bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
AnnotatorJ: an ImageJ plugin to ease hand-annotation of cellular compartments
Authors: Hollandi Réka , Diósdi Ákos , Hollandi Gábor , Moshkov Nikita , Horváth Péter
Published: February 2020

AnnotatorJ combines single-cell identification with deep learning and manual annotation. Cellular analysis quality depends on accurate and reliable detection and segmentation of cells so that the subsequent steps of analyses e.g. expression measurements may be carried out precisely and without bias. Deep learning has recently become a popular way of segmenting cells, performing unimaginably better than conventional methods. However, such deep learning applications may be trained on a large amount of annotated data to be able to match the highest expectations. High-quality annotations are unfortunately expensive as they require field experts to create them, and often cannot be shared outside the lab due to medical regulations.

We propose AnnotatorJ, an ImageJ plugin for the semi-automatic annotation of cells (or generally, objects of interest) on (not only) microscopy images in 2D that helps find the true contour of individual objects by applying U-Net-based pre-segmentation. The manual labour of hand-annotating cells can be significantly accelerated by using our tool. Thus, it enables users to create such datasets that could potentially increase the accuracy of state-of-the-art solutions, deep learning or otherwise, when used as training data.
Cluster similarity spectrum integration of single-cell genomics data
Authors: He Zhisong , Brazovskaja Agnieska , Ebert Sebastian , Camp J. Gray , Treutlein Barbara
Published: February 2020

Technologies to sequence the transcriptome, genome or epigenome from thousands of single cells in an experiment provide extraordinary resolution into the molecular states present within a complex biological system at any given moment. However, it is a major challenge to integrate single-cell sequencing data across experiments, conditions, batches, timepoints and other technical considerations. New computational methods are required that can integrate samples while simultaneously preserving biological information. Here, we propose an unsupervised reference-free data representation, Cluster Similarity Spectrum (CSS), where each cell is represented by its similarities to clusters independently identified across samples. We show that CSS can be used to assess cellular heterogeneity and enable reconstruction of differentiation trajectories from cerebral organoid single-cell transcriptomic data, and to integrate data across experimental conditions and human individuals. We compare CSS to other integration algorithms and show that it can outperform other methods in certain integration scenarios. We also show that CSS allows projection of single-cell genomic data of different modalities to the CSS-represented reference atlas for visualization and cell type identity prediction. In summary, CSS provides a straightforward and powerful approach to understand and integrate challenging single-cell multi-omic data.
Fluorophore-labelled RNA aptamers to common protein tags as super-resolution imaging reagents
Authors: Wang Juan , Singh Avtar , Ozer Abdullah , Zipfel Warren R.
Published: February 2020

Developing labelling methods that densely and specifically label targeted cellular structures is critically important for centroid localization-based super-resolution microscopy. Being easy and inexpensive to produce in the laboratory and of relatively small size, RNA aptamers have potential as a substitute for conventional antibody labelling. By using aptamers selected against common protein tags - GFP (green fluorescent protein) in this case - we demonstrate labelling methods using dSTORM-compatible fluorophores for STORM and hybridizable imager strands for DNA-PAINT super-resolution optical imaging of any cellular proteins fused to the aptamer binding target. We show that we can label both extracellular and intracellular proteins for super-resolution imaging, and that the method in particular, offers some interesting advantages for live cell super-resolution imaging of plasma membrane proteins.

KEY POINTS

A simple to use RNA aptamer method for super-resolution STORM and PAINT imaging in cells expressing common protein tags.

The method has a number of unique advantages for live cell imaging at the nanometer scale.

Provides a means to quantify the number of proteins being trafficked on the plasma membrane.
New environment, new invaders - repeated horizontal transfer of LINEs to sea snakes
Authors: Galbraith James D. , Ludington Alastair J. , Suh Alexander , Sanders Kate L. , Adelson David L.
Published: February 2020

While numerous studies have found horizontal transposon transfer (HTT) to be widespread across metazoans, few have focused on HTT in marine ecosystems. To investigate potential recent HTTs into marine species we searched for novel repetitive elements in sea snakes, a group of elapids which transitioned to a marine habitat at most 18 Mya. Our analysis uncovered repeated HTTs into sea snakes following their marine transition. Such major shifts in habitat should require significant genomic changes.The seven subfamilies of horizontally transferred LINE retrotransposons we identified in the olive sea snake (Aipysurus laevis) are transcribed, and hence are likely still active and expanding across the genome. A search of 600 metazoan genomes found all seven were absent from other amniotes, including terrestrial elapids, with the most similar transposons present in fish and marine invertebrates. The one exception was a similar transposon found in sea kraits, a lineage of amphibious elapids which independently transitioned to a marine environment following their divergence from terrestrial species 25 Mya. Our finding of repeated horizontal transfer events into separate lineages of marine snakes greatly expands past findings of frequent horizontal transfer in the marine environment, suggesting it is ideal for the transfer of transposons.Transposons are drivers of evolution as sources of genomic sequence and hence genomic novelty. This provides evidence of the environment influencing evolution of metazoans not only through specific selection pressures, but also by contributing novel genomic material.
Molecular profiling of lipid droplets inside HuH7 Cells with Raman micro-spectroscopy
Authors: Samuel Ashok Zachariah , Miyaoka Rimi , Ando Masahiro , Gaebler Anne , Thiele Christoph , Takeyama Haruko
Published: February 2020

Raman imaging has become an attractive technology in molecular biology because of its ability to detect multiple molecular components simultaneously without labeling. Two major limitations in accurately accounting for spectral features, viz. background removal and spectral unmixing, have been overcome by employing a modified and effective routine in multivariate curve resolution (MCR). With our improved strategy, we have spectrally isolated seven structurally specific biomolecules without any post-acquisition spectral treatments. Consequently, the isolated intensity profiles reflected concentrations of corresponding biomolecules with high statistical accuracy. Our study reveals the changes in the molecular composition of lipid droplets (LD) inside HuH7 cells and its relation to the physiological state of the cell. Further, we show that the accurate separation of spectral components permits analysis ofin vivostructural modification of molecules after cellular uptake. A detailed discussion is presented to highlight the potential of Raman spectroscopy with MCR in semi-quantitative molecular profiling of living cells.
2,2′-Dimethyl-7,7′-(methylenediimino)di-1,8-naphthyridin-1-ium bis(perchlorate). Erratum
Authors: IUCr Editorial Office
Published: February 2020

This article reports the correction of a paper by Mo et al. [Acta Cryst. (2008), E64, o1702].
Safe food refrigeration knowledge, attitudes, and practices of university students
Authors: Obande David , Young Ian
Published: February 2020

Purpose

Students living in university residence halls often have refrigerators for food storage, and are often living alone and handling food for the first time in their lives. Therefore, an investigation of their safe food storage practices is important to help prevent food-borne illness in this population. This research seeks to evaluate the food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices related to food storage and refrigeration among undergraduate students at a university campus.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional study was conducted by administering a questionnaire to undergraduate students (n = 93) living in two residence halls on a university campus.

Findings

Many respondents (43.3 percent) were unaware of the maximum temperature a refrigerator should be set at to prevent microbial growth, while 83.7 percent reported ‘never’ or ‘rarely’ checking the temperature of their refrigerator using a thermometer. Many respondents (43.1 percent) incorrectly ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ that the smell and appearance of food can be used as an indicator for food safety, and 64.1 percent self-reported often or always using this practice. Respondents that were born outside of Canada had more positive food storage attitudes, while those that identified as Caucasian had higher knowledge scores. A positive correlation was identified between knowledge and attitude scores (r = 0.217) but neither were significantly associated with practice scores.

Originality/value

The study revealed gaps in the knowledge, attitudes and practices of university students living in residence halls related to safe food storage. Hence, there is a need to increase awareness and education in this population on key food storage practices.
The sequence of strategies when establishing Taiwanese restaurant in Thailand
Authors: Lee Tzong-Ru , Sinnarong Nirote , Hsu Yi-Hsiang , Lan Hsiang-Ying , Yeh Ching-Hua , Hilletofth Per
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the problem faced by many Taiwanese restaurant owners who trying to set up their shops in Thailand.

Design/methodology/approach

Two surveys were conducted in this study. The first interview questionnaire was designed using the factors proposed by Parasuramanet al.(1988, 1991) and given to restaurant owners/managers who successfully set up shops in Thailand. The second questionnaire was constructed specifically for Thai consumers.

Findings

Gray relational analysis (GRA), theory of inventive problem-solving (teoriya resheniya izobreatatelskikh zadatch, TRIZ) and interpretive structural model (ISM) were used to identify potential difficulties and to determine the key factors impacting the shop establishment and development in Thailand. The results provide a set of strategic sequence when launching restaurant in Thailand.

Originality/value

A result of GRA determined 14 important factors that influence customer perception of quality service. A TRIZ analytic process provided 17 strategies when setting up overseas shop and the ISM class diagram shown the three phases needed to be considered before restaurant owners can set up shops abroad. The three phases are construction, operation and competition phases. These set of strategies sequence when launching a restaurant in Thailand.
Internationalization challenges for SMEs: evidence and theoretical extension
Authors: Chandra Ashna Ashwini , Paul Justin , Chavan Meena
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The paper aims to examine new research on the internationalization of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Pacific Island Nation country Fiji.

Design/methodology/approach

A multiple case qualitative method was used which adopted a purposeful sampling methodology through semi-structured interviews to test propositions and present preliminary findings.

Findings

The authors find that, SME internationalization in Fiji is driven by management competence (MC) and entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and is hindered by the unfavourable institutional environment. The authors then develop a conceptual model and propositions to further explore these enablers and the inhibitors of Fiji SME internationalization. The authors’ findings have important implications for managers in improving their firms’ international performance.

Originality/value

This is a pioneering effort to evaluate the relationship between the factors of EO, MC and institutional distance and their impact on the international performance of SMEs. This paper contributes to the existing literature on international entrepreneurship through the examination of SMEs’ internationalization activities in Fiji.
Roadblocks to university education for diploma engineers in Bangladesh
Authors: Alam Gazi Mahabubul , Forhad Md. Abdur Rahman
Published: February 2020

Purpose

Diploma Engineers (DE) mainly receive practical and skills-oriented education and training in the area of technical and vocational subjects from the polytechnic system. Globally, universities have limited DEs access to Higher Education (HE). Over the course of time, many countries have changed this situation, putting into place a decent qualification and policy framework that ensures higher education for deserving candidates. Lately, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) received special priority in developing countries, and Bangladesh is no exception to it, resulting in a massive growth of DE. This study, the first of its kind, examines the impact of this growth with a key focus on the inclusion of diploma engineers into higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

Given the differentiated nature of research questions, multiple techniques are used to collect the data. However, this research uses the qualitative method. Both secondary and primary data are used. While secondary data are collected by the Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics (BANBEIS), primary data are collected through interviews. With standard sets of admission questions, tests are conducted with two groups of students to draw a comparison.

Findings

The number of students studying at polytechnic institutes is increasing dramatically. The growth of public polytechnic institutes remains steady. Public counterparts respond to the demand by operating both day and night shifts. Many private polytechnics are also established. The size and infrastructure of private Polytechnics are relatively insignificant. However, the mushrooming private sector covers the increased demand. The curve of DE has been increased radically with a questionable competency by the contribution of both public and private polytechnics. Only one public university provides higher education to these DE.

Originality/value

A few reports have been published in the area of TVET by the development partners and the Government of Bangladesh. Only one journal article is published exploring the role of TVET on national development in Bangladesh. However, none cover the issue of access to university education for DE graduates.
TiO2-Ag/blood hybrid nanofluid flow through an artery with applications of drug delivery and blood circulation in the respiratory system
Authors: Shojaie Chahregh Hamidreza , Dinarvand Saeed
Published: February 2020

Purpose

As transferring biological fluid through an artery is nowadays a pivotal subject, the purpose of this paper is to study the mathematical model of hybrid nanofluid flow comprising pure blood as base fluid and TiO2 and Ag as nanoparticles through the porous channel, which can be an applicable model for drug delivery.

Design/methodology/approach

Both walls of the channel have different permeability, which enables the fluid to enter and exit, and variable height, which dilates and squeezes at the uniform rate. By taking advantage of the similarity transformation technique, governing equations have been converted into a system of the non-linear ordinary differential equation. This problem is solved numerically by utilizing BVP4C built-in function in MATLAB software to explore the impacts of pertinent parameters.

Findings

The plots of velocity and temperature profile, normal pressure distribution and wall shear stress, as well as Nusselt number for involved parameters, are presented and the logic and physical reasons beyond them are highlighted. It has been observed that the asymmetry of the channel, caused by different permeability at walls, affects the nature of flow significantly.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no one has ever attempted to study the flow through a deformable porous channel with blood as a base fluid and as hybrid nanoparticles to describe medical phenomena and treatment applications. Indeed, the achievements of this paper are purely original and the numerical results were never published by any researcher.
The perceptions of policymakers on earthquake mitigation
Authors: Heidari Samaneh , Vatankhah Soudabeh , Tourani Sogand , Heidari Mohammad
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study identified the priorities, challenges and different aspects of the mitigation phase according to policymakers for planning and better management of reducing risk within the cultural, religious, social and political conditions of Iran.

Design/methodology/approach

In the present qualitative study, 19 policymakers in different levels of the disaster management organizations were selected based on purposive sampling. Semi-structured and face-to-face interviews were used to identify the participants’ views. The findings were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Findings

The present situation and the challenges of the mitigation phase were the main themes in this study. Risk perception, training and media were the sub-themes. Political, legal, social and cultural challenges of the mitigation phase were also sub-themes.

Originality/value

The findings of this study indicated that different aspects should be considered to minimize the risk of earthquake. In addition, all kinds of media, including visual, written, audio, instrumental, group and multimedia, should be used for enhancing public awareness so that readiness for earthquakes can be considered as a permanent mission of the citizens, who are always concerned about earthquakes.
Internship models: acknowledging social and academic expectations
Authors: Barrón Nancy Guerra
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The paper shows an example of an internship-classroom model that increases student motivation and self-efficacy across cultural frameworks by providing opportunities for application projects.

Design/methodology/approach

The author uses qualitative data collected through teacher research and focuses on the rhetorical context to show how disciplinary writing courses can be redesigned by incorporating theoretical frameworks from business management and psychology.

Findings

Client projects used in disciplinary writing courses, in conjunction with national narratives on higher education as a gateway to higher pay and better skills, improve student self-efficacy if faculty redefine their roles as mediators, and if students are treated as interns and knowledge workers.

Practical implications

The integration of non-academic approaches from business management with academic expectations of research, revision, and rehearsal for a specific client shows how purposeful client-based projects can influence student motivation, self-efficacy, and sense of self-worth that are crucial for diverse student populations. Expanding the theoretical frameworks for successful teaching is an effective model for increasing students' competence as disciplinary writers.

Originality/value

An interdisciplinary approach that draws from academic fields as well as from the business world provides new ways of working successfully with students and preparing them for writing inside and outside the classroom. Incorporating an internship approach into a classroom setting encourages teachers to reimagine student, client, and faculty roles.
The relationship between organizational democracy and political behaviors in universities
Authors: Turabik Tuğba , Atanur Baskan Gülsün
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between organizational democracy and political behaviors in universities.

Design/methodology/approach

To examine the relationship between organizational democracy and political behaviors in higher education institutions, a correlational survey model was utilized. Data were collected from 283 academic staff members.

Findings

It was found that there is a moderate and negative relationship between organizational democracy and the frequency of encountering political behaviors and that organizational democracy predicts the frequency of encountering political behaviors.

Originality/value

These data shed light on the relationship between organizational democracy and political behaviors according to the views of academic staff. The study has provided empirical evidence that political behavior declines in the presence of organizational democracy.
Superior position equal to greater influence? The moderating role of technological complexity
Authors: Sun Yaowu , Gong Xiaoye
Published: February 2020

Purpose

Technological standardization can promote the development of complex products and systems (CoPS) (e.g. large aircraft, high-speed trains). Many studies argue that a superior network position contributes to improving a firm's ability to innovate; however, few studies have considered the aforementioned line of research as falling under the purview of CoPS standardization. This study focuses on CoPS integrators, which hold the most important enterprise roles in CoPS manufacturing and innovation, to analyze whether the two types of superior positions (i.e. the central position and the brokerage position) help the integrator influence the standardization process in a process moderated by technological complexity.

Design/methodology/approach

Considering the outstanding market performance of the railway transportation industry in China, the abundance of cooperative activities in this industry, and data availability, we adopt integrators from this industry as samples for the empirical analysis in this study. A negative binomial regression analysis with random effects was conducted to analyze the acquired panel data.

Findings

The results show that the central position has an invertedU-shaped effect on the integrator's ability to influence standardization and that the brokerage position has a positive effect. We also find that the underlying mechanism of the two types of network positions impacts the integrator's ability to influence standardization and that it has two modes: knowledge integration in related domains and knowledge integration in nonrelated domains. Moreover, technological complexity attenuates the effect of the central position and strengthens the effect of the brokerage position on the integrator's ability to influence standardization.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the theoretical research on CoPS manufacturing and innovation and complements knowledge-based theory. The results could prove enlightening for integrators facing complex technological environments, allowing them to establish a reasonable external knowledge search strategy and choose appropriate cooperation partners according to their knowledge domains.
The art of flexibility: bridging five generations in the workforce
Authors: Smith Julie , Garriety Susan
Published: February 2020

Purpose

Being successful in a rapidly changing world of work depends upon having very clear insights into the nature of the workforce from top leadership to lowest employee levels. Understanding generational similarities and differences provides a good starting point, as it provides the basis for examining the diversity of generational perspectives and needs and insight and instruction to open the thinking about the diverse population of employees. The purpose of this paper is to explore ways to bridge the five generations that work in today’s workforce.

Design/methodology/approach

Human resources has an especially important role to play in employee policy development and implementation, employee relations, performance evaluation, career progression and a wide range of other equally important and complex situations.

Findings

While it is important to understand these broad generations, it is critical to engage with the individuals within your organization to better understand their perspectives, what matters most to them and where they see the greatest challenges and opportunities to bridge across generations. This paper explores approaches to take in bridging these generations.

Originality/value

This paper will offer readers valuable insight into managing a multi-generational workforce.
Domain I of hepatitis C virus NS5A associates with ACBD3 in a genotype‐dependent manner
Authors: Lu Yue , Yang Xiaojie , Zhang Leiliang
Published: February 2020

Previously, it was found that the hepatitis C virus NS5A interacted with ACBD3 in a genotype‐dependent manner. However, the region in NS5A responsible for association with ACBD3 is not clear. Domain I of NS5A was identified as critical for ACBD3 binding. By comparing the differences of amino acids in domain I from different genotypes of NS5A, it was found that key amino acids potentially corresponded to the affinity of the NS5A‐ACBD3 interaction. The findings not only revealed that domain I of NS5A associates with ACBD3 but they also shed mechanistic light on how NS5A is associated with ACBD3 in a genotype‐dependent manner.
Timing and duration of phenological resources: Toward a mechanistic understanding of their impacts on community structure and ecosystem processes in stream food chains
Authors: Takimoto Gaku , Sato Takuya
Published: February 2020

Phenological resources are common across many ecological communities, and can strongly affect community dynamics. Recent field manipulation experiments in stream food chains found that seasonal timing and duration of terrestrial prey inputs affected the feeding behavior, growth, and maturation of fish predators, caused predator‐mediated indirect effects on aquatic prey, and modified trophic‐cascading effects on ecosystem processes (i.e., litter decomposition). These experiments described impacts of resource phenological changes over a few month period, but long‐term impacts of continued changes in resource phenology are unknown. Here, we develop a mathematical model to extrapolate long‐term predictions about the effects of changes in resource phenology from the results of field manipulation experiments. The model predicts that advanced timing generally decreases aquatic prey and litter processing and prolonged duration will either increase or decrease aquatic prey and litter processing depending on the total amount and pre‐disturbed timing and duration of terrestrial prey inputs. Our modeling approach clarifies that stage‐specific responses of life history processes in fish (i.e., growth, maturation, and reproduction) to phenological changes in terrestrial prey inputs mediate indirect effects on aquatic prey and litter processing. We argue that stage‐specific responses of life history processes are an integral part of the mechanisms with which to predict the consequences of phenological species interactions at the community and ecosystem levels.
Executive Compensation, Sustainable Compensation Policy, Carbon Performance and Market Value
Authors: Haque Faizul , Ntim Collins G.
Published: February 2020

We examine the interrelationships among executive compensation, environmental‐social‐governance‐based (ESG) sustainable compensation policy, carbon performance and market value. Using one of the largest datasets to date, consisting of 4379 firm‐year observations, covering a period of 15 years (2002–2016) from 13 industrialized European countries and insights from neo‐institutional theory (NIT), our findings are fourfold. First, our results suggest that process‐oriented carbon performance is positively associated with market value, whereas actual carbon performance has no effect on market value. Second, we show that the market value–process‐oriented carbon performance nexus is moderated by executive compensation. Third, our results indicate that executive compensation has a positive effect on process‐oriented carbon performance, but has no similar effect on actual carbon performance. Fourth, we show that the process‐oriented carbon performance–executive compensation nexus is reinforced for companies that adopt ESG‐based sustainable compensation policy. Our results are generally robust to controlling for governance mechanisms, alternative measures/estimations and endogeneities. Overall, our evidence supports the legitimization aspect of NIT and suggests that the market tends to reward firms with superior process‐oriented carbon performance instead of undervaluing firms with excessive actual carbon emissions. This implies that firms appear to use incentive‐based mechanisms to symbolically improve their process‐oriented carbon performance without substantively improving their actual carbon performance.
Accelerated immune aging was correlated with lupus‐associated brain fog in reproductive‐age systemic lupus erythematosus patients
Authors: Kalim Handono , Pratama Mirza Zaka , Mahardini Ernes , Winoto Eden Suryoiman , Krisna Pratista Adi , Handono Kusworini
Published: February 2020

Aims

Cognitive impairment is common in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with substantial adverse effects on function and quality of life. One hypothesis to understand the mechanisms of cognitive impairment in SLE is accelerated immunosenescence. The aim of this study is to observe the correlation between immunosenescence with cognitive impairment in patients with SLE.

Methods

Sixty‐one female SLE patient were measured for CD4 and CD8 T cell‐associated senescence markers, including percentage of end‐stage differentiated T cells (CD4 and CD8 T cells expressing CD57+ or loss of CD28 expression), of naïve T cells (CD4+CD45RA+ and CD8+CD45RA+), memory T cells (CD4+CD45RO+ and CD8+CD45RO+), and antigen‐experienced T cells (CD4+KLRG1+ and CD8+KLRG1+) which were measured using flow cytometry. One hallmark of immunosenescence called immune risk profile (IRP) was defined by an inverted ratio of CD4 and CD8. Cognitive functions were measured by Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montréal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) questionnaire.

Results

Thirty‐six (59.1%) SLE patients who had IRP develop significantly lower attention and recall from both MMSE (P = .005 and P = .000) and MOCA (P = .017 and P = .000) examinations. Decreased visuospatial ability was also found in patients with IRP measured by MOCA (P = .046). There was a negative correlation between memory CD4+CD45RO+ T cells with recall and visuospatial domain (R = −0.204, P = .039 and R = −0.250, P = .033; respectively), and negative correlation between CD8+CD28‐ T cells with recall and attention domain (R = −0.249, P = .027 and R = −0.145, P = .048, respectively).

Conclusion

Systemic lupus erythematosus patients develop an accelerated immunosenescence which contributes to cognitive dysfunction, especially in attention, recall, and visuospatial domains.
New Petro‐aggression in the Middle East: Saudi Arabia in the Spotlight
Authors: Richter Thomas
Published: February 2020

That hydrocarbon abundance may lead to more violence is an established truism in the literature on the resource curse. Looking at the Middle East, however, the literature relates bellicose state behaviour entirely to oil‐producing revolutionary republics. Instead, dynastic monarchies are claimed to be the more peacefully behaving actors. Current developments turn this conclusion upside down, however. Since 2015 at the latest, the foreign policy of Saudi Arabia, the leading monarchy in the Middle East, has transformed from multi‐dependence to petro‐aggression. By discussing this striking transformation, the paper puts forward a framework looking at the interaction of three crucial dimensions: first, the decreasing power projection towards the Middle East by the United States, the decade‐long hegemon, due to gradual changes in world energy markets and war fatigue at home; second, the lasting fiscal potency of the Saudi regime; and, third, the personalization of the Saudi monarchy under King Salman as a historically contingent result of transferring power to the generation of Ibn Saud's grandsons.
Monocytes present age‐related changes in phospholipid concentration and decreased energy metabolism
Authors: Saare Mario , Tserel Liina , Haljasmägi Liis , Taalberg Egon , Peet Nadežda , Eimre Margus , Vetik Rait , Kingo Külli , Saks Kai , Tamm Riin , Milani Lili , Kisand Kai , Peterson Pärt
Published: February 2020

Age‐related changes at the cellular level include the dysregulation of metabolic and signaling pathways. Analyses of blood leukocytes have revealed a set of alterations that collectively lower their ability to fight infections and resolve inflammation later in life. We studied the transcriptomic, epigenetic, and metabolomic profiles of monocytes extracted from younger adults and individuals over the age of 65 years to map major age‐dependent changes in their cellular physiology. We found that the monocytes from older persons displayed a decrease in the expression of ribosomal and mitochondrial protein genes and exhibited hypomethylation at the HLA class I locus. Additionally, we found elevated gene expression associated with cell motility, including the CX3CR1 and ARID5B genes, which have been associated with the development of atherosclerosis. Furthermore, the downregulation of two genes, PLA2G4B and ALOX15B, which belong to the arachidonic acid metabolism pathway involved in phosphatidylcholine conversion to anti‐inflammatory lipoxins, correlated with increased phosphatidylcholine content in monocytes from older individuals. We found age‐related changes in monocyte metabolic fitness, including reduced mitochondrial function and increased glycose consumption without the capacity to upregulate it during increased metabolic needs, and signs of increased oxidative stress and DNA damage. In conclusion, our results complement existing findings and elucidate the metabolic alterations that occur in monocytes during aging.
Randomised, controlled, double‐blind study of combination therapy of oral tranexamic acid and topical hydroquinone in the treatment of melasma
Authors: Shihab Nahla , Prihartono Joedo , Tovar‐Garza Andrea , Agustin Triana , Legiawati Lili , Pandya Amit G
Published: February 2020

Background/Objectives

Melasma is a common pigmentary disorder for which oral tranexamic acid has shown some efficacy in previous studies. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of oral tranexamic acid in combination with hydroquinone cream in the treatment of melasma.

Methods

Subjects with moderate‐to‐severe melasma were enrolled. Group A received hydroquinone 4% cream, sunscreen and oral tranexamic acid, while Group B received hydroquinone 4% cream, sunscreen and placebo capsules for 3 months. All subjects had an additional 3‐month follow‐up visit on sunscreen alone. The primary outcome measure was change in modified Melasma Area and Severity Index (mMASI) score. In addition, the melanin index was measured using a mexameter.

Results

Fifty subjects were enrolled, and all completed the study. There was a 55% reduction in mMASI after 3 months from mean 8.96 (SD 2.45) to 4.0 (SD 1.6) in Group A compared to 10.9% from mean 8.53 (SD 2.04) to 7.6 (SD 2.0) in Group B. Three months after oral and topical therapy was discontinued, there was a 42% decrease in mMASI compared to baseline in Group A (mean 5.1 SD 1.7) vs. 4.7% in Group B (mean 8.1 SD 2.0). No serious adverse events were observed.

Conclusions

A combination of oral tranexamic acid and topical hydroquinone is more effective than hydroquinone alone in the treatment of melasma.
Getting the Measure of Employee‐Driven Innovation and Its Workplace Correlates
Authors: Felstead Alan , Gallie Duncan , Green Francis , Henseke Golo
Published: February 2020

Innovation is traditionally viewed as an activity which involves a small band of highly skilled workers. By examining the results of a British survey of employees, this article breaks with this approach. It makes two distinctive contributions. First, it provides new insights into the extent to which employees of all kinds come up with ideas about improving the work processes they use, the products they make and services they provide. Secondly, it examines the correlates of this behaviour. The results show that the strength of employee involvement, the nature of workplace support and development and performance management are strongly associated with employees’ willingness and ability to come up with innovative ideas. However, some of these features of work have declined in Britain in recent years, while economic outcomes often associated with innovation — such as increased productivity and stronger economic growth — have stalled.
Influence of orographic precipitation on the topographic and erosional evolution of mountain ranges
Authors: Zavala Valeria , Carretier Sébastien , Bonnet Stéphane
Published: February 2020

The influence of climate on mountain denudation has been the topic of an intense debate for two decades. This debate partly arises from the covariation of rainfall and topography during the growth of mountain ranges, both of which influence denudation. However, the denudational response of this co‐evolution is poorly understood. Here, we use a landscape evolution model where the rainfall evolves according to a prescribed rainfall–elevation relationship. This relationship is a bell curve defined by a rainfall base level, a rainfall maximum and a width around the rainfall peak elevation. This is a first‐order model that fits a large range of orographic rainfall data at the ca. 1‐km spatial scale. We carried out simulations of an uplifting block with an alluvial apron, starting from an initially horizontal surface, and testing different rainfall–elevation relationships. We find that the denudation history is different from that with constant rainfall models. The results essentially depend on the ratio between the final steady‐state summit elevation Hss and the prescribed rainfall peak elevation Hp. This ratio is hard to predict because it depends on the transient coupling of rainfall and elevation. We identified three types of results according to Hss/Hp. If Hss/Hp > 4 (Type I), the denudation rates peak when the summits reach values close to Hp. If Hss/Hp > 1.5 and < 4 (Type II), the denudation is strongly accelerated when the elevation of the summits approaches Hp, and then the denudation increases slowly towards the uplift rate. If Hss/Hp < 1.5 (Type III), the denudation evolution is similar to situations with constant and homogeneous rainfall. In the Type I and II experiments, the mountain top is subjected to aridification once the summits have passed through Hp. To adapt to this reduced rainfall, the slopes increase. This can lead to a paradoxical situation where the mountain relief increases faster, whereas the denudation increases more slowly. The development of orographic precipitation may thus favour the stability of the mean denudation rate in a rising mountain. Despite the model limitations, including a constant rainfall–elevation relationship, our study suggests that the “classical” exponential increase in the denudation rate predicted by constant rainfall models is not the common case. Instead, the common case involves pulses and acceleration of the denudation even in the absence of uplift or global climate variations.
Comparison of 3‐months treatment adherence and estimating residual apnea hypopnea index between home versus in‐laboratory auto‐titrating positive airway pressure titration
Authors: Aydin Guclu Ozge , Ursavas Ahmet , Kasapoglu Fikret , Ocakoglu Gokhan , Karadag Mehmet
Published: February 2020

Purpose

We aimed to assess the accuracy of home titration in estimating apnea hypopnea index (AHI) and optimal pressure values and to compare improvements in subjective daytime sleepiness, sleep quality and quality of life, along with 3‐months treatment adherence of patients that received at‐home versus in‐laboratory auto‐titrating positive airway pressure (APAP) titration.

Materials and Methods

In patients with a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), a study arm of laboratory attended APAP titration was compared with a study arm of home titration using an APAP device for three days. Subjective questionnaires were evaluated before and after 3 months of treatment.

Results

Fifty‐three patients with newly diagnosed OSAS were enrolled. There was a significant positive correlation between PSG AHI and APAP AHI (rs = 0.43, P = 0.003) and the fixed pressure for the APAP arm was positively correlated with the APAP PSG arm of the study (rs = 0.71, P < 0.001). When the Bland‐Altman graphs were compared, it was seen that the measurements obtained by the APAP AHI method were 0.3 units higher than the PSG AHI measurements, and that the mean of the measurement differences between the two methods was not different than 0 (P [H0: Mean = 0] = 0.551). After 3 months of treatment, average nightly use was slightly higher in the APAP arm (P = 0.387).

Conclusions

The results indicate that both titration methods were not clinically inferior in terms of a fixed optimal pressure, residual events, 3‐months treatment adherence and change in subjective sleepiness, sleep quality and quality of life after treatment.
On the domain specificity of the mechanisms underpinning spontaneous anticipatory looks in false‐belief tasks
Authors: Surian Luca , Franchin Laura
Published: February 2020

Many studies proposed that infants' and adults' looking behavior suggest a spontaneous and implicit ability to reason about others' beliefs. It has been argued, however, that these successes are false positives due to domain‐general processes, such as retroactive interference. In this study, we investigated the domain specificity of mechanisms underpinning participants' looking behavior by manipulating the dynamic cues in the event stimuli. Infants aged 15 and 20 months and adults saw animation events in which either a self‐moving triangle, or a hand holding an identical inert triangle, chased an animated disk. Most 20‐month‐olds and adults showed belief congruent anticipatory looks in the agent‐triangle condition, whereas they showed no bias in the inert triangle control condition. These results are not consistent with submentalizing accounts based on domain‐general low‐level processes and provide further support for domain‐specific explanations positing an early‐emerging mentalistic reasoning.
Acute non‐ambulatory tetraparesis in a 6‐month‐old Standardbred weanling caused by a cervical vertebral epidural haematoma
Authors: MacMillan K. , Bourque A. , Perry L. , Stoughton W.
Published: February 2020

A 6‐month‐old Standardbred weanling presented with acute non‐ambulatory tetraparesis. Cranial nerve examination was normal and neuroanatomic localisation suggested there was a focal C1‐C5 spinal cord lesion. Post‐mortem examination identified a cervical vertebral epidural haematoma at the level of C2‐C3 causing spinal cord compression and neurological deficits. Histological examination determined the haematoma was several weeks old making the lesion chronic. Since the clinical progression was acute, this suggests an acute on chronic pathophysiology. Even with no history of trauma, an epidural haematoma should be on the differential list in young horses with acute tetraparesis.
Genome‐wide association study of word reading: Overlap with risk genes for neurodevelopmental disorders
Authors: Price Kaitlyn M. , Wigg Karen G. , Feng Yu , Blokland Kirsten , Wilkinson Margaret , He Gengming , Kerr Elizabeth N. , Carter Tasha‐Cate , Guger Sharon L. , Lovett Maureen W. , Strug Lisa J. , Barr Cathy L.
Published: February 2020

Reading disabilities (RD) are the most common neurocognitive disorder, affecting 5% to 17% of children in North America. These children often have comorbid neurodevelopmental/psychiatric disorders, such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The genetics of RD and their overlap with other disorders is incompletely understood. To contribute to this, we performed a genome‐wide association study (GWAS) for word reading. Then, using summary statistics from neurodevelopmental/psychiatric disorders, we computed polygenic risk scores (PRS) and used them to predict reading ability in our samples. This enabled us to test the shared aetiology between RD and other disorders. The GWAS consisted of 5.3 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and two samples; a family‐based sample recruited for reading difficulties in Toronto (n = 624) and a population‐based sample recruited in Philadelphia [Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort (PNC)] (n = 4430). The Toronto sample SNP‐based analysis identified suggestive SNPs (P ~ 5 × 10−7) in the ARHGAP23 gene, which is implicated in neuronal migration/axon pathfinding. The PNC gene‐based analysis identified significant associations (P < 2.72 × 10−6) for LINC00935 and CCNT1, located in the region of the KANSL2/CCNT1/LINC00935/SNORA2B/SNORA34/MIR4701/ADCY6 genes on chromosome 12q, with near significant SNP‐based analysis. PRS identified significant overlap between word reading and intelligence (R2 = 0.18, P = 7.25  × 10−181), word reading and educational attainment (R2 = 0.07, P = 4.91 × 10−48) and word reading and ADHD (R2 = 0.02, P = 8.70 × 10−6; threshold for significance = 7.14 × 10−3). Overlap was also found between RD and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as top‐ranked genes were previously implicated in autism by rare and copy number variant analyses. These findings support shared risk between word reading, cognitive measures, educational outcomes and neurodevelopmental disorders, including ASD.
Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia in Women With Chronic Migraines
Authors: Crawford Megan R. , Luik Annemarie I. , Espie Colin A. , Taylor Hannah L. , Burgess Helen J. , Jones Alex L. ,   Rush University Sleep Research Team, Ong Jason C.
Published: February 2020

Objective/Background

Insomnia commonly co‐occurs with chronic migraines (CM). Non‐pharmacological treatments for insomnia in CM patients remain understudied. This is a proof‐of‐concept study, which aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a digital cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (dCBT‐I) for individuals with CM and insomnia (CM‐I) in the United States.

Methods

We recruited 42 females with CM‐I symptoms from a U.S.‐based observational cohort and from the general population via advertisements. Within a multiple baseline design, participants were randomized to receive dCBT‐I after 2, 4, or 6 weeks of completing baseline sleep diaries. DCBT‐I was scrutinized against benchmarks for completion rates (≥90% to complete dCBT‐I), acceptability (≥80% to find dCBT‐I acceptable), and posttreatment changes in insomnia symptoms (≥50% indicating a clinically relevant improvement in their insomnia symptoms). As a secondary measure, we also reported percentage of individuals reverting to episodic migraines.

Results

Out of 42 randomized, 35 (83.3%) completed dCBT‐I within the 12 weeks provided. Of these completers, 33 (94.3%) reported being satisfied (n = 16) or very satisfied (n = 17) with treatment. Additionally, 65.7% of completers responded to treatment as per universally accepted criteria for insomnia. Lastly, 34% of completers reverted from CM to episodic migraine.

Conclusion

This study provides evidence for the feasibility and acceptability of dCBT‐I in patients with CM‐I complaints. Effects of improving insomnia and migraines were suggested. These results indicate that a randomized controlled trial is needed to determine the efficacy of dCBT‐I in CM patients.