increased heart rates, which then fully mediate the effect of these social cues on the frequency of infant gaze following. Results suggest that each social cue independently enhances physiological arousal which then accumulatively predicts the likelihood of infant gaze following behaviour.
Introducing a unified magnetic space-group symbol
Authors: Campbell Branton J. , Stokes Harold T. , Perez-Mato J. Manuel , Rodríguez-Carvajal Juan
Published: February 2022

The two commonly used systems of magnetic space-group (MSG) symbols, with accompanying numbers and settings, are those of Belov–Neronova–Smirnova (BNS) and Opechowski–Guccione (OG). The symbols from both systems have been used for several decades now. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Both present challenges of interpretation to novice and expert users alike, which can inhibit understanding and lead to errors in published magnetic structures. To address each of these challenges going forward, a new unified (UNI) MSG symbol is introduced, which combines a modified BNS symbol with essential information from the OG symbol.
Low-power and low-energy CNFET-based approximate full adder cell for image processing applications
Authors: Safaei Mehrabani Yavar , Maleknejad Mojtaba , Rostami Danial , Uoosefian HamidReza
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Full adder cells are building blocks of arithmetic circuits and affect the performance of the entire digital system. The purpose of this study is to provide a low-power and high-performance full adder cell.

Design/methodology/approach

Approximate computing is a novel paradigm that is used to design low-power and high-performance circuits. In this paper, a novel 1-bit approximate full adder cell is presented using the combination of complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor, transmission gate and pass transistor logic styles.

Findings

Simulation results confirm the superiority of the proposed design in terms of power consumption and power–delay product (PDP) criteria compared to state-of-the-art circuits. Also, the proposed full adder cell is applied in an 8-bit ripple carry adder to accomplish image processing applications including image blending, motion detection and edge detection. The results confirm that the proposed cell has premier compromise and outperforms its counterparts.

Originality/value

The proposed cell consists of only 11 transistors and decreases the switching activity remarkably. Therefore, it is a low-power and low-PDP cell.
MHD flow of a nanofluid due to a nonlinear stretching/shrinking sheet with a convective boundary condition: Tiwari–Das nanofluid model
Authors: Khan Umair , Zaib Aurang , Pop Ioan , Waini Iskandar , Ishak Anuar
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Nanofluid research has piqued the interest of scientists due to its intriguing applications in nanoscience, biomedical and electrical engineering, medication delivery, biotechnology, food processing, chemotherapy and other fields. This paper aims to inspect the behavior of the mixed convection magnetohydrodynamic flow and heat transfer induced by a nonlinear stretching/shrinking sheet in a nanofluid with a convective boundary condition. Tiwari and Das mathematical nanofluid model is incorporated in the analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

The mathematical model is initially transformed to a nondimensional form by using dimensionless variables. Then the nondimensional partial differential equations are further transformed to a set of similarity equations by using the similarity technique. These equations are solved numerically by the bvp4c function in MATLAB software.

Findings

For a certain range of the stretching/shrinking parameter, two solutions are obtained. The friction factor and the heat transfer rate escalate due to suction parameter with adding nanoparticles volume fraction by almost 27.15% and 0.153% for the upper branch solution, while the friction factor declines by almost 30.10% but the heat transfer rate augments by 0.145% for the lower branch solution. Furthermore, the behavior of the nanoparticle volume fractions on the heat transfer rate behaves differently in the presence of the mixed convection effect. The temperature of fluid augments with increasing Biot number for both solutions.

Originality/value

The present work considers the flow and heat transfer induced by a stretching/shrinking sheet in a nanofluid using the Tiwari–Das nanofluid model with a convective boundary condition, where the effect of the buoyancy force is taken into consideration. It is shown that two solutions are found for a certain range of the shrinking strength, while the solution is unique for the stretching case. This study is important for scientists working in the growing field of nanofluids to become familiar with the flow properties and behaviors of such nanofluids.
SME financing through public equity: review of the Indian SME exchanges
Authors: Ghalke Avinash , Kumar Satish , Rao S.V.D. Nageswara
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Timely access to reasonably priced financing is critical to promote and sustain small and medium sized businesses (SMEs). This study aims to examine the role of the newly constituted SME exchanges in funding the growth of Indian SME firms. The impact of obtaining public equity capital on the firm’s growth prospects, capital structure and credit profile is the focus of this paper. In addition, this study compares the cost and speed of raising capital on specialised SME exchanges to the main board.

Design/methodology/approach

To examine the impact of raising public equity capital, this study uses a difference-in-difference (DID) regression analysis. SMEs that raised financing on the SME exchange between 2013 and 2018 make up the treatment sample. This study uses a propensity score matching technique to find the control group from a sample of unlisted enterprises to reduce the likelihood of selection bias.

Findings

This study finds that SME profitability drops after an initial public offering (IPO), which is consistent with previous research. This study also discovered that after a company is listed, its total debt falls. This study also shows that after the IPO, there is no change in the borrowing costs of SME enterprises. Finally, this study finds an evidence of a decline in sales growth following the IPO, implying that the firms use the IPO money to rebalance their accounts after a period of heavy investment rather than for growth finance.

Originality/value

A thriving and efficient equity financing market for SMEs has the potential to establish itself as a viable alternative to the existing dominant bank financing option. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is the first to examine the role of SME exchanges in the funding of Indian SME firms.
The contribution of case-based learning to adopting a multidimensional view in educational leadership students
Authors: Shaked Haim
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Adopting a multidimensional view is a characteristic of systems thinking in school leadership, which involves recognizing that each component of the school system necessarily has more than one cause, result or solution. This study explores how case-based learning has contributed to the development of adopting a multidimensional view in educational leadership students.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study was qualitative in nature. Study participants were 32 graduate students from an Israeli college of education who participated in case-based learning held in a 14-session course. The data collected for this study included journal entries written by these students after each session. Overall, 318 journal entries were analyzed through a four-step process: sorting, coding, categorizing and theorizing.

Findings

Data analysis indicated three aspects of adopting a multidimensional view developed through case-based learning: acquiring a principal's perspective, recognizing other schools' perspectives and exposure to other individuals' perspectives.

Originality/value

This study joins other recent efforts to find ways to develop influential educational leaders, suggesting that case-based learning contributes to the development of adopting a multidimensional view in educational leadership students.
The impacts of project complexity, trust in leader, performance readiness and situational leadership on financial sustainability
Authors: Princes Elfindah , Said Ahmad
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the factors of financial sustainability of project management when they face complexities using the complexity theory. This research argues that to manage project complexities, the employees’ performance readiness, situational leadership style and trust in leaders increase financial sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a quantitative approach using a questionnaire survey with the Project Management Institute members in Indonesia. From the total population of 190 project managers, 91 questionnaires were valid and used for analysis. PLS-SEM is the statistical tool used to test the eight hypotheses formulated in this research. The survey was designed to analyze the factors influencing financial sustainability and how these variables are related to each other to overcome project complexity issues and deliver financial sustainability.

Findings

The research recommends that to overcome project complexities, the readiness of the employees to perform is important. These variables, which are supported by trust in the leader and situational leadership, have positively significant effects on financial sustainability. The findings strengthen the initial arguments of this research and confirm the existing studies.

Research limitations/implications

This research, however, comes with several limitations. First, the situational leadership was chosen in this research because of the short project duration that requires the leader to be acting accordingly based on the employee’s abilities. The short project duration made it impossible for the leader to build any relationships with the team members. Therefore, this research might not be appropriate to explain the organizational long-term strategies. Thus, it is suggested that the future research should address this. Second, with the very limited studies regarding the performance readiness and maturity, where in this research are used interchangeably, there should be further research to explain both variables independently as it holds an important role in project management and to overcome project complexities. Hence, this research adds the various studies found on the project complexities and how performance readiness, trust in leaders and situational leadership interact to increase financial sustainability in projects.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the limited research on the financial sustainability of project management in developing countries. Moreover, the research on project complexities has not been related to financial sustainability and, therefore, promotes a high novelty. The findings of this study also provide substantial empirical evidence for future work in the project management area.
A reliability analysis strategy for main shaft of wind turbine using importance sampling and Kriging model
Authors: Ling Le , Li Yan , Fu Sicheng
Published: February 2022

Purpose

When dealing with simple functional functions, traditional reliability calculation methods, such as the linear second-order moment and quadratic second ordered moment, Monte Carlo simulation method, are powerful. However, when the functional function of the structure shows strong nonlinearity or even implicit, traditional methods often fail to meet the actual needs of engineering in terms of calculation accuracy or efficiency.

Design/methodology/approach

To improve the reliability analysis efficiency and calculation accuracy of complex structures, the reliability analysis methods based on parametric and semi-parametric models are analyzed.

Findings

This paper proposes a reliability method that combines the Kriging model and the importance sampling method to improve the calculation efficiency of traditional reliability analysis methods.

Originality/value

This method uses an active learning function and introduces an importance sampling method to screen sample points and shift the center of gravity, thereby reducing the sample size and the amount of calculation.
COVID-19 workplace adaptation and recovery in the resort municipality of Whistler, BC, Canada
Authors: Axe Jo , Wilson-Mah Rebecca , Dahlquist-Axe Hannah
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic changed how many of us work, where we work and what we need and expect from the workplace. In this paper, the researchers sought to describe how employers and employees experienced their changing workplace environments in the early days of the pandemic, with a focus on adaptation and recovery in Whistler in British Columbia, Canada. In addition, the authors aimed to develop a new model to inform other organizations undergoing the consequences of major catastrophes.

Design/methodology/approach

Applying a qualitative approach, the authors gathered data in a total of seven focus groups. Employer focus groups were held in June 2020, and employee focus groups were held in November 2020. A thematic analysis was completed by three researchers.

Findings

After completing an analysis of the employer focus group transcripts, the authors identified the themes of staffing and coordination, adaptability and connection, uncertainty, communication and community and strategies. The employees' concerns and experiences related to the themes of challenges, changes and community, communication, involvement in decisions, future employment and support and connection.

Originality/value

This study captured descriptions of workplace adaptation and recovery for employers and employees during the pandemic, generalizability is limited by the number of participants. These accounts depicted a period of significant change in working conditions, communications, and employment practices. This paper offers a new conceptual model, C4AR, exploring the role of communicate, coordinate, connect and community in supporting workplace adaptation and recovery.
Antecedents and outcomes of artificial intelligence adoption and application in the workplace: the socio-technical system theory perspective
Authors: Yu Xinying , Xu Shi , Ashton Mark
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace is on the rise. To help advance research in this area, the authors synthesise the academic research and develop research propositions on the antecedents and consequences of AI adoption and application in the workplace to guide future research. The authors also present AI research in the socio-technical system context to provide a springboard for new research to fill the knowledge gap of the adoption and application of AI in the workplace.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper summarises the existing literature and builds a theoretically grounded conceptual framework on the socio-technical system theory that captures the essence of the impact of AI in the workplace.

Findings

The antecedents of AI adoption and application include personnel subsystem, technical subsystem, organisational structure subsystem and environmental factors. The consequences of AI adoption and application include individual, organisational and employment-related outcomes.

Practical implications

A research agenda is provided to identify and discuss future research that comprises not only insightful theoretical contributions but also practical implications. A greater understanding of AI adoption from socio-technical system perspective will enable managers and practitioners to develop effective AI adoption strategies, enhance employees' work experience and achieve competitive advantage for organisations.

Originality/value

Drawing on the socio-technical system theory, the proposed conceptual framework provides a comprehensive understanding of the antecedents and consequences of AI adoption and application in the work environment. The authors discuss the main contributions to theory and practice, along with potential future research directions of AI in the workplace related to three key themes at the individual, organisational and employment level.
Is more really better for in-store experience? A psychophysiological experiment on sensory modalities
Authors: Duong Van Chien , Regolini Emma , Sung Billy , Teah Min , Hatton-Jones Siobhan
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to understand whether increasing the number of sensory modalities being stimulated impacts consumers’ in-store emotional responses (i.e. in-store enjoyment and arousal), store image perception and brand attitude.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a between-subjects experimental design to examine 551 individuals’ perceptions and emotional responses in four sensory modalities stimulation conditions (i.e. visual, visual-smell, visual-taste and visual-smell-taste). The study used virtual reality visualisation technology and psychophysiological measurements (i.e. skin conductance and facial expression) to improve the ecological validity of the study design.

Findings

The current study supports the importance of multisensory in-store atmospheric design. When increasing the number of sensory modalities being stimulated, more positive emotional responses and perceptions were recorded. Additionally, increasing the number of sensory modalities also increased perceived intensity, and perceived intensity mediate the relationship between the stimulation of multisensory modalities and perception.

Research limitations/implications

The study is without its limitations. For instance, the scope of the study was limited by the exclusion of auditory and haptic stimulation, the lack of manipulation of sensory intensity and the absence of sensory congruency examination.

Practical implications

This study contributes to retail and marketing practices by providing evidence to assist the retail design of in-store sensory cues and customer experiences.

Originality/value

This research uses both self-reported measures and biometric measures to test the sole effect of sensory modalities being stimulated on consumer evaluation. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to examine store atmospheric designs with psychophysiological methodologies and an immersive, two-story-high, 180-degree-visual-field and dome-shaped display.
Asset allocation efficiency from dynamic and static strategies in underfunded pension funds
Authors: Park Chunsuk , Kim Dong-Soon , Lee Kaun Y.
Published: February 2022

This study attempts to conduct a comparative analysis between dynamic and static asset allocation to achieve the long-term target return on asset liability management (ALM). This study conducts asset allocation using the ex ante expected rate of return through the outlook of future economic indicators because past economic indicators or realized rate of returns which are used as input data for expected rate of returns in the “building block” method, most adopted by domestic pension funds, does not fully reflect the future economic situation. Vector autoregression is used to estimate and forecast long-term interest rates. Furthermore, it is applied to gross domestic product and consumer price index estimation because it is widely used in financial time series data. Based on asset allocation simulations, this study derived the following insights: first, economic indicator filtering and upper-lower bound computation is needed to reduce the expected return volatility. Second, to reach the ALM goal, more stocks should be allocated than low-yielding assets. Finally, dynamic asset allocation which has been mirroring economic changes actively has a higher annual yield and risk-adjusted return than static asset allocation.
Service evaluation of the South Wales police control room mental health triage model: outcomes achieved, lessons learned and next steps
Authors: Broome Laura , Davies Jason , Lewis Mark
Published: February 2022

Purpose

South Wales Police Mental Health (MH) Triage service was initiated to meet the Welsh Government MH priority of early intervention to prevent MH crisis. Community Psychiatric Nurses, based in the control-room, provide advice to police and control room staff on the management of MH-related incidents. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the first 12 months of operation (January-December 2019).

Design/methodology/approach

Service evaluation of the first 12 months of operation (January–December 2019). Data were analysed in relation to: MH incidents; repeat callers; Section (S)136 use/assessment outcomes. Police, health staff and triage service users were interviewed and surveyed to capture their opinions of the service.

Findings

Policing areas with high engagement in triage saw reductions in S136 use and estimated opportunity costs saving. Triage was considered a valuable service that promoted cross agency collaborations. De-escalation in cases of mental distress was considered a strength. Access to follow-on services was identified as a challenge.

Practical implications

Triage enables a multi-agency response in the management of MH-related incidents. Improving trust between services, with skilled health professionals supporting police decision-making in real time.

Originality/value

There is a gap in the research on the impact of police-related MH triage models beyond the use of S136. This project evaluated the quality of the service, its design and the relationship between health, police and partner agencies during the triage process. Multi-agency assessment of follow-up is needed to measure the long-term impact on services and users.
Relevance of supplementary fair value disclosures under market uncertainty: effects on audit fees and investors’ pricing
Authors: Mehnaz Laura , Rahman Asheq , Kabir Humayun
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Concerns relating to the representational faithfulness and, consequently, the relevance of fair value (FV) estimates are likely to be heightened in the wake of market uncertainty caused by the COVID pandemic. Therefore, this paper aims to study the relevance of supplementary disclosures intended to improve the representational faithfulness of FV estimates by examining their impacts on audit fees and investors’ valuation of FV adjustments in the uncertain market condition of 2020.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample is comprising Australian real estate firms. The authors develop both weighted and unweighted disclosure indices based on supplementary disclosures related to Level 3 FVs under IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement. The authors measure the levels of disclosure by the sample firms based on these indices from 2018 to 2020 and ascertain their effects on audit fees and the market value of FV adjustments on investment properties.

Findings

The authors find that real estate firms increased supplementary FV disclosures during 2020. The authors document a negative association between supplementary disclosures and audit fees, although the authors find no incremental impact of disclosures on audit fees during the pandemic. Additionally, the authors find that investors’ pricing of FV adjustments increased with the increase in disclosures during the market uncertainty of 2020, while in the pre-uncertainty period, their pricing influence was not significant.

Originality/value

The findings extend the understanding of the role of supplementary disclosures on Level 3 investment properties in mitigating the perceived audit risk for auditors and the faithful representation concerns for investors in a distressed market environment.
Middle cerebral arterial flow redistribution is an indicator for intrauterine fetal compromise in late pregnancy in low‐resource settings: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Ali Sam , Kawooya Michael G. , Byamugisha Josaphat , Kakibogo Isaac M. , Biira Esther A. , Kagimu Adia N. , Grobbee Diederick E. , Zakus David , Papageorghiou Aris T. , Klipstein‐Grobusch Kerstin , Rijken Marcus J.
Published: February 2022

Objective

We aimed to determine the prevalence of abnormal umbilical artery (UA), uterine artery (UtA), middle cerebral artery (MCA) and cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) Doppler, and their relationship with adverse perinatal outcomes in women undergoing routine antenatal care in the third trimester.

Design

Prospective cohort.

Setting

Kagadi Hospital, Uganda.

Population

Non‐anomalous singleton pregnancies.

Methods

Women underwent an early dating ultrasound and a third‐trimester Doppler scan between 32 and 40 weeks of gestation, from 2018 to 2020. We handled missing data using multiple imputation and analysed the data using descriptive methods and a binary logistic regression model.

Main outcome measures

Composite adverse perinatal outcome (CAPO), perinatal death and stillbirth.

Results

We included 995 women. The mean gestational age at Doppler scan was 36.9 weeks (SD 1.02 weeks) and 88.9% of the women gave birth in a health facility. About 4.4% and 5.6% of the UA pulsatility index (PI) and UtA PI were above the 95th percentile, whereas 16.4% and 10.4% of the MCA PI and CPR were below the fifth percentile, respectively. Low CPR was strongly associated with stillbirth (OR 4.82, 95% CI 1.09–21.30). CPR and MCA PI below the fifth percentile were independently associated with CAPO; the association with MCA PI was stronger in small‐for‐gestational‐age neonates (OR 3.75, 95% CI 1.18–11.88).

Conclusion

In late gestation, abnormal UA PI was rare. Fetuses with cerebral blood flow redistribution were at increased risk of stillbirth and perinatal complications. Further studies examining the predictive accuracy and effectiveness of antenatal Doppler ultrasound screening in reducing the risk of perinatal deaths in low‐ and middle‐income countries are warranted.

Tweetable abstract

Blood flow redistribution to the fetal brain is strongly associated with stillbirths in low‐resource settings.
Causes and risk factors for peritoneal dialysis withdrawal
Authors: Wu Yanni , Yao Yu , Liu Li , Shen Xiaoying , Yang He , Zhang Tiewei
Published: February 2022

Introduction

This study intends to investigate the causes and risk factors for withdrawal from peritoneal dialysis (PD) in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD).

Methods

Two hundred ninety‐three patients admitted to the peritoneal dialysis center in nephrology department for PD treatment were divided into 175 cases in group A (continuous treatment group) and 118 cases in group B (withdrawal group).

Results

The proportion of patients in group B whose primary disease was glomerulonephritis was significantly lower than that in group A (p <0.05), whereas the proportion of patients with diabetic nephropathy was significantly higher in group B than in group A (p <0.05). Group A received better emotional support and care services from family members than group B. Family care was mostly severely impaired in patients who died and were lost to follow‐up.

Conclusion

Diabetes mellitus, level of knowledge regarding PD, depression, and family care are risk factors for withdrawal from PD.
TransPi—a comprehensive TRanscriptome ANalysiS PIpeline for de novo transcriptome assembly
Authors: Rivera‐Vicéns Ramón E. , Garcia‐Escudero Catalina A. , Conci Nicola , Eitel Michael , Wörheide Gert
Published: February 2022

The use of RNA sequencing (RNA‐Seq) data and the generation of de novo transcriptome assemblies have been pivotal for studies in ecology and evolution. This is especially true for nonmodel organisms, where no genome information is available. In such organisms, studies of differential gene expression, DNA enrichment bait design and phylogenetics can all be accomplished with de novo transcriptome assemblies. Multiple tools are available for transcriptome assembly, but no single tool can provide the best assembly for all data sets. Therefore, a multi‐assembler approach, followed by a reduction step, is often sought to generate an improved representation of the assembly. To reduce errors in these complex analyses while at the same time attaining reproducibility and scalability, automated workflows have been essential in the analysis of RNA‐Seq data. However, most of these tools are designed for species where genome data are used as reference for the assembly process, limiting their use in nonmodel organisms. We present TransPi, a comprehensive pipeline for de novo transcriptome assembly, with minimum user input but without losing the ability of a thorough analysis. A combination of different model organisms, k‐mer sets, read lengths and read quantities was used for assessing the tool. Furthermore, a total of 49 nonmodel organisms, spanning different phyla, were also analysed. Compared to approaches using single assemblers only, TransPi produces higher BUSCO completeness percentages, and a concurrent significant reduction in duplication rates. TransPi is easy to configure and can be deployed seamlessly using Conda, Docker and Singularity.
Treatments of new‐onset atrial fibrillation in critically ill patients: a systematic review with meta‐analysis
Authors: Wetterslev Mik , Karlsen Anders Peder Højer , Granholm Anders , Haase Nicolai , Hassager Christian , Møller Morten Hylander , Perner Anders
Published: February 2022

Background

New‐onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) is common in hospitalised patients with critical illness and associated with worse outcomes. Several interventions are available in the management of NOAF, but the overall effectiveness and safety of these interventions compared with placebo or no treatment are unknown.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review with meta‐analysis and trial sequential analysis (TSA) of randomised clinical trials (RCT) in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐analyses, the Cochrane Collaboration, and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation statements. We searched RCTs assessing any pharmacological and non‐pharmacological treatment compared with placebo or no treatment in critically ill hospitalised patients with NOAF. The primary outcomes were all‐cause mortality, adverse events, and health‐related quality of life.

Results

We included 16 trials (n = 1891) evaluating seven interventions. All trials were adjudicated ‘some concerns’ or ‘high risk’ of bias. The evidence is very uncertain for mortality (RR 0.53, 95% CI 0.03–8.30), adverse events (RR 1.28, 95% CI 0.85–1.92), and treatment efficacy i.e. rhythm control (RR 1.54, 95% CI 1.20–1.97; TSA‐adjusted CI 0.56–4.53) between pharmacological treatment and placebo/no treatment (very low certainty evidence). There were no data for health‐related quality of life or most of our secondary outcomes.

Conclusions

The existing data are insufficient to firmly conclude on effects of any intervention against NOAF on any outcome in hospitalised patients with critical illness. Randomised trials of the most frequently used interventions against NOAF are warranted in these patients.
Predictors of treatment limitations in Finnish intensive care units
Authors: Adamski Jan , Weigl Wojciech , Musialowicz Tadeusz , Lahtinen Pasi , Reinikainen Matti
Published: February 2022

Background

Few studies have examined the factors that predict the limitations of life‐sustaining treatment (LST) to patients in intensive care units (ICUs). We aimed to identify variables associated with the decision of withholding of life support (WHLS) at admission, WHLS during ICU stay and the withdrawal of ongoing life support (WDLS).

Methods

This retrospective observational study comprised 17,772 adult ICU patients who were included in the nationwide Finnish ICU Registry in 2016. Factors associated with LST limitations were identified using hierarchical logistic regression.

Results

The decision of WHLS at admission was made for 822 (4.6%) patients, WHLS during ICU stay for 949 (5.3%) patients, and WDLS for 669 (3.8%) patients. Factors strongly predicting WHLS at admission included old age (adjusted odds ratio [OR] for patients aged 90 years or older in reference to those younger than 40 years was 95.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 47.2–193.5), dependence on help for activities of daily living (OR, 3.55; 95% CI, 3.01–4.2), and metastatic cancer (OR, 4.34; 95% CI, 3.16–5.95). A high severity of illness predicted later decisions to limit LST. Diagnoses strongly associated with WHLS at admission were cardiac arrest, hepatic failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Later decisions were strongly associated with cardiac arrest, hepatic failure, non‐traumatic intracranial hemorrhage, head trauma and stroke.

Conclusion

Early decisions to limit LST were typically associated with old age and chronic poor health whereas later decisions were related to the severity of illness. Limitations are common for certain diagnoses, particularly cardiac arrest and hepatic failure.