bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Use of infographics as a technology-based information dissemination tool: the perspective of Egyptian public university libraries library staff
Authors: Mansour Essam
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study aims to explore the potential use of infographics as a technology-based information dissemination tool in Egyptian public university libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative approach was used in the form of a survey conducted in February 202. The survey tool was a self-administrated questionnaire. The study sample consisted of valid responses from 231 library staff. Of this number, 173 (74.9%) were infographics users, and 58 (25.1%) were infographics users.

Findings

Infographics users tended to be males between 31 and 45 years of age, mostly BA holders, librarians, with work experience ranging from 11 to 25 years. On the other hand, infographics nonusers tended to be also males between 31 and 45 years of age, mostly BA holders, librarians, with work experience ranging from 11 to 25 years. The majority of library staff used infographics mainly to provide information about the library's map, news, services, events, contact, working hours, policies and activities, to provide guidance, instructions on the library use, explain its classification scheme and provide statistical data. The largest number of library staff indicated that their use of informational infographics ranged from “Completely used” to “Most used”, followed by statistical infographics and timeline infographics The use of informational infographics and statistical infographics described to be at least fairly easy to them. In addition, the use of timeline infographics, statistical infographics and informational infographics has also been described to at least fairly useful to them. A very large number of infographics users indicated that these means are attractive, effective, persuasive, focused, easy to embed, easy to read, artistic, easy to track, highly digestible data, easily shareable, easily rememberable, informative and understandable. About two-thirds of infographics users showed that they provided infographics through a computer-based format, followed by both printed and computer-based formats, and printed format. Barriers, such as lack of awareness of infographics, lack of knowledge about infographics, lack of time needed and lack of necessary technical skills, have been described as the greatest barriers to the use of infographics by library staff.

Originality/value

This study is one of the very few studies concerned with the potential role of using infographics in Egyptian public university libraries, which relates to the presentation of information in the library environment.
Digital transformation as a strategy to reach sustainability
Authors: Gomez-Trujillo Ana Maria , Gonzalez-Perez Maria Alejandra
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to summarize previous research findings on the mutual relation between digital transformation and sustainability at a firm-level. Up to date, there is a gap in the literature linking both concepts and a generalized call for more studies.

Design/methodology/approach

This research uses a systematic literature review of 89 published studies. After detailed content analysis filters, the authors used 75. The authors present the results following the “Six W” guidelines for systematic literature reviews.

Findings

Findings reveal that it is possible to suggest a research framework that considers digital transformation as a driver and a predecessor of sustainability. To survive the digital revolution, companies need to enhance their digital capabilities and balance their economic, environmental and social impacts.

Research limitations/implications

The precision of the equation used to search manuscripts might have excluded some critical studies that analyze both topics with different connotations beyond merely “Digital transformation” and “Sustainability.” Moreover, the heterogeneity of the findings makes it difficult to classify the findings in a specific context.

Originality/value

The present paper serves as a base to understand the implications of digital transformation on sustainable development for businesses and societies.
Appraising screening, making risk in/visible. The medical debate over Non‐Rare Thrombophilia (NRT) testing before prescribing the pill
Authors: Turrini Mauro , Bourgain Catherine
Published: July 2021

Non‐rare thrombophilia (NRT) are hereditary predispositions to thromboembolism, the most severe side effect of combined hormonal contraception. In the mid‐1990s, the identification of NRT stirred up a controversy over the possibility of investigating these genetic variants in women wishing to use contraception. Through a review of literature, this article reconstructs the debate over whether and how this genetic test should be prescribed as a way to reconfigure the risk visibility on pharmacological contraception. The main arguments identified concern the epidemiological, social, economic and clinical aspects of the test. In a context where the overall thrombotic risk for hormonal contraception is largely invisible, the genetic tests turn to embody the thrombotic risk itself. Those who opt for selective screening argue that a better estimation of risk implies a test prescription embed in a global medical assessment of women's individual risk. To advocates of universal or ‘extended’ screening, the tests are valuable tools to inform women on the thrombotic risk and, as such, appraised as a moral/legal obligation, whatever their predictive power. Risk visibility thus appears as an insightful concept to analyse a complex setting associating clinical, political, social and cultural considerations that touches upon medical power, women's responsibility and drug safety.
Infrared spectroscopy and forensic entomology: Can this union work? A literature review
Authors: Jales Jessica T. , Barbosa Taciano M. , de Medeiros Jucélia R. , de Lima Leomir A. S. , de Lima Kássio M. G. , Gama Renata A.
Published: July 2021

For more than two decades, infrared spectroscopy techniques combined with multivariate analysis have been efficiently applied in several entomological fields, such as Taxonomy and Toxicology. However, little is known about its use and applicability in Forensic entomology (FE) field, with vibrational techniques such as Near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and Medium‐infrared spectroscopy (MIRS) underutilized in forensic sciences. Thus, this work describes the potential of NIRS, MIRS, and other spectroscopic methodologies, for entomological analysis in FE, as well as discusses its future uses for criminal or civil investigations. After a thorough research on scientific journals database, a total of 33 publications were found in scientific journals, with direct or indirect application to FE, including experimental applications of NIRS and MIRS in taxonomic discrimination of species, larval age prediction, detection of toxic substances in insects from environments or crime scenes, and detection of internal or external infestations by live or dead insects in stored products. Besides, NIRS and MIRS combined with multivariate analysis were efficient, inexpensive, fast, and non‐destructive analytical tools. However, more than 51% of the spectroscopic publications are concentrated in the stored products field, and so we discuss the need for expansion and more direct application in other FE areas. We hope the number of articles continues to increase, and as NIRS and MIRS technology progress, they advance in forensic research and routine use.
Functional dissection and modulation of the BirA protein for improved autotrophic growth of gas‐fermenting Clostridium ljungdahlii
Authors: Zhang Can , Nie Xiaoqun , Zhang Huan , Wu Yuwei , He Huiqi , Yang Chen , Jiang Weihong , Gu Yang
Published: July 2021

Gas‐fermenting Clostridium species can convert one‐carbon gases (CO2/CO) into a variety of chemicals and fuels, showing excellent application prospects in green biological manufacturing. The discovery of crucial genes and proteins with novel functions is important for understanding and further optimization of these autotrophic bacteria. Here, we report that the Clostridium ljungdahlii BirA protein (ClBirA) plays a pleiotropic regulator role, which, together with its biotin protein ligase (BPL) activity, enables an effective control of autotrophic growth of C. ljungdahlii. The structural modulation of ClBirA, combined with the in vivo and in vitro analyses, further reveals the action mechanism of ClBirA’s dual roles as well as their interaction in C. ljungdahlii. Importantly, an atypical, flexible architecture of the binding site was found to be employed by ClBirA in the regulation of a lot of essential pathway genes, thereby expanding BirA’s target genes to a broader range in clostridia. Based on these findings, molecular modification of ClBirA was performed, and an improved cellular performance of C. ljungdahlii was achieved in gas fermentation. This work reveals a previously unknown potent role of BirA in gas‐fermenting clostridia, providing new perspective for understanding and engineering these autotrophic bacteria.
‘The Astronomic Muse’: Charles Burney and Astronomy
Authors: Bander Elaine
Published: July 2021

Late in life, musicologist Dr Charles Burney composed Astronomy: An Historical and Didactic Poem, a twelve‐canto poem on the history of astronomy, uniting his two amateur pastimes, poetry and astronomy. The poem led to friendship with Court Astronomer William Herschel, and for years Burney shared the work‐in‐progress, modelled (I argue) on Erasmus Darwin's scientific poems, in scribal coteries. Between 1807 and 1812, however, Burney burned the manuscript; only fragments survive. While biographer Roger Lonsdale attributes this destruction to Burney's ‘realization that for years he had been boring his friends’, I argue it was his fear, as he prepared the poem for publication, that the changing literary marketplace would damage his reputation as man of letters. My re‐dating of the major fragment reinforces this argument.
Bank Lending and Corporate Innovation: Evidence from SFAS 166/167*
Authors: Dou Yiwei , Xu Zhaoxia
Published: July 2021

Understanding the role of bank lending in corporate innovation is important to policymakers, practitioners, and academics. We provide new evidence on such a role by exploiting the implementation of SFAS 166/167, which removed the off‐balance sheet status of certain securitized assets of banks. The regulation affects bank lending and thus represents a credit supply shock to borrowing firms. We find that affected banks raise spreads and cut loan amounts after the regulation. Firms that borrow from affected banks reduce R&D investment and the number and quality of the patents they generate. The reduction is concentrated among firms whose banks experience more downward pressure on capital ratios and greater market discipline, and firms that are more dependent on external financing. Additional analyses reveal that information asymmetry between incumbent banks and outsiders with respect to borrowing firms prevent them from switching. The overall findings suggest that bank lending promotes borrowing firms' innovation activities. Policies that restrict bank lending are likely to hurt innovation of borrowers.
Performance of a phylogenetic independent contrast method and an improved pairwise comparison under different scenarios of trait evolution after speciation and duplication
Authors: Begum Tina , Serrano‐Serrano Martha Liliana , Robinson‐Rechavi Marc
Published: July 2021

Despite the importance of gene function to evolutionary biology, the applicability of comparative methods to gene function is poorly known. A specific case which has crystallized methodological questions is the ‘orthologue conjecture’, the hypothesis that function evolves faster after duplication (i.e. in paralogues), and conversely is conserved between orthologues. Since the mode of functional evolution after duplication is not well known, we investigate under which reasonable evolutionary scenarios phylogenetic independent contrasts or pairwise comparisons can recover a putative signal of different functional evolution between orthologues and paralogues.

We investigate three different simulation models, which represent reasonable but simplified hypotheses about the evolution of a gene function trait. These are time‐dependent trait acceleration, correlated changes in rates of both sequence and trait evolution and asymmetric trait jump. For each model we tested phylogenetic independent contrasts and an improved pairwise comparison method which accounts for interactions between events and node age.

Both approaches lose power to detect the trend of functional evolution when the functional trait accelerates for a long time following duplication for trees with many duplications, with better power of phylogenetic contrasts under intermediate scenarios. Concomitant increase in evolutionary rates of sequence and of trait after duplication can lead to both an incorrect rejection of the null under null simulations of trait evolution, and a false rejection of the orthologue conjecture under orthologue conjecture simulations, by phylogenetic independent contrasts. Improved pairwise comparisons are robust to this bias. Both approaches perform equally well under rapid shifts in traits.

Considering our ignorance of gene function evolution, and the potential for bias under simple models, we recommend methodological pluralism in studying gene family evolution. Functional phylogenomics is complex and results supported by only one method should be treated with caution.
ipmr: Flexible implementation of Integral Projection Models in R
Authors: Levin Sam C. , Childs Dylan Z. , Compagnoni Aldo , Evers Sanne , Knight Tiffany M. , Salguero‐Gómez Roberto
Published: July 2021

Integral projection models (IPMs) are an important tool for studying the dynamics of populations structured by one or more continuous traits (e.g. size, height, body mass). Researchers use IPMs to investigate questions ranging from linking drivers to population dynamics, planning conservation and management strategies, and quantifying selective pressures in natural populations. The popularity of stage‐structured population models has been supported by R scripts and packages (e.g. IPMpack, popbio, popdemo, lefko3) aimed at ecologists, which have introduced a broad repertoire of functionality and outputs. However, pressing ecological, evolutionary and conservation biology topics require developing more complex IPMs, and considerably more expertise to implement them. Here, we introduce ipmr, a flexible R package for building, analysing and interpreting IPMs.

The ipmr framework relies on the mathematical notation of the models to express them in code format. Additionally, this package decouples the model parameterization step from the model implementation step. The latter point substantially increases ipmr's flexibility to model complex life cycles and demographic processes.

ipmr can handle a wide variety of models, including those that incorporate density dependence, discretely and continuously varying stochastic environments, and multiple continuous and/or discrete traits. ipmr can accommodate models with individuals cross‐classified by age and size. Furthermore, the package provides methods for demographic analyses (e.g. asymptotic and stochastic growth rates) and visualization (e.g. kernel plotting).

ipmr is a flexible R package for integral projection models. The package substantially reduces the amount of time required to implement general IPMs. We also provide extensive documentation with six vignettes and help files, accessible from an R session and online.
External labour market competitions and stock price crash risk: evidence from exposures to competitor CEOs’ award‐winning events
Authors: Li Leye , Lu Louise Yi , Wang Dongyue
Published: July 2021

This study examines whether chief executive officers’ (CEOs’) external labour market competitions affect their firms’ stock price crash risks. Using CEOs’ exposure to the prestigious media‐award‐winning events of competitor CEOs, we document a significant increase in stock crash risk for firms with award‐exposed CEOs, compared with firms without such CEOs, and this treatment effect is attenuated by strong external monitoring and a high‐quality information environment, yet exacerbated by CEOs’ similarity with award winners and likelihood of winning the award. We further find that withholding bad news, risk taking and financial misreporting are the possible channels through which competitor CEOs’ award events affect stock price crash risk. Our study sheds new light on the formerly under‐researched adverse effects of CEO awards by suggesting that external labour market competition associated with CEO awards plays an important role in influencing extreme downside risk in the equity market.
Cold treatment: an effective post‐harvest disinfestation treatment for Bactrocera tryoni (Diptera: Tephritidae) in ‘gold3’ kiwifruit
Authors: Balagawi Solomon , Archer John , Cruickshank David , Cruickshank Christine , Barchia Idris
Published: July 2021

Queensland fruit fly (Qfly), Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt), is a major quarantine pest of fresh horticultural commodity along the eastern coastal region of Australia and restricts market access of its host commodity. Consequently, various post‐harvest disinfestation treatments are used to facilitate trade and one such treatment for Qfly is ‘cold disinfestation’. Our study evaluated the effect of cold storage as a post‐harvest disinfestation treatment for Qfly on ‘gold3’ kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis var. gold3‐sungold), a cultivar grown in New Zealand. Qfly is not present in New Zealand but due to its close proximity to Australia, New Zealand's trading partners have shown concern that Qfly presents a biosecurity risk to their own industry. Our study specifically aimed to demonstrate how this risk would be addressed. Experiment 1 investigated developmental rate of the individual life stages of Qfly in ‘gold3’ kiwifruit under optimal Qfly development conditions of 26 ± 1°C and 65 ± 5% rh, while experiment 2 focused on determination of the most cold tolerant life stage of Qfly in ‘gold3’ kiwifruits. Experiment 3 was a large‐scale confirmatory trial undertaken using the most cold tolerant life stage. The results revealed that Qfly successfully developed in ‘gold3’ kiwifruit and that the most‐cold tolerant Qfly life stage was the 1st instar. Our study further demonstrated that storage of ‘gold3’ kiwifruit at 2.5°C (fruit temperature) for a period of ≥12 days resulted in zero Qfly survival. The large‐scale verification trial treated 61,412 first instar and confirmed that storage of ‘gold3’ kiwifruit at 2.5°C for a 14‐day period resulted in 99.9951% mortality of first instar at the 95% confidence level, hence demonstrating a probit 8.7 level of efficacy. A 14‐day cold storage period was used in this confirmatory trial to ensure additional quarantine security. We recommend that if there was any Qfly infestation on ‘gold3’ kiwifruit, a post‐harvest quarantine treatment of cold storage at 2.5°C (fruit temperature) for a 14‐day period must be used to disinfest Qfly from ‘gold3’ kiwifruit.
Transient hypertriglyceridaemia associated with propranolol for treatment of infantile hemangioma
Authors: Farshchian Mehdi , Potts Geoffrey A.
Published: July 2021

We present a case of a one‐month‐old female patient with severe hypertriglyceridaemia as a side effect of treating an ulcerating infantile hemangioma with systemic propranolol. The remarkedly rapid increase in triglyceride returned to normal 96 hours after the discontinuation of the medication, and further follow‐up revealed normalisation of the lipid profile. Further research is necessary to unveil the association of systemic propranolol with hypertriglyceridaemia.
Knowing Animals: Multispecies Ethnography and the Scope of Anthropology
Authors: Hartigan John
Published: July 2021

Multispecies ethnographic projects are venturing “beyond the human” (Kohn 2013), but how far can they go and remain anthropological? The answer depends on whether such projects align with the surge of ethological research on animal cultures. Based on my fieldwork on wild horses in Galicia, Spain, I make a case for an ethologically informed ethnography that extends cultural analysis to other social species. In this project, I used ethological techniques of direct observation but analyzed the results using Erving Goffman's concepts of face, footing, and civil inattention. My analysis inverts Clifford Geertz's classic study of the Balinese cockfight by making horse sociality the center of analysis, rather than regarding these animals as representations of human status concerns. I argue that this approach can be usefully applied across the range of taxa that evince culture, particularly those caught up in conservation efforts. In developing this claim, I draw on ethnoprimatologists’ efforts to synthesize multispecies ethnography with ethological methods and perspectives. [multispecies ethnography, animal cultures, ethology]
Successful risk stratification of a patient with ventricular preexcitation by improved transesophageal electrophysiological study
Authors: Qin Chao , He Tao , Li Shuo
Published: July 2021

The patient is a 19 years‐old man who often wakes up in dreams with palpitations and fatigue. The ECG shows: 1. Sinus rhythm; 2. Preexcitation syndrome. Transesophageal electrophysiological study (TEEPS) diagnosis:High‐risk accessory pathway. During radiofrequency catheter ablation, the patient suddenly developed atrial fibrillation and quickly converted to ventricular fibrillation. After defibrillation, ventricular fibrillation is transformed into sinus rhythm. Subsequently, the patient's high‐risk accessory pathway was successfully ablated. Studies have shown that about 25% of patients with WPW syndrome have a refractory period of less than 250 ms, which is one of the risk factors for the conversion of atrial fibrillation to ventricular fibrillation. Therefore, risk stratification is recommended for these symptomatic patients. From 1980 to 1990, there were literature reports on risk stratification of patients with preexcitation syndrome by TEEPS. But it has not become a routine examination of risk stratification in patients with preexcitation syndrome.The reason may be related to the hardware conditions and risk stratification methods used at that time. The TEEPS equipment currently used in our hospital can control the pacing voltage at about 12 mv on average. The voltage in this case report is 9 mv only. In addition, we successfully stratified the risk of patient with preexcitation syndrome without inducing atrial fibrillation. All the electrophysiological records of the patient during the examination were recorded simultaneously with the 12‐lead ECG and the esophageal lead ECG. These improvements makes TEEPS a simple, safe and reliable non‐invasive cardiac electrophysiological detection technology, which is worth popularizing in hospitals.
Risk prediction score and appendicectomy in the elderly: a single centre 5‐year retrospective cohort study
Authors: Farkas Nicholas , Harris Holly , Conroy Michael , Kenny Ross , Bickford Benjamin , Baig Mirza
Published: July 2021

Background

Appendicitis is a common surgical emergency that can be a challenging entity to manage. In the elderly, it is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Risk prediction is not routinely performed prior to surgery.

Methods

All patients aged >65 years undergoing appendicectomy over 5 years from one NHS Trust were included. Age, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification system (ASA grade), Rockwood score, type of surgery, length of stay, morbidity and 90‐day mortality were recorded. ACS NSQIP was retrospectively calculated. Spearman's Rank correlation coefficient and linear regression analysis were conducted, assessing correlation between ASA, Age, Rockwood Score and ACS NSQIP with length of stay and post‐operative complications.

Results

A total of 225 patient cases were reviewed. A complication rate of 29.3% was recorded, with a 6.7% serious complication rate. Two mortalities occurred. ASA, Age, Rockwood and NSQIP scoring systems all showed low degree positive correlation with length of stay (+0.16–+0.34). As predictors of length of stay, ASA was superior. Rockwood and age showed low degree positive correlation (+0.25–+0.33) with post‐operative complications. NSQIP and ASA demonstrated a greater degree of correlation (+0.38–+0.40).

Conclusion

Both ASA and ACS NSQIP appear superior indicators for outcomes compared to age and Rockwood score. However, caution is warranted when interpreting the superiority of ASA over validated risk stratification tools. Therefore, we advocate the use of pre‐operative risk stratification for elderly patients undergoing low‐risk surgery such as appendicectomy. Validated tools are not routinely applied in many centres currently. Utilisation of scores such as ACS NSQIP may help improve consent, patient selection, outcomes and expectations.
Dependent radius marks of Laguerre tessellations: a case study
Authors: Stoyan Dietrich , Beneš Viktor , Seitl Filip
Published: July 2021

We study a particular marked three‐dimensional point process sample that represents a Laguerre tessellation. It comes from a polycrystalline sample of aluminium alloy material. The ‘points’ are the cell generators while the ‘marks’ are radius marks that control the size and shape of the tessellation cells. Our statistical mark correlation analyses show that the marks of the sample are in clear and plausible spatial correlation: the marks of generators close together tend to be small and similar and the form of the correlation functions does not justify geostatistical marking. We show that a simplified modelling of tessellations by Laguerre tessellations with independent radius marks may lead to wrong results. When we started from the aluminium alloy data and generated random marks by random permutation we obtained tessellations with characteristics quite different from the original ones. We observed similar behaviour for simulated Laguerre tessellations. This fact, which seems to be natural for the given data type, makes fitting of models to empirical Laguerre tessellations quite difficult: the generator points and radius marks have to be modelled simultaneously. This may imply that the reconstruction methods are more efficient than point‐process modelling if only samples of similar Laguerre tessellations are needed. We also found that literature recipes for bandwidth choice for estimating correlation functions should be used with care.
A Festschrift for Adrian Baddeley
Authors: Hazelton Martin L. , Turner R.
Published: July 2021

This article introduces a special issue of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Statistics, being a Festschrift for Adrian Baddeley on the occasion of his 65th birthday.
Hydroxycarbamide treatment reduces transcranial Doppler velocity in the absence of transfusion support in children with sickle cell anaemia, elevated transcranial Doppler velocity, and cerebral vasculopathy: the EXTEND trial
Authors: Rankine‐Mullings Angela , Reid Marvin , Soares Deanne , Taylor‐Bryan Carolyn , Wisdom‐Phipps Margaret , Aldred Karen , Latham Teresa , Schultz William H. , Knight‐Madden Jennifer , Badaloo Asha , Lane Adam , Adams Robert J. , Ware Russell E.
Published: July 2021

EXpanding Treatment for Existing Neurological Disease (EXTEND) investigated whether hydroxycarbamide lowers transcranial Doppler (TCD) velocities in Jamaican children with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) and elevated TCD velocity with or without previous stroke. Forty‐three children (age 2–17 years) with baseline maximum time‐averaged mean velocity (TAMV) ≥ 170 cm/s were stratified into three risk categories based on treatment status and stroke history: Group 1 (no history of stroke, on hydroxycarbamide, n = 12); and Groups 2 (no stroke, no hydroxycarbamide, n = 21) and 3 (previous stroke, no hydroxycarbamide, n = 10). Open‐label hydroxycarbamide at 20 mg/kg/day was commenced, with escalation to maximum tolerated dose (MTD) based on mild marrow suppression (average dose 25·4 ± 4·5 mg/kg/day). TCD was performed every six months with brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) at baseline and after 18‐months of hydroxycarbamide. The maximum TAMV decreased significantly compared to baseline (24 ± 30 cm/s, P < 0·0001), with similar declines in all groups. Clinical stroke occurred in five children, one in Group 1, none in Group 2, and four in Group 3, P = 0·0032, comparing group incidence rates. Brain MRI/MRA was stable in children without clinical stroke. EXTEND documents the feasibility and benefits of hydroxycarbamide at MTD to lower TCD velocities and reduce stroke risk in children with SCA and no history of primary stroke in low‐resource settings without transfusion management.
Multiregional sequencing and circulating tumour DNA analysis provide complementary approaches for comprehensive disease profiling of small lymphocytic lymphoma
Authors: Moia Riccardo , Favini Chiara , Ferri Valentina , Forestieri Gabriela , Terzi Di Bergamo Lodovico , Schipani Mattia , Sagiraju Sruthi , Andorno Annalisa , Rasi Silvia , Adhinaveni Ramesh , Talotta Donatella , Al Essa Wael , De Paoli Lorenzo , Margiotta Casaluci Gloria , Patriarca Andrea , Boldorini Renzo L. , Rossi Davide , Gaidano Gianluca
Published: July 2021

We aimed at molecularly dissecting the anatomical heterogeneity of small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), by analysing a cohort of 12 patients for whom paired DNA from a lymph node biopsy and circulating cells, as well as plasma‐circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) was available. Notably, the analyses of the lymph node biopsy and of circulating cells complement each other since a fraction of mutations (20·4% and 36·4%, respectively) are unique to each compartment. Plasma ctDNA identified two additional unique mutations. Consistently, the different synchronous sources of tumour DNA complement each other in informing on driver gene mutations in SLL harbouring potential prognostic and/or predictive value.
Infants’ Preference for Social Interactions Increases from 7 to 13 Months of Age
Authors: Thiele Maleen , Hepach Robert , Michel Christine , Haun Daniel
Published: July 2021

This study examined 7‐to‐13.5‐month‐old middle‐class Western infants’ visual orienting to third‐party interactions in parallel with their social attention behavior during own social interactions (Leipzig, Germany). In Experiment 1, 9.5‐ to‐11‐month‐olds (n = 20) looked longer than 7‐ to‐8.5‐month‐olds (n = 20) at videos showing two adults interacting with one another when simultaneously presented with a scene showing two adults acting individually. Moreover, older infants showed higher social engagement (including joint attention) during parent–infant free play. Experiment 2 replicated this age‐related increase in both measures and showed that it follows continuous trajectories from 7 to 13.5 months (n = 50). This suggests that infants’ attentional orienting to others’ interactions coincides with parallel developments in their social attention behavior during own social interactions.
Genetically predicted insulin‐like growth factor‐I in relation to muscle mass and strength
Authors: Yuan Shuai , Larsson Susanna C.
Published: July 2021

Objective

Insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I) has been associated with muscle status in animal‐ and population‐based studies. We conducted a Mendelian randomisation study to assess the causality of the associations of IGF‐I with muscle strength and mass.

Design and Patients

Genetic variants associated with serum IGF‐I at genome‐wide significance in the UK Biobank study (358,072 individuals of European descent) were selected as instrumental variables. Summary‐level data on the associations of those variants with muscle weakness (low‐grip strength) and muscle mass (fat‐free body mass) were available from a meta‐analysis of 22 genome‐wide association studies including 46,596 cases and 209,927 noncases and genome‐wide association analysis in 155,961 individuals from the UK Biobank study, respectively. The univariable and multivariable inverse‐variance weighted methods were used.

Results

Higher genetically predicted IGF‐I levels were associated with a reduced risk of muscle weakness and increased muscle mass. For one standard deviation increase in genetically predicted IGF‐I levels, the odds ratio was 0.92 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.88, 0.97; p = .001) for muscle weakness and the change was 0.53 (95% CI: 0.28, 0.79; p < .001) kg for muscle mass. In the multivariable model with adjustment for genetically predicted height, the associations were attenuated but persisted for both muscle weakness (odds ratio: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.91, 0.99; p = .015) and muscle mass (change: 0.25, 95% CI: 0.10, 0.40; p = .001).

Conclusion

This study suggests that high IGF‐I levels may decrease the risk of muscle weakness and loss.
Liver microphysiological platforms for drug metabolism applications
Authors: Kulsharova Gulsim , Kurmangaliyeva Akbota
Published: July 2021

Drug development is a costly and lengthy process with low success rates. To improve the efficiency of drug development, there has been an increasing need in developing alternative methods able to eliminate toxic compounds early in the drug development pipeline. Drug metabolism plays a key role in determining the efficacy of a drug and its potential side effects. Since drug metabolism occurs mainly in the liver, liver cell‐based alternative engineering platforms have been growing in the last decade. Microphysiological liver cell‐based systems called liver‐on‐a‐chip platforms can better recapitulate the environment for human liver cells in laboratory settings and have the potential to reduce the number of animal models used in drug development by predicting the response of the liver to a drug in vitro. In this review, we discuss the liver microphysiological platforms from the perspective of drug metabolism studies. We highlight the stand‐alone liver‐on‐a‐chip platforms and multi‐organ systems integrating liver‐on‐a‐chip devices used for drug metabolism mimicry in vitro and review the state‐of‐the‐art platforms reported in the last few years. With the development of more robust and reproducible liver cell‐based microphysiological platforms, the drug development field has the potential of reducing the costs and lengths associated with currently existing drug testing methods.
Pancreas transplantation perceptions and practice: Results from a national US survey
Authors: Parsons Ronald F. , Matar Abraham , Lentine Krista L. , Woodside Kenneth J. , Singh Neeraj , Alhamad Tarek , Basu Arpita , Cabeza Rivera Franco H. , Cheungpasitporn Wisit , Romeo Giulio , Rao Swati , Kensinger Clark D. , Parajuli Sandesh , Sultan Samuel , Tantisattamo Ekamol , Pavlakis Martha , Cooper Matthew
Published: July 2021

Background

Due to a substantial decline in pancreas transplantation (PT) across the United States over the past 15 years, we sought to understand the perceptions and practices of US PT programs.

Methods

Surveys were sent to members of the American Society of Transplantation Surgeons and the American Society of Transplantation by email and professional society postings between August 2019 and November 2019.

Results

One hundred twenty three responses were recorded from 56 unique programs. Program characteristics were obtained from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. Respondents were transplant surgeons (71%), transplant nephrologists (17%), trainees (9%), and allied professionals (3%). Programs were defined according to annual volume as: low (<5 PT/year), intermediate (6–20), or high (>20). High‐volume programs reported that these factors were most important for increased PT: expansion of recipient selection, more aggressive donor utilization, and hiring of PT program‐specific personnel. At both the program and national level, the vast majority (82% and 79%, respectively) felt the number of PTs currently performed are not in balance with patients' needs.

Conclusions

Overall, programs reported that the option of PT is not offered adequately to diabetic patients and that strategies to maintain higher PT volume are most evident at intermediate, and especially, high‐volume programs.
Outcomes of pregnancy in simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplant recipients: A single‐center retrospective study
Authors: Punjala Sai Rithin , Phillips Benedict Lyle , Chowdhury Paramit , Pile Taryn , Karydis Nikolaos , Kessaris Nicos , Olsburgh Jonathon , Harding Kate , Callaghan Chris J. , Nelson‐Piercy Catherine , Drage Martin
Published: July 2021

Simultaneous pancreas and kidney (SPK) transplantation, in uremic women with insulin‐dependent diabetes, increases the chance of a successful pregnancy and minimizes the risk to infants. The aim of this study was to document pregnancy and explore the challenges in this cohort of women. Retrospective analysis of women who underwent pancreas transplantation between January 1, 1998 and 8 January, 2019 was conducted. Seventeen pregnancies were identified in 13 women. Mean transplant‐to‐pregnancy interval was 4.6 years (range, 1.1–10.2 years). Eleven pregnancies resulted in live birth (65%), and six (35%) ended in miscarriage/fetal loss at a median gestational age of 8.5 weeks. Mean gestational age at delivery was 34.9 weeks (SD ±3 weeks). Preeclampsia and C‐section rates were 77% and 67%, respectively. Adverse fetal and graft outcomes were observed in 100% of unplanned pregnancies, compared to 10% of planned pregnancies (P < .001). One kidney allograft was lost during pregnancy; one pancreas and two kidney allografts were lost within 3 years of pregnancy. This is a high‐risk group for grafts and offspring. Pre‐pregnancy planning is vital. A multidisciplinary approach by obstetric and transplant teams is important pre‐pregnancy, antenatally, and peripartum. This is the largest published series of pregnancies in SPK recipients from a single center.
From Development State to Corporate Leviathan: Historicizing the Infrastructural Performativity of Digital Platforms within Kenyan Agriculture
Authors: Mann Laura , Iazzolino Gianluca
Published: July 2021

While there is growing literature on the role of platforms in concentrating market power, this article centres on their role in ‘performing’ economic theory. As infrastructures that measure, monitor and ultimately compel human behaviour, the authors argue that digital platforms should be understood as ‘performative infrastructures’ that seek to incorporate informal populations by compelling behaviour in line with certain theoretical and commercial models. The article draws on secondary historical literature and primary research with Kenyan and international agritech developers, farmers, and representatives from international organizations, regulators and farmer organizations, to historicize contemporary ‘platformization’ within a longer history of infrastructural performativity in rural Kenya, in order to tease out both continuities and departures from the past. While contemporary technologists evoke similar justifications for top‐down control over markets as did their analogue predecessors, they nonetheless seek to vest such power within the private sector and to use it to perform neoclassical theory. The authors argue that this particular orientation is not an intrinsic feature of the technology itself but is rather shaped by a longer history of shifting policy paradigms.
Why corporate board insiders still matter: Evidence using aggregate earnings shocks
Authors: Mukherjee Shibashish , Bonestroo H. Jelle M.
Published: July 2021

Corporate governance research lacks clarity on why, when, and what types of firms appoint non‐CEO board insiders because of the primary academic focus on board independence. While executive monitoring is relevant, it is equally salient to understand why firms appoint non‐CEO insiders to the boards. This concern is especially relevant when firms face financial difficulties during periods of macro hardship. Using the corporate socialization theory, we suggest that board insiders likely generate firm‐specific private information by utilizing their long‐tenured firm‐focused corporate experience. It would result in a unique form of non‐fungible expertise that firms would find valuable during macro hardships. Employing a difference‐in‐difference research design, consistent with our theory, we document that when firms experience a cross‐country macro hardship such as an aggregate earnings shock, they appoint long‐tenured and firm‐focused non‐CEO board insiders. We further show that financially distressed firms have a higher demand for such directors.
Revision of the Japanese species of Metanipponaphis (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and its allied genera
Authors: Aoki Shigeyuki , Kurosu Utako , Fukatsu Takema , Yeh Hsin‐Ting , Kutsukake Mayako
Published: July 2021

Species of the aphid genus Metanipponaphis (Hormaphidinae: Nipponaphidini) form galls on Distylium racemosum and migrate to Castanopsis trees. Japanese species of Metanipponaphis and its allied genera were revised based on molecular phylogenetic analyses. The genera Monzenia and Lithoaphis were united with Metanipponaphis, and Metanipponaphis was adopted as the valid name for the genus. Neonipponaphis shiiae was found belonging to another clade containing Nipponaphis species. The gall or primary‐host generation of M. shiicola was recorded for the first time. Little difference was found in their nucleotide sequences between M. cuspidatae, a host‐alternating species, and M. ihai, a monoecious species on D. racemosum. The molecular phylogenetic analyses also showed that the monoecious M. globuli is a sister species of the host‐alternating M. shiicola. The taxonomy and biology of six Metanipponaphis species and N. shiiae were reviewed, with keys to the species based on the apterous adults and first‐instar nymphs on Castanopsis spp.
Making the digital economy “fit for Europe”
Authors: Renda Andrea
Published: July 2021

Over the past three decades, cyberspace has gradually become an engine of unsustainable outcomes from an economic, social and environmental perspective. The European Commission has launched several new initiatives, in the attempt to restore public control over cyberspace, remedy the distributional imbalances generated by the rise of large‐scale digital platforms, and promote Europe's digital sovereignty. The paper argues that only by embedding rules and values in “code” and preserving openness towards the rest of the world will the EU manage to achieve its desired goals. Current initiatives such as the data strategy, the AI regulation, the Digital Services Act and the European Cloud Federation appear still too sparse and uncoordinated to really deliver on Europe's ambition to lead the world in the sustainable use of technology.
Long‐term increases in pathogen seroprevalence in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) influenced by climate change
Authors: Pilfold Nicholas W. , Richardson Evan S. , Ellis John , Jenkins Emily , Scandrett W. Brad , Hernández‐Ortiz Adrián , Buhler Kayla , McGeachy David , Al‐Adhami Batol , Konecsni Kelly , Lobanov Vladislav A. , Owen Megan A. , Rideout Bruce , Lunn Nicholas J.
Published: July 2021

The influence of climate change on wildlife disease dynamics is a burgeoning conservation and human health issue, but few long‐term studies empirically link climate to pathogen prevalence. Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are vulnerable to the negative impacts of sea ice loss as a result of accelerated Arctic warming. While studies have associated changes in polar bear body condition, reproductive output, survival, and abundance to reductions in sea ice, no long‐term studies have documented the impact of climate change on pathogen exposure. We examined 425 serum samples from 381 adult polar bears, collected in western Hudson Bay (WH), Canada, for antibodies to selected pathogens across three time periods: 1986–1989 (n = 157), 1995–1998 (n = 159) and 2015–2017 (n = 109). We ran serological assays for antibodies to seven pathogens:Toxoplasma gondii,Neospora caninum,Trichinellaspp.,Francisella tularensis,Bordetella bronchiseptica, canine morbillivirus (CDV) and canine parvovirus (CPV). Seroprevalence of zoonotic parasites (T. gondii,Trichinellaspp.) and bacterial pathogens (F. tularensis,B. bronchiseptica) increased significantly between 1986–1989 and 1995–1998, ranging from +6.2% to +20.8%, withT. gondiicontinuing to increase into 2015–2017 (+25.8% overall). Seroprevalence of viral pathogens (CDV, CPV) andN. caninumdid not change with time.Toxoplasma gondiiseroprevalence was higher following wetter summers, while seroprevalences ofTrichinellaspp. andB. bronchisepticawere positively correlated with hotter summers. Seroprevalence of antibodies toF. tularensisincreased following years polar bears spent more days on land, and polar bears previously captured in human settlements were more likely to be seropositive forTrichinellaspp. As the Arctic has warmed due to climate change, zoonotic pathogen exposure in WH polar bears has increased, driven by numerous altered ecosystem pathways.
Clinicopathological findings in patients with COVID‐19‐associated ischaemic enterocolitis
Authors: Zhang M Lisa , Jacobsen Frank , Pepe‐Mooney Brian J , Mino‐Kenudson Mari , Deshpande Vikram , Shih Angela R , Mattia Anthony R , Goessling Wolfram , Hwabejire John O , Velmahos George C , Misdraji Joseph
Published: July 2021

Aims

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has been recognised as a predominantly respiratory tract infection, but some patients manifest severe systemic symptoms/coagulation abnormalities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of severe COVID‐19 infection on the gastrointestinal tract.

Methods and results

We examined clinicopathological findings in 28 resected ischaemic bowels from 22 patients with severe COVID‐19. Most patients required intubation preoperatively and presented with acute decompensation shortly before surgery. D‐dimer levels were markedly elevated in all measured cases (mean, 5394 ng/ml). Histologically, 25 cases (19 patients) showed evidence of acute ischaemia with necrosis. In this group, the most characteristic finding was the presence of small vessel fibrin thrombi (24 of 25 cases, 96%), which were numerous in 64% of cases. Patients with COVID‐19 were significantly more likely than a control cohort of 35 non‐COVID‐19‐associated acute ischaemic bowels to show isolated small intestine involvement (32% versus 6%, P < 0.001), small vessel fibrin thrombi (100% versus 43%, P < 0.001), submucosal vessels with fibrinous degeneration and perivascular neutrophils (90% versus 54%, P < 0.001), fibrin strands within submucosal vessels (58% versus 20%, P = 0.007), and histological evidence of pneumatosis (74% versus 34%, P = 0.010). Three cases in this cohort had histopathological findings normally seen in the setting of chronic ischaemia, notably prominent fibroblastic proliferation affecting the outer layer of the muscularis propria.

Conclusions

Herein, we describe the histopathological findings in COVID‐19‐associated ischaemic bowels and postulate a relationship with the hypercoagulable state seen in patients with severe COVID‐19 infection. Additional experience with these cases may further elucidate specific features or mechanisms of COVID‐19‐associated ischaemic enterocolitis.