bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing disclosure by money exchange providers in the GCC countries
Authors: Siddique Md Abubakar , Nobanee Haitham , Atayah Osama Fayez , Bayzid Mohammed Khereldin
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to measure anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) disclosures by money exchanger providers in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conduct a content analysis on firms’ websites to compare their AML/CTF disclosure against the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The authors use a one-sample t-test to examine the degree of these disclosures.

Findings

Overall, money exchange providers in GCC countries do not demonstrate a high degree of AML/CTF disclosure (20.27%). Country-wise disclosure levels are: Qatar 31%, UAE 19%, Kuwait 17.1%, Oman 26.27%, Bahrain 23.27% and KSA 6.1%.

Research limitations/implications

The study contributes immensely to understanding the disclosure behavior of this sector. It also helps in assessing their compliance with FATF recommendations.

Practical implications

The results show poor AML/CTF disclosure and compliance by money exchange providers, which should lead to increased regulations by policymakers and more disclosure by practitioners.

Social implications

Money laundering (ML) and terrorism financing (TF) can adversely affect societies. This study should help regulators to identify vulnerable areas in ML and TF activities, compare disclosures by companies in their countries with those of other countries and identify areas for improvement.

Originality/value

The study is a novel attempt. No study has been undertaken before to investigate AML and CTF disclosure by money exchange providers either globally, regionally or in any country.
Adaptive capacity configurations for the digital transformation: a fuzzy-set analysis of Chinese manufacturing firms
Authors: Liu Jian , Yang Wei , Liu Wan
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Emerging in recent years, digital transformation has become an effective approach for firms to remain competitive in the digital economy. Although this trend has received increasing interest in the business world, there remains a lack of empirical research on the organizational capacities that facilitate digital transformation. To fill this research gap, we investigate the relationship between adaptive capacity configuration and the performance of digital transformation.

Design/methodology/approach

We use fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to identify the impact of adaptive capacity on the digital transformation performance of 38 firms in the household appliance manufacturing, light manufacturing and clothing manufacturing industries (HAMI, LMI, CMI).

Findings

Our analysis reveals a Technology-driven transformation configuration for the HAMI, a Market-driven transformation configuration for the LMI and a Market and Management-driven transformation configuration for the CMI, as well as identifies environment scanning capacity as a common basic adaptive capacity. The first configuration is rooted in the innovation mechanism, and the last two configurations are rooted in the integration mechanism.

Practical implications

Enterprises in different industries with unique technology levels require distinctive capacity configurations to implement digital transformation. Each dimension of adaptive capacity plays a particular role in each industry. Environmental scanning capacity requires firms to be agile in their interactions with the digital world and to collect information about the environment.

Originality/value

This study enriches and expands the dimensions of adaptive capacity, and we provide a perspective for researching the digital transformation of manufacturing enterprises through adaptive capability configuration.
Why do consumers become providers? Self-determination in the sharing economy
Authors: Lang Bodo , Kemper Joya , Dolan Rebecca , Northey Gavin
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore why and how sharing economy users switch from consumer (e.g. Airbnb guest) to provider (e.g. Airbnb host), and how this helps enrich self-determination theory.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted an exploratory study with users who had been consumers (i.e. Airbnb guests) and had switched to being providers (i.e. Airbnb hosts).

Findings

Consumers switch to being providers across four phases: “catalysts”, “enablers”, “drivers” and “glue”. The authors identify various extrinsic and intrinsic motivations unique to the switch and map these against motivators postulated by self-determination theory.

Research limitations/implications

The authors propose a four-phase process through which consumers become providers. The present study enriches self-determination theory by showing how users' psychosocial needs are addressed through a variety of intrinsic and extrinsic factors that are unique to the role switch. The authors further show how the importance of the three key psychosocial self-determination needs varies through the switch process, thus providing a more nuanced understanding of users' drive for self-determination.

Practical implications

This study offers several recommendations to help sharing economy platforms improve their processes and communication to encourage a greater number of consumers to switch roles and become providers. These recommendations address two aspects: (1) encouraging consumers to switch roles and become providers (i.e. acquisition) and following this (2) encouraging providers to continue to perform that role (i.e. retention).

Originality/value

Much research has investigated why users become consumers (e.g. Airbnb guests) or providers (e.g. Airbnb hosts) in the sharing economy. However, research to date has not fully embraced the two-sided nature of the sharing economy. Therefore, this is the first paper to explore why and how consumers switch roles and become providers in the sharing economy, and how this helps enrich self-determination theory.
To donate or not to donate? How cosmopolitanism and brand anthropomorphism influence donation intentions for international humanitarian causes
Authors: Dalman M. Deniz , Ray Subhasis
Published: August 2021

Purpose

There are vast opportunities for nonprofit organizations (NPOs) globally to find support for international humanitarian causes. However, donors/consumers are not always willing to contribute for such causes. This study aims to investigate how potential donor perceptions are shaped to gain wider support and aims to build a model that could guide managers of NPOs in their communication strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

Two scenario-based experiments with the participation of graduate students from an Indian university were conducted.

Findings

Cosmopolitan people have the higher moral judgment of the international causes championed by NPOs. However, anthropomorphizing the NPO’s message elevates the moral judgments among non-cosmopolitans. Process tests indicate that these moral judgments indirectly impact donation intentions for these causes.

Research limitations/implications

The paper only investigates donation intention for poverty and not humanitarian causes such as access to drinking water. Moreover, the campaign chosen takes place only in Africa (e.g. not in Asia or Latin America).

Practical implications

NPOs could tailor their marketing messages for international humanitarian causes by targeting cosmopolitan donors/consumers and using humanization as the branding strategy.

Originality/value

This research contributes to theory by showing how consumers who would otherwise not contribute to an out-group could be influenced positively by the NPOs’ branding strategy.
Parents’ perceived knowledge about food-related behaviours influencing speech-language competences of preschool children
Authors: Botelho Goreti , Rodrigues Emília , Matos Rita , Lameiras Jorge
Published: August 2021

Purpose

There is a relationship between eating behaviours and the development of speech-language competences during childhood. This study aims to evaluate the impact of interdisciplinary sessions on food and speech-language education with children’s parents.

Design/methodology/approach

The session was focused on healthy eating habits and behaviours that may improve or impair child speech competence. Using a self-administered questionnaire, before and immediately after the session, parents from 11 preschools, answered 12 questions, on a five-point Likert scale. Questionnaires from the final sample (n = 96) were statistically analysed using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test.

Findings

Statistical analysis revealed statistically significant differences in answers to six questions between pre and post intervention: items 1 (Z = −5.04; p < 0.001), 2 (Z = −3.68; p < 0.001), 3 (Z = −4.12; p < 0.001), 4 (Z = −5.87; p < 0.001), 9 (Z = −2.73; p = 0.006) and 12 (Z = −2.00; p = 0.046). The questionnaire responses after the session showed that parents became more aware of the relationship between the two areas addressed. In addition, the subjects presented more assertiveness in their answers after the educational intervention of the nutritionist and the speech therapist.

Practical implications

The study showed the importance of associating topics on food and speech-language education and both being addressed simultaneously to parents. The empowerment of parents and other caregivers about feeding and speech-language development may increase their motivation to foster child healthy eating behaviours. It is also desirable to extend this kind of interdisciplinary intervention to other preschools.

Originality/value

This study fulfils an identified need to study the perceived knowledge of parents about the food-related behaviours influencing speech-language competences of children.
The effect of mordanting method on the absorption behavior of natural dyes
Authors: Shams Nateri Ali , Dehnavi Ehsan
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This work aims to study the effect of mordanting method as pre-mordanting (on-chrome), meta-mordanting (meta-chrome) and post-mordanting (after-chrome) on wool dyeing with madder natural dye without tannin and pomegranates peel, as a natural dye contains tannin.

Design/methodology/approach

The woolen yarn was dyed with madder and pomegranate peel natural dyes by three methods as pre-mordant, meta-mordant and pos-mordant. The color parameters and reflectance spectra of dyed samples were analyzed by using derivative spectroscopy and the principal component analysis (PCA) techniques.

Findings

The obtained results indicate that the color difference between the samples dyed with madder by pre-mordanting, and the samples dyed by other methods is more than the color difference between the samples dyed by meta-mordanting and post-mordanting. However, the color difference between samples dyed with pomegranate peel by pre-mordanting and meta-mordanting methods is less compared to other pairs. Also, analysis of reflectance spectra and color depth (K/S) values indicate that the color depth of dyed sample with madder by pre-mordanting method is more than other dyeing methods. But, the color depth of sample dyed with pomegranate peel by post-mordanting method is less compared to other methods. The analysis of first-, second-, third- and fourth-order derivatives of reflectance spectra and the study of the first, second, third and fourth PCs of reflectance spectra indicate that the reflectance of dyed samples with madder and pomegranates peel depends on the mordanting method.

Originality/value

Evaluation of the effect of mordanting method on color and reflectance of wool dyed with madder and pomegranates peel natural dyes using derivative spectroscopy and the PCA techniques
Are university teachers ready to use and adopt e-learning system? An empirical substantiation during COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Patra Soumendra Kumar , Sundaray Bijaya Kumar , Mahapatra Durga Madhab
Published: August 2021

Purpose

To overcome the spread of the noble coronavirus, the lockdown was imposed on March 25, 2020 by the Government of India which adversely affected the education system in the country and changed the traditional classroom teaching to online teaching. This paper aims to explore the factors encouraging university teachers to use and adopt e-learning systems during the COVID-19 pandemic and to find out the major challenges faced by them in adopting e-learning systems in Odisha, an Indian State.

Design/methodology/approach

The population of this study was teachers of different universities in Odisha, India. An online questionnaire was administered to collect data from the teachers of the state who were involved in the e-learning system for taking their online classes during the COVID-19 situation. During the study 610 valid responses were processed for data analysis. The results of the analysis were presented through factor analysis, t-test and structural equation model.

Findings

The findings revealed three major factors as user-friendly, convenient and performance encouraged teachers to use and adopt e-learning systems. The results also identified major challenges such as accessibility to the internet, information and communication technologies literacy and skills and technological support, faced by university teachers in adopting e-learning systems.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of the study have suggested that the university authorities can develop an effective e-learning system to support their teachers for the continuance of education and learning opportunities. The insights of this study can help the regulatory authorities of higher education to redesign policy and infrastructure for promoting effective e-learning systems.

Originality/value

Many studies have been conducted in relation to e-learning during COVID-19. However, this is a unique study that identifies supporting factors and addresses the challenges faced by university teachers in adopting an e-learning system.
Larger males facilitate population expansion in Ophraella communa
Authors: Zhang Yan , Zhao Chenchen , Ma Weihua , Cui Shaowei , Chen Hongsong , Ma Chao , Guo Jianying , Wan Fanghao , Zhou Zhongshi
Published: August 2021

One of the most intriguing concepts in animal ecology is the reproductive advantages offered by larger body size, and the females prefer to mate with larger males to gain reproductive advantage.

Currently, it is not clear how females recognize signs of male ‘quality’ and what mechanisms are involved in producing offspring with direct or indirect benefits. Our study aims to assess the preferences of females for males in Ophraella communa, determine the reproductive benefits and reveal the underlying mechanism behind this advantage.

We demonstrate that male body size is an important determinant in the evolutionary process of O. communa, affecting female mate choice. Moreover, our study establishes that females prefer males with a larger body size, and this could further improve the developmental and reproductive fitness of their offspring. Finally, we focus on the seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) in O. communa, determine differentially expressed genes (i.e. OcACE, OcCBP and OcSFP) by analysing their proteomes and transcriptomes, and define the role of these SFPs‐related genes through RNAi.

Our study proved that the reproductive benefit of large males may be regulated by biased expression of crucial SFPs genes. The present study advances our understanding of the biological significance of preferential mating.
Meal choice for residential aged care is not yet defined: A scoping review of policies, standards, reports and guidelines
Authors: Wheeler Mikaela , Abbey Karen L. , Capra Sandra M.
Published: August 2021

Aim

For residents in residential aged care, making choices in relation to food and mealtimes are opportunities to maintain a sense of self and autonomy. It is unknown, however, whether the concept of choice is adequately addressed in texts relating to residential aged care. The purpose of this review is to examine whether residents' right to make choices regarding the meals they eat, is discussed in grey literature including, policies, standards, reports and guidelines, which all impact practice in residential aged care.

Methods

Grey literature was located utilising; Google, Google Scholar and hand searching. Texts had to be in reference to residential aged care and were assessed using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II and Joanna Briggs Institute tools.

Results

Twenty‐nine texts were included in the final review, consisting of, 12 policies and standards, 12 guidelines and 5 reports. Choice was discussed broadly in the majority of texts, with no definition included for the level of choice that should be provided by residential aged care. The use of alternative meals to provide choice was discussed; however, texts varied in their requirements and recommendations as to what constituted an adequate alternative.

Conclusions

The ambiguity surrounding choice affects the practices within residential aged care and ultimately the service provided to residents. With most recommendations being only general in nature, residential aged care homes are not provided with sufficient guidance for meal planning. To ensure residents' right to make choices in their meals is guaranteed, more definitive requirements and recommendations are needed.
MrIML: Multi‐response interpretable machine learning to model genomic landscapes
Authors: Fountain‐Jones Nicholas M. , Kozakiewicz Christopher P. , Forester Brenna R. , Landguth Erin L. , Carver Scott , Charleston Michael , Gagne Roderick B. , Greenwell Brandon , Kraberger Simona , Trumbo Daryl R. , Mayer Michael , Clark Nicholas J. , Machado Gustavo
Published: August 2021

We introduce a new R package “MrIML” (“Mister iml”; Multi‐response Interpretable Machine Learning). MrIML provides a powerful and interpretable framework that enables users to harness recent advances in machine learning to quantify multilocus genomic relationships, to identify loci of interest for future landscape genetics studies, and to gain new insights into adaptation across environmental gradients. Relationships between genetic variation and environment are often nonlinear and interactive; these characteristics have been challenging to address using traditional landscape genetic approaches. Our package helps capture this complexity and offers functions that fit and interpret a wide range of highly flexible models that are routinely used for single‐locus landscape genetics studies but are rarely extended to estimate response functions for multiple loci. To demonstrate the package's broad functionality, we test its ability to recover landscape relationships from simulated genomic data. We also apply the package to two empirical case studies. In the first, we model genetic variation of North American balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera, Salicaceae) populations across environmental gradients. In the second case study, we recover the landscape and host drivers of feline immunodeficiency virus genetic variation in bobcats (Lynx rufus). The ability to model thousands of loci collectively and compare models from linear regression to extreme gradient boosting, within the same analytical framework, has the potential to be transformative. The MrIML framework is also extendable and not limited to modelling genetic variation; for example, it can quantify the environmental drivers of microbiomes and coinfection dynamics.
Effects of FSH treatment and withdrawal during proestrus on uterine proliferation and steroid hormone receptor expression in beef heifers
Authors: Bunma Thanya , Kanjanaruch Chutikun , Kogram Nattawut , Uriyapongson Suthipong , Khanthusaeng Vilaivan , Navanukraw Chainarong
Published: August 2021

To determine the effects of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) treatment and subsequent withdrawal on uterine proliferation and estrogen receptor (ESR), Brahman crossbred heifers (n = 12) were twice daily injected with FSH (4, 3, and 2 mg/injection) on Days 17–19 of the estrous cycle (FSH 3 days) and (4 and 3 mg/injection) on Days 17–18 (FSH 2 days) and withdrawal with saline on Day 19 and (4 mg/injection) on Day 17 (FSH 1 day) and withdrawal with saline on Days 18–19. Uterine tissue was subjectively collected on Day 20 and microscopically classified to four regions: endometrial stroma (ES), surface endometrial gland (EG), deep endometrial gland (DG), and myometrium (Myo). The cell proliferation marker, Ki‐67, was quantified as labeling index (LI) in uterine regions, and tissues were immunostained to detect ESR2 followed by image analysis. The LI of ES, EG, and DG was greater (P = 0.0018, P = 0.0005, and P = 0.0103; respectively) in heifers received FSH for 3 days. The expression of ESR2 protein on ES and EG was greatest (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.0036, respectively) in FSH 3 days‐treated group. Thus, FSH administration during proestrus stimulates uterine cell proliferation, and ESR2 expressions are affected by FSH during proestrus and differentially distributed in the uterine regions.
Predictive value of immunological markers after bacille Calmette–Guérin induction in bladder cancer
Authors: Elsawy Amr A. , Abol‐Enein Hassan , Laymon Mahmoud , Ahmed Asmaa E. , Essam Ahmed , Hamam Eman T. , Zidan Abdel‐Aziz A. , Zahran Mohamed H. , Shokeir Ahmed A. , Awadalla Amira
Published: August 2021

Objectives

To investigate the predictive value of different immunological markers on treatment outcomes after bacille Calmette–Guérin (BCG) induction in high‐risk non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

Patients and Methods

Patients who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumour for NMIBC were assessed for study eligibility. Urine and blood samples were taken from patients at baseline (immediately before first dose of induction) and after induction (4 h after last [sixth] dose). Urine samples were evaluated for interleukin (IL)‐2 and IL‐10 by solid‐phase enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Blood samples were evaluated for tumour necrosis factor α (TNF‐α), cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA‐4) and transcription factors (TFs) (GATA‐binding protein 3 [GATA3], T‐box expressed in T cells [T‐bet], and forkhead box protein 3 [FoxP3]) using quantitative reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction analysis. Change pattern and fold change of each evaluable marker was assessed in relation to different treatment outcomes (initial complete response [ICR]/recurrence/progression).

Results

Between July 2013 and May 2019, 204 patients were included. Among evaluable markers, urinary IL‐2 and serum TNF‐α increased in all patients, serum CTLA‐4 and FoxP3+ showed a predominant decreased pattern in 188 (92.2%) and 192 (94.1%) patients, respectively. An ICR was achieved in 186 (91.2%) patients. Serum TNF‐α fold change and urinary IL‐10 change pattern were significantly associated with an ICR (P = 0.001 and P = 0.03, respectively). At a median (range) follow‐up of 37 (20–88) months, 104 (56%) patients developed recurrence. Urinary IL‐10, serum CTLA‐4, T‐bet+, FoxP3+ change patterns and GATA3+/T‐bet+ ratio were significantly associated with tumour recurrence (P = 0.001, P = 0.001, P = 0.02, P = 0.009 and P = 0.001, respectively). Tumour progression occurred in 34 (18.3%) patients. Urinary IL‐10, serum CTLA‐4, serum T‐bet+ change patterns and GATA3+/T‐bet+ ratio were independent predictors of tumour progression (P = 0.001, P = 0.001, P = 0.02 and P = 0.001, respectively).

Conclusions

Urinary IL‐10 and serum TNF‐α can significantly predict ICR. Moreover, change pattern of urinary IL‐10, serum CTLA‐4, TFs (GATA3, T‐bet and FoxP3) and GATA3+/T‐bet+ ratio after BCG induction can independently predict further BCG response. These markers could be implemented in clinical practice when management options are discussed or in systems with severe BCG shortage.
Long‐term survival after low‐dose‐rate brachytherapy for prostate cancer: the Royal Surrey experience
Authors: Uribe‐Lewis Santiago , Uribe Jennifer , Bourke Vincent , Deering Claire , Higgins Donna , Mehta Sheel , Mikropoulos Christos , Otter Sophie , Perna Carla , Khaksar Sara , Laing Robert , Langley Stephen
Published: August 2021

Objectives

To assess the long‐term treatment efficacy of low‐dose‐rate (LDR) brachytherapy for the treatment of localized prostate cancer.

Patients and Methods

Cause‐of‐death annotation in our prospective database was supplemented with death certificate information obtained via an internal audit of patients treated from 1999 to 2017 with LDR prostate brachytherapy as monotherapy or as combination with androgen deprivation therapy and/or external beam radiotherapy. Overall and disease‐specific survival were the primary outcomes, estimated with Kaplan–Meier and competing risks multi‐state models. Clinical variables influencing mortality were assessed with Cox proportional hazards regression in a sub‐analysis of men to assess the predictive value of prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) level at 48 months post implant.

Results

The audit process began in October 2017 and culminated in June 2020 with a curated series of 2936 patients. All‐cause and prostate cancer‐specific death prevalence were 11% and 2.9%, respectively. The median (range) follow‐up time was 10 (3–21) years and the median (range) time to death from any cause was 9 (3–21) years. At 15 years post implant the overall and prostate cancer‐specific survival probability were 81% and 95%, respectively. The 15‐year cumulative incidence rates of death not due and due to prostate cancer were 14% and 5%, respectively. A greater risk of death due to prostate cancer was conferred by increasing age at therapy (hazard ratio [HR] 1.1, P < 0.001), advanced clinical stages relative to T1a‐T2a (HR 1.9, P = 0.048 for T2b; HR 2.7, P = 0.023 for T2c‐T3b) and a 48‐month PSA level >1.0 ng/mL (HR 6.8, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

This study constitutes the largest retrospective analyses of long‐term mortality outcomes from prospectively collected prostate brachytherapy data and confirms the excellent treatment efficacy of LDR prostate brachytherapy for localized prostate cancer. T2 clinical stage subdivisions and 48‐month PSA level >1.0 ng/mL appear to be strong indicators of prostate cancer‐related survival.
Reflection seismic thermometry
Authors: Sarkar Arka Dyuti , Huuse Mads
Published: August 2021

The North Viking Graben (NVG) is part of the mature North Sea Basin petroleum province and designated as a major carbon storage basin for NW Europe. It has been extensively drilled over five decades with an abundance of well and seismic data in the public domain. As such it serves as an excellent setting to demonstrate the efficacy of a reflection seismic data led approach to predicting subsurface temperatures using a state‐of‐the‐art, full‐waveform inversion velocity model covering the entire NVG. In a forward modelling approach, an empirical velocity to thermal conductivity transform is used in conjunction with predefined heatflow to predict subsurface temperature. The predefined heatflow parameters are set based on the range of values from previous studies in the area. Abundant well data with bottom hole temperature (BHT) records provide calibration of results. In the second step of inverse modelling, BHTs and the velocity derived thermal conductivity are used to derive heat flow based on a 1D steady‐state approximation of Fourier's law. In this way, heatflow is estimated over the 12,000 km2 model area at a km scale (lateral) resolution, highlighting lateral variability in comparison with the traditional point‐based heatflow data sets. This heatflow is used to condition a final iterative loop of forward modelling to produce a temperature model that is best representative of the subsurface temperature. Calibration against 139 exploration wells indicate that the predicted temperatures are on average 0.6℃ warmer than the recorded values. BHT for the recently completed Northern Lights carbon sequestration 31/5‐7 (Eos) modelled to be 97℃, which is 6℃ below the recorded BHT. This highlights the applicability of this workflow not only towards enhancing petroleum systems modelling work but also for use in the energy transition and for fundamental scientific purposes.
Gastric epithelial attachment of Helicobacter pylori induces EphA2 and NMHC‐IIA receptors for Epstein‐Barr virus
Authors: Fekadu Sintayehu , Kanehiro Yuichi , Kartika Andy Visi , Hamada Kazuki , Sakurai Nozomi , Mizote Tomoko , Akada Junko , Yamaoka Yoshio , Iizasa Hisashi , Yoshiyama Hironori
Published: August 2021

Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV)‐associated gastric cancer belongs to 1 of the 4 subtypes of gastric cancer and accounts for 10% of total gastric cancers. However, most cases of gastric cancer have a history of Helicobacter pylori infection. Therefore, we investigated the possibility that H. pylori infection promotes the development of EBV‐associated gastric cancer. H. pylori was exposed to principal EBV receptor, CD21, negative gastric epithelial cells, and then infected with EBV recombinant expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein. Changes in EBV infectivity due to prior H. pylori exposure were analyzed using flow cytometry. The treatment of gastric epithelial cells with H. pylori increased the efficiency of EBV infection. An increase was also observed when CagA‐deficient, VacA‐deficient, and FlaA‐deficient H. pylori strains were used, but not when cag pathogenicity island‐deficient H. pylori was used. The treatment of epithelial cells with H. pylori induced the expression of accessory EBV receptors, EphA2 and NMHC‐IIA, and increased the efficiency of EBV infection depending on their expression levels. When gastric epithelial cells were treated with EPHA2 or NMHC‐IIA siRNA, EBV infection via H. pylori attachment was decreased. The adhesion of H. pylori induced the expression of accessory EBV receptors in gastric epithelial cells and increased the efficiency of EBV infection.
Basal insulin analogues in people with diabetes and chronic kidney disease
Authors: León‐Jiménez David , Miramontes‐González José Pablo , Márquez‐López Laura , Astudillo‐Martín Francisco , Beltrán‐Romero Luis M. , Moreno‐Obregón Fernando , Escalada‐San Martín Javier
Published: August 2021

Background

Diabetic kidney disease is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end‐stage kidney disease (ESKD) worldwide. ESKD has a high prevalence in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). CKD increases the chances of hypoglycaemia by different mechanisms, causes insulin resistance and a decrease in insulin metabolism. Both the “Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes” (KDIGO) and “American Diabetes Association” (ADA) guidelines recommend the use of insulin as part of treatment, but the type of basal insulin is not specified.

Methods

We reviewed the literature to determine whether first‐ and second‐generation basal insulins are effective and safe in CKD patients. We reviewed specific pivotal studies conducted by pharmaceutical laboratories, as well as independent studies.

Conclusions

Basal insulins are safe and effective in patients with CKD and diabetes mellitus but we do not have specific studies. Given that CKD is one of the main complications of type 2 DM, and insulin specific treatment in the final stages, the absence of studies is striking. Real‐life data are also important since trials such as pivotal studies do not fully represent actual patients. Treatment should be individualized until we have specific trials in this type of population.
High incidence of type 2 diabetes in a population with normal range body mass index and individual prediction nomogram in Vietnam
Authors: Tran Quang Binh , Pham Tran Phuong , Nguyen Thanh Chung , Bui Thi Nhung , Do Dinh Tung , Tran Quang Thuyen , Duong Tuan Linh , Bui Thi Thuy Nga , Nguyen Anh Ngoc
Published: August 2021

Aims

The study aimed at determining 5‐year incidence and prediction nomogram for new‐onset type 2 diabetes (T2D) in a middle‐aged population in Vietnam.

Methods

A population‐based prospective study was designed to collect socio‐economic, anthropometric, lifestyle and clinical data. Five‐year T2D incidence was estimated and adjusted for age and sex. Hazard ratio (HR) for T2D was investigated using discrete‐time proportional hazards model. T2D prediction model entering the most significant risk factors was developed using the multivariable logistic‐regression algorithm. The corresponding prediction nomogram was constructed and checked for discrimination, calibration and clinical usefulness.

Results

The age‐ and sex‐adjusted incidence was 21.0 cases (95% CI: 12.2−40.0) per 1000 person‐years in people with mean BMI of 22.2 (95% CI: 21.9−22.7 kg/m2). The HRs (95% CI) for T2D were 1.14 (1.05−1.23) per 10 mmHg systolic blood pressure, 1.05 (1.03−1.08) per 1 cm waist circumference, 1.40 (1.13−1.73) per 1 mmol/L fasting blood glucose, 1.77 (1.15−2.71) per sleeping time (<6 h/day vs 6–7 h/day) and 2.12 (1.25−3.61) per residence (urban vs rural). The prediction nomogram for new‐onset T2D had a good discrimination (area under curve: 0.711, 95% CI: 0.666−0.755) and fit calibration (mean absolute error: 0.009). For the predicted probability thresholds between 0.03 and 0.36, the nomogram showed a positive net benefit, without increasing the number of false positives.

Conclusion

This study highlighted an alarmingly high incidence of T2D in a middle‐aged population with a normal range BMI in Vietnam. The individual prediction nomogram with decision curve analysis for new‐onset T2D would be valuable for early detection, intervention and treatment of the condition.
The use of insect life tables in optimizing invasive pest distributional models
Authors: Zhu Gengping , Gutierrez Illan Javier , Crowder David W.
Published: August 2021

Accurately predicting the distribution of emerging invasive species is crucial for early detection and eradication. While ecological niche models are often used to forecast invasions, such models are limited when invasive populations of a species have realized niches that differ from native populations, or when invasive populations are not at equilibrium. One technique to potentially overcome these challenges is to incorporate physiological responses of invaders to abiotic factors into ecological niche models, although few studies have assessed whether such approaches are effective. We addressed this by determining whether incorporating physiological data from life table analyses of an invasive insect, Drosophila suzukii, improved predictions of ecological niche models. Specifically, we tested whether models incorporating development time and survival rate from insect life tables improved predictions compared to a classical model without physiological data. We show that incorporating physiological responses of D. suzukii to temperature into our ecological niche models increased transferability of predictions from the native to the invasive range, while also reducing uncertainty of predictions. Moreover, physiological combined models performed best when equilibrium assumptions were violated. Our study suggests ecological niche models that incorporate data on physiological responses of invaders to abiotic factors provides a means to develop more effective and timely invasive pest distributional models.
β diversity among ant communities on fragmented habitat islands: the roles of species trait, phylogeny and abundance
Authors: Zhao Yuhao , Sanders Nathan J. , Liu Juan , Jin Tinghao , Zhou Haonan , Lu Ruisen , Ding Ping , Si Xingfeng
Published: August 2021

Habitat loss and fragmentation reduce biodiversity and alter species composition in local communities. β diversity describes the variation in species composition between or among communities in fragmented landscapes and has two components: species turnover and nestedness. In this study, we assessed β diversity of ant assemblages on 24 island fragments in the Thousand Island Lake, China. We constructed a species‐level phylogenetic tree and measured five morphological traits of all ant species captured. We then assessed taxonomic (both incidence‐based and abundance‐weighted), functional and phylogenetic β diversity and partitioned β diversity into turnover and nestedness (as well as the contributions of particular species and particular islands). Finally, we examined the relationships between β diversity and a suite of geographical variables (i.e. difference in island area, difference in isolation and inter‐island distance) using Mantel tests. We found taxonomic and phylogenetic turnover components dominated overall β diversity whereas the functional turnover and nestedness components contributed equally to overall β diversity. Overall β diversity increased with increasing difference in isolation and inter‐island distance; however, only abundance‐weighted overall β diversity decreased with increasing difference in island size. Our results indicate that species that were abundant on large islands were also abundant on small islands. We conclude that the dispersal limitation of ants likely shapes the pattern of β diversity along isolation and inter‐island distance gradients. Additionally, functional redundancy of species (i.e. different species share similar functional roles) could also explain β diversity patterns among fragmented habitat islands. Our results highlight the necessity of incorporating both incidence‐based and abundance‐weighted community data when examining β diversity in fragmented landscapes. By partitioning β diversity into the contributions of particular species and particular fragments, our study implies that small patches can be valuable for maintaining biodiversity among ant communities.
Asymmetry of the insula‐sensorimotor circuit in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Goelman Gadi , Dan Rotem , Růžička Filip , Bezdicek Ondrej , Jech Robert
Published: August 2021

Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) experience motor and non‐motor symptoms, suggesting alterations of the motor and/or limbic system or more probably of their communications. We hypothesized that the communication between the insula (part of the limbic system) and sensorimotor cortex in PD is altered and hemispheric asymmetric. Furthermore, that this asymmetry relates to non‐motor symptoms, and specifically, that apathy‐related asymmetry is unique to PD. To test these hypotheses, we used a novel multivariate time‐frequency analysis method applied to resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data of 28 controls and 25 participants with PD measured in their OFF medication state. The analysis infers directionality of coupling, that is, afferent or efferent, among four anatomical regions, thus defining directed pathways of information flow, which enables the extension of symmetry measures to include directionality. A major right asymmetry reduction of the dorsal‐posterior insula efferent and a slight bilateral increase of insula afferent pathways were observed in participants with PD versus controls. Between‐group pathways that correlated with mild cognitive impairments combined the central‐executive and default‐mode networks through the right insula. Apathy‐correlated pathways of the posterior insula in participants with PD versus controls exhibited reduced right efferent and increased left afferent. Because apathy scores were comparable between the groups and effects of the other motor and non‐motor symptoms were statistically removed by the analysis, the differences in apathy‐correlated pathways were suggested as unique to PD. These pathways could be predictors in the pre‐symptomatic phase in patients with apathy.
Novel methods to correct for observer and sampling bias in presence‐only species distribution models
Authors: Chauvier Yohann , Zimmermann Niklaus E. , Poggiato Giovanni , Bystrova Daria , Brun Philipp , Thuiller Wilfried
Published: August 2021

Aim

While species distribution models (SDMs) are standard tools to predict species distributions, they can suffer from observation and sampling biases, particularly presence‐only SDMs, which often rely on species observations from non‐standardized sampling efforts. To address this issue, sampling background points with a target‐group strategy is commonly used, although more robust strategies and refinements could be implemented. Here, we exploited a dataset of plant species from the European Alps to propose and demonstrate efficient ways to correct for observer and sampling bias in presence‐only models.

Innovation

Recent methods correct for observer bias by including covariates related to accessibility in model calibrations (classic bias covariate correction, Classic‐BCC). However, depending on how species are sampled, accessibility covariates may not sufficiently capture observer bias. Here, we introduced BCCs more directly related to sampling effort, as well as a novel corrective method based on stratified resampling of the observational dataset before model calibration (environmental bias correction, EBC). We compared, individually and jointly, the effect of EBC and different BCC strategies, when modelling the distributions of 1,900 plant species. We evaluated model performance with spatial block split‐sampling and independent test data, and assessed the accuracy of plant diversity predictions across the European Alps.

Main conclusions

Implementing EBC with BCC showed best results for every evaluation method. Particularly, adding the observation density of a target group as a bias covariate (Target‐BCC) gave the most realistic modelled species distributions, with a clear positive correlation (r ≃ .5) found between predicted and expert‐based species richness. Although EBC must be carefully implemented in a species‐specific manner, such limitations may be addressed via automated diagnostics included in a provided R function. Implementing EBC and bias covariate correction together may allow future studies to address efficiently observer bias in presence‐only models, and overcome the standard need of an independent test dataset for model evaluation.
Geographies of the public library: Institutions, architectures, interactions
Authors: Schloffel‐Armstrong Salene , Baker Tom , Kearns Robin A.
Published: August 2021

Public libraries are increasingly recognised in popular discourse as key sites within urban space. They are implicated in encompassing projects of civic investment and abandonment, education and memorial, as well as providing specific settings for the unfolding of everyday life. However, despite their clear geographical dimensions, geographers have only taken a sporadic interest in public libraries. By taking stock of existing geographical research and extending into allied literatures, the paper proposes three interconnected directions of enquiry, through which geographies of the public library might be considered. First, institutional geographies of the public library involve political‐economic projects and processes, and the changing practices of an institution. Second, architectural geographies of the public library involve aesthetics, arrangement and naming of libraries, focusing on transformation at a branch scale. Third, interactional geographies of the public library involve relations between individuals in the physical library, and the increasing work of care for librarians and other library staff. In the face of digitisation, austerity and other forces that appear intent on assigning the physical presence of the public library to history, this paper highlights some key reasons for their continuing endurance in place, and suggests an agenda for emerging scholarship.
Internet and social media uses, digital divides, and digitally mediated transnationalism in forced migration: Syrians in Turkey
Authors: Jauhiainen Jussi S. , Özçürümez Saime , Tursun Özgün
Published: August 2021

This article studied Internet and social media uses, digital divides (access, use, and impact of the Internet and social media), and digitally mediated transnationalism in forced migration with the case of Syrians in Turkey. The mixed method analysis is based on surveys with 762 respondents, 52 interviews, and participant observations among Syrians in Gaziantep, Istanbul, and Izmir provinces in Turkey. Digitally mediated transnationalism became the everyday strategy, practice, and resilience of Syrians in Turkey. The first‐ and second‐level digital divides, that is, the differences in their access to and use of the Internet and social media diminished while many third‐level digital divides (impacts) remained. Syrians in Turkey used information and communication technologies, the Internet and social media for accessing basic needs and services, to enhance their challenging psycho‐social well‐being, to maintain transnational bonding and bridging connections to Syria, the European Union and elsewhere, and some also to implement their mobility plans.
Trading‐off monetary rewards as reinforcers to enhance task motivation and performance of publication in academia
Authors: Gaus Nurdiana , Jasruddin  , Saleh Arifin , Resnawaty Risna , Paramma Muhammad Azwar , Tanjung Yurisna
Published: August 2021

This paper aims to examine how an inappropriate traded‐off design scheme of monetary rewards as reinforcers to task motivation and performance can promote poor quality of publication in academia and create the potential ‘hidden costs of rewards.’ Six universities in the western and eastern regions of Indonesia were selected to investigate this issue, and 70 academics from different social science backgrounds were interviewed. Our research results show that the monetary rewards implemented by the Indonesian government only act as a trigger for the initial motivation and become a quantitative lever for journal publications, not a quality lever. Consequently, the quality of publication is still poor because of the low‐powered incentive schemes that are designed based on task‐completion, disregarding the ‘synergistic effect’ between the government's intentions and the academics' attributions. The implications of this study and recommendations to policymakers are provided in this paper.
Prognostic gene expression analysis in a retrospective, multinational cohort of 155 multiple myeloma patients treated outside clinical trials
Authors: Chen Yan‐Ting , Valent Erik T. , van Beers Erik H. , Kuiper Rowan , Oliva Stefania , Haferlach Torsten , Chng Wee‐Joo , van Vliet Martin H. , Sonneveld Pieter , Larocca Alessandra
Published: August 2021

Objectives

Typically, prognostic capability of gene expression profiling (GEP) is studied in the context of clinical trials, for which 50%‐80% of patients are not eligible, possibly limiting the generalizability of findings to routine practice. Here, we evaluate GEP analysis outside clinical trials, aiming to improve clinical risk assessment of multiple myeloma (MM) patients.

Methods

A total of 155 bone marrow samples from MM patients were collected from which RNA was analyzed by microarray. Sixteen previously developed GEP‐based markers were evaluated, combined with survival data, and studied using Cox proportional hazard regression.

Results

Gene expression profiling‐based markers SKY92 and the PR‐cluster were shown to be independent prognostic factors for survival, with hazard ratios and 95% confidence interval of 3.6 [2.0‐6.8] (P < .001) and 5.8 [2.7‐12.7] (P < .01) for overall survival (OS). A multivariate model proved only SKY92 and the PR‐cluster to be independent prognostic factors compared to cytogenetic high‐risk patients, the International Staging System (ISS), and revised ISS. A substantial number of high‐risk individuals could be further identified when SKY92 was added to the cytogenetic, ISS, or R‐ISS. In the cytogenetic standard‐risk group, ISS I/II, and R‐ISS I/II, 13%, 23%, and 23% of patients with adverse survivals were identified.

Conclusions

For the first time, this study confirmed the prognostic value of GEP markers outside clinical trials. Conventional prognostic models to define high‐risk MM are improved by the incorporation of GEP markers.