bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Mental Element in Equitable Accessory Liability
Authors: Ho Lusina
Published: April 2021

There has been heated debate over the test of dishonesty since it was first laid down in Royal Brunei Airlines v Tan. This paper argues that the essence of ‘dishonest’ assistance is willing participation in a breach of trust, that is, assistants endorse or accept their causal role in bringing it about. Three implications follow. First, the mental element should be fixed at the minimum level necessary to reflect endorsement rather than varying by the degree of causal contribution to the primary wrong. Second, the test of neither dishonesty nor knowledge fully captures the requisite mental element for endorsement. Third, a test framed in terms of intention and belief concerning the core elements of a breach would better identify the mental element of accessory liability in equity. This reformulated test would add much-needed transparency to mental element determination for equitable accessory liability.
Impact of skeletonized harvesting of the internal thoracic artery on intrasternal microcirculation considering preparation quality
Authors: Saemann Lars , Zubarevich Alina , Wenzel Folker , Soethoff Jasmin , Loganathan Sivakkanan , Korkmaz-Icöz Sevil , Karck Matthias , Szabó Gábor , Veres Gábor
Published: April 2021

OBJECTIVES

Previous studies have demonstrated the impact of internal thoracic artery (ITA) harvesting on microcirculation in parasternal tissues. However, the impact of skeletonized ITA harvesting on intrasternal microcirculation is unknown. Intraskeletal tissue perfusion has been proven to be crucial for deep wound healing. Furthermore, the impact of different levels of surgical preparation quality on intrasternal microcirculation has not been investigated yet.

METHODS

Sternal microcirculation (sLDP) was monitored with a novel Laser Doppler Perfusion needle probe, while the ITA was skeletonized in a pig model. To mimic different levels of preparation quality, satellite veins were either coagulated or not during preparation. To show the effect of ideally avoiding any surgical manipulation on sLDP, the ITA was clipped in a third sham-harvested group.

RESULTS

sLDP was reduced highly significant to 71 [standard deviation (SD): 9]% (P < 0.001) after skeletonized harvesting of the ITA. Coagulation of the satellite veins as a detrimental surgical factor resulted in a significantly stronger reduction of sLDP to 56 (SD: 11)% (P < 0.05) compared to sLDP with non-coagulated satellite veins. ITA clipping reduced sLDP highly significant to 71 (SD: 8)% (P < 0.001) in the sham-operated group.

CONCLUSIONS

ITA harvesting markedly impairs microcirculation of the sternum but remains unavoidable when coronary artery bypass grafting should be performed. Nevertheless, excessive surgical damage and coagulation of satellite veins is avoidable and should be reduced to a minimum to minimize the risk of deep sternal wound healing complications.
qRSt: A Probabilistic Robinson–Schensted Correspondence for Macdonald Polynomials
Authors: Aigner Florian , Frieden Gabriel
Published: April 2021

We present a probabilistic generalization of the Robinson–Schensted correspondence in which a permutation maps to several different pairs of standard Young tableaux with nonzero probability. The probabilities depend on two parameters $q$ and $t$, and the correspondence gives a new proof of the squarefree part of the Cauchy identity for Macdonald polynomials (i.e., the equality of the coefficients of $x_1 \cdots x_n y_1 \cdots y_n$ on either side, which are related to permutations and standard Young tableaux). By specializing $q$ and $t$ in various ways, one recovers the row and column insertion versions of the Robinson–Schensted correspondence, several $q$- and $t$-deformations of row and column insertion which have been introduced in recent years in connection with $q$-Whittaker and Hall–Littlewood processes, and the Plancherel measure on partitions. Our construction is based on Fomin’s growth diagrams and the recently introduced notion of a probabilistic bijection between weighted sets.
ZmPPR26, a DYW-type pentatricopeptide repeat protein, is required for C-to-U RNA editing at atpA-1148 in maize chloroplasts
Authors: Liu Xin-Yuan , Jiang Rui-Cheng , Wang Yong , Tang Jiao-Jiao , Sun Feng , Yang Yan-Zhuo , Tan Bao-Cai
Published: April 2021

Pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins are involved in the C-to-U RNA editing of organellar transcripts. The maize genome contains over 600 PPR proteins and few have been found to function in the C-to-U RNA editing in chloroplasts. Here, we report the function of ZmPPR26 in the C-to-U RNA editing and chloroplast biogenesis in maize. ZmPPR26 encodes a DYW-type PPR protein targeted to chloroplasts. The zmppr26 mutant exhibits albino seedling-lethal phenotype. Loss of function of ZmPPR26 abolishes the editing at atpA-1148 site, and decreases the editing at ndhF-62, rpl20-308, rpl2-2, rpoC2-2774, petB-668, rps8-182, and ndhA-50 sites. Overexpression of ZmPPR26 in zmppr26 restores the editing efficiency and rescues the albino seedling-lethal phenotype. Abolished editing at atpA-1148 causes a Leu to Ser change at AtpA-383 that leads to a reduction in the abundance of chloroplast ATP synthase in zmppr26. The accumulation of photosynthetic complexes are also markedly reduced in zmppr26, providing an explanation for the albino seedling-lethal phenotype. These results indicate that ZmPPR26 is required for the editing at atpA-1148 and is important for editing at the other seven sites in maize chloroplasts. The editing at atpA-1148 is critical for AtpA function, assembly of ATP synthase complex, and chloroplast biogenesis in maize.
Unraveling the impact on agronomic traits of the genetic architecture underlying plant-density responses in canola
Authors: Menendez Yesica C , Sanchez Diego H , Snowdon Rod J , Rondanini Deborah P , Botto Javier F
Published: April 2021

Plant density defines vegetative architecture and the competition for light between individuals. Brassica napus (canola, rapeseed) presents a radically different plant architecture compared to traditional crops commonly cultivated at high density, and can act as a model system of indeterminate growth. Using a panel of 152 spring-type accessions and a double-haploid population of 99 lines from a cross between the cultivars Lynx and Monty, we performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping for 12 growth and yield traits at two contrasting plant densities of 15 and 60 plants m–2. The most significant associations were found for time to flowering, biomass at harvest, plant height, silique and seed numbers, and seed yield. These were generally independent of plant density, but some density-dependent associations were found in low-density populations. RNA-seq transcriptomic analysis revealed distinctive latent gene-regulatory responses to simulated shade between Lynx and Monty. Having identified candidate genes within the canola QTLs, we further examined their influence on density responses in Arabidopsis lines mutated in certain homologous genes. The results suggested that TCP1 might promote growth independently of plant density, while HY5 could increase biomass and seed yield specifically at high plant density. For flowering time, the results suggested that PIN genes might accelerate flowering in plant a density-dependent manner whilst FT, HY5, and TCP1 might accelerate it in a density-independent. This work highlights the advantages of using agronomic field experiments together with genetic and transcriptomic approaches to decipher quantitative complex traits that potentially mediate improved crop productivity.
Warning Behaviors
Authors: Meloy J. Reid , Hoffmann Jens , Bibeau Lynne , Guldimann Angela
Published: April 2021

The typology of eight proximal warning behaviors for targeted violence was first introduced a decade ago. Since that time, a number of studies have continued to support its interrater reliability and its criterion, discriminant, and predictive validity. Among the warning behaviors, the three most validated in discriminating between attackers and nonattackers are pathway, identification, and last resort. All of the other warning behaviors—fixation, novel aggression, energy burst, leakage, and directly communicated threat—are found at various frequencies throughout all the samples tested to date, including intimate partner homicide perpetrators, school shooters, adult mass murderers, public figure attackers, and lone actor terrorists.
Public Figure Stalking and Attacks
Authors: Meloy J. Reid , Amman Molly , Hoffmann Jens
Published: April 2021

The operational research and understanding of public figure stalking and attacks continue to grow. This chapter reviews the current science as it pertains to politicians, celebrities, royalty, judges, religious leaders, corporate figures, athletes, and journalists. New concepts and research concerning the publicly intimate figure, fixation, grandiosity, intensity of pursuit, mental disorder and persistent emotional disturbance, target dispersion, extreme overvalued beliefs, and motivational changes are also discussed and applied to both threat assessment and threat management.
International Legal Perspectives on Threat Assessment
Authors: Mohandie Kris , Hoffmann Jens
Published: April 2021

Threat assessment and threat management occur within the evolving context of legal issues that both enhance and restrict threat investigation and intervention activities. Legal issues affecting threat management practice in Europe and the United States include criminal code statutes and case law that define relevant crimes such as stalking, criminal threats, domestic violence, and other violent crimes that fall within the purview of threat assessors. Additional issues include civil commitment procedures such as involuntary hospitalization, as well as bail and probation conditions. New developments in threat management–related laws are usually precipitated by tragedy and violence. Most recently, in the United States, this led to red flag laws and Extreme Risk Protection Orders in the aftermath of the Parkland, Florida, school shooting in 2018. Similarly, in Germany, the suicide of a stalking victim has resulted in greater sensitivity by the legal system to victim impact in stalking cases. Red flag law preliminary research data related to threat reduction have been promising, and ideally the impact of legislative changes in multiple threat management contexts on victim safety should continue to be assessed so that evidence informs violence risk legal responses.
False Allegations in Rape, Stalking, and Gang-Stalking
Authors: Sheridan Lorraine , James David V.
Published: April 2021

False allegations account for a proportion of most forms of reported crime, complicating the tasks of law enforcement personnel, prosecutorial authorities, and those involved in risk assessment and management. This chapter examines the research evidence on false claims of victimization in three specific areas, namely rape, stalking, and the associated phenomenon of “gang-stalking.” Studies of false allegations are beset with methodological difficulties that until comparatively recently have not been directly addressed, and this chapter focuses on the better designed research exercises. In particular, motivations for making false accusations are examined, as well as differences between identified true and false accusations, which are of practical interest to threat assessors. The most salient factors from the literature that may indicate a need for suspicion regarding the veracity of a claim are highlighted within practice boxes, which are accompanied by illustrative case examples.
Enhancing School Safety Using a Threat Assessment Model
Authors: Alathari Lina , Blair Ashley , Camilletti Catherine , Driscoll Steven , Drysdale Diana , McGarry Jeffrey , Snook Amanda
Published: April 2021

The U.S. Secret Service has a long-standing tradition of conducting threat assessments as part of its mandate to protect the President of the United States and other elected officials. Building on this experience, the Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) is dedicated to expanding the field of violence prevention by closely examining the targeted violence that affects communities across the United States, including targeted school violence. This chapter outlines NTAC’s recommendations for implementing behavioral threat assessment teams in K–12 schools, as outlined in Enhancing School Safety Using a Threat Assessment Model: An Operational Guide for Preventing Targeted School Violence (2018).
The Problem Behaviour Program
Authors: McEwan Troy E. , Darjee Rajan
Published: April 2021

The Problem Behaviour Program (PBP) in Melbourne, Australia, is a specialist service that provides assessment and treatment to people who engage in violence, stalking, harmful sexual behavior, fire-setting, or other problem behaviors, regardless of the presence or absence of clients’ mental illness. The purpose of the PBP is to provide comprehensive and evidence-based assessment of, advice about, and treatment for people presenting with these difficult and sometimes frightening behaviors. Given the nature of the clientele, staff expertise in threat assessment, as well as risk assessment more generally, is a key requirement for working in the PBP. This chapter describes the establishment and function of the clinic and the underlying model of care, governance structure, and staffing profile. A detailed case study of a client referred because of concern about the potential for serious sexual violence is used to show how threat and risk assessment is essential to the functioning of the PBP and how such assessment can inform effective intervention for a range of problematic and harmful behaviors.
Mitigating Harm in the Military
Authors: Rutz Scott
Published: April 2021

In 2013 the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) created a Threat Management Unit (TMU) to examine aberrant, aggressive, and violent behavior. This article examines the experiences of developing that unit from the most nascent stage: gathering information from experts, developing understanding of how the organization was handling concerning behavior cases, and deciding a process to be useful to consumers requiring threat assessment and threat management consultation. This chapter provides the learning, key observations, and ultimate structure of the CGIS TMU, as well as an overview of military culture and the military member personality, and suggestions on how to navigate the resources within a military organization.
A Review of the Working Dynamics of the Salem-Keizer/Cascade Student Threat Assessment and Willamette Valley Adult Threat Advisory Team Models
Authors: Dreal John Van , Okada David
Published: April 2021

This chapter outlines the step-by-step procedures for collaborative threat assessment in K–12 schools and communities. Focusing on the Salem-Keizer/Cascade model for student threat assessment and the Willamette Valley Adult Threat Advisory Team model for adult threat assessment, this chapter lists the sequential instructions and protocol for investigating and assessing threatening situations involving both youths and adults. The chapter also provides guidelines for conducting threat assessment through a collaborative process that involves both youth-serving and community-serving public agencies, such as K–12 education, higher education, law enforcement, public mental health services, youth and adult parole and probation, the courts, victim advocacy, and the district attorney’s office. While this chapter does not provide data, the model is currently being reviewed by three research projects that examine referral and intervention outcomes, including impacts on underserved and at-risk populations, overidentification of students of color, and the effectiveness of preventing the school-to-prison pipeline and expulsion. One of those projects has initially found that the model supports all students with inclusion and decreases the chances of arrest and expulsion. Finally, the chapter provides links to examples of assessment protocols with assessment questions.
Rapid mass transfer between the twin components in the hierarchical triple system GK Cep
Authors: Zhao E-G , Qian S-B , Zhou X , Li L-J , Zhu L-Y , Zhang L
Published: April 2021

GK Cep is an eclipsing binary that contains two A-type components with an orbital period of 0.936 d. The high mass ratio and the contact or near-contact configuration make it a key target to understand binary evolution. However, the physical properties and evolutionary state are still unknown. Here we present the UV light curve obtained by using the lunar-based ultraviolet telescope (LUT) and several eclipse times obtained with the Sino-Thai 70-cm telescope and the 1.0-m telescope at Yunnan Observatories. Analysis of the LUT light curve suggests that GK Cep is a near-contact semidetached system where the slightly less massive component is the hotter one that is filling the critical Roche lobe. Meanwhile, a hotspot is found on the neck of the more massive but cooler component. By using all available times for the light minimum, it is detected that the O–C curve shows a cyclic oscillation while it undergoes an upward parabolic change. The increase of the orbital period, the high mass ratio, the semidetached configuration with a lobe-filling less massive component, and the presence of a hotspot on the more massive component all suggest that GK Cep is in a key evolutionary state just after the shortest-period evolutionary stage during the rapid mass transfer. The cyclic change in the O–C curve reveals that GK Cep contains a solar-type stellar companion in a triply hierarchical system that is in agreement with the spectroscopic result. The third body contributes about 2.6 per cent to the total light of the triple system.
Classification of periodic variable stars with novel cyclic-permutation invariant neural networks
Authors: Zhang Keming , Bloom Joshua S
Published: April 2021

We present Cyclic-Permutation Invariant Neural Networks, a novel class of neural networks (NNs) designed to be invariant to phase shifts of period-folded periodic sequences by means of ‘symmetry padding’. In the context of periodic variable star light curves, initial phases are exogenous to the physical origin of the variability and should thus be immaterial to the downstream inference application. Although previous work utilizing NNs commonly operated on period-folded light curves, no approach to date has taken advantage of such a symmetry. Across three different data sets of variable star light curves, we show that two implementations of Cyclic-Permutation Invariant Networks—iTCN and iResNet—consistently outperform state-of-the-art non-invariant baselines and reduce overall error rates by between 4 to 22 per cent. Over a 10-class OGLE-III sample, the iTCN/iResNet achieves an average per-class accuracy of 93.4 per cent/93.3 per cent, compared to recurrent NN/random forest accuracies of 70.5 per cent/89.5 per cent in a recent study using the same data. Finding improvement on a non-astronomy benchmark, we suggest that the methodology introduced here should also be applicable to a wide range of science domains where periodic data abounds.
Organ-, sex- and age-dependent patterns of endogenous L1 mRNA expression at a single locus resolution
Authors: Stow Emily C , Kaul Tiffany , deHaro Dawn L , Dem Madeleine R , Beletsky Anna G , Morales Maria E , Du Qianhui , LaRosa Alexis J , Yang Hanlin , Smither Emily , Baddoo Melody , Ungerleider Nathan , Deininger Prescott , Belancio Victoria P
Published: April 2021

Expression of L1 mRNA, the first step in the L1 copy-and-paste amplification cycle, is a prerequisite for L1-associated genomic instability. We used a reported stringent bioinformatics method to parse L1 mRNA transcripts and measure the level of L1 mRNA expressed in mouse and rat organs at a locus-specific resolution. This analysis determined that mRNA expression of L1 loci in rodents exhibits striking organ specificity with less than 0.8% of loci shared between organs of the same organism. This organ specificity in L1 mRNA expression is preserved in male and female mice and across age groups. We discovered notable differences in L1 mRNA expression between sexes with only 5% of expressed L1 loci shared between male and female mice. Moreover, we report that the levels of total L1 mRNA expression and the number and spectrum of expressed L1 loci fluctuate with age as independent variables, demonstrating different patterns in different organs and sexes. Overall, our comparisons between organs and sexes and across ages ranging from 2 to 22 months establish previously unforeseen dynamic changes in L1 mRNA expression in vivo. These findings establish the beginning of an atlas of endogenous L1 mRNA expression across a broad range of biological variables that will guide future studies.
catRAPIDomics v2.0: going deeper and wider in the prediction of protein–RNA interactions
Authors: Armaos Alexandros , Colantoni Alessio , Proietti Gabriele , Rupert Jakob , Tartaglia Gian Gaetano
Published: April 2021

Prediction of protein–RNA interactions is important to understand post-transcriptional events taking place in the cell. Here we introduce catRAPID omics v2.0, an update of our web server dedicated to the computation of protein–RNA interaction propensities at the transcriptome- and RNA-binding proteome-level in 8 model organisms. The server accepts multiple input protein or RNA sequences and computes their catRAPID interaction scores on updated precompiled libraries. Additionally, it is now possible to predict the interactions between a custom protein set and a custom RNA set. Considerable effort has been put into the generation of a new database of RNA-binding motifs that are searched within the predicted RNA targets of proteins. In this update, the sequence fragmentation scheme of the catRAPID fragment module has been included, which allows the server to handle long linear RNAs and to analyse circular RNAs. For the top-scoring protein–RNA pairs, the web server shows the predicted binding sites in both protein and RNA sequences and reports whether the predicted interactions are conserved in orthologous protein–RNA pairs. The catRAPID omics v2.0 web server is a powerful tool for the characterization and classification of RNA-protein interactions and is freely available at http://service.tartaglialab.com/page/catrapid_omics2_group along with documentation and tutorial.
OmicsAnalyst: a comprehensive web-based platform for visual analytics of multi-omics data
Authors: Zhou Guangyan , Ewald Jessica , Xia Jianguo
Published: April 2021

Data analysis and interpretation remain a critical bottleneck in current multi-omics studies. Here, we introduce OmicsAnalyst, a user-friendly, web-based platform that allows users to perform a wide range of well-established data-driven approaches for multi-omics integration, and visually explore their results in a clear and meaningful manner. To help navigate complex landscapes of multi-omics analysis, these approaches are organized into three visual analytics tracks: (i) the correlation network analysis track, where users choose among univariate and multivariate methods to identify important features and explore their relationships in 2D or 3D networks; (ii) the cluster heatmap analysis track, where users apply several cutting-edge multi-view clustering algorithms and explore their results via interactive heatmaps; and (iii) the dimension reduction analysis track, where users choose among several recent multivariate techniques to reveal global data structures, and explore corresponding scores, loadings and biplots in interactive 3D scatter plots. The three visual analytics tracks are equipped with comprehensive options for parameter customization, view customization and targeted analysis. OmicsAnalyst lowers the access barriers to many well-established methods for multi-omics integration via novel visual analytics. It is freely available at https://www.omicsanalyst.ca.
MyCLADE: a multi-source domain annotation server for sequence functional exploration
Authors: Vicedomini Riccardo , Blachon Clémence , Oteri Francesco , Carbone Alessandra
Published: April 2021

The ever-increasing number of genomic and metagenomic sequences accumulating in our databases requires accurate approaches to explore their content against specific domain targets. MyCLADE is a user-friendly webserver designed for targeted functional profiling of genomic and metagenomic sequences based on a database of a few million probabilistic models of Pfam domains. It uses the MetaCLADE multi-source domain annotation strategy, modelling domains based on multiple probabilistic profiles. MyCLADE takes a list of protein sequences and possibly a target set of domains/clans as input and, for each sequence, it provides a domain architecture built from the targeted domains or from all Pfam domains. It is linked to the Pfam and QuickGO databases in multiple ways for easy retrieval of domain and clan information. E-value, bit-score, domain-dependent probability scores and logos representing the match of the model with the sequence are provided to help the user to assess the quality of each annotation. Availability and implementation: MyCLADE is freely available at http://www.lcqb.upmc.fr/myclade.
Why We Need a New Normativism about Collective Action
Authors: Gomez-Lavin Javier , Rachar Matthew
Published: April 2021

What do we owe each other when we act together? According to normativists about collective action, necessarily something and potentially quite a bit. They contend that collective action inherently involves a special normative status amongst participants, which may, for example, involve mutual obligations to receive the concurrence of the others before leaving. We build on recent empirical work whose results lend plausibility to a normativist account by further investigating the specific package of mutual obligations associated with collective action according to our everyday understanding. However, our results cast doubt on a proposed obligation to seek the permission of co-actors before exiting a collective action, and suggest instead that this obligation is a function of explicit promising. We then discuss how our results pave the path for a new normativism, a theory that neither under- nor overshoots the target given by our common conception of the interpersonal obligations present in collective action.*
Association of undernutrition with dengue, malaria and acute diarrhea among children in a Thai–Myanmar border
Authors: Kurahashi Yukiya , Hattasingh Weerawan , Chatchen Supawat , Yingtaweesak Tawatchai , Sirivichayakul Chukiat
Published: April 2021

Background

Undernutrition has been shown to be associated with various infectious diseases. However, the recent improvement in nutritional status and management for infectious diseases worldwide necessitates the re-evaluation of this association.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted in children aged <14 years old with dengue, malaria or acute diarrhea who visited or were admitted to Tha Song Yang hospital, near the Thai–Myanmar border.

Results

Most of the patients had mild disease and most of the undernourishment was mild. The prevalence of underweight in dengue, malaria and acute diarrhea was 24.0%, 34.7% and 38.7%, respectively, and the prevalence of low height for age was 12.0%, 36.0% and 36.0%, respectively. Malaria and acute diarrhea were associated with underweight but not low height for age. Dengue was neither associated with underweight nor low height for age.

Conclusion

Although there has been an improvement in nutritional status and health care facilities, underweight has been still prevalent in rural areas and associated with malaria and acute diarrhea.

Implication

The surveillance for nutritional status should be continuously performed particularly in children with some diseases, e.g. malaria and acute diarrhea, and additional food supplementation should be provided.
Therapeutic options for cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa: a systematic review
Authors: Papachristodoulou Eleni , Kakoullis Loukas , Tiniakou Eleni , Parperis Konstantinos
Published: April 2021

Objective

Cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa (CPAN) is a necrotizing vasculitis of the middle-size vessels, confined to the skin. We conducted a systematic review in order to identify studies evaluating the different treatment modalities used in CPAN.

Methods

This systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines, registered in PROSPERO: CRD42020222195. PubMed/Medline databases were searched from inception to December of 2020 using the terms: (Polyarteritis nodosa[Title/Abstract]) AND ((therapy[Title/Abstract]) OR (management[Title/Abstract]) OR (treatment[Title/Abstract]))’ and ‘Cutaneous arteritis [Title/Abstract]’. Articles evaluating pertaining to the management of CPAN in adults were eligible for inclusion.

Results

A total of seven eligible case series with 325 unique patients were included. No study included a control population. In general, systemic corticosteroids were widely used as induction treatment. Immunosuppressive agents combined with corticosteroids were AZA, hydroxychloroquine, sulfasalazine, sulphapyridine, CYC, MTX, mycophenolate, tacrolimus, rituxima and thalidomide. Other agents utilized in the studies were dapsone, colchicine, non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, salicylates, warfarin and clopidogrel. In some studies, the presence of ulcerations was associated with an increased risk of relapse.

Conclusion

The evidence available regarding the management of patients with CPAN is limited at best. Further studies are needed in order to evaluate the effect of treatment on disease remission, relapses and mortality.
Comprehensive microRNA and transcriptomic profiling of rheumatoid arthritis monocytes: role of microRNA-146b in pro-inflammatory progression
Authors: Ciechomska Marzena , Wojtas Bartosz , Bonek Krzysztof , Roszkowski Leszek , Gluszko Piotr , Benes Vladimir , Maslinski Wlodzimierz
Published: April 2021

Objective

To explore global miRNA and transcriptomic profiling of monocytes from RA patients compared with healthy controls in order to predict which aberrantly expressed miRNA can negatively modulate inflammatory molecules.

Methods

Using next-generation sequencing, we have performed simultaneous global analysis of miRNA (miRNA-seq) and transcriptome (RNA-seq) of monocytes from RA patients and healthy controls. Global analysis of miRNA of SSc monocytes was also performed. Following differential analysis and negative correlation, miRNA–RNA pairs were selected.

Results

We found that 20 specific miRNA candidates are predicted to silence inflammatory mediators, out of 191 significantly changed miRNAs in RA monocytes. Based on the highest scoring in terms of negative correlation (r = −0.97, P = 1.75e–07, false discovery rate = 0.04) and the number of seeds in miRNA responsible for negative regulation, we selected miRNA-146b and its target gene anti-inflammatory retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARA). Similarly to next-generation sequencing, qPCR analysis also confirmed negative correlation between miRNA-146b and RARA expression (r = −0.45, P = 0.04). Additionally, miRNA-146b expression in RA monocytes significantly correlated with clinical parameters including DAS28 for RA with CRP (DAS28-CRP) and ESR (DAS28-ESR), whereas overexpression of miRNA-146b was able to functionally reduce RARA expression in the human monocytic cell line THP-1. Finally, circulating miRNA-146b expression in sera and SFs was significantly elevated in RA patients.

Conclusions

Overall, in this study we have identified a new miRNA-146b candidate that is predicted to negatively regulate the anti-inflammatory RARA transcript, whereas circulating miRNA-146b level can be used as a biomarker predicting pro-inflammatory RA progression and disease activity.
State financial interests and changes in investment behavior of institutional investors: the case of financial market development in Israel
Authors: Maman Daniel
Published: April 2021

Institutional investors are key actors in the financial markets of diverse developed economies. Their tendency toward diversification and risk-taking behavior is well documented, yet insufficient attention has been paid to the sources of this behavior. Based on the case of emerging financial markets in Israel, this paper argues that in adopting various neoliberal reforms, state agencies induced institutional investors to change their investment behavior toward diversification and greater risk-taking. Until the early 2000s, Israel’s institutional investors were marginal actors in a financial system designed to support state-building, primarily investing in government bonds and bank deposits. As changing state financial interests induced market changes, institutional investors emerged as autonomous actors, diversifying their investments to also include corporate bonds, stocks and investments in foreign financial markets. With individuals’ growing dependency on institutional investors for their financial security, greater insight into the role of state agencies in financial markets could help identify factors affecting their functioning in financial capitalism.
The Clarion Call of the COVID-19 Pandemic: How Medical Education Can Mitigate Racial and Ethnic Disparities
Authors: Prince Andrew D.P. , Green Alexander R. , Brown David J. , Thompson Dana M. , Neblett Enrique W. , Nathan Cherie-Ann , Carethers John M. , Gee Rebekah E. , Gruppen Larry D. , Mangrulkar Rajesh S. , Brenner Michael J.
Published: April 2021

Public health crises palpably demonstrate how social determinants of health have led to disparate health outcomes. The staggering mortality rates among African Americans, Native Americans, and Latinx Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic have revealed how recalcitrant structural inequities can exacerbate disparities and render not just individuals but whole communities acutely vulnerable. While medical curricula that educate students about disparities are vital in rousing awareness, it is experience that is most likely to instill passion for change. The authors first consider the roots of health care disparities in relation to the current pandemic. Then, they examine the importance of salient learning experiences that may inspire a commitment to championing social justice. Experiences in diverse communities can imbue medical students with a desire for lifelong learning and advocacy. The authors introduce a 3-pillar framework that consists of trust building, structural competency, and cultural humility. They discuss how these pillars should underpin educational efforts to improve social determinants of health. Effecting systemic change requires passion and resolve; therefore, perseverance in such efforts is predicated on learners caring about the structural inequities in housing, education, economic stability, and neighborhoods—all of which influence the health of individuals and communities.
Hematoma Block
Authors: House David Thomas
Published: April 2021

Management of traumatic extremity injuries in the emergency department is typically time consuming, often requiring multiple resources including pain control and procedural sedation. A hematoma block is a safe and effective alternative treatment of pain and may eliminate the need for procedural sedation. The hematoma block requires fewer emergency department resources and may decrease time and costs that are associated with procedural sedation and analgesia. This technique is easily performed by the emergency nurse practitioner, and complications are rare. This article presents the appropriate technique required to perform a hematoma block for pain control and fracture reduction in patients with closed traumatic injuries.
Inter-Subject Correlation during New Music Listening: A Study of Electrophysiological and Behavioral Responses to Steve Reich’sPiano Phase
Authors: Dauer Tysen , Nguyen Duc T. , Gang Nick , Dmochowski Jacek P. , Berger Jonathan , Kaneshiro Blair
Published: April 2021

Musical minimalism utilizes the temporal manipulation of restricted collections of rhythmic, melodic, and/or harmonic materials. One example, Steve Reich’sPiano Phase, offers listeners readily audible formal structures containing unpredictable events at local levels. Pattern recurrences may generate strong expectations which are violated by small temporal and pitch deviations. A hyper-detailed listening strategy prompted by these minute deviations stands in contrast to the type of listening engagement typically cultivated around functional tonal Western music. Recent research has suggested that the inter-subject correlation (ISC) of electroencephalographic (EEG) responses to natural audio-visual stimuli objectively indexes a state of “engagement”, demonstrating the potential of this approach for analyzing music listening. But can ISCs capture engagement with minimal music, which features less obvious expectation formation and has historically received a wide range of reactions? To approach this question, we collected EEG and continuous behavioral (CB) data while 30 adults listened to an excerpt from Steve Reich’sPiano Phase, as well as three controlled manipulations and a popular-music remix of the work. Our analyses reveal that EEG and CB ISC are highest for the remix stimulus and lowest for our most repetitive manipulation. In addition, we found no statistical differences in overall EEG ISC between our most musically meaningful manipulations and Reich’s original piece. We also found that aesthetic evaluations corresponded well with overall EEG ISC. Finally we highlight co-occurrences between stimulus events and time-resolved EEG and CB ISC. We offer the CB paradigm as a useful analysis measure and note the value of minimalist compositions as a limit case for studying music listening using EEG ISC. We show that ISC is less effective at measuring engagement with this minimalist stimulus than with popular music genres and argue that this may be due to a difference between the type of engagement measured by ISC and the particular engagement patterns associated with minimalism.
A selective glucocorticoid receptor modulator attenuates lung inflammation and improves alveolarization in a neonatal rat model of bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Authors: Ishikawa Shoichi , Ogihara Tohru , Yamaoka Shigeo , Shinohara Jun , Kawabata Shigeru , Hirose Yoshinobu , Ashida Akira
Published: April 2021

Background

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a major problem for extremely preterm infants. Glucocorticoids effectively treat BPD; however, they have many side effects. Compound A (Cpd A) is a nonsteroidal Selective Glucocorticoid Receptor Modulator (SEGRM) that acts as a glucocorticoid receptor ligand without inducing the expression of glucocorticoid-response element-driven genes. Cpd A reportedly has anti-inflammatory properties with fewer side effects than glucocorticoids.

Methods

Using a bleomycin (Bleo)-induced BPD model, we evaluated the therapeutic effects of Cpd A. 0-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats were administered Bleo for 10 days and treated with dexamethasone (Dex) or Cpd A from day 0 to 13. We evaluated lung pathology by histology and the mRNA levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and chemokines, CXCL1 and CCL2.

Results

Bleo-treated mice had lungs with impaired alveolarization. Dex and Cpd A treatments improved the alveolar structure, attenuating the lung injury. Bleo-exposed lungs had increased inflammatory cells recruitment and inflammatory mediator mRNA levels. Cpd A treatment reduced inflammatory cells infiltration and CXCL1, CCL2 and TGF-β1 expression.

Conclusion

Cpd A improved lung inflammation and alveolar maturation arrest, and restored histological and biochemical changes in a model of BPD. SEGRMs, including Cpd A, are promising candidates for the therapy of BPD.

Impact Statement

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What is the key message of your article?

Compound A decreased lung inflammation and improved lung morphometric changes in Bleomycin-exposed lungs.

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What does it add to the existing literature?

Compound A has anti-inflammatory effects in an experimental model of BPD.

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What is the impact?

SEGRMs, including Cpd A, may be promising candidates for the therapy of BPD.
Sensory processing dysregulations as reliable translational biomarkers inSYNGAP1haploinsufficiency
Authors: Carreño-Muñoz Maria Isabel , Chattopadhyaya Bidisha , Agbogba Kristian , Côté Valérie , Wang Siyan , Lévesque Maxime , Avoli Massimo , Michaud Jacques L. , Lippé Sarah , Di Cristo Graziella
Published: April 2021

Amongst the numerous genes associated with intellectual disability,SYNGAP1stands out for its frequency and penetrance of loss-of-function variants found in patients, as well as the wide range of co-morbid disorders associated with its mutation. Most studies exploring the pathophysiological alterations caused bySyngap1haploinsufficiency in mouse models have focused on cognitive problems and epilepsy, however whether and to what extent sensory perception and processing are altered bySyngap1haploinsufficiency is less clear. By performing EEG recordings in awake mice, we identified specific alterations in multiple aspects of auditory and visual processing, including increased baseline gamma oscillation power, increased theta/gamma phase amplitude coupling following stimulus presentation and abnormal neural entrainment in response to different sensory modality-specific frequencies. We also report lack of habituation to repetitive auditory stimuli and abnormal deviant sound detection. Interestingly, we found that most of these alterations are present in human patients as well, thus making them strong candidates as translational biomarkers of sensory-processing alterations associated withSYNGAP1/Syngap1haploinsufficiency.
PROXIMA-1 beamline for macromolecular crystallography measurements at Synchrotron SOLEIL
Authors: Chavas Leonard M. G. , Gourhant Patrick , Guimaraes Beatriz G. , Isabet Tatiana , Legrand Pierre , Lener Robin , Montaville Pierre , Sirigu Serena , Thompson Andrew
Published: April 2021

The undulator beamline PROXIMA-1 at Synchrotron SOLEIL scheduled its first users in March 2008. The endstation is dedicated to biomolecular crystallography experiments, with a layout designed to favour anomalous data recording and studies of crystals with large cell dimensions. In 12 years, the beamline has accommodated 4267 shifts of 8 h and more than 6300 visitors. By the end of 2020, it saw 1039 identified published scientific papers referring to 1415 coordinates deposited in the Protein Data Bank. The current paper describes the PROXIMA-1 beamline, including the recent specific implementations developed for the sample environment. The setup installed in the experimental station contains numerous beam-shaping equipment, a chi-geometry three-axis goniometer, a single-photon-counting pixel-array X-ray detector, combined with a medium-throughput sample exchange robot. As part of a standard experimental scheme, PROXIMA-1 can also be accessed via `mail-in' services or remotely.
Birth mode of family firms, family entering time and R&D investment: evidence from China
Authors: Zulfiqar Muhammad , Chen Shihua , Yousaf Muhammad Usman
Published: April 2021

Purpose

On the basis of behavioural agency theory and resource-based view, this study investigates the influence of family firm birth mode (i.e. indirect-established or direct-established), family entering time on R&D investment and the moderating role of the family entering time on the relationship between birth mode and R&D investment.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors collected 2,990 firm-year observations from family firms listed on A-share in China from 2008 to 2016 in the China Stock Market and Accounting Research database. They used pooled regression for data analysis and Tobit regression for robustness checks.

Findings

Indirect-established family firms show more inclined behaviour towards R&D investment than direct-established counterparts. Family entering time positively affects the R&D investment of family firms. Moreover, family entering time plays a significant moderating role in the relationship between family firm birth mode (i.e. indirect-established or direct-established) and R&D investment.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this work is a pioneering study that introduced the concept of family firm birth mode (i.e. indirect-established or direct-established) and family entering time. This work is novel because it differentiated family firms according to their birth modes, an approach which is a contribution to the existing literature of family firms. Moreover, the investigation of the moderating role of family entering time has also produced notable results that help understand the impact of family entering time on different types of family firms. The interpretation of outcomes according to behavioural agency theory also produced useful insights for future researchers as well as for policymakers.
Enhancing data-driven elderly appointment services in domestic care communities under COVID-19
Authors: Lam H.Y. , Ho G.T.S. , Mo Daniel Y. , Tang Valerie
Published: April 2021

Purpose

Under the impact of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), this paper contributes in the deployment of the Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT)-based system, namely AIoT-based Domestic Care Service Matching System (AIDCS), to the existing electronic health (eHealth) system so as to enhance the delivery of elderly-oriented domestic care services.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed AIDCS integrates IoT and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies to (1) capture real-time health data of the elderly at home and (2) provide the knowledge support for decision making in the domestic care appointment service in the community.

Findings

A case study was conducted in a local domestic care centre which provided elderly oriented healthcare services to the elderly. By integrating IoT and AI into the service matching process of the mobile apps platform provided by the local domestic care centre, the results proved that customer satisfaction and the quality of the service delivery were improved by observing the key performance indicators of the transactions after the implementation of the AIDCS.

Originality/value

Following the outbreak of COVID-19, this is a new attempt to overcome the limited research done on the integration of IoT and AI techniques in the domestic care service. This study not only inherits the ability of the existing eHealth system to automatically capture and monitor the health status of the elderly in real-time but also improves the overall quality of domestic care services in term of responsiveness, effectiveness and efficiency.
Qualitative comparative analysis in the information systems discipline: a literature review and methodological recommendations
Authors: Mattke Jens , Maier Christian , Weitzel Tim , Thatcher Jason Bennett
Published: April 2021

Purpose

Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) is a promising, powerful method that is increasingly used for IS research. However, the Information Systems (IS) discipline still lacks a shared understanding of how to conduct and report QCA. This paper introduces the fundamental concepts of QCA, summarizes the status quo, and derives recommendations for future research.

Design/methodology/approach

A descriptive literature review in major IS outlets summarizes how and why QCA has been used in the IS discipline, critically evaluates the status quo, and derives recommendations for future QCA studies.

Findings

The literature review reveals 32 empirical research articles in major IS journals that have used the QCA method. Articles applied QCA to a broad range of research topics at the individual and organizational levels, mainly as a standalone analysis for theory development, elaboration and testing. The authors also provide evidence that most published IS research articles do not take full advantage of the potential QCA, such as analyzing necessary causal conditions or testing the robustness of QCA results. The authors provide seven actionable recommendations for future IS research using QCA.

Originality/value

The literature review assesses the status quo of QCA’s application in the IS discipline and provides specific recommendations on how IS researchers can leverage the full potential of QCA.