bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimized culture of retinal ganglion cells and amacrine cells from adult mice
Authors: Park Yong H , Snook Joshua D , Zhuang Iris , Shen Guofu , Frankfort Benjamin J
Published: June 2020

Cell culture is widely utilized to study the cellular and molecular biology of different neuronal cell populations. Current techniques to study enriched neuronsin vitroare primarily limited to embryonic/neonatal animals and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). Although the use of these cultures is valuable, the accessibility of purified primary adult neuronal cultures would allow for improved assessment of certain neurological diseases and pathways at the cellular level. Using a modified 7-step immunopanning technique to isolate for retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and amacrine cells (ACs) from adult mouse retinas, we have successfully developed a model of neuronal culture that maintains for at least one week. Isolations of Thy1.2+cells are enriched for RGCs, with the isolation cell yield being congruent to the theoretical yield of RGCs in a mouse retina. ACs of two different populations (CD15+and CD57+) can also be isolated. The populations of these three adult neurons in culture are healthy, with neurite outgrowths in some cases greater than 500µm in length. Optimization of culture conditions for RGCs and CD15+cells revealed that neuronal survival and the likelihood of neurite outgrowth respond inversely to different culture media. Serially diluted concentrations of puromycin decreased cultured adult RGCs in a dose-dependent manner, demonstrating the potential usefulness of these adult neuronal cultures in screening assays. This novel culture system can be used to model adult neuronsin vivo. Studies can now be expanded in conjunction with other methodologies to study the neurobiology of function, aging, and diseases.
The Amsterdam Open MRI Collection, a set of multimodal MRI datasets for individual difference analyses
Authors: Snoek Lukas , van der Miesen Maite M. , Beemsterboer Tinka , van der Leij Andries , Eigenhuis Annemarie , Scholte H. Steven
Published: June 2020

We present the Amsterdam Open MRI Collection (AOMIC): three datasets with multimodal (3T) MRI data including structural (T1-weighted), diffusion-weighted, and (resting-state and task-based) functional BOLD MRI data, as well as detailed demographics and psychometric variables from a large set of healthy participants (N = 928, N = 226, and N = 216). Notably, task-based fMRI was collected during various robust paradigms (targeting naturalistic vision, emotion perception, working memory, face perception, cognitive conflict and control, and response inhibition) for which extensively annotated event-files are available. For each dataset and data modality, we provide the data in both raw and preprocessed form (both compliant with the Brain Imaging Data Structure), which were subjected to extensive (automated and manual) quality control. All data is publicly available from the Openneuro data sharing platform.
Photoperiod-Induced Neurotransmitter Switching in the Circadian Pacemaker Regulates Hypothalamic Dopamine Expression
Authors: Porcu Alessandra , Booreddy Sathwik , Welsh David K. , Dulcis Davide
Published: June 2020

Light, circadian clocks, and rhythmic behaviors interact closely to produce a temporal order that is essential for the survival of most living organisms. In mammals, the principal circadian pacemaker in the brain is the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which receives direct retinal input and synchronizes itself and other brain regions to the external light-dark cycle. Altered day length (photoperiod) and disrupted circadian rhythms are associated with impaired memory and mood in both humans and animal models. Prior work demonstrated that altering photoperiod can change neurotransmitter (NT) expression in the periventricular nucleus (PeVN) of the hypothalamus in adult rat brain. Here we show that neuromedin S-(NMS-) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-(VIP-) expressing neurons in the SCN also display photoperiod-induced neurotransmitter switching. Such photoperiod-dependent NT plasticity is retained inBmal1-KO mice, indicating that NT plasticity in the SCN does not require a functional circadian clock. Utilizing a conditional viral DO-DIO vector as an historical marker of NT expression in the SCN, we further reveal that short-day photoperiod induces a cluster ofnon-NMS-expressing neurons to undergo NT switching and acquire the NMS phenotype. Selective chemogenetic activation of NMS neurons, but not VIP neurons, during the dark phase induces a significant delay in the timing of locomotor activity onset and is sufficient to increase the number of dopaminergic neurons in the PeVN. Our findings provide novel insights into molecular adaptations of the SCN neuronal network in response to altered photoperiod that affect neuronal circuit function in the hypothalamus and lead to changes in circadian behavior.
Epidemiological characteristics of patients with residual SARS-Cov-2 in Linyi, China
Authors: Pan Qiang , Gao Feng , Peng Rensheng , Li Mingshan
Published: June 2020

Patients with 2019 novel Coronavirus infection are probably show positive testing results again. In order to better treat these patients and provide basis for further control measures, we analyze the epidemiological outcomes and clinical features of patients with residual Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) in Linyi city. From January 23 to March 31 in 2020, epidemiological and clinical information of confirmed patients are collected for analysis. Stool and pharyngeal swab samples are collected for RT-PCR testing. 64 confirmed patients are included and 17 patients present re-positive testing after discharge. For these 17 patients, 70.59% are family aggregated, the interval between first time of negative testing and first time of re-positive testing is 11.82±3.42 days. There is no difference between patients with continued negative testing results and re-positive testing. After discharge, the interval between first time of negative testing and first time of re-positive testing is associated with severity of disease (p=0.013). Besides, the duration from first time to last time of re-positive testing is associated with exposure or contact history (p=0.049) and severity of disease (p=0.001). The analysis reveals epidemiological characteristics of patients with residual SARS-Cov-2 and provide basis for further control measures.
Identification of novel tetracycline resistance genetet(X14) and its co-occurrence withtet(X2) in a tigecycline-resistant and colistin-resistantEmpedobacter stercoris
Authors: Cheng Yingying , Chen Yong , Liu Yang , Guo Yuqi , Zhou Yanzi , Xiao Tingting , Zhang Shuntian , Xu Hao , Chen Yunbo , Shan Tongling , Xiao Yonghong , Zhou Kai
Published: June 2020

Tigecycline is one of the last-resort antibiotics to treat severe infections. Recently, tigecycline resistance has sporadically emerged with an increasing trend, and Tet(X) family represents a new resistance mechanism of tigecycline. In this study, a novel chromosome-encoded tigecycline resistance gene,tet(X14), was identified in a tigecycline-resistant and colistin-resistantEmpedobacter stercorisstrain ES183 recovered from a pig fecal sample in China. Tet(X14) shows 67.14-96.39% sequence identity to the other variants [Tet(X) to Tet(X13)]. Overexpression of Tet(X14) inEscherichia coliconfers 16-fold increase in tigecycline MIC (from 0.125 to 2 mg/L), which is lower than that of Tet(X3), Tet(X4) and Tet(X6). Structural modelling predicted that Tet(X14) shared a high homology with the other 12 variants with RMSD value from 0.003 to 0.055, and Tet(X14) can interact with tetracyclines by a similar pattern as the other Tet(X)s.tet(X14) and two copies oftet(X2) were identified on a genome island with abnormal GC content carried by the chromosome of ES183, and no mobile genetic elements were found surrounding, suggesting thattet(X14) might be heterologously obtained by ES183 via recombination. Blasting in Genbank revealed that Tet(X14) was exclusively detected on the chromosome ofRiemerella anatipestifer, mainly encoded on antimicrobial resistance islands.E. stercorisandR. anatipestiferbelong to the familyFlavobacteriaceae, suggesting that the members ofFlavobacteriaceaemaybe the major reservoir oftet(X14). Our study reports a novel chromosome-encoded tigecycline resistance genetet(X14). The expanded members of Tet(X) family warrants the potential large-scale dissemination and the necessity of continuous surveillance fortet(X)-mediated tigecycline resistance.
A genome-scale CRISPR screen reveals PRMT1 as a critical regulator of androgen receptor signaling in prostate cancer
Authors: Tang Stephen , Metaferia Nebiyou Y. , Nogueira Marina F. , Gelbard Maya K. , Abou Alaiwi Sarah , Seo Ji-Heui , Hwang Justin H. , Strathdee Craig A. , Baca Sylvan C. , Li Jiao , AbuHammad Shatha , Zhang Xiaoyang , Doench John G. , Hahn William C. , Takeda David Y. , Freedman Matthew L. , Choi Peter S. , Viswanathan Srinivas R.
Published: June 2020

Androgen receptor (AR) signaling is the central driver of prostate cancer across disease states. While androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is effective in the initial treatment of prostate cancer, resistance to ADT or to next-generation androgen pathway inhibitors invariably arises, most commonly through re-activation of the AR axis. Thus, orthogonal approaches to inhibit AR signaling in advanced prostate cancer are essential. Here, via genome-scale CRISPR/Cas9 screening, we identify protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) as a critical mediator ofARexpression and signaling. PRMT1 regulates recruitment of AR to genomic target sites and inhibition of PRMT1 impairs AR binding at lineage-specific enhancers, leading to decreased expression of key oncogenes, includingARitself. Additionally, AR-driven prostate cancer cells are uniquely susceptible to combined AR and PRMT1 inhibition. Our findings implicate PRMT1 as a key regulator of AR output and provide a preclinical framework for co-targeting of AR and PRMT1 in advanced prostate cancer.
High-throughput simulations indicate feasibility of navigation by familiarity with a local sensor such as scorpion pectines
Authors: Musaelian Albert , Gaffin Douglas D.
Published: June 2020

Scorpions have arguably the most elaborate “tongues” on the planet: two paired ventral combs, called pectines, that are covered in thousands of chemo-tactile peg sensilla and that sweep the ground as the animal walks. Males use their pectines to detect female pheromones during the mating season, but females have pectines too: What additional purpose must the pectines serve? Why are there so many pegs? We take a computational approach to test the hypothesis that scorpions use their pectines to navigate by chemo-textural familiarity in a manner analogous to the visual navigation-by-scene-familiarity hypothesis for hymenopteran insects. We have developed a general model of navigation by familiarity with a local sensor and have chosen a range of plausible parameters for it based on the existing behavioral, physiological, morphological, and neurological understanding of the pectines. Similarly, we constructed virtual environments based on the scorpion’s native sand habitat. Using a novel methodology of highly parallel high-throughput simulations, we comprehensively tested 2160 combinations of sensory and environmental properties in each of 24 different situations, giving a total of 51,840 trials. Our results show that navigation by familiarity with a local pectine-like sensor is feasible. Further, they suggest a subtle interplay between “complexity” and “continuity” in navigation by familiarity and give the surprising result that more complexity — more detail and more information — is not always better for navigational performance.

Author summary

Scorpions’ pectines are intricate taste-and-touch sensory appendages that brush the ground as the animal walks. Pectines are involved in detecting pheromones, but their exquisite complexity — a pair of pectines can have around 100,000 sensory neurons — suggests that they do more. One hypothesis is “Navigation by Scene Familiarity,” which explains how bees and ants use their compound eyes to navigate home: the insect visually scans side to side as it moves, compares what it sees to scenes learned along a training path, and moves in the direction that looks most familiar. We propose that the scorpions’ pectines can be used to navigate similarly: instead of looking around, they sweep side to side sensing local chemical and textural information. We crafted simulated scorpions based on current understanding of the pectines and tested their navigational performance in virtual versions of the animals’ sandy habitat. Using a supercomputer, we varied nine environmental, sensory, and situational properties and ran a total of 51,840 trials of simulated navigation. We showed that navigation by familiarity with a local sensor like the pectinesisfeasible. Surprisingly, we also found that having a more detailed landscape and/or a more sensitive sensor is not always optimal.
Seasonal changes in recombination rate, crossover interference, and their response to desiccation stress in a natural population ofDrosophila melanogasterfrom India
Authors: Aggarwal Dau Dayal , Rybnikov Sviatoslav , Sapielkin Shaul , Rashkovetsky Eugenia , Frenkel Zeev , Singh Manvender , Michalak Pawel , Korol Abraham B.
Published: June 2020

Environmental seasonality is a potent evolutionary force, capable to maintain polymorphism, promote phenotypic plasticity, and cause bet-hedging. InDrosophila, it has been reported to affect life-history traits, tolerance to abiotic stressors, and immunity. Oscillations in frequencies of alleles underlying fitness-related traits were also documented alongside SNP alleles across genome. Here, we test for seasonal changes in recombination in a naturalD. melanogasterpopulation from India using morphological markers of the three major chromosomes. We show that winter flies (collected after the dry season) have significantly higher desiccation tolerance than their autumn counterparts. This difference proved to hold also for hybrids with three independent marker stocks, suggesting its genetic rather than plastic nature. Significant segment-specific changes are documented for recombination rate (in five of 13 intervals) and crossover interference (in five of 16 studied pairs of intervals); both single- and double-crossover rates tended to increase in the winter cohort. The winter flies also display weaker plasticity of recombination characteristics to desiccation. We ascribe the observed differences to indirect selection on recombination caused by directional selection on desiccation tolerance. Our findings suggest that changes in recombination can arise even after a short period of seasonal adaptation (~8–10 generations).
Using plant traits to understand the contribution of biodiversity effects to community productivity in an agricultural system
Authors: Engbersen Nadine , Stefan Laura , Brooker Rob W. , Schöb Christian
Published: June 2020

Increasing biodiversity generally enhances productivity through selection and complementarity effects not only in natural but also in agricultural systems. However, explaining why diversity enhances productivity remains a central goal in agricultural science.

In a field experiment, we constructed monocultures, 2- and 4-species mixtures from eight crop species with and without fertilizer and both in temperate Switzerland and semi-arid Spain. We measured environmental factors and plant traits and related these in structural equation models to selection and complementarity effects to explain yield differences between monocultures and mixtures.

Increased crop diversity increased yield in Switzerland. This positive biodiversity effect was driven to almost same extents by selection and complementarity effects, which increased with plant height and C:N ratio, respectively. Also, ecological processes driving yield increases from monocultures to mixtures differed from those responsible for yield increases through the diversification of mixtures.

While selection effects were mainly driven by one species, complementarity effects were linked to higher productivity per unit N. Yield increases due to mixture diversification were driven only by complementarity and were not mediated through the measured traits, suggesting that ecological processes beyond those measured in this study were responsible for positive diversity effects on yield beyond 2-species mixtures.
Factors impacting prescription practice in primary healthcare setting in India: A case study in Rajasthan
Authors: Das Arup Kumar , Nagarajan Shyama , Bhargava Ruchi , Singh Rajesh Ranjan , Srivastava Ambey Kumar , Dutta Amitabh
Published: June 2020

A.

Background

We present a case of prescription practices in the Indian state of Rajasthan to demonstrate the effect of provider and system level factors, and their interactions on good prescription practices. We have presented two major dimensions of good prescription practice; first, completeness of prescription, a measure of adequacy; and second, appropriateness of prescription, a measure of quality of care (QoC).

Method

We used mixed method to audit 2801 prescriptions, selected from 24 rural and 7 urban government Primary Health Centres (PHCs) of Rajasthan, India. The findings represent analysis of 97% of the ‘selected prescriptions’ that were considered ‘legible’. The ‘selected prescriptions’ ensure represent variance in patient categories, seasonality and number of OPD foot fall across days in a week. Semi-structured in-depth interviews, followed by Focused Group Discussion (FGD) with providers was undertaken to obtain insights about facilitators and barriers to good prescription practices. We compared descriptive statistics across quintiles on adequacy indicators to understand variations around provider and system level factors; multilevel logistic regression model was used to obtain the adjusted effect. To assess appropriateness of quality of care (QoC), we evaluated 783 prescriptions that had adequate information to compare factors impacting QoC across quintiles. Finally, findings from the FGD was used to substantiate findings from the quantitative analysis.

Result

We found that prescription practices are outcomes of both provider and system level factors, and their interactions. The documentation of patient complaint, examination findings largely depends on system level factors; 59% and 38%, respectively. The treatment adequacy is largely associated with patient category. Ownership compliance of the doctors, measured in terms of their signature in the prescriptions, emerged as an important factor determining both adequacy and accuracy of prescriptions. We also found that treatment appropriateness, measured in terms of QoC, depends on both provider and system level factors. A conducive environment and trained provider are more likely to provide adequate and appropriate treatment. It is also observed that higher patient load is not a counter-productive to treatment appropriateness. Out of 783 legible prescriptions that were assessed for its appropriateness, only 36% were found inappropriate in terms of their documented justification for the treatment advised.

Conclusion

There is a need to focus on provider and system level factors to improve prescription practices in primary health care (PHC). We recommend that institutional strengthening at systemic and provider level using innovative ways; such as task shifting to nurses as ‘physician assistants’, and reducing administrative activities of physicians to enhance focus on clinical work can propel better prescription practice.
System-wide analyses of the fission yeast poly(A)+ RNA interactome reveal insights into organization and function of RNA–protein complexes
Authors: Kilchert Cornelia , Kecman Tea , Priest Emily , Hester Svenja , Aydin Ebru , Kus Krzysztof , Rossbach Oliver , Castello Alfredo , Mohammed Shabaz , Vasiljeva Lidia
Published: June 2020

Large RNA-binding complexes play a central role in gene expression and orchestrate production, function, and turnover of mRNAs. The accuracy and dynamics of RNA–protein interactions within these molecular machines are essential for their function and are mediated by RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). Here, we show that fission yeast whole-cell poly(A)+ RNA–protein crosslinking data provide information on the organization of RNA–protein complexes. To evaluate the relative enrichment of cellular RBPs on poly(A)+ RNA, we combine poly(A)+ RNA interactome capture with a whole-cell extract normalization procedure. This approach yields estimates of in vivo RNA-binding activities that identify subunits within multiprotein complexes that directly contact RNA. As validation, we trace RNA interactions of different functional modules of the 3′ end processing machinery and reveal additional contacts. Extending our analysis to different mutants of the RNA exosome complex, we explore how substrate channeling through the complex is affected by mutation. Our data highlight the central role of the RNA helicase Mtl1 in regulation of the complex and provide insights into how different components contribute to engagement of the complex with substrate RNA. In addition, we characterize RNA-binding activities of novel RBPs that have been recurrently detected in the RNA interactomes of multiple species. We find that many of these, including cyclophilins and thioredoxins, are substoichiometric RNA interactors in vivo. Because RBPomes show very good overall agreement between species, we propose that the RNA-binding characteristics we observe in fission yeast are likely to apply to related proteins in higher eukaryotes as well.
Dark-field electron holography as a recording of crystal diffraction in real space: a comparative study with high-resolution X-ray diffraction for strain analysis of MOSFETs
Authors: Boureau Victor , Durand Aurèle , Gergaud Patrice , Le Cunff Delphine , Wormington Matthew , Rouchon Denis , Claverie Alain , Benoit Daniel , Hÿtch Martin
Published: June 2020

Diffraction-based techniques, with either electrons or photons, are commonly used in materials science to measure elastic strain in crystalline specimens. In this paper, the focus is on two advanced techniques capable of accessing strain information at the nanoscale: high-resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD) and the transmission electron microscopy technique of dark-field electron holography (DFEH). Both experimentally record an image formed by a diffracted beam: a map of the intensity in the vicinity of a Bragg reflection spot in the former, and an interference pattern in the latter. The theory that governs these experiments will be described in a unified framework. The role of the geometric phase, which encodes the displacement field of a set of atomic planes in the resulting diffracted beam, is emphasized. A detailed comparison of experimental results acquired at a synchrotron and with a state-of-the-art transmission electron microscope is presented for the same test structure: an array of dummy metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) from the 22 nm technology node. Both techniques give access to accurate strain information. Experiment, theory and modelling allow the illustration of the similarities and inherent differences between the HRXRD and DFEH techniques.
X-Seed 4: updates to a program for small-molecule supramolecular crystallography
Authors: Barbour Leonard J.
Published: June 2020

X-Seed is a native Microsoft Windows program with three primary functions: (i) to serve as a graphical user interface to the SHELX suite of programs, (ii) to facilitate exploration of crystal packing and intermolecular interactions, and (iii) to generate high-quality molecular graphics artwork suitable for publication and presentation. Development of X-Seed Version 1.0 began in 1998, when point-and-click crystallographic software was still limited in scope and power. Considerable enhancements have been implemented within X-Seed over the past two decades. Of particular importance are support for the SHELX2019 programs (SHELXS, SHELXD, SHELXT and SHELXL) for structure solution and refinement, and MSRoll for rendering void spaces in crystal structures. The current version (i.e. Version 4) of X-Seed has a new interface designed to be more interactive and user friendly, and the software can be downloaded and used free of charge.
Dual decision-making with discontinuance and acceptance of information technology: the case of cloud computing
Authors: Bian Yiyang , Kang Lele , Zhao J. Leon
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate organizational information technology (IT) deployment from a dual decision-making perspective. This study builds on rational choice theory to characterize how the costs and values of incumbent IT and those of the corresponding new cloud computing influence a company's dual decision of discontinuance and acceptance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study chooses cloud computing as the research context, since it is one of the most well-accepted ITs in current practice. By using survey methodology, the data were collected from organizations around the world. Our hypotheses were examined via multimethod analyses, including the partial least squares, the multinomial log it regression and the analysis of variance.

Findings

This research reveals that organizations often follow the dual decision-making process in IT deployment regarding a non-cloud, hybrid structure and full-cloud considers incumbent IT discontinuance and new cloud computing acceptance. These results indicate that organizations may embrace cloud computing because of its perceived high system compatibility and low support costs. Meanwhile, security threats remain the primary obstacles to conducting business in the cloud.

Originality/value

Previous studies mainly focus on a single aspect and do not reveal the intricacies of the interactions between the reduction of incumbent IT and the addition of new IT. To address this gap in the body of knowledge, our study proposes a dual decision model based on a dialectical understanding of new and incumbent IT mechanisms instead of a singular IT acceptance model.
Dude, where's my data? The GDPR in practice, from a consumer's point of view
Authors: Sørum Hanne , Presthus Wanda
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This paper investigates the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in information systems (ISs). The GDPR consists of 99 articles, and two articles are emphasised – namely Article 15, which deals with rights of access by the data subject, and Article 20, which deals with the right to data portability.

Design/methodology/approach

15 companies operating in the Norwegian consumer market were randomly selected. Each company received an inquiry pertaining to rights of access by the data subject (Article 15) and the right to data portability (Article 20). The research team carefully analysed the answers received and categorised the responses according to the two articles emphasised.

Findings

The findings show extensive variations among the companies in terms of response time, quality of feedback and how companies handle requests concerning rights of access by the data subject (Article 15) and the right to data portability (Article 20). Differences are also pertaining to the types of files, along with the content of these files. It should be noted, however, that most of the companies replied to the inquiry before the deadline. The findings show that companies comply better with Article 20 than Article 15. However, it appears that they do not differentiate between the two articles.

Originality/value

This study explores a research topic that is relatively new. It addresses a gap in the extant research by highlighting how the GDPR works in practice from a consumer's perspective. In addition, guidelines are offered to the consumers and companies affected by the GDPR.
Are share prices of Gulf corporate council banks predictable? A time-series analysis
Authors: Almujamed Hesham I.
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This research aimed to evaluate the predictability of moving-average strategies and examined the validity of the weak form of the efficient market hypothesis (EMH) for securities of banks listed in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) stock markets of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Design/methodology/approach

Several statistical analyses and eight moving-average rules were employed where buy and sell signals were produced by comparing a security price’s short- and long-term moving averages. The study covered the daily closing share prices of 40 GCC-listed banks over the 18-year period ending 31 December 2017.

Findings

The results suggest that securities of banks in the GCC were not weak-form efficient because share prices were predictable. Investors who traded using moving-average strategies could generate higher profits. Analysis of variance found that securities of Kuwaiti banks were the most efficiently priced.

Practical implications

The findings supported the idea that profitability depended on the moving-average rules and country chosen. Transaction costs did not affect the returns obtained using different trading rules.

Originality/value

This work facilitates future evaluation of accounting disclosure environments as well as the market efficiency and the performance of securities in the GCC countries. The performance of moving average rules among representative countries that share similar characteristics was analyzed. Different market participants, including investors, analysts and regulators, can benefit from this study for decision-making. These results suggest that new regulations might be drafted that would improve the timeliness of accounting information and the banks’ level of efficiency.
Creating for others: linking prosocial motivation and social entrepreneurship intentions
Authors: Yu Chuanpeng , Ye Baosheng , Ma Shenghui
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate how individuals' prosocial motivation affects their social entrepreneurship intentions (SEI) through the mediating effect of creativity and the moderating effect of family-to-work support.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire survey was conducted in the Pearl River Delta region in Guangdong, China, and data were collected from 318 respondents who had rich social work experience. To test the hypotheses, a hierarchical linear regression analysis was conducted using SPSS 24.0 software.

Findings

Results offer empirical support for the hypotheses that creativity in social work plays a full mediating role in the relationship between individuals' prosocial motivation and SEI, and family-to-work support plays a positive moderating role in the relationship between creativity in social work and SEI.

Research limitations/implications

This study shows the importance of prosocial motivation, creativity in social work and family support in driving individuals' social entrepreneurship intentions and behaviours. Future research needs to further examine how the dynamic relationships between these factors unfold over time, as well as consider the effect of other motivational factors on creativity and SEI.

Practical implications

This study suggests that the cultivation of individual prosocial motivation is crucial and requires the efforts of family, school and society. Relevant organisations should encourage individuals to incorporate creative thinking into their work, as well as offer training opportunities. In addition, social entrepreneurs should also strengthen communication with their families and strive to gain their understanding and support.

Originality/value

The findings of this study extend existing views on the relationship between individuals' motivation and entrepreneurship intentions in the social entrepreneurship research field by focusing on the perspective of prosocial motivation. In particular, this study reveals the complex process of how prosocial motivation promotes SEI by identifying the role of creativity and family-to-work support, which has rarely been explored in the extant literature.
Marketing of environmentally friendly hotels in China through religious segmentation: a theory of planned behaviour approach
Authors: Wang Lei , Wong Philip Pong Weng
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between religiosity, green purchase attitude (GPA), subjective norm (SN), perceived behavioural control (PBC) and green purchase intention (GPI) towards the selection of environmentally friendly hotel. The current study argues that consumers’ incentive variable, namely, religiosity, can influence consumers’ environmentally friendly hotel selection.

Design/methodology/approach

This study had successfully gathered 404 completed questionnaire sets through online surveys. All survey data were subjected to descriptive analysis and analysis of variance using SPSS. Besides that, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling were performed for the testing of hypotheses.

Findings

The results suggest that religiosity significantly and positively influences GPA, SN, PBC and GPI. Furthermore, GPA and PBC positively and significantly influence GPI. The SN also displays significant positive influence on GPA, while GPA plays a full mediation role between SN and GPI. In addition, statistically significant differences in religiosity, SN and PBC were obtained between religious affiliations of consumers towards environmentally friendly hotel selection.

Originality/value

This study extended the existing knowledge based on the selection of environmentally friendly hotels among religious consumers in the tourism literature. Besides that, these empirical findings would greatly benefit hotel managers and other key stakeholders in the tourism industry.
Characterization of gene expression profiles of esophageal cancer patients with different nonsynonymous tumor mutation burden
Authors: Li Jiawei , Chen Haiqing , Guo Haifa , Qiu Mantang , Yang Fan
Published: June 2020

Background

Nonsynonymous tumor mutation burden (NSTMB) could affect the prognosis of esophageal cancer (EC) patients, but differentially expressed genes between EC patients with different NSTMB have not been explored. Our study aimed to compare differentially expressed genes between EC patients with different NSTMB (high vs. low).

Methods

RNA‐seq data for EC patients were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The edgeR package was used to identify differentially expressed genes between patients with different NSTMB. Cell type identification by estimating relative subsets of known RNA transcripts (CIBERSORT) software was employed to underscore immune cell differences between patients with different NSTMB.

Results

In total, we discovered 2215 differentially expressed genes between patients with different NSTMB, among which 842 genes were upregulated and 1373 downregulated in patients with high NSTMB. The differentially expressed genes were enriched in pathways such as heme binding and structural molecule activity. We built a logistic model that may be used to predict patients' NSTMB. We found that tumors with high NSTMB had a significantly higher percentage of resting natural killer (NK) cells than those with low NSTMB (P = 0.028). The percentages of regulatory T (Treg) and CD8+ T cells were also higher in those with high NSTMB, although it was not statistically significant (P = 0.064 for Treg cells and P = 0.12 for CD8+ T cells).

Conclusions

NSTMB may cause changes in gene expression and immune cell infiltration in EC patients, and affect the overall survival of EC patients.

Key points

Significant findings of the study

This study found differentially expressed genes and differences in infiltration of immune cells between esophageal cancer (EC) with different NSTMB.

What this study adds

This study highlights differences between EC patients with different NSTMB.
Transcriptome‐Wide Regulation of Key Developmental Pathways in the Mouse Neural Tube by Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
Authors: Boschen Karen E. , Ptacek Travis S. , Simon Jeremy M. , Parnell Scott E.
Published: June 2020

Background

Early gestational alcohol exposure is associated with severe craniofacial and CNS dysmorphologies and behavioral abnormalities during adolescence and adulthood. Alcohol exposure during the formation of the neural tube (gestational day [GD] 8 to 10 in mice; equivalent to4th week of human pregnancy) disrupts development of ventral midline brain structures such as the pituitary, septum, and ventricles. This study identifies transcriptomic changes in the rostroventral neural tube (RVNT), the region of the neural tube that gives rise to the midline structures sensitive to alcohol exposure during neurulation.

Methods

Female C57BL/6J mice were administered 2 doses of alcohol (2.9 g/kg) or vehicle 4 hours apart on GD 9.0. The RVNTs of embryos were collected 6 or 24 hours after the first dose and processed for RNA‐seq.

Results

Six hours following GD 9.0 alcohol exposure (GD 9.25), over 2,300 genes in the RVNT were determined to be differentially regulated by alcohol. Enrichment analysis determined that PAE affected pathways related to cell proliferation, p53 signaling, ribosome biogenesis, and immune activation. In addition, over 100 genes involved in primary cilia formation and function and regulation of morphogenic pathways were altered 6 hours after alcohol exposure. The changes to gene expression were largely transient, as only 91 genes identified as differentially regulated by prenatal alcohol at GD 10 (24 hours postexposure). Functionally, the differentially regulated genes at GD 10 were related to organogenesis and cell migration.

Conclusions

These data give a comprehensive view of the changing landscape of the embryonic transcriptome networks in regions of the neural tube that give rise to brain structures impacted by a neurulation‐stage alcohol exposure. Identification of gene networks dysregulated by alcohol will help elucidate the pathogenic mechanisms of alcohol’s actions.
Intraguild predation and cannibalism among Dicyphini: Dicyphus cerastii vs. two commercialized species
Authors: Abraços Duarte Gonçalo , Caldas Filipa , Pechirra Ariadna , Borges da Silva Elsa , Figueiredo Elisabete
Published: June 2020

Dicyphine mirids are one of the most important groups of predators on tomato. In the Mediterranean region, several species in the genera Dicyphus, Macrolophus, and Nesidiocoris (Hemiptera: Miridae, Bryocorinae, Dicyphini) colonize protected horticultural crops. In Portugal, Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) is increasingly abundant in the mirid species complex of tomato crops and appears to be displacing the native Dicyphus cerastii Wagner. In order to know whether intraguild predation (IGP) can explain the decreasing abundance of D. cerastii, we evaluated predatory interactions between adult females and first instars of D. cerastii vs. N. tenuis but also D. cerastii vs. Macrolophus pygmaeus (Rambur), as this species is also naturally present in horticultural crops in Portugal. Cannibalistic interactions were also tested for the same three species. All experiments were performed under laboratory conditions, in Petri dish arenas, in the presence or absence of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) eggs as alternative prey. Predation on both heterospecific and conspecific nymphs occurred only in the absence of alternative food. Intraguild predation was mutual and symmetrical between D. cerastii and M. pygmaeus. However, IGP was asymmetrical between D. cerastii and N. tenuis, favouring the first. Cannibalism was not significantly different among these mirid species. Our results show that D. cerastii has a greater capacity to feed on intraguild prey than N. tenuis. Therefore, IGP on small nymphs does not explain the abundance shift between D. cerastii and N. tenuis.
Whole‐body clearing of beetles by successive treatment with hydrogen peroxide and CUBIC reagents
Authors: Kuroda Monto , Kuroda Shinya
Published: June 2020

Internal tissues of multicellular organisms cannot directly be seen because they contain pigments. For this reason, whole‐body clearing methods have been developed and applied to mammals such as mice. Insects such as beetles, however, cannot be cleared by the mammalian method because of pigments such as melanin in their exoskeletons. In this study, we tried to develop a whole‐body clearing method for large beetles. We first bleached the exoskeleton using a hydrogen peroxide treatment, and applied advanced Clear, Unobstructed Brain/Body Imaging Cocktails and Computational analysis (CUBIC) reagents to make the internal tissues transparent. The combined method of hydrogen peroxide and advanced CUBIC allowed us to successfully undertake whole‐body clearing of large beetles.
GEP‐based classifiers with drift‐detection
Authors: Jedrzejowicz Joanna , Jedrzejowicz Piotr
Published: June 2020

In the paper, we propose two gene expression programming (GEP)‐based ensemble classifiers with different drift detection mechanisms. In the related work section, we briefly review GEP as a classification tool, incremental classifiers, and concept drift detectors. Next, the structure of our two‐level GEP ensemble with metagenes is described. Further on, two integrated classifiers with drift detection algorithm and Wilcoxon rank sum test drift detector are proposed. The approach is validated in the computational experiment in which several real‐life and artificial datasets with concept drift have been used. Experiment confirmed that the proposed approach can be competitive to existing solutions. In the conclusion section, we briefly outline directions for future research.
What do geologists do when the coronavirus bites? Ideas for educators
Authors: King Chris
Published: June 2020

The spread of the 2020 Covid‐19 pandemic has had a major effect on the way that geologists carry out their work—and particularly those engaged in educating the next generation of geologists. There are a number of resources available, and some, focussed on fostering interest in budding geologists, are presented here.
Effect of three or more treatments with lusutrombopag in patients with cirrhotic thrombocytopenia: A retrospective single‐center study
Authors: Kawaratani Hideto , Tsuji Yuki , Ishida Koji , Kaya Daisuke , Kubo Takuya , Fujinaga Yukihisa , Sawada Yasuhiko , Sato Shinya , Takaya Hiroaki , Kaji Kosuke , Namisaki Tadashi , Moriya Kei , Akahane Takemi , Yoshiji Hitoshi
Published: June 2020

Aims

Thrombocytopenia is a common complication among patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). Lusutrombopag, an oral thrombopoietin receptor agonist, is used to reduce the risk of hemorrhage in patients with thrombocytopenia who are undergoing invasive procedures. Platelet transfusion was the standard treatment for thrombocytopenia; however, multiple platelet transfusions lead to the production of antiplatelet antibody. The effect of giving lusutrombopag three times or more has not been previously reported. In this study, we investigated the effect of lusutrombopag readministration in patients with thrombocytopenia.

Methods

This study included 14 patients (total, 24 readministrations) who received lusutrombopag two times or more. Changes in platelet counts were evaluated. Treatment response was defined as an increased platelet count of ≥20 000/μL after lusutrombopag treatment.

Results

Lusutrombopag was given twice in nine patients, three times in three patients, five times in one patient, and six times in one patient. An elevated platelet count of <20 000/μL was noted in only one of the 24 readministrations. There were no postoperative hemorrhagic complications, and no patient had an increased platelet count of >200 000/μL. One patient had a portal venous mural thrombus; however, he was asymptomatic, and the thrombus resolved after anticoagulant treatment, without recurrence. The comparison between the first, second, and third or more treatments showed there was no significant difference in platelet increase.

Conclusion

Repeated treatment of lusutrombopag is effective for CLD patients with thrombocytopenia. Moreover, three or more treatments with lusutrombopag showed equal effect compared with one and two treatments with the medication.
Paraneoplastic erythroderma: an insight on the existing data
Authors: Plachouri Kerasia‐Maria , Georgiou Sophia
Published: June 2020

Exfoliative erythroderma is a severe dermatologic condition with variable underlying causes. The association of erythroderma with an occult visceral malignancy is a relatively uncommon finding, which, however, can be accompanied by devastating consequences. This report is the first updated overview regarding the latest data on paraneoplastic erythroderma and was conducted according to the PRISMA Guidelines for systematic reviews. Articles derived from the databases PubMed, EMBASE, and SCOPUS were analyzed for this study. Patients with paraneoplastic erythroderma share certain clinical characteristics that physicians should be aware of, so as to avoid potential sequeale of an erroneous management as a result of misdiagnosis. The reporting of such cases is crucial in order to raise awareness of this condition and to facilitate an earlier diagnosis.
The value of convolutional neural networks in the diagnosis of melanoma simulators
Authors: Heppt M.V. , Berking C.
Published: June 2020

Linked article: C. Fink et al. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2020; 34: 1355–1361. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.16165.
Group authorships in Cochrane had low compliance with Cochrane recommendations
Authors: Andersen Mikkel Zola , Fonnes Siv , Andresen Kristoffer , Rosenberg Jacob
Published: June 2020

Objective

Recently, group authorships have become more common. Group authorship describes a situation where the name of a group of people is included in the byline of an article. Historically, however, group authorships have been associated with citation errors and difficulties identifying who could be regarded as an author. Cochrane is a collaboration that publishes high‐quality systematic reviews and meta‐analyses and transparency in authorship should be high. Group authorships in Cochrane have not previously been examined. This study aimed to describe group authorships in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR).

Methods

In total, 8396 reviews from the CDSR were screened for group authorships from inception to 31 December 2019. Data from group authorships were extracted and analyzed.

Results

A total of 41 reviews with group authorships were included. Almost half of group authorships (46%, 19/41) were published from 2015 to 2019. Median number of group members was 32 (range 6–91). Median publication time (protocol to review) of group authorships was 3.1 years. Of all group authorships, 39% met ICMJE's first authorship criterion, 41% met the second, and 12% met the third criterion. For only two studies all authors met the three authorship criteria.

Conclusion

A low prevalence of group authorships existed in Cochrane reviews. Reviews with group authorships took median three years to publish, and very few of group authorships in Cochrane complied with the ICMJE authorship criteria.