bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Parasite-driven cascades or hydra effects: susceptibility and foraging depression shape parasite-host-resource interactions
Authors: Walsman Jason C. , Strauss Alexander T. , Hall Spencer R.
Published: May 2021

When epidemics kill hosts and increase their resources, should the density of hosts decrease (with a resource increase, this constitutes a trophic cascade) or increase (a hydra effect)? Seeking answers, we integrate trait measurements, a resource-host-parasite model, and experimental epidemics with plankton. This combination reveals how a spectrum from cascades to hydra effects can arise. It reflects tension between parasite-driven mortality (a density-mediated effect) and foraging depression upon contact with parasite propagules (a trait-mediated one).

In the model, mortality rises when higher susceptibility to infection increases infection prevalence. Epidemics release resources while suppressing hosts (creating a cascade). In contrast, when hosts are less susceptible and parasites depress their foraging, a resource feedback can elevate host density during epidemics (creating a hydra effect), particularly at higher carrying capacity of resources. This combination elevates primary production relative to per-host consumption of resources (two key determinants of host density).

We test these predictions of the qualitative effects of host traits and resource carrying capacity with trait measurements and a mesocosm experiment. Trait measurements show clonal lines of zooplankton hosts differ in their foraging depression and susceptibility. We seeded resource-host-parasite mesocosms with different host genotypes and provided different nutrient supplies to test model predictions. Hydra effects and trophic cascades arose under different conditions, as predicted by the model.

Hence, tension between trait-mediated and density-mediated effects of parasites governs the fate of host density during epidemics – from cascades to hydra effects - via feedbacks with resources.
Protein corona modulates interaction of spiky nanoparticles with lipid bilayers
Authors: Fleury Jean-Baptiste , Werner Marco , Guével Xavier Le , Baulin Vladimir A.
Published: May 2021

The impact of protein corona on the interactions of nanoparticles (NPs) with cells remains an open question. This question is particularly relevant to NPs which sizes, ranging from tens to hundreds nanometers, are comparable to the sizes of most abundant proteins in plasma. Protein sizes match with typical thickness of various coatings and ligands layers, usually present at the surfaces of larger NPs. Such size match may affect the properties and the designed function of NPs. We offer a direct demonstration of how protein corona can dramatically change the interaction mode between NPs and lipid bilayers. To this end, we choose the most extreme case of NP surface modification: nanostructures in the form of rigid spikes of 10-20 nm length at the surface of gold nanoparticles. In the absence of proteins we observe the formation of reversible pores when spiky NPs absorb on lipid bilayers. In contrast, the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA) proteins adsorbed at the surface of spiked NPs, effectively reduce the length of spikes exposed to the interaction with lipid bilayers. Thus, protein corona changes qualitatively the dynamics of pore formation, which is completely suppressed at high protein concentrations. These results suggest that protein corona can not only be critical for interaction of NPs with membranes, it may change their mode of interaction, thus offsetting the role of surface chemistry and ligands.
Noise Reconstruction & Removal Network: A New Architecture to Denoise FIB-SEM Images
Authors: Giannios Katya , Chaurasia Abhishek , Thibault Guillaume , Riesterer Jessica L. , Stempinski Erin S. , Lo Terence P. , DeLaRosa Bambi , Gray Joe W.
Published: May 2021

Recent advances in Focused Ion Beam-Scanning Electron Microscopy (FIB-SEM) allows the imaging and analysis of cellular ultrastructure at nanoscale resolution, but the collection of labels and/or noise-free data sets has several challenges, often immutable. Reasons range from time consuming manual annotations, requiring highly trained specialists, to introducing imaging artifacts from the prolonged scanning during acquisition. We propose a fully unsupervised Noise Reconstruction and Removal Network for denoising scanning electron microscopy images.

The architecture, inspired by gated recurrent units, reconstructs and removes the noise by synthesizing the sequential data. At the same time the fully unsupervised training guides the network in distinguishing true signal from noise and gives comparable results to supervised architectures. We demonstrate that this new network specialized on 3D electron microscopy data sets, achieves comparable and even better results than supervised networks.
Modulation of the host cell transcriptome and epigenome by Fusobacterium nucleatum
Authors: Despins Cody A. , Brown Scott D. , Robinson Avery V. , Mungall Andrew J. , Allen-Vercoe Emma , Holt Robert A.
Published: May 2021

Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) is a ubiquitous opportunistic pathogen with an emerging role as an oncomicrobe in colorectal and other cancer types. Fn can adhere to and invade host cells in a manner that varies across Fn strains and host cell phenotypes. Here we performed pairwise co-cultures between three Fn strains and two immortalized primary host cell types (colonic epithelial cells and vascular endothelial cells) followed by RNA-seq and ChIP-seq to investigate transcriptional and epigenetic host cell responses. We observed that Fn-induced host cell transcriptional modulation involves strong upregulation of genes related to immune migration and inflammatory processes, such as TNF, CXCL8, CXCL1, and CCL20. Further, we identified genes strongly upregulated specifically in conditions of host cell invasion, including overexpression of both EFNA1 and LIF, two genes commonly upregulated in colorectal cancer and associated with poor patient outcomes, and PTGS2 (COX2), a gene associated with the protective effect of aspirin in the colorectal cancer setting. Interestingly, we also observed downregulation of numerous histone modification genes upon Fn exposure. To further explore this relationship, we used the ChIP-seq data to annotate chromatin states genome-wide. We found significant chromatin remodeling following Fn exposure in conditions of host cell invasion, with substantial increases in the frequency of states corresponding to active enhancers as well as low signal or quiescent states. Thus, our results highlight increased inflammation and chemokine gene expression as conserved host cell responses to Fn exposure, and extensive host cell epigenomic changes associated with Fn host cell invasion. These results extend our understanding of Fn as an emerging pathogen and highlight the importance of considering strain heterogeneity and host cell phenotypic variation when exploring pathogenic mechanisms of Fn.
Novel Generic Models for Differentiating Stem Cells Reveal Oscillatory Mechanisms
Authors: Farjami Saeed , Sosa Karen Camargo , Dawes Jonathan H.P. , Kelsh Robert N. , Rocco Andrea
Published: May 2021

Understanding cell fate selection remains a central challenge in developmental biology. We present a class of simple yet biologically-motivated mathematical models for cell differentiation that generically generate oscillations and hence suggest alternatives to the standard framework based on Waddington’s epigenetic landscape. The models allow us to suggest two generic dynamical scenarios that describe the differentiation process. In the first scenario gradual variation of a single control parameter is responsible for both entering and exiting the oscillatory regime. In the second scenario two control parameters vary: one responsible for entering, and the other for exiting the oscillatory regime. We analyse the standard repressilator and four variants of it and show the dynamical behaviours associated with each scenario. We present a thorough analysis of the associated bifurcations and argue that gene regulatory networks with these repressilator-like characteristics are promising candidates to describe cell fate selection through an oscillatory process.
Larger is not better: No mate preference by European Common Frog (Rana temporaria) males
Authors: Dittrich Carolin , Rödel Mark-Oliver
Published: May 2021

According to classical sexual selection theory, females are the choosy sex in most species. Choosiness is defined as the individual effort to invest energy and time to assess potential mates. In explosive breeding anurans, high intrasexual competition between males leads to a sexual coercion ruled mating system, where males could have evolved preferences for specific female traits. In the current study, we tested male mating preference in the explosive breeding European Common Frog without intrasexual competition. We hypothesized that males show preferences towards larger female body size in the absence of male competition. We conducted mate choice experiments, placing a male and two differently sized females in a box and recorded their mating behavior. Males did not show any preference considering female body size, neither in the attempt to grab a female nor during the formation of pairs. We witnessed a high failure rate of male mating attempts, which might make the evolution of mate choice too costly. However, small males are faster in attempting females, which could be an alternative strategy to get access to females, because their larger competitors have an advantage during scramble competition. Nonetheless, in successfully formed pairs, the females were on average larger than the males, an observation which deviated from our null-model where pairs should be of similar size if mating would be random. This indicates that selection takes place, independent from male mating preference or scramble competition.
Individual growth models support the quantification of isotope incorporation rate, trophic discrimination and their interactions
Authors: Lefebvre Sébastien , Ballutaud Marine , Nuche-Pascual M. Teresa , Nahon Sarah , Liu Rongsong , Del Rio Carlos Martinez
Published: May 2021

Two large but independent bodies of literature exist on two essential components of the dynamics of isotopic incorporation: the isotopic incorporation rate (λ) and the trophic discrimination factor (Δ). Understanding the magnitude of these two parameters and the factors that shape them is fundamental to interpret the results of ecological studies that rely on stable isotopes. λ scales allometrically with body mass among species and depends on growth within species. Both are often assumed to be constant and independent of each other but evidence accumulates that might be linked and to vary with growth. We built and analyzed a model (IsoDyn) that connects individual growth and isotopic incorporation of nitrogen into whole body and muscle tissues. The model can assume a variety of individual growth patterns including exponential or asymptotic growths. λ depends on the rate of body mass gains which scales allometrically with body mass. Δ is a dynamic response variable that depends partly on the ratio between fluxes of gains and losses and covaries negatively with λ. The model can be parameterized either from existing large databases of animal growth models or directly from experimental results. The model was applied to experimental results on three ectotherms and one endotherm and compared to the results of the simpler and widely used time model. IsoDyn model gave a better fit with relatively little calibration. IsoDyn clarifies and expands the interpretation of isotopic incorporation data.
Dysgu: efficient structural variant calling using short or long reads
Authors: Cleal Kez , Baird Duncan M.
Published: May 2021

Structural variation (SV) plays a fundamental role in genome evolution and can underlie inherited or acquired diseases such as cancer. Long-read sequencing technologies have led to improvements in the characterization of structural variants (SVs), although paired-end sequencing offers better scalability. Here, we present dysgu, which calls SVs or indels using paired-end or long reads. Dysgu detects signals from alignment gaps, discordant and supplementary mappings, and generates consensus contigs, before classifying events using machine learning. Additional SVs are identified by remapping of anomalous sequences. Dysgu outperforms existing state-of-the-art tools using paired-end or long-reads, offering high sensitivity and precision whilst being among the fastest tools to run. We find that combining low coverage paired-end and long-reads is competitive in terms of performance with long-reads at higher coverage values.
Assessment of Genetic Diversity and Population Genetic Structure of Santalum album L. in India by Genic and Genomic SSR markers
Authors: Fatima Tanzeem , Srivastava Ashutosh , Hanur Vageeshbabu S. , Srinivasa Rao M.
Published: May 2021

Sandalwood (Santalum album L.) is highly valued aromatic tropical tree. It is known for its high quality heartwood and oil. In this study, 39 genic and genomic SSR markers were used to analyze the genetic diversity and population structure of 177 S. album accessions from 14 populations of three states in India. High genetic diversity was observed in terms of number of alleles 127, expected heterozygosity (He) ranged from 0.63-0.87 and the average PIC was 0.85. The selected population had relatively high genetic diversity with Shannon’s information index (I) >1.0. 0.02 mean coefficient of genetic differentiation (FST) and 10.55 gene flow were observed. AMOVA revealed that 92% of the variation observed within individuals. Based on cluster and Structure result, individuals were not clustered as per their geographical origin. Furthermore the clusters were clearly distinguished by principal component analysis analysis and the result revealed that PC1 reflected the moderate contribution in genetic variation (6%) followed by PC2 (5.5%). From this study, high genetic diversity and genetic differentiation was found in S. album populations. The genetic diversity information of S. album populations can be used for selection of superior genotypes and germplasm conservation to promote the tree improvement of S. album populations.
Producing gender-blind drug knowledge and representations in prison spaces
Authors: White Niki Jana
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to examine knowledge production and problem representation with regard to new psychoactive substances (NPS) in Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons (HMCIP) annual reports.

Design/methodology/approach

Seven annual reports published by HMCIP for England and Wales between 2014 and 2020 have been systematically reviewed drawing on thematic analysis.

Findings

This paper demonstrates how framing in HMCIP annual reports produced a characterisation of NPS in prisons that inadvertently obstructed gender-sensitive knowledge production and problem representation. The framing formalised knowledge silences about spice in women’s prisons.

Originality/value

HMCIP annual reports monitor drugs in prisons and this affects how these spaces are represented to government and other stakeholders. This paper provides theoretical and practical insights into how gender-blind knowledge is produced by discussing examples of gender-blind drug representations in a specific policy context.
(Dis)satisfied with your choices? How to align online consumer’s self-awareness, time pressure and self-consciousness
Authors: Yin Chin-Ching , Hsieh Yi-Ching , Chiu Hung-Chang , Yu Jhih-Ling
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, this study applies social presence theory to explore the influences of public self-awareness on consumers’ choice inconsistency and post-choice satisfaction. Second, the authors investigate how time pressure moderates the effects of self-awareness on choice inconsistency and post-choice satisfaction so that online sellers can better align their marketing strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

This research consists of two studies. Study 1 conducted a 3 (self-awareness: public/private/control) × 2 (time pressure: high/none) experiment, and 311 online participants were recruited to explore the influence of public self-awareness and time pressure. Study 2 used a 3 (self-awareness: public/private/control) × 2 (time pressure: high/no) × 2 (self-consciousness: high/low) quasi-experiments, and the authors used 652 online participants to examine the effect of self-awareness, time pressure and public self-consciousness on choice inconsistency and post-choice satisfaction.

Findings

The results indicate that publicly self-aware consumers under high time pressure show greater inconsistency than those under no time pressure. Also, people with higher public self-consciousness exhibited higher choice inconsistency and post-choice satisfaction in public self-awareness situations than those in private self-awareness and control conditions.

Research limitations/implications

To generalize the results, this study should be replicated using more heterogeneous populations in diverse regions and cultures, as well as other product categories.

Practical implications

This study explores the implications of evoking self-awareness during online consumption and the online purchase process by observing the moderating effect of self-consciousness and time pressure. The findings provide insights to marketing practitioners who seek to increase their companies’ competitive advantage and profits through effective online manipulations of consumers’ self-awareness.

Originality/value

Extant research does not address how time pressure affects the relationships among public self-awareness, choice inconsistency and post-choice satisfaction. In addition, prior research only focused on public self-awareness in customer consumption. This study bridges these gaps and has implications for e-commerce, consumer behavior and relationship marketing research fields.
The use of signage as a tool for social integration in tourist cities: examples of relevant cases in Catalonia
Authors: Imbert-Bouchard Ribera Daniel
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to expose the evolution in the use of the so-called reception tools and tourist information that are present at the time of consumption of a trip towards an interest in and a willingness to link local residents and tourists in a friendly, inclusive and conciliatory way. This is the case of territorial signage designed for pedestrians, a growing protagonist of the urban landscape of many cities, which has found in its formulation the appropriate response to unify the messages and criteria that are addressed to all audiences and people with all types of sensitivities.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on an extensive fieldwork study conducted in 2013 and 2017 in the 62 most populated cities of Catalonia, different variables related to the shape of the signage and the content presented in them were analysed. To this end, a specific pattern of ad-hoc observation and structured interviews were applied to determine the social transition of the content and approaches used in the signage.

Findings

While signage is initially considered to be a basic solution with purely informative content, poor in qualitative aspects and often neglected by those responsible for its management, over time it has emerged as a tool that serves to unify the interests of the citizens who share the same space for mutual interaction. It is characterised by providing open and transversal information for all citizens without focussing on or thematising tourism in an exclusive and segregated way, separating it from the rest of the aspects that make up the nature of the urban landscape.

Originality/value

This paper confirms that these tangible instruments of support for tourists, beyond seeking a harmonic fit in the urban planning of today's cities, are also complicit in seeking social cohesion in the present-day paradigm of the conflicts created by urban tourism.
Leader’s behaviours for promoting innovation in a multidisciplinary musculoskeletal service
Authors: Nalajala Narender , Craig Rachel
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Financial constraints, an increase in the demand for health-care from an ageing population, multiple comorbidities in both mental and physical health and delivering care closer to the community, are amongst the factors creating a need for innovation in the NHS. The purpose of this paper is to explore leader behaviours that promote innovation in a multidisciplinary musculoskeletal (MSK) service.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore the experience and views of the multidisciplinary team (MDT) members on leadership and innovation. A total of 13 MDT members participated in the study.

Findings

Inter-professional collaboration and the absence of hierarchical behaviours are associated with a positive experience. Traditionally established hierarchy and inter-professional barriers for interaction were associated with challenging experience in MDT. There was an expression of fear of and vulnerability to being “taken over” or “eaten up” by other professions. Supportiveness, consulting behaviour, provision of time, vision and inspiring and risk-taking behaviours are associated with innovation. Target drove and monitoring behaviours or hierarchical expression of authority, directive or supervisory behaviours are negatively associated with innovation.

Practical implications

Day to day leader’s behaviours and interactions influences the work environment for innovation. Knowledge gained through Informal interaction, understanding each other’s professional strengths and weaknesses are implicit strengths of an MDT but when a member perceives their skills as less valuable to that of another member, they hold less power and influence. Therefore, a flat hierarchy provides a more effective structure for knowledge translation and maximising MDT productivity.

Originality/value

MSK services are complex adaptive systems with several pathways and interactions flowing between various specialities. For improving innovation and effective functioning of the MSK MDT, it is important to provide informal training for team leads on self-awareness of the behaviours associated with innovation.
Determinant analysis of employee attitudes toward pro-environmental behavior in textile firms of Pakistan: a serial mediation approach
Authors: Nisar Sundas , Khan Naveed R. , Khan Mustafa Rehman
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to determine how environmentally specific transformational leadership (ETFL), green training (GT) and psychological green climate (PGC) affect environmental passion (EP) of employees which leads to pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs).

Design/methodology/approach

The context of the study was set in textile industry of Pakistan which holds a promising future in the international markets as an emerging export-based industry. Using purposive sampling technique, cross-sectional self-report data were collected from the employees of textile exporting firms (n = 239) of Pakistan. Hypotheses were tested using PLS-SEM.

Findings

The findings revealed that ETFL and PGC act as important predictors of EP, whereas GT plays no role in influencing EP. EP predicts green behavioral intention (GBI) of employees, in turn, GBI predicts employees' PEBs. Further, mediation analyses revealed that EP and GBI sequentially mediated the link between PGC and PEBs.

Research limitations/implications

The present study is not free from its limitations. First, the study adopted cross-sectional design that prevents the causal inferences which the researcher can make from the population. Second, the present study adopted purposive sampling technique which is a non-probability sampling technique. Third, the constructs of this study were assessed with self-report measures which are associated with social desirability bias (Podsakoff and Organ, 1986) or common-method variance (Podsakoff et al., 2003). Hence, this research suggests on the future direction of research based on these limitations.

Practical implications

As per the results of this study, it is also suggested that managers may focus more on the overall organizational and psychological climate rather than on leadership styles alone. While conducting training, the leaders must pay close attention to training objectives to ensure that they do not lead to counterproductive behaviors.

Originality/value

This research adds to the literature in the area of PEBs at micro-level by focusing on how and why employees engage in PEBs.
The analysis of debt levels in public firms: an international evidence
Authors: Pathak Rajesh , Das Gupta Ranjan , Jalali Abhinav
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This study investigates if the widely held predictors of corporate leverage exhibit predictive consistency through times and across countries amidst country heterogeneities such as legal principles, state of economic development and protection of investors’ rights.

Design/methodology/approach

We employ financial data for 3,197 unique firms from eight emerging and ten developed countries during the years 2001–2017 and use Tobit regression models, a two-step Fama−MacBeth(1973) regression and panel data regression techniques in order to ensure the robustness of estimates.

Findings

We find that firms in the civil French law system exhibit the highest average of a debt (around 27%), whereas firms based in high investors’ protection environment and in developed nations borrow significantly less than their counterparts. Furthermore, among predictors, including a firm's payout ratio, it returns on equity and the cash ratio except the P/B ratio have varying predictability for a corporate debt when firms are classified based on law systems, investors’ rights and the economic scenarios. The crisis period significantly affects the relationship of debt levels with legal systems, investors’ rights and economic development scenario. The author’s estimates are robust to alternate analysis.

Originality/value

This study is unique in its methodological approach and involves a considerably large number of countries and a longer study period for the results to be more generalizable compared to other existing studies.
Integrating genetics, physiology and morphology to study desert adaptation in a lizard species
Authors: Araya‐Donoso Raúl , San Juan Esteban , Tamburrino Ítalo , Lamborot Madeleine , Veloso Claudio , Véliz David
Published: May 2021

Integration of multiple approaches is key to understand the evolutionary processes of local adaptation and speciation. Reptiles have successfully colonized desert environments, that is, extreme and arid conditions that constitute a strong selective pressure on organisms. Here, we studied genomic, physiological and morphological variations of the lizard Liolaemus fuscus to detect adaptations to the Atacama Desert.

By comparing populations of L. fuscus inhabiting the Atacama Desert with populations from the Mediterranean forests from central Chile, we aimed at characterizing features related to desert adaptation.

We combined ddRAD sequencing with physiological (evaporative water loss, metabolic rate and selected temperature) and morphological (linear and geometric morphometrics) measurements. We integrated the genomic and phenotypic data using redundancy analyses.

Results showed strong genetic divergence, along with a high number of fixed loci between desert and forest populations. Analyses detected 110 fixed and 30 outlier loci located within genes, from which 43 were in coding regions, and 12 presented non‐synonymous mutations. The candidate genes were associated with cellular membrane and development. Desert lizards presented lower evaporative water loss than those from the forest. Morphological data showed that desert lizards had smaller body size, different allometry, larger eyeballs and more dorsoventrally compressed heads.

Our results suggest incipient speciation between desert and forest populations. The adaptive signal must be cautiously interpreted since genetic drift could also contribute to the divergence pattern. Nonetheless, we propose water and resource availability, and changes in habitat structure, as the most relevant challenges for desert reptiles. This study provides insights of the mechanisms that allow speciation as well as desert adaptation in reptiles at multiple levels, and highlights the benefit of integrating independent evidence.
Association between serum estradiol levels prior to progesterone administration in artificial frozen–thawed blastocyst transfer cycles and live birth rate: a retrospective study
Authors: Zhou R , Zhang X , Huang L , Zhu X , Dong M , Liu W , Wang S , Liu F
Published: May 2021

Objective

To study whether serum estradiol (E2) levels prior to progesterone administration in the artificial endometrial preparation (AEP) of frozen–thawed blastocyst transfer affect the live birth rate.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Tertiary‐care academic medical centre.

Population

A total of 3857 frozen–thawed blastocyst transfer cycles were divided into three groups: <200 pg/ml (n = 1676); 200–399 pg/ml (n = 1296); and ≥400 pg/ml (n = 885), based on the 25th (182.3 pg/ml) and 75th percentile (390.2 pg/ml) of serum E2 level prior to progesterone administration.

Methods

Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed.

Main outcome measures

The primary outcome of the study was the live birth rate and the secondary outcomes included clinical pregnancy rate, pregnancy loss rate, neonatal birthweight, Z‐score, and small for gestational age (SGA).

Results

Compared with the reference group, accounting for major covariates, the live birth rate significantly decreased in the ‘≥400 pg/ml’ group (adjusted OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.59–0.85). Compared with the reference group, there was an association between the E2 level in the ‘≥400 pg/ml’ group and a decrease in the clinical pregnancy rate (adjusted OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.61–0.89). Compared with the reference group, the pregnancy loss rate significantly increased in the ‘≥400 pg/ml’ group (adjusted OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.08–1.93). The E2 levels did not affect neonatal birthweight, Z‐score, and SGA among singletons.

Conclusions

High serum E2 levels prior to progesterone administration in AEP are associated with a decreased live birth rate after frozen–thawed blastocyst transfer.

Tweetable abstract

High serum E2 levels prior to progesterone administration in artificial FET are associated with a decreased live birth rate after frozen–thawed blastocyst transfer.
What Drives High Growth? Characteristics of Australian Firms
Authors: Majeed Omer , Balaguer Antonio , Hansell David , Hendrickson Luke , Latcham Abasi , Satherley Tessa
Published: May 2021

Using firm‐level data, we analyse the patterns, innovation characteristics and determinants of turnover high‐growth firms (HGFs) in Australia. We find most HGFs do not stay in the high‐growth phase for long, and following the Global Financial Crisis the proportion of HGFs has declined. For HGFs, the results suggest that innovation in goods and services has a much greater impact on turnover growth than for the average firm. For all firms, innovations in goods and services and marketing, and business focus on innovation contribute to turnover growth. Finally, HGFs generate greater returns on investment in research and development than slower growing firms.
Development and validation of a questionnaire investigating endurance athletes practices to manage gastrointestinal symptoms around exercise
Authors: Scrivin Rachel , Costa Ricardo JS , Pelly Fiona , Lis Dana , Slater Gary
Published: May 2021

Aim

To develop and validate a questionnaire investigating endurance athletes' carbohydrate beliefs, knowledge, information sources, and other dietary and non‐dietary practices related to exercise‐associated gastrointestinal symptoms.

Methods

A questionnaire was developed by a review of relevant literature and sports‐related questionnaires, and input from five experienced sports dietitians. Item construct and format was adapted and modified from a previous questionnaire. The modified questionnaire sought information on demographics, nutrition knowledge, beliefs, intended practices, information sources and exercise‐associated gastrointestinal symptoms. A five‐phase validity process was conducted to determine content, face and construct validity, item difficulty and internal reliability of the questionnaire. The Delphi technique was applied with experts over three anonymous rounds. Items were reviewed to determine whether to keep, modify, or delete, rate the relevance of each item using a content validity index (CVI), and provide comments. A content analysis was conducted on all comments after each round. Online interviews were conducted with a pilot group of endurance athletes (n = 15) to assess item difficulty and feasibility. Nutrition knowledge was compared between pilot group of athletes and experts to determine construct validity and internal consistency. A test‐retest process was applied to a second pilot group (n = 8) to verify questionnaire reliability.

Results

High CVI (≥.83) and agreement scores were obtained through the Delphi technique. High reliability (r = .942) and acceptable internal consistency (α = .53‐.78) of the questionnaire were obtained.

Conclusions

The questionnaire was shown to be a valid and reliable tool that will be of use for clinicians and research purposes.
Clinical practice guideline on spinal stabilisation of adult trauma patients: Endorsement by the Scandinavian Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine
Authors: Yli‐Hankala Arvi , Chew Michelle S. , Olkkola Klaus T. , Rehn Marius , Sverrisson Kristinn Ö. , Møller Morten H.
Published: May 2021

The Clinical Practice Committee of the Scandinavian Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine endorses the clinical practice guideline New clinical guidelines on the spinal stabilisation of adult trauma patients—consensus and evidence based. The guideline can serve as a useful decision aid for clinicians caring for patients with traumatic spinal cord injury. However, it is important to acknowledge that the overall certainty of evidence supporting the guideline recommendations was low, implying that further research is likely to have an important impact on the confidence in the estimate of effect.
Alcohol‐induced aggression in Drosophila
Authors: Park Annie , Tran Tracy , Gutierrez Linda , Stojanik Christopher J. , Plyler Julian , Thompson Grace A. , Bohm Rudolf A. , Scheuerman Elizabeth A. , Smith Dean P. , Atkinson Nigel S.
Published: May 2021

Alcohol‐induced aggression is a destructive and widespread phenomenon associated with violence and sexual assault. However, little is understood concerning its mechanistic origin. We have developed a Drosophila melanogaster model to genetically dissect and understand the phenomenon of sexually dimorphic alcohol‐induced aggression. Males with blood alcohol levels of 0.04‐mg/ml BAC were less aggressive than alcohol‐naive males, but when the BAC had dropped to ~0.015 mg/ml, the alcohol‐treated males showed an increase in aggression toward other males. This aggression‐promoting treatment is referred to as the post‐ethanol aggression (PEA) treatment. Females do not show increased aggression after the same treatment. PEA‐treated males also spend less time courting and attempt to copulate earlier than alcohol‐naive flies. PEA treatment induces expression of the FruM transcription factor (encoded by a male‐specific transcript from the fruitless gene), whereas sedating doses of alcohol reduce FruM expression and reduce male aggression. Transgenic suppression of FruM induction also prevents alcohol‐induced aggression. In male flies, alcohol‐induced aggression is dependent on the male isoform of the fruitless transcription factor (FruM). Low‐dose alcohol induces FruM expression and promotes aggression, whereas higher doses of alcohol suppress FruM and suppress aggression.
Modern agricultural value chains and the future of smallholder farming systems
Authors: Ma Meilin , Sexton Richard J.
Published: May 2021

Smallholder farms continue to play a prominent role in many developing countries. A substantial debate has emerged regarding the future role of smallholder farms as a means to lift rural households out of poverty and contribute to food security as part of modern agricultural value chains. We build a conceptual model to compare household income and total food output under smallholder production versus a hypothetical setting wherein households cease engaging as farm owner‐operators, but supply land and labor to consolidated commercial farms. Based on the empirical literature, we calibrate the model to quantify the advantages in acquiring working capital and output marketing that can plausibly accrue to large‐scale farming operations and offset any labor efficiency decrement compared to smallholder farms. Results show that households can earn more from renting out land and labor into competitive factor markets for a wide range of plausible market conditions. The higher the price premium commanded by and less the loss in labor efficiency on large farms, and the tighter the credit constraints on smallholders, the greater is the income advantage from supplying inputs to large farms over operating small farms. An output advantage also accrues to large farms under similar conditions.
The role of scrotal ultrasonography from infancy to puberty
Authors: Spaziani Matteo , Lecis Claudio , Tarantino Chiara , Sbardella Emilia , Pozza Carlotta , Gianfrilli Daniele
Published: May 2021

Background

Scrotal ultrasonography is an essential diagnostic tool in daily clinical practice. The availability of new‐generation ultrasound machines characterized by clearly improved image quality, low health cost, and higher patient safety, represents only some characteristics of ultrasound investigation. The usefulness of scrotal ultrasonography is particularly evident in the period of life from infancy to puberty, during which males undergo important morphofunctional changes, and several pathological conditions may occur.

Objectives

This pictorial review primarily aimed to investigate the aspects of ultrasonography related to the normal physiological development of the gonads from mini‐puberty to pubertal onset. This study also aimed to provide an update on the use of ultrasonography in main andrological pathologies that may occur during this period. The conditions that are discussed in depth are: cryptorchidism, inguinoscrotal hernias, and hydrocele in the neonatal phase; acute scrotum, epididymo‐orchitis, and testicular cancers in childhood; and hypogonadism, varicoceles, testicular microlithiasis, and oncohematological pathology in puberty.

Discussion

We provided an ultrasound slant for all the above‐mentioned pathologies while purposely avoiding excessive deepening of the pathogenetic, clinical, and therapeutic aspects. Studying the ultrasound aspects of the gonads also facilitates differential diagnosis between various conditions and represents a good aid in evaluating therapeutic success (e.g., in hypogonadism or postsurgical evaluation of varicoceles and cryptorchidism).

Conclusion

Scrotal ultrasonography is now globally recognized as the necessary completion of clinical–laboratory overview in gonads evaluation. This diagnostic procedure is even more indispensable in the infancy–childhood–puberty period for the evaluation of normal gonadal development as well as diagnosis of other possible diseases.
Migration, family and networks: Timorese seasonal workers' social support in Australia
Authors: Wu Annie Yuan Cih
Published: May 2021

This paper explores the social support of Timorese workers under the Australian Seasonal Workers Programme (SWP). The SWP, which allows citizens from Pacific Island countries and Timor‐Leste to work in Australian agriculture for six to nine months, has become the major source of remittances for seasonal workers from Timor‐Leste. The paper describes how access to the internet and the availability of social media devices can help to maintain long‐distance family relationships, support migrants' well‐being and alleviate the effects of socio‐spatial segregation to some extent. However, the need to earn remittances in a fixed period of time forces them to accept a trade‐off in the quality of their social and personal lives in rural Australia. According to the New Economics of Labour Migration (NELM), isolation and separation from families are part of a rational household strategy to accumulate remittances. This paper argues that insufficient attention has been paid to the social costs borne by workers and left‐behind households and that the sustainability of the SWP depends to a large extent on the ability of workers to find ways of meeting their needs for social support. The analysis is based on data from participant observation and semi‐structured interviews with 50 Timorese seasonal workers in Australia and Timor‐Leste.
Dose–response association of acute‐phase quetiapine treatment with risk of new‐onset hypothyroidism in schizophrenia patients
Authors: Zhao Ying , Wen Shi Wu , Li Mengzhe , Sun Zhongyu , Yuan Xiang , Retnakaran Ravi , Zhang Ruiling , Zhai Desheng
Published: May 2021

Aims

To assess association between quetiapine treatment and risk of new‐onset hypothyroidism in schizophrenia patients.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study in a tertiary hospital in China between January 2016 and December 2018. Schizophrenia patients with normal thyroid tests at admission were included. Hypothyroidism, which was defined as thyroid‐stimulating hormone >4.20 mU/L and free thyroxine <12.00 pmol/L, or on L‐thyroxine prescriptions, was the outcome measure, and quetiapine treatment between admission and subsequent thyroid test was the exposure measure of this study. Adjusted relative risks and 95% confidence intervals were used to assess the independent association of quetiapine treatment with risk of new‐onset hypothyroidism. The dose–response association was further analysed by 3 quetiapine doses: low (≤<=0.2 g/d), medium (0.2–0.6 g/d), and high (>0.6 g/d).

Results

A total of 2022 eligible patients were included in the final analysis. Sixty patients (15.0%) in the quetiapine group developed hypothyroidism, while 56 patients (3.5%) in the nonquetiapine group developed hypothyroidism. Relative risk (95% confidence interval) of developing hypothyroidism for quetiapine use was 4.01 (2.86–5.64) after adjusting for several potential confounding factors. A strong dose–response association between quetiapine use and risk of developing hypothyroidism was observed: adjusted relative risks (95% confidence intervals) were 1.00 (0.25–2.59), 4.22 (2.80–6.25) and 5.62 (3.66–8.38), respectively, for low‐, medium‐ and high‐dose quetiapine, as compared with no quetiapine.

Conclusion

Acute phase quetiapine treatment for schizophrenia patients was strongly associated with increased risk of developing new‐onset hypothyroidism, with a clear dose–response association.
Evaluation of artificial intelligence clinical applications: Detailed case analyses show value of healthcare ethics approach in identifying patient care issues
Authors: Rogers Wendy A. , Draper Heather , Carter Stacy M.
Published: May 2021

This paper is one of the first to analyse the ethical implications of specific healthcare artificial intelligence (AI) applications, and the first to provide a detailed analysis of AI‐based systems for clinical decision support. AI is increasingly being deployed across multiple domains. In response, a plethora of ethical guidelines and principles for general AI use have been published, with some convergence about which ethical concepts are relevant to this new technology. However, few of these frameworks are healthcare‐specific, and there has been limited examination of actual AI applications in healthcare. Our ethical evaluation identifies context‐ and case‐specific healthcare ethical issues for two applications, and investigates the extent to which the general ethical principles for AI‐assisted healthcare expressed in existing frameworks capture what is most ethically relevant from the perspective of healthcare ethics. We provide a detailed description and analysis of two AI‐based systems for clinical decision support (Painchek® and IDx‐DR). Our results identify ethical challenges associated with potentially deceptive promissory claims, lack of patient and public involvement in healthcare AI development and deployment, and lack of attention to the impact of AIs on healthcare relationships. Our analysis also highlights the close connection between evaluation and technical development and reporting. Critical appraisal frameworks for healthcare AIs should include explicit ethical evaluation with benchmarks. However, each application will require scrutiny across the AI life‐cycle to identify ethical issues specific to healthcare. This level of analysis requires more attention to detail than is suggested by current ethical guidance or frameworks.
Growth and renal function dynamics of renal oncocytomas in patients on active surveillance
Authors: Neves Joana B. , Varley Rebecca , Agnesi Stefano , Withington John , Rodrigues Filipe B. , Warren Hannah , Yuminaga Yuigi , Capitanio Umberto , Rode Nicola , Grant Lee , Tran‐Dang My‐Anh , El‐Sheikh Soha , Walkden Miles , Cullen David , Aitchison Michael , Patki Prasad , Mumtaz Faiz , Barod Ravi , Bex Axel , Tran Maxine G. B.
Published: May 2021

Objectives

To study the natural history of renal oncocytomas and address indications for intervention by determining how growth is associated with renal function over time, the reasons for surgery and ablation, and disease‐specific survival.

Patients and Methods

The study was conducted in a retrospective cohort of consecutive patients with renal oncocytoma on active surveillance reviewed at the Specialist Centre for Kidney Cancer at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust (2012 to 2019). Comparison between groups was performed using Mann–Whitney U‐tests and chi‐squared tests. A mixed‐effects model with a random intercept for patient was used to study the longitudinal association between tumour size and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

Results

Longitudinal data from 98 patients with 101 lesions were analysed. Most patients were men (68.3%) and the median (interquartile range [IQR]) age was 69 (13) years. The median (IQR) follow‐up was 29 (26) months. Most lesions were small renal masses, and 24% measured over 4 cm. Over half (64.4%) grew at a median (IQR) rate of 2 (4) mm per year. No association was observed between tumour size and eGFR over time (P = 0.871). Nine lesions (8.9%) were subsequently treated. Two deaths were reported, neither were related to the diagnosis of renal oncocytoma.

Conclusion

Natural history data from the largest active surveillance cohort of renal oncocytomas to date show that renal function does not seem to be negatively impacted by growing oncocytomas, and confirms clinical outcomes are excellent after a median follow‐up of over 2 years. Active surveillance should be considered the 'gold standard' management of renal oncocytomas up to 7cm.