bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oligodendrocytes are a lifelong source of nuclear and ribosomal material for neurons in the mouse brain
Authors: Mayrhofer Florian , Hanson Angela M. , Falcone Carmen , Xiang Yang K. , Navedo Manuel F. , Deng Wenbin , Chechneva Olga
Published: December 2021

Nuclear and ribosomal components define cell identity and function by regulating chromatin dynamics, gene expression, and protein turnover. Here we report that in the mouse central nervous system (CNS) under normal conditions, neurons accumulate nuclear and ribosomal material of oligodendrocyte (OL) origin. We show that neuronal accumulation of OL-derived nuclear and ribosomal material is brain area-specific, and in the cortex and hippocampal dentate gyrus gradually propagates during postnatal brain maturation. We further demonstrate that OL-to-neuron material transfer persists throughout adulthood and responds to neuroinflammation. We found that satellite OL of the gray matter form internuclear contacts with receiving neurons in the mouse brain. Similar close internuclear associations between satellite OL and neurons are present in the adult human cortex. Our findings provide the first evidence of wide-spread dynamic and selective OL-to-neuron nuclear and ribosomal material transfer in the mouse CNS and indicate that satellite OL serve as powerful mediators of neuronal function. Equivalent processes may occur in the human CNS and cause neurological disorders when dysregulated.

One Sentence Summary

Neurons receive OL-derived nuclear and ribosomal material
Genetic Encoding of A Nonhydrolyzable Phosphotyrosine Analog in Mammalian Cells
Authors: Niu Wei , Guo Jiantao , He Xinyuan , Ma Bin , Chen Yan
Published: December 2021

Protein tyrosine phosphorylation plays a critical role in signal transduction and the regulation of many cellular processes. It is of great significance to understand the underlying regulatory mechanism of particular tyrosine phosphorylation events. Here we report the genetic incorporation of a phosphotyrosine (pTyr) analog, p-carboxymethyl-L-phenylalanine (CMF), into proteins in mammalian cells. This nonhydrolyzable pTyr analog can facilitate biological studies by removing complications caused by the dynamic interconversion between the phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated isoforms of a protein. The developed methodology was demonstrated by using the human signal transducer and activator of transcription-1 (STAT1) as a model protein for homogeneous and defined incorporation of CMF. This tool will greatly enhance our capability to study protein tyrosine phosphorylation-associated biomolecular and cellular events, and enhance biomedical research that target protein tyrosine phosphorylation, which will have a broad impact to both fundamental studies and practical applications.
A Resident State Allows Influenza Polymerase to Smoothly Switch between Transcription and Replication Cycles
Authors: Li Huanhuan , Wu Yixi , Li Minke , Guo Lu , Wang Quan , Lai Zhaohua , Zhang Jihua , Zhang Xing , Zhu Lixin , Lan Ping , Rao Zihe , Liu Yingfang , Liang Huanhuan
Published: December 2021

Influenza polymerase (FluPol) transcripts viral mRNA and switches to replicate viral genome after transcription. However, it remains unknown how FluPol switches between transcription and replication cycles, especially when considering that the structural basis of these two functions is fundamentally different. Here, we proposed a mechanism that FluPol achieves the functional switching between these two cycles through an unreported intermediate conformation, termed as resident state. We obtained a resident state structure of H5N1 FluPol at 3.7 Å using cryo-EM, which is characterized by a blocked Cap-binding domain and a contracted core region, distinct from the structures of either transcription or replication states. Structural analysis results suggest that the resident state structure is feasible to smoothly transit into structures of both transcription and replication states. Furthermore, we show that formation of the resident state is required for both transcription and replication activities of FluPol. Together, the transcription and replication cycles of FluPol are connected via a resident state.
Prediction of drug targets for specific diseases leveraging gene perturbation data: A machine learning approach
Authors: Zhao Kai , Shi Yujia , So Hon-Cheong
Published: December 2021

Identification of the correct targets is a key element for successful drug development. However, there are limited approaches for predicting drug targets for specific diseases using omics data, and few have leveraged expression profiles from gene perturbations.

We present a novel computational target discovery approach based on machine learning(ML) models. ML models are first trained on drug-induced expression profiles, with outcomes defined as whether the drug treats the studied disease. The goal is to “learn” expression patterns associated with treatment. The fitted ML models were then applied to expression profiles from gene perturbations(over-expression[OE]/knockdown[KD]). We prioritized targets based on predicted probabilities from the ML model, which reflects treatment potential.

The methodology was applied to predict targets for hypertension, diabetes mellitus(DM), rheumatoid arthritis(RA) and schizophrenia(SCZ). We validated our approach by evaluating whether the identified targets may ‘re-discover’ known drug targets from an external database(OpenTargets). We indeed found evidence of significant enrichment across all diseases under study. Further literature search revealed that many candidates were supported by previous studies. For example, we predicted PSMB8 inhibition to be associated with treatment of RA, which was supported by a study showing PSMB8 inhibitors(PR-957) ameliorated experimental RA in mice.

In conclusion, we propose a new ML approach to integrate expression profiles from drugs and gene perturbations and validated the framework. Our approach is flexible and may provide an independent source of information when prioritizing targets.
A key design parameter proposal for aerodynamically efficient subsonic blended wing body
Authors: Durmus Seyhun
Published: December 2021

Purpose

Blended wing body (BWB) is a very advantageous design in terms of low fuel consumption, low emission and low noise levels. Because of these advantages, the BWB is a candidate to become the commercial passenger aircraft of the future by providing a paradigm shift in conventional designs. This paper aims to propose a key design parameter for wing sizing of subsonic BWB and a performance parameter for calculating the lift/drag ratio values of BWBs.

Design/methodology/approach

The parameter proposed in the study is based on the square/cube law, that is, the idea that the wetted area is proportional to the power of 2/3 of the weight. Data on the weight, wing area, wingspan, lift-to-drag (L/D) ratio for 19 BWB used in the analyzes were compiled from the published literature and a theoretical methodology was developed to estimate the maximum lift to drag ratio of BWBs. The accuracy of the proposed key design parameter was questioned by comparing the estimated L/Dmax values with the actual values.

Findings

In the current study, it is claimed that the wingspan/(take-off gross weight)(1/3) parameter provides an L/D efficiency coefficient regardless of aircraft size. The proposed key design parameter is useful both for small-scale BWB, that is unmanned aerial vehicles BWB and for large-scale BWB designs. Therefore, the b/Wg(1/3) parameter offers a dimensionless L/D efficiency coefficient for BWB designs of different scales. The wetted aspect ratio explains how low aspect ratio (AR)-BWB designs can compete with high AR-tube-and-wing designs. The key parameter is also useful for getting an idea of good or bad BWB with design and performance data published in the literature. As a result, reducing the blending area and designing a smaller central body are typical features of aerodynamically efficient BWB.

Originality/value

As the role of the square/cube law in the conceptual aircraft design stage has not been sufficiently studied in the literature, the application of this law to BWBs, a new generation of designs, makes the study original. Estimation of the wetted area ratio using only wingspan and gross weight data is an alternative and practical method for assessing the aerodynamic performance of the BWB. According to the model proposed in the current study, reducing the take-off gross weight of the BWBs using lighter building materials and designing with a larger wingspan (b) are the main recommendations for an aerodynamically efficient BWB.
Motivation for users' knowledge-sharing behavior in virtual brand communities: a psychological ownership perspective
Authors: Jiang Ying , Liao Junyun , Chen Jiawen , Hu Yanghong , Du Peng
Published: December 2021

Purpose

Users' knowledge sharing provides valuable resources for brand community participants and is, therefore, critical for the viability of virtual brand communities. Drawing from both self-determination theory (SDT) and psychological ownership theory, the paper aims to investigate the impact of fulfillment of three basic psychological needs on brand users' knowledge-sharing behavior and examines psychological ownership as a mediator.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data consisting of 316 valid responses were collected from users of Huawei Pollen Club Community. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) confirmed the reliability and validity of measures, and hierarchical linear regression and bootstrapping were used to test all hypotheses.

Findings

Fulfillment of the need for autonomy, relatedness and competence in a virtual brand community boosts users' psychological ownership and has a positive influence on their knowledge-sharing behavior. Furthermore, psychological ownership partially mediates the relationships between the fulfillment of psychological needs and knowledge-sharing behavior. In addition, the authors found that when users participate in more offline brand activities, the positive impact of the fulfillment of the need for relatedness on psychological ownership is strengthened, while the positive impact of the fulfillment of the need for autonomy on psychological ownership is weakened.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the existing literature by exploring the relationships between fulfilling users' three basic psychological needs and their knowledge-sharing behavior through the mediating role of psychological ownership. The authors also provide insight into how offline brand activities interact with the fulfillment of psychological needs in virtual brand communities.
Understanding regional variation in the use of local food in public catering
Authors: Kujala Susanna , Hakala Outi , Viitaharju Leena
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The main aim of this study is to identify the factors that can affect regional differences in the procurement of local food in public catering. Understanding how some regions procure more local food products than others could help promote the use of local food in public catering. Regions with a lower share of local food can learn from regions that have a higher local food share.

Design/methodology/approach

The studied phenomenon is complex; therefore, we used several approaches to identify the share of local food procurement and the reasons behind the regional differences. The study gathered survey data and used fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), a computable general equilibrium model and several data sources.

Findings

The share of local food within the total food procurement varies markedly between regions. The highest local food shares can be linked to a combination of three factors: sufficient and suitable supply, adequate organisational conditions and a political atmosphere that encourages the use of local food. In addition to limited political incentives, poor supply or inadequate organisational conditions effectively characterise why some regions use very few local food products. Hence, a move towards using more local food in public catering requires political decision makers, food producers and procurement personnel to demonstrate a common will and take cohesive action.

Originality/value

By examining regional variation, the results of this study offer a new perspective on the use of local food in public catering.
Food safety knowledge and behaviour among food handlers in catering establishments: a case study
Authors: Jevšnik Mojca , Raspor Peter
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The main objective of this study is to find out how food handlers in catering establishments perceive ensuring food safety and which problems they meet along the way.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a qualitative approach, ten food handlers in Slovenian catering facilities were included in the case study. A semi-structured approach was applied to provide a deeper insight into food safety barriers perceived by respondents. Participants first read short fictitious newspaper news about a foodborne disease at a tourist farm, which served as a starting point.

Findings

The results demonstrate barriers which most often originate in a lack of knowledge (e.g. improper food safety training, incorrect food safety knowledge testing, knowledge and maintaining of CCPs), shortage of food hygiene skills (e.g. handwashing, food defrosting) and weak work satisfaction (e.g. insufficient payment, poor interpersonal relationships and weak motivation). Food safety knowledge and consequently training methods were found to be the biggest barrier for the efficiency of the HACCP system in practice.

Research limitations/implications

Due to the small sample, the results cannot be generalised to the entire population of food handlers in Slovenia.

Practical implications

The results indicate weaknesses in food safety knowledge among professional food handlers.

Originality/value

The study provides a deeper insight into implicit opinions of ten food handlers in catering facilities regarding barriers in providing food safety, their knowledge and behaviour in their work with food.
Comparative analysis of two-level and three-level multilevel inverter for electric vehicle application using BLDC motor drive
Authors: Ammaiyappan Bharathi Sankar , Ramalingam Seyezhai
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The conventional two-level inverter suffers from harmonics, higher direct current (DC) link voltage requirement, higher dv/dt and heating of the rotor. This study aims to overcome by using a multilevel inverter for brushless DC (BLDC) drive.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a comparative analysis of the conventional two-level and three-level multilevel inverter for electric vehicle (EV) application using BLDC drive.

Findings

A three-level Active Neutral Point Clamped Multilevel inverter (ANPCMLI) is proposed in this paper which provides DC link voltage control. Simulation studies of the multilevel inverter and BLDC motor is carried out in MATLAB.

Originality/value

The ANPCMLI fed BLDC simulation results shows that there is the significant reduction in the BLDC motor torque ripple, switching stress and harmonic distortion in the BLDC motor fed ANPCMLI compared to the conventional two-level inverter. A prototype of ANPCMLI fed BLDC drive along with field programmable gate array (FPGA) control is built and MATLAB simulation results are verified experimentally.
Developing an open source mobile app in library services: the case of a national university in Malaysia
Authors: Ajab Mohideen Zainab , Sheikh Arslan , Kaur Kiran
Published: December 2021

Purpose

A surge of library activities and technological advances have increased the demand for data accuracy and agility among library clientele. Therefore, novel approaches are needed to extend library services. This paper aims to introduce the implementation of a prototype mobile library application (app) designed using an in-house open source system, Koha.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a case study using a metamorphosis process to create mobile apps. This case study is tested based on the library services with a set of activities during the system acceptance test (SAT) and also user acceptance test (UAT). An application programming interface (API) used to support two-way communication, including system-to-component and system-to-system connectivity. The design, features and advantages of this mobile app are discussed, illustrated and analyzed. The case study reports the mobile app version development from the Koha Open Source Library Information System.

Findings

The app was tested using user acceptance test (UAT) and system acceptance test (SAT) by library staffs who found it functional, accessible, appealing and useful. Features such as Online Public Access Catalog search, library collection scanning, patron accounts, patron personal book collection, circulation, librarian chat, QR codes for borrowing books, social media integration and notifications of library activities and events were successfully tested. This process was useful for the creation of a mobile app based on the existing library System-Koha Open Source System.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited to a case study of a national university in Malaysia.

Practical implications

This study has some practical implications for implementing library mobile applications, e.g. it will encourage librarians to implement library applications in libraries.

Originality/value

This study is useful for mobile developers and libraries that plan to offer mobile library services to their patrons. This paper presents a case study of metamorphosis existing process of library open source System-Koha Open Source System.
The plight of dairy farmers and their cows
Authors: Suntharalingam Chubashini , Tee Keng Kok
Published: December 2021

Subject area

Entrepreneurship, Small Business, Small-scale Dairy Farmers

Study level/applicability

This case is appropriate for undergraduate final year/senior as well as graduate-level programme students.

Case overview

This case explores the life of Saravanan, a small-scale dairy farmer in Malaysia. He inherited the business from his father. Small-scale farmers in Malaysia own farms with 30 (or fewer) milking cows. Over the years, milk consumption had been on the rise, but production was less than promising. Besides low-quality milk, Saravanan often experienced issues of low milk yield. Selling fresh milk as his only source of income and the milk collection centre as his sole marketing channel, Saravanan was caught in a financially tight situation when product diversification and marketing initiatives were limited. Saravanan’s problems began with rejected fresh milk, which landed him with zero income for the day. This issue was detected when the authorities identified a few contaminated batches of milk during a site visit. The problem compounded when Saravanan had to settle three months’ debt with the feed supplier on the same day. Saravanan’s predicament echoed the plight faced by small-scale farmers in Malaysia. After managing the farm for more than 30 years, Saravanan had plans to pass it to his son, Mugunthan. However, doubts about the sustainability of the business remained. Would Mugunthan suffer the same dire fate? Would he be able to find a way out? Based on the problem-solving framework, the case attempts to identify and assess the problems faced by small-scale dairy farmers in Malaysia, and at the same time, to suggest solutions that will ensure the sustainability of their business.

Expected learning outcomes

After attempting the case, students should learn to empathise with the hardship small-scale dairy farmers endure in the pursuit of their businesses, analyse issues and determine the root causes of the problems faced by small-scale dairy farmers in Malaysia based on the problem-solving framework, generate and justify sustainable solutions to solve the problems faced by these dairy farmers and present the case, discuss and work in teams, and critically offer sustainable solutions based on framework and theories.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.
Understanding the impacts of post-disaster relocation on family dynamics and resilience
Authors: Samonte Paoloregel
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to arrive at a conceptual roadmap that may be used to analyze the impacts of post-disaster relocation on a family’s dynamics and how this, in turn, affects their resilience to future disasters. Existing literature shows that the role of the family as a social unit is often overlooked in disaster research. Ultimately, this paper seeks to elevate the place of the family and its internal dynamics as a vital determinant of family resilience in a post-disaster relocation setting.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is a result of a systematic literature review of four interrelated topics, namely, families in disasters; post-disaster relocation; disaster resilience and family resilience.

Findings

The literature review resulted in an exploration of the experiences of families amidst post-disaster relocation. Such findings were linked towards potential impacts on family dynamics, which then resulted in the study’s proposed roadmap.

Originality/value

The study is a novel attempt at coming up with a conceptual framework that may guide future scholars in determining the effects of family dynamics on a family’s overall disaster resilience amid post-disaster relocation. It is hoped that the use of such a framework will guide policymakers in crafting institutional reforms that take into account family cohesion in disaster relocation efforts.
Analysis of sustainability insertion in materials selection courses of engineering undergraduate programmes
Authors: Zanitt Jeniffer Fonseca , Rampasso Izabela Simon , Quelhas Osvaldo Luiz Gonçalves , Serafim Milena Pavan , Leal Filho Walter , Anholon Rosley
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This study aims to analyse how the materials selection courses of engineering undergraduate programmes can be better aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Design/methodology/approach

Initially, a content analysis was performed in 39 materials selection course descriptions from 40 engineering undergraduate programmes of Brazilian higher education institutions, and subsequently, Delphi method procedures were conducted with professors that teach or have taught the course and are knowledgeable in the subject of sustainability.

Findings

Considering the analysed course descriptions, it was shown that most of the materials selection courses do not consider or present little emphasis on sustainability aspects. Regarding the Delphi method, eight items were evidenced to consider sustainability aspects in the analysed courses.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the debates about sustainability insertion in engineering undergraduate programmes. More specifically, the findings presented consolidated information that professors and coordinators can use to align materials selection courses with the SDGs better.
Empirical evaluation of structure-conduct-performance paradigm as applied to the Iranian Islamic banking system
Authors: Ghaemi Asl Mahdi , Rashidi Muhammad Mahdi , Ghorbani Alireza
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the impact of market structure and market share on the performance of the Islamic banks operating in the Iranian banking system based on the structure-conduct-performance (SCP) paradigm.

Design/methodology/approach

The Iranian Islamic banking system’s market structure is evaluated by using the econometrics method to test the validity of the traditional SCP paradigm. For this purpose, the authors estimate a simple regression model that is consisted of several independent variables, such as the market share, bank size, real gross domestic product, liquidity and Herfindahl-Hirschman index as a proxy variable for concentration and one dependent variable, namely, the profit as a proxy for performance. The panel data includes a data sample of 22 Islamic banks operating from 2006 to 2019. Data are extracted from the balance sheet of Islamic banks and the time-series database of the Central Bank of Iran and World Bank.

Findings

The study’s findings indicate that both concentration and market share have a positive impact on the performance of banks in the Iranian Islamic banking system. This result is contradicted with both traditional SCP and efficient structure hypotheses; however, it confirms the existence of oligopoly or cartel in the Iranian Islamic banking system that few banks try to gain the highest share of profit and maintain their market share by colluding with each other. This result is in contradiction with other research studies about the market structure in the Iranian banking system that claimed that banks in Iran operate under monopolistic competition. In addition, it shows that the privatization of some banks in Iran does not improve and help competition in the Iranian banking system.

Originality/value

This paper is a pioneer empirical study analyzing the market structure, concentration and collusion based on the SCP paradigm in Iranian Islamic banking. The results of the study support the existence of collusive behavior among the Islamic bank in Iran that is not aligned with Sharia. This study clearly shows the difference between ideal Islamic banking and Islamic banking in practice in Islamic countries. This clearly indicates that only prohibiting some operations like receiving interest, gambling and bearing excessive risk is not enough. In fact, the Islamic banking system should be based on the Sharia rule in all aspects and much more modification and study have to be done to achieve an appropriate Islamic banking system. These possible modifications to overcome the issues of cartel-like market structure and collusive behavior in the Iranian Islamic banking system include making the Iranian banking system more transparent, letting foreign banks enter the Iranian banking system and minimizing the government intervention in the Iranian banking system.
The Pransky interview: Jack Morrison, CEO and Co-Founder, Scythe Robotics
Authors: Pransky Joanne
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a “Q&A interview” conducted by Joanne Pransky of Industrial Robot Journal as a method to impart the combined technological, business and personal experience of a prominent, robotic industry engineer-turned entrepreneur regarding his pioneering efforts in starting robotic companies and commercializing technological inventions. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The interviewee is Jack Morrison, CEO and Co-Founder, Scythe Robotics. Morrison shares how he and his co-founders started this innovative company, the milestones and challenges he’s faced and his long-term goals.

Findings

Morrison received Bachelor of Arts degrees in Computer Science and German from Bowdoin College. He attended The George Washington University as a PhD student in Computer Science but left to co-found Replica Labs, a producer of software that turns any mobile phone into a high-quality 3D scanner. Morrison served as Replica’s CTO until it was acquired by Occipital in 2016, where he stayed on as a computer vision engineer until co-founding Scythe Robotics in April 2018.

Originality/value

While mowing his lawn in Colorado, Jack Morrison had a sudden insight: what if he could apply the latest robotics technology he was so familiar with to the challenge of commercialized landscaping? In 2018, Morrison teamed up with Replica Labs co-founder Isaac Roberts and Occipital’s Davis Foster, to create Scythe Robotics, a company that builds autonomous robotics solutions for the $105bn commercial landscaping industry. In June 2021, Scythe Robotics emerged from stealth with over $18m in funding with its first commercial product: a transformational, all-electric, fully autonomous mower designed to keep crew productivity high while also increasing the quality of cut and worker safety. The machine features eight high dynamic range cameras and a suite of other sensors that enable it to operate safely in dynamic environments by identifying and responding to the presence of humans, animals and other potential obstacles. Simultaneously, the machine captures valuable property and mower performance data, which helps landscape contractors improve workflow, identify upsell opportunities, schedule more efficiently and manage labor costs. The all-electric powertrain is quiet, emissions-free and radically more reliable than gas-powered manual mowers. Scythe Robotics’ business model is based on Robot as a Service. Instead of buying machines outright, customers are billed by acres mowed. This massively reduces contractors’ expenses and eliminates substantial costs. Scythe Robotics is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado and has offices in Vero Beach, FL and Austin, TX. Scythe is the recipient of the 2020 ALCC (Associated Landscape Contractors CO) Innovation Winner and the 2021 Colorado OEDIT Advanced Industries Grantee.
Research on high-speed railway operation adjustment model based on priority
Authors: Zhiwen Liao , Qin Yong , Wang Mingming
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This paper aim at providing decision support for operational adjustment. In order to effectively reduce the external interference impact on train operation.

Design/methodology/approach

According to the reality that there are two kinds of high-speed trains running in China, considering the reality that there are two speed level train running in Chinese high-speed railway, this paper proposed the high-speed railway operation adjustment model based on priority, and the objective function is to minimize interference impact on train operation.

Findings

Adjustment strategy based on priority than based on sequence can effectively reduce the interference influence on train operation, which makes the train resume the planned operation back on schedule more quickly.

Research limitations/implications

The solution of large-scale cases is too slow, and the practical application is limited.

Originality/value

The model was verified by a case, and the case results proved that adjustment strategy based on priority than based on sequence can effectively reduce the interference influence on train operation, which makes the train resume the planned operation back on schedule more quickly.
Relationship between iodine‐enhanced dual energy‐computed tomographic findings and ultrasonographic findings for psoriatic arthritis
Authors: Ota Mayumi , Nobeyama Yoshimasa , Fukuda Takeshi , Asahina Akihiko
Published: December 2021

Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are useful for diagnosing psoriatic arthritis (PsA). However, ultrasonography depends on the skill of the operator and MRI is often disturbed by artifacts when distal interphalangeal joints are examined. Although iodine‐enhanced dual‐energy computed tomography (DECT) has the potential to diagnose PsA without these disadvantages, its usefulness over ultrasonography has not yet been examined in detail; therefore, the present study was conducted to address this issue. The acral joint of 13 PsA patients, which was the most severely affected, was scanned with imaging devices. Ultrasonography was performed with a high‐frequency linear 18‐MHz probe. Iodine‐enhanced DECT was conducted in the DE mode with iohexol as a contrast material. Psoriatic Arthritis Screening and Evaluation (PASE) scores were recorded. Synovitis and periarticular inflammation delineated with iodine‐enhanced DECT correlated with the loss of the fibrillar pattern delineated with ultrasonography (p = 0.033 and 0.002, respectively). Peritendinitis delineated with iodine‐enhanced DECT also correlated with tendon thickening delineated with ultrasonography (p = 0.011). Iodine uptake did not correlate with Doppler signal or PASE scores. In conclusion, the present results demonstrated that the qualitative findings of iodine‐enhanced DECT correlated with those of ultrasonography in PsA patients, whereas quantitative findings did not. Iodine‐enhanced DECT may be an alternative imaging modality for the diagnosis of PsA.
Exploring the patient perspectives of student‐resourced service delivery of rehabilitation groups: A qualitative study
Authors: Pigott Amanda , Patterson Freyr , Prescott Sarah , Doig Emmah , Fleming Jennifer ,   “Impact of SRSD of groups placement” project team
Published: December 2021

Introduction

Occupational therapists commonly use groups to deliver rehabilitation. Previous research has established that patients value participation in such groups. With increasing demands for rehabilitation services, meeting the intensity of occupational therapy practice required for recovery is challenging. Group‐based services are one approach to support increased rehabilitation need for intensity of practice. Student‐resourced service delivery (SRSD) of rehabilitation groups is a novel practice placement model that shows potential for rehabilitation care delivery. There is little research reporting patient experiences and perspectives of SRSD rehabilitation groups. Understanding the perspectives of patients' experiences of the groups is required for meaningful programme evaluation. This study aimed to explore patient experiences of SRSD of rehabilitation groups.

Methods

This multisite qualitative study examined the perspectives of 26 rehabilitation inpatients participating in SRSD group sessions across two rehabilitation sites. The SRSD group sessions were overseen by an occupational therapist. Data were collected through semi‐structured interviews and analysed using inductive thematic analysis guided by a phenomenological approach.

Results

Three themes emerged: (1) seeing the relevance of SRSD groups, (2) enhancing the process of SRSD groups, and (3) the value of social interaction.

Conclusion

SRSD rehabilitation groups were well received by patients with perceived benefits such as opportunities for social interactions. Findings from this study may inform clinical practice including models of student practice placement education.
TaxoNERD: Deep neural models for the recognition of taxonomic entities in the ecological and evolutionary literature
Authors: Le Guillarme Nicolas , Thuiller Wilfried
Published: December 2021

Easy access to multi‐taxa information (e.g. distribution, traits, diet) in the scientific literature is essential to understand, map and predict all‐inclusive biodiversity. Tools are needed to automatically extract useful information from the ever‐growing corpus of ecological texts and feed this information to open data repositories. A prerequisite is the ability to recognise mentions of taxa in text, a special case of named entity recognition (NER). In recent years, deep learning‐based NER systems have become ubiquitous, yielding state‐of‐the‐art results in the general and biomedical domains. However, no such tool is available to ecologists wishing to extract information from the biodiversity literature.

We propose a new tool called TaxoNERD that provides deep neural network (DNN) models to recognise taxon mentions in ecological documents. To achieve high performance, these models usually need to be trained on a large corpus of manually annotated text. Creating such a corpus is a laborious and costly process, with the result that manually annotated corpora in the ecological domain tend to be too small to learn an accurate DNN model from scratch. To address this issue, we leverage existing models pretrained on large biomedical corpora using transfer learning. The performance of our models is evaluated on four corpora and compared to the most popular taxonomic entity recognition tools.

Our experiments suggest that existing taxonomic NER tools are not suited to the extraction of ecological information from text as they performed poorly on ecologically oriented corpora, either because they do not take account of the variability of taxon naming practices or because they do not generalise well to the ecological domain. Conversely, a domain‐specific DNN‐based tool like TaxoNERD outperformed the other approaches on an ecological information extraction task.

Efforts are needed to raise ecological information extraction to the same level of performance as its biomedical counterpart. One promising direction is to leverage the huge corpus of unlabelled ecological texts to learn a language representation model that could benefit downstream tasks. These efforts could be highly beneficial to ecologists on the long term.
ASX small firm/microcap listings: the IPO ‘Pop’ and two decades of subsequent returns
Authors: Gilbey Kylie , Marsh Terry , Purchase Sharon
Published: December 2021

We examined IPO discounts and average returns for all available ASX (de)/listed IPOs from 1999 to 2019. We found that the average 18.45 percent offering discount was close to that observed in the US, as were the discount time series behaviour and distribution. Furthermore, the average annualised return on a market‐weighted portfolio of the ASX small/microcap IPOs, from close‐of‐listing‐day price to delisting or 31 December 2019, is 18.62 percent compared to 2.28 percent for large‐caps. Small/microcap post‐listing return differentials were highest for listings filed in Western Australia, and for the metals and mining and software industries.
Description of the arterial supply and venous drainage of the abdominal viscera in the puma (Puma concolor) (Linnaeus, 1771)
Authors: Castano Sara M. , Ceballos Claudia P. , Tamayo‐Arango Lynda J.
Published: December 2021

Detailed descriptions of the abdominal vasculature have not been reported on Puma concolor; thus, herein we provided a thorough description. Our findings include the following: a celiac artery branching into the hepatic and gastrolienal arteries, and this latter further branched into the left gastric, the left gastroepiploic, the lienal and three more arteries that supplied the greater omentum. We also found a cystic artery that derived from the right gastroduodenal artery; a right gastric artery that derived from the right hepatic artery; and an antimesenteric ileal artery that derived from the lateral cecal artery. The right gastric vein did not form the gastroduodenal vein as in other species, but it drained directly into the portal vein. Also, a middle pancreaticoduodenal vein was identified as the last branch of the cranial mesenteric vein. Finally, the left caudal phrenic vein drained into the left renal vein. The abdominal blood supply described herein corresponds to a single individual; further reviews are desirable to corroborate our observations and to detect potential intraspecific anatomical variations.
An Extension of the Five‐factor Affine Term Structure Model: Predicting Future Bond Returns*
Authors: Jang Ga‐Young , Kang Hyoung‐Goo , Lee Dong‐Joon
Published: December 2021

We investigate time‐varying risk premia in Korean government bonds using a five‐factor affine model. The model generates nearly perfectly fitted yields and estimates the bonds’ expected returns with more precision than the four‐factor model. We also find the statistically significant predictive power of the model for future bond returns using forward rates from cross‐sectional and time‐series regressions. The predictive power varies in time for bonds with different maturities and reverts to the mean values for short‐ and long‐term bonds, while showing a sign of momentum for medium‐term bonds. In out‐of‐sample exercises, the predictive power is even enhanced when volatility increases.
Who Answers for the Government? Bureaucrats, Ministers, and Responsible Parties
Authors: Goplerud Max , Smith Daniel M.
Published: December 2021

A key feature of parliamentary democracy is government accountability vis‐à‐vis the legislature, but the important question of who speaks for the government—cabinet ministers or unelected bureaucrats, and the institutional underpinnings of this behavior—receives scant attention in the existing literature. We investigate this question using the case of Japan, and data on more than four million committee speeches spanning distinct electoral and legislative institutional environments. We document how a party‐strengthening electoral system reform in 1994 facilitated a dramatic shift in the nature of government accountability to parliamentary committees: speeches by ministers increased, speeches by bureaucrats decreased, and discursive accountability between ministers and opposition legislators increased. Subsequent legislative reforms expanding junior ministerial roles and placing explicit limits on bureaucratic participation further reinforced the effects. These findings shed new light on the institutional foundations of responsible party government in general as well as its progressive development in Japan.
Neurobiological and behavioral mechanisms of circadian rhythm disruption in bipolar disorder: A critical multi‐disciplinary literature review and agenda for future research from the ISBD task force on chronobiology
Authors: McCarthy Michael J. , Gottlieb John F. , Gonzalez Robert , McClung Colleen A. , Alloy Lauren B. , Cain Sean , Dulcis Davide , Etain Bruno , Frey Benicio N. , Garbazza Corrado , Ketchesin Kyle D. , Landgraf Dominic , Lee Heon‐Jeong , Marie‐Claire Cynthia , Nusslock Robin , Porcu Alessandra , Porter Richard , Ritter Philipp , Scott Jan , Smith Daniel , Swartz Holly A. , Murray Greg
Published: December 2021

Aim

Symptoms of bipolar disorder (BD) include changes in mood, activity, energy, sleep, and appetite. Since many of these processes are regulated by circadian function, circadian rhythm disturbance has been examined as a biological feature underlying BD. The International Society for Bipolar Disorders Chronobiology Task Force (CTF) was commissioned to review evidence for neurobiological and behavioral mechanisms pertinent to BD.

Method

Drawing upon expertise in animal models, biomarkers, physiology, and behavior, CTF analyzed the relevant cross‐disciplinary literature to precisely frame the discussion around circadian rhythm disruption in BD, highlight key findings, and for the first time integrate findings across levels of analysis to develop an internally consistent, coherent theoretical framework.

Results

Evidence from multiple sources implicates the circadian system in mood regulation, with corresponding associations with BD diagnoses and mood‐related traits reported across genetic, cellular, physiological, and behavioral domains. However, circadian disruption does not appear to be specific to BD and is present across a variety of high‐risk, prodromal, and syndromic psychiatric disorders. Substantial variability and ambiguity among the definitions, concepts and assumptions underlying the research have limited replication and the emergence of consensus findings.

Conclusions

Future research in circadian rhythms and its role in BD is warranted. Well‐powered studies that carefully define associations between BD‐related and chronobiologically‐related constructs, and integrate across levels of analysis will be most illuminating.
Consistent variations in personality traits and their potential for genetic improvement in biocontrol agents: Trichogramma evanescens as a case study
Authors: Lartigue Silène , Yalaoui Myriam , Belliard Jean , Caravel Claire , Jeandroz Louise , Groussier Géraldine , Calcagno Vincent , Louâpre Philippe , Dechaume‐Moncharmont François‐Xavier , Malausa Thibaut , Moreau Jérôme
Published: December 2021

Improvements in the biological control of agricultural pests require improvements in the phenotyping methods used by practitioners to select efficient biological control agent (BCA) populations in industrial rearing or field conditions. Consistent inter‐individual variations in behaviour (i.e. animal personality) probably affect BCA efficiency, but have never been taken into account in the development of phenotyping methods, despite having characteristics useful for phenotyping: repeatable (by definition), often heritable, etc. We developed a video‐tracking method targeting animal personality traits and evaluated the feasibility of its use for genetic improvement in the BCA Trichogramma evanescens, by phenotyping 1,049 individuals from 24 isogenic lines. We found consistent individual variations in boldness, activity and exploration. Personality differences between the 24 isogenic lines suggested a genetic origin of the variations in activity and exploration (broad‐sense heritability estimates of 0.06 to 0.11) and revealed a trade‐off between exploration and fecundity.
Cross‐sectional and prospective associations of sleep duration and bedtimes with adiposity and obesity risk in 15 810 youth from 11 international cohorts
Authors: Collings Paul J. , Grøntved Anders , Jago Russell , Kriemler Susi , Northstone Kate , Puder Jardena J. , Salmon Jo , Sardinha Luís B. , Steene‐Johannessen Jostein , van Sluijs Esther M. F. , Sherar Lauren B. , Esliger Dale W. , Ekelund Ulf ,   International Children's Accelerometry Database (ICAD) Collaborators
Published: December 2021

Objectives

To investigate associations of bedtimes and sleep durations with adiposity levels in children and adolescents.

Methods

Individual data were pooled for 12 247 children (5819 with follow‐up adiposity at 2.3 ± 1.4 years post‐baseline) and 3563 adolescents from 11 international studies. Associations between questionnaire‐based sleep durations, bedtimes and four groups of combined bedtimes and sleep lengths (later‐shorter [reference]/earlier‐shorter/later‐longer/earlier‐longer) with measured adiposity (body mass index [BMI] and waist circumference z‐scores) and weight status, were investigated.

Results

In children, longer sleep durations were consistently associated with lower adiposity markers, and earlier bedtimes were related to lower BMI z‐score. Compared to sleeping <10 h, longer baseline sleep duration favourably predicted Δwaist z‐score in girls (≥10 and <11 h (β‐coefficient (95% confidence interval [CI])): −0.06 (−0.12 to −0.01)) and boys (≥11 h: −0.10 [−0.18 to −0.01]). Combined groups that were defined by longer sleep (later‐longer and earlier‐longer sleep patterns) were associated with lower adiposity, and later‐longer sleep favourably predicted Δwaist z‐score in girls (−0.09 [−0.15 to −0.02]). In adolescents, longer sleep durations and earlier bedtimes were associated with lower BMI z‐score in the whole sample, and also with lower waist z‐score in boys. Combined groups that were characterized by earlier bedtimes were associated with the same outcomes. For example, earlier‐shorter (−0.22 (−0.43 to −0.01) and earlier‐longer (−0.16 (−0.25 to −0.06) sleep were both associated with lower BMI z‐score.

Conclusions

If the associations are causal, longer sleep duration and earlier bedtimes should be targeted for obesity prevention, emphasizing longer sleep for children and earlier bedtimes for adolescents.