bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chromosomally unstable tumor cells specifically require KIF18A for proliferation
Authors: Marquis Carolyn , Fonseca Cindy L. , Queen Katelyn A. , Wood Lisa , Vandal Sarah E. , Malaby Heidi L.H. , Clayton Joseph E. , Stumpff Jason
Published: June 2020

Chromosomal instability (CIN), characterized by frequent missegregation of chromosomes during mitosis, is a hallmark of tumor cells caused by changes in the dynamics and control of microtubules that comprise the mitotic spindle1–3. Thus, CIN tumor cells may respond differently than normal diploid cells to treatments that target mitotic spindle regulation. We tested this idea by inhibiting a subset of kinesin motor proteins that control spindle microtubule dynamics and mechanics but are not required for the proliferation of near-diploid cells. Our results indicated that KIF18A was required for proliferation of CIN cells derived from triple negative breast cancer or colorectal cancer tumors but was not required in near-diploid cells. CIN tumor cells exhibited mitotic delays, multipolar spindles due to centrosome fragmentation, and increased cell death following inhibition of KIF18A. Sensitivity to KIF18A knockdown was strongly correlated with centrosome fragmentation, which required dynamic microtubules but did not depend on bipolar spindle formation or mitotic arrest. Our results indicate the altered spindle microtubule dynamics characteristic of CIN tumor cells can be exploited to reduce the proliferative capacity of CIN cells.
Allele-specific endogenous tagging and quantitative analysis of beta-catenin in colorectal cancer cells
Authors: Ambrosi Giulia , Voloshanenko Oksana , Eckert Antonia F. , Kranz Dominique , Nienhaus G. Ulrich , Boutros Michael
Published: June 2020

Wnt signaling plays important roles in development, homeostasis, and tumorigenesis. Mutations in β-catenin that activate Wnt signaling have been found in colorectal and hepatocellular carcinomas. However, the dynamics of wild-type and mutant forms of β-catenin are not fully understood. Here, we genome-engineered fluorescently tagged alleles of the endogenous β-catenin in a colorectal cancer cell line. Wild-type and oncogenic mutant alleles were tagged with different fluorescent proteins, enabling the analysis of both variants in the same cell. We analyzed the properties of both β-catenin alleles using immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy approaches, revealing distinctly different biophysical properties. In addition, activation of Wnt signaling by treatment with a GSK3β inhibitor or a truncatingAPCmutation modulated the wild-type allele to mimic the properties of the mutant β-catenin allele. The one-step tagging strategy demonstrates how genome engineering can be employed for the parallel functional analysis of different genetic variants.
Hi-C deconvolution of a textile-dye degrader microbiome reveals novel taxonomic landscapes and link phenotypic potential to individual genomes
Authors: Sánchez-Reyes Ayixon , Bretón-Deval Luz , Mangelson Hayley , Salinas-Peralta Ilse , Sanchez-Flores Alejandro
Published: June 2020

Microbial biodiversity is represented by genomic landscapes populating dissimilar environments on earth. These genomic landscapes usually contain microbial functional signatures connected with the community phenotypes. Here we assess the genomic microbiodiversity landscape of a river associated microbiome enriched with 200 mg.mL−1of anthraquinone Deep-Blue 35 (™); we subjected to nutritional selection a composite sample from four different sites from a local river basin (Morelos, Mexico). This paper explores the resultant textile-dye microbiome, and infer links between predicted biodegradative functions and the individual genome fractions. By using a proximity-ligation deconvolution method, we deconvoluted 97 genome composites, with 80% of this been potentially novel species associated with the textile-dye environment. The main determinants of taxonomic composition were the generaMethanobacterium,Clostridium, andCupriavidusconstituting 50, 22, and 11 % of the total population profile respectively; also we observe an extended distribution of novel taxa without clear taxonomic standing. Removal of 50% chemical oxygen demand (COD) with 23% decolorization was observed after 30 days after dye enrichment. By metagenome wide analysis we postulate that sequence elements related to catalase-peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, and laccase enzymes may be causally associated with the textile-dye degradation phenotype under our study conditions. This study prompts rapid genomic screening in order to select statistically represented functional features, reducing costs, and experimental efforts. As well as predicting phenotypes within complex communities under environmental pressures.
Rhes, a Striatal Enriched Protein, Regulates Post-Translational Small-Ubiquitin-like-Modifier (SUMO) Modification of Nuclear Proteins and Alters Gene Expression
Authors: Rivera Oscar , Sharma Manish , Shahani Neelam , Ramírez-Jarquín Uri Nimrod , Crynen Gogce , Karunadharma Pabalu , McManus Francis , Pierre Thibault , Subramaniam Srinivasa
Published: June 2020

Rhes (Ras homolog enriched in the striatum) is a multifunctional protein that orchestrates striatal toxicity, motor behaviors and abnormal movements associated with dopaminergic signaling, Huntington disease and Parkinson disease signaling in the striatum. Rhes engineers membranous tunneling nanotube-like structures and promotes intercellular protein and cargoes transport. Recent study revealed Rhes also regulates mitophagy via the Nix receptor. Despite these studies, the mechanisms through which Rhes mediates these diverse functions remains unclear. Rhes belongs to a small GTPase family member and consists of a unique C-terminal Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier (SUMO) E3-like domain that promotes the post-translational modification (PTM) of proteins with SUMO (SUMOylation) by promoting “cross-SUMOylation” of SUMO enzymes SUMO E1 (Aos1/Uba2) and SUMO E2 ligase (Ubc-9). However, the identity of the SUMO substrates of Rhes remains largely unknown. By combining high throughput interactome and SUMO proteomics we report that Rhes regulates the SUMOylation of nuclear proteins that are involved in the regulation of gene transcription. While Rhes has increased the SUMOylation of histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) and histone 2B, it had decreased the SUMOylation of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein M (HNRNPM), protein polybromo-1 (PBRM1) and E3 SUMO-protein ligase (PIASy). We also found that Rhes itself is SUMOylated at 5 different lysine residues (K32, K110, K114, K120, K124 and K245). Furthermore, we found that Rhes regulates the expression of genes involved in cellular morphogenesis and differentiation in the striatum, in a SUMO-dependent manner. Our findings thus provide a previously undescribed role for Rhes in regulating SUMOylation of nuclear targets and in orchestrating striatal gene expression via the SUMOylation.
Single molecule microscopy reveals key physical features of repair foci in living cells
Authors: Miné-Hattab Judith , Heltberg Mathias , Villemeur Marie , Guedj Chloé , Mora Thierry , Walczak Aleksandra M. , Dahan Maxime , Taddei Angela
Published: June 2020

In response to double strand breaks (DSB), repair proteins accumulate at damaged sites, forming membrane-less sub-compartments or foci. Here we explored the physical nature of these foci, using single molecule microscopy in living cells. Rad52, the functional homolog of BRCA2 in yeast, accumulates at DSB sites and diffuses ~6 times faster within repair foci than the focus itself, exhibiting confined motion. The Rad52 confinement radius coincides with the focus size: foci resulting from 2 DSBs are twice larger in volume that the ones induced by a unique DSB and the Rad52 confinement radius scales accordingly. In contrast, molecules of the single strand binding protein Rfa1 follow anomalous diffusion similar to the focus itself or damaged chromatin. We conclude that while most Rfa1 molecules are bound to the ssDNA, Rad52 molecules are free to explore the entire focus possibly reflecting the existence of a liquid droplet around damaged DNA.
Collapse of the hepatic gene regulatory network in the absence of FoxA factors
Authors: Reizel Yitzhak , Morgan Ashleigh , Gao Long , Lan Yemin , Manduchi Elisabetta , Waite Eric L. , Wang Amber W. , Wells Andrew , Kaestner Klaus H.
Published: June 2020

The FoxA transcription factors are critical for liver development through their pioneering activity, which initiates a highly complex regulatory network thought to become progressively resistant to the loss of any individual hepatic transcription factor via mutual redundancy. To investigate the dispensability of FoxA factors for maintaining this regulatory network, we ablated all FoxA genes in the adult mouse liver. Remarkably, loss of FoxA caused rapid and massive reduction in the expression of critical liver genes. Activity of these genes was reduced back to the low levels of the fetal prehepatic endoderm stage, leading to necrosis and lethality within days. Mechanistically, we found FoxA proteins to be required for maintaining enhancer activity, chromatin accessibility, nucleosome positioning, and binding of HNF4α. Thus, the FoxA factors act continuously, guarding hepatic enhancer activity throughout adult life.
Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of the orthorhombic polymorph of a ZnII complex with 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid and ethylenediamine
Authors: Ibragimov Avazbek , Ashurov Jamshid , Dusmatov Aziz , Ibragimov Aziz
Published: June 2020

During systematic investigations of the biological action enhancement of well known compounds, a new metal complex, namely, bis(3,5-dinitrobenzoato)(ethane-1,2-diamine)zinc(II), [Zn(C7H3N2O6)2(C2H8N2)], was synthesized and the structure of its orthorhombic form has determined. The synthesis and crystal structure of the monoclinic polymorph has previously been reported [Ibragimov et al. (2020). Rep. Uzb. Acad. Sci.
1, 45–50]. The zinc ion has a distorted tetrahedral environment formed by two monodentate 3,5-dinitrobenzoato anions and chelating ethylenediamine molecule. In the crystal, the complex molecules are linked by N—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen bonds into a two-dimensional network parallel to the ac plane. The Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the most important contributions to the crystal packing are from H...O/O...H (43.4%) and O...C/C...O (17.7%) interactions.
Being diagnosed with autism in adulthood: a personal case study
Authors: Henley Ross
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to report the personal experiences of an adult male diagnosed with autism at the age of 48 years.

Design/methodology/approach

A personal case study methodology was used to illustrate the journey to autism diagnosis, the experience of diagnosis and post-diagnosis support.

Findings

This case study illustrates how stress and mental health difficulties can precede autism diagnosis in adults. The personal experiences detailed highlight how an adult autism diagnosis can bring about positive change, prompting increased self-knowledge and coping skills, improved relationships and. Furthermore, it highlights how a supportive employer can make reasonable adjustments in the workplace to improve productivity of an autistic employee.

Research limitations/implications

This case study has implications for various practice issues, including post-diagnosis counselling and access to support for autistic adults nationally.

Originality/value

This paper provides an original case study highlighting the personal experiences of an adult diagnosed with autism.
On the numerical integration in generalized/extended finite element method analysis for crack propagation problems
Authors: Campos Bruna Caroline , Barros Felício Bruzzi , Penna Samuel Silva
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate some numerical integration strategies used in generalized (G)/extended finite element method (XFEM) to solve linear elastic fracture mechanics problems. A range of parameters are here analyzed, evidencing how the numerical integration error and the computational efficiency are improved when particularities from these examples are properly considered.

Design/methodology/approach

Numerical integration strategies were implemented in an existing computational environment that provides a finite element method and G/XFEM tools. The main parameters of the analysis are considered and the performance using such strategies is compared with standard integration results.

Findings

Known numerical integration strategies suitable for fracture mechanics analysis are studied and implemented. Results from different crack configurations are presented and discussed, highlighting the necessity of alternative integration techniques for problems with singularities and/or discontinuities.

Originality/value

This study presents a variety of fracture mechanics examples solved by G/XFEM in which the use of standard numerical integration with Gauss quadratures results in loss of precision. It is discussed the behaviour of subdivision of elements and mapping of integration points strategies for a range of meshes and cracks geometries, also featuring distorted elements and how they affect strain energy and stress intensity factors evaluation for both strategies.
A novel trust model for fog computing using fuzzy neural networks and weighted weakest link
Authors: Zineddine Mhamed
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Trust is one of the main pillars of many communication and interaction domains. Computing is no exception. Fog computing (FC) has emerged as mitigation of several cloud computing limitations. However, selecting a trustworthy node from the fog network still presents serious challenges. This paper aims to propose an algorithm intended to mitigate the trust and the security issues related to selecting a node of a fog network.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed model/algorithm is based on two main concepts, namely, machine learning using fuzzy neural networks (FNNs) and the weighted weakest link (WWL) algorithm. The crux of the proposed model is to be trained, validated and used to classify the fog nodes according to their trust scores. A total of 2,482 certified computing products, in addition to a set of nodes composed of multiple items, are used to train, validate and test the proposed model. A scenario including nodes composed of multiple computing items is designed for applying and evaluating the performance of the proposed model/algorithm.

Findings

The results show a well-performing trust model with an accuracy of 0.9996. Thus, the end-users of FC services adopting the proposed approach could be more confident when selecting elected fog nodes. The trained, validated and tested model was able to classify the nodes according to their trust level. The proposed model is a novel approach to fog nodes selection in a fog network.

Research limitations/implications

Certainly, all data could be collected, however, some features are very difficult to have their scores. Available techniques such as regression analysis and the use of the experts have their own limitations. Experts might be subjective, even though the author used the fuzzy group decision-making model to mitigate the subjectivity effect. A methodical evaluation by specialized bodies such as the security certification process is paramount to mitigate these issues. The author recommends the repetition of the same study when data form such bodies is available.

Originality/value

The novel combination of FNN and WWL in a trust model mitigates uncertainty, subjectivity and enables the trust classification of complex FC nodes. Furthermore, the combination also allowed the classification of fog nodes composed of diverse computing items, which is not possible without the WWL. The proposed algorithm will provide the required intelligence for end-users (devices) to make sound decisions when requesting fog services.
Information flows and topic modeling in corporate governance
Authors: Kushkowski Jeffrey D. , Shrader Charles B. , Anderson Marc H. , White Robert E.
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Multiple disciplines such as finance, management and economics have contributed to governance research over time. However, the full intellectual structure of the governance “field” including the exchange of knowledge across disciplines and the large variety of governance topics remains to be uncovered. To appreciate the breadth of corporate governance research, it is necessary to understand the disciplinary sources from which the research stems. This manuscript focuses on the interdisciplinary underpinnings of corporate governance research.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper employs bibliometric analysis to trace the evolution of corporate governance using articles included in the ISI Web of Science database between 1990 and 2015. Journals included in these categories encompass a full range of business disciplines and provide evidence of the multi-disciplinary nature of corporate governance. It also uncovers the topics treated by disciplines under the governance umbrella using a machine learning method called latent Dirichtlet allocation (LDA).

Findings

Corporate governance research deals with a number of strategy-related topics. Unlike strategy topics that reside in a single discipline, corporate governance crosses disciplinary boundaries and includes contributions from accounting, finance, economics, law and management. Our analysis shows that over 80% of corporate governance articles come from outside the field of management. Our LDA solution indicates that the major topics in governance research include corporate governance theory, control of family firms, executive compensation and audit committees.

Originality/value

The results illustrate that corporate governance is far more interdisciplinary than previously thought. This is an important insight for corporate governance academics and may lead to collaborative research. More importantly, this research illustrates the usefulness of LDA for investigating interdisciplinary fields. This method is easily transferable to other interdisciplinary fields and it provides a powerful alternative to existing bibliometric methods. We suggest a number of topic areas within library and information science where this method may be applied, including collection development, support for interdisciplinary faculty and basic research into emerging interdisciplinary areas.
Courts’ views on climate change inundation risks for developments: Australian perspectives and considerations for valuers
Authors: Cradduck Lucy , Warren-Myers Georgia , Stringer Bianca
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This study aims to provide a development of the courts’ views of climate change risk in planning matters as related to inundation and suggest that valuers and others involved need to be aware of the implications these views have on property matters and valuation processes and reporting.

Design/methodology/approach

This study engages in a legal doctrinal analysis of primary law sources, being Australian case law. It analyses decisions from Queensland, New South Wales and Victorian courts and tribunals, to establish their views of climate change risk for coastal area developments, who bears the risk and responsibility and if risk is shared.

Findings

The analysis reflects that developers bear the onus of proving their proposal meets relevant planning requirements including management and mitigation of climate change risks. However, the risk of developing in “at risk” areas is a shared burden, as local government authorities remain responsible for appropriately assessing applications against those requirements.

Research limitations/implications

This study had several limitations, these included: only matters with a final determination were able to be reviewed and analysed; there is no one Australia-wide planning regime; state laws and policies are different and changing; and disputes are heard in different courts or tribunals, which can impact the weight and importance given to issues and the consistency of approaches.

Practical implications

This research informs valuers of climate change risk issues related to the inundation of new, and re-, developments, and the importance of court decisions as an additional information consideration to inform their valuations.

Originality/value

This paper is significant as it provides an understanding of the Australian courts’ current views on climate change risk, and by extension, the implications and considerations for valuations.
Tax evasion and public governance before and after the European “big bang”: a red flag for policymakers
Authors: Yamen Ahmed Emadeldin , Mersni Hounaida , Ramadan Abdulhadi
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of public governance quality on tax evasion levels in old (pre-2004) and new (post-2004) European Union (EU) members before and after the 2004 EU-enlargement.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses panel data of 28 EU countries over the period 1996-2015. Tax evasion is measured using an updated version of the shadow economy size based on the light intensity, as calculated by (Medina and Schneider, 2018). The World Bank’s worldwide governance indicators are used as a measure of public governance.

Findings

The results indicate that new EU members have higher tax evasion levels compared to the old ones before and after the 2004 EU enlargement. The findings also report that the public governance quality is superior in old members throughout the 1996-2015 period. Furthermore, the authors found that after the EU enlargement, tax evasion levels decreased in both EU groups; however, the authors noticed an improvement in the public governance quality in new members and a deterioration in old ones. Additional analysis confirms the impact of public governance quality as an effective tool for reducing tax evasion behavior in both EU groups before and after the EU enlargement.

Practical implications

The findings are potentially useful for EU policymakers in identifying the most effective tools that can minimize tax evasion levels in EU countries. Additionally, the results are alarming as they show the negative consequences of the EU enlargement in old EU members. Thus, policymakers should consider them when setting their rules and regulations to reduce the significant differences between both EU groups to prevent member states from potentially exiting the EU.

Originality/value

To the best of the knowledge, this is the first study that examines the tax evasion behavior and public governance quality in the EU before and after the EU enlargement.
Broadband adoption in urban and suburban California: information-based outreach programs ineffective at closing the digital divide
Authors: Levine Lloyd
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The digital divide has persisted in California and the USA as a whole at approximately the same level for the past decade. This is despite multiple programs being created and billions of dollars being spent to close it. This paper examines why the efforts to date have been ineffective and to offers policy alternatives that might be more successful.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data from three, variable constrained projects in California, this paper examines the effectiveness of information-based outreach efforts at closing the digital divide. The projects tested various outreach and enrollment methods to see which, if any, could increase broadband adoption in low-income households.

Findings

This project found that providing low-income households’ information about low-cost broadband offerings was ineffective at closing the digital divide. The findings in this paper were similar to those of two other works that examined the federal Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grants under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Practical implications

The findings of this paper along with the works cited that evaluated the BTOP program should be enough to change public policy. For the past ten years, efforts to close the digital divide have focused on providing information to low-income households. However, two independent surveys show broadband adoption has remained virtually flat during that period.

Social implications

The digital divide brings concomitant economic and education harms and challenges that plague those unable to access information, services, educational and employment opportunities with the same ease, speed and sufficiency as their connected peers and neighbors. Those harms exacerbate the already existing education and income divides. This paper shows that without a change in strategy, those harms will persist.

Originality/value

This paper breaks new ground and addresses one of the weaknesses identified in existing research. To the best of author’s knowledge, this is the first paper of its type to use programs designed to generate data that can be empirically evaluated for effectiveness. Prior studies attempted to assess program effectiveness by using data generated from fully implemented government programs. However, those programs contained a vast number of unidentified variables and insufficient data collection. They were not designed to facilitate academic evaluation, and as such made a true effectiveness evaluation challenging.
Integrated reporting and performance: a cross-country comparison of GCC Islamic and conventional banks
Authors: Buallay Amina , Al Hawaj Ammar Abdulla , Hamdan Allam
Published: June 2020

Purpose

In the Gulf Cooperative Council (GCC) countries, the integrated reporting (IR) concept has attracted considerable attention from banks. In as much as IR is not a legal requirement anywhere in the GCC, however, the incidence of disclosure by banks across the GCC varies considerably and asymmetries exist in the content of disclosure released by banks within, as well as across, these jurisdictions. This study aims to examine the relationship between IR disclosure and financial, operational and market performance in both Islamic and conventional banks.

Design/methodology/approach

This study examines five years (2012-2016) of IR from 59 banks in GCC countries with 295 observations. The integrated report index (IRI), as the independent variable, is regressed separately against three performance indicators [return on assets, return on equity and Tobin’s Q (TQ)] as dependent variables. In addition, the following two types of control variables are inserted in the regression equations in this study: macroeconomic (two indicators) and bank characteristics (three indicators).

Findings

The findings elicited from the empirical results demonstrate that, on the one hand, IR in conventional banks positively affects market performance, while negatively affecting operational and financial performance. On the other hand, the results for Islamic banks show that IR negatively affects market performance, with no discernible effect on neither financial nor operational performance. In the GCC banking sector, for the most, empirical results conflict with expectations implied by signaling theory and capital need theory. From this study, evidence suggests that GCC bank performance would not improve were IR disclosure rendered mandatory. However, that conclusion is stronger with respect to Islamic than with respect to conventional banks in the region.

Originality/value

The study provides insights into the effect of voluntary disclosure of IR as gauged by various measures of performance across Islamic and conventional banks located in a range of GCC countries. This study accordingly provides perspective on the extent to which IR can and does play a role in contributing to bank performance.
Accounting can support a “sustainable” corruption network: a case analysis
Authors: Pilonato Silvia
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The paper aims to explore the links between corruption and accounting in the public procurement setting. In particular, it investigates how accounting can fight or facilitate corruption

Design/methodology/approach

The study takes a qualitative approach, analyzing one of the worst recent Italian cases of corruption, the “MOSE” trial. Documents produced during the trial are analyzed.

Findings

The findings contribute to our understanding of how the (mis)use of accounting can help to build a “sustainable” corruption network, and be used to create, maintain and share corruptive cash flows. Participating actors can use accounting tools to coordinate their actions and organize their misconduct. Accounting may also reveal the existence of such networks, however, by enabling the fiscal police to discover tax fraud, and by reconstructing how a corruption network functions from records kept to manage internal cash flows and the provision of other benefits.

Practical implications

Because corruption is a worldwide phenomenon, a better understanding of how it functions may lead (among other things) to the identification of more effective prevention measures. Particular attention should be paid to events that favor corruption, such as extraordinary occurrences, huge amounts of public resources and new institutional structure without appropriate control and balance tools.

Originality/value

Given the specific features of episodes of corruption, qualitative studies on this topic are scarce. Little is known about corruption processes, and even less about the part that accounting can play in them. The MOSE case offers some intriguing insight, showing how accounting can be used to build a “sustainable” corruption network by collecting slush funds and facilitating benefit-sharing among individuals.
Use of machine learning technology for tourist and organizational services: high-tech innovation in the hospitality industry
Authors: Parvez M. Omar
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Technological innovation has been changing the tourism industry precipitously and making the holiday experience more enjoyable and easier than before. The purpose of this study is to identify the current and future changes by the machine learning (ML) system as artificial intelligence in the hospitality industry.

Design/methodology/approach

This study has a descriptive research approach because building knowledge on technology and applying this knowledge to a tourism research are still new extensions in social studies, especially in tourism.

Findings

This research shows the value of using ML in the quality of data, features and algorithms besides stating the difficulties of data analysis in hospitality. This research also provides a comparison of automated ML techniques and the use of a robot for customer services in the hotel.

Originality/Value

This research contributes to the tourism and technology literature by shedding light on the use of ML in tourism advancement to predict future business conditions, revenue, challenges and also to identify the current trend of tourist demand.
A review of laser engineered net shaping (LENS) build and process parameters of metallic parts
Authors: Izadi Mojtaba , Farzaneh Aidin , Mohammed Mazher , Gibson Ian , Rolfe Bernard
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to present a comprehensive review of the laser engineered net shaping (LENS) process in an attempt to provide the reader with a deep understanding of the controllable and fixed build parameters of metallic parts. The authors discuss the effect and interplay between process parameters, including: laser power, scan speed and powder feed rate. Further, the authors show the interplay between process parameters is pivotal in achieving the desired microstructure, macrostructure, geometrical accuracy and mechanical properties.

Design/methodology/approach

In this manuscript, the authors review current research examining the process inputs and their influences on the final product when manufacturing with the LENS process. The authors also discuss how these parameters relate to important build aspects such as melt-pool dimensions, the volume of porosity and geometry accuracy.

Findings

The authors conclude that studies have greatly enriched the understanding of the LENS build process, however, much studies remains to be done. Importantly, the authors reveal that to date there are a number of detailed theoretical models that predict the end properties of deposition, however, much more study is necessary to allow for reasonable prediction of the build process for standard industrial parts, based on the synchronistic behavior of the input parameters.

Originality/value

This paper intends to raise questions about the possible research areas that could potentially promote the effectiveness of this LENS technology.
AEO certification – necessity or privilege for supply chain participants
Authors: Jażdżewska-Gutta Magdalena , Grottel Monika , Wach Dagmara
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the motives for and the benefits of authorized economic operator (AEO) certification in the supply chain. Also, whether there are significant differences in the perception of the AEO status as a necessity or privilege among cargo owners and service providers.

Design/methodology/approach

The research design includes an international survey of 159 AEO-certified companies from four European Union (EU) countries performing various roles in the supply chain. The data are analyzed using quantitative methods, including factor analysis and analysis of variance.

Findings

Based on factor analysis, the research reveals the motives for and benefits of AEO certification. This reveals significant differences between two distinct groups of supply chain participants, namely, cargo owners and service providers. Service providers are mainly driven by the need to gain or maintain their competitive advantage and treat AEO certification as a standard that is required by customers. Cargo owners are relatively more focused on the improvement of internal processes and treat AEO certification as a privilege that helps them achieve a high level of efficiency.

Originality/value

The study fills the existing literature gap as it focuses on the differences between two distinct groups (cargo owners and service providers) in terms of their perception of the AEO certification. As empirical research in this area is scarce, especially at the cross-country level, this study also significantly complements knowledge on AEO certification in the EU.
The information content of US stock market factors
Authors: Elgammal Mohammed M. , Ahmed Fatma Ehab , McMillan David G.
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider the economic information content within several popular stock market factors and to the extent to which their movements are both explained by economic variables and can explain future output growth.

Design/methodology/approach

Using US stock portfolios from 1964 to 2019, the authors undertake three related exercises: whether a set of common factors contain independent predictive ability for stock returns, what economic and market variables explain movements in the factors and whether stock market factors have predictive power for future output growth.

Findings

The results show that several of the considered factors do not contain independent information for stock returns. Further, most of these factors are neither explained by economic conditions nor they provide any predictive power for future output growth. Thus, they appear to contain very little economic content. However, the results suggest that the impact of these factors is more prominent with higher macroeconomic risk (contractionary regime).

Research limitations/implications

The stock market factors are more likely to reflect existing market conditions and exhibit a weaker relation with economic conditions and do not act as a window on future behavior.

Practical implications

Fama and French three-factor model still have better explanations for stock returns and economic information more than any other models.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the literature by examining whether a selection of factors provides unique information when modelling stock returns data. It also investigates what variables can predict movements in the stock market factors. Third, it examines whether the factors exhibit a link with subsequent economic output. This should establish whether the stock market factors contain useful information for stock returns and the macroeconomy or whether the significance of the factor is a result of chance. The results in this paper should advance our understanding of asset price movement and the links between the macroeconomy and financial markets and, thus, be of interest to academics, investors and policy-makers.
Public displays and citizen participation: a systematic literature review and research agenda
Authors: Clarinval Antoine , Simonofski Anthony , Vanderose Benoît , Dumas Bruno
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to study how current research reports reflect on using public displays in the smart city. In particular, it looks at the state-of-the-art of this domain from two angles. On the one hand, it investigates the participation of citizens in the development of public displays. On the other hand, it aims at understanding how public displays may foster citizen participation in addressing urban issues. Its goal is to provide a literature review of this field, and a research agenda.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted following a thoroughly detailed protocol. It surveys 34 recent papers through multiple aspects, including interaction modality, level of participation, socio-demographics of participating citizens, topic of participation, evaluation of the display and participation of end-users in the early development stages of the display. Then, a research agenda informed by the results of the SLR is discussed in light of related literature.

Findings

The SLR showed that further research is needed to improve the involvement of citizens in the early stages of the development of public displays, broaden the spectrum of citizen participation achieved through public displays, integrate public displays with other means of participation and handle the changing urban context to improve the participation experience.

Originality/value

Previous literature reviews have been conducted in the field of public displays, including one specifically related to citizen participation. However, they have emphasized the technological aspects of public displays and omitted other essential aspects. This article aims at addressing this gap by conducting a literature review, including also non-technological perspectives such as socio-demographics and participation in development, complementing other works.
Management of patients with low back pain in the emergency department: Is it feasible to follow evidence‐based recommendations?
Authors: Urrutia Julio , Besa Pablo , Meissner‐Haecker Arturo , Gonzalez Rodrigo , Gonzalez Javiera
Published: June 2020

Objective

Low back pain is frequently seen in patients visiting the ED, but many patients receive medical care with no demonstrable benefits. We studied the clinical characteristics of patients visiting two EDs in Santiago, Chile, and their management to evaluate how it adheres to evidence‐based recommendations.

Methods

We studied 519 patients and retrieved their demographic and clinical data, imaging testing and treatments. We determined the effect of sex, age, time from initial symptoms, pain measured with the visual analogue scale, presence of nerve radiation and the presence of red flags and neurological impairment on image testing and the management received.

Results

Mean age was 43.8 years; 57.8% were females. Females presented more often red flags (7.3 vs 3%, P = 0.04) and worse pain (visual analogue scale = 7 vs 6, P = 0.04) than males. Imagings were performed in 18.9% of patients; they were more frequently performed in patients with neurological impairment (P = 0.03) and red flags (P = 0.01). Intravenous non‐opioids were administered in 25.6%; opioids were administered in 40.1%. Median time in the ED was 91 min (range 18–591); 16 (3.08%) patients were admitted. Age (odds ratio [OR] 1.04 [1.03–1.05], P < 0.01) and red flags (OR 4.9 [1.60–20.08], P < 0.01) influenced imaging testing; pain intensity influenced opioid use (OR 1.6 [1.29–1.95], P < 0.01), hospital admissions (1.95 [1.14–3.33], P < 0.01) and time in the ED (β = 0.5, P < 0.01).

Conclusion

Older age, the presence of red flags and pain intensity influenced the management of patients with low back pain in the ED. Future strategies should emphasise avoiding costly and ineffective management in these patients.
Lipophorin receptor regulates the cuticular hydrocarbon accumulation and adult fecundity of the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum
Authors: Qiao Jian‐Wen , Fan Yong‐Liang , Bai Tian‐Tian , Wu Bing‐Jin , Pei Xiao‐Jin , Wang Dun , Liu Tong‐Xian
Published: June 2020

Cuticular hydrocarbons form a barrier that protects terrestrial insects from water loss via the epicuticle. Lipophorin loads and transports lipids, including hydrocarbons, from one tissue to another. In some insects, the lipophorin receptor (LpR), which binds to lipophorin and accepts its lipid cargo, is essential for female fecundity because it mediates the incorporation of lipophorin by developing oocytes. However, it is unclear whether LpR is involved in the accumulation of cuticular hydrocarbons and its precise role in aphid reproduction remains unknown. We herein present the results of our molecular characterization, phylogenetic analysis, and functional annotation of the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) LpR gene (ApLpR). This gene was transcribed throughout the A. pisum life cycle, but especially during the embryonic stage and in the abdominal cuticle. Furthermore, we optimized the RHA interference (RNAi) parameters by determining the ideal dose and duration for gene silencing in the pea aphid. We observed that the RNAi‐based ApLpR suppression significantly decreased the internal and cuticular hydrocarbon contents as well as adult fecundity. Additionally, a deficiency in cuticular hydrocarbons increased the susceptibility of aphids to desiccation stress, with decreased survival rates under simulated drought conditions. Moreover, ApLpR expression levels significantly increased in response to the desiccation treatment. These results confirm that ApLpR is involved in transporting hydrocarbons and protecting aphids from desiccation stress. Furthermore, this gene is vital for aphid reproduction. Therefore, the ApLpR gene of A. pisum may be a novel RNAi target relevant for insect pest management.
DNA metabarcoding for biodiversity monitoring in a national park: Screening for invasive and pest species
Authors: Hardulak Laura A. , Morinière Jérôme , Hausmann Axel , Hendrich Lars , Schmidt Stefan , Doczkal Dieter , Müller Jörg , Hebert Paul D. N. , Haszprunar Gerhard
Published: June 2020

DNA metabarcoding was utilized for a large‐scale, multiyear assessment of biodiversity in Malaise trap collections from the Bavarian Forest National Park (Germany, Bavaria). Principal component analysis of read count‐based biodiversities revealed clustering in concordance with whether collection sites were located inside or outside of the National Park. Jaccard distance matrices of the presences of barcode index numbers (BINs) at collection sites in the two survey years (2016 and 2018) were significantly correlated. Overall similar patterns in the presence of total arthropod BINs, as well as BINs belonging to four major arthropod orders across the study area, were observed in both survey years, and are also comparable with results of a previous study based on DNA barcoding of Sanger‐sequenced specimens. A custom reference sequence library was assembled from publicly available data to screen for pest or invasive arthropods among the specimens or from the preservative ethanol. A single 98.6% match to the invasive bark beetleIps duplicatuswas detected in an ethanol sample. This species has not previously been detected in the National Park.
Locating the MB2 canal in relation to MB1 in Maxillary First Molars using CBCT imaging
Authors: Zhuk Ruvim , Taylor Stuart , Johnson James D. , Paranjpe Avina
Published: June 2020

The aim of this study is to determine the location of MB2 in maxillary first molars in relation to the MB1 using the cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging. In this retrospective study, electronic health records’ system was utilised to identify patients who acquired CBCT for the maxillary first molar as an imaging adjunct to their endodontic treatment. Data were evaluated, and statistical analysis was performed. For the initial treatment cases, the distance from MB1 to MB2 was 2.06 ± 0.52 mm. This did not change significantly for cases that were being retreated. Statistically significant differences were observed between the distances from MB1 to MB2 in males vs. female teeth with males demonstrating longer distances as compared to females. Variations in anatomy exist between patients but this study established some guidelines for clinicians to locate the MB2 canal orifices. This could potentially help with treating these teeth with minimal failure rates.
An integration analysis based on genomic, transcriptomic and QTX information reveals credible candidate genes for fat‐related traits in pigs
Authors: Fu Y. , Wang L. , Tang Z. , Yin D. , Xu J. , Fan Y. , Li X. , Zhao S. , Liu X.
Published: June 2020

Meat quality improvement is of great interest to researchers in pig breeding and many researchers have identified abundant associated quantitative trait loci, genes and polymorphisms (QTXs) for fat‐related traits. However, it is challenging to determine credible candidate genes from a mass of associations. The efficiency of identification of credible candidate genes in these QTXs is restricted by limited integration analyses of data from multiple omics. In this study, we constructed a ‘candidate gene map’ of fat‐related traits in pigs based on published literature and the latest genome. In total, 6,861 QTXs, which covered 9,323 genes on the pig genome, were used. Combining the QTX hotspots and pathway analysis, we identified 180 candidate genes that may regulate the fat‐related traits, and choose PNPLA2, PPARG, SREBF1, ACACA, PPARD and PPARA as credible candidate genes. In addition, we discussed the importance of incorporating transcriptome data and genomic data in causal gene identification, and the multi‐omics information can effectively improve the credibility of identified candidate genes.